This2shallpass: since 2016 ...

[This2shallpass]

I started taking lexapro about 5 years ago was on 20mg. I tapered off over the course of 9 weeks by 10mg each. I've been off for 12 days. I've been feeling the brain zaps which I expected, I was tired and irritable which I expected. One night I woke up in a dead slee with pgad symptoms. Who would have thought that an anti depressant withdrawal would have caused this? I do not have it as bad as what I read but it is there. Im also feeling itchyness all over my body. Tingling everywhere, did anyone have pgad from withdrawal? Did it go away? How long did it take? I came off the lexapro to try and have a baby with my husband. Iam now devastated. Please give me some positivity!

 

(mod note:  Original title: Pgad help!  Does it ever go away!)

Edited May 12, 2019 by manymoretodays
Introduction topics merged

[Altostrata]

Welcome, This2shallpass.

 

I moved your topic to start your Introductions topic. This topic can act as your journal.

 

You are having withdrawal symptoms from tapering too fast. These can get worse. As little as 1mg Lexapro might relieve these symptoms; you'd taper off it later. Do you have any Lexapro left?

 

See

 

What is withdrawal syndrome?
 
About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms
 
The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

Tips for tapering off Lexapro (escitalopram)

[ChessieCat]

Hi This2shallpass and welcome to SA,

 

It's good that you have found this site.  There is lots of excellent information here.  Alto has already given you some useful links.

 

We ask all members to Please put your Withdrawal History in Signature.  Details of the last year and a summary of anything prior is helpful.  Please include ALL drugs, doses, dates and how you decreased/increased.  This will allow your history to be seen at a glance.  Please update whenever you make a change so it remains current.

 

Here you can find Dr Joseph Glenmullen's Symptoms Checklist

 

These helped me to understand AD drug withdrawal:  Brain Remodelling (Rhi's Description of Brain Healing) and Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery.  People can be reluctant, understandably, to reinstate.  These links might help you to understand why reinstatement has been suggested.

 

Please use your Intro/Update topic to ask questions.  If you click "Follow" top right you will be notified when someone responds.

[This2shallpass]

I was on lexapro for about 7 years. In July 2016 my psychiatrist basically cold turkeyed me and I went into severe withdrawal. I reinstated after 3 months because I could not function. In December of 2016 I started a very slow taper and was successful in getting off the lexapro in April of 2018 with minimal symptoms. I got pregnant right away, I felt amazing during my pregnancy and gave birth to an amazing little girl February 6, 2019. 

 

fast forward to today, I had a traumatic birth, lost so much blood, and baby was in the nicu for a month. I think I have developed POTS syndrome as well as gastropresis, which in getting tested for. I had to go back on lexapro because I could not function I took 2.5 and worked myself up to 10mg. I actually can function again and be a mom, I guess my question is, will my pots or gastropresis improve once I stabilize on the medication? I'm only 32 years old and I feel like my life will never be the same, it's very upsetting. Am I doomed? Will I never be able to taper again? 

[Carmie]

Hi This2shallpass, 

 

Welcome to SA. I’m sorry you had such a rough time with the birth of your daughter. Congratulations on the birth though, that’s awesome news. 

 

We are actually a site for coming off medication, so if down the track you would like to taper the medication please let us know. The recommendation is no more than 10% a month. Yes, you can definitely come off these meds again, if you choose to do so, but it’s important to come off really slowly, and let your brain stabilise with every drop. 

 

As to whether the medication will help with your symptoms we don’t know. The medications I’ve been on have only caused me problems, and everyone is struggling on this site because of medications.

 

Could you please go to the Read This First forum and to the thread entitled “ Please Put Your Withdrawal History In Your Signature.” Thanks a lot. 

 

I hope you have many fun times with your new baby girl, sending hugs🤗

[This2shallpass]

I think I spoke too soon yesterday at  6 weeks in 10mg I started to experience severe burning sensations all over my body including my brain! I'm not sure what to do should I start tapering the 10mg? I'm fearing the worst, kindling. @Carmie @Altostrata please help strutting to remain calm and positive! The reinstatement was working until now

[Altostrata]

Hello, This2.

 

Your situation is complicated, since the difficult birth and the symptoms you developed after that. Were you given antibiotics? It could be that you have some kind of odd reactions independent of your earlier withdrawal from Lexapro. We cannot predict, nor can your doctors, whether Lexapro will help you with that. They are experimenting.

