Escitalopram21: WD from escitalopram and quetiapine

[Escitalopram21]

@Greatful 
Thank you for helping me out! 
So many things to learn here and so little braincapacity due to wd.

Sorry to hear you are having a hard time, hopefully some time off Will ease the burden a bit!

 

I see! The landscape sure might be! I dont enjoy Travelling, due to anxiety, and havent been there so i couldnt tell but it sure might be! I have mostly heard that the grandgrandparents who migrated from Scandinavia where going to Minnesota because nature and land was said to be much more ”fruitful”.

[Escitalopram21]

Thank you @Grateful

[Heath]

23 hours ago, Altostrata said:

 

Thanks for the reminder! Yes, Cipralex is escitalopram, I got confused.

 

@Escitalopram21 you have been taking 2.5mg escitalopram only 2 days, is that correct? It will take full effect over several days. It is promising that you have seen a little improvement with 2.5mg. Please let us know how you're doing.

@Escitalopram21 cipralex is the brand for escitalopram. They are the same as altostata said. 
 

liquid is measured in ml

pill is measured in mg

 

so when you change from pill to liquid you have to know what the liquid to pill ratio is.  Example 1 mg equals 1 ml. 
that’s what I take. 
 

I think some drug companies make 1 mg pill to 5 ml liquid. In this case you have to calculate your dose . 
 

What ratio ml to mg is the liquid you have? You can ask pharmacist. 
 

1 to 1 makes it easy but we have to do what we have to. 
 

so you know you have the right liquid now figure out ratio and you can get correct dose you need. 

[Escitalopram21]

@Heathyes they are the same but when I read the thread about tapering Escitalopram it said that Escitalopram is more potent than Cipralex even if they are said by doctors and pharmasists that they are the same.

getting very confused! 
need to ask when going to get it what pill to liquid ratio is! 
Thank you for the description of how to get it right!

[Heath]

Yes brass monkey can help you calculate this 👍

[Heath]

Check out rxlist.com. You can read about the cipralex. Just type it in search 

[Heath]

@Escitalopram21   tips for tapering escitalopram explains the different names and liquid solutions in different countries. 
We may be confusing the name celexa with cipralex . I thought of celexa when I read cipralex in your post ! 
 

 

read through this altostrata gives a good description of it! 

 

[Altostrata]

On 8/13/2021 at 3:00 PM, Escitalopram21 said:

Escitalopram is more potent than Cipralex

 

Escitalopram is more potent than citalopram, a related but different drug (Celexa).

[Escitalopram21]

@Altostrata

yes thats correct from what I have learned from this forum!

 

So you would not recommend switching from Escitalopram to Cipralex (Celexa) even though its my only option to get it in liquid form?

[Altostrata]

Cipralex is not Celexa. Cipralex is escitalopram or Lexapro. If you can get liquid Cipralex, you would be tapering with liquid escitalopram. Can you get liquid Cipralex?

[Escitalopram21]

@Altostratai have a liquid prescription for Cipralex!

So that means i could just move over to the liquid instead with the same amount? 2,5 mg

[Altostrata]

You seem to be getting symptoms from the 2.5mg escitalopram you are taking in pill form.

 

If I were you, I might take slightly less in liquid Cipralex, such as 2.4mg. You will need an oral syringe to measure it. Ask your pharmacist to show you how. 

 

Please let us know how you're doing.

[Escitalopram21]

Thank you thank you thank you @Altostratafor answering all of my questions! It means the world to me to not beeing completely alone in this! 
 

I’ll Keep posting updates! 
Have a lovely day!

[Escitalopram21]

Help! I don’t know how to cope with all of this. 
 

Yesterday I had a lovely window but suddenly started experiencing scary derealization. Slept terribly and wake up almost every morning with severe anxiety and suffering from the nightmares. I feel exactly the way I felt when my first signs of anxiety showed up as a teenager. The mornings are terrible with the anxiety, it eases first in the afternoon, before that I am a living wreck. 
 

At this point I would like to just pop all of my medications to be able to function for my kids but I know it might make things even worse. 
 

[Escitalopram21]

First day on 2,5 mg Escitalopram I felt my symptoms relieved a little. Also felt a little better day 2-5. Yesterday, day 6 after reinstating Escitalopram I am experiencing scary derealization, anxiety, rapid heartbeats etc. 
 

Started thinking if I should have reinstated Quetiapine instead and if i could try it now?? I don’t know, i know its risky! Got off Quetiapin in march 2021.

 

Anyone can shed a light to my thoughts? 
@Altostrata @Greatful 

@brassmonkey@Heath@Shep

[Greatful]

@Escitalopram21 

 

52 minutes ago, Escitalopram21 said:

Started thinking if I should have reinstated Quetiapine instead and if i could try it now?? I don’t know, i know its risky! Got off Quetiapin in march 2021.

