It will soon be a year since I tapered off if klonopin. The last thing I had to taper off of. The Lexapro seems like it happened such along time ago.
You can read my update on "One year off Klonopin" here. I have so few posts there because I was so sick for so long. I did keep a private journal during that time. I am trying to decided if I will put it up. I don't know if reading my suffering would help anyone or not.
So I have been off Lexapro for about three years, but I had the klonopin hell I went through during that which caused brain damage. The damage is healing and I am coming along very well. Klonopin withdrawal and tapering was just so much worse than lexapro withdrawal that is hard for me to imagine 3 years off of lexapro when I had to go through a worse hell so to speak. So truly it has been a year since any tapering and I am reaping the awards slowly but surely.
One thing I noticed is that a lot of people I know are on these pills and it is a shame.
Monday, February 1, 2016
Monday, June 8, 2015
Four Years
May 22, 2012 was my last dose of Lexapro. Wow around four years. And it has been four months since my Klonopin taper(Feb 2015).
I am so grateful for being here today and feeling the way I do. I feel peace. I have to say that the Klonopin taper was hands down harder and more painful to me.
When I was tapering Lexapro I had a lot of depression and anxiety and some physical discomfort. With klonopin taper I had all of that but magnified by 100 it seemed like. Once I leanred about the daily taper and took control it was hard but very doable and I am so glad I did it the way I did.
I gained so much weight from taking lexapro for 6 years, I gained 100 pounds! Also my emotions were very blunted. Lexapro also did something to my hormones, I had very heavy and painful periods, it was agony. Within 30 days of my last dose all those problems went way. I also lost 100 pounds! And I am not moody, anxious or depressed.
I don't know if Lexapro is good for anyone, but if you have weight gain don't blame yourself like I did, look into why? It could be your medication, it was for me!
If your emotions are blunt, weight gain, mood swings depressed or anxious, it might be your pill.
I am not a Doctor so take that into consideration, but what I have learned from all this, is to look into any pill that is prescribed for anything. I no longer blindly listen to my Doctor and take pills no matter what it is for.
Even if you have to be on something, look into everything and do the best you can for your self.
Never EVER blame a symptom on yourself like I did, it took me 6 years of suffering.
Life for me is good, even tough I have had two family emergency, with really scary medical stuff. Not me but close family members and I was able to be there for them through everything. There is no way I could have done that before.
The Klonopin withdrawal put a pretty big kink in my plans but all is right with me tonight and my hope is that all of us can have some peace of mind.
I am so grateful for being here today and feeling the way I do. I feel peace. I have to say that the Klonopin taper was hands down harder and more painful to me.
When I was tapering Lexapro I had a lot of depression and anxiety and some physical discomfort. With klonopin taper I had all of that but magnified by 100 it seemed like. Once I leanred about the daily taper and took control it was hard but very doable and I am so glad I did it the way I did.
I gained so much weight from taking lexapro for 6 years, I gained 100 pounds! Also my emotions were very blunted. Lexapro also did something to my hormones, I had very heavy and painful periods, it was agony. Within 30 days of my last dose all those problems went way. I also lost 100 pounds! And I am not moody, anxious or depressed.
I don't know if Lexapro is good for anyone, but if you have weight gain don't blame yourself like I did, look into why? It could be your medication, it was for me!
If your emotions are blunt, weight gain, mood swings depressed or anxious, it might be your pill.
I am not a Doctor so take that into consideration, but what I have learned from all this, is to look into any pill that is prescribed for anything. I no longer blindly listen to my Doctor and take pills no matter what it is for.
Even if you have to be on something, look into everything and do the best you can for your self.
Never EVER blame a symptom on yourself like I did, it took me 6 years of suffering.
Life for me is good, even tough I have had two family emergency, with really scary medical stuff. Not me but close family members and I was able to be there for them through everything. There is no way I could have done that before.
The Klonopin withdrawal put a pretty big kink in my plans but all is right with me tonight and my hope is that all of us can have some peace of mind.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
The End of Tapering Klonopin/Clonazepam
I came back here to share the good news.
It has been over 500 days of tapering! What a long time and I learned so much! I had my GP and my OBGyn behind me all the way!
My GP helped with BP medications when tapering shot up my blood pressure. I even had a really supportive Dentist! The one Doctor I lacked was supportive psychiatrist. All he wanted to do was cut my dose in half! That would be a 50 percent drop!
