Ninabird: Effexor withdrawal?

[Ninabird]

@TentacleFinn

Hello there! Moving while going through WD was tough but I did it. I think it gave me a huge distraction that was necessary to get through the brutal first month. 
 

Im finding that I HAVE to be silent sometimes and take in completely what I’m feeling. I am so good at keeping busy to distract from the pain of WD. To sit in the pain removes some of the fear that I have that it will consume me. After a while of sitting I get up and come away with, “well, that wasn’t pleasurable but it didn’t kill me or put me in a hospital.” 
 

Two days ago I switched to liquid Lexapro( I resume my taper of 10mg on Friday)  It’s hard to say if I’m having symptoms from switching or from WD. My new symptoms are muscle tension & anxiety in my arms. I have pressure in the back of my head. my symptoms come and go. 
 

I haven’t had the burning in my head in 4 days. I’m loving that. The thoughts of loosing my mind have eased up exceptionally. I haven’t had anxiety rushes in a few weeks. So I think things are easing up. I’m not looking forward to tapering but I’ll do it the right way now thst I’ve found this site. Praying that symptoms are gentle. 
 

How are you doing today? Are you in the US? I’m in Northern Ca. 
 

I hope your day/eve is filled w peace and health. 
 

 

[LunaLex]

Again, you are so strong! Lend me some of that strength!! Right now I find the stress just adds to the brutality! I need to channel my Ninabird!

 

Ah, I think I am a little the opposite, it is always interesting how differently WD hits us all! 

 

Make sure you're gentle with yourself! It may take four days to a week to feel your way through the liquid differences - tapering before your body has fully adjusted can give it a bit of a shock. 

 

I have had sudden muscle tension in my arms two days this week, as if they have had metal poured inside them, so I can relate a bit!

 

Im glad to hear it! Especially the anxiety rushes. Try to be patient with yourself. Things may come back as you taper, the mods links to ways to deal are lifesavers. 

 

I seem to have caught a virus (not covid! 2 tests many days apart) and im two weeks deep, but I am coping! You wouldn't know it from my journal, it always sounds so dire, but a month ago I couldn't sleep AT ALL or keep food down so im much improved! I have started a gratitude list ala Ariel but I dont want to clog my topic!

 

Im in Australia! Its hella late so you wouldnt know it!

 

I hope your adjustment to liquid is gentle and your tension today is low!!

[Ninabird]

@brassmonkey @Altostrata
 Two days ago I switched from pill form Lexapro to liquid. I didn’t slowly switch over because I didn’t see the post about a slow cross over until yesterday after I took my first 10mg. I’m feeling more tension in my shoulders and neck almost like anxiety-ish? I’m still able to function and work. Going through my Taper journal I do see anxiety feeling in my arms but I’m feeling it much more intensely. Could this be from the liquid? Will it take my body a while to adjust to the liquid? 
my sleep has not been interrupted at all from the change…. So far. 
 

im supposed to be resuming my taper starting tomorrow ( @ 10% every month) if you think I should wait, I will. 
 

thank you so much. 

 

[Ninabird]

@TentacleFinn

You are too kind. I get my strength from God. There are days where I talk to Him all day long. I don’t understand the suffering but HE does. I have to believe that He has big plans for my life. So I push hard every day. Every day it seems like I want to fall apart. I call out his name or I repeat a certain scripture until it passes. 
 

You are stronger than you think. In the middle of your WD you are texting others and offering support…. That is strength. 
 

I just looked up the time in Australia. Goodness. Have you slept yet? 
 

Tell me something you love about Australia. 
 

I live in Northern Ca and I love that I can go to the mountains or the coast in under 2 hours. 
 

get some rest. 🥸

[brassmonkey]

Although we do recommend that you cross taper between solid and liquid it is possible to just make the switch over night. We recommend the cross taper because some people react poorly to the liquid form and the slow transition makes things easier on them. It also makes it possible to see if they are going to have trouble tolerating the liquid and makes it easier to go back to just the solid.

 

A direct change from solid to liquid needs to be treated as a "dose change event". So, like doing a reduction you should allow 4 to 6 weeks for things to stabilize before making any other changes, ie. making a reduction. Keep a close but not "panicked" eye on your symptoms to make sure they don't get out of hand. Keep us informed so we can help spot any trends.