These are good questions for the experienced mods. I turn to them myself with these questions.  They will guide you.

  But I will say even with the reinstatement you are going to feel WD symptoms, widows and waves for awhile.

 

11 hours ago, Escitalopram21 said:

At this point I would like to just pop all of my medications to be able to function for my kids but I know it might make things even worse. 
 

 I am so sorry that you are going through this, let alone  going through it and  having a young family. 

I hope you have good support at home.  Always remember you have everyone of us here to support you.  We also have the empathy and understanding of what you are going through.🤗  

 

 I am afraid that you will start chasing your tail because you are in pain and scared.  I did that last winter and what a mess I am in.  When I finally connected with the mods here and they told me stop making changes and let my brain settle down, I had to trust someone, my doctor didn't have a clue what he was doing to me.   I knew I had to just stop and wait things out for awhile.  I was in pain and so scared . I am sure you  can relate to that right now.  I read a lot on SA. forums, about my scary symptoms, this  reassured me that I wasn't going crazy. I learned about what the drugs were doing to my brain and how it was affecting everything else.  How the sert occupancy is a the main  component that dictates the  control of how much of the  serotonin is running around your brain. Learning promote taking power back into your control of what is going on with you.

This is a scary and hard journey you are on.  Try to take 1 day at a time and not panic. 

Reach out here, connect to other members. Share, and get encouragement and give encouragement when you can to others it does help.  We are all in this together.

Learn meditation.  It really is a great skill to learn.  @Mia1 has a fantastic grasp on meditation and acceptance, mindfulness and she has a gift with teaching it.  Yes this can sound out there for some people, even I never thought I would meditate. Then wd hit hard and so did desperation, I had to find a way to deal with the mess I was in.

 

I hope things even out for you soon

Please keep reaching out❤️

 

 

 

[Heath]

Agree with greatful on everything!  Trust the mods here they will guide you. Like she said please try not to  chase your tail per say. I did it too running back and forth to drs and ended up worse off.

try to

acknowledge -that it is withdrawals/ situation 

accept- that it is certain situation and can you do anything about it or can you

float -Try to let the thoughts and feelings float on by . Kinda like listening to radio while you work. You hear it but you’re not listening to it. 
 

believe me we all have been and still going through this and it is tough. This will take time-You will get better!  You tagged the mods they will be along shortly! 

[Altostrata]

3 hours ago, Escitalopram21 said:

First day on 2,5 mg Escitalopram I felt my symptoms relieved a little. Also felt a little better day 2-5. Yesterday, day 6 after reinstating Escitalopram I am experiencing scary derealization, anxiety, rapid heartbeats etc. 

 

A daily dose of escitalopram takes a few days to ramp up to full effect. Your reaction indicates 2.5mg is too much for you. You might try 2.0mg, adverse effects usually reduce as the dosage is reduced.

 

Like all psychiatric drugs, escitalopram is a psychotropic. Please do not be surprised if any of them cause derealization.

 

You have not yet found the right escitalopram dosage for you. Why do you want to take quetiapine?

[Escitalopram21]

@Altostrata

Since i tapered both Escitalopram and Quetiapin in a short period of time i was thinking that maybe reinstating Quetiapin would ease my symptoms. 
 

Gonna try to reduce my dosage of Escitalopram as a first attempt. How long should I need to stay on the new dose before seeing if it works?

 

Thank you for your reply!

[Altostrata]

Your current reaction to escitalopram emerged in 6 days. Please let us know how you are doing as the reduction to 2.0mg takes effect over a week. Do you plan to use the liquid for precise measurement?

[Escitalopram21]

@AltostrataI Will keep you updated.

yes I will need to use the liquid the get the right dose!

[Escitalopram21]

Thank you so much for your kind words @Grateful It really moved me to experience such kindness in my weakest moments ♥️
 

I know part of my problem is beeing on sickleave, about to loose my job, so i have got too much time to just think about this and my symptoms. 
 

I definitely experienced some relief this morning when trying to stay mindful and doing deep belly breaths, so thank you for that suggestion. 
 

Hope you are doing well!

[Greatful]

@Escitalopram21  

I know this is very overwhelming right now but you will get through it.  Keep reaching out and connect to other members the support here is fantastic.

It will be a slow process to get your feet under, but you will.  Remind yourself you are in WD right now, be kind to yourself, and take it one day at a time.  Really stay in the day, don't get caught up in the looking to far ahead.  This will make everything seem overwhelming.

Think of a daily mantra to remind yourself you are going to be okay.  I can make it through today.    I am okay at this moment.   Find something that will bring you a little piece at that moment.

13 hours ago, Escitalopram21 said:

about to loose my job, so i have got too much time to just think about this and my symptoms. 
 

