One year ago, I was living the American dream, a father of two young sons, active, social, traveling sales person. All of that was taken away from me because of a pill. I never had any history of mental illness or even anxiety for that matter. I “sold myself to the devil” as they say by taking a medication that I was told would help me with some fears with public speaking. I am now paying the price for that decision.
Fearless and Careless on Lexapro
I was always the social person. Class clown, outgoing and had a lot of friends. I wasn’t the best student but because of my outgoing personality, sales was a no brainer for a career. In late 1990’s in early 2000’s most of my friends (including me) were getting married. I was often asked to be the best ma. I noticed I was uncomfortably nervous during those speeches. I also noticed I would often experience this feeling during my work presentations. Plus, I had a fear of flying on airplanes which was a job requirement. I decided to talk to my doctor about it and he suggested a psych. I went to see the psych for only three weeks but he changed the course of my life with just a couple of strokes of a a pen on a piece of paper. This doctor prescribed a pill. A pill that many say “re-wires” the brain. The medication he suggested was Lexapro. I had never heard of Lexapro, but back in 2001, anti-depressants were taking off. You may recall the TV series, The Sopranos. It was a hit cable series that featured characters that as soon as anyone had any issue pop up, the doctor prescribed an antidepressant. It seemed to me that they were making a joke of the concept that everyone on the show needed a medication to function.
In 2003, during the peak of that wave, I started Lexapro. Within weeks, I was transformed into someone who feared nothing. Everything became much easier for me. I could present to large audiences. My fear of flying disappeared. My career took off. I became even more social, feeling confident in any setting. I enjoyed being the center of attention. I then started making changes in my life. I got divorced. At the time, I felt that I did not need to put up with anything if I didn’t want to. It was hard, as I had two young sons, but I felt it was the right move for me at the time. Looking back it was a cold move (and I handled it poorly) but I was laser focused on what I wanted to do. I became much more comfortable and flirtatious with women (not in an obnoxious way). At the time, I wanted to be free. In so many ways, in my mind, I was an improved person. It wasn’t until the last year that I realized how wrong I was. I took Lexapro for 15 years. I never looked back. Until now.
The Slow Build up of Symptoms: Lexapro Rejection
Fourteen years later, after living quite a normal, active life, I began to struggle with my health. I had a girlfriend (an angel-she’s been by my side throughout), two wonderful sons (now 13 year old twins). However, in the beginning of 2015 I started having a lot of dizziness, stomach issues and low sodium counts in my labs. I was diagnosed with IBS. In addition, doctors thought I had a stroke in one trip to the ER. The possibility of a stroke was was supported by a CT scan but then later overruled by an MRI. They diagnosed me with a TIA (mini stroke), but I didn’t buy it and carried on with my life. It wasn’t until later that I realized my body was rejecting Lexapro. In June 2015, after several months of continued low sodium counts in my blood and dizziness, my doctor suggested I come off Lexapro. In late November 2015, being off Lexapro for 5 months, I was improving slightly. However, I was growing impatient with my improvement and was also was planning on starting a new job in January 2016. I wanted a quick fix and wanted to be “grounded” for the job I was so excited for. I went to my doctor and he suggested going back on Lexapro.
A Kindled Brain
The first pill I took something seemed off. There was a burning feeling in my head along with a headache. I started to feel some increased anxiety as a result. My brain felt impaired. I don’t recall this feeling at all during my first go-around with Lexparo. I called my doctor and he said all of this was normal. Increase the dose. I did as I was told.
The burning increased. The head pressure feeling I had was horrific. I was scared. I called my doctor and this time the nurse said he was very frustrated with me. He said not to go off the Lexapro. That these were normal symptoms. I disregarded his suggestion and I went off the medication. The reinstatement was eight days in total. For the next three weeks, I dealt with horrible dizziness, head pressure, and confusion. For example, I backed my car out of my garage before it was finished opening, taking off my antenna and knocking the garage door off the track. My life was falling apart. I was excited to start the new job, but was now nervous I would not be able to do it due to my health.
The Lexapro Firestorm
Then Christmas Day came. The day my life completely crashed. I woke up with cognitive impairment, anxiety, and fear. I later found out the fear, anxiety, stress emotions are controlled in a part of the brain that the medication touches. I knew it was serious and from that point forward, I would never be the same. It was an electric, chemical feeling that was relentless. I was so wired with stress, that severe insomnia set in. After a few days, I went to my doctor, and at this point, he was tired of me. He called me a “complex case” and suggested I go back on Lexapro and suggested I see a psychiatrist. The last time I saw a psychiatrist was 15 years prior for the 3 weeks when I was put on Lexparo for “meeting nervousness.” I reluctantly went. She felt I was making up the symptoms in my head. She would not be the first person to tell me that. She also suggested I go back on Lexparo as well.
I went on disability with my current employer. I continued to decline. I went to dozens of doctors. No one understood. Some felt bad for me. Some said that meds could cause adverse reactions but no one would commit. Some thought just because it was an anti-anxiety med I had a problem with my mental health or I may be making up my symptoms. With no history of mental illness at 49 years old someone who is living the American dream comes up with a mental disorder overnight, the same week of reinstating a medication that is proven to rewire the brain, is it coincidence? I don’t think so. The chemical anxiety and head pressure did leave my system within weeks of stopping Lexparo, which was proof to me that this wasn’t in my head as suggested by some doctors and that it was caused by the medication. However, fatigue did set in, I imagine, due to the stress of all of this. I was eventually diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue and then Fibromyalgia.
One Year Post-Reaction
I wish this story had a happy ending. It is now December 2016 and the fatigue has worsened to a point where I am mostly bedridden. Watching TV is difficult. Luckily, for all you readers, I can still type. After months of frustration of getting limited knowledge of medication reactions, I started researching. I also discovered mitochondrial damage and neurotoxicity. From what I understand, it can happen from infections, chemicals and medications. I have found many like me who have had reactions from anti-anxiety and antibiotic medications, as well as vaccines. I am optimistic as I am currently having a dialogue with a neuropsychologist that actually believes in and helps victims of neurotoxicty. She seems to be in my corner which I’m grateful for. Its a lonely feeling being in this position. I also bumped into Dr. Marrs’ article on Orexin destruction from adverse reactions . I think this is may have been what has happened to me. The physical fatigue is one thing but the mental fatigue/sleeping pill feeling is what is the most disabling.
Based on the research, it is my theory, that I have had an adverse reaction or “kindling”. A kindling is a reaction or stimulus that causes agitation or anxiety, stimulating the brain for a period. Once the chemical (in my case, Lexapro) source is removed, the stimulation will eventually reduce, and the person, more than likely, will be left with severe mitochondrial damage. I wake up daily feeling as if I never slept; more tired than when I went to bed. I struggle to read or follow TV because of the impairment.
