Arrina intro

[Arrina]

Hi all,

 

 

Glad I found this support group 🙂.

 

I am 36 years years old. 2 years ago had another episode of panic attacks and depression. Got hospitalized and put on a mix of medication. Adding here the names

Cipralex (Lexapro 10mg), Zolpidem, Xanax, Depakine (stopped 3 weeks after starting it due to a terrible skin rush).

Basically i am currently only on Lexapro reduced to 3mg through tapering.

 

13 years ago had another anxiety and depresion episode and was for 1 year on Lexapro, 10 mg. Stopping it at that time was not an issue. I even did it cold turkey and experienced brain zaps and depression for a while...honestly i was younger drinking and smoking and...somehow self medicated with weed. It was easy and i thought i can do it again and again.

 

Now, after stopping most of the medication I have all kind of symptoms and discovered they ...might be common. What upsets me the most are the cognitive impairment and feeling empty.

 

I am looking for advice and support to come off Lexapro and ...go back to my regular self. It is scary to read that some symptoms might last for months or years. In the end i was on these drugs for 1 year - all of them and then...another year of Lexapro. Does not seem so long...

 

There is not much info about how to stop these drugs so it is great to join a community of people going through similar situations.

 

Thanks for having me!

 

Writing here the signature:

 

Currently only on Lexapro for 2 years- reduced to 3mg from 10mg. 

 

[Onmyway]

Hi Arina,

welcome to SA. You have found a knowledgeable and supportive community. I am so sorry that you are going through such a hard time. Feeling empty and cognitive impairments can be quite scary. But there is end to this suffering and you will get better. 

 

If I could please ask you to write the signature so that it appears in every message, that would be great. Please include previous medications as well, dosage, duration, taper.  Multiple starts and quits, jumping around doses can in fact sensitize our system so it's important to know. Here are the instructions on how to do it properly. Do your best if you can't remember exact dates and doses. 

How to List Drug History in Signature - Introductions and updates - Surviving Antidepressants

 

If you could also help us understand what your most disturbing symptoms are, that will be very helpful. 

I recommend that you read through as much of the Symptoms and Self Care pinned threads as possible. They synthesize a lot of the wisdom that the community has gathered over the years and you may find ways to help you deal with some of your symptoms. 

 

How did you do your tapering? Did you go directly from 10 to 3 or did you have intermediate steps? How long did you wait before these steps? When and how did you stop the other drugs? It all impacts the adaptation that your brain is having to make. 

 

We recommend tapering of no more than 10% of the previous dosage per month to minimize withdrawal symptoms.

Why taper by 10% of my dosage? - Tapering - Surviving Antidepressants So that would mean to cut 0.3mg for you, wait a month and then cut another 0.27mg and so on. If you are more scientifically inclined Why taper? SERT transporter occupancy studies show importance of gradual change in plasma concentration - Tapering - Surviving Antidepressants

And one specifically about Lexapro: Tips for tapering off escitalopram (Lexapro) - Tapering - Surviving Antidepressants

 

There are alternative, more gentle ways. The Brassmonkey Slide Method of Micro-tapering - Tapering - Surviving Antidepressants

 

This may help you with the symptoms that you reported. 

Brain fog: blank mind, comprehension, concentration cognitive and memory problems - Symptoms and self-care - Surviving Antidepressants

 

Again, welcome to SA!