Trying to wean from meds...this sucks!

[EllasMama]

Well I got to a point in my recovery where I was just feeling good overall, for the first time in years. So naturally, I only enjoyed it for about 2 weeks before thinking, "time to go off meds!" Plus I'm getting the itch to get pregnant again, so I figured if I can go off them, now would be a good time.

Two weeks ago I halved my dose of Lexapro from 10 mg to 5 mg. (I also take 2 St. John's Wort each day, which I left alone, and I am taking extra fish oil and B vitamins.)

It's been a lot harder than I thought. I felt so good before cutting back that I sort of thought (or hoped) it'd be a breeze. I didn't make an appointment with my naturopath and then after a week I thought, "Duh, I need a plan here!" so I called but she's out of town for over a week! So it'll probably be early next week before I get in to see her. She was going to do some acupuncture and suggest some supplements (not sure what).

I thought by this point I'd be feeling better again. I am nearly through the worst of my withdrawal symptoms, I hope (have been spacey and had a couple fits of rage). But I just feel crummier than I thought I would so I'm starting to lose hope that I can be off meds and feel anywhere near as good as I did on them. My therapist did tell me that Lexapro is harder to get off than a lot of meds.

This might sound strange, but I have heard that Prozac is easier to get off, so I'm wondering if I might should start taking Prozac to wean off the last of Lexapro, then wean off Prozac? I know Prozac doesn't have the anxiety bit that Lexapro does, but maybe it'd help? I don't know. Wish my doctor were in town!

Any advice/support/stories about how you weaned appreciated.

Warmly,
Carol

[Red Sonja]

nak

i was on zoloft during my pregnancy and for the first few months of ds' life. i tried to stop taking it towards the end of my 3rd trimester (wanted it out of his system before birth) but had such bad withdrawal that i had to start taking it again. for me it caused severe mood swings and suicidal thoughts when i tried to stop taking it. when ds was about 3 months my neuro put me on pamelor and then i was able to wean off the zoloft.

good luck, i know it can be hard to get off of these meds.

[sarahariz]

weaning off SSRI's

Here's a website that contains lots of info that might be of help:

http://www.parental-intelligence.com/pharm.html

I understand weaning must be done very gradually and sometimes people experience rebound effects as the brain/body adjust to not having the medication. W/ SSRI's, the reuptake of serotonin is inhibited, or stopped, so that theoretically more serotonin will be available for use. The body compensates by producing less serotonin and fewer serotonin receptors. Then, when the medication is tapered, all of a sudden the balance is tipped again.

SSRI's cause many brain changes!

Here are 2 yahoo groups that might be worth joining!
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ssri-research/
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SSRI-Crusaders/

I have also been told that once successfully off the meds, many people actually feel much better-it just takes awhile for your system to recalibrate.

[EllasMama]

Thanks for those links, I will check them out. I went 2 weeks at the lower dose and found myself basically feeling worse and worse. I kept waiting for an upswing, but was only getting lower. So I spoke with my therapist and decided that I'll go back to my regular dose. I'll work to put some other support in place and then when I'm feeling good, cut back less than half the dose. I'm bummed, but I am not willing to feel so down. It's bad enough to be depressed - to experience it coming on so rapidly is really strange. Before when I got depressed, it was so gradual, but cutting back on my meds brought it on quickly. It was a familiar feeling, and one I don't like.

Oh well, I'll try again when I have a better plan in place. And maybe feeling really good for more than 2 weeks would be a good idea!

Carol