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• Has anyone experienced SSRI withdrawal for longer than one year?
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Help! I started tapering off my SSRI (Lexapro) in February of 2008. After a failed attempt, I was forced to reinstate the medication at a low dose and tapered (extremely slowly) until April of 2009. Despite this, I experienced horrible withdrawal symptoms throughout the entire process (you name it, I experienced it) and have yet to find relief. My biggest issues are physical withdrawal symptoms including, but not limited to; short term memory loss, difficulty recalling words, cognitive inflexibility, trouble processing information, confusion, headache (I have heard it described as "head pressure" which is probably more accurate), sore throat, tingling sensations in my face, lower back pain, heartburn, and CNS sensitivity.
I have spoken to several medical professional, including a psychiatrist and they all claim to have never seen withdrawals that last this long. I should mention however, that I was on Lexparo for about 5 years and for approximately 2 of those years I was on a 40mg dose:( I do believe that the dosage strength and duration of exposure play a significant role in length and severity of withdrawals.
I would just like to know if there is anyone else out there that is experiencing this or has in the past and could offer any advice or words of encouragement? Thanks!
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•Voting Question: Depression or SSRI withdrawal or what?
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I've been on different depression/anxiety meds since I was around 13. I'm 19 now and in college and about 3/4 months ago went back on Lexapro but about two weeks ago I stopped taking it and have been trying to slowly come off of it. I don't feel like it's doing anything for me but making me feel slightly numb on occasion. My family has a lot of bipolar individuals, including my mother but I haven't been diagnosed with it because they thought I was too young to be diagnosed.
Lately I've been feeling like I could cry at any time. I get a fluttery/sinking feeling in my stomach all the time. I can barely bring myself to do anything and once I start something I stop soon after: I have no drive. I don't want to talk to anyone. When I try to sleep, every bad thing that's happened to me seems to come to mind. I feel so anxious that I'm nauseous. Could this be from a Lexapro withdrawal?
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• Can you die from SSRI withdrawal?
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I've been taking Lexapro for years and stopped cold turkey and about two weeks later I'm feeling miserable. I feel physically sick and have increased depression/anxiety. I'm worried about dying, is this a possibility? I've been to the emergency room two days ago from a severe panic attack that started all my symptoms. The onset was sudden. Am I going to be alright?
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• Which SSRI (paxil, lexapro, etc.) is best for no weight gain?
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I use Paxil for anxiety and it works great but I've gained 30 pounds! Can you tell me what other SSRI is better for trying to lose weight? I really don't want to use the drugs like ativan or anything that is super addictive. I'm already dealing with withdrawal issues from paxil and would rather avoid medications that are difficult to quit.
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• What can ease SSRI Withdrawal and PSSD?
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I was put on a merry-go-round of antidepressants (including lexapro) when I was 13 and my family felt it was more likely that my brain was messed up than my life and growing body were. A few years later I told my doctor that I didn't want this anymore and I was ready to go back to a prescription-free existence.
Immediately after my Lexapro regimen was depleted, the Post SSRI sexual dysfunction kicked in. I began to experience rapid ejaculation with completely pleasureless orgasms. I was aware of this withdrawal problem but it persisted for over six months before I caved in on myself and went back to Lexapro. On doctor's advice, I started a half-dose of my old pills and the problem seemed half cured. Slightly premature ejaculations with slightly pleasureless orgasm.
A recent board told me I should switch to 5HTP instead, but won't that cause similar problems if I ever stop taking it? I'm a month clean of Lexapro again and I'm losing my mind in hopelessness. Is there ANYTHING I can do?
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•Voting Question: Will I experience Lexapro withdrawal symptoms?
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I have been taking Lexapro for 5 days so far for OCD and anxiety. While I'm aware that it is normal for me not to be feeling any better yet, I am having second thoughts about being on the medication and would like to stop now. I have spoke to my doctor and while he doesn't quite agree with me stopping he says that after 5 nights on a low dose (5 mg), I should experience now withdrawal symptoms. Does anyone know if after being on lexapro or any other ssri for such a short time and then stopping abruptly can cause withdrawal symptoms.
