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

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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I am very sorry to hear a out those horrible symptoms. I took 10mg for one day & I never touched it again. I was sick all day & night. I vomited until I was gagging...nausea, headache etc.

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I believe you thoroughly, I am a male, I am 76 years old had a stent put in 14 years ago, and was put on lovastatin, I immediately started having loose stools and at times explosive bowel movements. One time I had it so bad I couldn't get to a bathroom. I was at safeway looking for the restrooms. and I just lost control. It was so embarrassing, I had to clean up my mess on the floor and also myself. So like you, I quit leaving the house unless I had to. and yes, I was having so many BM I quit counting, but I am sure at times it was 20 or so a day. this was going on for the last 14 years I told my Heart Dr the problem and he said that I needed to keep taking statins because it kept my tubes from getting inflamed. Than 3 years ago, I had to have open heart surgery to replace my plugged arteries going into my heart. I complained about my explosive BM and was switched to Lipitor. It didn't help and even had many more symptoms, I then had two major strokes that stopped me from complaining. I ended up with speech impediment and weak muscles with no energy. I wallowed in self pity for about a year than my wife had shoulder surgery and Had to drive. with me falling asleep having bowel movement every other minute and a few black outs I just didn't see any way I could drive. So, I temporarily gave up my statins to see if that would help. Wow was I surprised. It was the statins that was causing most of my problems and beta blockers which I am still taking for my BP.
Like you I went on line to find out what to do. I thought surely I was going to die from high cholesterol or go back to feeling dead with taking Lipitor. I was fighting with my wife and my Dr. Than my Dr. said she could just tell me and advise me from what was in the medical journals, what I do is totally up to me. I decided if high cholesterol was going to kill me at least I would die with having a life.
some of the bloggers told be that I should try CoQ10. and vitamin b complex well vitamin B complex started the whole diarrhea thing again and the CoQ10 makes me sick momentarily. but my over all strength and energy was so much better and the fact that I am taking 200 mg that I am cutting back to at least 100 should do the job. I am an old man, so I don't have the period problem so I can't help you there. but everthing else can be fixed, you just have to find your own path.
I am up to walking 2 miles a day and that helps me, but walking is my meditation
Lots of good luck to you
bbk

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Ask your doctor to do a full thyroid blood panel including TPO to check for Hashimoto Thyroiditis. I hope you get better quickly.

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Grendel,
Thank you for reading and replying to my post, I really appreciate your time in doing so. I'm glad that you stopped and that your symptoms didn't last to long! I was aware that there would be side affects in the beginning but I had no idea that I would still be having them 9 months into treatment and getting more affects along the way. I will say that the medication did its job for my depression! It absolutely worked in helping the depressive thoughts and tendencies that I was having. It didn't do much for my anxiety, that I noticed. Or it could be that I was over anxious in dealing with how I was feeling at the time. For now, and I know its based out of fear, I'm going to stay off all medication. I'll definitely try the therapy route, which I had done in the past a couple times, if I feel myself slipping back into the depression. Thank you again for answering and I hope you have the best of luck in your care!

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I'm wondering if you have an auto-immune disorder. Between the massive diarrhea, the kidney issues, the water retention, etc., it sounds like multiple systems are being impacted. A couple of questions: are you passing any blood and/or mucus in your stool? And are you taking any anti-diarrheal medications?

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I used to take Amneal Citalopram with no issues until recently. If I take my prescribed dosage of 10 mg. Amneal Citalopram or any brand Citalopram now I experience the same negative things that you are experiencing. I was so sick and tired of the negative sides effects I experienced on all brands of Citalopram, I researched a natural alternatives and found one in Sam E 200 mg. When I told my psychologist about my switching to Sam E, he said good, in Europe doctors have been prescribing Sam E for depression since the late 90's. I wish you the best of luck finding either a prescription medication or natural alternative that will work with your system. You cannot continue taking the prescription medication you are on now because it is making you sick!

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Hi Amy sorry your going thru all this,i would ask your doctor to put you on Effexor,this drug works excellent for depression,and panic attacks,and it should not give you all the side effects that your dealing with no,i take extended Release Effexor and it works the best,and iv'e tried everything else.So I hope this helps you

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My daughter took Sam E and she ended up in the hospital with a severe case of acute gastritis and it caused nodules. Just be careful. If you start having symptoms, you should stop taking it.

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Hello Amy, I took lexapro for maybe 5 months. I didn't have any of the symptoms you mentioned but I did have adverse effects which made me quit the med cold turkey. I had withdrawal symptoms for almost two weeks, nothing drastic ( pulsing, rushing feeling in my head that would come and go, nausea from time to time) nothing I couldn't handle. After two weeks I was basically back to square one.
From what I know everyone reacts to these types of medications differently. Most often the initial treatment causes reactions and side effects. From what I was told theses side effects usually mean the medication is working/doing something. Most likely thats the reason why your doctor kept you on the med, he wanted you to push thru the awful reactions until the therapeutic effect. Like I said each medication is different and each person reacts differently to each medication so dont lose hope, lexapro didn't work for you and me but there are other meds you can try. Unfortunately it's always a trial and error when taking anti deprassants and it's most often a painful journey but keep hope, just picture that finally you will find a medication that works for you and will make you feel better. One other advice I can give you is, if you feel like your doctor is not listening or doing a poor job at treating you then dont hesitate and find a different one. I would recommend a psychiatrist as opposed to a general practiotioner.

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Bbk- Thank you for answering! I am so sorry that you had to deal with all of that for so many years! It makes my heart ache that no Dr. took that debilitating symptom seriously enough to help you with it. I'm glad that you are putting your own needs first and doing better now! That's pretty much what started me on this journey, I decided I needed to be in control of my own health and not just rely on what Dr.s. tell me I should do. Continued Blessing to you Sir!

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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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What is Lexapro! I'm very interested, to found out what the symptoms are.

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Hi
I am Natasha from India. No I don't know anyone who is suffering with such condition.
But my father owns medicine factories and I am a science person. So observing and studying is my hobby.
I have observed that doctors usually rely on such medications for anxiety and depression. My brother started taking flucanazole quite early in his life. Now he so afraid of leaving it. These medicines cause no good to body.
Rather I have stopped believing allopathy. Please try homeopathy along with yoga and Ayurveda.
Please visit Kerala, India.
You may find solution to your problem. Search on internet, you will understand what I am saying.
Good luck

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The best thing to do is Google it in order to get a full understanding of lexapro & it's side effect.

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Don't know what you are talking about with fluconosole. It is for YEAST, not depression or anxiety!

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Thank you for answering! Yes I had 2 occasions where I had a small amount of blood in the diarrhea. Also, almost every time I went to the bathroom, there was what looked like mucus in the toilet. When I provided a sample to my Dr. that is when he said I in fact did not have C-Diff.

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Thank you for answering! I'm so glad you didn't move forward in taking this medication!

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I forgot to answer about taking anti diarrhea medicines, my brain is quite foggy, sorry about that. I was taking them in the first 2 months of the symptoms and then I stopped taking them after that because my Dr. said they wouldn't help, which they never did when I did take them.

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Hello, thank you for reading my question and posting an answer! Lexapro is a medication used to treat quite a few different issues, but for me personally, I was put on it for severe anxiety and depression. If you look up Lexapro on Google, there are tons of sites to learn about the drug. If you are thinking of taking it, please be warned of the possible side effects that are in great detail explained on this forum. Best of luck to you!

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Thanks for reading and replying to my post! I'm happy for you that you found something else that is helping you!

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