Holdontohope: short term Lexapro reaction

[Holdontohope]

Hello all,

Several months ago I was brought to the ER for bad vertigo, nausea, and vomiting. Had a pretty traumatic experience in the hospital room when I was gave an anti nausea med. I had extreme akathesia towards the point when I needed to escape!! The doc said all of the results came back fine....  the next day I had panic attacks due to the experience. Contacted another doc and told him that I used lexapro like 12 years ago and it helped panic. He prescribed me Lexapro. The next 2 months on Lexapro was crazy. Depression, increased panic attacks, GI issues, DP/DR, and the lost goes on. I continued taking them for the weeks because I was told it can be worse before it's better. After those 2 months, I did a quick taper in about a week. I was only on 5mg. I've been completely off Lexapro for about 3 weeks, and I am still having these symptoms but they've kinda morphed. These past few weeks I've been having extreme intrusive thoughts, and some paranoia. I've been thinking "what if I am the only person who is alive, and everyone else is basically just a robot". I question whether my family is truly alive, and can really feel me...  Those thoughts lead to this feeling of hopelessness... Ive never had these feelings before.

I am thinking that Lexapro changed there ingredients, because I didn't have these issues years ago... I feel like there have been some windows, but i am still scared.... would appreciate some input.

 

Thanks 

Zach

[Gridley]

Welcome to SA, Holdontohope.  I'm sorry you're going through this.

 

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 include any other psychiatric drugs you've taken since Lexapro 12 years ago, including dates and doses and the dosage you were given recently. Also include whether the Lexapro were on in the past and the more recent Lexapro were brand name or generic.  You'll need to use a computer rather than a phone.

 

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

You had an adverse reaction to the Lexapro, which means that the drug is poison to your system.  Once you've completed your drug signature, we might be better able to understand why you tolerated Lexapro before but can't tolerate it now.  There are many things we don't understand about the brain and the effect of the powerful drugs on it, but one simple explanation is that your current brain and central nervous system has changed over time, as all of ours do, and what once was tolerated is now rejected by your system.

 

Do you have any idea what brought you to the ER with vertigo and nausea?

 

The symptoms of an adverse reaction are very similar to those of withdrawal, and the symptoms you describe are typical of adverse reaction/withdrawal.

 

Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) 

 

It's a very encouraging sign that you are experiencing windows, which is a sign of healing.  You will recover and heal, but unfortunately there is no way to predict how long this will take.

 

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

This link illustrates the healing process really well.

 

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Holdontohope]

Hey all.  Its been a while.

My last post about my status was getting off of Lexapro....   well shortly after that I reinstated.  Got put on fluoxetine. Didn't help that much, and eventually made things worse. So worse that I was put on Serequel, and then Zoloft...

I have been completely off the Zoloft and Seroquel for about a week now. Been dealing with a lot of dizziness/nausea since coming off of them.

Its frustrating to think that taking Lexapro for a short period of time would cause all of this.....

[ChessieCat]

Here is your Introduction topic:

 

holdontohope-short-term-lexapro-reaction

 

Only one Introduction topic per member.  Each member has their own Introduction topic which is the best place to ask questions specific to your own situation and where you can journal your progress. 

 

This topic will be merged with the old one.

 

Edited March 5, 2021 by getofflex
merged with original intro thread

[getofflex]

@Holdontohopeplease review the information in the links above by Gridley, and let us know how we can help you. We will need you to create your drug signature as requested previously.  

[Holdontohope]

Hello, I've been wondering why SSRIs worsen the actual symptoms that are supposed to be treating. For example, I have been off of Sertraline for a few weeks, and others in the past; I notice that I have OCD thoughts now, something that I never had prior to taking the meds. Prior to taking the meds, I was only dealing with anxiety/panic, and now being off of them I am dealing with OCD, depression, etc.  I am just wondering why this happens. This is the very reason I don't want to go back on meds, because I feel I should wait it out.... just frustrating that I've never had these issues prior to taking these meds..

 

Would this also mean that there is hope that these symptoms will go away??

 

Thanks 

 

P.S.  couldnt post this in Symptoms topic because my phone is not letting me

[Altostrata]

Hello, you've been taking sertraline? When did you do that? Please update your signature.

 

It sounds like you have withdrawal symptoms or protracted withdrawal.

[Holdontohope]

Sorry forgot to add sertraline. I'll update the signature. My last dose of sertraline was 2 weeks ago, with the seroquel...

[Altostrata]

We can't figure out what you're talking about without your history of these recent drugs.