So I did what I did with Lexapro and I tapered on my own. When I was close to being off of Lexapro my I then told my doctor that I wanted to taper. He was dropping my doses by 5mgs! Way too fast.
But I was safe because I had already been tapering. Then when I was done he sort of apologized about the withdrawal and wanted me to go to a group for people traumatized after getting off of these medications. Weird!
I think about 30 days after I was off of Lexapro, I started to look into tapering klonopin. I found a plan that had me taper my dose 5 percent every two weeks and my dose was in milk. For 4 months it was going ok, I thought it was easy. Then as your read above my best friend died and I was very upset. I decided to hold my dose, I was exactly half way to zero mgs.
It ended up being eight months. Then one morning I woke up at 3:00am in a horrible fear state and that was the beginning of my severe acute benzo withdrawal. I had no idea at the time that it was withdrawal, I had no clue what was going on. After five days I could not take it and went to the ER, they gave me a dose of Klonopin, I took my orginal dose and my symptoms started to calm, that is when I knew it was klonopin withdrawal and I was very scared because I didn't know what to do.
Some people kept telling me it was a wave from my Lexapro withdrawal and I knew it was not that. I had to find real help and I knew I would not find it at benzobuddies, they were the ones that gave me the 5 percent schedule and I knew that when I hit acute everything changed and would be so much harder.
Luckily a person from a board told me about a woman that was perfecting a new type of taper. No percentages, using mgs instead. They were not accepting new people but I thought I would look over the forum (which is gone now) back then I noticed my screen name already in the login with an password, so I clicked and got in, I joined while tapering lexapro so I was a member and I was accepted.
And she showed me the taper and it was the best taper out there for symptoms control and the safest method there is.
I tapered my dose daily instead of every two weeks, I took off .001mg a day! Well I started out with .0005mg a day and then jumped up to .001mg a day. On days I felt anything bad I simply held for that day.
I stayed away from certain foods that either induced klonopin or inhibited it and I stayed away from certain supplements.I went through stages, there were three of them and this was mainly all physical symptoms and a lot of anxiety.
My GP didn't have any experience with this type of withdrawal but he made sure to monitor my vitals and gave me blood pressure medication when my BP went up to high. He really cared.
I tried to get away from my doctor that had me on the klonopin but it was hard to find a doctor willing to help me taper the slowest way possible. To be honest six months into my taper I gave up finding a doctor, they tapered people off way to fast and I wanted to avoid any possible damage. By then I had my taper down pat and my symptoms were clearly better.
I tapered for along time and over that time I could see I tapered all my symptoms away, slowly, evenly and safely.
So now I am off Lexapro and Klonopin/Clonazepam and I am enjoying once again my life. I lost 90 pounds that Lexapro was responsible for, in fact you can now see weight gain as a known side effect. My hormones have settled down and my thyroid is normal!
Truth about these drugs are slowly getting out there. Truth is being published and debates are happening. All I can say is at least there is a chance that a person can weigh the real risks before taking that pill.(hopefully)
Regular everyday people are coming forward, you can see some of them on you tube because they record their struggles and journey.
The truth might be hard and unpleasant but no one should hide from the truth, the truth is what sets you free. Don't be afraid to search for the truth, ask question and advocate for your health.
This is not about pill takers versus anti-psych. This is about the truth of the chemical that a doctor wants you to put in your body and is it worth the risks? Is there not another safe avenue for your situation?
I have much more to say. But this an impromptu post.
For more extensive Benzodiazepine (klonopin) posts I will be hosting my own blog. I will do general posts about benzo withdrawal here. I have also kept a personal journal of every single day of this last taper. I have kept track of symptoms and my taper and everything that happened and all that I have learned. I have learned so much.
It has been over 500 days of tapering! What a long time and I learned so much! I had my GP and my OBGyn behind me all the way!
My GP helped with BP medications when tapering shot up my blood pressure. I even had a really supportive Dentist! The one Doctor I lacked was supportive psychiatrist. All he wanted to do was cut my dose in half! That would be a 50 percent drop!
So I did what I did with Lexapro and I tapered on my own. When I was close to being off of Lexapro my I then told my doctor that I wanted to taper. He was dropping my doses by 5mgs! Way too fast.
