WarriorWomanLV: Lexapro withdrawal symptoms shows up 6 weeks later

[WarriorWomanLV]

Hello, everyone. I was going through a rough time in 2017. Went to see a psychiatrist in march 2017 and she prescribed me prozac. 7 days later, i began to experience my very first and most brutal panic attack that lasted all day. It was hell on earth. Dr switched me to lexapro. I am small and was informed lexapro was milder. I took 10mg. As my body adjusted i still felt panic attacks every now and then but they were nowhere near as bad as that 1st time. I got better and better and saw an amazing counselor who helped me through my issues. 1 year later (March 2018) i decided i was happy, mentally healthy and strong. I began to taper. 10mg to 5mg to 2.5mg to 1.75mg. It took me 4 months of tapering with minimal symptoms. I took my last dose on August 16, 2018. I was fine for 6 weeks. Maybe a headache here and there.  A 20 min. panic attack sometimes but would be fine 2 hrs later. Well around mid September, i had to get teeth extracted was given amoxicillin. Turns out i was allergic because i grew hives and itched everywhere. I was given hydroxyzine (for itch relief and anxiety. Kind of like a strong benadryl. Took a 7day dose) Ever since my last dose of that hydroxyzine my panic attacks started to become more frequent and more intense. I've been exercising and eating small meals every 3hrs because that normally helps me. Last night (october 4, 2018) was brutal. I begged my family to take me to ER. My family was able to watch over me instead of ER. But the panic attack was so intense i kept thinking i was gonna faint and die. I couldn't lay down, but i couldn't move either. My eyes were so bloodshot and blurry. Today has been better but i feel weak from that experience. Eyes still blurry and bloodshot.

 

My questions are: is it normal to experience intense withdrawal symptoms 6 weeks later? I always thought the withdrawals start from the last day of quitting. I took 10mg which i thought was a low dose. I had tapered slowly (4 months). Was it triggered by the hydroxyzine that was meant for itch relief?? How do you all go back to work if your symptoms last months even years? Please help. I'm so scared. 

[SkyBlue]

6 hours ago, WarriorWomanLV said:

 

My questions are: is it normal to experience intense withdrawal symptoms 6 weeks later? I always thought the withdrawals start from the last day of quitting. I took 10mg which i thought was a low dose. I had tapered slowly (4 months). Was it triggered by the hydroxyzine that was meant for itch relief?? How do you all go back to work if your symptoms last months even years? Please help. I'm so scared. 

 

Hello, Warrior, and welcome to SA. 

 

Yes, it is extremely normal to still be having very intense withdrawal symptoms 6 weeks later. 

 

Hydroxyzine acts directly on the central nervous system to suppress its action (for example, is prescribed for anxiety), so yes, it is very likely that that has played a role here. 

 

Another factor: Even though 4 months may seem slow, it's likely that it was too fast for your nervous system. 10mg to 5mg to 2.5, for example, are each 50% decreases, which are extremely difficult on the system. We usually recommend no more than 10% decrease per month. 

 

What are your current symptoms? Since your last dose was very recent, it's possible that you could benefit from reinstating a tiny, tiny dose. Please don't make any changes yet, but familiarize yourself with the first page of this topic: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/7562-about-reinstating-and-stabilizing-to-reduce-withdrawal-symptoms/

 

 

Will you please create a drug signature, briefly summarizing (in list form) the info above, with the months/years of each of your dosage changes? That will help us help you better. Here are instructions: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/18343-please-put-your-withdrawal-history-in-your-signature/

 

Again, welcome to SA. You are in good company here.

 

[jozeff]

Hi warrior,

 

Welcome and I'm very sorry you had to go through all of this. 

 

You are not the only one and I heard your story quite a few times unfortunately. Tapering fine, last dose, few weeks/months ok and then crashed.

 

I was fluctuating my dose of citalopram a lot and had some brutal panick attacks while doing so. Never had these before in my 42 years on this earth.

