Conner: help

[Conner]

• #1

Help. I was on lexapro 8 years. Tapered off lexapro onto Effexor in sept 2021. Couldn’t handle it. Stopped taking after 5 days. Started Zoloft. Lasted 30 days. Side effects were bad. Tapered off to pristiq. Lasted 10 days and my psychiatrist said to just stop. I was trying to give my body a break so I could start a new med. 8 days later I went back to lexapro. Took it tonight. I’ve been having slight confusion lately, mental fog, poor concentration and not in touch with reality. I’ve always had panic attacks but what I experienced was not. My brain started to get warm and I almost wanted to pass out following extreme confusion with my heart/pulse racing incredibly fast. It’s like my brain was shutting down. I was so scared thinking i was having a brain aneurysm, stroke or seizure. I called 911. Went to hospital where I got a ct scan of my head. They ruled out a tumor, stroke or seizure: they didn’t check my blood sugar or run blood work. This happened at 10pm tonight. Got back home almost 2AM and went to bed extremely scared. I woke up an hour later in state of confusion to this happening again. The docs say it’s from the meds. I’m so scared I can’t sleep bc I don’t want it to happen again. I feel like it’s more than this and I’m actually going to die from whatever this is. It’s like my brain is broke. I was perfectly fine a few months ago. Idk why the docs couldn’t find an answer to what I was experiencing. I’m so scared this is something else. I’m 34, male, good health.. active 

[hayduke]

Hello and welcome @Conner

 

The distressed feelings you're reporting sound more than likely to be induced by all the chopping and changing of drugs you have been given recently.

 

Can you please present a clear timeline of your drug history in your signature here for each drug and its amounts for starts, changes and stops as detailed in the link below.  This helps us make suggestions about what might help in your situation.

[hayduke]

You might also find this helpful 

 

[Conner]

Just updated my signature. I am better after getting back on lexapro. Still have some brain fog, spaced out feeling, fatigue. My motivation hasn’t been there either but that’ll come back with time. Could be from the previous drugs I had in my system or weaning off the klonopin still. I am ready to slowly wean off everything using the methods provided here. I am scared of withdrawal symptoms like anyone else but I know this is possible with family, friends and support 

[Conner]

Also wanted to note I am 15 days on the jump from 10mg to 15mg lexapro. I also have this “high” feeling sometimes 

[Onmyway]

Hi @Conner, 

why are you on such a high dosage of Lexapro? The standard dose of that drug is 10mg. It is possible that the high feeling is your body telling you you are taking too much of the escitalopram. We recommend reinstatements of much lower dosages 1-2 mg. 

 

Does your doctor know that you have this high feeling? It might be that you need to be on a much lower dosage of this drug. 

OMW

[Conner]

I’m calling them now. I’m going to ask if I can go down to 10mg since I’ve only been on 15mg for 2 weeks 

[Conner]

I don’t trust these doctors. I already know they are going to tell me to remain on the 15mg. I honestly think I may until I fully get off the klonopin. The doc told me to take the 0.25mg klonopin as needed but I wanted to wean from it after being on .5mg of Xanax for 30 days. I’m in Mississippi. Hopefully I can get the liquid Escitalopram. I want to do an extremely slow taper. 

[Frogie]

Liquid Escitalopram is available in the US. That's what I used for my taper. Just check with your insurance to make sure they cover it.

[Conner]

Thanks @Frogie How did you do your taper with Escitalopram? Not opposed to a long taper 

[Frogie]

I tapered 10% a month, and a couple months I held because of my symptoms.

 

It took me 3 years to taper off of liquid 10 mg. But it was much easier than crushing and weighing tablets.

[Conner]

@Frogie I am going to do this soon after I get off the klonopin. Glad I’m on a low dose of it. 

[Frogie]

I stayed on my benzo until I was done with the Lexapro taper.