But I was safe because I had already been tapering. Then when I was done he sort of apologized about the withdrawal and wanted me to go to a group for people traumatized after getting off of these medications. Weird!
I think about 30 days after I was off of Lexapro, I started to look into tapering klonopin. I found a plan that had me taper my dose 5 percent every two weeks and my dose was in milk. For 4 months it was going ok, I thought it was easy. Then as your read above my best friend died and I was very upset. I decided to hold my dose, I was exactly half way to zero mgs.
It ended up being eight months. Then one morning I woke up at 3:00am in a horrible fear state and that was the beginning of my severe acute benzo withdrawal. I had no idea at the time that it was withdrawal, I had no clue what was going on. After five days I could not take it and went to the ER, they gave me a dose of Klonopin, I took my orginal dose and my symptoms started to calm, that is when I knew it was klonopin withdrawal and I was very scared because I didn't know what to do.
Some people kept telling me it was a wave from my Lexapro withdrawal and I knew it was not that. I had to find real help and I knew I would not find it at benzobuddies, they were the ones that gave me the 5 percent schedule and I knew that when I hit acute everything changed and would be so much harder.
Luckily a person from a board told me about a woman that was perfecting a new type of taper. No percentages, using mgs instead. They were not accepting new people but I thought I would look over the forum (which is gone now) back then I noticed my screen name already in the login with an password, so I clicked and got in, I joined while tapering lexapro so I was a member and I was accepted.
And she showed me the taper and it was the best taper out there for symptoms control and the safest method there is.
I tapered my dose daily instead of every two weeks, I took off .001mg a day! Well I started out with .0005mg a day and then jumped up to .001mg a day. On days I felt anything bad I simply held for that day.
I stayed away from certain foods that either induced klonopin or inhibited it and I stayed away from certain supplements.I went through stages, there were three of them and this was mainly all physical symptoms and a lot of anxiety.
My GP didn't have any experience with this type of withdrawal but he made sure to monitor my vitals and gave me blood pressure medication when my BP went up to high. He really cared.
I tried to get away from my doctor that had me on the klonopin but it was hard to find a doctor willing to help me taper the slowest way possible. To be honest six months into my taper I gave up finding a doctor, they tapered people off way to fast and I wanted to avoid any possible damage. By then I had my taper down pat and my symptoms were clearly better.
I tapered for along time and over that time I could see I tapered all my symptoms away, slowly, evenly and safely.
So now I am off Lexapro and Klonopin/Clonazepam and I am enjoying once again my life. I lost 90 pounds that Lexapro was responsible for, in fact you can now see weight gain as a known side effect. My hormones have settled down and my thyroid is normal!
Truth about these drugs are slowly getting out there. Truth is being published and debates are happening. All I can say is at least there is a chance that a person can weigh the real risks before taking that pill.(hopefully)
Regular everyday people are coming forward, you can see some of them on you tube because they record their struggles and journey.
The truth might be hard and unpleasant but no one should hide from the truth, the truth is what sets you free. Don't be afraid to search for the truth, ask question and advocate for your health.
This is not about pill takers versus anti-psych. This is about the truth of the chemical that a doctor wants you to put in your body and is it worth the risks? Is there not another safe avenue for your situation?
I have much more to say. But this an impromptu post.
For more extensive Benzodiazepine (klonopin) posts I will be hosting my own blog. I will do general posts about benzo withdrawal here. I have also kept a personal journal of every single day of this last taper. I have kept track of symptoms and my taper and everything that happened and all that I have learned. I have learned so much.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Update: Always Learning
I am really amazed at all the problems or symptoms that the antidepressant Lexapro has caused for me. It is so clear now 8 months later. I hoped that this whole thing would all be over right after I took my last dose, but that was not to be.
Don't get me wrong, it is 100,000x better than a too fast taper and cold turkey. No long lasting terrible symptoms, no fear that it is permanent or anything like that.
I can tell the difference between just getting off of Lexapro and the present. I am so much better. For a few months after I had small ups and downs, I have been medication for 17 or 18 years. When feelings came back and the old me came back I felt a little lost. I felt sad that I lost all those years. I felt bitter towards drug companies and Doctors.
But I have to take an honest look at the whole story. I don't believe I needed antidepressants at all. I do believe all I needed was therapy with no drugs. I did not have faith in myself then and believed everything I was told, which was negative.
