LexGirl

[LexGirl]

Hi there! I was wondering if there are any other doctors/med students in withdrawal? I work as a doctor already, but I'm not graduated yet, so I'm in the last phases of med school. Just looking for people like me.

 

To put it in brief, I have been on Lexapro for 8 years of which last tapering, currently at 1mg for 8 weeks. When I was put on drugs in the first place, I was 23 and had relationship drama and existential crisis what to do in life etc. Used to be the happiest of kids. So I have been eating Lexapro 10 mg for years without anybody ever thinking to get me off even though my life situation completely changed. Only benzos for myoclonus and tsopiclone for sleeping were suggested, but I never took them. I had done some minibreaks form Lex, but I didn't realize I was hooked, since when the first withdrawal sypmtoms came, I thought I am still depressed and reinitiated. CTd 6/2017 as I was abroad couldn't get an easy hold of drugs. In 2 months was in severe anxiety and insomnia without any reason in my life and realized I'm addicted. Reinitiated at 10mg and got seizures for every night as I didn't tolerate the drug any more. Cut to 5 and got rid of the seizures and been tapering ever since. So for a year now been tapering. It's been the hardest thing in my life, but it's my whole future life at stake so not turning back, not giving up. And been able to continue my life quite normally all this time.

 

So to other doctors/med students out there: Wondering, how have you experienced this betrayal from your own field of expertise? I myself have become so much more critical about drugs and medical interventions in general, when I have realized, how I was mislead myself in this case. It is tricky because if you want to be able to work, you have to trust the best practice guidelines in your country as it is not possible for every doctor to check the references for all the stuff. However for example in psychiatry you can't trust these guidelines obviously. Also feel really bad, when see patients at hospitals clearly distroyed by psych meds: having movement disorders, akathisia and stuff...

 

In a way I guess, as a doctor, it has been sort of faster for me to realize that I can't trust my psychiatrist and take the lead myself. Even though also for me it was only, when I CTd.  Before that I did indeed eat those 7 years this ****..  Anyways I guess for someone who trusts the doctor to have more knowledge than herself it takes more time to see that expert has no clue. I soon realized that the clinical trials for SSRIs were 8 weeks long, so these experts don't actually know anything about long-term use and I am on my own getting clean. Anyways looking for people like me out there:) Wish you all the best of luck and strength in this process. I am happy myself I am already at 1 mg even though some symptoms still remaining. But I'm pretty confident I get there and still feel/hope the permanent damage isn't really bad for me:)

[ChessieCat]

Hi LexGirl and welcome,

 

This site exists because of the lack of knowledge that the medical profession have of psychiatric drugs, possible bad reactions and withdrawal symptoms.  Many members here have been fed the chemical imbalance lie and told that they need a drug like a diabetic needs insulin:  chemical-imbalance-is-a-myth-stop-the-lies-please

 

Links to:  Journals and Scientific Sources and In the Media and Events, Controversies & Actions

 

I've also created a website which has links to things I have found on the internet:  (about 1/2 way down the page)  https://adwithdrawal.weebly.com/information-links.html

 

You might find the following useful/interesting:

 

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These are a real eye opener.  Gwen Olsen was a drug representative for 15 years

 

Interview:  Confessions of an Rx Drug Pusher (51 minutes Gwen Olsen - ex pharmaceutical representative)

 

Manipulating Doctors (10 minutes)

 

We are trained to misinform (6 minutes)

 

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The information about drug trials is also interesting:

 

Video:  Irving Kirsch:  Emperor's New Drugs:  Antidepressants and the Placebo Effect (1 hour 20 minutes)

 

Approval Criteria Used by the FDA

Antidepressants and the Placebo Effect by Irving Kirsch (link to full article)

Abstract:

Antidepressants are supposed to work by fixing a chemical imbalance, specifically, a lack of serotonin in the brain.  Indeed, their supposed effectiveness is the primary evidence for the chemical imbalance theory.  But analyses of the published data and the unpublished data that were hidden by drug companies reveals that most (if not all) of the benefits are due to the placebo effect.  Some antidepressants increase serotonin levels, some decrease it, and some have no effect at all on serotonin.  Nevertheless, they all show the same therapeutic benefit.  Even the small statistical difference between antidepressants and placebos may be an enhanced placebo effect, due to the fact that most patients and doctors in clinical trials successfully break blind.  The serotonin theory is as close as any theory in the history of science to having been proved wrong.  Instead of curing depression, popular antidepressants may induce a biological vulnerability making people more likely to become depressed in the future.

Excerpt:

How Did These Drugs Get Approved?
....
The FDA requires two adequately conducted clinical trials showing a significant difference between drug and placebo.  But there is a loophole:  there is no limit to the number of trials that can be conducted in search of these two significant trials.  Trials showing negative results simply do not count.  Furthermore, the clinical significance of the findings is not considered.  All that matters is that the results are statistically significant.
....
(NB:  emphasis in abstract and excerpt are mine)

[ChessieCat]

Now for your own personal situation.

 

To help us out please create your drug signature.  Keep it simple - no symptoms or diagnoses just:

• details for last 2 years - dates, ALL drugs, doses
• summary for older than 2 years - just years and ALL drugs

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature

 

Tips for tapering off Lexapro (escitalopram)

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms (I've included this one for your information)

Dr Joseph Glenmullen's Withdrawal Symptoms

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

Non-drug techniques to cope

 

When to end the taper and jump to zero?

 

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

 

Why taper paper: dose-occupancy curves

 

How do you talk to a doctor about tapering and withdrawal?

What should I expect from my doctor about withdrawal symptoms?

 

Brain Remodelling

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

What is Happening in Your Brain

 

This is your own introduction topic where you can ask questions and journal your progress.

 

Edited October 7, 2018 by ChessieCat
added lexapro tips topic

[Blondiee1915]

Hi Lexgirl,

 

Welcome to the forum.  I doubt there will be any doctors on here.  

 

I am also an ex lexapro user was on it for almost 10 years or so, it is truly heart breaking how long I was on meds and how doctors disregard WD symptoms and attribute them to the underlying condition instead.  We have to be our own advocates for sure.  

 

May I ask what symptoms do you still deal with? And congratulations on being on 1 mg!  You are almost there 

 

B 

[Altostrata]

Welcome, Lexgirl. We do indeed have a few doctors and many nurses as members. You might start a topic in Off-Topic to ask your very good questions. That would be an interesting discussion.

 

On 10/6/2018 at 1:08 AM, LexGirl said:

Only benzos for myoclonus and tsopiclone for sleeping were suggested, but I never took them. I

 

Did Lexapro give you these symptoms? 10mg was too high a dosage for you.

 

How much Lexapro are you taking now? How do you feel?

[Surfchick]

Hi Lexgirl,  im in the biz..i'm a OB and i am addicted to sertraline. The lack of knowledge about SSRIs is widespread here in the US and sadly, I do not know any physicians or nurse practitioners who are aware of the dangers of prescribing antidepressants. I have been in practice for many years, and have only recently (2018!!!)  learned about any of this (99% from this site and also Dr Peter Breggin and Dr Kelly Brogan). None of us are educated about SSRI withdrawal, brain changes, etc, in any of our programs.

I continue to be humbled, and mind blown. 

It has certainly changed my practice of Rx'ing these drugs.

[Happy2Heal]

hi Lexgirl

 

how are you doing?

 

hope this finds you well