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Anxiety Community
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Lexepro withdrawal??
by Darius5691, Jun 16, 2007 12:00AM
I was first prescribed Zoloft 50 mg on May 17 2007, by my general practitioner because I mentioned having panic attacks while driving. The panic/anxiety was beginning to limit my activities more, so I wanted to do something about it. After 2 weeks on the Zoloft, I experienced a major attack while a passenger in my husband's car. All the same anxiety attack symptoms, but also intense heat throughout my chest, stomach, arms and groin. The heat went away within a minute, but the other symptoms (racing heart, anxious feeling, etc.) lasted several hours. The next morning I was feeling extreme anxiety again, though not the heat sensation. My GP saw me that same day and said I should switch from Zoloft to Lexepro. I decreased the zoloft to 25 mg for 2 days, and then went directly onto Lexepro 10 mg on saturday June 2. The next morning I was feeling extremely anxious, even moreso than the previous couple days while coming down on the Zoloft strength. The GP had prescribed xanax to help with this extreme anxiety, but even after taking one .5 mg tab I still felt anxious for the better part of the day. I continued to take the Lexepro until Friday June 8, and then began to wean off (3 days at 5 mg.). The entire week of June 3-8 was the most horrible of my life. The level of anxiety I felt was unbearable. I felt like I had so much adrenaline in my system, it was truly debilitating. Interestingly, by early to mid afternoon I was typically back to feeling "normal." I should mention that I was still taking xanax, as needed, which ended up being every day that week, typically in the early a.m., and then again late morning, and again at night. I didn't keep a log, so I'm not entirely sure of the doses and times. Anyway, I called my GP on June 8 to tell her I was coming off, and she instructed me how. I felt better (slightly) once coming down to 5 mg Lexepro ... but even though my last dose was Sunday June 10 I am STILL feeling heightened anxiety in the mornings and early afternoon (today is June 16). I typically take 1/2 of a .5 xanax in the early morning, and then again late afternoon, but that's pretty much it. I have also been experiencing insomnia this entire time, in particular while on Lexepro.
My questions are: 1) am I experiencing Lexepro/SSRI withdrawal? I was NOT having these extreme anxious feelings before May 17 when I started the Zoloft. It's been very disconcerting, to say the least. Would being on SSRIs for only 3 weeks do this to someone? And if so, when will I start to feel normal again?? The mornings are the hardest, but in general I feel kind of "different" even in the evenings. Lots of detachment and depersonalization, or whatever that's called. 2) my Xanax dose in the a.m. usually doesn't take away the anxiety - often I continue to feel anxious into the late morning, when I take a second dose. Only then do I, within an hour or so, start to feel better. Is it possible that the Xanax isn't working? Also, my GP said to take 1/2-1 tab of .5 "as needed" while a psychiatrist I just saw said take a .5 tab twice a day. I've tried taking a full .5 mg tablet in the a.m., but it makes me feel both drugged and still anxious - not a good combo. 3) for insomnia, my psych just prescribed Restoril 15 mg. Is that safe to take in combination with Xanax? I wouldn't take them together, perhaps 8 hours apart. Is Restoril a good choice, in general? I realize it's another benzo.
Will I ever feel normal? How long will this whole episode last? I definitely need help here. Why am I continuing to feel anxious in the a.m./early afternoon?? Thanks very much for whatever insights you can provide.
My questions are: 1) am I experiencing Lexepro/SSRI withdrawal? I was NOT having these extreme anxious feelings before May 17 when I started the Zoloft. It's been very disconcerting, to say the least. Would being on SSRIs for only 3 weeks do this to someone? And if so, when will I start to feel normal again?? The mornings are the hardest, but in general I feel kind of "different" even in the evenings. Lots of detachment and depersonalization, or whatever that's called. 2) my Xanax dose in the a.m. usually doesn't take away the anxiety - often I continue to feel anxious into the late morning, when I take a second dose. Only then do I, within an hour or so, start to feel better. Is it possible that the Xanax isn't working? Also, my GP said to take 1/2-1 tab of .5 "as needed" while a psychiatrist I just saw said take a .5 tab twice a day. I've tried taking a full .5 mg tablet in the a.m., but it makes me feel both drugged and still anxious - not a good combo. 3) for insomnia, my psych just prescribed Restoril 15 mg. Is that safe to take in combination with Xanax? I wouldn't take them together, perhaps 8 hours apart. Is Restoril a good choice, in general? I realize it's another benzo.
Will I ever feel normal? How long will this whole episode last? I definitely need help here. Why am I continuing to feel anxious in the a.m./early afternoon?? Thanks very much for whatever insights you can provide.
Post Comment
This may not be what you want to hear but some of us are not able to take SSRI's or SSNRI's. I am having anxiety because I am trying to quit taking pain meds for cronic pain. Without the pain meds all I think about is how much I hurt which in turn makes my pain and discomfort worse. I have tried Lexapro, Cymbalta and Zoloft. Each of them had different but bad side effects for me. Coming off of each drug was even worse...I was only on each of them for about 2 mths.
My GP then prescribed me Amatriptyline which is a trycyclic...a different kind of med for anxiety. All that did was make me dizzy and confused...just like the joints back in college. I might suggest a sleeping aid...Lunesta or Ambien. I have found that your body is better able to fight off anxiety and illnesses when it has the correct amount of sleep.
STAY TUFF!
You are suffering from DSM-IV 300.21 (panic disorder with phobia).
SSRI type drugs such as Zoloft and Lexapro worsen panic disorder, often leading to more frequent or severe attacks. These types of drugs stimulate the autonomic nervous system, and amplify any symptoms associated with panic (ie: increased heart rate, hyperventilation, shortness of breath, numbness/tingling, lightheadedness, etc).
Therefore, it is of my opinion that what you are experiencing is not withdrawal, but an acceleration of your condition (made worse by the use of SSRI drugs).
If you follow the advice of the Psychiatrist and take the Xanax and Restoril as prescribed, you will enter a downward spiral, and you'll never get out of it. Both drugs are indicated only for short term use (a few weeks at the maximum), or on a PRN basis (two or three times a week, as needed).
(1) Xanax is not effective for panic disorder unless it is dosed four times daily. It is NOT indicated for the long term treatment of panic disorder (four week maximum limit).
(2) Combining two or more short acting Benzodiazepines (Xanax and Restoril) will increase the liklihood of tolerance and dependency. Tolerance occurs rapidly, and more drug is required to produce the same effect. Here is where you will enter the downward spiral.
(3) The prolonged use of short acting Benzodiazepines creates rapid dependency, loss of efficacy, and severe withdrawal phenomenon upon termination.
Therefore, I would suggest that you speak with another Psychiatrist in your area who can make the proper diagnosis of panic disorder with phobia, and provide you with the proper treatment.
First line treatment is Klonopin, 0.5 mg, bid (twice daily). Like Xanax, it is a Benzodiazepine. Unlike Xanax, it is long acting and indicated for the long term treatment of anxiety disorders.
-Ryan
^quote
Not an option. Lexapro must accumulate in the plasma to provide a benefit. Taking a single dose of Lexapro as-needed will not result in any clinical effect. The drug requires a period of 4-6 weeks for the full benefit to become apparent, and for the effect to be maintained, the Lexapro must be dosed daily.
Two better as-needed choices are Ativan and Xanax, but these are only to be used as-needed and on an infrequent basis.
Mania (as seen in bipolar disorder) and panic (as seen in panic disorder) are discrete entities.
Ryan