BoomSiva: Lexapro

[BoomSiva]

Hi everybody, let me introduce my self im french Canadian (english is my second language)  i been in India for almost a year and decided 4-5 months ago to taper my med(lexapro 20mg) and now i been off for 6 weeks so i dont need to explain how mess up i'am right now. I came to India to a clinic to fix my back and legs, they specialyze in musculoskeletal misaligment. they been encouraging me to stop my med and thats what i did but now i'm very mess up and they dont seem to anderstand what i'm going through. Before i stop completely my pils 6 weeks ago i was working out 2h in the morning and 3 hours at night with a small group but since i stop the med i cant really workout i feel sick and weak i cant barely workout 2-3 times a week very short workout and i feel totaly drain. Since i'm with the clinic my physicals probleme are WAY BETTER so much improvement since i been here but now i feel like i'm falling a part i have so many symptoms from WD i just dont know where to start. i have exreme fatigue even if i sleep much of the afternoon, i have pain everywhere mostly my legs my upper back, neck, headhache, stomach, intestin. I have hypersalivation very annoying ,itchy skin, at night  i feel like i have small bugs craling on me not all the time it come in goes, my memory is gone cant focus, i try to not call people back home that create anxiety. the first few weeks off i had more suicidal thought now way less but its very difficult to control my thoughts and im not to confortable  around people, anyway thats enought complaining for now, i'm glad i found this site now i know must of the symptoms are from WD and im not going insane. 

[Gridley]

Welcome to SA, BoomSiva.

 

To give members the best information, we ask them to summarize their medication history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly.  Please be sure to include the final dose you took of Lexapro before you stopped and the date of that final dose.

 

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

As you've realized, you're experiencing withdrawal from a too-fast taper of Lexapro.  The symptoms you describe are typical withdrawal symptoms.

 

What is withdrawal syndrome.

 

Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) 

 

Brain Remodelling 

 

When we take psychiatric medications like Lexapro, 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.  

 

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

Reinstatement of a very small dose of the original drug is the only known way to help alleviate withdrawal syndrome.  The only other alternative is to try and wait out the symptoms and manage as best you can until your central nervous system returns to homeostasis.  Unfortunately no one can give you an exact timeline as to when you will start feeling better and while some do recover relatively easily, for others it can take many months or longer.  

 

Reinstatement isn't a guarantee of diminished symptoms for everyone but it's the best tactic available.  You're still in the time period where reinstatement predictably works, up to 3 months after last dose.  We usually suggest a much smaller reinstatement dose than your last dose.  These drugs are strong,  your system has become sensitized and If you take too much it may be too much for your brain and can cause you become unstable.  Then, once you've stabilized on the reinstated dosage, which can take several months,  you can begin a 10% per month taper down to zero.  

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Please read:

 

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms. -- at least the first page of the topic

 

Are you interested in trying reinstatement of a very small dose of Lexapro?  If so, I can suggest a dose to reinstate after you've completed your drug signature with the final dose you took 6 weeks ago.  Please do not reinstate without letting us suggest a dosage.

 

We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system. 

 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

Add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems.

 

This is your Introduction topic, where you can complete your drug signature, ask questions and connect with other members.  We're glad you found your way here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BoomSiva]

Thank you Gridley for the links and infos and welcoming me. As you ask I add my signature, I hope it's good enough? Like I mention i'm struggling with WD and i'm trying to figure out this site there is so much information in here and my memory is giving up on me (its been for a long time) what will be the next move for me; keeping my self off med and tough it up or reinstate a small dose to edge down symptoms? Some days I really considering to reinstate and some days i'm convincing my self to keep my self off. Like i mention in my introduction topic i'm in a clinic in India to fix physical problems (partially paralyze legs and back pain) and we do 2h of extreme stretching class every morning  (a mix of aerobe and martial art stretching) and then at night we do some ligament exercise, muscle exercises some kicking and punching.For 20 years i was in so much pain and now my body slowly coming back to normal but since i stop the pils i can barely finish my stretch class and cant think about working out at night. 

 this morning i was feeling good but since i start writing this some symptoms start showing up; very tired, headache pain everywhere confusion etc...  i guess i will comeback to it later

[Gridley]

On 10/3/2020 at 1:12 AM, BoomSiva said:

i can barely finish my stretch class

It's normal in withdrawal to have less energy and to find strenuous exercise more difficult than before.

 

Your signature is fine, thank you.

 

Take your time reading the information on the site. There's a lot of material, and it can seem overwhelming.

 

If you decide to reinstate, please let me suggest a dose before you do it.

