Severe Adverse Reaction Lexapro??

[Willow tree]

Hi, I used Lexapro only for 6 weeks. From the first day I had very severe symptoms like burning skin, terrible muscle tightness/stiffness specially in legs, sometimes I can hardly walk, balance problems, ringing in ears.
My last dose was 5 weeks ago but I still have those symptoms.
I feel terrible. Could that really still be adverse reactions after 5 weeks??

[Backtopaxil]

Nobody knows why the AD effect the legs but it has been reported with Paxil and Lexapro.

For some of us these meds cause the same symptoms. Let's hope yours go away very soon since you were exposed for a short period of time.

[Norma]

Severe adverse reactions aren't real common, but they do happen and can cause a great deal of problems. I remember one person posting about having a really hard time after taking only one pill.

[andy013]

Yes, see here: http://www.depressionforums.org/foru...ll-recovering/

The best chance for recovery is to stay off all meds and give it time. It can often take many months to fully recover. People sometimes make the mistake of thinking they have another illness because it is so bad and then they start taking multiple meds and mess things up even more.

Why were you prescribed the lexapro?

[Willow tree]

Thank you all guys for your replies.

I'm so glad I can talk with people who understand the problems and all the misery. The lexopro was described by my doctor for overbreathing problems (hyperventilation) after surgery.
Andy, I looked at the link. The stories are horrible.
Could you all stay in contact with me? I'm afraid. I have enormous physical problems. Not yet the psychological issues but if takes too long I really don't know. I will stay off all meds, sure, never and never a SSRI again

[Willow tree]

Hi, I forgot to tell you my schedule of lexapro.
Maybe everything went to fast but it was the advice of my doctor:
April, 11 Start lexopro 5 mg/day : every day was hell , electric shocks, burning skin, terrible burning headache, muscle problems
April, 26 : 10 mg/day
May, 03 : 15 mg/day
May, 06 : 20 mg/day On doctors advice stop with lexapro by tapering off
May, 10 : 15 mg/day
May,17 : 10 mg/day
May, 21 : 5 mg/day
May, 24 : 0 mg

Please give me your opinion.

[andy013]

There's not really anything you can do about it. Time is the only cure. You only took it for 5 weeks though so you have a very good chance of recovery. You will probably recover faster than those stories I posted, but it may take some months still.

[Willow tree]

Thanks Andy,
I hope you are a pessimist and it will take some shorter time

[scotty]

Originally Posted by Willow tree

Thanks Andy,
I hope you are a pessimist and it will take some shorter time

The bottom line is it takes what it takes....patience is key.

[Songbird]

See if you can find the book 'Breathe to Succeed' by Tania Clifton-Smith, or 'Hyperventilation Syndrome' by Dinah Bradley. Retraining your breathing is the cure for HVS.

It does sound like you had an adverse reaction to Lexapro. I would also recommend avoiding other meds, and being patient as recovery can take some time, but you'll get there.

[texgirl]

I think it's interesting that even in the face of an adverese reaction the medical profession's first instinct is to recommend an updose. 20mg is a whopping dose of Lexapro, BTW, equivalent to 40mg of Paxil. (I'm not saying you did anything wrong, just pointing out that something that doesn't work at lower doses doesn't usually do any good at the higher ones, either.)

I had an adverse reaction to Lexapro, too. Please don't do what I did, which was to let a pdoc convince me I had a chronic condition that I needed more drugs to treat.

It's very hard to be patient and wait for the side effects to subside when you feel so awful, and very easy to believe that something else must be seriously wrong, but I truly believe it's the best recourse in a situation like this.

[Shiloh1]

Like Texgirl, I had the same reactions to Lexapro but I also did what she did and let the doctor tell me that I "needed" it and they are just "start-up" effects and they will pass.....I kept letting them increase the dose (I have no idea why doctors do this-they LOVE to updose when you feel like crap)....I went on a 3 year ride through hell because I believed that I had a "chemical imbalance." I had balance problems and vertigo, 3 years of diarrhea, horrible stomach sickness along with anxiety that I never had before the drugs, leg cramps/pain, hot flashes, insomnia, along with crippling fatigue, nightmares almost every night of my life (yes things like putting someone in a meat cleaver and watching blood fly around everywhere-NEVER had dreams like this before in all my life) all kinds of weird side effects that did not let up for THREE years but I was trapped because I could not really tolerate the drug, they told me to take it like a diabetic takes insulin, it was not really working for me, and yet, I could not get OFF if it!!! You will be fine in time......

[Willow tree]

Thank you,Shiloh,Texgirl and Songbird. I appreciate your reactions very much. It gives me hope.
Do you remember how long it last after your Lexapro tapering that the adverse reaction symptons were gone? For me it's now about 5 weeks and still the electric shocks/muscle tightness etc are making me crazy.
Songbird thanks for book titles. I will order them.

[Shiloh1]

It took me quite awhile for the physical symptoms to go away....like 6 months BUt you were not on very long and my mental torment started after that.....you will probably be fine much sooner though.....

[Songbird]

Nobody can give a time frame for recovery, it is very individual and varies widely. You need to do whatever you can to set up your body for optimal healing. That means avoiding other meds, being kind and gentle with your system and looking after yourself with a healthy lifestyle. Also remember that recovery isn't always linear. Some people improve gradually, others feel terrible for quite a while then have a sudden improvement. Keep in mind that the body is always working towards balance, so healing is in progress even when it may not feel like it. I recommend daily relaxation exercises and lots of positive self-talk.