Kronos18: Lexapro withdrawal

[Kronos18]

Thank you so much for responding.I’m currently experiencing the withdrawal and it’s awful, I know it will get better, I hope that the symptoms will fade during the next weeks, i’m currently working with my panic attacks by exposure and it’s so hard, with all of these symptoms, but i’m just staying in the panic attack and accept it no matter what.Hope you will get better soon, i did a quick tapper because of the side effects, my anxiety was very high, and i had a zombie feeling.How long have you been on the drug for?

[ChessieCat]

Acceptance

 

During any taper, there will be times of discomfort.  We strongly encourage members to learn and use non drug coping techniques to help get through tough times.

 

Understanding what is happening helps us to not get caught up with the second fear, or fear of the fear.  This happens when we experience sensations in our body and because we don't understand them we are scared of them and then start to panic.

 

This document has a diagram of the body explaining what happens in the body when we become anxious:

 

https://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/docs/AnxietySelfHelp.pdf

 

Anxiety Stuff - all kinds of stuff about anxiety attacks and things that help ...

 

Audio FEMALE VOICE:  First Aid for Panic (4 minutes)

 

Audio MALE VOICE:  First Aid for Panic (4 minutes)

 

Dr Claire Weekes suffered from anxiety and learned and taught ways of coping.  There are videos available on YouTube.

 

Claire Weekes' Method of Recovering from a Sensitized Nervous System

 

Audio:  How to Recover from Anxiety - Dr Claire Weekes

 

On 4/28/2017 at 4:03 AM, brassmonkey said:

 

AAF: Acknowledge, Accept, Float.  It's what you have to do when nothing else works, and can be a very powerful tool in coping with anxiety.  The neuroemotional anxiety many of us feel during WD is directly caused by the drugs and their chemical reactions in the brain.  Making it so there is nothing we can do about them.  They won't respond to other drugs, relaxation techniques and the like.  They do, however, react very well to being ignored.  That's the concept behind AAF.  Acknowledge, get to know the feeling involved, explore them.  Accept, These feelings are a part of you and they aren't going anywhere fast. Float, let the feeling float off as you get on with your life as best as you can.  It's a well documented fact that the more you feed in to anxiety the worse it gets.  What starts as generalized neuroemotinal anxiety can be easily blown into a full fledged panic attack just by thinking about it.

 

I often liken it to an unwanted house guest.  At first you talk to them, have conversations, communicate with them.  After a while you figure out that they aren't leaving and there is nothing you can do to get rid of them.  So you go on about your day, working around them until they get bored and leave.

 

It can take some practice, but AAF really does work.  I hope you give it a try.

 

 

 

[Kronos18]

Is it normal that when you start taking lexapro to experience insomnia, high anxiety or it is an bad reaction to the pills?how do I know if I had or not a bad reaction to the pills?

[ChessieCat]

Kronos, we really need you to put your Lexapro information in your drug signature please, so we can see how you have tapered the drug.  Thank you.

 

Please write it like this:

 

Lexapro:  date, dose; date, dose; date, dose; etc

 

If you don't know the exact day, please use early, mid, late with the name of the month.

 

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature

 

 

Edited March 5, 2019 by ChessieCat

[ChessieCat]

Your Introduction topic is the place to ask questions and journal your progress.  This keeps your history in one place.  It also becomes a case study for any medical professionals visiting SA.  Please note that SA works differently to many other forums.  Please continue to use your Introduction topic instead of creating a new topic every time you ask a question.  Thank you.

 

On 5/15/2011 at 5:22 AM, Altostrata said:

MISSION OF SURVIVINGANTIDEPRESSANTS.ORG

 

Surviving Antidepressants is a site for peer support, documentation, and education of withdrawal symptoms and withdrawal syndrome caused by psychiatric drugs, specifically antidepressants.

The participants on this site have all experienced or are experiencing difficulty in withdrawal from psychiatric medications. We offer peer support to those who are similarly suffering, drawing from our personal experiences.

(No posting on this site should be construed as medical advice. For medical advice, consult a trusted medical caregiver.)

The personal stories on this site are documentation of an iatrogenic condition -- suffering caused by medical treatment -- that is almost always ignored, misdiagnosed, or denied by the medical establishment. Given the widespread prescription of antidepressants to tens of millions of people worldwide, withdrawal syndrome probably affects hundreds of thousands if not millions -- including newborns and children.

Antidepressant withdrawal syndrome can last weeks, months, or years. It can be distressing, debilitating, or even disabling. It may be adding to an increase in what is termed disabling mental illness.

With our documentation of antidepressant withdrawal syndrome, we hope to educate the medical establishment about this problem. Case studies are essential; they are evidence understood by doctors, the psychiatric industry, and government regulatory agencies.