My lifelong dreams may be over or at least on hold for a while. When I explain to people what has happened to me they can’t believe someone’s life can be turned upside down by a pill. I am shocked that of the thousands of people I know in my situation, doctors do not know how to either diagnose of treat them. Instead, we are diagnosed with CFS or depression. What I am most shocked about is how doctors can prescribe these pills without understanding what they do to the brain. Part of me feels this is “karma” as they say — like I sold my soul to the devil to take a pill that would improve my life in many ways, but ultimately, it destroyed me. I pray for a happy ending.
Articles suggest that people with TBI’s often end up with low orexin/hypocretin and excessive sleepiness. Articles suggest that people with suicidal depression often have low orexin. They also say that stress causes orexin deficiency. These same articles, as well as Dr. Marrs’ work, suggests that these levels can improve, by removing stressors and properly repairing mitochondrial functioning. I want to thank Dr. Marrs for allowing me to write this and share my story with you. I hope I didn’t frighten anyone with my story. I doubt “Dateline” or “20/20” will be coming to my house to interview me in the near term, but I do think there will be a day that there will be more public awareness of the damage medications can cause to the body.
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Hi
I was saddened to read of your terrible experiences. I too have had my life ruined by SSRIs. I was prescribed an SSRI for PMS and it gave me PSSD (post-SSRI sexual dysfunction). I have had numb genitals, emotional blunting and anhedonia for around 8 years now. I don’t know if you have heard of the condition, but it was first recorded as an adverse event in 1991, first appeared in the medical literature in 2006 and was not recognised as a side effect (only in some countries) until 2019! As yet, it is totally untreatable. It was assumed that the condition is in the brain, but there is emerging evidence that it may be caused by small fibre neuropathy (SFN) after all 36 people who were tested in an PSSD support group got tested in Finland. People have also started doing autoimmunity panels and finding that they have antibodies against receptors such as adrenergic and cholinergic receptors. Have you had any testing for SFN?
Omg, I just started Lexapro with Wellbutrin because I have Anhedonia for two years. I am feeling a bit better but now after reading this I am scared ?
Good Afternoon Doctor,
I am another, whom is very very ill with adrenal disease ,Zanex and Lexapro. 2003, mis or better , undiagnosed for 13 yrs. with Primary Adrenal Insufficiency. It was the cause for my body to no longer detox, cleanse, etc. Horrible
life since 1996, 6 years after the snow skiing accident, that severely damaged my adrenal glands. Crushed the L Femoral Artery, closley dieing on the mountain, had the guys not covered me in snow to clot the massive bleeding.
Lost over 1/3 with a drain in my hip for 4 days after surgery.
I have so many of the withdrawal symptoms from the lists about Lexapro withdrawal, as well as those mentioned in real life stories, by those suffering form this terrible drug. 17 years and 6,200 straight days on Escitalopram 10 mgs 2003 to 2019.
4th neurologist in my life, increased from 10 to 20mgs. 20mgs. 2019 til 02-15-2021, after tapering off, starting
12-15-2020 by a family doctor. I chose to meet , because he believes in cortisol saliva test results, that all
mainstream doctors, do not recognize. Never, in my 18 years of researching all I can about this also dreaded ,rare
disease. Have I read , talked or met a neuroendocrinologist, NEVER EVER…….WOW. Primary Adrenal Disease
causes mental problems, as well as enough other problems. After 13 years of deterioration and 27 days in Mayo Clinic,2003. The discharge doctor said, that I will die within a couple years. I may live more comfortably and longer, if a loved one takes me in with them. I am in the Tampa Bay and my brother in N. C. took me in to live. I never research these two brain drugs. Big big mistake on my part not to research them, HUGE.
Before the ski accident, I had no mental problems OR physical problems at age 39.Quite the contrary. My
thriving business helping corporate owners reduce and eliminate estate taxes, why have a written buy out agreement with partners, and the employee benefit programs. Growing 25% a year and I work 9 months a year
and play golf, plus snow ski the other 3 months a year. Tough life it was 🙂 :).
The family doctor really screwed up on his plan to cleanse my system. Starting December by mid March of Lexapro, Alpralozam 1mg 2 to 4 a day and the Rx Fludrocortisone .01mgs 2 to 4mgs ,that saved my life. In 2003, by a Johns Hopkin’s doctor, that I went to see upon returning from Mayo. I went to NC in August of 03′ to rehab
and health to become normal again and function in business and many sports that I enjoyed. By the way, the
Saliva cortisol tests results each year since 2018 and twice in 2020, show that I am 8 points, 11 points, then 13
points and finally 13.5 points BELOW the minimum range level for Corisol production to remain alive and healthy.
That make me 14,11,10 and 9.5 points from ZERO CORTISOL production level. I received a new Cortisol saliva test kit in today’s mail. A new doctor, put me on Cortef and restarted me on Fludrocortisone two Wednesday’s ago.
I want a current reading of my Cortisol levels of the 4 cycles each day for all humans.
Fludrocortisone presents a whole new set of withdrawal problems. Let’s keep it simple and stick with
Lexapro. No Zanex either.
Lexapro was 100% stopped on 02-15-21. Symptoms today 03-06-2021, are the worst yet. No Suicide, no harming anyone and so so many symptoms, that prevent me from driving now and causing my wife to begin, as of today, that I have No help problems.” Ted, It is all in your head. There is nothing wrong with you.” Boy have I heard that over and over the past 30 years. I have been on a 90 to 100 % organic food consumption, since a natural doctor put me on it by prescription in 2001. Mercury toxicity was so great on the test results, that it was beyond the length of the graph to show just hoe much. Took Thorne product for 4 years to eliminate the mercury.
Nasty element to have too much in the anatomy.
I have stopped and started typing since 2pm til now 6pm and my stamina is close to shot. I freally hate to end.
I will be more comfortible, because I FEARnot being able to send if I do not send this now. This is stupid but my brain and all that goes with my brain is a mess for now. I pray to heal.
Bless you doctor,
Ted
Ted thank you, this made me cry I am in Tampa Bay was poly drugged and abruptly taken off meds I was on for physical ailments. My family didn’t believe meds did this so I live homeless in my car for a year now trying to heal with so many symptoms and short term memory loss, and akathesia being the worse now. These medications are more poison then cure.
How are you now
I’m beyond grateful to have found this! I finally went off Lexapro last month after 12 years (under physician supervision, with FIVE doctors wanting me off of it from 2 different states – recently moved).
I was diagnosed bipolar in 2009, but as it turns out, I actually have TBI & a brain lesion. It’s taken quite some time to go from 7 meds to 2. I was fine… until this one. My mood swings have been horrible, I’m agitated, explosive moments of anger (non violent), and I feel like I have no control over this monster in my head. I knew there had to be some kind of long term damage. Now I’m wondering if – and what, really – this drug & the others caused after I started taking it. In the past 12 years since I’ve had a stroke & a heart attack.
