Heath: Lexapro taper plan introduction

[Heath]

On 5/20/2020 at 2:14 PM, Heath said:

@Gridley hope you are doing well!

i have a few question about Allegra and lexapro and seasonal allergies. Last year during summer had foggy brain , tired, weak and about to pass out sometimes and bad allergy symptoms. Found out I had a bad infection from teeth implants. Took care of that in September  and felt better in October . I have always had bad allergies trees grass weeds. That means spring summer fall. I take Allegra 180, lexapro 10, Celebrex 200, Prilosec 40, sometimes Prevacid and pravastatin. Started Allegra in April. Right now I feel tired, no energy, just don’t feel good , allergy symptoms ears eyes nose. I know allergies can make you feel bad. Up until 2019 spring I’ve never felt as bad during allergy season. Lexapro causes me dry eyes dry mouth and dry sinuses and Allegra enhances this. Maybe infection wasn’t the cause? Is there an interaction between lexapro and Allegra? Could lexapro make allergies worse? Could also be not enough sleep allergies snore more? Getting older?  Last year was my first summer with lexapro. And allergies are worse this summer and last summer. So much that ears hurt and click. My gut feeling is something to do with lexapro that’s the only medicine I have changed since 2019.What do y’all think? 

 

On 5/27/2020 at 9:12 PM, Heath said:

@Gridley  I’ve found a little time for reading . on drugs com- it says

These were common Sinusitis and rhinitis, dry mouth, gasy stomach, indigestion, fatigue . There were also others labeled very common and uncommon on there.
Side effects i have or had are fatigue, muscle stiff soreness, tired, sleep late weekends, dry mouth , dry sinuses, Dry eyes, can’t remember things sometimes, Dizzy, gassy stomach, constipation, itchy face, not talking and no emotion  . There have been others come and go can’t remember them all at moment.  Im grouping fatigue, Give out, muscle stiff soreness, tired, and more intense allergies together since they have happen in spring/summer since starting lexapro. The intensified allergies I understand now that it is most likely due to lexapro causing sinusitis and rhinitis and dry sinuses. The fatigue stuff happening in spring/summer not understanding timeline just yet? The fatigue is not so fun rt now. I believe these side effects change more or less every time you change dose. What do you think? And I agree nobody knows what all side effects these drugs cause! 

@Altostratawithout going into great detail. As I know you are very busy but wanted to let you know if you are interested . And this is no emergency. There were several posts on my intro in 2019-2020 about this. I have not found much info on lexapro and itchy face. 
 

The first allergy season on lexapro I had major symptoms. Lexapro has affected my allergy  system somehow? And I found itchy face in my post history that I attached here.   I remember on 15 mg my face really itching at times in early 2020. Every allergy season since lexapro I have symptoms flare up that I didn’t have before lexapro including itchy face and dizziness. Then after allergy season symptoms goes away. Side effect or withdrawals or something else. I continue to monitor. As of now it usually starts itching on head and face in the evening. 
 

thanks

[Altostrata]

You've excluded soap and anything else that you might put on your face?

 

Since you take Lexapro in the morning, it's unlikely to be caused by Lexapro, but something that happens later in the day, even a pet rubbing against your face.

 

Depending on when you take antihistamines, the itching could be suppressed earlier in the day but emerge when the antihistamine wears off. Zyrtec is known for rebound itching.

 

Perhaps you could be your own allergy detective?

[Heath]

Yep 👍. Same soap.   It’s ragweed season here so I suspect dog collects pollen outside and then brings it inside. My wife keeps home really clean but pollen still gets in. Like I said always had allergies from pollen but never had a series of seasons with itchy face. I do have a detective hat in closet so I will get it back out 😂

[ChessieCat]

13 minutes ago, Heath said:

I do have a detective hat in closet

 

🤠 🔍

[Heath]

After 1st allergy season of lexapro I think I have only taken antihistamine and decongestant only about 5 times in 2 years.   Can’t remember last time I took one. Taking ssris I don’t need them as much. Many detective 🧢s 👍

[Altostrata]

Could be laundry detergent on your pillowcase.