Our hope is, eventually, antidepressants and other psychiatric drugs will be prescribed rarely, and only in cases of extremely severe mental illness after less invasive treatments have been tried.

Please join Surviving Antidepressants in its mission to support, document, and educate about psychiatric drug withdrawal syndrome.

 

[Altostrata]

8 hours ago, Kronos18 said:

Is it normal that when you start taking lexapro to experience insomnia, high anxiety or it is an bad reaction to the pills?how do I know if I had or not a bad reaction to the pills?

 

That is an adverse reaction to Lexapro. How much are you taking and when did you start it?

[Kronos18]

I mean not insomnia like I couldn’t sleep for days and weeks, it was just the fact that I got sleep a little bit later than usual.And the anxiety was higher due the fact that when I started taking Lexapro, I was withdrawing from benzos which highened my anxiety so I may confuse withdrawal from benzos with lexapro use.Maybe the withdrawals from benzo made my insomnia, the thing is that after weeks of taking lexapro (i took it for 2 months) i could sleep well, eat well, even exercise.I took Lorazepam for 2 weeks and right after i quited taking it i started taking Lexapro.

[Altostrata]

What date was it you started Lexapro? Please update your signature.

 

I'm confused -- are you feeling better since you took Lexapro, has your sleep improved? What time of day do you take it?

[Kronos18]

I took Lorazepam for 2 weeks, in mid November 2018, and Lexapro I started taking on 27 november 2018 since 27 february 2019.I took 10mg for 6 weeks and 5mg for 2 weeks.I may be confusing the benzo withdrawal from then with the Lexapro side effects, because after like 10 days off Lorazepam and still taking lexapro, I was eating good, sleeping well, anxiety was a bit up, but all of my symptoms might have been related to benzo withdrawal.

[Kronos18]

What are the symptoms of a bad reaction to Lexapro?

[Kronos18]

Or how can I say if I had a bad reaction to it?

[Altostrata]

Are you still taking Lexapro? What dosage, and what time of day do you take it?

 

If it makes you feel worse, you have a bad reaction. Are you taking it now? How are you feeling?

[Kronos18]

I stopped taking it 5 weeks ago, I had a “zombie” feeling on it, but nothing severe.The only thing I experienced while changed from 10 mg to 5 mg was agitation, but I guess that’s from dosage change.But I wasn’t feeling suicidal or things like this, not vomiting, no gastrointenstinal problems, I was fatigued while I was on it.So what do I have to consider?What is the symptoms of a bad reaction to Lexapro?

[Altostrata]

Please update your signature.

 

Do you feel better or worse since you came off Lexapro 5 weeks ago?

 

Why are you concerned about an adverse reaction to it? You're not taking it.

[Kronos18]

I’m currently having withdrawal symptoms, DR/DP, fatigue, tingling in fingers especially, anxiety subsided, i have vertigo, tremors but not all the time, and a little bit of panic.I’m afraid that i had a bad reaction to it, i’m only 21.I feel so hopeless like this nightmare will never end

[Kronos18]

I’m feeling better to say even if i’m in withdrawal

[Kronos18]

But anyways, what are the synptoms of a bad reaction?

[Kronos18]

How do someone know if they have or had a toxic reaction to antidepressants that happens to a small number of people?

[Kronos18]

Hi.I’m currently in my 6th week off Lexapro after being in it for 2 months, and I literally feel like I’m losing the contact with reality.It was better until It all started gradually since 3 days ago.I literally feel like I’m losing my mind.Majority of the physical symptoms subsided, but these psychological symptoms makes me feel like i’m losing the contact with the world.I feel panicky because of that, everything seems so blurry and it’s so hard to think

[ChessieCat]

On 3/6/2019 at 11:29 AM, Altostrata said:

Please update your signature.

 

Do you feel better or worse since you came off Lexapro 5 weeks ago?

 

Why are you concerned about an adverse reaction to it? You're not taking it.

 

Please update your drug signature as previously requested:  Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature

 

Please answer the questions which Alto has asked you.

 

SA works differently to many other forums.  Each member has their own Introduction which is the place where you ask questions and journal your progress.  This keeps your history in one place.  You have created many new topics on this site and many of them have been merged into your Introduction topic.  This creates work and wastes the time of the volunteer moderators.    Please do not create any more topics.  Please continue to post here in your Introduction topic.  Thank you.

[Kronos18]

I have good days, few, and bad days, the only thing that is getting me crazy is DR/DP, is so strong, I try my best to go out and do everything but it’s so hard, even to socialise, i’m concerned about the adverse reaction, I am concerned that the pills did some ireversible damage to mu brain, i am only 21, i don’t know how i can handle it if it’s going to take years or healing even after 2 months of use.I get anxiety simptoms when i go out and visit my friends, i am really concerned that the pills did some ireversible damage to me since i took them i don’t feel like myself at all.

