SadDad88

[Altostrata]

Now that I think of it, my joints swelled up when I took Buspar. These drugs do stuff like that.

[SadDad88]

Possible to get slammed with sereve withdrawal a month out from discontinuation of Lexapro? I took it for only two weeks at a low dosage but had almost every severe adverse reaction to it. 

[Leo1983]

Hi.

 

Im not a mod but i have learnt alot. I hqve also read the advice you have been given. 

 

Yes - it is common to have a delayed withdrawal. Everyone is different. It took about 8 weeks for withdrawal to hit me. They say that this is every last drop of the drug leaving every place in your body.  (Mod Note - Please see:  are-we-there-yet-how-long-is-withdrawal-going-to-take)

 

Lexapro is a very powerful drug. It is the most potent of the SSRIs and is also highly selective in the brain on receptors.

 

Alot of people here complain of Lexapro withdrawal. 

 

What you are experiencing appears to be very common. Your aymptoms are very normal. 

 

You have also been given advice around the benzo use. You may want to look at some advice on what you can do with that? Is the benzo causing you issues? Or is it a mix of both?. 

 

I can tell you 1st hand this process is the worst ever. It is very frightening and causes alot of panic. However you have 2 options... 1)Do your homework, try to get a plan for your drugs and learn to accept and ride the waves. Also read positive success stories and learn tips to cope. Or 2) fight it, panic, not accept it, continue to take benzos without a plan and give your brain and body more stress. 

 

Option 1 is the only known way forward. 

 

We all know its a nightmare and it hurts so bad. 

 

BUT it gets better. There proof it gets better. Im better than i was 6 month ago. But i accept im this for a while. 

 

I have too........ 

 

Edited December 1, 2018 by ChessieCat
added mod note

[Gridley]

Leo has given good advice and made some excellent points.

 

Withdrawal symptoms can definitely be delayed.  As Alto said, symptoms and healing from an adverse reaction are very similar to withdrawal symptoms.

 

Delayed onset of withdrawal symptoms

 

Here is some information on withdrawal:

 

What is withdrawal syndrome.

 

Glenmullen’s withdrawal symptom list.

 

 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

 

These two links are helpful in understanding what's going on in your brain:

 

Brain Remodelling 

 

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

 

[SadDad88]

So my pdoc had me do a genetic test. Hopefully this reveals how I metabolize Lexapro. 

 

At any rate, I do think ssris are poison to me.

 

Currently added hydroxyzine to my med mix. I've had it before two years ago. Worked great for a bit. I need something to curb this extreme anxiety that is bordering on panic. Otherwise I wont be able to work and everything falls apart for my family and obviously myself.

 

I've never felt worse in my life then after taking this med twice! How can I be so stupid to try it again? Good Lord forgive me for my stupidity.

Edited December 1, 2018 by ChessieCat
removed obscenity

[Altostrata]

The genetic tests may suggest which drugs and drug combinations to avoid in the future, but they're useless to explain withdrawal syndrome or whatever symptoms you're having now.

 

How are you feeling?

[SadDad88]

1 hour ago, Altostrata said:

The genetic tests may suggest which drugs and drug combinations to avoid in the future, but they're useless to explain withdrawal syndrome or whatever symptoms you're having now.

 

How are you feeling?

 

 

I agree with you! I'm curious to see what the results will be.

 

I'm very angry honestly. I met with another psychiatrist who told me that ssris don't change brain chemistry and that there was no way what I'm experiencing what due to Lexapro. I wanted to beat her down so bad because she was lying right to my face. This is the second time that I've experienced horrible reaction and witjdrawal due to this med. I'm feeling incredibly hoodwinked and dumb for actually trying it again thinking the docs were right.

 

I have hair trigger anxiety in any situation. Base line is just anxiety. I don't see how people can go through this. It's been two years for me. A lot of the days better than others but during the Lexapro aftermath it's been the worst.

 

Thanks for lending an ear Alto.

 

The hydroxyzine helps take the edge off but I still feel it 

 

Edited December 1, 2018 by ChessieCat
removed obscenity

[Altostrata]

It's very, very hard to find a good psychiatrist.

[SadDad88]

So today I had a really good window. So far it's lasted 8 hours and hasn't stopped yet. I have felt great. What a sensation to feel normal. 

 

I hope this is a good sign. I know it may go away via windows and waves but I'm hoping for the best. I have a family to support and need to be as stable as possible.

[SadDad88]

On 12/1/2018 at 3:47 PM, Altostrata said:

It's very, very hard to find a good psychiatrist.

I had a two almost three day window where I felt 95 percent myself or 100 percent a few times. Tonight I was hit by confusion, memory loss, shaking. It's subsiding but lasted 3 hours. 

 

I'm excited! I hope this keeps up. Is this a good sign of healing? 

[ChessieCat]

Yes it is a good sign.  Just be careful not to overdo things when you are feeling good.