 

In the last 6 weeks, have you taken any drugs other than Lexapro, particularly in the last couple of weeks? The burning, etc. does sound like a hypersensitivity reaction that is drug-related.

[This2shallpass]

@Altostrata thanks for the reply! I wasn't given any other medication and I have not taken anything else. My brain literally feels like it's on fire and my body feels sunburned; I'm pretty sure I'm having an adverse reaction but I'm not sure. I can function and don't really have anxiety just really intense burning. If this is a reaction, do I start tapering? Should I try another ssri? I'm so upset and I have a newborn to take care of

[This2shallpass]

Also, it's been 6 weeks: did I severely damaged my brain? I've read some threads and people don't recover for years 

[laydefish]

Hi This2shallpass & Welcome to the Group!  I wanted to let you know that there definitely is hope to be healed & whole again!  I'm 8 months Benzo (Valium) free after 7 years & Antidepressant (Prozac) free after 11 years. During that time I had approximately 58 dose changes, as well as 14 other medications added in & taken away. I also went thru a Cold Turkey for 3 weeks due to being hospitalized for Pneumonia (possible due to being on 3 different drugs that can cause breathing issues). I was in Tolerance Withdrawal for about 6 years, and after all that-I haven't felt this good in about 6 years- Everyday I feel better, it took some time & patience but, please know this- you can & will heal!  The human body is amazingly resilient & especially since your so young- you will prevail & get thru this.. Please be sure to contact me anytime if you like for moral support!  And Congratulations on the birth of your new baby!  Take Care & Hang in There!

[laydefish]

Hi @This2shallpass, I thought this might lead you to more research- hope it helps!

 

How do ANTIDEPRESSANTS work?

Not only do they affect serotonin levels in the brain, but they also have a profound impact upon a delicate balance between serotonin, dopamine and adrenaline (All Hormones!) , which, in turn, may lead to deregulating the entire body’s homeostasis.
After stopping taking SSRIs, it may often take months or even years to fully recover.

They profoundly change the brain and body chemistry. After stopping taking them, the body needs time to reach the state of homeostasis again (the delicate balance between serotonin, dopamine and adrenalin has to be re-established), which process may take months or even years.

[This2shallpass]

thanks so much for the kind words @laydefishTh@Carmie @Altostrata if someone has been kindeled or the reinstatement didn't work  because of an adverse reactiin, do you recommended anything? I want to get off but I know I need to do it nice and slow just not sure if I need to stabilize myself? I'm also experiencing electric shock sensations in the body and some suicidal thoughts, which I've never had before. my brain literally feels like it was out on a skillet My doctor mentioned the Prozac bridge, not sure I should mess with it. Any recomnendations? I'm so nervous. I'm also very nervous since I've been on for so long and it was pretty much working at first. I'm now wondering if I was in withdrawal after I have birth. I feel completely stuck 😩

[This2shallpass]

My doctor wants to do the Prozac bridge starting tomorrow due to the fact I'm having an adverse reaction from reinststing, thoughts? She is doing 10 mg then going down on the lexapro. I don't think I have a choice at this point, she is the first doctor that actually believes my withdrawal symptom and wants to help me do you know if any ProzAc bridges from failed reinstarements? @Altostrata @laydefish @Carmie it would be 10 mg of lex and 10 of prozac. I can't wait to get off this stuff 

[laydefish]

Hi @This2shallpass, I don't have knowledge in that area, sorry- I'm sure the Staff will know !  Take Care!

[This2shallpass]

Thanks @laydefish!!!! Can one of you please respond and let me know your thoughts when you have a moment?

@Altostrata @laydefish@Carmie

[laydefish]

Hi @This2shallpass, I wish I could help you with you questions about possibly tapering, but in that area I have limited knowledge. I will say though after reading about how much antidepressants can effect the hormone levels in the body, I'm leaning toward that being the issue, as well as possible kindling- The Staff here are incredibly knowledgeable & can help with dosages- Hang in there-it will get better

[This2shallpass]

My husband wants me to do the Prozac bridge but he has no idea about withdrawal of how I feel. Before I do this please @Altostrata or @Carmiecan I have your input? I really think I may be kindeled 

[This2shallpass]

