Antidepressant Withdrawal Help

[Ramon123]

Has anyone gone through antidepressant withdrawal (I've been on Lexapro for five years on 10 and 20mg doses) and switched briefly to Cymbalta in the fall (awful) for only three months, on the advice of my PCP, but am back on Lexapro and told by my new psychiatrist that I'm in discontinuation syndrome and that it can last for 1-3 months. I'm fatigued, achy, can't sleep, depressed, having panic attacks, really scared, etc. none of which I had before getting on the medication or being on it. This has been a terrifying and exhausting process. I'm just looking for any anecdotal hope that it gets better, or success stories of people who have tapered off medication entirely. Any advice would be appreciated.

[missyhess111]

I am going through this right now! I feel absolutely the same my doctor upped my cymbalta to 60 mg and I started taking bus par 10 mg bid. Still waiting for it to work. Let me know how you are getting through

[Ramon123 in reply to missyhess111]

You mean you're going through side effects of increasing the Cymbalta? I did not do well on Cymbalta - only took it for 3 months at 20 and 30mg. Honestly, look into the side effects and withdrawal - depending on how long you've been on it - maybe you could taper off and switch. Private message me if you want. I'll be thinking about you.

[Windonmyface]

It’s simply terrible to taper off antidepressants, but you can do it. I’ve done it and I’m doing it right now with Lexapro. I have to get off it because it interacts in a scary (yet rare) way with a new arthritis drug I have to take. All I can say is don’t give up. Let the horrid symptoms wash over you and face them bravely. They won’t kill you. The worst feelings come in waves giving you a little time to recover. Ask your doctor for something to help you sleep. See if he/she will prescribe a little Xanax to get you through the worst of this. Breathe deeply and exhale slowly. Take walks. Know you will get through this. Three months sounds about right, sorry to say.

[Ramon123 in reply to Windonmyface]

Hello Windowonmyface - is that about how long its taken you to get better? (3 months?) I'm about two months in (back on 10 mg of Lexapro for the last 6 weeks) and still feeling pretty terrible mentally in a way I've never felt before. A lot of low mood and general feelings of being overwhelmed. I've never had this before - it's so scary. Thank you for your support. I really appreciate it.

[Windonmyface in reply to Ramon123]

Yes, at least 3 months. I think it’s good you’ve gone back to 10 mg of Lexapro. It will take awhile for your body to adjust to this new dosage, so have hope that you will feel better one day. I’m in the same boat you are. I’ve gone from 20 to 10, and am now reducing to 5. I expect to start feeling like garbage soon since 5 is in no way a therapeutic dose. Be glad you aren’t having to start a weird dangerous (to me) arthritis drug plus a steroid (prednisone, not good for people with anxiety disorder!) while coming off Lexapro! Things I rely on: daily 20-minute prayer/meditation, deep, slow breathing when panic arises, a mind-set of “this will pass, just ride it out,” shameless calling out to God for help, and .25-.50 mgs of Xanax when all the above fails! Take care..

[Ramon123 in reply to Windonmyface]

I can handle three months! My therapist said that a month from now he expects I will be feeling a lot better, but I'm scared. I've read horror stories about protected withdrawal, etc. and I just haven't felt like myself in weeks. I can't tell if its the cymbalta switch and coming off of that or if its building back up the lexapro. I'm so sorry for what you are going through. I can imagine a steroid would not be fun to add to anxiety. Thank you for your support - you have mine as well. Please keep me posted on your progress.

[Windonmyface in reply to Ramon123]

Thank you Ramon. I can see why your body is having difficulty adjusting to the drug switch. Bottom line, you WILL feel better eventually.

Jan

[Plato38]

How are you doing now? Did it ever get better? I have been taking 30mg of Cymbalta for 7 weeks and I forgot to take it yesterday. Took it this morning and because it's time release, it's taking FOREVER to feel normal. Lots of vertigo and anxiety. This makes me worry about how on earth I will ever go off if.

[Ramon123]

I felt much much better when I finally got off it. It took about 3 months to get back to normal switching from lexapro to cymbalta and back to lexapro--it was really hard. and the anxiety was bad. Message me if you ever want to chat. Were you on something different before?