I have a place to start my research now. Thank you so much for sharing your story. I truly hope you are getting better each day.
Can brain damage caused by AD’s be detected by an MRI?
CF, real sorry to read what you have been through bro. And hope you get better soon.
I was considering starting on a ssri but after reading this, I have put this in the back burner for now.
I needed to find out if lifestyle had anything to do with this happening. Were you consuming alcohol or did any other factors play a part ? Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you and good wishes !
Alcohol is not metabolized in the same manner as psycho tropic medications. This is an article that describes the liver pathways of psych meds. https://www.aafp.org/afp/2007/0801/p391.html
This is the liver pathway of alcohol. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4314297/
As you can see they use different pathways so no alcohol use does not play a factor. Or at least in my case. I suggest you read the follow up story I did on Hormonesmatters. You will see the conclusion to the story. I also had DNA testing analysis by a Forensic Medical Expert who determined my DNA variants largely contributed to my injury.
Hi CF,
I can’t seem to find your follow up story. Can you please post the link?
Rarely.
These pills are of the devil created by pharma, the devils biz. I have a relative on this shit, she’s been on it for 17 years, tried to get off it, but the symptoms were so bad she wanted to kill herself. It was so bad that she had no choice but to go back on. So she’ll be addicted to this crap until the day she dies. Since starting Lexipro I have witnessed her turn into a raving lunatic at times. Screaming, swearing at you on the phone, hating and yelling at children for no reason, wicked bouts of amnesia, totally forgetting she’s been in a certain place three months after she was just there, saying something and denying it afterwards, that she never said it and it wasn’t her, falsly accusing you of things, angry all the time, hating everyone. I could go on and on. Things that would blow your mind. Stay far away from this shit as possible. If your doctor ever tells you to go on it, tell him to go screw and get a new doctor.
It sounds like what you were experiencing were panic attacks or anxiety. Perhaps when you had the TIA you connected that with taking Lexapro and then when you started taking it again, the anxiety kicked in. You don’t even have to be thinking about it. Your body and subconscious connect things before you become consciously aware. Just a thought. I’ve been on Lexapro for 13 years now and I have a panic attack disorder.
Anxiety Disorder? Your kidding right? Read the 2nd article that was written that I have since had medical tests, scans along with a diagnosis of Lexapro induced Toxic Encephelopathy (Neurotoxicity) and Induced Major Neurocognitive Disorder.
Did you read the symptoms I stated?
Kait,
Also, did you not read the part where the anxiety appeared when I started the Lexapro and went away when I stopped taking it? Did you read the story? The physical symptoms. The 2nd part where I was diagnosed with a neurotoxic brain injury from the Lexapro?
This comment is what makes people fearful of telling their story. The entire point of the story was missed.
“The chemical anxiety and head pressure did leave my system within weeks of stopping Lexparo, which was proof to me that this wasn’t in my head as suggested by some doctors and that it was caused by the medication.”
“The chemical anxiety and head pressure did leave my system within weeks of stopping Lexparo, which was proof to me that this wasn’t in my head as suggested by some doctors and that it was caused by the medication.”
Like I said I was diagnosed with a brain injury as a result of the Lexapro,
the drug Lexapro after 8 year started to give me amnesia pressure in my head and tingling,
anxiety just keep getting so bad so doctors increase dosage more and more after getting so bad. New doctor thought I was taking to much and maybe that was the trouble was haveing.
cut one pill off never seen any change. after 3 more years could not cope with any thing mind felt like to do something add to go past a wall of fog that was painful and caused intense anxiety, lost my job. could not drive and go into store anxiety so bad.
it would occur trying to find something at store not see item, more i looked worst anxiety would be,
what so weird my mind would keep pushing to go to another store to find item until could not breath
and heart pounding hard. everything in body said stop. mind would be obsessed to find item. after much pain add to just leave mind over mind. it was amazing I could make it home. seen a psychiatrist he took me off Lexapro slowly to start a new drug after when I got down to 10mg
something happened my brain cleared no anxiety , my life seems better it’s been 2weeks now.
The trouble now is, short on patience get upset easy. hard on marrage.
When or if you get into finance you will find there are folks that say or write the opposite of the truth or get evasive if they don’t know. Corporations screen applications so they end up only having these folks. So when drug says antisomething it is likely they simply looked what causes something and made drug of that with the anti word added. when meeting new people you pretty much have to test them to see are they like this or the other. I found a doc that said it was already known in 70s that ssri do not work because the are about masking symptoms not the real issue such as inflammation or some other actual cause.
I am presently taking 5 mg of Cipralex and .5 mg of Valium at 5 pm daily.
After reading CF’s experience and most of the replies, I can only say I hope and pray all of you find a way to reach a balanced and healthy life.
I have been suffering from anxiety and depression since I was in my late tees. At that time only sedatives were prescribed since no antidepressant was available (or maybe even invented). In particular, my PMS was horrible and would send me into a downwards spiral, but I don’t think PMS was even a diagnosis where I lived in those years. I suffered IBS and once was diagnosed with mild CFS. I feel sure I don’t suffer the latter but when I stopped the Cipralex the IBS came back like a tsunami.
Then came Trofanil to my life and I’ve been on the antidepressant roller coaster ever since. I’ve been to hell and back more than once and I feel it is because, in the end, doctors don’t know really what is the cause of mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety. I admit that I don’t think I would be alive right now had it not been for those special doctors who have been more sensitive and understanding regarding my own case. But I’ve had to move many times and it has been difficult to find the right one, especially in the last 3 or so years.
For many years now (more than 5) Cipralex, and Ativan brought stability to my life. (Menopause too has been a blessing for many years). The mayor side effects to these has been, memory loss, low libido and especially, emotional numbness. Not being able to cry or laugh has been the price I’ve paid in exchange of some normality. I was ok with this. After endless medications, hospitalizations, trial and errors, I was more than happy that I had found something that allowed me to be a functional person. I didn’t want more.
Because I was feeling ok for such a long time, Over a year ago, together with my doctor I started the tapering process. I never took more than 10 mg of Cipralex and took me over 6 months to tapper off. But to my dismay, I had to go back to the same dosage. My doctor prescribed other medications but the side effects were too much in my case, so we decided to go back to Cipralex. I was ok with this. I tried more than once to stop all medications and I knew there was a chance of failure this time too.
Then, about 6 months ago, I suddenly developed RLS. I had no clue what was happening because my symptoms would start at around 11am, peak at around 4 pm and then completely go away my 9 pm. Nothing on the internet matched my symptoms so I wasn’t sure if it was RLS at this point. I decided then to I stopped the medication for 48 hours and sure enough, the RLS stopped also. I did this more than once to make sure. I guess this is a form of kindling.