 

That stuff can be brutal. I tapered from 25 to 16.5 mg from April to july and ended up feeling absolutely worthless. Crying, anxiety, depressed like hell, muscle aches, you name it.

 

I think that you are in WD and that could very very well be the case since you quit your medication and tapered pretty fast. Although it feels slow. I learned on this website that 4 months is very fast.

 

Doctors advise you to do it even faster!

 

I hope you get some good advice here and that you will feel better soon!

 

 

Cheers

Jozeff

 

 

[WarriorWomanLV]

SkyBlue, Jozeff and Miracle123: thank you all for responding. Sometimes just a simple validation that what im going through is something other people have experienced already... well, it gives me a lot of hope. I'm disappointed that my 4 month taper is not even long enough. My doctor even told me to taper by taking it every other day for 2 weeks. Glad i didn't listen. Can you all give me advice on something? Since i didn't experience major withdrawal symptoms until 6 weeks after last dose, i am really afraid of reinstating. I read from this site's reinstatement topic that reinstating can also give increased symptoms especially if done too long after last dose. I'm afraid to even take .5mg. Would it be wise to reinstate or just let it leave my body?

 

My 9 hr long panic attack was 2 days ago, the next day (yesterday) i had a few hour window where i felt like a normal person. I slept surprisingly good. Today, my anxiety has been lingering all day. Moderate. My biggest symptoms are vision bluriness, nausea/anxiety, hard to breathe. This all happened to me too when i first started the meds. Took a while but symptoms got better as my body stabilized with lexapro. So as i withdraw, is it the same? Did i already experience the worst of symptoms, 3 weeks of feeling like crap, then it gets better?? Or is it a harder journey? Much love to you all. I feel blessed to have this site to keep me sane. 

 

*ps- my signature has been made, i hope it's visible.

[ChessieCat]

3 minutes ago, WarriorWomanLV said:

Can you all give me advice on something? Since i didn't experience major withdrawal symptoms until 6 weeks after last dose, i am really afraid of reinstating. I read from this site's reinstatement topic that reinstating can also give increased symptoms especially if done too long after last dose.

 

Unfortunately this is a decision which only you can make.  The question you might like to ask yourself is:  Are the withdrawal symptoms unbearable?  If the answer is yes, then you might want to reinstate.

 

5 minutes ago, WarriorWomanLV said:

Did i already experience the worst of symptoms, 3 weeks of feeling like crap, then it gets better??

 

We can't predict how things will turn out for you.  One thing to consider is that withdrawal symptoms may worsen.

 

6 minutes ago, WarriorWomanLV said:

I'm afraid to even take .5mg.

 

You could try 0.25mg

 

7 minutes ago, WarriorWomanLV said:

let it leave my body?

 

It's not about the drug leaving your body.  When we take a psychiatric drug our brain adapts to the presence of the drug.  When we take some or all of the drug away, the brain tries to regain homeostasis or factory settings.  Generally the more drug that is taken away the worse the withdrawal symptoms are.  The only known way to reduce the withdrawal symptoms is to reinstate the same drug which the brain adapted to.

[ChessieCat]

These might help:

 

are-we-there-yet-how-long-is-withdrawal-going-to-take

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Dr Joseph Glenmullen's WD Symptoms Checklist

 

Brain Remodelling

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

[Miracle123]

Hi Warrior, Wecome to SA from me too.

i just wanna to share about my withdrawals experience. Im living like a hell at the early stage as per you said....this withdrawals is so intense and scarely. My heart pounding come with intense mind and pulse racing all over body just you can feel it....this is real and just we only know.Im even tell my hubby i gonna to die or keep asking him to send me to ER few times.This time really made him over worry and afraid so much. This is actually is from our brain try to readjust and keep repeating turning repair itself when the drug is totally out from our system. At these time our nervous system so sensitive and trying to recovered but the process need time and slowly.

