Jennyfinland Help with escitalopram withdrawl

[ChessieCat]

Sleep problems - that awful withdrawal insomnia

[Jennyfinland]

Hi again! 

 

So My history is The following ;

Started tapering escitalopram 5 mg in february 2020. 

Made 1 mg reduction every 4 weeks. When I got to 1 mg escitalopram I got My first breakdown. So that was month five after starting tapering. 

Then I reinstated to 2.5 mg. Still I had panick all the time. In december 2020 I felt instantly better and that lasted for 5 weeks. After that I fell into a horrible hole of insomnia, anxiety, ocd. I had to try to reinstate with 1 mg of escitalopram. It was too much. Then My psychiatrist tried to crosstaper me to fluoxetine. It was horrible and I could try it for 6 days only.... Then went Back to escitalopram 2.5 mg. 

Still I had a lot of ocd , anxiety like never before and depression. Now I have done three updosings with 0.25 mg. It seems to help first because I start to get mood changes to better. But then I go Back to depression again. I do not know what to do. I cannot deal with my ocd so I had to try to updose. To ocd IT has helped a bit. 

I am worried because I feel that I have lack of motivation, I do not want to do a thing, I do not want to see friends, at The moment I am not working.... I get terrible crying moments and all my thoughts are Black and afraid of The future....... I cannot understand what is going on..

 

[getofflex]

Previous post moved to your intro topic to keep your history all in one place.  Please post questions and discussion about your situation in this one thread, to avoid confusion and duplication of efforts.  Do not start new threads when you have an update.  Thank you.  

[getofflex]

What is probably happening is that you are making too many changes to your drugs and doses, and not allowing your system to stabilize for a few months.  

 

On 5/27/2021 at 4:55 AM, Jennyfinland said:

Now I have done three updosings with 0.25 mg. It seems to help first because I start to get mood changes to better. But then I go Back to depression again. I do not know what to do

Did any of us staff suggest these 3 updosings?  I don't see any information in your drug signature about this.  I read some previous posts back into March, and did not see any discussion about these updosings.  What were the dates of these 3 updosings?  

 

Please read these 2 links very carefully: 

 

Considerations About Stability Stop Jumping Around

 

Keep it Simple, Slow, and Stable

[Jennyfinland]

Okay.. I had been on the same dose for 6 months but my ocd got so bad that I just could not take it anymore... That is the reason why I tried to updose... 😔 Just feel I cannot live my life with ocd... I have not Been able to work and am afraid I Will not Be able in long Time.. 

[Jennyfinland]

Okay.. I had been on the same dose for 6 months but my ocd got so bad that I just could not take it anymore... That is the reason why I tried to updose... 😔 Just feel I cannot live my life with ocd... I have not Been able to work and am afraid I Will not Be able in long Time.. 

[Jennyfinland]

The first updosing was 4 weeks ago. Then another three weeks from that and last one three days ago...

[Jennyfinland]

I am just losing hope that this Will pass... I cannot afford to be on a sick leave many years 

[getofflex]

On 5/29/2021 at 3:12 PM, Jennyfinland said:

my ocd got so bad that I just could not take it anymore..

There are other treatments for OCD besides drugs.  The purpose of this forum is to help people to get off of their drugs with a minimum of discomfort.  Here is a thread about OCD. 

 

OCD Repetitive Intrusive Thoughts

 

Dealing with Emotional Spirals

[Jennyfinland]

So it is possible to manage without medication ? All The doctors have told me that I could not survive without ...

[getofflex]

Doctors have basically been brainwashed and bought out by the big drug manufacturers.  Drug companies pay multiple billions of dollars per year to market and advertise their drugs.   If you have the time, I suggest you read the book "Anatomy of an Epidemic" by Robert Whitaker.  It is well worth the time.   

 

Conspiracies - Anatomy of an Epidemic

 

There is absolutely no proof that anyone needs psychiatric drugs.  There is no proof at all that people with anxiety, depression, OCD, etc, have an imbalance of chemicals in their brains.  

 

Yes, there are ways to manage OCD that do not involve drugs.  CBT Therapy (cognitive behavior therapy) is one effective non drug way to manage OCD.  

 

Chemical Imbalance is a Myth

[Jennyfinland]

I Will absolutely read this book ! Now I have Time because I am on a sick leave. 

I am quite terrified that these withdrawls never end... 

 

[getofflex]

Rest assured, your WD will end, someday.  Have you read any of the success stories?  Go to the home page, and about halfway down. 

[Jennyfinland]

I have read The success stories but I get scared that mine will last many years too so that's why I have not read those so much .. though the end is good in the stories. Just do not know how to accept that there is no way of knowing how long this Will take and how to accept all the anxiety and depression that is? How do people even work in withdrawl ? 😕

[Jennyfinland]

Hi! Is there anyone who could give any advice If you have ocd and you are trying to taper the medication. I am wondering that how can you even survive that ? If your nervous system is very sensitive and your ocd starts to come back. Any survival stories with ocd and quitting medication ? 

[Altostrata]

Hello, @Jennyfinland How are you doing now? Did you have an increase in symptoms since last spring?

[Jennyfinland]

Hi ! Now I am doing better. Almost normal. I was able to reinstate to 4 mg escitalopram and now I am sleeping normally and feeling like my old self. But now I have started to think tapering again! But my only concern is my ocd. If my nervous system gets super sensitive when tapering and I start to get my ocd symptoms how can I manage because those ocd symptoms give me high anxiety 😳😳 

Ps. I have not used mirtazapine in months so only medication I use now is escitalopram

 

Thanks for asking 😊

 

Edited October 13, 2021 by Altostrata
deleted blank lines

[Altostrata]

Please update your signature. How long have you been taking 4mg escitalopram? When did you start feeling better?

 

What happened to the mirtazapine? 

 

Often, after have bad withdrawal symptoms, it's a good idea to stabilize for a good long while before tapering again.

 

If you want to go off psychiatric drugs, you will need to learn to cope with the habits of mind for which you took the drugs in the first place. They may still be there (or may not). A psychotherapist can coach you in coping techniques.