[Heath]

Hello everyone! I cut about 6% last month. Through out the last month taper I had the following symptoms.

I don’t talk much at all, Agitated but calm at same time, tired physically but couldn’t rest, sleepy head and spacey, irritable, not wanting to do anything, but and leg muscles tensing and releasing, neck tension, can’t concentrate, little emotional, vivid dreams, when people are talking to me I get very annoyed. 
these symptoms come and go mostly and are minimal but they still interfere with life. 
around week 4 started doing more and talking more. 
Stomach is not hurting but is still not right it moves faster than normal , I have had this in past starting and stopping ssris. 
 

we were off last week. Getting things done at home that we been putting off for years. The wife and me spent some much needed time together as we are in what we feel like rat race just going through motions sometimes. Us and kids Went to Smokey mountains and my back is flared up again from sitting. I’ve been sleeping late this week getting some rest , which has moved my lexapro dose up a bit. Then feeling guilty because I didn’t get up early and get something done. Feeling a little emotional and not wanting to do anything again this week. 
 

note- altitude affects sinuses. Due to dry sinuses caused by lexapro. I had a major headache, tired, dizzy feeling, wobbly after going to cling mans dome in gatlinburg tn. 6643 feet. Walked 0.5 miles up. 

Altostrata I was wrong she did change the soap. I am doing an investigation!  I will let you know in my report in near future 😀

 

 

 

[Carmie]

Hi Heath, 

 

If you need a little extra rest I say: “ Go for it!” 😁

 

Sending hugs🤗

[Heath]

Thanks @Carmie! I definitely rested some👍. I guess sometimes I think is it the real me tired or exhausted and achy due to WD. 
 

update for last 6 weeks

some times of not talking and some times a chatterbox, not much agitation this time, weird vision problems like I had blinders on, not interested in things away from work come home and do nothing. A lot more no short term memory this time. Stomach is about the same( not normal). Dry eyes, sinuses, and mouth continue. Drinking water helps and using saline spray helps. A few urinary tract symptoms.  Have to continue drinking plenty of water.
Some days physically I feel like I am 100 years old achy ,tired and exhausted. Elbows hurt for a couple of weeks along with neck and low back. The elbows stopped hurting but neck and low back are hanging around. I have injured these  in past along with elbow tinnitus. It seems when tapering ssris old injury pains flares up. I am seeing this as I continue to taper. 

My legs and feet also hurt for a few weeks, nerve pain,  low back into hips. Normally ice, tens unit, Celebrex, or chiropractor helps low back pain and such in past but not this. It seems different. It was even hard to sleep at night. one night I slept on stomach on top of a big pillow. If anything would touch legs or hips it would make it much worse. One time even a blanket made it worse. Chiropractor made it worse. I did dry needling which is like acupuncture this made it much worse. I continued to stretch hamstrings and hot baths every night and it is finally getting better. Has anyone experienced this as a WD symptom? 
Trying to get sugar levels down currently. Dr appointment in about a month. 

Hope everyone is having a good week ! 

[Greatful]

Read through your thread wow you are doing great and staying focused on getting off these drugs.   I see you are having the dry out of sinuses too.   I see you have muscles/  do you get muscle weakness.

I just want to pipe in here, when you talk about being more emotional, yes it can be from WD but I also find that as we go down on these drugs that numb us the emotions are now able to come closer to the surface.   I guess  what I am trying to say is don't let this be a big deterrent to moving ahead with your taper. 

 I see you meditate I like this one for emotions

https://youtu.be/07n2KGoMOFc

 

I will keeping a eye on you and your taper.   Getting off Lex is going to happen for us both.

Hang in there

[Heath]

Thank you @Greatful ! 
yes I have gotten the weak muscle feelings before. 

[Heath]

Hello everyone! Hope y’all had a good new year! 
Tapered about 6% last month. Back and leg pain sensation has gone away. Just the normal aches and pain now. I did have some tight neck pain on left side for a few days. I’m learning this is definitely withdrawals. Jittery anxiousness feeling. This time short term memory is a lot worse.  
 

Anger , short and irritability sometimes. Today I had that with some kind of sad weepy feeling. Never had those at same time. 

