how much time to go back to normal? stopped Escitalopram after two months, now dealing with secondary effects.

[liveaswell]

I am new in this forum, three months ago I started to become very anxious and falling into depression. I was living without depression for almost 4 years, and two years without any Escitalopram intake, which I reduced for almost two years until I was free from it.

This year took me by surprise and started to feel afraid, anxious and depressed. So I contacted my doctor and I started Escitalopram 10 mg again. The doctor was not very happy that I stopped the first time the treatment, but as I was feeling ok, why not?

However, this time I was not that depressed, and the side affects afters starting the daily medication, were terrible. It took me almost a month to stop feeling bad, more depressed, and unable to have empathy and show interest to do something. Even, thoughts of wishing to die were present when first were none and they were not disappearing.

One week ago I bought a natural product called L-Thianine, which helps the body to produce Dopamine, and reduce stress. The best of all it does not interact with the Escitalopram. These pills I started taking at 150 mg one per day, and I felt a change in my mood, an increased focus, and more feeling of well being.

Four days ago, I decided to reduce the Escitalopram, because I felt that the benefits were not like the first time, and I am having some side effects that I did not experience the first time. Feeling better again with the combination of the L-Thianine, I decided to call the doctor and see if it was Ok to change and reduce the Escitalopram and stick only with the Thianine. I tried to contact a Doctor to talk about how to reduce my dosis, but the only appointment that I was able to make was a talk by phone that the doctor forgot. It took me almost a week to be able to get someone attention and schedule a doctor phone, due to COVID-19, it is difficult to meet in person, however, the call it never happened.

So, I decided to act by my self again and reduce the Escitalopram and kept only the intake of L-Thianine. The first two days, were fine. Yesterday, the third day, I started to feel kicking-in the side effects of leaving the Escitalopram, like headache, dizziness, and all sort of tricks that my body and brain is telling me to have back their reward of having the escitalopram, which I have until now ignored as I can feel that those symptoms were related to dropping the use of the escitalopram. I do not want to become dependent on the medication, although I recognize some benefits that I received in the past from its use.

I would like to know if some one has successfully moved away from her/his using Escitalopram, and for how long I may have to deal with the bad side effects of abruptly stopped the medication. I feel strong enough to cope with side affects for at least a week long, if at the end I feel like I can recover my life back. Any advice, will be appreciated.

[Hidden]

I would not have abruptly stopped (your talking to someone who did a too fast taper off this and a cold turkey off another (just last year)). I would have cut the 10 mg in at least quarters over a 4 week period then stopped. Serotonin and other neurotransmitters will trip out for a while as you have taken away something it’s used to getting as you already know.

But since you have and are willing to ride it out, after the first 7 days or so you should see improvement and each week there after. Everyone is different, you may be okay after 4 weeks, or it may take 8 weeks or more, abruptly stopping results in a longer and harder withdrawal. If after a month you are experiencing what may seem as worsening of anxiety/depression this could be considered a relapse and you might could try reinstating a very low dose, but this may or may not work. What happens is the longer you are off and you get worse, your desensitized to the med so it could also back fire. This why everyone says taper slowly.

On the bright side, 2-3 months use vs someone on it 6 months to 1-2+ years will have a much harder withdrawal. I do think you’ll need to have a stronger will power up to 21-30 days, but then again you might breeze through it. Everyone is different, some are on multiple meds, have other medical issues, compromised liver function, etc.

I know how hard this is, if you need some support I myself and plenty of other long standing members can lend support as well.

[liveaswell in reply to Hidden]

Thank you RoxieDawn , I am on day 6 of the ride. It has not been all fun or easy. I must confess that yesterday was a very bad day, I was almost taking the med again, but I thought that it may back fire and be worst to have it back than not. I must said, that last night my wife and I had a very bad moment, and our talks were not that friendly. She was sad, and our marriage is almost on a breaking point. I feel bad for putting our family at risk, and for my wife to lose her security on me. She wants to see the better me, and not this lack of confidence, scared of life man.

However, I made it through. I woke up today early as usual ( I cannot go back to sleep after 4:00 am) my mind went wild and I felt very angry with myself. I thought on giving up. I took my dog out for a walk, and started to talk aloud to myself, complaining of being so weak and helpless. After a while I returned home. My wife woke up and heard me talking nonsense. However, She call me back to the bed, and was open to listen. I talked about my anger against my self. About my dilemma of keep going or giving up. My wife was very supportive and She helped to make my day turn around. She created hope and encouraged me not to give up. It is indeed a roller coaster.

Today I would keep me busy bowling with my family, I have already booked 2 hrs. I must put my focus on other things so I can pass this day too.

I will try to write each day that I make my Escitalopram detox to work. Thank you for reading and lend me your support :).

[Hidden in reply to liveaswell]

I’m just checking in to see how you are doing? I hope you are coping well with the detox. 🌺💜

[liveaswell in reply to Hidden]

Hidden , thanks for checking how are things going. The last 3 days I have managed and started to cope quite ok with the detox. I only have experienced a mild headache and to be honest, I also have a sexual dis-functionality (premature ejaculation) but that is not because of the detox, it came along with my elevated stress and anxiety. I hate that, and makes me vulnerable.

The real challenge has yet to come and will start tomorrow. I return to work after 3 weeks of vacations. I have strong anxiety problems related to my job. And I started to feel it building up. I haven't being able to focus at my Job in the last 3-4 months, I have a lot of things to catch-up and I don't feel like I could make it.

I feel like I will loose my job any day soon, this thought is scary. I don't know how to cope with that

[Hidden in reply to liveaswell]

First, good to hear the detox is going well.

Secondly, try not to set your set up for failure before heading back to work. Instead look at this as an opportunity to use this to help you manage your anxieties. Go slow at work. Slow means taking breaths and counting to 10 before you embark on a task or get hung up on one, walk away for 5-10 minutes if you have to and remind yourself you can do this. Anxiety is truly manageable if you accept it, actually tell it when it rears it’s ugly head, let it come on in... I promise you get good at tellIng it to stop, it will become less and less bothersome. I tell mine ‘you’re not winning today, I’m to busy to put up with your annoying noise in my brain’. 🤣

Anyhoo, good luck tomorrow, relax today, savor the moments in the day, don’t let anxiety take it away. 💜🌺💜

[liveaswell in reply to Hidden]

Hidden , I am not feeling physical bad. Many of my thoughts are coming quite positive. I have a good day at my work, and managed to work. Deep down in me I have many doubts about my self and my willing power to keep going. I don't want to be medicated, how do I know that after all it will be best to use the medication than not? Thank you for keep looking after me, I feel your support, and I don't feel alone on this path.

[liveaswell]

Day 10 of my detox. Darkest thoughts started to pop up. I am hanging here. Trying to put them aside. I am running 4.2 km. Focus at my tasks at job started to become difficult, but I am trying to keep the focus.

One day at a time.

[SimonUK]

How did you get on? In the end? A lot of people, including myself have made the mistake of coming of the tablets as often you feel things are great but most of the time it's because the drug is working. SRRi uptakes can be used indefinitely, without any health issues. There's a stigma of being dependent on the tablets, but if they work, it's best to keep using them. Any how, most of the time restarting s drug is often worse than the first. I took citropram for 10 years and cold turkey of them, 1 year later I was wreck, these tablets takes ages to leave the system and relapses are likely, and withdrawal and serotonin decreases can be delayed for months to years once stopping. Thencspoke to doctor and they said I should of never come off them, and out me on the same drug but I couldn't stand the side affects even though I the first time I had none. I was switched to escitrpam and one day later, I felt awesome.