But now what? I don’t want to change medications. I’m just scared of staring all over and the possible mental and physical side effects that can come when trying new medicines. I decided then to tapper slowly to 5 mg. The RLS is gone but now my calves ache terribly 24/7. My anxiety is back as it was in the mornings when I wake up. Getting out of bed before 9 am is practically impossible. In addition I have a cold ache along my left arm.
So, here I am. Thirty plus years later and, like many, I have not yet found the answer to my illness. Is it low orexin as CF explains? I don’t think I will know in my lifetime.
I’ve come to wonder if some people commit suicide not because of the depression per se but because the endless ups and downs and the frustration of never finding a successful solution, takes its toll on the body and the mind.
At this point in my life, I can only give 2 suggestions:
1) always work with your doctor and express your reservations. Say “No” when you need to.
2) tapper off VERY, very slowly. I ended up in the hospital for not doing so and it took me over a year to recover from such mistake.
Thank you so very much CF . I hope you will post an update soon. All my best wishes you and everyone who has replied.
Correction: I take .5 mg of Ativan per day (not Valium).
Emma you likely came down too fast. Everyone seems to do that because they are unaware of the strong steroid effects of antidepressants. Over the past 30 years we have been taking half the amount of time on any antidepressant (add them all up) to wean off for those under a couple of years on the drug. And for those on five plus years we have been taking about 1 1/4 years for each 5 years on to wean off. That is the general rule of thumb to wean safely off. But from some they need to go even slower. Those willing to change to a Vegan diet can generally for a little faster.
RLS is very common with these antidepressants as are CFS & Fibro.
Mornings produce worse anxiety due to the drug effects upon blood sugar which drops the lowest overnight. We have tons of info on all this at http://www.drugawareness.org
Reading everyone’s stories makes me a bit nervous for myself. I have been on Lexapro for 2 years. I was a mess before going on it. That was literally my last option. I didn’t leave my house I barely left my room.
I couldn’t handle going out anywhere and I cried almost everyday. My reaction is different though. I still have anxiety, I didn’t go away. I’m not a carefree person, I care too damn much. About everything. I don’t know how long I’ll be on this pill or if it would even affect me like it has other people on this thread but it’s still scary because this messes with our minds.
The things I have noticed about my body, is my memory just sucks. Sometimes I have issues getting the words I want to come out and I’ve been having muscle and joint pain.
I can’t get disability although I’ve never tried with a lawyer but it’s hard. I’ve never had a 9-5 job. I take of people In my family and that just gets to be too much. I feel like I am worthless and not worth anything. I hope I won’t be on this forever but it scares me to think of who I’d be without it
Dear CF
This was such a useful article. For many years i have been I had this suspicion that my effects were coming from this long term use. I searched the internet and I finally landed on your article. Everything you said is exactly what I suspected and has happening to me to the t.
I am fortunate that now I am getting help coming out of this drug through a medical nutritionist/ herbalist and friend. I don’t think we are paying for our mistakes I just think we didn’t know better. I have taking the liberty to share your article to as many people as possible here in the UK. It is informative, accurate and very helpful. Many thanks for taking the time to write this article. I truly wish you recover soon and continue with a happy life you deserve.
As a professional speech writer and speech trainer, I find the idea of prescribing any medication for public speaking anxiety a horrendous disservice to patients that borders on malpractice. Public speaking anxiety is an energy that can easily be refocused into something positive with the help of a competent coach. I guarantee that you would have been a better communicator if you’d taken that approach — and certainly wouldn’t have had the desire to turn your life upside down.
I took and struggled with Lexapro for many years and eventually broke free. I don’t believe it should be prescribed for anxiety — people with short term, acute anxiety issues are better served by benzos like Klonopin (as long as you use them correctly and do so something stupid like mixing them with alcohol.) Everyone reacts to these drugs differently — in my case, Lexapro took away anxiety issues and gave me depression symptoms. Shortly after finally kicking it, my brain felt like it was defrosting. My creativity returned, I started to feel again, colors seemed more vibrant.
Thanks for sharing your story. I think there needs to be a catalogue of reactions to SSRIs so people have an idea of how they can affect you before you take your first pill. I don’t think any one story tells the truth about these drugs, but they help form a mosaic that patients can interpret and make informed decisions.
Wow, CF and DC I am just stunned. I have Ben on Lexapro for 5 years now. I went off of it. I have been on 20 mg daily and at first I was happy for the help. I was diagnosed with cancer and I was having horrible anxiety issues. When I was younger I saw a psychiatrist that didn’t believe in medicating children unless in an extreme case such as possible harm to self or others.
My psychiatrist did behavioral therapy with me. At the time I was going through therapy I was having black outs and memory lapses. It turned out to be that I had developed an split personality disorder (back then) now called disassociative personality disorder. It was discovered in school. My psychiatrist did not use any medication only meditation and behavioral therapy. I also suffered from claustrophobia, OCD, Anxiety, and hypersensitivity sensory issues. At least that is what they used to explain why I would freak out around some people and know things that I shouldn’t know. Or being able to tell people things they didn’t tell anyone else. How they were feeling or abuses that happened to them as children.
I was very lucky not to end up in a psych ward or on mass meds. Instead he did the behavioral therapy and the meditation. I am unable to be hypnotized nor am I susceptible to subliminal messaging. I can see and hear it.
As I went in through therapy I was able to work on integration and my alter and I are now one in the same as much as we can be. I do not have blackouts or anything.
My therapy was successful in many ways except I still was suicidal. I was able to overcome that also.
My anxiety became a problem for the first time in a while 5 years ago with my cancer diagnosis. They started me in lexapro. And they tried me out on so many other antidepressants but the side effects were horrible. Mostly I would become a zombie. Lose time. Not know where I was or how I got there. So I would not take anything. I also noticed that my OCD had flared up and my doctor told me kexapro would help with that too so increased from 10 to 20. I was told that you can’t take more than 20 mg. But this last few months I decided I needed to get off all medication. I was not caring. Not only was my OCD not an issue I went to the other side and the filth and clutter and disorganization set in and I hate it. So I decided no more lexapro. Not only did I start feeling again. Caring again. And I could hear again. My ocd was coming back but I was able to employ the BT I learned and it is working. And the mess though is overwhelming. And it is causing me stress with my OCD. For this I do .25 mg Xanax. It works. I care but take one thing at a time. Also after going off lexapro I could feel myself. The inside of me and my libido. I had 0 libido for years. Then one day just the excitement of being excited sent me into an orgasm. I literally had to make sure I was very careful because my erogenous areas were so sensitive from being shut down that they were ready for explosion at any time with the slightes inspiration. Even intillectually. My creativity and passion for the things I enjoy has returned. Reading, writing, politics, ministries, my empathic abilities and discernment. I will never take that medication again, nor any other. I am so sorry that you have had such a horrible damage from the medicine. I pray you heal from it
DC, VERY well said.