Even though it started out for grief, symptoms showed up after medication and instead of wondering if it was the medication, I just assumed it was me and I was broken, It was hard to hope that it was not me when I had a Doctor reinforcing that it was me, that it was genetic and for life and I needed to be medicated for life. Therapy was a huge con and a waste of money since there was no cure for me. This is what I was told and I was young and I never thought of the Doctor being so totally wrong.
Now I question everything! I will not just take a medication because the Doctor (any Doctor) says so.
But also, I have to realize that I did live my life during my medication. I did live and love and cry and that it was me and not some alter personality. I am so different today, I am protective of myself and also I do not put up with anything. I am easier on myself. I try and look for the positive in everyday. And I have to say my Marriage has improved. I am happy, I look forward to spending as much time with my spouse and he has told me that I have changed so much. I light up when I am with him. I have not felt that was for many years. I didn't not love him, I knew I loved him, but now feeling the depth of the emotion it is so vibrant. I am very grateful to feel this deeply again.
Migraines are not happening anymore. Skin has cleared up. I sleep very well now, insomnia is now over. No weird mood swings anymore and anxiety has improved a great deal. I feel peaceful and calm most days. I can't remember my last panic attack. In the months after I did have symptoms that I could have thought were me, but I was not going to fall into that again, so I adopted the says of "Whatever will be will be". It took quite a few months to wake up without that dread type feeling, but that has also stopped.
Lexapro caused me to gain weight and lots of it. I started to lose weight a month after my last dose. I have lost 50 pounds so far. I exercise (basically it helped my withdrawal symptoms so much I made it a habit). I do cardio and strength training with weights. I count calories. I had to start taking high blood pressure medication. But now 8 months later I am off that medication and my blood pressure is normal. I have changed a lot in my life and I plan to make it a permanent lifestyle change.
I cook all our meals and I shop for healthy ingredients. I refuse to eat processed foods or GMO foods (BTW My GP Doctor told me to avoid GMO) I also watch my sodium intake, with cooking everything myself I keep it at about 800 - 1000mg.GMO needs to be labeled we have a right to know what we are eating! I do research and try to keep up with it.
It was challenging at first to get used to all the changes but I am so used to it now, and my Husband lost 20 pounds even though he never looked like he needed to lose anything.
I went through a traumatic loss. My life long best friend died and I think I am still processing it. It was a shock and I was horrified, I cried every day many times per day for months, then I got really sick and ended up with a lung infection. I knew I wore myself to this. I was really ill and I knew I had to get a hold of myself so that I could heal. I am still processing this huge loss in my life but do not need or want a pill to help.
I think going through the Antidepressant nightmare has made me stronger than I ever knew but I will never forgot the physical pain (muscle pain, could not walk on uneven surfaces), bone pain, joint pain, head pain (electric zaps and aching skull, stomach pain and issues, restless legs at night, burning under the skin and face and more. Nor will I forget the mental anguish of withdrawal when I tapered too fast, extreme anxiety, panic, negative thoughts, intrusive thoughts, depression and mixtures of all or some of these.
I might be an extreme case, but I know there are those who are worse than me and some who were better. Who is to know which will be which, The FDA will not help and the Drug Companies are only concerned with profits. The system is so corrupt we do not have anyone that will stand up for us. We are expendable. More and more the truth will come out and all that had a hand in this will deny and avoid and will get away with destroying people for a profit.
All we can do is tell our stories and get the truth out there.
Don't get me wrong, it is 100,000x better than a too fast taper and cold turkey. No long lasting terrible symptoms, no fear that it is permanent or anything like that.
I can tell the difference between just getting off of Lexapro and the present. I am so much better. For a few months after I had small ups and downs, I have been medication for 17 or 18 years. When feelings came back and the old me came back I felt a little lost. I felt sad that I lost all those years. I felt bitter towards drug companies and Doctors.
But I have to take an honest look at the whole story. I don't believe I needed antidepressants at all. I do believe all I needed was therapy with no drugs. I did not have faith in myself then and believed everything I was told, which was negative.
Even though it started out for grief, symptoms showed up after medication and instead of wondering if it was the medication, I just assumed it was me and I was broken, It was hard to hope that it was not me when I had a Doctor reinforcing that it was me, that it was genetic and for life and I needed to be medicated for life. Therapy was a huge con and a waste of money since there was no cure for me. This is what I was told and I was young and I never thought of the Doctor being so totally wrong.
