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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by bigpopper on January 7, 2007, at 11:08:56
I stopped Lex (10ng) cold turkey after 3.5months of use. I just felt like it was not working. I still had anxiety and bad feelings. It has been 13 days now since I quit. I thought at first that everything was fine. Now, it seems that the anxiety is becoming worse, I can not eat again, and just lay around feeling bad. I feel just like I did during the startup period. I have had to double my usage if xanax. I was using .5-1mg/day, now I have to use 1.5-2/mg day + benadryl.
Is this normal withdrawal or is this proof that the Lex was helping some.
Posted by Phillipa on January 7, 2007, at 12:18:01
In reply to Anxiety and Depression coming back!, posted by bigpopper on January 7, 2007, at 11:08:56
I don't know but would like to as lex may be next to try again. Love Phillipa
Posted by blueberry1 on January 7, 2007, at 13:47:15
In reply to Anxiety and Depression coming back!, posted by bigpopper on January 7, 2007, at 11:08:56
You said you felt like lexapro wasn't doing anything? So chances are it wasn't. Or if it was, it was so minor you couldn't notice. I mean, when a drug does something, you KNOW it. There is no question or wondering about it. You just know it. Apparently you did not feel that.
When stopping a drug, even when it wasn't helping, there is often a lousy period of adjustment. I mean, your brain was getting used to all that extra serotonin, even though it wasn't helping. Now that extra serotonin is gone. So the feelings of badness and anxiety are the result. Again, not because it was working, but because of the drop in serotonin.
It is a cruel deal with these drugs. I have noticed that whenever a drug doesn't help me, and then I stop it, the brain has to go through adjustments all over again, in reverse, just like when getting on the drug.
I'm not sure where you go from here. I just think that what you are feeling is a drop of serotonin, not so much original symptoms. The whole key is that you said it wasn't helping. Even if it was helping to some minor degree which you weren't aware of, what sense is there in taking an expensive drug and messing with brain chemistry and dealing with side effects when the benefits are so minimal you don't even notice?
It's tough I know. Been there done that many times.
Posted by bigpopper on January 7, 2007, at 13:54:38
In reply to Re: Anxiety and Depression coming back!, posted by blueberry1 on January 7, 2007, at 13:47:15
I took 5mg of Lex this morning to see if symtoms would diminish. Now I feel anxiety coming on worse. Now I do not know what to do. I can not go through the same thing I went through when starting Lex. I am not sure I can make it through that again.
I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO! I am scared if I do not start back I am going to lose my mind AND if I start back I am going to lose my mind. I have never had anxiety in my life before 4 months ago, now all I can do is think about the xanax in my pocket all day. Scared to take them too much, but need them badly.
Posted by blueberry1 on January 7, 2007, at 15:31:35
In reply to Re: Anxiety and Depression coming back!, posted by bigpopper on January 7, 2007, at 13:54:38
Damn. I sure feel for you. That is just aweful.
Not sure what to do. I would think that starting a different ssri or maybe effexor as soon as possible would be a realistic plan. Zoloft, paxil, or effexor? In the meantime, xanax can be your friend. You can always wean down the dosage later on after you are stable on something else.
Lots of stories of dependence (but then, what drug doesn't produce dependence?), and lots of stories of huge success compared to ssris and snris for anxiety and depression, but there is tramadol. I have had a bottle of it sitting here for a month and haven't tried it yet. Easy to get overnight delivery.
On that natural front, you could try taurine supplements. They seem to help benzos work better and provide a little mood boost too. Do 500mg and check it out. People usually take 500mg once a day to 3000mg in divided doses. It is calming similar to what benzos do, except without sedation, and taurine has other healthy bodily and brain functions. Can help in a pinch.
Posted by bigpopper on January 7, 2007, at 17:43:23
In reply to Re: Anxiety and Depression coming back!, posted by blueberry1 on January 7, 2007, at 15:31:35
I took 1mg of xanax just before my last post this morning. That knocked me out! I usually take only .5mg at one time. I just woke up without a panic attack, that is new!
How long does it take for the seratonin side effects to go away after discontinuing ssri? I know all of that 1/2 life stuff, but I do not believe that mean much on how you feel after it is out of blood.
I have a friend on Zoloft and he loves it. I may give that a try. I need to talk to a DR. guess.
Posted by Crazy Horse on January 7, 2007, at 18:18:16
In reply to Anxiety and Depression coming back!, posted by bigpopper on January 7, 2007, at 11:08:56
I would definitely use one of the benzos if i were you; Ativan, zanax, valium or klonopin. I believe stopping the Lex cold turkey is the main cause of your anxiety, and i would see a pdoc immediatly about starting a new AD..it's obvious you need some help. Sorry you are hurting.
-Monte
Posted by elanor roosevelt on January 7, 2007, at 22:02:27
In reply to Re: Anxiety and Depression coming back! » bigpopper, posted by Crazy Horse on January 7, 2007, at 18:18:16
the first number of weeks on lexapro are best if small amts of xanax are taken throughout the day
also vigorous exercize is good
take the lexapro 4 or 5 hours after i you get upor try another ssri
have you tried zoloft
i found zoloft too sedating but my sister has been on it for 20 years
good luck
Posted by Phillipa on January 7, 2007, at 22:06:21
In reply to Re: Anxiety and Depression coming back!, posted by elanor roosevelt on January 7, 2007, at 22:02:27
Wow 20 years and it hasn't pooped out? A record. Has it been that long that it's been out? Boy am I getting old. Love Phillipa
Posted by cgd092 on January 7, 2007, at 23:41:54
In reply to Anxiety and Depression coming back!, posted by bigpopper on January 7, 2007, at 11:08:56
It only took 1.5 months off of Celexa for me to realize it was doing something. It convinced me to say on antidepressants of some kind or other forever.
Posted by elanor roosevelt on January 8, 2007, at 9:50:49
In reply to Re: Anxiety and Depression coming back!, posted by cgd092 on January 7, 2007, at 23:41:54
> It only took 1.5 months off of Celexa for me to realize it was doing something. It convinced me to say on antidepressants of some kind or other forever.
This is it
the trade
they do help
just not precisely enough
Posted by Big Popper on January 8, 2007, at 10:07:03
In reply to Re: Anxiety and Depression coming back!, posted by elanor roosevelt on January 8, 2007, at 9:50:49
I took another 5mg of lex today. Maybe slowly introducing back into my system will help some.
The biggest problem I have is the anxiety. While on Lex or not, I wake up after about 5 hours sleep with anxiety. This is about the time the xanax wears off. I wait until midnight to go to bed so I will not wake in the middle of the night. I also have not apetite now. With Lexapro I would have an appetite for a few days and no appetite for a few days. Never knew what the next day would bring. Although I never had these problems until 4 months ago??
This is the end of the thread.
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