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withdrawals from Cipralex or SSRI's!! (anti-depressant)

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Posted 6/4/2010 9:17 AM (GMT 0)
confused  i, how is everyone today?

I'm just wondering if anyone here has had trouble with withdrawals from Cipralex, or a SSRI? (serotonin re-uptake inhibitor)

I'm having brain zaps for lack of better words. Additionally I am having trouble concentrating, some blurred vision, and

crying jags. I feel so fragile, cry over the little things, angry the next, short-fuse etc. I can handle these brain zaps, and had to

re-organize how I was tapering off the Cipralex. I was on 20mg, and cut it in half. Then eventually cut that in half. Then I would

skip a day, etc. It seems like its taking quite a while to adapt to life without it. I was recently put on medication for ADD/ADHD.

My doc told me to just stop taking the Cipralex. He said, "you're on a low dose, so just stop taking it."

Yah, right. ..I soon found out how wrong he was...and told him what I was going through. He seemed so.....distant for lack of better words. Upsets me that a doctor can "throw our emotions around" without a thought. I've researched and found out the withdrawal symptoms from this med. Anyone here found that it took quite a bit of time to come off of this? I've temporarily halted my life, until I feel a little more stable, as I have problems travelling, and have panic attacks when outside of my "safe zone". I was doing so well, as far as being able to get out and about on my own. Not now. I'm afraid I've regressed, as I had a really bad episode of anxiety while out and some distance from home. Because of it, I don't want to go anywhere, travel wise....I feel like I've went 10 steps forward over the last 5 yrs, and now 9 steps back! I know the withdrawals are whats causing all this havoc, because when I take a small part of the pill, within a few hours, the brain zaps stop. This lasts for a day or two, and then they're back again! Anyone else having any of these problems? I'm wondering how long this will go on for, and don't want to start taking my ADD medication, until this is resolved. shocked

Deb, aka nighthawkess

Posted 6/4/2010 12:15 PM (GMT 0)

I am the "queen' of SSRI withdrawal on this forum...LOL!  It seems the mantra of too many doctors prescribing these drugs is

*you are on such a small dose...just stop.

*you are having a reccurance of your original A/P symptoms.(after you complain about the brain zaps, crying jags etc)

*just reinstate or go on another drug.

I know this is a repeat scenario for many readers but I was but on 10mg of Lexapro for Fibro symptoms.  After almost two years on the drug I decided to go off as it did nothing for my pain and my vision became so blurred I couldn't (and still can't) read a book or anything else that involves fine focus.  Like you I was told to just stop, but because I had witnessed my son go through a nightmarish hell coming off Zoloft and Cymbalta I weaned myself...but not slowly enough.  The recommeded taper for SSRI's is 10% of your original dosage per month...and yes it will take a long time. (info I got from Forrest Labs on the phone...makers of Lexapro)  Lexapro and Effexor are particularily stubborn.  Never ever wean by skipping a day, or keep upping or lowering dosages...stay consistent.  Take magnesium and omega 3's for brain zaps.  I have been dx'd with Protracted Seratonin Withdrawal Disorder and wouldn't wish this on anyone, so please have patience and wean slowly.  According to the so called medical professional I spoke to at Forrest Labs, ONLY 20% of SSRI users will experience Protracted Withdrawal.  ONLY???  I would not want this to happen to you, and the odds are that it won't.  Just please be careful and listen to your body...it has more sense than your doctor.

hugs

Donna

Posted 6/4/2010 12:59 PM (GMT 0)
Good Morning,

I did a very slow wean off of Cymbalta , over many months, as I was very afraid of getting withdrawal sx. This worked well for me. I went off of the medication as it was not working well for me. I am now on a different AD.

I am just wondering if there is any contraindication of taking your Cipralex and your new med together perhaps at different times of the day ?

Great input from Donna !
Posted 6/4/2010 9:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there,

Thank you so much for your replies. I feel so alone, and frustrated because of all these withdrawals. My doc didn't even comment much when I told him about it. He just said. "oh, are you taking any or part of any right now?" I said no. That was it. End of conversation. Yaaaayyy!