I am sorry you might loss your job.  I know that can bring on more stress.  Things will workout.

I would recommend setting up a slow and stress free schedule.  This will break up your day. Some people do adult coloring, paint by numbers.

Go for a walk and get out in nature.  

I will again stress to start meditating.   Your thoughts will start to take over, and in WD they are so distorted and morphed, this can add to your anxiety. 

Read some of the success stories.

Ask other member what has helped them.

Remind yourself you are healing everyday❤️

 

 

[Escitalopram21]

Not doing great to be honest. Had 2 really good days after going from 2,5 mg to 2 mg but ever since, NOT good. Sleep is bad, anxiety is worse. Can’t take a nap in the day because of hypnagogic hallucinations. 
 

I wont get any money for beeing on sickleave if i dont increase my dose my Psychiatric says. Scared!!!

now my health practitioner also wants me back on a dose where i feel Stable. She have been educated by the author of the book The road back (James Harper?)

 

@altostrata

[Greatful]

@Escitalopram21  Shame on them for threating you... See what Atrostrata  advises, how much of a up dose would she recommend.

You need to highlight @Altostrata

 

Hand in there

[Altostrata]

6 hours ago, Escitalopram21 said:

Not doing great to be honest. Had 2 really good days after going from 2,5 mg to 2 mg but ever since, NOT good. Sleep is bad, anxiety is worse. Can’t take a nap in the day because of hypnagogic hallucinations. 

 

Suggest you increase to 2.25mg and see if that's better. You can honestly say you've increased your dose.

 

Are you using a prescription liquid to take this small amount? You might tell the psychiatrist you want to go up in dose slowly using the liquid.

 

The author of the book The Road Back, James Harper, owns a supplement company and distributes the book to sell his supplements. He takes his tapering advice from this Web site.

[Escitalopram21]

I’ll try increasing the dose. I am using liquid yes. @Altostrata

 

I just can’t get out of my mind the fact that all of my symptoms are so much alike the symptoms i had when starting the Quetiapin treatment back in the days. 
 

is there any chance that re-introducing quetiapin could help?
 

[Altostrata]

On 8/23/2021 at 9:31 AM, Escitalopram21 said:

Had 2 really good days after going from 2,5 mg to 2 mg

 

This indicates your "sweet spot" may be in between.

[Greatful]

@Escitalopram21  I was wondering if you went straight to liquid from pills?  Some of your increased symptoms might be from the transfer over from pill to liquid.  They generally advise a slow taper over.  Some people get some set backs for awhile until things settle down again.  Not sure I can explain why.  You can tag a mod if your cereous about it.

 

I don't think you want to add in Seroquel.  Try the up dose and wait it out if you can.

I really do know what it feels like to be in a panic, feel so awful and just want the pain to stop....Hence the drug mess I am in

Now that your cns is so sensitive your best bet is to do things slowly and give it time to see if it works.  

Hang in there❤️

[Escitalopram21]

@Gratefulyour posts are always so kind and full of insight, thank you! ♥️

 

Yes I actually went straight from pill to liquid! Didnt know that could cause symptoms. I have 14 days to stabilize on my current dose before seeing the psychiatrist again, hopefully i will see some stability until then! 
 

I always feel good two days in when changing my dose, then worse! Odd! But hopefully this dose Will do the trick!

[Escitalopram21]

I am feeling rather good as long as no one asks anything of me. But even the slightest obligation makes my anxiety skyrocket and i can’t sleep or eat or anything. Even when it is things that I have decided for myself such as beeing support for my friend when she went into labour and this other thing that caused me to feel this way was that i had to make a decision if i was gonna take a longer or a shorter course with a healthpractitioner.

is this normal??? @Grateful @Altostrata

 

[Altostrata]

On 8/26/2021 at 1:07 PM, Escitalopram21 said:

I always feel good two days in when changing my dose, then worse! Odd! But hopefully this dose Will do the trick!

 

This is because it takes a few days for a dosage change to take full effect. Withdrawal symptoms occur when your system fully registers the decrease.

 

Are you taking 2.5mg escitalopram in liquid form now? How long have you been doing this?

[Escitalopram21]

@Altostrata

since 24 of August i am on 2,2 mg liquid. 
i havent had a window in many days now. Getting desperate!

[Escitalopram21]

@Altostrata

At this point i am okay to be on my meds for a long time. My goal is not to get off them for a while since i took this hard hit now. 
Would it still not make sense to updose to feel better? And also with the Quetiapin, i feel like that is the one I don’t know how to cope without. 

[Altostrata]

How do you feel before and after you take 2.2mg escitalopram? Do you feel better or worse than when you were taking 2.0mg?

[Escitalopram21]

@Altostratai dont notice much difference to be honest.