I'm off Lexapro finally

I've been taking the med for 3 years and could not stop gaining weight.  I went to my shrink and he told me to cut down to 10 mgs for 2 weeks and then be done with it.

The side effects are a blast:

over-reacting to everything

diarrhea

nausea

dizziness

brain zaps galore

It's a blast.  But I feel a LOT happier off the med.

Yup.

Now I'm just on Lorazepam and I get a backup of Xanax.

Twiggygal

WooHoo good job Twiggy!!! Hopefully things will stay good for you.

Congratulations Twiggy!

I have been off of Paxil for 3 1/2 years now. I had brain zaps daily at first and then occassionally within the first year. When I first came off Paxil, I took .5mgs of lorazapam daily for a couple of weeks. Now I take lorazapam, .25-.5 mgs on an as needed basis. My as needed basis is if I feel a panic attack coming on or I feel an upcoming situation may produce a sense of panic. I want to keep my intake of lorazapam as infrequent and low as possible so its effect is reliable in my time of need (no poop out or unacceptable increase of dose). Fortunately, my filled scripts expire before I have ever finish a bottle, but I always keep a current supply with me.

I do not begrudge anyone who needs to take an SSRI or SSNRI daily for years to life. But, personally I have done so much better taking a benzo as needed compared to the antidepressent. No more emotional flatness, better short term memory, more aware of my surrounding and senses to name a few.

Wishing you continued success!

-Soul

I have had to wean off of SSRI's three times (by choice) for pregnancies. You did it pretty quickly...I currently take Lexapro 5mg per day - going straight from 10mg to nothing is probably making your withdrawal symptoms worse. BUT the good news is that they will go away! I tapered down for about 3 weeks when getting off and had residual/withdrawal symptoms for about 1 week.

If the Xanax knocked you out, perhaps you should take 1/2 (or less) - I cut all my pills in half - I'm pretty sensitive to medications. I do think that a low dose benzo might help your withdrawal for a week or so while it gets out of your system. But check with your doc first before changing your Rx. Have you called him/her to explain how hard your withdrawal has been?

It sounds like part of your frustration above is that your fiance just doesn't get it and you are needing support. So breathe, try to relax and come here to read other success stories from weaning off med.s or just to have someone who understands and wants to listen! (hugs)

Twiggy
I a so PROUD of you .......that I want you to know for sure

The WD's are not being helped as was said ( and in my opinion )
By lack of support by partner......

I am thinking that the Lorazepam should help more with this ( just a thought all )
If it continues to put you thru all of this PLZ call your doc or RX doc to see what can be done to help
you as you are making great steps and you dont want to go backwards right.

You are an asset for sure here and we are all here for you
Take care hun and plz keep us posted okay

WE CARE

Luvs
LYN

Twiggy,

Good Morning, this is Kitt 

How I wish I could give you an answer but each med takes longer to clear your body..............

IMHO you may have weaned off to fast........I have been on Cymbalta for 2 years now and I am weaning..........I was as high as 120mg but then down to 60 mg, then 40 mg then to 30 mg, then to 20 mgs.  I have been working on this weaning process since before Christmas.  I made it to  20 mg every 72 hours although I did have to back up to taking 20 mgs every 48 hours as I was finding I was in tears all day this past week.

I am like you, my hubby is frustrated and just throws up his hands..............

Be good to your self, on the slow wean I have not had the brain zaps etc, just an increase in anxiety which the literature states you will when coming off these  meds. Talk to your doctor.

I hate to think of you feeling so bad.

You are a winner, so keep posting and know you have my support.

Kitt

Hi Twiggygal - sorry to hear you are feeling so bad. It sounds like maybe 10mg to nothing might have been a big jump. Did your doctor give you a "stepdown" pack? I don't know they even make those for lexapro but I remember going off zoloft she gave me 2 of the stepdowns and said take as long as you need, I wound up going down to the very tiniest dose pretty quickly but stayed on that for 3 weeks or so to give my body a chance to adjust to doing the work itself. Can you treat yourself to some pampering (massage, pedicure?) or even an at home spa/bath or something to help you relax? Sounds like you need to give yourself some tlc. Your FI doesn't sound like he's helping either. Go easy on yourself and hang in there. You can do this!!!