I think the argument you related about public speaking anxiety can be extrapolated to nearly any area of life which causes anxiety or depression. When the most productive thing to do would be to face one’s fears and take action, many people simply reach for an anxiety medication instead.
The end result is counterproductive.
Some people take beta blockers during public speaking to deal with jitters, but that sadly only results in lowering the energy they could have been diverting into animation during their public speaking.
I will be very sad and disappointed if my very long comment and personal story vanished here I had trouble sending it and then it said I had repeated sending it
Surely you know by now in 2018 there’s a cover-up : these drug manufacturers and and number of doctors do not want the general public to know how DANGEROUS these ssris are.
…the used to be numerous vids on YouTube with various people talking about how Lexapro has destroyed lives… some have committed suicide from it.. there used to be a woman who was a pharmaceutical sales rep whose niece died from Lexapro ; she committed suicide.. this woman used to speak out about the horrors of Lexapro with a doctor in a vid called SOMA STATE. I have not been able to find it..BUT I did find a vid of her recently …but I cannot remember the title of it nor her name.
it took a bit of digging but as powerful as the pharmaceutical industry is they must be responsible for a number of the vids against Lexapro, coming down.. they don’t want the public to know is the way Lexapro works is it will keep using up all of your serotonin until there is NONE LEFT… two things you need to have a normal brain are dopamine and also serotonin.
I originally was put on it because I had what felt like gridlock in my brain if I had too much information coming at me because I had post-concussion syndrome and mild brain damage.
At first it felt like a miracle cure and then when I try to get off of it after a few months it was virtually impossible it was a nightmare I tried off and on for several years tried going cold turkey and then finally after 5 years did go cold turkey but I cannot say it was successful because it pretty much totally DESTROYED my MEMORY which is one of the main side effects.. it was so bad I could not remember how to reboot the computer and was constantly texting and calling people and begging them to tell me one more time.
I remember not even being able to organize the mail and it wasn’t even a lot I sat there off and on for several hours trying and gave up so let’s just say that Lexapro and not from my son who was making decent money back then paying my bills I would have ended up homeless it took me years to get my mind back I had the pressure in the head to it was awful it felt like my brain was imploding and exploding at the same time… the pressure was Non-Stop ..terrible for about 4 months but actually I had it for at least 6 months… just thinking about it scares me This Is A Dangerous Drug and should be taken off the market and you know none of these big Pharma manufacturers who are responsible for drugs that destroy Minds, destroy organs , and even KILL people.. none of them go to jail.
People need to start demanding that they go to jail.. just like the banksters.. if you or I created a drug that damages people’s minds… some of them permanently.. we would be in jail ..we would lose everything.
please get tough on the big Pharma industry.. the doctors did not tell this gentleman here who wrote this story what they already knew because they’re getting more money from the kickbacks.
It’s all about greed and money.. greed and money ..Big Pharma is not about healing people.. it is a money-making industry and that’s all it is …and once people wake up and realize this, they’ll be a lot smarter.
there’s so much more to the story but I’m tired of telling it.. I’m angry that a lot of the vids where people were telling their horror stories about Lexapro.. a lot of those vids have been taken down.. all I could tell you is try to do your research but good luck because a lot of the material is Vanishing especially since the net neutrality bill was shot down on December 14th and most Americans didn’t even notice.
People need to continue suing these pharmaceutical companies.. that is your only hope .
I regret that I did not jump in on the class action lawsuit against Lexapro… I probably had a chance but changed my mind because I already had a slight memory problem from the head trauma as well as Lyme disease… but let me tell you in no uncertain terms that Lexapro destroyed my mind and it took me years of eating a lot of healthy fats a lot of them especially flaxseed oil, drinking butterfly pea tea, drinking a lot of raw milk.. I mean real milk as in from grass-fed cows, no hormones, no antibiotics and definitely not pasteurized …not boiled …not destroyed.
Your brain needs healthy fats.. your whole neurological system needs this… they are made mostly of fats ..you need to get rid of the chemical diet and then please do what’s called SUPERBRAIN YOGA.
I direct you to the video on YouTube that is a clip from a News segment about four minutes 18 seconds long.. they’re using it to heal all kinds of neurological problems .
when I do sets of reps of the Super Brain yoga I see incredible results within 3 to 4 days.. take your life back. EAT SUPER FOODS..go to the superfood Evolution Channel on YouTube… eat Goji berries, eat wheatgrass ,and one of the main things is broccoli sprouts …please do your research on that on YouTube find the vids of Dr. Rhonda Patrick… it has sulphuraphane in it which is a powerful brain healer.. eat reishi mushroom, make reishi tea and some Chinese stores it’s called lingchi and others it’s called Linch or Linshi… eat purple yams I’m talking about the ones that are really purple inside .. sorry about horrible punctuation this keyboard is in Nightmare to use do all your research on how to heal your brain exercise bicycle swim whatever you can do to pump that oxygen through your brain and meditate please meditate but do that Super Brain yoga I am proof you can reverse this nightmare I am pretty much a hundred percent there I still every now and then have days where I’m mentally sluggish and not as quick
I don’t know if I buy the argument that there’s a massive coverup, but I do believe that doctors prescribe these medications too cavalierly and don’t respect the fact that just about everyone reacts to them differently. I was prescribed Lexapro for anxiety. It helped, but I can honestly say that after the first six months or so, I stayed on it only because it was so hard to get off of it.
The withdrawal symptoms are well documented and after a couple unsuccessful attempt to leave the drug (once with taper, once without) I just surrendered to it. It made me deeply apathetic, sapped my creativity, took away my ability to enjoy many aspects of my life … basically, it took my anxiety and gave me back depression.
I finally figured out a way to leave the drug … I don’t want to go into much detail about it because even though it worked for me, it might not for anyone else. It basically involved making every negative sensation seem like a headache and medicating it as such. I also paired the process with an extremely low calorie diet that made me think about the hunger sensations so much (and get to enjoy them after awhile) that I was distracted from the Lexapro withdrawal. Lexapro withdrawal is literally a mind game you’re playing with yourself. The key to getting past it is tricking yourself into believing it’s not real.
Anyway, I think there needs to be more study into the long term effects of the drug. I’ve heard of doctors who don’t just prescribe it for depression and anxiety, they also pass it out for dysthymia, which is highly medication resistant, and ADHD, which is kind of like scratching an itch with a thermonuclear bomb. It might be a wonder drug for some — I wouldn’t want to deny positive effects, which are real. But for me, it was a huge mistake to ever take it and I’m so glad it’s out of my life.
Fran can you contact me please????