To be honestly, im going through this journey not east but worth it because i dont want to eat those poison and devil pill anymore and when you take it...this is not easy to get off and have to take the rest of your life (MOD NOTE:  please see my post below). Acceptance, patience and time will telling you the truth. Always listen to your body and mind to give you an answer. When time passed you can feel the different and better. Withdrawals will keep lessen by over time passes with less frequently and magnitude. Withdrawals is happen.

Beware of antibiotic especially Cipro, these will made your withdrawals more anxious and worsed.

Amoxicilin i faced as same when i took it in the early withdrawals i got same reactions such as yours. The only supplement recommeded here is Omega Fish oil and Magnesium. 

Hang in there. im feel your pain and suffering too. You are smart enough to discover these forum and  have a lots useful information will help you with the mobs here as well. I hope you will healing much much faster and better than me. Congratulation for Lexapro free.Take care and sending you big big hugs....

 

Best Wishes,

Miracle

 

Edited October 7, 2018 by ChessieCat
added mod note

[ChessieCat]

13 minutes ago, Miracle123 said:

this is not easy to get off and have to take the rest of your life

 

If you listen to your body and taper carefully it is possible to get off a psychiatric drug.

[Miracle123]

5 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

 

If you listen to your body and taper carefully it is possible to get off a psychiatric drug.

Yup....is it possible to get off, just need strong effort and strong mentality. i also not regreted im off lexapro right now.

[Miracle123]

6 hours ago, WarriorWomanLV said:

I'm disappointed that my 4 month taper is not even long enough. My doctor even told me to taper by taking it every other day for 2 weeks. Glad i didn't listen. 

Hi Warrior, Actually taper 10mg Lexapro is the way too fast. Mostly doctor say the same because they didnt know more about the withdrawals and the side effect. im faced it the same .....so nowaday i loss my trust of this doctor. If the withdrawals is too hard.....you can choose to reinstate a bit or at lower doses to keep stable or a while but have to see your body reaction because some will be feel better but some will more anxious.

 

6 hours ago, WarriorWomanLV said:

My biggest symptoms are vision bluriness, nausea/anxiety, hard to breathe.

These withdrawals im have it too and mostly here got too. Dont too over worry.

Hang in there. Take care.

[WarriorWomanLV]

Hello again! Thank you, ChessieCat and Miracle123 for your support!

 

ChessieCat, thank you for all your advice and the links you've provided. They have all been very helpful. I am still getting waves of nausea/anxiety as expected. Saw my Dr today and asked for the liquid escitalopram. She said they don't exist because it's not in her database. She chuckled and rolled her eyes as i politely informed her that while it may not be in the database, it does exist. Sure enough she found it. She also gave me an alternative solution: Buspar. She said it's not an SSRI, and it's safe to take whenever and no need to taper off. Somehow, i trust all of you in this site before her, what do you all think of Buspar? To be quite honest, i have such distrust of any meds at the moment that I'd rather ride out my nausea and moderate symptoms than chance another extreme panic attack. 

 

Miracle123, thank you for your support as well!! I will write a separate post as my response to you. I just have to do something for now

[Gridley]

Buspar is associated with withdrawal syndrome and requires a 10% taper, like SSRI's.

 

Tips for tapering off busipirone (Buspar)

[Miracle123]

9 hours ago, WarriorWomanLV said:

She also gave me an alternative solution: Buspar. She said it's not an SSRI, and it's safe to take whenever and no need to taper off. Somehow, i trust all of you in this site before her, what do you all think of Buspar?

Hi Warrior,Its ok....not a big deal. Just wanna to share with you my own experience. im too going to see doctor when i got very very bad reactions of lexapro. He just steady and smile to give me zoloft if i coudnt take lexapro. He even telling me .....i got thousand of drugs here sure you can one for yours. Imagine these so call pcyshristic doctor just given to you the drugs like a candle and you ended up never ending stories for these drugs. Im not means u cannot trust your doctor but to think about it twice before your take buspar. You can read others stories here with multiple history drugs.

