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christianjw12: took Lexapro /escitalopram for 3 months, stopped it, experiencing withdrawal

christianjw12

By christianjw12
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christianjw12 Rookie

christianjw12

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Hi guus,

This is 13th month off Lexapro report !

Haven't recovered yet. What a journey for someone who has only taken this poison for 3 months in total including taper. This month, the symptoms are :

- fatigue (sleep is bad quality)

- brainfog (still)

- a little bit of headaches but very mild (I have got my first jab of Pfizer as well so maybe the headaches are not due to withdrawal)

- littles zaps in random area of my body (arms, legs, but very mild)

- cold hands (still)

- anxiety (just the feeling of fear but no idea of what, feeling like I'm in danger)

- OCD

 

 

 

2

23rd of January 2020 - Started taking Lexapro at 5mg daily.

29th of January 2020 - Upped to 10mg of Lexapro daily.

9th of April 2020 - Reduced to 5mg of Lexapro daily.

23rd of April 2020 - Stopped Lexapro at 5mg daily.

Withdrawal since ~

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christianjw12
christianjw12

Hi ! Today is 364 days without Lexapro ! So tomorrow will be exactly one year off Lexapro. I started this month with huge symptoms : - very very bad migraine with nausea (almost felt li

christianjw12
christianjw12

Hi @PsychologicalSafe15, i get better ! I still have symptoms of withdrawal but they are manageable. I think I'll need 3-4 more months until recovery ! I dream every night, because my sleep

christianjw12
christianjw12

Hi !   Quick update of my situation again. It's been 32 weeks off Lexapro (so 7 months and a half approximately). My brain fog has lessened a lot, when I'm around people, I can finally

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Erell Contributor

Erell

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Hang on, I'm rooting for you ❤

These drugs always amaze me, they can be so powerfull.

Wish you a speedy recovery ☀️

2006 : 20mg Paxil+Bromazepam. 2008 : cold turkey of both. 2010 : Reinstatement 20mg Paxil + Bromazepam.

2014-June2017 : Switch from Bromazepam to Prazepam, slow taper to 0mg.

2018 to August 2019 : Paxil 20mg taper (3% every 15 days). 22 Aug 2019 updose to 10mg (was at 8.4mg).

25th Sept 2019 To April 2020 : found SA, holding at 10mg Paxil. 

April 2020 : Paxil 10mg to Prozac 7mg bridge. Details : topic/21457

 

Current Supplements : magnesium citrate + fish oil

Current medication :

* 7pm Diazepam  : 0.85mg (15 Aug 2022) / 0.95 mg (24 April 2022) / 1mg Diazepam (since 29 Aug 2020)

* 8am Prozac : 6.16mg (25 oct 2022, feel awful, slight updose) / 6.08 mg (9 oct 2022) / 6.24mg (11 July 22) / 6.44mg (22 May 22) / 6.64mg (4 Nov 21) / 6.72mg (8 oct 21) / 6.8 mg (15 Sept 21)/ 6.88mg (14 Aug 21)/ 6.92mg (23 Jun 21)

 

I am not a professional, I don't give medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

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siderale Contributor

siderale

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Best of luck Christian, fellow French recovering from Seroplex withdrawal ! It's great to see all of your updates. I hope the remaining symptoms will wear off quickly and that your sleep will improve. It's incredible to see that everyone has so many different experiences with these meds and withdrawal, I really consider myself lucky escitalopram truly helped me. Now, on to try and live without its help (as it was help for me!)

Regarding OCD/anxiety, if it's difficult to manage you could eventually try and follow a therapy like cognitive behavioural therapy. It helped me a lot!

Better days are ahead. If you read this and are still struggling - hang in there. It'll be worth it. My success story: I recovered from Escitalopram withdrawal.

Aug 2017 - May 2018 -> Escitalopram 10 mg. 

Nov 2018 - Jan 2021 -> Escitalopram 10 mg. Feb 2021 - 5 mg.  Feb-March 2021 - 5 mg, one day out of two.

Since March 13th, 2021 -> Escitalopram 0 mg. Withdrawal appeared 1 week after last dose.

Profile image: Edward Robert Hughes' "Night"

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
christianjw12 Rookie

christianjw12

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Hi guys, a quick update of these weeks ! I think I'm in an intense wave again, the fatigue caused by poor quality of sleep is so hard to bear. Even though I try to have a very regular sleep pattern and eat the healthiest food, the sleep is still bad so it's kinda hard to try to get motivated to do things. But anyways, we'll all get through this ! 💪💪💪

23rd of January 2020 - Started taking Lexapro at 5mg daily.

29th of January 2020 - Upped to 10mg of Lexapro daily.

9th of April 2020 - Reduced to 5mg of Lexapro daily.

23rd of April 2020 - Stopped Lexapro at 5mg daily.

Withdrawal since ~

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  • 3 weeks later...
christianjw12 Rookie

christianjw12

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Hi,

14 months off Lexapro report.