I don’t take an drugs but my husband takes Cipralex. When he first started taking it he was much more relaxed and calmer but after a while his feelings seemed to become deadened and now he is divorcing me. I blame this drug for changing his loving personality to someone I don’t recognise anymore
Hi. My name is Jodi
I have extreme bipolar disorder, social anxiety, depression and OCD. When my youngest daughter turned sixteen and the thought of suicide started to creep up on me again I finally started looking for help. I started seeing a psychiatrist who put me on lamictal then klonopin and then lexapro. I am 50 years old and at first the medications seemed to be working. Now however in the past few years I’ve become a total insomniac, I can barely leave my house, interactions with others is pretty much unbearable. Eventually I had a total “manic” episode that lasted five months and my doctors answer to my distress was to add lithium to my already large array of medications. This made me so sick that I completely lost the ability to function at all. Even watering my house plants became impossible because the shaking was so bad I couldn’t hold anything without dropping it or spilling it. None of the symptoms that the added lithium was meant to help got better it just got worse. Against my doctors orders I started to step down off the lithium slowly however even after managing to quit taking the lithium all together I noticed other symptoms. Severe headaches, involuntary muscle movements, memory loss, slight seizures, joint and muscle pain and more. I have been to so many doctors looking for a way out. To just be able to live a partially normal life. It just seems that no matter where I turn I find the doctors and pharmaceutical companies go hand in hand. It’s almost as if they want to keep me sick not help me get better. My youngest daughter is now 28 and is starting to have a lot of the symptoms that sent me to seek treatment to begin with. I’m terrified for her. I just want to know is there an alternative to all of these poisonous pills they insist we need or is there something better out there for her. My husband, daughters and granddaughter have been amazing through all of this however instead of them just supporting and being patient I’d love for them to be proud of me again. I’d love to take pleasure in all the small things that in the end are the most important. I’m not very good at communicating everything I need or want to say so this doesn’t even really touch on everything. All I know for sure is no matter what happens to me I want to save my daughter from all of this. I’ll take any advice or suggestions I can get. I feel so helpless.
Hi Jodi, I am so sorry you went and are going through this. I can relate to a lot of the things you wrote. I hope it gets better. I don’t have any advice or suggestions, I feel helpless as well. I just wanted to say you’re not alone. (HUGS)
I have been suspecting that Lexapro may be linked to, or the cause of, my recent diagnosis of Fibromyalgia. I have been on this med for about 3.5 years although I have taken other SSRIs in the past. The reason I suspect this link is because in Dec 2017, my dosage was increased from 20mg to 30mg due to some severe depressive episodes I’d been experimenting. That was about 5 weeks ago. In the last 3-4 weeks, my pain levels have been horrible. Prior to the dosage change, I would have 2-3 really good days a week (at least). Since the change, I have 1-2 ok-ish days.
I have battled depression for 3/4 of my life. I have had stretches of years where I didn’t need medications and some stretches when I did. However, the pain is new (within the last couple of years) and I’m worried about how to proceed. How do I even approach either my GP or my psychiatrist about this? Please take into consideration that I also have Hashimotos Thyroiditis which causes hypothyroidism in me.
Any feedback is helpful.
Hmmm….the max dose of lexapro is 20mg. I would ask why you were prescribed more than that. Maybe find a holistic doctor. That was the best thing for me.
Karra, I was never prescribed more than 10 MG. I see a holistic doctor who is trained in chemical injuries. Which a medication is.
I took Lexapro for several years and stopped. Two years later my doc has put me back on it. My nasal cavities feel like they are on fire and my head hurts so bad this morning. I was on 10mg previously, this time my doc started me with 20mgs. I read your article after hours of searching on the net.
Thank you for sharing your story. I was kindled in the late spring of this year with a combination of benzodiazepines and an SSRI. I didn’t realize it had happened until now as my brain is recovering enough to remember and put the pieces together. My brain is healing, but I have damage that persists, including problems with slowed cognitive processing, speech, short term memory, memory retrieval, decision making, multitasking, and math. On a basic day these things function okay but by doing them my brain fatigues and slows and then becomes increasingly difficult. I often will end up with a hangover like feeling after attending a social event and it can take days or hours to heal. I did start a ketogenic diet because I’ve read a number of articles about it being a brain healer. I do feel much better on the diet with much energy and limited brain fog. It hasn’t healed the other issues, as I suspect that damage is longer term, but I have heard about others on keto that healed. My situation is unique because I also suffered an adverse reaction and withdrawal syndrome to these drugs, so I need keto more than most.
Hi I’m so scared after probably 17 years of medication from Paroxatine and I think 5 on escitalopram.. It all roles into one mind numbing blur (or us that just being an adult?) I’ve considered suicide (hanging a rope in my garage but too much of a coward to do anything) threatened to leave my wife and children, aged 16 and 10 and blamed it all on aspergers which I pushed for a diagnosis on (and got what I call an ‘outline’ diagnosis).So I consider daily coming off this stuff, they’re like headache pills or sweets to me now, as so shit scared of long term health issues-will they cause parkinsons or dementia etc?? Then I go on line and read this stuff-thing is every time I go to the docs, my wife and him find all the reasons to stay on them, work being main one and my pride in needing to be the man and bread winner. I’m so very very scared, for me my wife and children. I’ve seen more psychiatrists than you can shake a stick at and have even considered changing my sex such is my daily shame and confusion. HELP Please…
David, it seems as though there are some root issues with the misery you’re experiencing that no medication would help. Though I suspect they blunt those feelings. Please find someone to talk to, not just medicate you. And if you decide to get off the medications, read up on the process, find a practitioner experienced with tempered withdrawal and go very, very slowly. Simultaneously, attack any weaknesses in your diet, nutrient deficiency and the like, so that your body and your mind have the strength for the withdrawal process. Do not do this alone. Do not do this quickly. Take the time to heal yourself. You will heal, but it won’t be easy or quick.
I suffer from withdrawal syndrome from Paroxetine (SSRI). If you decide to come off please do it very slowly. If you notice withdrawal symptoms- you’ll know if you do, a 10% taper rate is recommended.
Im so sorry for the problems you have encountered. I have experienced a lot of the same. I was started on anti-anxiety meds (xanax and ativan) first. Then they started me on the anti-depressants. I have trialed all of the over 23 years. I have recently completed come off 19 routine medications over a period of 3 years. I have lost everything. I had lost the ability to work before starting this process. Since coming off them I have lost my home, my belongings and have been homeless. IT is tragic and so ethically wrong. I hope our stories eventually gain more recognition of being more common than the medical profession wants to admit. Best wishes on your healing. Peace.
