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siderale: escitalopram healed me, and I'm trying to live without it again: overcoming withdrawal symptoms

siderale

By siderale
in Introductions and updates

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getofflex Grand Master

getofflex

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@sideraleI think you are doing extremely well!  Yes, it sounds to me like you are struggling with sleep due to all the daytime activity.  Two jobs plus a thesis plus hobbies is quite stimulating.  Acceptance is a wonderful thing, isn't it.  I still sometimes struggle with it myself.  

Please do not private message me.  Only tag me for urgent questions about tapering and reinstating - thank you.  

 

***Please note this is not medical advice.  Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a doctor who understands psych meds and how to withdraw from them, if you can find one.

 

Lexapro   Started Apr 15 2010 - 10 mg;  started taper August 2017, recent taper info: Apr 2 '20  0.18 mg; Jul 16  0.17 mg, Aug 23  0.16 mg, Oct 7  0.15 mg, Nov 8 - 0.14, Jan 16 '21 - 0.13, Feb 7 - 0.12, Feb 22 - 0.11, Mar 26 - 0.10, May 21 - 0.09, June 15 - 0.08 Aug 16 - 0.07, Oct 6 - 0.06, Nov 21 0.05, Dec. 17 0.04, Jan 14 '22 0.03, Feb 19 0.02, Apr 18 0.01, May 15 0.005,  Jul 8, 0.00.  Psych Drug Free as of July 8, 2022!!  Woohoo!!!

other meds: Levothyroxine 75 mg

magnesium in small amounts at 4 AM, before bed

suppl AM: fish oil, flax oil, vit C, vit E, multivitamin, zinc

suppl 8 PM: magnesium 350 mg, extended release vitamin C, melatonin 2 mg

 

Paxil 2002 - 2010, switched to Lexapro 2010 

Trazodone 50 mg. 2002 - 2019, fast tapered in 2019 

Xanax 0.5 mg as needed 2002 - 2019, up to 3x weekly 

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siderale
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3 days ago was the 10-month mark off medication for me. It seems so unreal, all that I've been through with WD (let alone what other people go through, I am acutely aware I had it easy). I was a bit s

siderale
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Hey all, coming around for an update:   My sleep is better, still not quite there yet but it's not insomnia anymore, I don't know if it's thanks fo melatonin (1mg every night) or just that t

getofflex
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You have every reason to feel sad, and I can empathize.  These lousy drugs have stolen your normal way of life from you for a time.  I do believe that you will recover.  Unfortunately it can take a ve

siderale Contributor

siderale

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In a week it'll be the one-year mark for me. I consider to be completely symptoms-free for a bit more than 2 months now. I have some issues with sleep and irregular/fast heartbeat still, but I mostly blame the current events/my daily stress. Sometimes I wake up anxious for no reason and I get throwbacks to the first 5-6 months of withdrawal when it was ten times stronger and everyday, but I know I'm able to overcome it, and I do.

 

It's almost weird, to feel normal again, and a bit daunting to continue walking without the crutch that the antidepressants were for me. But they helped me build the strength and confidence I afterwards made good use of to overcome withdrawal, which, it seems like, I did. I'm ready should I experience a late-breaking wave, and I'm ready to try and tackle on life without the help from medication. I can't believe I haven't felt overwhelmed enough to take benzodiazepins since august 5th as well.

 

My next update will very likely be a post in the Success stories section.

 

I can't thank enough all of you who helped me assess what I was or may still be going through, that checked up on me, offered reassurance and also everyone who documents their journey or offer advice in their own topics. This is what makes this forum alive and it has been of an incredible help to me and undoubtedly many others.

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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getofflex Grand Master

getofflex

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2 hours ago, siderale said:

My next update will very likely be a post in the Success stories section.

I'm overjoyed to hear this @siderale!  Your story is what makes all the work we mods do well worth it!  Of course, you are the one who did the work of getting off the drug, and dealing with withdrawal, so all the credit goes to you for getting off the escitalopram!  I very much look forward to reading your success story soon!  

 

Congratulations!!  🎉🙌

Please do not private message me.  Only tag me for urgent questions about tapering and reinstating - thank you.  

 

***Please note this is not medical advice.  Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a doctor who understands psych meds and how to withdraw from them, if you can find one.

 

Lexapro   Started Apr 15 2010 - 10 mg;  started taper August 2017, recent taper info: Apr 2 '20  0.18 mg; Jul 16  0.17 mg, Aug 23  0.16 mg, Oct 7  0.15 mg, Nov 8 - 0.14, Jan 16 '21 - 0.13, Feb 7 - 0.12, Feb 22 - 0.11, Mar 26 - 0.10, May 21 - 0.09, June 15 - 0.08 Aug 16 - 0.07, Oct 6 - 0.06, Nov 21 0.05, Dec. 17 0.04, Jan 14 '22 0.03, Feb 19 0.02, Apr 18 0.01, May 15 0.005,  Jul 8, 0.00.  Psych Drug Free as of July 8, 2022!!  Woohoo!!!

other meds: Levothyroxine 75 mg

magnesium in small amounts at 4 AM, before bed

suppl AM: fish oil, flax oil, vit C, vit E, multivitamin, zinc

suppl 8 PM: magnesium 350 mg, extended release vitamin C, melatonin 2 mg

 

Paxil 2002 - 2010, switched to Lexapro 2010 

Trazodone 50 mg. 2002 - 2019, fast tapered in 2019 

Xanax 0.5 mg as needed 2002 - 2019, up to 3x weekly 

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Phoenixmama Contributor

Phoenixmama

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@siderale I'm so happy for your update and i can barely wait for your success story 🌞❤️

2021:  started celexa 10mg feb 2nd 

feb 25th took my last 10g; feb 26th 5mg; feb 27th 5mg; feb 28th 2021 cold turkey 

currently taking mag

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Erell Contributor

Erell

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I am happy to say @siderale has added her success story story here.

 

As is our custom, I will close this topic now. Please congratulate Siderale in her success story topic :

 

 

 

Edited by Erell

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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