[Ninabird]

Hi Brassmonkey. Thank you for your reply. 
When would I know if my body isn’t tolerating the liquid? Anything in particular that I should be looking for? Growing a unicorn horn… beaver teeth? Lol Just attempting some humor in the muck. 🥸
 

[Ninabird]

@brassmonkey I have noticed an increase in muscle tension and aching in my arms and chest. Feels like anxiety-ish. Feet and hands are sweaty too. 

[Altostrata]

It may take several days for the change to settle out. If your symptoms get worse, I would go back to 1/2 tablet and 1/2 liquid for your dose.

[Ninabird]

@AltostrataThank you very much! I watched a YouTube video w you and a panel of others. It was so shocking  to learn how these sites started but I’m so glad that sites like these exist. We would all be suffering so much more ( or worse, give up ) without them. 
 

[Fantini]

21 hours ago, Ninabird said:

@AltostrataThank you very much! I watched a YouTube video w you and a panel of others. It was so shocking  to learn how these sites started but I’m so glad that sites like these exist. We would all be suffering so much more ( or worse, give up ) without them. 
 

Hi @Ninabird

Could you send the youtube link? Thank you!

If I can help with anything, let me know!

[Ninabird]

I woke up 30 minutes later than I usually do. 
7am awake anxiety (6)

took all meds

7:30 green smoothie

feel tightness on my biceps and neck -anxiety-ish

Symptoms in general are light today so far

10am sat in front yard and read and journaled

anxiety increasing and feeling of uneasiness 

( too hot in sun) 

11am took dogs for a mile walk 

feel mildly anxious 

12 ate banana 

very mild headache 

a little anxiety comes and goes

2pm still mild symptoms 

very mild headache. 
I haven’t had ANY burning in my head in 5 days after months of having it every day! 🥸

Mood is good. 
 

[Altostrata]

1 hour ago, Ninabird said:

I haven’t had ANY burning in my head in 5 days after months of having it every day! 🥸

 

 

Good sign. Please let us know how you're doing.

[Ninabird]

@Altostrata @brassmonkey @Grateful @getofflex

today started off decent. 
 

6am woke w anxiety

6:30 took meds 

7 am made green smoothie

8am anxiety down (2) 

took dogs for a 2.5 mile walk before it got too hot ( 95 degrees expected)

8:45 took shower 

feeling decent 

9:15 went to Farmers market 

(was about 80 degrees) 

10:30 ran an errand. Got a weird rush of anxiety for a few seconds. Started to feel a little “off.” 
I notice that I have a sunburn from the farmers market. 
11:30 I go cherry picking w my friends. 
I continue to feel “off,” sort of like anxiety feeling? I ignore it and try to enjoy my time w friends. ( temperature is now 85) 

I’m starting to get sweaty and have more intense feelings of feeling “off.” I start to wonder if it’s heat related? 
I’ve had 2 40oz mineral waters. 
1pm drive home 

1:30 take cool shower and drink plain water. 
start to feel a bit better. 
2:30 thinking about eating something for lunch. 
Feeling a touch better but now ears are ringing ( this comes and goes daily still) 

 

Could my symptoms have been magnified by the heat? The long walk w my dogs? The change from tablet to liquid Lexapro last week? 
 

when I start to feel like this ( feeling worse) I start to question EVERYTHING. 

1. Could the liquid lex be giving me problems?

2. Am I experiencing a wave?

3. Am I getting worse? 
4. Could I be having problems w the Cymbalta ( I’ve been in it 3 months now) 

5. will I EVER get better? 
 

I should tell you that I had a very nice window from 2pm to 6:00 last night. 
This morning another window from 7-11am. 
 

It’s 2:30pm now and I’m sitting in the couch. I don’t feel any anxiety. I have the ringing in my ear, burning on my arms ( sunburn) and a slight headache now. 
 

I hope your day has been filled w love and light. 🌺❤️

[Ninabird]

Follow up on yesterday. 
 

3pm - 6:00 High anxiety (8) 

6:00pm anxiety came down on its own ( 2 ) 

6:30 .25mg scheduled Klonopin

8:00 watched part of a movie

kept dozing off

10:00pm bed

light sleep all night 

woke at 5am Anxiety (5)

6:30am meds

7am fresh green smoothie

7:20 anxiety bouncing around

in bed trying to relax and read 

 

I woke up feeling negative and a bit sad. Wondering if I’m getting worse or am stuck in this pain permanently. I focus everyday on trying to stay positive. I seem to be falling back emotionally. Sometimes in the evening I start to get tears in my eyes thinking tomorrow may be another painful day or even worse. I instantly start to pray and rebuke the negativity but can be so darn hard some times. 
 