Great article and well said. I have a similar story, yet my issues started with lyrica and celebrex, then cymbalta topped off the ‘insult to injury’ that almost killed me. I was starting to feel like all doctors were in denial when I found my pain dr. I had thought it was mostly women that were treated like they were exhibiting ‘its all in your head’ symptoms, that are so easily dismissed. It was getting involved in FB groups and learning from others that I got my best supports. Doctors are constantly telling people to get off the internet; are they feeling threatened? Honestly, I think I could be dead now, if not for FB supports!! My GPs idea of support; I was fired as a patient (no alternatives with a doctor shortage!). No doubt, I am better off without that kind of support, considering the ‘pill to take a pill’ mentality and the lack of informed consent or monitoring. Another issue that frustrates me is the downplaying of results; I don’t think brain lesions or spots on my liver are ‘normal for my age’!! The average GP doesn’t interpret on their own and diagnostic are very limited and compounded by denial. My pain dr once said that he didn’t feel anyone intended on harming me, yet there is a conspiracy in the denial.
Hey everyone,
What a nightmare we’re living in… been reading more and more about what anti-depressants do to all of us (long-term) and it’s actually crazy how these things are still legal.
I am currently 30 yrs old, took Lexapro (Cipralex in Canada) for ~9 years for social anxiety, depressive moods, agoraphobia, etc. Looking back, I wish the “now-me” could tell the “past-me” to never touch anti-depressants, and let your own brain figure it out on its own.
I tried quitting once around ~5 years ago but relapsed after 3 months due to major panic attacks and being unable to get sleep due to it.
Fast forward till now, I’ve quit for 5 months and I feel like such a vulnerable human being… it’s insane.
Literally feel like I am severely damaged mentally and it doesn’t feel like it’s getting any better.
I’m ~95% depressed and ~5% ok which randomly triggers for no reason, then back to being depressed.
It feels like Lexapro has damaged my body and stress threshold and other areas as well, that something small can trigger severe negative reactions which I can’t seem to shake off.
I’ve lost 2 serious relationships in the past 9 years, both loving girlfriends; which I neglected and took them for granted because of the meds.
Now I isolate myself from all my past friends and new people because partly, I’m ashamed of myself.
I really wonder if the only solution is to start taking the drug again so these negative effects subside..
Why has no one started a major lawsuit against these drug companies?
They are literally taking the lives of so many individuals, while making millions+ from people who want help.
These drugs literally take the soul of a person and act as if discontinuing them was a surmountable road bump.
I don’t know what to say anymore.. but been feeling extremely hopeless.
I hope one day, these drug companies pay for what they’ve done..
But who am I kidding? Doubt they’ll have a new brain for all of us.
Sorry for the negativity guys..
It’s just frustrating to see us all here and countless victims being affected.
But hey, at least we’re not alone.
Just wish there was just a solution..
Hello Ethan, how are you doing now?
Christian’s story is almost identical to mine-severe kindling adverse reaction to lexapro turned a very fit young man into a bed ridden shell who has to be looked after by his elderly father. Rapidly degenerating into dementia. Life utterly destroyed.
If you were a fit young man why would you have started taking it so?
I have a similar story to many of you. Came off lexapro too fast then tried to go back on half a dose for 2 days and had extreme severe adverse reaction with akastasia and burning brain and weird body jolts and so much more. Please if someone can contact me or tell me where to go or if anything has helped.
Nicole
Join the Neurotoxicity (Toxic Encephalopathy) Support Group on Facebook
Hi,
Just wanted to close the loop on those who posted their comments. I was finally diagnosed with “Lexapro induced Toxic Encephalopathy” which is basically neurotoxicity. I honestly think the Dr who diagnosed me is one of the few brave enough men to diagnosis. I also was contacted by a production company who heard about my situation and was filming a documentary. I have my doubts that it will ever air due to reasons we all know so well. I wish you all well.
Hello,
I need help. I believe this may have been what happened to me. I was on Lexapro from 2013-2015 then stopped abruptly. I would take it again in 2016 and at the first pill, experience what I now believe is akathisia. It’s such an internal agitation, one wants to rip off one’s skin…I have been disabled now for a year. Before this, I was a professional as well as graduate student. I so need help learning if this is what happened to me and if there is any treatment. I’m so desperate; living in daily pain and torment.
Kim
Feel free to join our Facebook group called Neurotoxicity (Toxic Encephalopathy) Suppprt Group. Be sure to pick the right one. We have members who had toxic reactions. It’s a scary experience and you are not alone. Please post so I know who you are.
Hello CF
Thank you for your story. I wish I was one who could say that I am off Lexapro. Behold I am not. Your experiences promoted a myriad of questions in me. As I related somewhat in a similar fashion to what you have experienced before and after quitting Lexapro. I am at a stage where after 12 years of anti-anxiety medication including at least 8-10 on Lexapro more recently, that for me the stopping part is hardest to attain. My most recent doctor was surprised that I would be on a 20mg dose for so long. In his words ‘why don’t you just stop taking it’ ahah I said it is not as easy as that. The doctor felt that Lexapro and its varying doses are not designed for long term use but rather to provide symptomatic relief and used at times over short periods. It was suggested that other drugs can be used for long term but why would I want to go there? Not long ago I felt that Lexapro was not really doing anything for me and that somehow my body had become immune to its effects. However Lexapro has a way of winning out in the end much like Nicotine wins out over the smoker trying to quit. So I can give your dear readers something to relate to here are some of my most recent feelings while on my daily 20mg dose of Lexapro.
If I lie on my bed after work to relax before dinner time my body feels like it is cocooned in a bubble or an invisible coffin which I want to break out of but cannot for lack of energy or tired trying to wake up lost emotions that never can be found.
Time has become frozen to me. I live in the world and am a part of it but somehow feel like everyone has aged and got older but I have not. Where have all the years gone I ask?
Lately I have had mini blackouts for micro seconds or feelings of falling backwards while sitting.
I fidget when I do eventually go to bed at night rubbing my legs together trying to assure each one that the other is ok. Twitching my feet or rolling my toes forever it seems.
I grind my teeth at night if I don’t wear my mouth guard or wake up with my mouth in strange contortions with front teeth one over the other.
I have strange tension headaches that last for weeks on end making me feel like half my brain has turned off and gone to sleep.
I spend extra time contemplating if the green light really has turned green at the stop lights.
I too have enjoyed the wonders of my brain fizzing or crackling with sharp jolts of electricity as to celebrate some cyclical event.
Or the lovely feeling of half my skull splitting in two over and over again.
I feel I can sympathise with Stephen Hawking or people who are quadriplegic being trapped in their bodies unable to move.
For your body wants to behave in the way it was designed but has been sullied by mans inventions.
For now Lexapro is like my little friend I love and hate at times. Without him I am worse off.
For now I have to live with him but not forever.