Thanks.
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• Lexapro withdrawal?
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In nov i was weaned off paxil and onto lexapro. it took two months to wean on one and off the other, i was on for panic disorder, lexapro brought back the panic attacks, paxil gained a ton a weight, so in feb i weaned off lexapro and onto buspar, ive been off lexapro for 1 wk and im not myself, dazzed, dizzy, moody, crying on and off, its been alwful. is it withdrawal or is this me without ssri's? should i give it a longer time off lexapro? i have panic attacks everyday and i figured the buspar would kick in my now, my therapist thinks i should try zoloft. so should i wait it out longer, are these withdrawals or should i try zoloft?
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• can you describe SSRI withdrawal?
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I have been trying for 8 yeras to finda doc thatw ill work with me--I have Fibromylagia and they all act like I am wasting their time--
I am still trying--the problem is that I have an HMO---and I need to have a PCP that will work with me--but for now I had to stop taking my RX for Lexapro
I am NOT asking for advice onhow to find a doc--I know more about this than you--trust me...
I slowly weaned off-was at 20mgs for a few years--weaned to 15 for a few months00went to 10 for 2 months--when I dropped to 5 I got a migraine--and have now been dizzy and naseous for week-
when I increase the meds it goes away-and than comes aback when I decrease again..
my question is (sorry for teh caps-just want actually question to stand out)
IF YOU REALLY HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF WITHDRAWAL FROM AN SSRI-HOW LONG DI DTEH SYMPTOMS LAST?
thsi is NOT a FUNNY situatiojn-this is a real situation-I am sorry you have nothing better to do tahn be an A$$
i can't go any slower----
1st of all-i've runout
2ndly-i reduced the 1st step for 2 months--
and when the pill is split in half it is about 5mg--
thanks for your experience-
but as I indicated--i do NOT have a doctor that will work with me---all i get is
you're fine stay active....or looked at like i have 2 heads
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• Comparing the SSRI's - Lexapro, Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, etc.?
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I know that all drugs work differently on different people, but I'm just posing very general questions.
Which SSRI tends to be the most effective for the most people? And which tends to have the lowest amount of side effects?
I took Paxil years ago for anxiety, and it was wonderful - worked great, and zero side effects except for the dreaded sexual side effcts. Withdrawal was bad but manageable by weaning myself slowly. More recently, I took it again, and it put me to sleep. I was yawning all day. Same with Lexapro.
My problems have increased now to incude depression as well. I tried Wellbutrin for a couple of days, and the first two days and the first night were fine, just a little dizziness, but the second night it made my anxiety way worse, and I couldn't sleep because I was having panic attacks and my heart was racing. I couldn't sit still.
I am thinking I need to go back to an SSRI, and potentially add the Wellbutrin back in once my anxiety is under control.
Prozac is the only one of the group I've truly never touched. Technically not Celexa either, but that's basically just another form of Lexapro. I was on Zoloft for a very short period of time a long time ago with no issue.
Any general thoughts on the differences between these meds?
I know these meds need a certain amount of time before giving up, but the wellbutrin made me have terrible panic attacks, heart racing, etc, and there was no way I could go in to work Monday like that.
I know Lexapro is not exactly the same as Celexa, but it's pretty darn close. They just pulled one of the isomers out of Celexa to make Lexapro, hoping that it would result in less side effects. (Or at least give them a new patent...)
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• How long is it supposed to take for your brain to get back to normal after taking an SSRI(like lexapro)?
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I was on lexapro for about a month but came off of it because it made me feel strange. I told my doctor how it made me feel but he said it was impossible for the drug to make me feel that way. Now, after 2 terrible weeks of panic for no reason(possibly withdrawal, idk), I'm still not feeling better. I'm really spaced out all the time and I feel as if I am partially trapped inside my body. I've never felt like this before and its been going on for a few weeks. What's wrong with me? Everyone thinks its just my normal problem coming back, but I know it isnt that.
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