After make up my mind ...im ended up fast tapering my lexapro 5mg by over 1 months plus...(remember fast taper have a risk for extreme and protacted withdrawals) but over time passed my withdrawals getting mild and some even dismiss. Im now more in the windows and waves pattern. At least i can work, doing my daily tasks and got my emotional back (i can crying,happy,sad and peaceful feeling)which is good.

Individuals healing and recovery is different and you are just off the drugs and still in the early stage of withdrawals.Hang in there. You will recovered and healing too. Take care.

[Miracle123]

These supplements really help me in the early stage of withdrawals. Hope you this can help you too.

[WarriorWomanLV]

Gridley, thank you for your info! Im so glad to have found this site and for the people like you helping. Like i said, i trust you all more than my dr. She just kept rolling her eyes at me. I will NOT be taking Buspar and it's time for a new dr. 

 

Miracle123, thank you again for your support. Sometimes, even reading other posts from here in SA triggers my anxiety. I have made up a rule for myself to set up a time for "SA research and worry" lol. This helps me keep my mind off the withdrawals...but of course it's easier said than done. Ive also decided to follow only your posts for now because i find i relate to you the most . From the all day long panic and thinking you're dying, and even your recent post about light sensitivity!!! I thought i was losing my vision!! Then i put shades on and it helped a lot. I even had to wear sunglasses inside the house. You also mentioned gut issues? I experienced a lot of bloating while on lexapro and before my periods. (Never experienced them before lexapro). They were so painful i felt as if i was in and out of consciousness. What has helped me was that as soon as i feel that bloating, i take gas x (over the counter) and i also use this oil called aceite de manzanilla (chamomile oil). I rub my belly in clockwise motion and put my thumbs between my ribs and push downwards towards bellybutton. This has saved me. I also take probiotics like you in kefir form. Miracle123, do you jot down dates of your withdrawal symptoms??? Are they normally related to your period cycle?? I am preparing myself for my next cycle. Because i know the withdrawals will hit me the worst during that time. For now, i will take one day at a time. 

[WarriorWomanLV]

Oh! Also thank you for the supplements advice. Before i found this site i was taking  a bunch of stuff: a multivitamin that included too much B6, cod liver oil, experimenting between st John's wort and ashwagandha. Then i had to take antibiotics for an oral surgery i had. That's when my health snowballed down starting with my "allergic reaction" to antibiotics. I believe being in withdrawal triggered it. Or it could be all these supplements I've been trying. So for now, I've stopped everything. When i stabilize a bit, i will re introduce cod liver oil. 

[WarriorWomanLV]

Journal: My plan of action. I refuse to be victimized by this withdrawal. Im writing a few things that has helped me and other things i would like to do while in recovery. I hope it helps other people too:

 

- Get some sun. I've been spending a lot of time in my backyard. The sun hurts my eyes so i put sunglasses on. It also agitates my skin a bit. I wear longer sleeves. But overall, i noticed that it heals me. I'm sure it's the vitamin D. But watching the birds, listening to the wind, and doing deep breaths next to plants... it grounds me and that's a form of healing. 

 

- i go for a walk or even just pace around. I take at least 20 mins. 2x a day. Remember that endorphins is one of the chemicals that help raise serotonin. While i walk/run i say affirmations, "i am strong. I am healthy. I am healed". We need to be our biggest cheerleaders. That part is in our control, so say them until you believe them!

 

- eating small meals every 3-4 hours. This is a personal thing. I have a hard time eating and I've lost my appetite from feeling constant nausea and anxiety. But i know that to overcome it, i need energy. Food is energy. I force myself to eat. Small amounts but every few hours.

 

- I'd like to start vegetable juicing (on top of my frequent small meals). Leafy greens also has vitamins that help reduce anxiety.