Cog fog and thinking is real bad. Kind of a spacey feeling. Can’t concentrate. Just stare at what I need to do. Anyone could clearly see this at work and they probably do but aren’t saying anything. Tasks are taking longer and forgetting things. Could be a lot going on too. This cog fog has always been associated with these drugs with me since the beginning 20 years ago. It’s always been worse in morning after I take the drug. And usually cog fog goes away around 3 pm. But during tapering it’s all over the place. 

dry burning sinuses bad a couple of times. Stomach is doing better than a few months ago. Some indigestion. No stomach pains and noticing a difference in movement a little constipation which is very rare. May be trying to get back to normal. Same with the no talking then chatterbox don’t know the schedule yet. 
 

It seems the not wanting to do anything laying around sleeping has lifted.  I’m doing more but the cog fog is kinda holding me back. Also the pain in legs and hips is gone maybe helping me do more things  as well. 
 

One other thing I learned this month. I stopped drinking Coca-Cola to help get my sugar down again. So in process I have drank more diet Mountain Dew. So one day I had 2 maybe 3 through out day and around 5 pm at work I felt spacey , mentally and physically exhausted and weak. There was no way I could work overtime if I had to. So after a few days I had an idea  and after another few days I tried it again. 2 or 3 diet mountain dews and once again spacey mentally and physically exhausted and weak . I have been reading about diet sodas and diet Mountain Dew is the worst of the worst chemicals. And has most caffeine in it. It has never bothered me in past. My thinking is yes I am getting older and CNS is very sensitive due to tapering and withdrawals. Could be chemicals or caffeine. But I am not willing to try another test at moment maybe later. Just stay away from it. Iam starting to understand the importance of watching what you eat and drink during tapering.

 

 I was taking omega3 a few months ago  and noticed this really helped with cog fog and I ran out. I have ordered some more. 
 

I have two weeks to hold. But I may hold longer due to the cog fog and tapering may be catching up to me a bit. 
wish everyone a good evening! 

[Heath]

Hello everyone! Anyone have any positive support and tips would be appreciated!
Last week mouth started burning, dr said I had oral thrush. A1C has come down a little from 6.1 to 5.8. I am happy for this. I’ve been eating better for 3 months. 
 

I did get my omega 3 in and started back today.

For the oral thrush I started nystatin and probiotics. Cutting out more simple carbs, and no sugar or artificial sugar. Cut out diet sodas also. Not gonna tackle nicotine right now. 
 

From looking back and reading about candida. It appears to me that antibiotics for UTI in 2020/2021, dry mouth from Lexapro, and stress has brought on this oral thrush. 

It’s getting a little confusing about which symptoms are withdrawals and which are from the candida. 

 

It seems past month I have been more sensitive to stress, can’t think and short term memory has been worse than with withdrawals. I have read a little about candida die off causing issues. 
 

Read a little too much about this candida late last night. Causes and such - neuro emotions trying to trickle in. 
Is lexapro taper catching up?  Too many changes cause a wave ? This morning foggy headed and some anxious feeling but ok. Feeling like a robot no spirit. Thinking too much into this maybe. I am clearly not myself.  
 

Thanks

[Greatful]

@Heath  The wonderful guessing game........What is causing what?  Hubby tells me that's just for now if I am telling him how I feel.  As we know things can change from hour to hour. Melt down in the morning and laughing in the evening......

Over all it's good thing to cut out the diet soda's, they are just plain are not good for you.......I also smoked for for years, quit that  many years ago, that was tough.  I used Nicorette gum for at least 6 months...

You are moving in the right direction to a healthier life style. 😊 Now we just have to get off of the drugs🥴

With the thrush, did you have white spot or coating your tongue? That's what would be in my kids mouth when they would get oral thrush.......

 

Oh man, Heath I clearly haven't been myself in a longgggg time lo  A peak at it coming to the surface and a 3/4 window here and there 🙄 

Have you been in a window and now getting hit with a little wave?