[Conner]

Shocker, they want me to increase to 20mg. Said the brain fog/high feeling should go away when that’s stable. I’m going to remain on the 15 or cut it to 12.5mg until I figure out my plan. I still have some 10mg that I cut to make it 15mg 

[hayduke]

19 hours ago, Conner said:

Shocker, they want me to increase to 20mg. Said the brain fog/high feeling should go away when that’s stable. I’m going to remain on the 15 or cut it to 12.5mg until I figure out my plan. I still have some 10mg that I cut to make it 15mg 

 

Holding for a month or two wouldn't hurt, I think.  It may take even longer for your body to adapt to the chemical roller coaster ride it's just been through.

 

Once you're all steady it will be much clearer what to do then.

 

[Onmyway]

On 1/4/2022 at 1:58 AM, Conner said:

I don’t trust these doctors. I already know they are going to tell me to remain on the 15mg. I honestly think I may until I fully get off the klonopin. The doc told me to take the 0.25mg klonopin as needed but I wanted to wean from it after being on .5mg of Xanax for 30 days. I’m in Mississippi. Hopefully I can get the liquid Escitalopram. I want to do an extremely slow taper. 

@Conner, in general, we recommend tapering the more activating medicine first which in your case is the escitalopram. A lot of withdrawal symptoms are 'activating' i.e. on edge feeling/anxiety  so sometimes the benzodiazepines cover those. I would definitely not go up to 20mg escitalopram if I were you. 

 

There is benefit to staying on the same dose of escitalopram like @hayduke is suggesting to stabilize. If the high feeling is disturbing or causes other issues - i.e. impulsive behavior, I would lower the escitalopram down to 12.5 and see if that is more tolerable. 

 

OMW

[Conner]

I appreciate the info @Onmyway. I’m beginning my 3rd day of .125mg klonopin. Previous 7 days was between .125mg-0.25mg. I used a pill cutter so I don’t know the exact cut but did my best. I’m not sure how much longer I’ll stay on the klonopin. I was going to give it 7 days and go from there. My doc said to take it as needed but I transferred from .5mg of Xanax for 30 days and he gave me klonopin as needed. I didn’t feel comfortable stopping the benzo so I stabilized on klonopin at 0.25mg for 2 weeks then started to wean. I’m going to stick with the 15mg of Escitalopram and see how I feel after I fully get off the klonopin. I already took a month off of work going through the previous ordeal so I’m trying to function as best as possible as I’m back at work

[Conner]

Spoke to the psychiatrist Np again. He said to keep at the 15mg for two more weeks to see if the “high” feeling goes away then we can we group if I still feel that way. Ready for some normalcy! @Onmyway. @hayduke

[Conner]

My depression is kicking back in with weaning off the benzo. I’m almost off if it.  Still at 15mg on the lexapro. Do I ride it out with the 15mg still? I’m ready to get off all of this stuff. If it’s actually the lexapro that isn’t working do I start to wean off that too? I was wondering how you get off this stuff if you feel like it isn’t working anymore. I don’t want to to switch to another antidepressant again but also don’t want to be miserable for over a year tapering 

[Conner]

Anything?

[hayduke]

On 1/12/2022 at 3:09 AM, Conner said:

I was wondering how you get off this stuff if you feel like it isn’t working anymore. I don’t want to to switch to another antidepressant again but also don’t want to be miserable for over a year tapering 

 

It's really a question of navigating least worst options.  The whole experience sucks for just about everyone.

 

Having it "not work any more" is still a lot better than severe distress from cold turkey or tapering too fast.  You may as well say you'd rather not wait for your sprained ankle to take a fortnight to get better and plan a bushwalk in two days instead!

 

The suggestion to hold until things even out for your body and nervous system ("wd normal") then plan a gentle and safe taper is still the best we can offer.