Hi This is This2shallpass husband. She did reinstate the lexapro and started slow at 2.5 mg and eventually got up to 10mg and was stable. After being stable for 2 weeks she thought it was a good idea on her own to lower her dose to 5mg and then 2.5 mg and that is when the burning started and has not gone away. She is now back on 10mg and after going for an autonomic functioning test and 3 diff mris on brain and spine she is concerned she is having an adverse reaction. To me it seems obvious that what she is feeling is effects from lowering her dose so drastically for that week. Right now we are on the fence of her going to a mental hospital and getting treated w horrible drugs or bringing her on to Prozac and tapering her off lexapro at her pace. The reason is Prozac is much easier to get off of and will help with her lexapro withdrawal. Before my wife blows up our entire family by leaving me with my 3 month old daughter. Can someone please respond and tell her not to go to the hospital and that the reason she is feeling this burning is due to her lowering her dose in such a fast manor? I don’t understand how this doesn’t make sense to her as burning was her main withdrawal symptoms when we got her off to get pregnant. Please help!!

[This2shallpass]

Well she couldn’t wait any longer and has left the house on foot. Because if this site she feels she knows it all. Very disappointed. I am as of now a single father to our 3 month old daughter with a full time job and house to support. 

[This2shallpass]

I don’t understand how you feel telling people with a mental disability it’s ok to not be on medicine. What do you suggest then, just dealing with it? This is absurd. 

[powerback]

4 hours ago, This2shallpass said:

Hi This is This2shallpass husband. She did reinstate the lexapro and started slow at 2.5 mg and eventually got up to 10mg and was stable. After being stable for 2 weeks she thought it was a good idea on her own to lower her dose to 5mg and then 2.5 mg and that is when the burning started and has not gone away. She is now back on 10mg and after going for an autonomic functioning test and 3 diff mris on brain and spine she is concerned she is having an adverse reaction. To me it seems obvious that what she is feeling is effects from lowering her dose so drastically for that week. Right now we are on the fence of her going to a mental hospital and getting treated w horrible drugs or bringing her on to Prozac and tapering her off lexapro at her pace. The reason is Prozac is much easier to get off of and will help with her lexapro withdrawal. Before my wife blows up our entire family by leaving me with my 3 month old daughter. Can someone please respond and tell her not to go to the hospital and that the reason she is feeling this burning is due to her lowering her dose in such a fast manor? I don’t understand how this doesn’t make sense to her as burning was her main withdrawal symptoms when we got her off to get pregnant. Please help!!

Hi there I am not a moderator but I can sense your frustration,hopefully a moderator can see this post and guide you how you need .@shep.

 

[This2shallpass]

Thank you very much!! As mentioned she has now left the house and I am forced to call the police and let them know that my mentally unstable wife has left home and is unfortunately capable of hurting herself. Begging for any assistance. 

[powerback]

2 hours ago, This2shallpass said:

Well she couldn’t wait any longer and has left the house on foot. Because if this site she feels she knows it all. Very disappointed. I am as of now a single father to our 3 month old daughter with a full time job and house to support. 

From reading your wifes intro topic ,she has been through an awful lot ,she may need specialised help .her hormones must be all over the place.Im not saying by any means a hospital is the place for her ,but you  mite need to consult her DR .your wifes situation is different in relation to giving birth so recent  .your wifes situation is bigger than this site is equipped to handle maybe but please stay around and the mods will do better than me at giving you links.

Please try and calm down for your sake and your babys .

Take care. 

[powerback]

5 minutes ago, This2shallpass said:

Thank you very much!! As mentioned she has now left the house and I am forced to call the police and let them know that my mentally unstable wife has left home and is unfortunately capable of hurting herself. Begging for any assistance. 

This is the best thing you could do ,my heart goes out to you .

[bhasski]

53 minutes ago, This2shallpass said:

Thank you very much!! As mentioned she has now left the house and I am forced to call the police and let them know that my mentally unstable wife has left home and is unfortunately capable of hurting herself. Begging for any assistance. 

 

You have done the right thing. 

 

3 hours ago, This2shallpass said:

I don’t understand how you feel telling people with a mental disability it’s ok to not be on medicine. What do you suggest then, just dealing with it? This is absurd. 

 

We know you are also in emotional turmoil, but if people were so happy on drugs, they wouldn't have looked for any other option like website or forum.

 

Instead people here have gone through the pain that come first with drugs and then the hell when they have mistakenly left the drug.