Hang in there, as the saying goes, this to shall pass😊

 

[Heath]

@Greatful thanks!

she said it was little blisters all in mouth. Tongue has been cracked since antibiotics last April. And since then I have noticed sugar has caused me to feel like - - - - when I eat it.
I wear a flipper for 3 front teeth from injury 25 years ago . Had an implant but had to remove because infection from dry mouth caused by lexapro 2 years ago. The gift that keeps on giving!

 

anyway I am walking around here with no front teeth 😂 because that flipper makes that thrush burn so bad. 
 

lam pretty sure this thrush is what is making me feel so bad. I’m very irritable and pissed off rt now. 
 

Iam experiencing a medicine smell ?Could that be from nystatin or candida die off? 
 

I just have to control emotions.  
I have a fault. If I feel an emotion like sad, crying or anxiety, an alarm goes off something is wrong “withdrawals “ .  I have failed to get off this mess a few times so . 
 

You are rt it will pass! 
speaking of which anyone with oral thrush how long does last? 
 

Iam trying to not say too much about it to my wife or mom or anyone because that will just get the worry neuro emotion going. So mostly keeping to myself 

[Heath]

Hello everyone! 

I have been holding for 2 months so far. Been feeling ok. During this time  I had real cold stiff hands once and muscles tensing and releasing in but and legs once.  I continue to take omega3 , cog fog is much better. 
 

The mouth problem investigation still continues.  If I eat meat and vegetables and water it gets better. Then on Valentine’s Day had a little sugar burning  stinging mouth came back. Same on my wife’s birthday. Started taking more probiotics last week and seemed to help. But again went back to bad symptoms after a few carbs. 
 

So in January gp said she saw little blisters all in my mouth being oral thrush . After nystatin and symptoms coming and going She sent me to ENT. I’ve known ent dr for 20 years he is a good dr. And is an ex Paxil user and knows about withdrawals. He has always investigated drugs you are taking when you visit.
 

So I saw him today.
He said there is nothing serious bad wrong which was relief!  He didn’t see oral thrush. It is burning mouth syndrome which is usually caused by something. Malnutrition, Disease, or Candida fungus being one of them. And he said the lexapro withdrawals could also cause it since tapered recently. He said also Stress , dry mouth from lexapro, dentures could cause it. Burning mouth usually last around 6 months. He also said as we get older and don’t eat rt can cause it. He didn’t have much to say about cracks in tongue. He spent a good while with me.
He showed me in his computer that antidepressants are suggested as treatment and he laughed! And he showed me another which causes dry mouth he laughed again. He said take one drug which causes more problems then take another drug etc sound familiar. He said some things work for some people and not for others. He said we could try multivitamin, diflucan pills(fungus) or mycelwx troches lozenges (fungus) and I could read about them and call him back if I wanted.

Fact - Sugar, bread, carbs, diet sodas make it worse. burning mouth syndrome. The last 2 times I tapered for 3 months and held for 1 month started having stomach problems. This is becoming normal in my taper(stomach problems). Candida, stomach , cracked tongue, and lexapro are all related. 
 

I also read on mayo clinic that primary burning mouth syndrome is related to problems with taste and sensory nerves of the peripheral or central nervous system. And said that it could last months or years 😕. 

 

So which ever the cause in the troubleshooting chart it seems to make a full circle back to lexapro. 
 

since I have transferred over to lexapro in 2018 , I have had the following major health problems a UTI, dental implant removed due to dry mouth, 6 rounds of antibiotics for above issues, stomach pain and burning stingy mouth. I just for the life of me cannot believe lexapro side effects and withdrawals doesn’t have anything to do with all of this.  
 

What I have learned in past 20 years of these drugs , chasing wd symptoms and side effects by going to drs and tests doesn’t make it go away any sooner. AND it does pass! 
 

 

[Greatful]

@Heath  So this might explain my tongue feeling like it has been burned....I also get bleeding gums..... Dry mouth.  Every once and  in awhile my lips will peel.  

 

It is a relief to hear that there are a few doctors out there that are not stary eyed about these drugs being the cure all for anything that ails you.  Like the elixir back in the 1800's lol.