[Conner]

Update. I am 9 days off klonopin and a little over 2 months back on lexapro. 25 days on 15mg. I feel terrible. I cannot concentrate and feel high. Is that the klonopin, lexapro or anxiety? I know that’s a tough call. I am just trying to find answers. @hayduke @Onmyway

[Conner]

My doc wants me to try to increase to 20mg. I feel like it’s just a guessing game. I don’t mind going up to the 20 if it’ll make me function then go from there. I just don’t know what to do anymore. I shouldn’t be feeling like I’m floating on a cloud 24/7

[hayduke]

@Conner, if I was in your shoes I would want to reinstate the klonopin for now.  Jacking up your AD to 20mg to be "rid" of the benzo is what they call "robbing Peter to pay Paul", if you know that expression.

 

On 1/4/2022 at 12:58 PM, Conner said:

I want to do an extremely slow taper. 

 

Two observations:  

First, you have been trying to get off benzos before you have stabilised.  You keep reporting feeling agitated both before _and_ after the cuts - removing the benzos at this time is only likely to destabilise you more.

Second, you've made really rapid cuts with the klonopin and gone straight down 50% then to 0%.  That alone is going to be a recipe for anxiety and other symptoms. 

 

On 1/4/2022 at 1:52 PM, Frogie said:

I stayed on my benzo until I was done with the Lexapro taper.

 

I reckon I would want to do it that way around too.  At least avail myself of the calming effects of the benzos to get the AD WDs done since already taking it.

[hayduke]

 

Some info you might find useful there @Conner

Cheers
Hayduke

[Altostrata]

Hello, @Conner

 

Increasing an antidepressant does not make it easier to go off a benzo. 

 

You had Lexapro withdrawal, it went away when you reinstated Lexapro, then you increased Lexapro, started to have adverse effects from that, but went off the benzo anyway. You could have benzo withdrawal with too much Lexapro now. 

 

We've been trying to guide you but your psychiatrist wants to keep increasing your drugs. This is a site for going off drugs, which way do you want to go?

[Conner]

I wasn’t on the benzo long but I just need to get where I am functioning. It could be benzo withdrawal still. I’ll be honest, I’m jumping around a lot listening to too many people. That’s on me. I did try the 20mg tonight. Would it be ok to reinstate the 15mg tomorrow? How much klonopin should I go back to? 

[Altostrata]

What we've found is that people need to change only one drug at a time, or else we can't tell what's going on.

 

If I were you, I'd go back to 15mg Lexapro right away. What date did you increase from 10mg? Please put that in your signature.

 

Any doctor can prescribe these drugs, you do not need to keep a psychiatrist on your payroll if you can work with your GP.

 

If you stop changing drugs, we can try to figure out what your symptoms are. Please let us know how you're doing.

[Conner]

Remind me again, how do I adjust the signatures again? 

[ChessieCat]

Click on this link which will go straight to your own signature.  Edit it and remember to click SAVE which is below the box.

 

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature

[Conner]

I just updated everything. Increased from 10mg to 15mg on Dec 20, 2021. Up until September 2021 I was always on 10mg then everything just went sideways and was in crisis mode for the first time in my life. Mentally, I’m struggling. I can’t think straight or concentrate. It’s effecting my work and home life to where I may have to take off work again to heal. I’m just so lost in this journey bc I’m getting too many opinions. I trust y’all more than these NP’s. You tell them how you feel but it’s our bodies. I’m going to reinstate the 15mg tomorrow. Do I take the klonopin again? 

[Onmyway]

@Conner, can you please provide us with more information. Please answer as clearly as possible so that we can help you. 

 

1) Did your symptoms change when you stopped xanax and switched to conazepam?

2) Did your symptoms change after you stopped clonazepam? 

3) at what time do you take lexapro and at what time do you take clonazepam? 

4) do your symptoms vary during the day - specifically a few hours after you take the lexapro and a few hours after you take clonazepam? 

5) at the time when lexapro pooped out on you, did anything else happen in your life - work/relationship stress? bad trip from street drugs? an alcohol binge? Covid? some other change to supplements? antibiotics? 

