llunacire: Just began to taper of Lexapro, scared!

[llunacire]

Hi,

My name is Erica and I am 23. I was prescribed lexapro 4 months ago for anxiety and minor panic attacks I was suffering from. I was only having issues with this for about 6 months when I sought my doctors help. I had went through a really tough time with a family member and I feel I did not process the negative things I went through. It seemed to hit me all at once and I had an emtional breakdown. I did not stop crying for a week, it was hell.

 

I really did not want to go on the medication (I know it helps so many, but the idea of these chemicals in my body was concerning) but I knew I needed the help and I have a family history of women with anxiety disorders.

 

After 4 months on this medication I am experiencing extreme constipation and night sweats. I have also rapidly gained about 10 pounds. Another really uncomfortable side effect is being hungry ALL the time, to the point where its painful and I feel like I will go crazy if I dont eat, note: I may have just eaten 10 minutes ago. This could not be father from the truth before I started the meds. I almost had to remind myself to eat because I really wouldnt get that hungry.

 

Now that I am in a stable place in life, living with my fiance, have a great job, and just bought a new car, I feel I can slowly come down off my medication. I have nothing that would trigger any issues coming up in the near future, I am actually the happiest I have been, probably ever with my life. So after discussing it with family (they were a little wary and told me the reason I feel like I can go off the meds, is because Im on the meds) and my doctor I have begun the tapering down process.

 

I am scared of the withdrawl symptoms. I have went down to 10mg for the past 4 days and one major thing that I have noticed is what I call a nervous stomach, or I always feel like I have butterflies or Im nervous like Im going to make a speech or interview for a job, kind of uneasy.

 

Thats it so far. Im wary of what is to come and how bad I am going to feel, and whether its withdrawal or my anxiety coming back full force already. Im hoping it wont be as bad because I was on it for such a short period of time. Any advice or experiences is welcome! Thanks for taking the time to read my story...so far. 

Edited January 18, 2015 by Petu
added line breaks for readability

[Petunia]

Welcome to SA llunacire,

 

Thank you for posting and sharing your story.  I agree that you are at a good place in your life to taper and become drug free, so I'm glad you found us when you did because it sounds like you have already started to experience withdrawal symptoms from tapering too fast. 

 

Did your doctor advise you to go down to 10mg from 15mg?  When did you make this cut?

 

Many of us are here because we tapered too fast while believing we were doing it right.  Sadly, most doctors don’t have a clue and often advise tapers that lead patients to going back on the drug because of a ‘relapse’,  which is actually withdrawal.

 

See: What to expect from my doctor

 

We suggest reducing by no more than 10% of the current dose every 4 weeks, this reduces the risk of withdrawal symptoms arising.  Please read through this which will explain why:

  

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?  (The general philosophy of gradual tapering)

 

Please take your time and do it safely, so that you can be successful and remain drug free.  These drugs are very harmful, especially when used long term and the side effects, which tend to increase over time, can ruin your quality of life.  Counseling and non-drug therapies are a much healthier way to handle anxiety.

 

Here are our tips for specifically tapering off Lexapro:

 

Tips for tapering off Lexapro

 

How long have you been on 10mg and would you say that your symptoms are improving, staying the same or getting worse?

 

When you get back to us with these details, we will be able to offer some advice and suggestions to help you become stable again, and stay that way as you continue your taper.

 

Petu.

 

 

[Lexy]

Hi

Your story sounds like mine in regards to the panic attacks. I was having these attacks from PTSD. There is also a family history of anxiety.

My GP referred me to a psychiatrist who prescribed effexor. I was only on it for 8 weeks, however I could not take the diff effects...high anxiety to the point I started being agoraphobic. I decided to get off this crap. I took half dosage and felt better for one day. Since then I've been in withdrawals.

Please get educated before you proceed to taper. Learn everything you can to get yourself strong physically, mentally and emotionally and spiritually.. Good luck.

[mammaP]

Hi Llunacire, welcome to SA.  You will get lots of help and support for your taper here. Fire away and ask any questions

you might have, we will do whatever we can to help.