I was put on Lexapro 10mg for postpartum depression however I have a post history of depression and took Paxil years ago. Last fall, about a year into it, I decided to try to come off of it. I weaned by cutting the pills in half but the electrical shock waves running through my body were so bad I could barely make it though the day. I tried taking Dramamine to counter act it. It was horrible but I decided to continue weaning slowly and went down to cutting the pills into quarters. After a couple of weeks I finally stopped feeling those horrible zaps. Unfortunately I had a complete melt down over Thanksgiving and felt so down I decided to go back on it.
I am now one week off again, cold turkey this time. On day four I started feeling very mild zaps, not nearly as bad as the first time. I did have some major night sweats and itching that night too. I feel better than I have in months though. The muscle aches are gone, exhaustion gone, anxiety gone. Yes, can you believe that... I actually started having anxiety attacks which was one of the reasons I decided to go off of it.
I think my depression is very situational and at this point I want to try to keep myself in line by being positive without relying on the drug. I constantly worried about it's effects on my liver and the weight gain has been hard to deal with to. I'm going to keep a close eye on myself as is my husband. I hope this time works!
I am now one week off again, cold turkey this time. On day four I started feeling very mild zaps, not nearly as bad as the first time. I did have some major night sweats and itching that night too. I feel better than I have in months though. The muscle aches are gone, exhaustion gone, anxiety gone. Yes, can you believe that... I actually started having anxiety attacks which was one of the reasons I decided to go off of it.
I think my depression is very situational and at this point I want to try to keep myself in line by being positive without relying on the drug. I constantly worried about it's effects on my liver and the weight gain has been hard to deal with to. I'm going to keep a close eye on myself as is my husband. I hope this time works!
Good luck to you coming off the drug, although it might help to just remember to dial up your doctor if the symptoms get worse. I'd like to point out, though, that all depression is situational. People get depressed based on things in their life, or at least perceptions of it, and that drugs are just another way to cure it, just like therapy. Let me know how it goes...