[Altostrata]

Good to hear. What is your current drug schedule, with dosages?

[SadDad88]

1 hour ago, Altostrata said:

Good to hear. What is your current drug schedule, with dosages?

15mg Valium daily split up in 3 doses every 8 hours. 50 ish mg of hydroxyzine. 25mg at 8pm and 12.5mg in the am with Valium and the other 12.5 at 2pm.

 

Hydroxyzine stoped having it's sedation effect. Not sure if it's even helping my anxiety anymore.

 

Had another good day with some minor hiccups.

 

If this keeps up, I'm going to eventually taper Valium very slowly in a couple of months. I'm very familiar with benzos unfortunately. Tapered from 20mg to 15mg over 5 months with tolerable withdrawal symptom ls.

 

Thanks Alto

[Altostrata]

You're welcome. When you want to start tapering, please start a topic in the benzo forum.

 

You might want to step down on the hydroxyzine and go off it over a week or so.

[SadDad88]

Iive recently experienced a sensation that feels like sudden drops. For instance, like if you were in an elevator and it dropped a half a foot and stopped. I also feel like jerking motions back and forth. All of this accompanying a vibrating feeling. Kinda like im in an earthquake. My hands quiver and it feels like my cns is in overdrive 

 

Normal anxiety or withdrawal symptom?  First time for me.

[ChessieCat]

dizziness-vertigo-light-headedness-rocking-or-swaying-sensations

 

tremors-shaking-body-vibration-internal-trembling

[ChessieCat]

7 minutes ago, SadDad88 said:

So I tried doing a little research on what this antihistamine actually does receptor wise. I found some articles saying it acts on serotonin. Has anyone else come across this? It has sedating effects and helps anxiety. I'm currently taking it and I feel it does nothing. When I try to stop, my anxiety sky rockets. So I suppose it does do something for me, or has a withdrawal affect even though everything says it doesn't.

 

Thoughts on this med? I tried it last year when I had horrible insomnia from Lexapro the first time around. It worked wonders but stopped working after a couple of months. I found it hard to discontinue and had to taper it over some weeks to months. 

 

I've merged the new topic you created with the existing topic on this subject.  Before starting a new topic please check to see what already exists.  Use either the site search or google and add survivingantidepressants.org to the search term.

 

antihistamines-for-withdrawal-insomnia-diphenhydramine-doxylamine-hydroxyzine

 

[SadDad88]

1 minute ago, ChessieCat said:

 

I've merged the new topic you created with the existing topic on this subject.  Before starting a new topic please check to see what already exists.  Use either the site search or google and add survivingantidepressants.org to the search term.

 

antihistamines-for-withdrawal-insomnia-diphenhydramine-doxylamine-hydroxyzine

 

Thanks

[SadDad88]

1 minute ago, ChessieCat said:

 

I've merged the new topic you created with the existing topic on this subject.  Before starting a new topic please check to see what already exists.  Use either the site search or google and add survivingantidepressants.org to the search term.

 

antihistamines-for-withdrawal-insomnia-diphenhydramine-doxylamine-hydroxyzine

 

I can't find my question anywhere though on the board. The part where perhaps it acts on serotonin.

[ChessieCat]

20 minutes ago, SadDad88 said:

So I tried doing a little research on what this antihistamine actually does receptor wise. I found some articles saying it acts on serotonin. Has anyone else come across this? It has sedating effects and helps anxiety. I'm currently taking it and I feel it does nothing. When I try to stop, my anxiety sky rockets. So I suppose it does do something for me, or has a withdrawal affect even though everything says it doesn't.

 

Thoughts on this med? I tried it last year when I had horrible insomnia from Lexapro the first time around. It worked wonders but stopped working after a couple of months. I found it hard to discontinue and had to taper it over some weeks to months. 

 

[Leo1983]

Looks to me that it causes trouble eventually like all drugs if that helps. 

 

Cheers

 

Leo

[SadDad88]

Can taking magnesium supplements cause depression by chance?

 

I started taking glycinate, 150mg per day. It makes me fatigued sometimes and tited but absolutely kills my anxiety, which I love. But I've noticed I get depression. I never had an issue with depression before.

[ChessieCat]

Some members find that they have issues when taking magnesium

 

[SadDad88]

I'm currently about 3 months off a horrible reaction to Lexapro that I took briefly for almost two weeks. Sometimes I become incredibly sleepy and other days I don't sleep that well and I'm wired. Is this normal? 

 

Today was a but scary. I had a solid 6 hours of sleep, woke up and felt fine. Left for work for a two hour drive, 15 minutes into it I became incredibly drowsy the entire time. That was followed by a day of stomach cramps, headaches and malaise. 

 

So is it normal to become increasingly sleepy sometimes? Of so, what's the cause?