Now I question everything! I will not just take a medication because the Doctor (any Doctor) says so.
But also, I have to realize that I did live my life during my medication. I did live and love and cry and that it was me and not some alter personality. I am so different today, I am protective of myself and also I do not put up with anything. I am easier on myself. I try and look for the positive in everyday. And I have to say my Marriage has improved. I am happy, I look forward to spending as much time with my spouse and he has told me that I have changed so much. I light up when I am with him. I have not felt that was for many years. I didn't not love him, I knew I loved him, but now feeling the depth of the emotion it is so vibrant. I am very grateful to feel this deeply again.
Lexapro also affected my physical health.I knew something was wrong with me. I had many symptoms. My hormones were not right , my cycles were so crazy and painful. I was about to have a hysterectomy! Now one month from my last dose of Lexapro my cycles are absolutely normal. And just think I was going to have surgery!
Migraines are not happening anymore. Skin has cleared up. I sleep very well now, insomnia is now over. No weird mood swings anymore and anxiety has improved a great deal. I feel peaceful and calm most days. I can't remember my last panic attack. In the months after I did have symptoms that I could have thought were me, but I was not going to fall into that again, so I adopted the says of "Whatever will be will be". It took quite a few months to wake up without that dread type feeling, but that has also stopped.
Lexapro caused me to gain weight and lots of it. I started to lose weight a month after my last dose. I have lost 50 pounds so far. I exercise (basically it helped my withdrawal symptoms so much I made it a habit). I do cardio and strength training with weights. I count calories. I had to start taking high blood pressure medication. But now 8 months later I am off that medication and my blood pressure is normal. I have changed a lot in my life and I plan to make it a permanent lifestyle change.
I cook all our meals and I shop for healthy ingredients. I refuse to eat processed foods or GMO foods (BTW My GP Doctor told me to avoid GMO) I also watch my sodium intake, with cooking everything myself I keep it at about 800 - 1000mg.GMO needs to be labeled we have a right to know what we are eating! I do research and try to keep up with it.
It was challenging at first to get used to all the changes but I am so used to it now, and my Husband lost 20 pounds even though he never looked like he needed to lose anything.
I went through a traumatic loss. My life long best friend died and I think I am still processing it. It was a shock and I was horrified, I cried every day many times per day for months, then I got really sick and ended up with a lung infection. I knew I wore myself to this. I was really ill and I knew I had to get a hold of myself so that I could heal. I am still processing this huge loss in my life but do not need or want a pill to help.
I think going through the Antidepressant nightmare has made me stronger than I ever knew but I will never forgot the physical pain (muscle pain, could not walk on uneven surfaces), bone pain, joint pain, head pain (electric zaps and aching skull, stomach pain and issues, restless legs at night, burning under the skin and face and more. Nor will I forget the mental anguish of withdrawal when I tapered too fast, extreme anxiety, panic, negative thoughts, intrusive thoughts, depression and mixtures of all or some of these.
I might be an extreme case, but I know there are those who are worse than me and some who were better. Who is to know which will be which, The FDA will not help and the Drug Companies are only concerned with profits. The system is so corrupt we do not have anyone that will stand up for us. We are expendable. More and more the truth will come out and all that had a hand in this will deny and avoid and will get away with destroying people for a profit.
All we can do is tell our stories and get the truth out there.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Warning! FDA Approves a New Pill Belviq (lorcaserin) and soon Qnexa® (phentermine and topiramate) for Weightloss
As a person that suffered 3.5 years of Antidepressant Withdrawal I just found out that the FDA has approved a new weight-loss pill and will approve another one sometime this month or next. As some of you might know, Antidepressants make the person pack on the weight, leaving the person with a huge weight-loss problem that will not budge until you get off the Antidepressant. Which one must do slowly and steady with 10 percent tapers every 3 to 6 weeks. Please see Paxilprogress.org for help with tapering safety.
During withdrawal my weight gain would not budge. It was not till after I was off the drug that weight-loss has started.
Now think about all the people who were trapped on their antidepressant, those who painstakingly slowly tapered off the drug to be left with a wrecked figure. And then they get this pill probably encouraged by their doctor. It really makes my stomach turn.