I feel for my friends who deal w an friend who deals w WD daily. I sometimes wonder if they get sick of me and my WD? I know I do. I try my best to not pour my WD all over them but there are days where I need them so. 
 

I just need words of encouragement right now. I am feeling down and lost. 
 

 

[Ninabird]

The ringing in my ears has picked up. It’s louder and lasts much longer than the last few months. So far today I feel like heck. Very mild headache, arms burning, emotional ( but I fight crying) very sensitive to the wind blowing on me and sunlight too. My head feels foggy. 
 

is there anyone who I can chat w who is going through a similar time or who has gone through it?

[Ninabird]

The ringing in my ears has picked up. It’s louder and lasts much longer than the last few months. So far today I feel like heck. Very mild headache, arms burning, emotional ( but I fight crying) very sensitive to the wind blowing on me and sunlight too. My head feels foggy. 
 

is there anyone who I can chat w who is going through a similar time or who has gone through it?

[Ninabird]

@Fantini

 

It wouldn’t let me attach the YouTube video. 
min the search bar I’m YouTube type in Surviving Antidepressant's and it will come up. 

[ChessieCat]

@Fantini @Ninabird

 

Here is the link: 

 

Medicating Normal - SurvivingAntidepressants.org Community Discussion video (1 hour and 26 minutes)

 

You might also be interesting this this interview with Altostrata which was recorded late last year:

 

  

On 3/17/2011 at 1:50 AM, Altostrata said:

mad-in-america-surviving-antidepressants-an-interview-with-alto - audio and transcript

This podcast is an interview with Altostrata (SA's founder) and she talks about her own research and withdrawal experience and why she started this website after she was unable to get help from the medical professionals for her Paxil withdrawal symptoms. 

 

[Ninabird]

@Altostrata 

well, the last two days have been brutal! 
The anxiety has been at a 9-10. My morning schedule is pretty consistent. 
6:00 wake w morning anxiety (4) 

6:30 take meds 

7 green smoothie 

7:15 feed dogs ( ringing in ears) 

7:30 back in bed to read 

8:00 shower 

 

Friday anxiety was bouncing around 11…calmed down around 1. Rest of the day was decent. 
Saturday was decent until 11:00

anxuety was very high until 6pm when it came down by itself 

took my .25mg of Klonopin at 6:30pm

bed at 10

 

Sunday morning started w higher than usual anxiety. 
went to church ( almost didn’t go but made myself because I go every Sunday) 

Anxiety was high (7) 

Went back home 

sat and read most of the day because anxiety was high (7) 

it would come and go throughout the day. 
took my 6:30 .25mg Klonopin and it came down. 
bed at 9:45

Sunday night slept w eye mask and ear plugs. Slept from 9:45-6:15. Woke w very negative mindset and anxiety (6) 

6:30 took all morning meds

7 back in bed. Waiting for mood to improve, anxiety to calm down. Pressure in my head. Feel emotional. 
 

altostrata, could this be from switching to the liquid Lexapro? You had suggested that if my symptoms worsen to take half pill form and half liquid. Should I do that w tomorrows dose and see what happens? If so, for how long? And then move forward how? I know I can get through this rough patch. It’s very painful and scary ( I live alone) I don’t want to have this blow up on me. 
I would ask my PNP what to do but she admitted that I’m her first patient using liquid Lexapro. She is a deeply caring woman just unfamiliar w the liquid. 
 

thank you for your time and wisdom. 

[Altostrata]

22 hours ago, Ninabird said:

altostrata, could this be from switching to the liquid Lexapro? You had suggested that if my symptoms worsen to take half pill form and half liquid. Should I do that w tomorrows dose and see what happens?

 

I would do this, to arrange a more gradual switch to liquid over a couple of weeks.

 

Many people with withdrawal symptoms have heat intolerance, suggest you avoid strong sun and heat as well as light stimulation.

 

What do you take all your drugs at the same time in the morning? Are you still taking Klonopin?

[Ninabird]

@Altostrata

I take all of my medication at 6:30am. 30mg Cymbalta, 10mg liquid Lexapro, .5mg Estradiol and .25mg Klonopin. My evening .25mg of Klonopin at 6:30pm. So, yes, I still take the Klonopin. I will taper off Klonopin after I finish my Lexapro taper. 
 