[BoomSiva]

Hi Gridley, its been a while since I gave news, things are a bit better I been off meds for over 3 months and I have more energie so i been back to my 2h stretch class in the morning and will restart my workout at night this week will see how it goes. Over a month a go i start omega3, vitaminsE and magnesium mix with D3 and  it was helping but I start having stomach pain and gut problem; borderline constipated and bloated, i thought maybe it was the omega 3 so I stop and after 2 -3weeks there was no change so I stop the mix of magnesium and d3 for 3 weeks no much changes. I was wondering if you heard of people having problem with their guts and stomach when taking those vitamins? or maybe its delay symptoms from withdrawing? My main problems are concentration, memory and anxiousness.When i talk i keep looking for my words and can have a normal conversation its like a handicap, it make me very upset. I often wake up around 4am anxious it take me a while to go back to sleep then wake up around 6-7am anxious also so  i'm thinking to start back omega3 and magnesium again but dont want to get my stomach worst? Any thought?

[ChessieCat]

To find the discussions on the different vitamins etc, use a search engine and add site:survivingantidepressants.org to the search term.

 

There is also this topic:

 

digestive-problems-nausea-diarrhoea-bloating-gerd

 

Also see this list.  Stomach issues are in the right hand column.

 

Dr Joseph Glenmullen's WD Symptoms Checklist

 

[ChessieCat]

BoomSiva posted this in another topic:

 

On 8/15/2022 at 10:45 PM, BoomSiva said:

Hello guys, I know this post been over a year but I'm hoping I can get a answer from you. I really like to know if things got better for you?? I been reading you both (MarieR and Nevertolate) and you guys took the words out my mouth I couldn't express it better then this. It's been 2 years since I'm off Cipralex and my life is a mess right now,  i also ride a daily emotional  roller-coaster, cry, fear and anxiety.

 

 

[JanCarol]

Hey Boom - 

You sound like a classic case of "why not taper quickly?"  These drugs are not like aspirin, they don't go away when they are gone - they have made changes for you, and those changes take time to repair.

Plus, prior to going on the Lexapro 20 mg, you tapered in one month!, reinstated, and then updosed.  And that doesn't count your time spent with Seroquel, CT.  Yes, that was 2020, 2 years ago - but you'd still be tapering Lexapro if you followed our protocols.

 

Your fast tapers & multiple changes have destabilised you.  Kindled you.  It may take another year or two to stabilise.  If you had only been on the Lexapro, and did an SA protocol taper, you would be on just under 2 mg now, which is still a significant dose.  (and, with a slow taper, you might not be suffering now.  I don't say this as a scolding, but a warning to others who might try fast tapers, cold switches, or cold turkeys (CT).  Sure, maybe 20% of people can get away with it - but the risks of destabilisation (and how awful it is) should motivate anyone to s-l-o-w! d-o-w-n!  I have never heard anyone say "I wish I'd gone faster."  But I have heard many people say, "I wish I'd gone slower!"

 

All of these changes are still under construction!   Alto describes it in post #1 here:  

 

 

So there are still a lot of changes and adjustments - and more dramatic in your case because of all of the on-again, off-again kindling that the antidepressants have done to you.

 

It's hard, I know it's hard.  But look for the windows - those moments of fresh air, and give thanks when you have them.  Be curious - when you are miserable, be curious about it, see what you can learn from it.  Curiosity will keep you alive when nothing else will.  Shep taught me the value of curiosity.

 

There are many things you can do to soothe your system beside tweaking supplements (which, I've found, never really address emotional or nervous concerns.  Really.).

 

Breathing.  Meditating.  Dancing.  Singing.  Colouring (or other artistic endeavors).  Cooking.  Gardening.  Serving - volunteer work, serving others, makes you appreciate what you do have.  I'm glad you've got your stretch class - do you ever go out for coffee or tea with your classmates?  That might be a challenge to consider.  Because relationships - community - are also vital to your well-being.

 

It's gonna be awhile, so you need to focus on what you can do NOW.  Hedonic rehabilitation.  What does give you pleasure?  Follow that.  These are the glimpses of light, of who you can be, that you can aspire to.  There are TONS of pages on site about non-drug self-care.  I strongly recommend these:

Breathing for Well Being

Change the Channel

http://www.brainline.org/content/2008/07/how-clean-stinking-thinking-and-cope-better.html

Dealing with Emotional Spirals

Brain Chemicals and Walking

Mindfulness and Acceptance

Meditation While Moving

 

These are just the beginning!  I haven't been as active in the past 5 years, so I'm sure there are even more resources than I have quick links to.

 

Once you have survived, you will be grateful that you have been through this.  Withdrawal University makes us better people - more self-sufficient, less victimised, more empowered, and stronger, oh-so-much stronger because we are Survivors!

 

I hope you see the Sun today!

[BoomSiva]

Thanks for the support guys. Just for the record I discover this site after my quick taper if not i would of definitely fallow the rules of 10%. I still did good for the last 2 years considering how many times I try to quiet CT since the last 5 years. Now this is a other level of crisis I don't remember feeling as bad emotionally and mentally...  I been reading what you guys suggest me and more stuff in the last couple days and it give me a good idea why this wave is out of control. So maybe it will be a good idea to write what happen since the last 2 years and help me understand the situation i am now. First of all I did see my GP on Monday for the first time in over 3 years. I told her i cameback form India a month ago after living there 3 years and i was off med for 2 years but since I'm back my mental health went downhill and i explain her i don't want to go back on med and she agreed that I should stay off also. I still try to explain her my symptoms; crying spells, anxiety and suicidal ideation that take more and more place in my mind and getting out of control  and she stop me saying "we just agree not puting me back on meds please stop" . She want to know what else she could do to help me, I ask something for anxiety so she give me some clamazapan 0.25. I used half pils 3 day ago and other half today to come me down  but i really don't want to use this but my stress level is so high since I been back in Canada and i'm losing control of my mind, it's very scary.

