fleurdelice: Lexapro and Abilify withdrawal - excessive sweating

[fleurdelice]

Hi everyone, I'm a 31 year old woman currently tapering off both Lexapro and Abilify and I'm dealing with some pretty unpleasant withdrawal symptoms so far. I can handle the mental fog and increased anxiety but the physical side effects of withdrawal- specifically heat intolerance and uncontrollable craniofacial sweating are really impacting my quality of life. I can't even do my hair and get dressed- let alone do my makeup- without my face and neck become drenched in sweat. I have also been experiencing insomnia and night sweats as well. It doesn't help that it's currently quite hot and humid where I live, but I have never experienced this before even when I was on my originally prescribed doses. Has anyone else experienced excessive sweating during withdrawal?

 

A bit more background: I was prescribed Lexapro 4½ years ago for anxiety and Body Dysmorphic Disorder, and was at one point taking 40 mg/day. I'm in a much better place than I was then and began slowly tapering off Lexapro roughly six months ago. I'm now down to 5mg/day as of a week and a half ago, and my ultimate goal is to discontinue this medication completely. I was also prescribed Abilify (5mg/day) as an adjunct about three years ago. I'm now completely off Abilify as of two weeks ago.

 

After doing some research, I purchased the following supplements last night to help me cope with current and future withdrawal symptoms:

• Schisandra: I read that this berry can reduce excessive sweating and alleviate symptoms of menopause (which I may as well be going through with the constant hot flashes and night sweats) but couldn't find any anecdotes of people using it for SSRI side effects or withdrawal. I plan to take this in the evening before bed.

• Melatonin: I plan to take this before bed to help combat withdrawal-induced insomnia.

• Magnesium Oxide: I read that this is good for adrenal health and anxiety reduction. I plan to take this in the morning.

• Fish Oil: I'm terrified of the dreaded "brain zaps" and I read that this can help prevent/reduce them. Omega-3s are also great for brain health and I'm hoping it will help me recover from withdrawal quicker.

• L-Tyrosine: I'm hoping this will help my dopamine levels recover after years on Abilify, as well as combat withdrawal-related fatigue. I plan to take this in the morning.

• Vitamin B Complex: I'm hoping this will help boost my energy. I'm also likely deficient in B12 after years as a vegetarian (yes, I know the fish oil listed above is not vegetarian but I'll take whatever helps at this point). I plan to take this in the morning.

• 5-HTP: I used to take this back in college to help my serotonin levels recover after a night on MDMA, and I'm hoping it will do the same after years on Lexapro. I'm aware of the dangers of serotonin syndrome and don't plan to add this to my regimen until I'm completely off of Lexapro.

Thoughts on this regimen? Anything else I should add? I recently lost my health insurance coverage and am relying on my own research and the expertise of others, so any advice would be greatly appreciated

[Gridley]

Hello, fleurdelice, and welcome to SA.

 

To start, could you please do a drug signature?  This drug history is very helpful to the moderators.  Here's how:  

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

Please include the dates of your taper and the rate at which you tapered.

 

We don't recommend a lot of supplements because our nervous systems in withdrawal are so sensitized.  Two on your list we do recommend are omega fish oil and magnesium.

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

Please research all supplements first and only add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems.

 

While it is often a first response to stress to take a B-Complex, in withdrawal it can be overstimulating.

Hypersensitive to B Vitamin or B-Complex  

 

It's best to start Melatonin at a very low dosage, such as .25mg, and gradually increase if needed to the lowest effective dose.

Melatonin for sleep 

 

At Surviving Antidepressants, it is recommended that a person taper by no more than 10% of their current dose with at least a four week hold in-between decreases.  The 10% taper recommendation is a harm reduction approach to going off psychiatric drugs.  Some people may have to taper at a more conservative rate as they are sensitive to even the smallest drops.  

  

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Brain Remodelling

 

Tips for tapering off Lexapro (escitalopram)

 

Since you just finished your Abilify taper and are also suffering these withdrawal symptoms, I would consider holding where you are on the Lexapro for at least a couple of months to let your system stabilize.  At the low doses, such as 5mg, it is especially important to taper slowly.

 

To help you understand the symptoms you are experiencing, here is some information on withdrawal.  

 

What is withdrawal syndrome.

 

Glenmullen’s withdrawal symptom list.  Sweats is one of the withdrawal symptoms listed.

 

 The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

When we take medications, the CNS (central nervous system) responds by making changes over the months and years we take the drug(s). When the medication is discontinued, the CNS has to undo all the changes it made. Rebuilding the neurotransmitter production and reactivating the receptor and transporter cells takes time -- during that rebuilding process symptoms occur.  

 

Youtube video, 4 minutes: Healing from antidepressants

This is your introduction topic -- the place for you to ask questions, record symptoms, share your progress, and connect with other members of the SA community.  I hope you’ll find the information in the SA forums helpful for your situation.  I'm sorry that you are in the position that you need the information, but I am glad that you found us.

 

 

 

 

 

[Hibari]

Hi Fleurdilice

 

I continue to experience excessive sweating during withdrawal.  It started when I first got off of my second drug Remeron.  The sweat poured off of me at night for a week.  

 

Now I continued to have excessive sweating, mainly at night though sometimes during the day it seems to have started back as I got to

 lower doses of my last med to taper.  I keep framing it as my body trying to heal and regulate itself. 

 

I get how uncomfortable it is.  I'm older than you and post menopausal but I posted a similar question about hot flashes and sweating to men on this site and got some responses that men were experiencing it to.