 

- Praying/Meditation: it's one of the top advice for depression and anxiety for a reason- it works! It can be hard at first, but what helps me is putting on relaxing music. Close eyes and start stretching lightly. Deep breaths in and out. For me, I pray and then i stop my thoughts by listening within. I feel guided when i do this. 

 

-Read. The bible or a spiritual book of your choice. You will find something in the library. Trust that what you find is what you needed to read. A broken spirit is a broken body. If we want us to heal, physically and mentally, we have to heal our spirits too because it's connected. 

 

That's it for now. Thank you for reading. As i mentioned, this is for me as a reminder of what i can do to help myself while in recovery. But i hope it will help someone else too. 

[Gridley]

Sounds like a good plan, WW.

[Miracle123]

15 hours ago, WarriorWomanLV said:

Miracle123, do you jot down dates of your withdrawal symptoms???

Yup Warrior, im used to drop down and keep track. Mine is quite simple....at started im wrote a dairy everyday to keep remind me every withdrawals im going through. That time(early wd) im really desperately to find anything to get relief....crying in tears even soak my dairy book as well. 😅When time passed.....i started to thick a mark at my calendar books to remark windows and waves pattern until now.

Me too....very bad during menstrual cycle before and after period...dont too worry or fear.When time flies you will know well the withdrawals pattern and handle more better.About the stomach issue i have it too and after took probiotic its seem my stomach getting better not so much gas and bloating.....beside probiotic u can try apple cider vinegar with honey too if you can take it. 

About B vitamin, St john wort (this will caused serotonin sydrome if over take) and ashwagandha will to stimulate to our nervous system and made it your withdrawals flare up. if you wanna take it trying small dose to see your body reactions. You got a good planning and i think you can handle well. Hang in there. Take care.

 

[WarriorWomanLV]

Positive Update:

Hello again and thank you for all the wonderful people on this site who has been there to support me and many others.  I am doing better and better each day. At first, I was concerned that my 6-week delayed withdrawal symptoms meant that my anxiety will forever be part of me and that I would have to take Lexapro forever. Now that I've survived the first week of withdrawal, I can say that my previous thought process was simply not true. I CAN LIVE FEARLESSLY WITHOUT LEXAPRO.  What I realize is that my tapering of 4 months (10mg to 5 to 2.5 to 1.75) actually may have helped me more than I thought. I believe that my brain didn't actually realize that I was off meds until much later and that horrible all day panic attack was the result of "sticker shock".  It was similar to my experience of first taking SSRIs. It took my brain 7 days and the sticker shock caused an intense panic attack.  I am glad I have kept a symptoms calendar since that first attack more than a year ago because I can now see a similar pattern as I withdraw. Based on my pattern, I know that I'll survive, I'll have different symptoms show up in the first few weeks and also that they'll keep coming back days before my period. But they'll be duller and duller, and I'll be smarter and more prepared to tackle them on. At the moment, I'm not close to feeling normal. I just started driving again for the 2nd time and this time without anxiety. I'm still afraid to drive in the freeway, but hey, 1 victory at a time.  At the moment, I am alone in my home. That is a victory for me because since my panic attack a week ago, I have been afraid of being alone because of fear of another panic attack (or dying) and no one around to help me (sounds familiar?) For now, my symptoms are feeling very tired all the time and the occasional anxiety over something. I am ok with this because i know from my pattern, I will experience that for maybe a few weeks and I'll get more and more energy and eventually I'll  forget why I have felt the need to sleep by 8pm like a grandma. lol. I believe it's my body's way of saying, "well, whew, that was an adrenaline rush. Time for nap!" To me, It means I'm healing. 

