PLEASE HELP . . . numbness/emotionlessness on/after anti-dep use

[Vic8080]

I was given 10 mg lexapro for anxiety and related depression in jan 2010 (I have never before taken any Psychiatric medicine)

Is it possible to develop apathy/anhedonia from an SSRI drug (i took lexapro 10mg) from a 36 day use,  started 15 mg remeron (prescribed to aid in sleep mainly) which I took for 7-8 days - (one 6th day of remeron I felt numb - could not think or feel - it laster for well over 2-3 hours till night dunring which period I felt like I will die an felt very angry and agitated - this continued the next day morning - though in the afternoon i became happier etc) ... I was generally feeling a bit weird - stoned through the day - could feel or think much - it was all too scary - so IDECIDED TO GO COLD TURKEY ON BOTH THE MEDS.... its been 2 nights without remeron and 2 days without lexapro - I have not felt much adverse effects except for feeling a bit of nausea after meals and a slight headache once in a while.
I have gotten this fixed in my head somehow that I am not able to feel anything - which I am not very sure of I am or not - perhaps reading up too much on it - but anyways I have not come across a provocative situation yet -

My judgement says it cannot cause a serious change - but I am not sure - where do i stand? Is there a scientific way to test your emotions?

Is it possible that any of these drugs could have caused a PERMANENT BRAIN CHANGE - like I'll feel emotionless forever - plus I feel apathy - and fear - a lot of fear of how I am feeling - I feel blanked out most times - and have to bring myself to 'feel' - like if I am petting the dogs etc.. also at the back of my mind I feel horrible - like something is too bad - too horrible - i feel this especially when I am falling asleep or waking up.... why is it happening?  I generally feel something is wrong with me - but I seem to function normally - I can carry conversations - work - do shopping - walk the dogs etc... I feel detached from what I am doing - like not feeling anything - and keep feeling like I may suddenly lose my mind.... like i wrote before its been 2 nights without remeron and 2 days without lexapro - I have not felt much adverse withdrawal effects except for feeling a bit of nausea after meals and a slight headache once in a while... It is not advisable to go off meds this way but I had no option as where I live and my financial situation does not allow me to keep going back to the doc...



PLEASE HELP

[Paxiled]

Any antidepressant has as a common side effect a dulling of emotions and sex drive.  Doesn't mean you'll get it, just that many do.  It's unlikely you suffered permanent damage from such a short term use, but you could suffer all kinds of odd things for awhile after abruptly stopping any of these meds.  Again, because of the short duration of use, you should be fine.  As for long duration of use, yes, there are many people who suffer protracted withdrawals, which is just a fancy way of saying there might be permanent effects from them.  It's not an area that's well studied because there's no profit in finding out these meds can be dangerous and therefore not much research money for such things.  We only learn these things over a decade or more of use.  These meds were never tested for long-term use, so we're in a black hole there.

[heyjude1]

I don't think they can cause brain damage.  You need to remember there is a reason why you were taking the  meds to start with.  Maybe the drugs you were taking were not the right meds for you but I think just dropping them all at once is not a good idea.  Perhaps you need to make appt. with your p-doc and let them know you are going thru a crisis and if you cannot get in immediately, leave a message for him to call you.  Maybe you should start taking the Lexapro  only until  you get in to see him or try taking 1/2 dosage..but plse. get in and see your doc as soon as you can.