There are chances that people have mental disability but the drugs do harm and cause mental issues.

 

Your wife needs your care and support. The pain of withdrawals and mental disability  that come with it is inexplicable. 

Also I appreciate you being here on her behalf looking for answers.

[This2shallpass]

Understood. But most ppl find this place because they get off the drug incorrectly and I appreciate this place as they try to educate. However, after someone with a mental disability gets off the drug then what??? That’s he answer I am looking for on this forum because a mentally disability needs help and if not with these medicines that help millions of ppl than what?? Certain ppl need these meds to be able to live a happy and normal life. 

 

Pardon me if I haven’t researched enough on this site but what is the answer for someone who has depression anxiety etc and weens of their anti depressant? Then what?? 

[laydefish]

hi @Altostrata, if you haven't been notified yet, I believe this Poster needs some advice that I certainly can't give- it's kinda of an emergency! Thanks for your time!

[Altostrata]

As we're just a Web site, we can't deal with emergencies.

 

We don't encourage people to go off drugs, if they ask, as peer counselors, we give them our best advice. It's the individual's choice what to do. We are very specific: If you go off drugs, you will need to learn to manage your symptoms and your life with non-drug methods.

 

Your wife is not necessarily mentally ill, it sounds like she's having a bad drug reaction. Thanks for her most recent history regarding going up and down on Lexapro. She didn't tell us about that, which happened before your wife joined this Web site. We're not responsible for her adverse reactions.

 

It is possible that having reduced 10mg Lexapro too soon, too far, too fast when she was stabilizing, and then jumping up in dosage again, your wife has further sensitized her nervous system and is reacting badly to 10mg Lexapro now even though it worked for her before.

 

Adverse reactions to psychiatric drugs can be very distressing and confusing, making people think they're losing their minds. It doesn't help if family members also panic and jump to unfounded conclusions. Your wife was not "mentally ill" when she gave birth to your daughter, she was very ill physically. She seems to have reacted badly to whatever medical treatment she received. It's very unfair to her to blame her symptoms on her being "mentally ill."

 

18 hours ago, This2shallpass said:

My doctor wants to do the Prozac bridge starting tomorrow due to the fact I'm having an adverse reaction from reinststing, thoughts? She is doing 10 mg then going down on the lexapro. I don't think I have a choice at this point, she is the first doctor that actually believes my withdrawal symptom and wants to help me do you know if any ProzAc bridges from failed reinstarements? @Altostrata @laydefish @Carmie it would be 10 mg of lex and 10 of prozac. I can't wait to get off this stuff 

 

This2shallpass, I would not compound the hypersensitivity with another drug switch right now. Before doing anything, we need to see the daily symptom pattern. Are the symptoms worse or better at any time of day? We need to find out if it's the Lexapro that's causing the symptoms.

[This2shallpass]

I never said she is mentally ill. I said she has a mental disability which is accurate. Her psychiatrist recommends taking Prozac and lexapro at the same time to try and ween off the lexapro. Why would you advise someone against their doctors wishes? What proof do you have that makes it ok to advise someone that way and what title do you hold to give that advice? I am not trying to be rude only looking to get answers as my wife will not listen to me or dr but comes here for her advice. 

 

Also my other questions was after a person successfully weens off their antidepressant, that does not cure their depression or anxiety. What does this website recommend at that point to address these issues?? 

 

Please advise why you feel adding orozac would would not help allievate her withdrawal or adverse reaction symptoms. I feel taking that chance as opposed to her weening off lexapro for 6-12 months is a better option. I am looking to you for information. Thank you

[Altostrata]

We don't advise against doctor's wishes. If you prefer to see a doctor rather than get suggestions from peer counselors here, please do!

 

If I were you, I'd respect your wife's decisions and not undermine them. She is an autonomous adult.

 

As I said before, for people who want to go off psychiatric drugs, we stress pursuing non-drug treatments. There are many discussed in

 

We leave it to the autonomous adult to learn techniques of self- care or see a counselor or therapist for coaching. We do not provide such treatment on this site, we are not qualified to do that.

 

I do not feel I have enough information to discuss Prozac vs Lexapro. Generally, a drug switch may bring in more problems. I need to discuss this with This2ShallPass, it's her body and her decision to make.

 

@This2shallpass, is there some reason you cannot speak for yourself?

 

If someone cannot manage their life without drugs, we suggest it's not the right time to go off. But it's entirely up to the individual.