 

[Ninabird]

@brassmonkey @Altostrata

@ShepGood morning

im not doing very well. Seems the last week of switching to the liquid Lexapro has made my symptoms worse? 
 

6:00 woke anxiety (4) constant negative thoughts 

6:30 took all meds 

7:30 small green smoothie

feeling down, want to cry, no motivation to work at computer

9am walk dogs ( 1 mile) 

9:45 mow front and back lawns

anxiety increasing (5) head feels full, tingles in head, negative thoughts, mild headache, nauseated, feel mentally off. 
11:00 therapy I cry the entire hour

today is my mothers birthday ( she passed away a year and half ago) 

1:30 facial ( too late to cancel so I go) 

3pm home 

anxiety is (4) 

no appetite

negative thoughts, sadness, head feels full,

shaky, want to cry, head feels like a bobble head, 

5pm Costco 

545 home 

anxious, head feels funky, ears ringing

6pm have a few bites of chicken and some edamame

6:30 take evening .25mg Klonopin

7pm anxiety starts to calm down

head still feels funky, mentally off feeling, shaky

8pm eat dinner chicken and small amount of macaroni salad 

10pm Head to bed 

ate 6 fudge covered Oreo’s. 
 

3:30am woke to go to the bathroom

4am back asleep

5:45 awake anxiety (4)

negative thoughts, ears ringing, feeling like crying 

6:15 am about to take morning meds. 
 

Am I getting worse? I need help. I’m getting scared that I’m losing footing. 

 

 

[Ninabird]

@Altostrata

@Shep @brassmonkey This morning I started on the 1/2 liquid 5ml

and 1/2 tablet 5mg of Lexapro. I felt my symptoms were getting worse. Perhaps I’m not someone who can tolerate the liquid? 
 

How long should I stay on the 1/2 & 1/2? 
What should I do after that? Does this change  further complicate my WD? Will my WD get worse now? 
 

[Ariel]

Dear @Ninabird

I am sorry for your loss. I can't imagine what you're going through. 

It makes sense to me that your mother's birthday would bring up a lot of emotion. Add withdrawal in the mix, and it's a recipe for feeling vulnerable. 

I'm glad you were able to go to therapy and cry. Do you feel like that was helpful? 

It looks like you are doing a very good job of taking care of yourself. Give yourself lots of credit for that. 

My heart goes out to you in your struggle. 

Sending you hugs,

A. 

[Ninabird]

Hi @Ariel

Thank you for your sweet letter. Crying does seem to help. Most of the time I avoid crying. I don’t know why I do. I suppose I’m afraid if I start I won’t ever stop. Silly, I know. Grieving while going through WD is very difficult. I can’t change it so I go w the flow. 
 

self care is something that I try to do regularly. I mostly force myself. 
 

Ive had a rough couple of weeks. I think switching to liquid Lexapro added fuel to the fire. I just don’t think it’s agreeing w me. I definitely feel much worse. I’m taking @Altostrata advice and going half and half on liquid and tab until I figure out what to do. It’ll all depend on how I’m feeling. I definitely don’t want to get worse as I need to function and work. 
 

How are you doing? 
 

Hugs,

ninabird

[Ariel]

Hi @Ninabird

 

I'm sorry you've had a rough couple of weeks and are feeling worse. I'm glad you found your way to SA and can benefit from the expertise of the capable moderators. 

 

6 minutes ago, Ninabird said:

self care is something that I try to do regularly. I mostly force myself. 

 

I hear you. My motto these days is very much "Fake it till you make it." I tell myself: Pretend you're a real person. Haha! It's a strange experience, makes me laugh sometimes. 

Supposedly the brain can learn and build beneficial neural pathways based on constructive behavior even if I'm not "feeling" whatever it is I'm doing in the moment. So that's what I'm betting on!

 

It's great that you walk with your dogs every day. I love to hear all about people's pets. Tell me about your dogs? 

 

[Ninabird]

1 hour ago, Ariel said:

Tell me about your dogs? 

 I have a 6 year old Rottweiler rescue named Bella and a y ear old rescue named Tank. Both are super sweet and kind.

 

Ariel, I am scared today. I feel like I am getting worse. I think I am having a reaction to the liquid form of Lexapro. Altostratta suggested I take 1/2 pill form and Half liquid for a while until my body adjusts. Today I made that adjustment. I feel so off mentally and the ringing in my ears is so loud, I feel really anxious and my stomach is in knots. I have a friend staying with me while I am going through withdrawals and that helps. Right now I feel very alone and am swimming in the scared pity pool.I hope this reply doesn't pull you down. 