Here take this  ssri for your blistering tongue, never mind that it comes with all sorts of side affects and will change your brain structure .  lol

 

Here is a lecture by Robert Whitaker.  Our Psychiatric Drug Epidemic 

https://youtu.be/J4guc7Q8PaQ   

So sad that the doctors are not taking this seriously even with evidence that these drugs are not helping us.  The more I learn the more mad and sad that I get about the lack of acknowledgement of these drugs..........But it also keeps me engaged in getting off of them......

 

Hang in there Heath.

Congrats on becoming a mentor🌞

 

 

[Mascasa]

@Heath I can tell you I have had so much pain since tapering, especially in August going forward. Developed costochronditis and other things. Sigh... I am hoping things settle down when I finally get off. I am now at 8.4. Still on the slow boat. But will be making a drop in about a week or so to 8.

[Heath]

@Mascasa I know the feeling all to well. I’ve been holding a couple of months. It’s hard to know what’s causing what. Don’t forget these tapers can be accumulative and sneak up on you.  Prayers for healing soon!

[Greatful]

@Heath  Stopping by to see how the mouth sores are going?  I think of you...... My mouth is super dry and my  tongue feels like it was burned lol......I know you can get dry mouth from the Lex but can you get it from WD too?  I'm having  burning in my eyes, nose and now my stomach too?  Trying to figure out if it's WD or just the crappy lex.............

I see you are getting down there on the Lex  almost at 5mg.  Let's get off this garbage 

 

[Heath]

Thanks @Greatful!

Well the stinging- burning mouth went away as fast as it started🤷‍♂️. I held for about 2 months.
 I reintroduced foods at different times. Sugar etc. The last I checked about a week and a half ago was salty processed food on my daughters birthday out to eat dinner. I could tell some burning feeling but mild. Went away next day.  I gained 5 pounds back doing all this food testing 🤨. 

The cracked tongue is still there but doesn’t bother me so far. 

I haven’t taken any medication or vitamins or lab tests for low minerals or vitamins. 

 

I am gonna have to say the burning mouth for me is part of the withdrawals from what all I have learned. 
 

Mayo Clinic gives a pretty good explanation of BMS and nerves in mouth.  
 

If you have burning mouth see below, Alto and others also have some good explanations. 

 

Yes the dry burning eyes, nose, sinuses and mouth are part of side effects and withdrawals. I had the dryness ever since starting Lex. Don’t try to decipher the difference just know it will get worse during withdrawals. And it goes away.
I notice every time I hold for a month or so they go away. Try to drink water I sure don’t want anymore dental issues! 

 

Right now I am walking around like a 100 year old man. Fatigue sore legs , give out easy, no energy started about a week ago. It’s done this to me before in tapering. I want to take a multivitamin but don’t know yet. 
 

Summer time is coming gonna get out there and try out my new push mower in the yard ! I’m gonna have to make myself do it! 

 

Hang on ! 

[Mascasa]

@Heath Just checking in to see how things are going? I am going to have to update my signature. I haven't been on here in awhile. I am down to 8. But can't say it's been easy. I have been battling all kinds of chronic pain. If that wasn't part of the process, I think things would be a tad easier. I find I drop and have about a week of lows and crying. I am staying at least 3-4 weeks at a drop until my body feels it can handle it. Today I just wanted off the crappy stuff. But alas I have to stay the course. Just wish the pain would go away. I have developed costochronditis as a continual issue. No bueno.

[Heath]

@Mascasa thanks for checking in on me ! Doing ok, I just posted above. 
 

Totally agree on the pain thing! What I have found is sometimes I get new physical pain during taper and sometimes old injury pain can flair up worse during taper. And I have learned that if pain is unbearable I just slow the taper down or hold for a while and it goes away. I will take this physical pain over emotional spiraling any day! 

[Blossom71]

On 3/21/2022 at 2:36 PM, Greatful said:

My mouth is super dry and my  tongue feels like it was burned lol

I have had this a few times over the years and it just showed again up a couple of weeks ago, and I suddenly realised this was exactly what happened when I'm deficient in folic acid (as well as fatigue etc). I usually get a blood test but this time I haven't, I've just started introducing small amounts of folic acid and have upped the folate rich foods in my diet.  It's already helping and my tongue and mouth is getting less sore.    Yours may not be the same cause but thought I'd add it in case the info is helpful to you.