A tool that has really helped me with my recovery: I bought a book off Kindle about how to end anxiety. The book is called-
Dare: The New Way to End Anxiety and Stop Panic Attacks by Barry McDonagh

 

At almost 1k reviews with 4 /12 to almost 5 stars, I knew I needed to read it.  It teaches you how to approach anxiety and panic attacks in a counter-intuitive way. I know that my anxiety attacks will happen again, but I also know I needed to approach it in a different way. And this book is IT as far as my plan of strategy. It teaches you to look at anxiety as your protector and to welcome it. Before you get turned off by that idea, please continue reading as I cannot explain it anywhere near as good as the author. All i know that it has helped me so far and decreased fear significantly. My counselor told me that panic attacks happen because you fear having a panic attack. That didn't make sense to me until I read this book. Here's an example of what I got out of the book so far: I am able to give Anxiety a face/body, because he's separate from me. To me he's a green fluffy wolf dog with his tongue always sticking out. I call him Coach Anxiety because he teaches me about life and what I need to work on myself to be a better person everyday- mentally and physically. Unfortunately, when he's around, I feel all sorts of weird things. My heart pounds faster, i get dizzy, I can't breathe, I'm so thirsty, I think I'm gonna die. But he's just so cute and he keeps licking me and I can't help but think "so what?" I accept him because these things that he makes me feel, although uncomfortable, I won't die from. And in fact he's designed to protect me. Anxiety/Panic attacks happen because our fight or flight mode is activated. Years ago, this was activated when a saber tooth tiger was around. It gives you that adrenaline rush to be able to run fast. In our modern days, we still get the adrenaline rush, but we don't have the same threats. So I have been practicing... everytime i start to feel my heart pound faster and get dizzy spells, i think to myself that I welcome this feeling because it means cute little Coach Anxiety is around and I'm protected and in good hands.  I'm telling you that it may sound crazy, but it has been helping me. It helps by stopping our minds from resisting the uncomfortable feeling (and resisting the uncomfortable feeling is actually what causes panic and the loop of an anxiety/panic attack). The resistance is the tug-of-war in our brains and the accepting it helps the feelings run through our mind peacefully and helps us calm down a lot faster. Please read the book if you can, because it explains it much better than i can!

Thank you for reading my long post. I hope this helps someone out there.   Please remember that you're not alone, you are safe, and take one day at a time. Eventually, this too, will pass!

[WarriorWomanLV]

Journal: today was a rough one. Had 2 panic attacks in 1 day. The first 1 i was driving and felt it. I was able to pull up at a gas station and stop. My toddler son was with me. It breaks my heart to have him see me go through this. 1 hour later, i felt a window of relief and nervously continued to drive home. I felt better once i was home. I even went for a walk to shake things off. Then i took a nap and woke up panicked. That was a few hours and I'm still a mess. Feeling so so tired but restless.  I'm now actually thinking of taking the buspar my doc recommended or reinstating the lexapro that i received. The one in liquid form. I started feeling better and sure enough it has return. 

[ChessieCat]

32 minutes ago, WarriorWomanLV said:

I'm now actually thinking of taking the buspar my doc recommended or reinstating the lexapro that i received.

 

It is generally better to reinstate the same drug you were last taking.  This is because that is the drug your brain has adapted to.  Taking a different drug may not reduce the withdrawal symptoms and you may get start up, side effects and/or a bad reaction to the new drug.  You won't know what is causing any issues.

 

Please carefully read Post #1 of this topic About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms.  Please note that SA recommends taking a small dose to test to see how you react.  It is better to start with a small amount and increase the dose if necessary.

[Miracle123]

Hi Warrior, Withdrawals is up and down ....good or worse. Yourself should to learn more how to cope with your withdrawals. This process is a super long and slow progress. im not means to scary you but you have to get prepared. Healing is happen but if your withdrawals is too extreme ....the only way is reinstated a bit of lexapro. Switching to others AD is not good ideal either way.Hang in there and take care.

[WarriorWomanLV]

I reinstated 2 months from my last  lexapro dosage. 