This last month has been good and bad. A lot of tiredness ! Crazy that only 3 months on Lexapro can do so much damage to the brain...

 

1

23rd of January 2020 - Started taking Lexapro at 5mg daily.

29th of January 2020 - Upped to 10mg of Lexapro daily.

9th of April 2020 - Reduced to 5mg of Lexapro daily.

23rd of April 2020 - Stopped Lexapro at 5mg daily.

Withdrawal since ~

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Hanna72 Contributor

Hanna72

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Hi @christianjw12

Congratulations on your 14 months off. That’s a huge accomplishment and well done
All the best to you.

 

1

 


1999-2020  20 mg Paxil

Bridged with Fluoxetine to help me get off Paxil.

2022 Fluoxetine 15 mg 12/12 14mg 27/12  13mg jan 12mg feb 11mg mars 10mg, 9 mg 8,5 mg 7.6mg 7.0 mg 6,3 mg 5,6 mg 5,0 mg 4,5 mg 4,0 mg 3.6mg 3,2 mg 2,9 mg 2,6 mg 2,3 mg 2,0 mg 1.8 mg

 


I am not a medical professional nor is this a medical advice. I only talk from my own experience.

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  • 5 weeks later...
christianjw12 Rookie

christianjw12

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Hi guys,

This is the 15 months off report. This month, the main symptoms were:

- fatigue

- intrusive thoughts

- muscle weakness

- brainzaps

 

But these were not too bad, I am confident I will get better and better.

1

23rd of January 2020 - Started taking Lexapro at 5mg daily.

29th of January 2020 - Upped to 10mg of Lexapro daily.

9th of April 2020 - Reduced to 5mg of Lexapro daily.

23rd of April 2020 - Stopped Lexapro at 5mg daily.

Withdrawal since ~

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almuPA Contributor

almuPA

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Hello @christianjw12,

 

 

thats great news. Hopefully, everything will go better and better until this WD would be in the past:)

 

IF you dont mind that I ask you: have you found something to help you in this time?

 

 

March 2019: 10mg Citalopram

April 2019: 20mg Citalopram

October/November 2019(sorry, I don't remember the exact date): 10mg of Citalopram without tapering, as suggested by my pharmacist. 

March 2020: Started "tapering", taking the 10mg of Citalopram every other day, again, following the recommendations of my pharmacist. 

April 2020: Stopped taking Citalopram.

I haven't reinstall since then. I've tried taking Magnesium a couple of times, but I found out it makes me nervous. I only take Paracetemol when the headache becomes unbearable (2gr every couple of weeks or so). 

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christianjw12 Rookie

christianjw12

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3 minutes ago, almuPA said:

Hello @christianjw12,

 

 

thats great news. Hopefully, everything will go better and better until this WD would be in the past:)

 

IF you dont mind that I ask you: have you found something to help you in this time?

 

 

 

hi @almuPA,

 

I think having a good sleep pattern + eating well do help a lot in mitigating symptoms.

I try to have my routine like eating breakfast with a fruit and a green tea. It does help for me.

1

23rd of January 2020 - Started taking Lexapro at 5mg daily.

29th of January 2020 - Upped to 10mg of Lexapro daily.

9th of April 2020 - Reduced to 5mg of Lexapro daily.

23rd of April 2020 - Stopped Lexapro at 5mg daily.

Withdrawal since ~

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  • 2 months later...
PsychologicalSafe15 Contributor

PsychologicalSafe15

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@christianjw12 How are your dreams ?

2017 october--2018 march->(6 month) fluoxetine 20,30 mg-->cold turkey= after 2 month semen leakage

2018 july---2018 Aug-->(24 days) fluoxetine 20 mg --> cold turkey = vivid dreams begin

2018 december 2019 Jan-->(1 month) Amitriptyline 25--> cold turkey
--------++++--horror of drugs begins. Taking one after another and cold turkey-------+++------------------
2019 May--2019 May--> (12 days) Lexapro cold turkey

2019 May--2019 august -->(3 month)Cobazam 10 mg +amitriptyline 25 mg --> clobazam cold turkey

----2019 october ---> went cold turkey amitriptyline 25 mg.

2019 october--2020 Jan -->(3 months) duloxetine cymbalta 30mg --->cold turkey

2020 jan-2020 Apr--> (3 months) paroxetine 25 mg --> Cold turkey

2020 July--2021 Jan--> (6 months) amitriptyline 50 mg ,75 mg,100 mg ,125 mg -> cold turkey

2021 jan--2021 May--> (4 months) imipramine 75 mg -->cold turkey

2021 may-2021 Aug--> (3 months) nortriptyline 25 mg --> cold turkey== still semen leakage and vivid dream

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christianjw12 Rookie

christianjw12

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On 9/29/2021 at 4:16 PM, PsychologicalSafe15 said:

@christianjw12 How are your dreams ?

Hi @PsychologicalSafe15, i get better !

I still have symptoms of withdrawal but they are manageable. I think I'll need 3-4 more months until recovery !

I dream every night, because my sleep is so light (caused by Lexapro).

