Lexepro withdrawal??

[Darius5691]

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.

[lucy49]

my daughter takes lexapro daily and dr. told her to take 5mg once daily. for severe panic attaks. my daughter just wants to take it as needed because a friend of mine does that.  also. can panic attacks be underlying to bigger problelms...bipolar runs in the family?

[Shannon Wyatt]

I'm seriously thinking of taking either Celexa or Lexapro for my anxiety and moderate depression.  But now I'm beginning to wonder about the side effects of both.  I thought both were supposed to help with both anxiety and depression.  Maybe it just takes a while to get into your system.  I hear up to 2 weeks.  Let me know how you react to Lexapro, ok>

[Mlk0419]

My doctor just prescribed lexapro 10mg to take daily and .25mg of xanax up to 4x daily. I went to her because of heart palpitations, nausea, occasonal vomiting, chills, feeling of unreality for short periods of time, headaches, dizziness, the list goes on..... EKG came back fine, she said what I'm experienceing is both high anxiety and severe panic attacks. After reading your post, I'm a little concerned about the lexepro. I took the first dose last night, which I know is not near enough time to get into my system but I did experience a small attack this afternoon that lasted only about 15 minutes. My question is...does lexepro make panic disorder worse in everyone? I though panic attacks stem from anxiety, therefore the lexepro should help. Any thoughts?

[Soonerdean]

Darius,
This may not be what you want to hear but some of us are not able to take SSRI's or SSNRI's.  I am having anxiety because I am trying to quit taking pain meds for cronic pain.  Without the pain meds all I think about is how much I hurt which in turn makes my pain and discomfort worse.  I have tried Lexapro, Cymbalta and Zoloft.  Each of them had different but bad side effects for me.  Coming off of each drug was even worse...I was only on each of them for about 2 mths.

My GP then prescribed me Amatriptyline which is a trycyclic...a different kind of med for anxiety.  All that did was make me dizzy and confused...just like the joints back in college.  I might suggest a sleeping aid...Lunesta or Ambien.  I have found that your body is better able to fight off anxiety and illnesses when it has the correct amount of sleep.  

STAY TUFF!