[Erell]

Hello @Heath, how are you doing this spring ?

[Heath]

Hello @Erell!! 
sneezing and watery eyes! Spring time !🤨

 

 I am about at a 3 week hold. Symptoms coming and going. Some ease up some hang around. Some worse than others. 

I really don’t like the new one burning mouth and I have never liked the dead head don’t want to do anything.  Too many to list. I will try and update soon. 
But I would say I am doing ok! Iam able to make it to work 👍. Much better at work, they demoted the negative toxic boss. My new boss is more of a positive person 🙂.
Thank you for checking on me! 
I hope you are seeing some windows!

[Heath]

@Erell I meant - spring time😀 yah! Sneezing watery eyes 🤨. 
Iam starting to get outside and do things!

[Erell]

Hello @Heath, 
Yes, sometimes we feel like we've been through the list, and then we discover a new symptom... an amazing adventure!

 

But that's great to read you're doing relatively ok : going to work, running errands, living day after day, ... It's amazing to be able to do all these things while living with WD symptoms. I am amazed at the resilience and stubbornness of the members of this community to stay patient and believe in the future. I hope you manage to be proud of yourself! I am, truly proud of all of us.
Sometimes it makes me smile to think that many people see us as weak, or not very courageous, while I know that I have met the strongest and most optimistic people in my life here!
Whatever happens, we hold on, and we know that life is worth it.
Thank you for being that inspiration too !

 

And what a pleasure to read that you are working with a new boss! It's absurd when you think about it, how the human race has managed to create such toxic environments as the "job market." I'm glad you are now in the company of caring people.
 

Hope you'll see more light sound 🙏In any case, all those who have followed this path before us say that healing is the outcome ❤️

 

[Greatful]

@Heath  I have to smile with the comment about to many to list (symptoms)  They just hang around and new ones get added....... Yep they let up and reappear again and new ones appear.

 

I think my tongue has felt burnt for eons lol  I keep thinking I burned it on something hot and I do at times so it confuses me.......Do your lips peel?  I go through periods of that.

 

You've got this♥️

[Heath]

@Greatful

no peeling lips, just dry burning mouth comes and goes. It went away and is now back mildly. If I really monitor food and drink it goes away. I’ve kinda got used to it so I just go on.
 

I feel like staying at a course of 10%a month no matter what and get off this mess because of lingering on and on and on and on symptoms coming and going just hurry and end. BUT I know that will create more emotional type symptoms the negative ones and I will have a hard time getting to work and Bill’s paid and family So I will continue to listen to my body and plug along slowly.
 

and you know the sore fatigue symptoms is hard to get used to 🙄.  I know I’m getting older but jeez. I just keep pushing my body and rest when needed. So when that symptom goes away for a week or so I realize it’s wd and then I feel like tapering some more.   
 

note to self 

Around First week of April 2022 at first week hold after taper ate Krispy Kreme donuts. Within an hour or so burning mouth started and ramped up until next day and slowly dropped to minor burning. 
So this is 3 rd time eating the donuts during taper that it caused burning mouth symptoms. Started first time at end of January 2022. 
 

It does it a little with high carb foods like bread. Never ever had burning mouth because of bread or donuts until now. 
 

So I am done experimenting for now. I will just try to continue low carb. 
 

 

[ChessieCat]

2 hours ago, Heath said:

ate Krispy Kreme donuts. Within an hour or so burning mouth started and ramped up until next day and slowly dropped to minor burning. 
So this is 3 rd time eating the donuts during taper that it caused burning mouth symptoms.

 

2 hours ago, Heath said:

Never ever had burning mouth because of bread or donuts until now. 

 

I'm shocked at how many different ingredients there are in a "simple" donut.  This list might be added incentive to giving in to the temptation.

 

See from Page 2:

 

http://www.healthsteward.com/FastFood/KrispyKreme.pdf

[Heath]

Thanks Chessiecat 😲 lot of stuff in there. Definitely an incentive! Yes the first time in January was temptation at a little celebration the other 2 were little tests. 