 

Hello all! Thank you for your words of encouragement. Yesterday, October 13, i reinstated lexapro in liquid form. I took .20mg and felt immediate effects within 5 mins. I felt very sleepy for a few seconds then my muscles relaxed and my nervous self relaxed. It felt literally as if i took a muscle relaxer. This was at .20mg!! The cons would be that i felt distant like a floating feeling. But overall it was a relief to my nervous system. This feeling lasted 2 hrs and i was back to my nervous feelings. That night,  i woke up twice with cortisol spikes. I am able to manage but it definitely still sucks. 

 

Question: Is this a good sign? Should I continue taking .20mg drops for 3 more days? When it's time to increase at what dosage can i increase it to?? Thank you all, staff and members for your constant support. ❤️

 

 

[WarriorWomanLV]

I reinstated.

 

Hello all! Thank you for your words of encouragement. Yesterday, October 13, i reinstated lexapro in liquid form. I took .20mg and felt immediate effects within 5 mins. I felt very sleepy for a few seconds then my muscles relaxed and my nervous self relaxed. It felt literally as if i took a muscle relaxer. This was at .20mg!! The cons would be that i felt distant like a floating feeling. But overall it was a relief to my nervous system. This feeling lasted 2 hrs and i was back to my nervous feelings. That night,  i woke up twice with cortisol spikes. I am able to manage but it definitely still sucks. 

 

Question: Is this a good sign? Should I continue taking .20mg drops for 3 more days? When it's time to increase at what dosage can i increase it to?? Thank you all, staff and members, for your constant support. The links you send me have been very helpful. ❤️

 

 

[ChessieCat]

It takes about 4 days for a dose change to get to full level in the blood and a bit longer for it to register in the brain.  We suggest you keep daily notes on paper which can help you to see how reinstatement is affecting you.  It can be hard to remember, so logging on paper is helpful.  The idea of reinstatement isn't to get rid of withdrawal symptoms completely but to bring them to a bearable level.

 

Please update your drug signature.

[WarriorWomanLV]

ChessieCat, thank you so much for everything. You are saving my sanity. I'm happy to report that reinstating a very small dose has been successful for me. As I've mentioned before, it's been 2 months since my last dose. Today is my 4th day of reinstating .20mg. I can't believe how that tiny of a dose is helping me. I get what you mean now, it cushions the withdrawal symptoms but it doesn't take it away. I still get symptoms but they have been at a bearable level. For example, i would still wake up and feel some cortisol spike, but i am able to calm down in seconds, whereas before, the cortisol spike would spiral into an anxiety attack. I also started to take a prenatal vitamin this morning because a woman from the reinstatement page suggested it. It helped a bit. And about an hour ago, i took an omega-3.... that one really helped. I will update my signature and i have also been logging my experience. Thank you sooo much!

[ChessieCat]

It's best to make only one change at a time, otherwise you won't know what is causing an issue if it happens:  Keep it Simple, Slow and Stable

[WarriorWomanLV]

Will do. I'll keep the omega-3 and reintroduce the vitamins later on!

[WarriorWomanLV]

Update: i have decided to stop all supplements for now. The omega-3 made me feel so relaxed, similar to a glass-of-wine relaxed. It was a wonderful feeling considering the constant anxiety I've been feeling since my withdrawal symptoms showed up. Unfortunately, the night after i took the omega-3 oil i literally felt the effects wear off. As in it literally woke me up as the relaxing wave left my body and it turned into chills and head tension. It only lasted 30 mins. But i guess, I'm not looking to feel drugged. I'm looking to feel normal... which may take a little longer. Sigh. 

