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.