[This2shallpass]

Not sure if you missed it but my wife left the house today with nothing. She cannot speak for herself because she was so scared to listen to her dr because of what was said on here. 

 

I already explained her scenario on hiw she went down and has been feeling burning and even when she went back up to her normal dose for 3 weeks she still feels the burning in brain and body. 

 

She feels this is adverse reaction even though she went down on her dose abruptly for a week and then this started. I feel it’s withdrawal and she should either stay on the lexapro or try and switch to prozac via bridge. 

 

Please let let me know your thoughts and why you think switching to Prozac to ween her off lexapro is a bad idea. 

[Altostrata]

Yes, I understand she was doing okay on 10mg Lexapro but made some drug changes and upset the apple cart. We see this all the time.

 

Our nervous systems like stability. Your wife's nervous system was going along on the 10mg Lexapro track but changed the dosage, switching the track. Her nervous system got confused. That's what the strange symptoms mean. When she went back to 10mg Lexapro -- another switch -- her nervous system went into uproar.

 

This is called "kindling." We see this all the time. Doctors tend not to be aware of it, or anything about adverse drug effects, really.

 

Backing down on the Lexapro is a lesser risk of further kindling than arbitarily switching the track yet again to an entirely different drug. Read

 

Your wife's nervous system is bruised from drug changes. She is understandably very upset, particularly after her health difficulties during and after childbirth. Adverse drug effects are not a mental illness and should not be treated as mental illness. Your wife knows her nervous system is hurt. I can understand why she became angry and left the house.

 

However, none of us can foretell the future -- not even your wife's doctor --  and definitely not us peer counselors. All we can do is recommend moving cautiously. The nervous system is not made of rubber and these are powerful drugs.

 

Without having more details from your wife, in my opinion, reducing the Lexapro is the more cautious approach.

[This2shallpass]

What details do you need? There are no other related issues. We just had autonomic functioning test in Manhattan which came back normal. Brain scans normal mris normal in brain and spine. Blood normal. Eeg normal we have done it all. 

 

I believe some of this is her health anxiety reading these things and giving it to her self. 

 

Please let let me know anything you need to know to further help if you would like as we are desperate and our dr has had success with this same method. 

[This2shallpass]

Before my wife went on lexapro she thought she had every disease or adverse reaction to anything. No lexapro in her system. This is her health anxiety and why she needs an anti depressant. We would go out to dinner and her anxiety was so debilitating she would have to wait in the car as she thought she was going to pass out or die. That whole saga has come to an end with all of the tests coming back negative most recently autonomic function due to her nervous system being destroyed as that’s what this website tells her which again came back negative. 

 

Now we all realizd it was her anxiety and she went on lexapro and all symptoms are gone until she went down on her dose and bruised her nervous system as you would say. Her only symptom is burning and now suicidal thoughts thinking that she will be doomed like several others on this site. She does not have a mental illness which you keep saying. She has anxiety and depression that when untreated cause harm to herself and others. 

 

I would like to know why why you feel getting off lexapro is a better option than taking Prozac while tapering down on the lexapro. She needs help!

[Altostrata]

We want to hear from your wife, not your version of how she feels. Please ask  her to resume posting. You'll have to tell her the new password you chose.

[jozeff]

Hi husband of this2!

 

I'm so sorry for your struggling!

I just started reading this topic and it really bothers me how things are going for you right now. Remember that someone in withdrawal and having all these severe mental symptoms and panicking isn't reacting normally and is absolutely desperate to take some action.

 

When my first child was born my wife had this awful depression and she just crashed and begged me to take her to a mental institution. She stayed there for 3 weeks. I had to go to work and take care of a baby. Fortunately I had a lot of family that helped me out.

 

My wife really recovered well in those three weeks. 

 

Is your wife heading towards the hospital? They know exactly what to do and they also recognise you being a father. They will think along with you.

 

So where is she going? Maybe she went in rage and will return soon. This is highly stressful man but things will probably work out fine. It's just so stressful now that everything seems blurry. 

 

When did she jump of the Lexapro 10 my? 

 

I really don't think another ssri will do the trick. She must stop messing around with Lexapro dosage. I messed around a lot going up and down and nothing good came out of that.

 

 

PS I wrote this yesterday but I forgot to send so maybe things have settled down a bit.

 

Keep your head up!!

Jozeff