I almost feel like he wanted to see me fail, and have to go back on them. I will try tapering off more slowly. I did end up taking a small bite off of one last night, and noticed a difference within about 3 hours. When I woke up this morning, I had a  little brain zap or two....which kind of surprised me. I thought I wouldn't have any for a few days. Having said that, I don't think I had any more today. But I will definitely try a small dose now that its been this long being off of them. How do you cut it back so slowly like that?

Meaning, do you use a pill cutter to reduce the amount? The pill is oval shaped, making it hard to cut them into "even" dosing. So glad to find someone who can help.

Hugs :)

Posted 6/4/2010 10:42 PM (GMT 0)

Hi...I used a pill cutter to get down to 2.5 mgs...then I stopped abruptly which was a mistake.  I know I was on a different drug than you are but unless you are on effexor or something with 'beads' inside the capsules you can reduce your dosage by cutting the pills.  Lexapro actually comes in liquid form so people use eye droppers! I actually discovered my pharmacist knew more about how to withdraw then my doctor...unfortunately I had waited too long to reinstate so I've just had to ride it out.  Maybe have a talk with him/her...mine told me about the Magnesium and Fishoil for the zaps.

I just realized Cipralex IS  Lexapro...duh.  See if you can get it in liquid form for an easier taper. (my pills are round)

Feel better

Donna

Posted 6/11/2010 8:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Donna,

I was just wondering, what, if I may ask is Protracted Seratonin Withdrawal Disorder? I'd be interested in what that is. Thanks in advance.

Nighthawkess aka Deb

Posted 6/12/2010 2:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Deb...most people coming off SSRI's experience withdrawal symptoms for about a month if they have weaned properly.(or so I was told by the fine makers of Lexapro)  Protracted withdrawal is nothing but the symptoms lasting for many months...It has been 7 months for me.  Like I said, only about 20% of those taking the drug will experience this and it is usually from not tapering properly...or switching from one drug to the next before the brain can heal.   My symptoms didn't start until I got down to 2.5mgs.  Chances are, you will be fine!

Donna

Posted 8/1/2012 5:29 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone, new to the site. I have been on Cipralex for approx 6 months now. Only on 5 mg but have tried 3 times to get off them. I have had horrible withdrawal symptoms ranging from extreme headaches, vomiting, but the worst part is the brain zaps/body zaps. I have tapered my dose to 2.5mg every other day for the past 2 weeks and I am trying go tough it out. I have not had cipralex for 4 days now and the zapping is so annoying. When will it go away? I am determined not to go back on them. Any advice out there?
Posted 8/4/2012 2:37 PM (GMT 0)
I stopped Cymbalta cold turkey over two months ago and had terrible withdrawal. I had been on 60 mg, I went back on 30 mg for a few weeks as prescribed by my doc and he told me to then start taking them every other day for two weeks and stop. That didn't work as it felt the same as going cold turkey. Not wanting to go back on it I started researching and found some helpful info, for me anyway. Google The Harm Reduction guide. There is alot of useful info in there. It is in a PDF format that you can down load and is a very easy read. Cymbalta has a very short half life so the withdrawal starts quick. What I got from the site was to take a low dose of Prozac, 20mg, which has a very long half life. I told my Dr. if he wouldn't write a script for it I would start knocking on doors till I found someone that would so he wrote me a script for 15 with one refill. I took one of those every 3 to 5 days till I went through about 8 of them and quit that also. It has now been 64 days off the Cymbalta and I still get a few symptoms occasionally, a brain zap or two from time to time but they are getting less frequent. I am not familiar with Cipralex but the harm reduction guide should help you. By day 8 off the cymbalta I thought I was going insane till I took a 20mg prozac. It was a life saver for me. My wife was ready to take me to the hospital by the 8th day as I was slurring my speach, had hand tremors, fell 5 times from dizzy spells and constant rapid fire brain zaps. I have been on magnesium and omega 3's for several years for heart disease so no relief for me there. My Dr. also was very indefferent about the withdrawals as was my pharmacist. I gave them both the website and told them they needed to educate themselves about what they were dispensing. The Pharmacist thanked me, the Dr. I don't think read it.
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