NeDaytoDayMJ: 24 days after quitting Lexapro feeling worse symptoms

[NeDaytoDayMJ]

Yes I drink 2 cups everyday after the lexapro.  

[Altostrata]

Do you think caffeine might affect your headache and other symptoms? What is your sleep pattern?

 

I'm sorry you feel sad. That is something you might be able to work on with a psychotherapist or other counselor.

[NeDaytoDayMJ]

I don’t believe the caffeine is affecting headaches. I can certainly reduce or quit the caffeine if that would reduce symptoms.  I suppose it doesn’t hurt to try.

My sleep patterns is pretty straight forward go to bed around 1130pm and wake up around 830am give or take an hour.  
I am waiting a call back to schedule with a counselor.  

[Altostrata]

You might have become sensitized to caffeine. Suggest tapering off over several weeks by gradually substituting decaf.

[NeDaytoDayMJ]

My dr has given me a prescription for Emgality.  It is suppose to help with the headaches.  I haven’t seen reports in this drug while tapering off Lexapro.  Would it be safe?

[Altostrata]

Have you researched the adverse effects of this drug yourself? See drugs.com. What is the pharmacy name for it, not the brand name?

[NeDaytoDayMJ]

I did research and couldn’t find any terrible side effects.  The drug is called Galcanezumab.  It’s a monoclonal antibody.
It lists hypersensitivity as a potential side effect but that is mostly immune system related.   

[NeDaytoDayMJ]

I need some help.  I’m struggling daily.  This isn’t getting better.  I don’t know what to do.  The past two weeks I haven’t seen a decent day.  I’m sad.  I’m depressed.  
Anyone care to help.  Read my thread.  Leave a comment on what you think I should do?  Either updose, taper or hold steady?  I need this head pressure/headaches/dizziness/crying to go away.  Please help.  

[labrat15]

I don’t know what you should do but from everything that I read this isnt permanent so just try to hang in there. I read your posts all the time so just know that I’m in this with you. I have been struggling the last few weeks as well and it is hard to stay positive but based on every thread that I read people eventually get better. Also seems like another common theme is people worry that they are permanently damaged  when they are not doing well but they eventually get relief. 

[NeDaytoDayMJ]

Thank you Labrat.  I appreciate the soothing words. It’s hard to stay the course when you are suffering.  I’m sure you know that.  
I’m going to hang in there.  Sometimes you just need people having your back.  
I’m bummed you aren’t feeling that well now.  We will get through this though.  
I took a walk and that calmed me a bit.  

[Altostrata]

How does a monoclonal antibody address headaches?

 

You might try reducing caffeine to see if that's involved.

[NeDaytoDayMJ]

I am slowly tapering off the caffeine.  I had one cup today.   I’m going to try a half cup tomorrow.  
I am not sure how this monoclonal antibody drug helps with the headaches.  I heard from one other person in withdrawal and they said it helped with migraines but not with the withdrawal headaches.  

[Altostrata]

You may be tapering caffeine too fast. Caffeine withdrawal typically causes headaches.

[NeDaytoDayMJ]

@Altostrata Should I updose?  It’s been about 6 months on the .5mg with no improvement.  Or is it too late to updose?  
I keep waiting for a window but it’s not coming.  I’ve felt worse the past month.  
 

[Altostrata]

On 2/9/2022 at 7:31 PM, NeDaytoDayMJ said:

9:00 am took liquid .5mg lexapro

9:25 am two cups coffee sugar half/half

 

Since you're drinking 2 cups of coffee almost at the same time you're taking Lexapro, I cannot see what effect the Lexapro is having on you.

 

On 9/23/2021 at 6:24 PM, NeDaytoDayMJ said:

Last Thursday (week ago) I came back from a trip overseas. I had made enough oral .5 mg lexapro for 14 day trip.  Ever since returning I have had a consistent 6 out of 10 tension headache each day.  Also I am tired super easily.  I am dizzy and have brain fog.   I am unsure if this is due to the jet lag from Greece or if somehow I wasn’t taking any of the lexapro due to being near the bottom of the bottle.

....

 

Is this when the headache started?