[Altostrata]

Has your DR/DP gotten worse, or has your worrying about it gotten worse?

 

Since that's your only serious symptom, I would try fish oil and magnesium supplements helpful, see
http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/
http://survivingantidepressants.org/topic/15483-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/

 

Try a little bit of one at a time to see how it affects you.

 

The other symptoms having gone away is a good sign. You will need to be patient and calm yourself, let your nervous system heal. See

 

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

Disconnect between interest and action/motivation

 

Anhedonia, apathy, demotivation, emotional numbness

 

Derealization or Depersonalization

 

Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms

 

Easing your way into meditation for a stressed-out nervous system

 

Music for self-care: calms hyperalertness, anxiety, aids relaxation and sleep

 

Health anxiety, hypochondria, and obsession with symptoms

 

Are We There Yet? How Long is Withdrawal Going to Take?

 

"Is it always going to be like this?"

 

Withdrawal dialogues & encouragement

 

[Kronos18]

Thanks for response Alto.It has gotten a little bit worse, but also as I told you the other symptoms have subsided.What should I expect to happen next? I am taking magnesium and fish oil.The thing is that I get some anxiety symptoms when I go out, that I have never experiencee before I took the pills.And I am also more alert about everything that is happening around me

[Altostrata]

You seem to be doing a lot of worrying. Please utilize Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms to reduce this habit of mind. You may wish to see a counselor to coach you in other non-drug techniques to manage your fears and anxieties.

[Kronos18]

Yes, i’m worrying a lot.Does it make this worse?

[Altostrata]

Yes, worrying makes it a lot worse. You need to manage this. Did you worry excessively before you went on drugs? If so, you need to change this habit.

[Kronos18]

I keep searching about it, i think a lot about it most of the day.I really don’t know what to do in order to get this out of my mind.It’s so hard

[Kronos18]

I’m so afraid that i will never feel like myself after taking these hellish pills.I feel so weird

[Kronos18]

I observed something.everytime I go out or I have a symptom I get some sort of panic.Is high anxiety one of the withdrawal symptoms?As I am ok to say when I am alone but I get panic and anxiety symptoms when for example I go to the mall or do something that involves changing the place.I had that feeling before I was on pills, but it was manageable, now is out of control.Maybe this should be the cause aswell as derealization is linked to the anxiety and panic.May this be the cause of my feelings? Will it pass?

[ChessieCat]

On 3/8/2019 at 7:35 AM, ChessieCat said:

SA works differently to many other forums.  Each member has their own Introduction which is the place where you ask questions and journal your progress.  This keeps your history in one place.  You have created many new topics on this site and many of them have been merged into your Introduction topic.  This creates work and wastes the time of the volunteer moderators.    Please do not create any more topics.  Please continue to post here in your Introduction topic.  Thank you.

 

I have just moved yet another topic you have created and merged it with your Introduction topic.

 

Your Introduction topic is where you post.  Please do not create any more new topics.

 

SA is a very busy site and the mods get very frustrating having to do unnecessary tasks like moving posts/topics.

 

Please note that you were previously advised of this, quoted above, with an explanation of how SA works and why your posts are to be made in one topic.  If you create another new topic, you will be issued with a 1 point warning.  Please take this seriously, and note that 4 warning points will lead to automatic banning from SA.

[Kronos18]

I’m sorry for this

[Altostrata]

Read Health anxiety, hypochondria, and obsession with symptoms

 

You will need to manage this or you'll be going to a doctor asking for a pill.

[Kronos18]

Hi.I’m in my 5th week of withdrawing from Lexapro after I used it for 2 months and I literally feel like i’m going crazy.Even if I do things, write down this or even cook I don’t feel like doing it, I think I’m going mad.My symptoms from now are improving a bit apart from derealization which seems to get much powerful.I literally don’t know what to do anymore, i feel so lost.I am only 21.I feel like i’m losing my mind.I also experience some vision problems but i don’t know How to explain, it’s like colors are much darker than they should be,I also have blurry vision.I am getting panic atrack symptoms because of these symptoms

[Kronos18]

It’s been 6 weeks since I stopped taking lexapro, the main thing now is dr/dp, fatigue and lack of concentration.I would like to join gym again but my main problem is that when I put tru to do things I get worse dr/dp.Also I feel panicky, i noticed that vertigo started to subside but I still get some symptoms.What do you think should I try going to gym and see how it goes? i really would like to exercise again but i’m afraid that it will put a stress on cns and make things worse

[Gridley]

56 minutes ago, Kronos18 said:

 i really would like to exercise again but i’m afraid that it will put a stress on cns and make things worse

 

Though some members have reported benefits from intense exercise during withdrawal, because of the stress on the central nervous system, we recommend instead a gentle 30-minute walk, if possible in nature.  

[Kronos18]

Thank you very much.Should I give it a try at least or it can cause damage to my cns?