 

 

[Ariel]

@Ninabird

Congrats on your sweet pups! Blessings <3

 

I'm sorry you're feeling scared. Could it be neuro-fear? Neuro-emotion is a very real and very challenging withdrawal symptom.

Might be time to practice some of those non-drug coping techniques (feel free to growl and bark at me if that's annoying to hear).

 

Personally I'm a big fan of "change the channel"; distracting myself; and accept-acknowledge-float. Sometimes I practice all of them at once!

 

The key word is "practice". It can take a while to get the hang of defusing emotional/thought spirals and rolling out from under the neuro-emotion bulldozer, but -- as we've already established, we just gotta do our best and fake it till we make it! If at first we don't succeed, we try, try again. 

 

Gentle reminder:

 

 

I realize your brain is throwing you for a loop and scrambling with worry. Try to remember that you are not your thoughts, you are not your feelings. You can practice accessing the greater awareness that is always there behind the noise. Beneath the choppy waters on the surface of the ocean, down below the big waves there is stillness.

 

I know you are going through this tricky phase of dose adjustments and changes from tablets to liquid, etc. You're in this initial stage of figuring out your tapering strategy and getting set up for that, and so there's a period of time now where it may take a while to stabilize and find a place to land. There's a lot of uncertainty and no guarantees, but you are in good hands with the moderators here.

 

Try to place your trust in their experience and in the many, many success stories. There is so much that is out of our control but we can always practice trust and patience as best we can. 

 

Many, many, many people come before us -- including our beloved moderators! -- have gone through this, or worse, and healed. Healing is possible. Healing happens.

And healing is happening, even when we don't consciously feel it!

 

Hugs, 

A.

 

[brassmonkey]

Here is information on doing a cross taper: Cross Over: Changing form (eg tablet to liquid) of drug OR changing brand of same drug - Tapering - Surviving Antidepressants

 

[Ninabird]

Thank you!

[Ninabird]

@brassmonkey

Thank you for the info on the Cross over. @Altostratasuggested to go half/half for a week and slowly go back to liquid. My PNP and I both came to the conclusion that it would be best to just go back to the pill form since the symptoms I had been having were greatly increasing.

The last two days of half pill form and half liquid have been MUCH easier! MUCH! I will take it slow to all pill form. 

I gave the liquid a good go. I just was feeling that the symptoms were getting away from me. My PNP suggested taking Magnesium. I seem to be uber sensitive to supplements right now. 5 weeks ago my PCP said my bloodwork shows very low VIT D and gave me a once a week 50k unit Vitamin D pill. I had anxiety at night from it and it seemed to exacerbate my WD symptoms. Sooner or later I am going to have to start a Vitamin D supplement.  What do you think?of both?

 

I have had a headache for the last two days. Yesterday it was pretty intense. A lot of pressure behind my left eye. Could have been a coincidence. Todays headache is not so bad. 

 

I hope you are having a fabulous Thursday! I am in Northern Ca (Central Valley) and it is pretty toasty today. 

[Ninabird]

On 5/18/2022 at 10:37 AM, Ariel said:

Personally I'm a big fan of "change the channel"; distracting myself; and accept-acknowledge-float. Sometimes I practice all of them at onc

 I am really working on this as well. It DOES make a huge difference in how I deal w a "bad," day.

[Ninabird]

On 5/18/2022 at 10:37 AM, Ariel said:

we just gotta do our best and fake it till we make it

This made me smile. My sister and I say this all the time. 

[Ninabird]

On 5/18/2022 at 10:37 AM, Ariel said:

but you are in good hands with the moderators here.

I am so blessed and thankful for finding this sight. The Moderators have been so wonderful and helpful. YOU have been wonderful. I know you are going through your own ordeal and yet, I see you actively lifting others up. It is a lovely thing to witness. You are a rare gem....truly.

 

How are YOU today?

[Ninabird]

@Altostrata @brassmonkey

 

Update: third day on half liquid and half pill form of Lexapro. Last two days have been ok. Today I’m feeling a little mentally wonky. Anxiety stirring about. Do you know if switching back to pull form will cause an uptick if symptoms? 
I’m trying not to get concerned. Having anxiety over what I’m feeling or MAY feel is not good. Working on changing my mindset. 

[brassmonkey]

You will probably get some symptoms any time you make a dose change of any kind. Nothing to worry about, it should settle out in a few days.