 

How many doses did you miss on this trip? Have you been taking 0.5mg Lexapro consistently at the same time each day ever since? Have you accidentally missed doses?

[NeDaytoDayMJ]

Should I take the lexapro at a different time each day.  Move it forward a couple hours each day?

 

Ues when I came back from the trip the headaches/ head pressure started.  I didn’t miss any doses.  I made the liquid Lexapro but there could have been human error by not mixing/ shaking thoroughly so I could have had more Lexapro in one dose than the other.  
I have been taking .5mg consistently until Nov when I thought I could taper down.  I went to .35mg within two weeks and felt worse so I have been back to .5mg since that three week timeframe.  
I haven’t missed any accidentally.

[Altostrata]

If your trip was to another time zone, did you take Lexapro according to your home schedule or the new time zone?

 

To separate Lexapro from the caffeine, you might move your dose earlier by one hour each day. Be sure to keep notes as you do this.

[NeDaytoDayMJ]

I took the lexapro according to the Greece time zone.  I can’t take the drug an hour earlier because I take it right when I wake up.  Did you mean an hour later?

[Altostrata]

If your body was used to a schedule based on your home time zone, and you took the drug according to Greek time, it was at least 6 hours off your body's schedule. 

 

You made another schedule change when you came back and went on your home schedule. That could be the cause of your headaches after this trip.

[NeDaytoDayMJ]

I’m sure that triggered the headaches/head pressure and withdrawal is just compounding the situation.  
I am dealing with more anxiety and wanting to cry a lot lately.  I’m at about 7 months from my “ct” on on July 24, 2021.  I don’t think the reinstatement helped the withdrawal symptoms much or  made them worse.  Though I can’t be 100 percent sure.  I think I’m suffering full effects of a ct.    With that in mind I’m hoping to feel better around month 10.  Unless I updose and it actually works.  
But thats the problem nobody knows.  It could make it worse.  
The only thing I know is I have to try and make it day by day.  I just have to survive.  It’s so depressing just surviving.  Life just isn’t fun.  It’s very hard to find happiness.  I miss being my old self.  

[Altostrata]

There have been significant events that may have made your symptoms worse since your cold turkey in July 2021.

 

On 11/18/2021 at 5:23 PM, NeDaytoDayMJ said:

Quick summary I have been at .5 mg lexapro (reinstatement) since mid Aug.  Mid Sept I started having bad tension headaches nonstop daily about 4-5 out of 10.  I still have them everyday til today.  I also feel anxious, some small crying spells, head pressure, and some cognitive decline.  I had covid mid Oct but only 2 days fever, fatigue and small congestion.  I went to a neurologist two days ago who said it might be due to withdrawal and would like a second opinion with neurology dept.  Meanwhile she prescribed me topomax that she wants me to take.  I'm hesitant to take and would appreciate any help.

 

You had been on a reinstatement of 0.5mg only a month before you most likely took it irregularly during your vacation in Greece and when you returned.

 

You had covid. You bounced up and down in your Lexapro dose in November and December.

 

I don't think we know what the 0.5mg reinstatement is doing. If you don't feel worse after you take it, you might increase it. If there wasn't so much irregularity every month since you reinstated in August, we might have seen that it was too low of a dose more clearly.

 

Also, please consider whether you might have gotten covid in Greece and that's what's given you the headache.

 

 

[NeDaytoDayMJ]

I agree there has been some roadblocks that inhibited the reinstatement.  I want to minimize the long term protracted withdrawal effects.  I don’t want to have to be suffering a half year or year from now.  
I’m in Paws right now even though I’m taking .5mg  

 

Have you seen someone else in this situation and if so what was the best outcome?  

Was it to wait out the symptoms?  I hear that around month 10 they get better.  I’m at month 7 since ct.  

Or was it to updose?  In which I might feel better or worse.  
 

[NeDaytoDayMJ]

Anybody have any ideas or input from my last post?  Any success stories similar to mine that someone can recall?  Will I feel better 6 months from now?  

[Altostrata]

We see that when people reinstate and are consistent in their dosing, they tend to very gradually stabilize.