 

 

3

23rd of January 2020 - Started taking Lexapro at 5mg daily.

29th of January 2020 - Upped to 10mg of Lexapro daily.

9th of April 2020 - Reduced to 5mg of Lexapro daily.

23rd of April 2020 - Stopped Lexapro at 5mg daily.

Withdrawal since ~

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PsychologicalSafe15 Contributor

PsychologicalSafe15

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Thanks I just wonder when your dreams go away ? Mine is pretty bad too.

2017 october--2018 march->(6 month) fluoxetine 20,30 mg-->cold turkey= after 2 month semen leakage

2018 july---2018 Aug-->(24 days) fluoxetine 20 mg --> cold turkey = vivid dreams begin

2018 december 2019 Jan-->(1 month) Amitriptyline 25--> cold turkey
--------++++--horror of drugs begins. Taking one after another and cold turkey-------+++------------------
2019 May--2019 May--> (12 days) Lexapro cold turkey

2019 May--2019 august -->(3 month)Cobazam 10 mg +amitriptyline 25 mg --> clobazam cold turkey

----2019 october ---> went cold turkey amitriptyline 25 mg.

2019 october--2020 Jan -->(3 months) duloxetine cymbalta 30mg --->cold turkey

2020 jan-2020 Apr--> (3 months) paroxetine 25 mg --> Cold turkey

2020 July--2021 Jan--> (6 months) amitriptyline 50 mg ,75 mg,100 mg ,125 mg -> cold turkey

2021 jan--2021 May--> (4 months) imipramine 75 mg -->cold turkey

2021 may-2021 Aug--> (3 months) nortriptyline 25 mg --> cold turkey== still semen leakage and vivid dream

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  • 2 months later...
SeekingAnswers Rookie

SeekingAnswers

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On 9/19/2020 at 11:28 PM, christianjw12 said:

My main symptoms are brainfog and intrusive thoughts.

Hi Christian, I hope you're feeling better. I wanted to find out if your intrusive thoughts went away and if so, how long did that take? Were there any supplements that helped with them? Thank you.

My son who is in withdrawal's history:

2006 - 2021 Started on Celexa 10mg, increased to 20mg then 40mg.

May 2021: Started to taper off. Down to 0mg by end of July under doctor's care.

September 2021 started 200mg magnesium twice per day, 1000mg fish oil once per day, Vitamin D3, and 100mg N-acetyl cysteine twice per day.

Oct. 12, 2021: Reinstated at 1mg liquid Celexa per day to hopefully alleviate intrusive thoughts (never had them before quitting Celexa).

Nov. 1, 2021: Was supposed to increase to 2mg Celexa per day, but he was accidentally only taking 0.1ml per day. 

Nov. 18, 2021: Increased to 2mg liquid Celexa per day after realizing he was not taking the correct dosage for 17 days.

Dec 29, 2021: Increased to 3mg liquid Celexa. Jan 31, 2022: Increased to 4mg liquid Celexa.

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  • 1 month later...
christianjw12 Rookie

christianjw12

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Hi ! 

 

Haven't been there for a longtime. Already 22 months off Lexapro, i've been great until recently where a wave hit. Currently experiencing brainzap and tinnitus, but I'm confident it'll pass.

 

23rd of January 2020 - Started taking Lexapro at 5mg daily.

29th of January 2020 - Upped to 10mg of Lexapro daily.

9th of April 2020 - Reduced to 5mg of Lexapro daily.

23rd of April 2020 - Stopped Lexapro at 5mg daily.

Withdrawal since ~

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almuPA Contributor

almuPA

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Posted

Hello @christianjw12,

 

It is good to read from you. I am sorry that you are in a wave at the moment, but it looks that you have a very positive mindset about it:) Hope it will pass soon. 

 

I send you a hug.

March 2019: 10mg Citalopram

April 2019: 20mg Citalopram

October/November 2019(sorry, I don't remember the exact date): 10mg of Citalopram without tapering, as suggested by my pharmacist. 

March 2020: Started "tapering", taking the 10mg of Citalopram every other day, again, following the recommendations of my pharmacist. 

April 2020: Stopped taking Citalopram.

I haven't reinstall since then. I've tried taking Magnesium a couple of times, but I found out it makes me nervous. I only take Paracetemol when the headache becomes unbearable (2gr every couple of weeks or so). 

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christianjw12 Rookie

christianjw12

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7 hours ago, almuPA said:

Hello @christianjw12,

 

It is good to read from you. I am sorry that you are in a wave at the moment, but it looks that you have a very positive mindset about it:) Hope it will pass soon. 

 

I send you a hug.

 

Thanks @almuPA!!

What about you ? How are you doing ?

 

23rd of January 2020 - Started taking Lexapro at 5mg daily.

29th of January 2020 - Upped to 10mg of Lexapro daily.

9th of April 2020 - Reduced to 5mg of Lexapro daily.

23rd of April 2020 - Stopped Lexapro at 5mg daily.

Withdrawal since ~

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