[Miracle123]

On 10/18/2018 at 6:16 AM, WarriorWomanLV said:

Update: i have decided to stop all supplements for now. The omega-3 made me feel so relaxed, similar to a glass-of-wine relaxed. It was a wonderful feeling considering the constant anxiety I've been feeling since my withdrawal symptoms showed up. Unfortunately, the night after i took the omega-3 oil i literally felt the effects wear off. As in it literally woke me up as the relaxing wave left my body and it turned into chills and head tension. It only lasted 30 mins. But i guess, I'm not looking to feel drugged. I'm looking to feel normal... which may take a little longer. Sigh. 

Hi Warrior, Just wanna come in to say hello. I think its a withdrawals or need time to stable after reinstated ....mostly mobs here doing well with Omega 3 for calming, reduced inflammation and anxiety. Maybe you wanna to trying small amount to see your body reaction. If you feel fear to take any supplement , you can eat more salmon fishs or take epsom salt for bath (this contain magnesium for calming and relax). Trying see this working for you. Hope you will be well. Take care. 

[jozeff]

Hi warrior,

 

I read somewhere that not all fish oil supplements have the same effect.

 

Only very pure ones seem to be good. This is just something I read in some literature but can't remember where it was.

 

I think it's best for you to stay of this oil or perhaps take a very small dose to start with.

 

Maybe a mod can advise you on this subject.

 

How are your withdrawal symptoms going? 

[WarriorWomanLV]

Hello, Miracle and Jozeff

 

Thank you both for reaching out. I absolutely appreciate it. I've decided to cut open my omega-3 capsules and drink half in the morning and half at night. This has helped me a lot. But of course I'm still getting the waves and windows. Last night, a big wave came over me. My period started to spot which was crazy because i just got off my period that i had for 11days. And that period happened 2 weeks after the last period. Basically, my hormones are going crazy. I have an appt with my obgyn but I'm afraid of taking any type of meds at this point. I developed a lot of fears. I'm afraid to drive and worse of all, I'm afraid to go home to my own home. I'm staying with my parents for now and afraid to go home because when my husband is at work, then it's just me and my toddler. And when i get an attack, i can't take care of myself let alone my son. I have reinstated and currently at a low dose of .30mg.  I do hope that time will heal. It's been one of the toughest time of my life and I'm comforted by the knowledge that I'm not alone in this experience. Thank you guys for the support. 

[WarriorWomanLV]

Hello! I've successfully reinstated at a small dose of .30mg lexapro. The waves are still there, but it has definitely brought my anxiety to a bearable level. My question is: once i have stabilized, how long should i stay on that dose and what does tapering at that micro level look like? Any advice is appreciated!

[ChessieCat]

That's good that you are feeling improvement.

 

Your drug sig says .20mg but your post says .30mg.  Could you please clarify this and if needed, update the drug sig.  Thanks.

 

You might want to hold for several months or longer, to ensure that your brain has adapted as needed.  I did a 3 month hold at 50mg during my taper and then another 7 weeks at 20mg, even though things were going well.  I wanted to give my brain a change to catch up if it needed it.  It's generally better to hold for longer than to start trying to reduce too soon.  And the brain could be doing things which we don't feel or recognise as symptoms.

 

Tapering even at this small dose is still 10% or less of the current dose with a hold of about 4 weeks to allow the brain to adapt.  Many members have found that the lower their dose gets the slower they need to go, either by reducing less and/or holding for longer.  Why taper paper: dose-occupancy curves

 

This tapering protocol will never actually get to 0 so there will come a time that you will have to jump off and only you can decide when/what that dose is.  when-to-end-the-taper-and-jump-to-zero

 

You might want to check out BrassMonkey's topic and his success story and his taper method the-brassmonkey-slide-method-of-micro-tapering.  

 

There is also:  the-slowness-of-slow-tapers-micro-taper

 

Edited October 23, 2018 by ChessieCat

[WarriorWomanLV]

Thank you, ChessieCat. I really appreciate all your help! To be quite honest, I'm still not feeling right. But I'm happy to be feeling better than before. I hope you're doing good as well!

 

Ps- i am currently at .30mgs and I'll update my sig!