 

On 2/21/2022 at 11:15 PM, Altostrata said:

You bounced up and down in your Lexapro dose in November and December.

 

You're 7 months from cold turkey, but those 7 months are filled with destabilizing events, the last being the dosing inconsistency in November and December.

 

If you've been consistent in your dosing, it's only been in the last 2 months. As I said earlier, it appears that 0.5mg might not be enough for a reinstatement. You might increase to 1mg and see if that causes any changes -- but you need to be consistent with that for at least a week, and report significant changes here.

[Carmie]

Hi @NeDaytoDayMJ

 

Thanks for your kind words on my thread, sending hugs your way🤗

[NeDaytoDayMJ]

Well here is to another new month of feeling crappy.  I thought the new month would bring relief.  Wishful thinking.  
February was a complete trainwreck and has been the worst month yet.  I’m not looking forward to March or April.  Not much to look forward.  
I just read altostrata post on that I might move to 1.0 mg per dose as the .5 mg isn’t enough to ease the symptoms.  It is such a hard decision as it would mean I would be on this drug for even longer.  Can anyone chime in and persuade me one way or the other?  I mean what happens if the 1.0 dose provides no relief?  Anybody?  

[labrat15]

Well based on what I've been reading it is probably worth changing it up because what you have been doing hasn't been working. 

[labrat15]

I would probably just trust Altostrata because she is probably the most informed person I have seen hands down. 

[NeDaytoDayMJ]

2 hours ago, labrat15 said:

I would probably just trust Altostrata because she is probably the most informed person I have seen hands down. 

I would agree.   Thank you for your insights.   It's just frustrating to have to updose when you are so close to getting off these forever.  I mean it's going to be a battle and I guess I have to updose.  The drugs won this round?  I'm going to think it over for now.

  @labrat15How have you been recently?  You are on 5mp lexapro right?  Do you think you are stabilizing?

[labrat15]

Yeh I understand that I want off everything to its hard to be patient. I set myself back a couple times with alcohol and coffee but I have stopped both and I feel stable. For the most part I feel stable if I stay away from coffee and alcohol but kind of sucks because I don't mind having drink now and then especially after this crap. 

[Altostrata]

Please report any changes in your symptom pattern after you've been absolutely consistent in your dosing of 0.5mg for a week. Then we can decide on next steps.

[NeDaytoDayMJ]

12 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

Please report any changes in your symptom pattern after you've been absolutely consistent in your dosing of 0.5mg for a week. Then we can decide on next steps.

Do you mean 1.0mg for a week?

[canaanstongue01]

On 8/17/2021 at 4:32 PM, NeDaytoDayMJ said:

I feel extremely tired and fatigued.  I feel symptoms of brain fog, memory failures, cognitive decline, crying spells, sadness, slight headache, head pressure, eyes tired, some body ache, and slight brain zaps.  

I'm trying to stay positive and day to day but this is brutal.  I feel like a zombie and would just want to sleep…haven't heard of anyone having the described symptoms as a result of actively taking the antidepressant drug.  If this is something that can be confirmed I would feel much more at ease as I would have to wait out the withdrawal process.

  

i definitely felt fatigue and body aches while actively taking the drug, and have felt all the rest at different stages so far during withdrawal. i hope you can find relief soon

 

 

sorry, didn’t realize there were so many other replies to your post already, what i’ve said is very redundant but i don’t know how to delete it 

Edited March 2, 2022 by canaanstongue01

[Altostrata]

Sorry, I mean 1mg for a week. You must take the same amount at the same time each day, noting how you feel before and after each dose.

[NeDaytoDayMJ]

11 minutes ago, canaanstongue01 said:

i definitely felt fatigue and body aches while actively taking the drug, and have felt all the rest at different stages so far during withdrawal. i hope you can find relief soon

 

 

sorry, didn’t realize there were so many other replies to your post already, what i’ve said is very redundant but i don’t know how to delete it 

No it's not redundant, nobody actually commented on the any symptoms actively taking the drug.  I appreciate the insight.

[NeDaytoDayMJ]

I just found out I'm going to fly to Minneapolis on Thursday to buy a car.  So I'm going to hold off on the updose until 3 or 4 days until I get back.