Lexapro Reaction - Off Of It Now, But Feeling Miserable! Please Help! (Newest replies first)

Amy Says:

Tue, June 13, 2017

Hello, thank you for taking the time to read this and hopefully help me out! I know this is long but it said to be detailed, and if there's any other info that anyone needs to know in order to help, please don't hesitate to ask me.

I was put on Lexapro 5 MG in September 2016. This is the first drug of this type that I have ever taken. I took the 5 MG dose for 6 weeks then I was bumped up to 10 MG's once per day. I had some symptoms as the medicine was going into my body those first few weeks but I kept in close contact with my Dr. and she reassured me that it was completely normal. By the end of November 2016, my periods had stopped and I was having loose stools 3-5 times a day and a foggy brain feeling so I went back to my Dr. and after speaking with her she advised me that she thought I was going into perimenopause. I was 37 at the time so I was a bit stunned. Over the next month I started feeling weak, dizzy, had no appetite at all, and worst of all, I was having loose to diarrhea stools anywhere from 5 to 20 (not exaggerating) times per day. I went back to my Dr. and was told that since I had just finished a dose of antibiotics for a sinus infection, that I had a bad case of C-diff. I was treated for that 3 times in a row which was pretty rough on my body but none of my symptoms ever got better. My stool sample showed no signs of c-diff, ever, so the treatments were useless and unpleasant. I went to a different Dr. and had more blood work done and that showed my kidneys were not functioning properly, which had never happened before.

I was having vision problems by March 2017 (blurry, flash's of lights), also my memory started becoming terrible, I was super dizzy and falling a few times, along with all the previous symptoms I was having. The new Dr. wanted me to get a CT Scan to check for MS or anything else going on. I have had to cancel that evaluation multiple times because I can not leave my home now because of the excessive constant diarrhea. I should add that I was on no other meds during this time. On May 9th of this year I called my Pharmacist and asked for exact dates I started the Lexapro. It all matched up to my symptoms. That's when I started doing more research online and found out about how bad this drug can be for some people while taking it, and coming off of it. I called my Dr the next morning and told him what I thought and he agreed it is most likely a reaction to Lexapro after all these months. He told me to take my normal dose every other day for 10 days then cut that dose in half and take the 5 MG's for 10 days and then stop it all together. I did this and have not taken any of it for 6 days. While I was weaning off of it, I was an emotional wreck or super mean for no reason. That has went away somewhat but all the other symptoms have remained with me and have not improved.

I've lost about 30 pounds (which normally I would welcome, but not like this). I can't eat, mostly because of the fear of what will happen within minutes of swallowing the food. Any food. I've tried bland, basic, no flavor foods, to liquid diet, to non dairy, to just snacking on crackers. I do make sure I keep hydrated. I cant sleep much, my brain is a mess, and I started getting Ocular Migraines 2 months ago also. I have a colonoscopy scheduled but I couldn't get in until the end of July. I still haven't had a period, which is not from perimenopause I was later told by the new Dr. I'm still going to the bathroom up to 20 times a day but on average its 10 times per day and never less than 5 times per day. This has become debilitating to me. I don't leave my house unless I absolutely have to go to the Dr. for this. Will this last forever? Can any of this cause permanent damage to my body? I know my back near my kidneys hurt regularly and my back swells there also. I'm seriously broken and at a loss as to how I can get my life back and start living again. I have been open and willing and will continue to be, trying anything that may help, so if anyone can guide me, or educate me on a way to improve this, please let me know! I have so much empathy for anyone that has gone through this. Its almost like people don't believe me that its this bad but I don't know of a single soul that would make this up for any reason. Please leave any responses, I will appreciate all of them.

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Kathy Says:
Sun, September 10, 2017

I took lexapro for years with no side effects and good results. I decided it was time I tried to get off and saw a psych md who told me to cut pill in half for a week then stop. I had so many horrible effects. I had no idea what was going on with me. One day my stomach would hurt bad. The next days legs would kill me. The next day it would be something else. I had cat scans hida scans blood work parasite cultures tests for Lyme disease upper and lowe gi tests all negative. Finally a pharmacist friend called me and I explaided what was going on and he told me it was all lexapr i withdrawal effects and that it would go away in 6 weeks. he was exactly right. Almost 6 weeks to the day the symptoms were suddenly gone. I wished I had known that lexapro could cause such bad withdrawal. Wouldn't have made it easier but at least I would have known what was wrong with me.

