SLEEP DISTURBANCE

It has been one week since I have taken my last Lexapro!!!  I went through a doctor approved tapering program, after several weeks of going cold turkey.  Wow, what a rough ride this has all been. I can say that I am better.  I now have one more hurdle to cross.  I am still waking up early from a sound morning sleep with anxiety and heart palpatations.  This happens anytime that I am asleep.  I do not have trouble going to sleep and I think I sleep good all night.  I just tried to take a nap and I woke up after a few minutes with  hot flushing and my heart pounding.  I have the hot facial flusing several times a day.  My blood pressure is good and my heart rate runs around the 80s.  Does anyone know what is going on?  I need this to stop.  PS:  I am 49 years old and still having regular menstral cycles.        

[autum]

This is only my opinion, but I think maybe you are still having the side affects of quitting cold turkey... my doc has always told me not to quit cold turkey, but to slow down on the meds to a stop..   slowly wean yourself off of them.   I have quit cold turkey before and it wasnt a pretty site... since I couldnt afford a the meds for a week or so...  but I think maybe you need to talk to your doctor about this...  

hope this helps
Autum

[cj29]

I am glad that you went back to your doctor with this.  It can really put you through a lot of pain and suffering by quitting cold turkey and it can be dangerous.  Even with tapering you can get some side effects...how long were you on it?  How fast did you taper once you started again?  Keep on working with your doctor and explain to him/her what you are going through...keep us posted!

[Applecore]

I too have just come off a medication called risperadol.  I posted on here today.  I haven't taken any lorazapam for over 5 months but am taking 1/2 of 1mg in afternoon to give me a little relief from the tension and anxious thoughts after coming off of this.  my doctor said I might need to go back on it for a while.  I don't want to ever take it again but need some encouragement that I can overcome the symptoms that I am having now. It has been 2 weeks.  The first week and 1/2 were fine but then it hit me physically feeling bad the first day - that subsided and the second day the thoughts started.  I understand risperadol changes the chemistry in your brain.  It worked really good for me when I took it as I have terrible symptoms from my thyroid .  I don't have schziphrenia or bipolar.  He gave it to me for my thryoid symptoms.  This isn't pleasant but I have been trying the cognitive therapy which is writing down the thoughts and then challenging them to see if they are real.  It is working so that the anxiety is down and no panic as I am actually challenging these thoughts and feelings.  thanks for letting me write my feelings.   linda

[autum]

Yeah, I know how it is...  Im taking Zoloft for my anxiety and pannick attacks, sometimes I wish I could be normal, but these days what is normal...  I have been taking anti depressants for a few years now... at first in the beginning I was embarrassed to..because I didnt want to admit I had a problem, but finally with my husbands support, I know its the best thing for me...  I really hate taking meds but its actually helping me in the long run, because with out them, I couldnt handle the drama in my life right now...  

The best to you!
Autum