 

While none of us can know for sure what is happening to you there are a few potential culprits

 

1) some external stressor that caused lexapro to not work any more (I am saying external because it seemed sudden), it's possible it was poop-out though we don't really understand the mechanism for that much either 

2) the multiple drug changes that threw your nervous system into chaos

3) withdrawal from xanax/clonazepam

4) adverse drug reaction to the increased lexapro dose upon reinstatement

 

You'd have to play detective a bit to try to figure out which one it is and act accordingly as they have different solutions. 

But as others mentioned earlier - you have to decide whose advice you take. We want to help but we can't if you are not following our advice. 

Hope you feel better soon, 
OMW

 

[Conner]

 

1) Did your symptoms change when you stopped xanax and switched to conazepam? Yup. Depression came in full force 

2) Did your symptoms change after you stopped clonazepam? Very. Super depressed. Brain fog. Hopeless. 

3) at what time do you take lexapro and at what time do you take clonazepam? I’m day 10 off klonopin. I take lexapro at 4pm daily. I tried 20mg yesterday per the Np as she said we need to try to give you a full dose to see if this helps. I just want to function l. I don’t mind being on it but I just need to function. Long term, I’d love to get off of it 

4) do your symptoms vary during the day - specifically a few hours after you take the lexapro and a few hours after you take clonazepam? I was taking them an hour apart daily 

5) at the time when lexapro pooped out on you, did anything else happen in your life - work/relationship stress? bad trip from street drugs? an alcohol binge? Covid? some other change to supplements? antibiotics? Grandfather passed in September, work was stressful, bought a new house, got the Vax on August 12, 2021. I had covid November 2020 and was fine after that. I did take an antibiotic for 7 days in October. I’ve been trying new supplements recently to try to help with anything. Ashwaganda, Rhodiola, curcumin, zinc, fish oil, vitamin D/K2. I redid some blood work yesterday. I did get blood work done at the end of September and everything checked out. 3 weeks after the vax I started having major anxiety and panic attacks. Then came the brain fog and I got depressed bc of it 

 

While none of us can know for sure what is happening to you there are a few potential culprits

 

1) some external stressor that caused lexapro to not work any more (I am saying external because it seemed sudden), it's possible it was poop-out though we don't really understand the mechanism for that much either 

2) the multiple drug changes that threw your nervous system into chaos

3) withdrawal from xanax/clonazepam

4) adverse drug reaction to the increased lexapro dose upon reinstatement

[Altostrata]

21 hours ago, Conner said:

I’m going to reinstate the 15mg tomorrow. Do I take the klonopin again? 

 

Now I'm really confused. Your signature says you've been taking 15mg escitalopram since December 20?

 

On 1/2/2022 at 4:55 PM, Conner said:

I am better after getting back on lexapro.

 

Presumably you were taking 15mg Lexapro on January 2? Did you go off again? 

 

In September 2021, just before things went "sideways", did you accidentally skip any antidepressant doses, take them off-schedule, drink alcohol, take a course of antibiotics, or add or go off any other drugs?

[Conner]

Good morning, 

 

It’s been a long journey but here I am still going. I just updated my signature again. I am looking for some guidance to see if it’s a good place to start reducing this lexapro 10% monthly. I am going to see my doctor in the morning about liquid lexapro. Being from Mississippi and a smaller town he may not know about the liquid version but I am going to ask. I am going to tell him I want off this drug. I believe he will tell me to reduce to 5mg for a month then stop. I cannot do that. These drugs scare the mess out of me after what I have been though. From my signature I am dealing with PPPD from all these drugs. I don’t feel good. I am better than I was but I just feel so off and it isn’t a good feeling. I work out, eat clean, no alcohol, no caffeine, no sugar, meditate, great family, friends, you name it. It has to be the drug. 

[Conner]

Should I have put this in another forum?