Lexapro withdrawal - be warned.
 

Finally seem to have turned the corner in the pcs battle after almost six months. Debilitating dazed/foggy episodes no more. Dizzy and nausea gone. Only very infrequent mild nasal headaches.
Now I have another problem.

In month four of my recovery the anxiety started even though I knew it could happen and had tried to avoid it. Hard not to worry when your head is damaged. I started taking anxiety drugs because I felt it was interfering with the pcs recovery. Was given lexapro by neurologist even though I objected. Seemed to be a depression med primarily with a secondary use being anxiety.
Was also taking zanax given to me by my primary.

Zanax helped, lexapro did nothing for me.
They bumped me up from 10 to 20 mg lexapro. Still did not notice a difference.
Neuro referred me to psychiatrist to resolve drug issue and he stopped the lexapro, and indicated as I had suspected that it was for depression only. Weaned off lexapro, every 7th day decreasing by 25%.

On day 3 after stopping lexapro completely and ever since have had very disturbing incidents where my head seems not right. It appears to be related to my pulse, originating in the lower neck region and radiating into my head in the form of a strange sensation and finally reverberating out my hears as a clicking/squeaking noise. Never had this before.

Very annoyed I'm having these issues from a drug I should not have been given in the first place.
Am also now quite worried about these withdrawal issues and wonder if they could trigger a pcs relapse.
I'm considering starting to take the anxiety meds again until click and clack leave my head.
BTW, the psychiatrist took away the lexapro and also replaced the zanax with hydroxyzine claiming it was not addictive as zanax can be.

Here's some info on ssri (i.e. lexapro) withdrawal. Scary.
http://www.cchrflorida.org/blog/ssri...-long-lasting/
As antidepressants seem to be what doctors throw at pcs patients by default I thought everyone should be aware of the very serious ramifications of taking these drugs.
Wish I had never taken this drug and would only recommend it as a final and desperate last resort.

Anyone else gone through this. Any ideas or suggestions?
Thanks everybody and wishing you all wellness.

I weaned of paroxetine (Paxil) after 14 years last spring. I had many strange symptoms as I tapered off and even after I stopped completely. Within a month or so, these symptoms stopped.

I believe SSRI's and such should only be prescribed by a Psychiatrist, not PCP's and such.

I agree and yet ssri's seem to be the goto drug for neurologists as pcs symptoms linger.
I'm regretting it big time, should have trusted my instincts and refused the lexapro.

These sinus headaches I mentioned earlier, they are frequently accompanied with a bitter taste feeling. Common? Any ideas why?

Thanks for the reply.

A couple of years ago I stopped taking Citalopram over the course of maybe 6 months, doing a veeery slow tapering even though my doctor said I could just stop right away (shows how little they know about SSRI's). I started tapering quicker at first but noticed lots of symptoms and slowed down, still causing symptoms though but I really wanted to get off the drug as safe as possible.

But, there's a lot of people who doesn't get almost any symptoms from stopping an SSRI, so my story is in no way a telling to what might happen to you. Also, I was on the drug for 3+ years and you have only been on it for a short time (if I read your post right), which ups the chances of a smoother withdrawal, which means your issues should go away soon.

My tip to you is to either up your dose again and then go down very very slowly(maybe it was long ago since you stopped and this might not be a good option) and/or work with someone (FasterEFT-practitioner/TAT-practitioner are my favs) to help you with the symptoms of your withdrawal. You don't have to suffer from them, there is help to be found. In your post you express lots of worry around your PCS and just really your whole situation, I think you will benefit greatly from getting a professional to help you realease those fears and your beliefs about the situation in general. And most important, work with a professional for you anxiety so you don't have to take these horrible medicines!!!:)

I know I have expressed some worry on this forum earlier, but I must say I am handling my worries as they come up now with TAT and they heal and leave me alone. I get new worries all the time but now I have a tool to use and it is so empowering and wonderful to handle them as they come and see them go. I am a lifelong anxiety-sufferer so I know what you are dealing with.


Hope you feel better soon!:)