Good Bye Lexapro

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue May 13, 2008 2:35 pm

That's amazing-i'M REALLY HAPPY FOR YOU---I was taking lexapro and im so happy that you said the things you said about it being a mind-altering drug because i felt the same way too--i didn't feel like myself---i stopped taking it cold turkey because i never could take it every day anyway.I was always on and off of it. I'm feelin allright--occasional uneasiness and i can get snappy at times. I've been off of it for just a few weeks--and my other medication which was klonopin i stopped taking every day also---i was on it for 5 years every day because none of those SSRI'S ever worked like paxil or celexa--they made me sick. I never bought any book or C.D trying to help with anxiety and to be honest i never even wanted to talk about it so I'm excited to hear about other people's experiences and sharing my own as well. It's a hard thing, anxiety--i never realized how hard it was---Headaches every day---unbeleivable---but I just bought this C.D so im gonna try it out and see what tools they use for helping it out.Wish me luck

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue May 13, 2008 3:11 pm

Thanks everyone for sharing. I have also been on medication for about a year, different ones and didn't like any of them. now I'm taking 25mg of zoloft I was up to 150 mg and was making me really sick.... I am working on by scary thoughts thru this program also I was taking .25 mg of klonopin at night and .125 in am i know this is a small dose but I am also a recovering alcholic for 16 year and very fearful of addictive medication. I no longer take a night dose and only an am dose as needed..

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed May 14, 2008 8:08 am

Please give me some advise. I have been on Lexapro for about 3 months. At fist it seemed to be working but now im haveing panic attacks at least 2 a week especailly when Im driving to work. I'm thinking about getting off but before i started the meds I was in emergency room twice for panic attacks.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat May 17, 2008 3:28 am

I have just weaned myself off lexapro over about a three month period. The withdrawals have been more than I expected them to be,headaches,joint pain,chills,weird dreams,confusion,anxiety, mood swings,anger. I have stayed in bed for most of the day this week because of the headches. How much longer is this going to last? I have attempted to watch my DVDS from Stress, but can't concentrate. Any advice?Was on meds for 12 years.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon May 19, 2008 6:56 pm

Don,
I know it has been a long time, but I have been on lexapro for about 5 years now, only 10mg. I Have been on 15's before and i have been on 20's before but i have been on 10's for most of the time. My dr. told me i can start tapering off and take 5's for a while then just stop, ut i think i am going to take 5's for about a month than thake it like every other day. i am so scared of the withdraws. But i look at it this way, if i am still having anxiety and i am still depressed than whats the point on being on a med thats not working anymore? Or it could be the opposite it coule be working and i dont even know it bc i have been on it since i was 16 years old.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri May 23, 2008 4:44 am

Hello,
I am trying to ween off Lexapro, I went 6 days without then panic happend.. So, I took half .5 and now I am taking on the second night. I feel weeing off makes me anxious, so then I take a half of 25 xanax... Because, I worry my BP is up.. Then I take my BP..ahhh.. Why do I worry about everything... Just want to be back to my normal self.. help..

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri May 23, 2008 1:18 pm

Glad to hear you're getting off Lexapro. I don't like any antidepressants. Several years ago I went off Paxil after taking it for 2 years. It was hell! I went cold turkey & had to take 2 weeks off from work. They compare it to heroin withdrawl. I found help at a website called quitpaxil.org. That drug made me suicidal & more anxious. I continue to take the xanax & so far it prevents panic attacks. I never take more than 3 per day! I don't want to abuse it. I'm starting session 4 of the program tomorrow. I think I've been doing okay! I still have tough days & a long way to recovery. The peer support is very helpful! Don't give up. You'll do fine w/o the lexapro! Be strong! My thought are with you!

Julen G.

rose_thorn98 · Post by **rose_thorn98** » Sun May 25, 2008 5:49 am

Thank you for your reply.. My Anxiety got so bad at day 6. Doc said go every 2 days at half. I find I am taking xanax more now? How long have you been on xanax?

Mindy

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue May 27, 2008 6:52 am

Wow, so many people having problems. I wish I could find time to help everyone.

Here's what I know about Lexapro,

Getting off:
The longer you have been on it AND the higher the dose, the longer it will take you to wean off it. It took me 3 months to wean off completely even though I had only been taking it full time for 2 months!
So, if you've been on it for a year or more, plan on taking (up to) that much time to wean off it. It's the same for most other drugs. It’s ok to do that, give yourself permission to come down slowly. Go SLOW!

Starting Lex:
I'd recommend reading several good books first like Freedom from Fear and Stop Worrying and Start Living. And also completing the anxiety course from StressCenter.com.
REMEMBER: The medications are nothing more than band-aid to help mask the problem so you have time to institute a successful recovery through CBT. But if you must go on this medication, ramp up slowly to minimize the side effects.
Please keep in mind “THE MEDICATION WILL NOT CURE YOU”. You must learn CBT training. You must learn (by doing) to change the way you think. At first it seems hard but it gets easier over time. Don’t expect to get all the first time. Give yourself time to adjust. It's like learning to type; at first you think you'll never be able to learn it. It seems way too hard! Then as you keep practicing over several weeks, all of the sudden you are typing without thinking about the actual keys you are pressing. THAT'S WHAT CBT IS ALL ABOUT. You are learning to re-program your brain, to etch some new grooves into your thought processes.
Hey, I know it's not easy; I'm still struggling with it myself. However, it is do-able and you will get better if you follow the guidelines laid out in the CBT training courses like StressCenter.com and numerous books.
Good Luck to you folks needing help. My heart is with you as we all face this on-going challenge. But take heart, you ARE going to get better and you ARE going to be ok. You just have to put forth the effort to make it so. No one can do it for you. You can't take a magic pill and have it all go away. It simply doesn't work that way (even though many Dr.s would lead you to believe this way). I think that's the hardest part for most people to come to grips with, I know it was for me.
God Bless and Peace Be With You.

monty'smom · Post by **monty'smom** » Wed May 28, 2008 2:22 am

I started on 10mg of lexapro a month ago and it has worked well for me, I am taking it for mild anxiety, but mostly for PMDD (severe PMS). I plan on doing the CBT program along with it.

I feel that if the drugs work for you and make you feel well than they can be a good tool to help you in your recovery and get you on the right path. This drug has given me the calmness in my mind to be able to work on the CBT.