 

[Heath]

Just an update
 

Over the past few months I’ve had about all the same physical symptoms and not talking much listed in my intro previously coming and going. They are bearable.
 

The last two taper and holds I have experienced watering eyes (not allergies), emotional feelings, (shoulda, coulda, woulda thoughts) , regretful thoughts, thoughts of fixing regrets, see a picture = memory then a sunken heavy chest feeling. These are very minor but noticeable. I’m currently in middle of taper having these feelings. regrets seem bigger in wd when in reality it was not of importance. I’ve felt these neuro emotions strongly before in heavy wd. And with it being minor in a slow taper I sometimes feel like oh no going into heavy wd again. 

 

Another one is over sensitive to peoples facial expression and words they say. Like our perception of what others mean is blurred towards the negative. It’s kinda like reading texts and emails when you really are talking face to face , “did they mean what I think they meant”. No wonder people taking ssris and people in wd have relationship problems. I mean they make you emotional less almost cold to people who love you. I’m starting to notice the sensitivity more in middle of a taper. Again it’s minor and noticeable even by others. these feelings and emotions are hard to hide sometimes. But knowledge I have gained has showed me how to notice them and control thoughts better. 
 

 Been working off/on getting sugar down . For about 2 years. Been using the new push mower for a month now. I like the feeling tired but it’s a feel good tired. 

 

Im at 5.3 ml now. I plan on getting to 5 ml and then a good long hold maybe a few months. I need to laugh and smile and have conversations more with people around me for a while. 
 

thank you @Blossom71 I plan on getting dr to check things like that and B vitamin in labs when I go in a few months. 

 

[Heath]

Documenting here. Last 1.8% drop last Saturday by end of day burning eyes, sinuses and burning around nose and cheeks felt like surname burn. 
 

And negative blurred perception of others caused a miscommunication but by end of day it worked itself out and everyone had a good day. 👍 There is about no way a non psych drug user in wd can understand that symptom! 
 

I doubt this came from one drop - probably accumulation of 3 -   1.8% drops of 3 weeks. 

[ChessieCat]

4 hours ago, Heath said:

I doubt this came from one drop - probably accumulation of 3 -   1.8% drops of 3 weeks.

 

Are you in a position to hold on your current dose for a while?  Even if we don't feel/notice symptoms the brain can still be busy making adjustments that we don't know about.

 

I think, in general, it can be a good idea to do longer holds every now and then just to give the brain a chance to catch up if it needs it (unbeknown to us).  It can give you a holiday from tapering where you can just live life for a while without the (mild) stress of tapering and it can possibly set you up for a gentler landing.

 

And remember, Lexapro is a very strong drug.  Also, many members find that the lower their dose gets the slower they need to go, reducing less and/or holding longer.

 

Recently Scrountz wrote a simple explanation of the SERT occupancy:

   

On 4/29/2022 at 1:41 PM, Scrountz said:

Even low doses of SSRIs can have a pretty potent effect on the nervous system. A lot of doctors don't appreciate that the minimal dose of an antidepressant medication is still really strong. This link here illustrates this. If you don't have a science background it can be a bit hard to understand, but basically even the lowest dose of an antidepressant still fills about 80% of the receptor sites that its supposed to. Increasing the dose of medication does not increase its effectiveness proportionately.

 

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[Heath]

Yes CC agree ! I am planning a good long hold maybe when I get to 5 ml. I’m at 5.2 ml now. I may just hold where I am at but was looking for that 5 mark . I can even spread that .2 out over several months  while holding.  I am always in position and ready for holding 😄. 👍. 
 

Even though most of these symptoms are bearable and small compared to some of us , I just need a little happy time and change of focus and be more attentive to family and friends . I feel like I’m becoming the grumpy old man 😂. 

 

definitely brain is healing and adapting! I’ve noticed this the few times I ve stopped to soon and then started back on said drug and held dose. 
 

you know it’s like We want off this poison asap but we also want to be functional and somewhat happy where we can - Due to the long long taper.
 

I was calculating my jump off date last night. I don’t need to be doing that🤨. 
 

thanks CC