 

BTW, things are slowly getting better! I still have crappy days unfortunately but I'm hopeful

[Altostrata]

On 12/5/2018 at 6:40 PM, SadDad88 said:

15mg Valium daily split up in 3 doses every 8 hours. 50 ish mg of hydroxyzine. 25mg at 8pm and 12.5mg in the am with Valium and the other 12.5 at 2pm.

 

Hydroxyzine stoped having it's sedation effect. Not sure if it's even helping my anxiety anymore.

 

Had another good day with some minor hiccups.

 

If this keeps up, I'm going to eventually taper Valium very slowly in a couple of months. I'm very familiar with benzos unfortunately. Tapered from 20mg to 15mg over 5 months with tolerable withdrawal symptom ls.

 

Thanks Alto

 

Are you still taking Valium? What is your current drug schedule, with dosages?

 

Please re-read The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

[SadDad88]

27 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

 

Are you still taking Valium? What is your current drug schedule, with dosages?

 

Please re-read The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

I am, been on it for 2 years. Went from 20mg to 15mg over 5 months. I want to taper again since I stopped last April but I don't know when a good time to do so would be since I had a bad reaction to Lexapro. 

[Altostrata]

20 hours ago, Altostrata said:

What is your current drug schedule, with dosages?

 

Sleepiness is a common side effect of benzos. In fact, a lot of people take them as sleep drugs.

 

You may see a correlation between your drug schedule and your symptoms. Please supply your drug schedule as requested.

 

Please go to drugs.com and read up on the side effects of each of your drugs.

[ChessieCat]

1 hour ago, SadDad88 said:

Has anyone experienced extremely dry eyes. It's totally random and has a sudden onset. I don't have any allergies that I know of and it all started after three Lexapro incident. It goes away quickly as well.

 

I've moved your post to an existing topic: vision-symptoms-floaters-snow-blurreddimmed-vision-twitching-dry-eyes-and-pain

 

[Altostrata]

Hello, SadDad, how are you doing?

[Giuly88]

On 11/18/2018 at 2:51 AM, WiggleIt said:

Dear SadDad,

Alto is right in saying that your doc did you a great disservice by adding a second medication instead of removing the first offending medication.  You are right to feel betrayed, and any doctor who states that psych meds "can't do this" is just plain wrong.  Alto is also right in identifying that some people have immediate adverse reactions to psych meds, others have delayed adverse reactions, others develop tolerance withdrawal, and yet other people seem to do fine until they try to withdraw off of the psych meds.  It is an absolute, total, and complete gamble for how people will react to these meds.

Sadly, the only cases doctors are familiar with are the people who seem to do well with psych meds, because those are the cases that medical and pharmaceutical literature emphasize.  There is a SMALL, growing movement of doctors who are beginning to accept that psych meds do damage, and there is a SMALL body of medical literature that's beginning to acknowledge what we in the online support groups already know: that psych meds may help some people, but those same psych meds can and do absolutely slaughter the health of a great many people.

As far as your symptoms go, please know that so many people on this site have been where you are.  I can tell you for a fact that I've been where you are, including muscle contractions, spasms, brain zaps, body zaps, and a constant feeling of having the flu.  My body has improved greatly with time.  This living nightmare DOES get better.  Recovery is not linear, like it would be with a broken bone.  Recovery also takes different amounts of time for different people.  But it IS true that things get better.

Log on here as often as you need.  Freak out on this site as often as you need.  Lay around and rest as often as you need.  Do "mindless" things, like watch TV, as often as you need.  Be very gentle with yourself.  That is key.

Four years ago, I was in a wheelchair due to the severe physical damage caused to me by psych meds and psych med withdrawal.  Then, I became able to use a walker.  Eventually, I graduated to a cane.  Four years ago, I was physically unable to feed myself and had to be spoon-fed by my parents.  I had to re-learn how to dress myself.  That's how extensively the meds and withdrawal damaged by body and cognitive abilities.  Doctors were cruel to me, calling me crazy, and telling my parents that they were enabling my delusions.  Finally, we found a GP and a psychiatrist who did not blow me off as crazy, but who took the time to investigate my case and who read the notes from the hospital that clearly stated that the psych meds had done this to my body.  The new GP and psychiatrist believed me, and familiarized themselves with medical literature where other cases like mine had been reported.

Over the past four years, I've hung on to life like a dog with a bone by my bare teeth, and I'm on this site today to tell newcomers like you to HOLD ON BECAUSE YOU WILL GET BETTER.

There is an additional website that helped me greatly, too:

https://beyondmeds.com/2015/03/20/reciprocity-thank-you/

I'm sorry this happened to you, but I am SUPER encouraged by the fact that you said you had a good day on a Friday.  It may seem like a small thing, but having a good day like that is a sign of healing and progress. 

Can you clarify in your signature whether you are still on any meds?  That info will help us all respond to you.  BTW, I'm not one of the admins here, and I don't have as much knowledge as they do.  I'm just a psych med survivor.

Very powerful and poignant account Wigglelt ❤️ x