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Kat Says:
Tue, June 27, 2017

I agree. Also, medicine Is poison.. I know some medicine is a necessary evil but all medicine has side effects with some being deadly. One medicine causes one problem then they give another medication to help that problem then another medicine to help the problem the second medicine caused and so on. The next thing you know you are taking a bag full of medicine and you are sicker than ever. People don't realize what they are doing by taking so many different medications. They are unknowingly committing suicide. Just my opinion.

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BBK Says:
Tue, June 27, 2017

Amy: I don't know much about drugs, but it seems to me that statins can not get rid of cholesterol, since is made by the body. So it becomes effective only when it can plug up the transmitters that produces cholesterol. but in doing so can statins plug other transmitters to other organs and that is where all the different side effect come from that could be the difference in weaning time getting off of them. If I had transmitters plugged up worst then the next patient it sounds to reason that it would take longer clean up for me.
I am still confused about many issues.

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mig Says:
Mon, June 26, 2017

I took Lexapro several years ago. The only problem that I had for weeks after starting it was I couldn't care less about anything, also very cranky. I don't remember having stomach issues, but that was me, and we all react differently to medications.
Some of those symptoms sound like Crohn's disease, were you tested for Crohn's?

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BBK Says:
Mon, June 26, 2017

both drugs are anti depression drugs and could have the same side effects. I am just still searching for answers

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Kat Says:
Mon, June 26, 2017

P.S. Regarding anti inflamatory protocol diet, Also no sugar. No eggs in the beginning. Maybe add eggs later if you like them to see how you do. No nuts either especially peanuts because they are legumes. Later try walnuts then almonds unless you are allergic.

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GOPAL Says:
Mon, June 26, 2017

Iam 32 years old when i entercourse with my wife it takes only 2 minutes plize give name of medicine to take more time

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Kat Says:
Sun, June 25, 2017

I went on an anti inflammatory protocol diet not to lose weight but to get better.. No grains including corn, no sugar, no dairy, no white potatoes, no night shade vegetables or tomatoes, no legumes or lentils. Lean grass fed beef chicken some fish (wild) not in the frozen section, use coconut oil and olive oil extra virgin cold pressed. No artificial sweeteners. I use a little honey instead or coconut sugar.

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Connie Says:
Sun, June 25, 2017

You could be gluten intolerant. I stopped eating crackers, bread and any food containing gluten. My diarrhea stopped and brain grogginess cleared up. Maybe you don't have celiac, but you could be gluten sensitive like I am. The only way to know is to eliminate gluten from your diet and see if your symptoms clear up.

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BBK Says:
Sat, June 24, 2017

Amy!
the small amount of blood could just be in the wipe. with that much loose stools you must have some stomach acid causing irritation.Blood from within is usually black, blood from wipes is usually red.

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BBK Says:
Sat, June 24, 2017

I thank you for your concern, I feel we are fellow guinea pigs. or victims of the medical trend. Oh I take Fluoxetine which might be part of my problem. since they are related that could be my big problem. Therefore reading your story may help my problems

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BBK Says:
Sat, June 24, 2017

I thank you for your concern, I feel we are fellow guinea pigs. or victims of the medical trend.

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Kat Says:
Sat, June 24, 2017

I hope that all is well with you today. Yes, that can happen. That's why I suggested the test for hashimoto thyroiditis. I got really sick and ended up In the hospital. My thyroid went slightly hypo then hyper then hypo again. I was so sick. Finally a test for hashimoto thyroiditis was done. Also, I had a small nodule in the right lobe which is gone now. I went on a anti inflammatory protocol diet (not to lose weight) it all got better. You may not have a thyroid problem. I just know that the thyroid malfunctioning can cause everything that you described. Also, food sensitivity can do the same thing. Most everyything you described happened to me and I was put on many different psych meds finally found one that helped and was on anxiety meds. I finally just stopped taking all if it a couple of years ago. I do not need psych meds or anxiety meds. I hope everything gets figured out for you. It can be so frustrating. I'm a firm believer that there is an underlying cause for every illness. A lot of times psych meds and anxiety meds are prescribed when the problem is actually medical. I wish you the best.

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