My blog❕
My Story:
I was on lexapro for 7 years at 10mg decided it was a good time to stop at the start of last year. I went down to 5mg for 3 months, no withdrawals, the the doctor said I could stop, I decided to go day on day off, then a few days between, I started to feel small amounts of anxiety return aswell as some tiredness. My doctor said to go back on 10mg, I did, then with in a few weeks I started getting worse, my heart would race I couldn’t get out of bed, after 3 weeks the doctor raised it to 20mg i felt so posioned I didn’t eat for 2 months straight, I was in bed couldn’t even roll over, I kept going to the hospital they kept sending me home, my heart rate was 120-140 I had yellow diarrhea, I had to have people come and help me with my children, i hadn’t cuddles them for months. Then I said 3 months later, January this year, its poisining me. It has to be. Even though by then I was out of bed, I was still in such confusion and pain in the head.. couldn’t last out of bed for long and the anxiety was horrible.. I went to 15 for 2 weeks, 10 for a week, then tried Zoloft for a week had allergic reaction although the brain burning feeling had subsided.but couldn’t continue with the rash from Zoloft, then back on lexapro 5mg for 2 weeks, and every night I took that pill my brain felt like it was burning, 2 weeks later the doctor gave me Prozac. 5mg for a week, I started getting tingling in my feet and feeling spaced out. One doctor said to up the dose. I did once and felt worse. So I seen another doctor who said maybe your to sensitive now and need to stop medication all together, so here I am, 1 months out from lexapro, and almost 3 weeks out from Prozac. My eating came back. I eat now, my diarrhea has gone. The brain burning gone. But as the days go by, I’m feeling more and more brain zaps, dizziness, confusion. Migraines. Like this is 24/7 some moments better then others.. I mean is one month long enough to judge, will it only get worse? Does it take more then a month to feel better, I don’t know what to expect. I do meditation, I walk every day now. Don’t get much sleep as I wake up every few hours but I try lavender to help sleep. When will the physical (head) symptoms disappear so I can focus on being the best mummy ever 🙁
I am now 2 months out. And believe I have had a kindled adverse reaction and I’m praying the neuroplasticity is real!
I’m weak, my head hurts, my neck and jaw, my legs are jelly, I shake for no reason.. I’m off balance, the brain burning has reduced a massive amount since stopping. It’s just horrible. And I feel like there’s no hope.
Would you be interested in posting this comment as a standalone blog post?
How are you doing?
Hello, I am dealing with a Very similar situation. Please contact me!
Janie,
Considering we have very similar experiences with Lexapro. I would like to communicate with you directly if possible.
I have been on lexapro for around 9 years and recently came off about 6 months ago. Have been experiencing some ups downs but I’m still medication free. Really don’t want to go back on anything at all. I thought my discontinuation was pretty successful, but am concerned of the long term effects. Looking to connect with someone on here if possible an emaa
Hello…I am desperately seeking help with my situation too; feel I was kindled from the Lexapro and it created akathisia-an extreme internal agitation….please connect with me. I’m desperate for answers and for relief if there is any…
I hope you frightened a whole lot of people with your story because after 26 years of specializing in antidepressant adverse reactions I am really sick of hearing this same story over and over and over again with only the name being changed. Welcome to typical cold turkey antidepressant withdrawal. This is why at the top of our websites for two decades we have posted: “WARNING! Discontinuing or changing an antidepressant abruptly can be more dangerous than continuing on the medication.”
You will be interested in learning several things about SSRIs. First is that they drastically increase Cortisol. A study done by Lilly on Prozac found that one single 30mg dose clearly DOUBLED the level of Cortisol! I have been shouting that warning via my book, “Prozac: Panacea or Pandora? Our Serotonin Nightmare,” radio and television interviews, blog after blog, etc. for two decades. Why? Because as most know such a drastic and prolonged increase in Cortisol can produce a myriad of health issues including depression – the very indication for which these drugs are given! They are literally causing what they are being promoted to cure!
You are correct about kindling which I also discuss in my book on this family of antidepressants. You will find many answers on our website at http://www.drugawareness.org where my dear friend Dr. Candace Pert served on our Board of Directors from 1997 when she publicly referred to these drugs as “monsters” she wished she had never had anything to do with their development until her death three years ago. You will want to read more about her there.
We also have several Facebook groups you will be interested in: “Lexapro Should Be Illegal,” “Antidepressant-Induced Fibromyalgia,” “Antidepressant-Induced Adrenal Fatigue/Failure”
We also have many alternatives we have found over the past 2 1/2 decades which have proven to be quite helpful in rebuilding and even in reversing the brain damage that can come from antidepressants.
I would love to talk more about this with you. I’m 25 and having all symptoms of of adrenal fatigue. I have been on Lexapro for almost 5 years and am still taking it for fear of adverse effects with discontinuation. I’m lost, and I’m scared. My doctors and therapists have no idea what to do with me. I realize its been a while since this post and your comment, but I pray this gets to you regardless.
Kat, you can find me in my neurotoxicity (Toxic Encephelopathy) support group on Facebook. I am Christian. I’m an admin. pM me there.
Hi CF, Thank you for your honest story. I left my marriage to a loving man in the same way you describe, while numbed out from benzodiazepine. I didn’t realize my massive mistake until I discontinued the drug. I am very active in the pharma injury community. Find me on FB. I shared your story today and it has sparked a big discussion you may be interested in. It takes time to heal from a CT (cold turkey) and further kindling from a reinstatement. Give it time and support your body comprehensively to assist the brain’s healing. You are surely not alone in this agony.
Hi Heather. We actually are connected on FB already. I sent you an email.
Thank you for writing your story. I especially could relate to these lines: “At the time, I wanted to be free. In so many ways, in my mind, I was an improved person. It wasn’t until the last year that I realized how wrong I was. I took Lexapro for 15 years. I never looked back. Until now.”
For me it was 17 years. It is criminal to take someone’s life like that and destroy it. Looking back and realizing the destruction left in the wake of psychotropic medications. This is providing me with a cruel enlightenment of lost decades and the recognition of the emotional devastation to those we love but wasn’t able to.
I”m with you Frances
Gwyn what happened to you ?
I found your article very interesting considering I just had neurotransmitter testing and a brain scan called a NeuroRead processed by evoke neuroscience. I got this done totally on my own by a doctor I had never met or heard of because I was getting no place with my own doctors! Now she’s treating me with supplements to heal my brain because I do have brain damage. So you might look into it? Evidently I’m producing too many antibodies in my brain.
what supplements does your dr. believe can help?
Hi, you could help us by telling us what kind of blood test did you do exactly for show antibodies in your brain? And what kind of supplements do you take for heal your brain? Do they help in any symptom?
I also suffer from brain damage caused by only 11 pills of escitalopram poison which I took almost two years ago.
Thanks for your help!
Can you share your doctors name? I can’t find anyone to treat ssri related brain damage.