Hopefully is not to late to stabilize. I don't see my self starting meds again after 2 years off, I will try to learn more about non drug selfcare. 

[ChessieCat]

Acceptance

 

Non-drug techniques to cope

 

Best of SA - Favourite advice and insights

[BoomSiva]

Hi, I been through rollercoaster since last time we talk and had a couple descent short window and very bad waves and still feel desperate and hopelessness and extreme anxiety and strong suicidal thought, I keep reading what Jancarol wrote and she said "maybe 20% of people can get away with a quick taper" and i was wondering what happen to the 80% who don't succeed?

I'm thinking to a reinstatement, I know there is no guarantee it will work but I feel like I'm in the 80% who won't succeed. I been reading about reinstatement topic, so the best way to do it will be a to start with a very low dose of 0.5 to 1mg of the same med I was taking( escitalopram) or a substitute like citalopram. due to my sensitize nervous system I'm very scare to adverse reaction. I wonder how long it will take to comedown from adverse reaction?

[BoomSiva]

Hi, I was hoping to get tips to reinstate at a low dose of my meds before I go see my GP anyway I will take a appointement for this week and hopefully i hear from the forum tlll then. My GP is in a private clinic so its expensive and the visit are quite short like 10-15min that don't leave much time to have a good discussion about my situation and what I like to do.

[ChessieCat]

Because you were taking escitalopram, a better option to "reinstate" would be citalopram.

 

You said you have been reading the reinstatement topic.  From Post #1 of About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms

 

On 10/9/2012 at 10:17 AM, Altostrata said:

Reinstating at a low dose reduces the risk of severe adverse reactions, such as kindling.

 

If you are feeling nervous about taking a drug again, you could try a tester dose of even less than 0.5mg citalopram.  You could try 0.1mg if you wanted.  The idea is to see how you react to the drug after being off it for a long time.  And because 0.1mg is such a tiny dose you would hopefully be less anxious about trying it.  Being anxious can cause symptoms which are not caused the drug but can be confused with adverse effects.  You would need to try and be calm and patient.

[ChessieCat]

how-to-talk-to-a-doctor-about-tapering-and-withdrawal-what-to-expect

 

Something that I suggest to members before talking to a medical professional is to write down what you want to say and rehearse it.  Be calm, gentle but assertive.  Saying something like I would like to try this or I'd prefer to do it this way.  If they suggest something different (eg adding or changing a drug) you can say something like I would like to think about that before I make a decision.

 

If a doctor wants you to taper faster you can say something like I realise that many people can probably get off their drug quickly but I'd prefer to be cautious and do it slowly because I don't want to risk getting withdrawal symptoms.

 

In Post #1 of this topic there is a link to the DSM-5 - Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome DSM-5 995.29 (T43.205A) and one to the leaflet - Guidance on stopping antidepressants by Royal College which you could take note of the details and give to the doctor.

 

We need to advocate for ourselves.  We are the customer and it is our body and lives which are being affected, not theirs.  Doctors are human and, just like the rest of us, they do not know everything.

[BoomSiva]

Hi, i saw my GP and the meeting went considerably good, she don't really belive in WS and she think i need meds for the rest of my life, since she know me I been a extreme anxious case so she think I need med to be fonctional but at lease she prescribe me what I ask for "citalopram". She really worry about me and want me back on med as soon as possible and she was even suggesting to go the the hospital but at the end she said to go back on med get stable and if I really want we can try to taper 10-15% in December. It was a 10 min apointement so everything was very fast.  Anyway now I need to make a Liquide to taper, is it possible to send me the link to make my own? I can't find it. 

Thank you

[ChessieCat]

Post #1 of this topic explains how to get non standard doses:

 

Tips for tapering off citalopram (Celexa)

[BoomSiva]

The drugstore gave me 10mg citalopram but when I got home I realise they cut all pils in half and the cuts are not all equal. Is it safe to use half pil to make the solution liquide? If yes i'm planing to put half pil in 50ml of water so it will be more easy to use 0.1mg. Is it the right way to do it or I should use less water? 

[ChessieCat]

If it was me I would be returning them to the pharmacy and asking for whole tablets, or getting a prescription for the smallest dose available.  It is important to get your dose as accurate and consistent as possible.

[BoomSiva]

Hi Chessie, I exchange half of the pils for full one and I did dissolve one tablet in 50ml regular tap water, even after waiting one day I still can see very little tinny particle inside, is it how its suppose to be?