Before getting into into these medications I want to express my thoughts on weightloss, and I want to say it is all about exercise and healthy nutrition NOT pills or starvation. Please do not fall for this. There is no pill that will help you. Only hurt you further. The change takes place in your mind and your spirit not your stomach or brain. More about that later.
So the first one to get FDA approval is Belviq (lorcaserin).
This drug has serotonergic properties. what does that mean? Serotonergic or serotoninergic means "related to the neurotransmitter serotonin". A synapse is serotonergic if it uses serotonin as its neurotransmitter. A substance is serotonergic if it produces its effects via interactions with the serotonin system.
A serotonergic, or serotonergic agent, is any chemical which functions to enhance the effects mediated by serotonin in the central nervous system.
Does that sound familiar? Think about Antidepressants and how they affect the serotonin? After a very painful withdrawal would you want to have anything to do with any drug that affects the serotonin? If you found this Blog via search for Lexapro withdrawal or Antidepressant withdrawal then you know all about the horrible aspects of withdrawal and the weight gain. You know about the pain of withdrawal and want it over. Those symptoms you are going through or went through is the result of your brain trying to get back to "base" the whole thing is your brain coming back from a drug altered state to your normal state.
Now after all that this pill comes along to solve the weight problem? Well no actually this pill does not help, the average weight lost was only 7 pounds. Risk your brain and central nervous system for 7 pounds. Sounds ridiculous to me.
Next pill that is up to be approved is Qnexa® (phentermine and topiramate)
Topiramate otherwise known as Topamax
http://www.drugs.com/topamax.html
You may have thoughts about suicide while taking Topamax. Tell your doctor if you have new or worsening symptoms of depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts. Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits.
FDA pregnancy category D. Taking Topamax during pregnancy may increase the risk of cleft lip and/or cleft palate in the newborn. Do not start taking Topamax without telling your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Use effective birth control while you are taking Topamax.
If you need to stop taking Topamax for any reason, your doctor slowly tapers off your dosage to prevent seizures
Phentermine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phentermine
Drug may increase blood pressure and heart rate. It may also cause palpitations, restlessness, and insomnia. Additionally, phentermine has the potential to cause psychological dependence. After short term use, tolerance begins and can be followed by rebound weight gain.
Cardiovascular Effects
Palpitation, tachycardia, elevation of blood pressure.
Central Nervous System Effects
Overstimulation, restlessness, dizziness, insomnia, euphoria, dysphoria, tremor, headache.
Gastrointestinal Effects
Dryness of the mouth, unpleasant taste, diarrhea, constipation, other gastrointestinal disturbances.
Read more: Topamax Withdrawal Side Effects | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_5527603_topamax-withdrawal-side-effects.html#ixzz1zsh8nkbx
Well you can see why I wanted to post this warning especially for people that are withdrawing from thier Antidepressant or just finished and looking to lose the weight gained. This is no answer and to expose your already fragile Central Nervious System is just frightening,
As a fellow human being that went through this horrible withdrawal with no help from any Doctors I will never take any drug for any reason that affects any brain chemicals or receptors.
I am two months off and I can feel myself getting better and better everyday. I am already almost 20 pounds lighter. I went through all the emotions and worry about the weight and if it will ever budge. And I can tell you it does! I watch my calories according to my BMI and I exercise. Weight is one thing I do not do is worry about anymore and that is the key.
Food
Food is healing and when you care for yourself with good nutritious food and have your portions across the day (eat three times a day and have snacks) You will start to feel better and better. Good portions of fresh fruits and vegetables with lean protein and and low-fat dairy and you will be set.
One of my days of what I eat.
Breakfast - 1 serving of Kashi Cinnamon Harvest with a cup of skim milk and fresh blueberries.
coffee
Lunch - My favorite Omelette : 1/2 cup egg whites Chopped Tomatoes, Chopped Green Peppers, Swiss Cheese 1 Rye Toast with butter. 5 Fresh Strawberries.
Snack: Greek Yogurt with extra fresh fruit and a Tablespoon of granola.
Dinner: 4 oz of Trout, Sweet Peas, Raw Carrot Sticks and a Nectarine.
Snack: At least two hours before I go to bed. The Kashi cereal with fresh fruit or a Cliff bar and a cup of skim milk.
For some reason I prefer snacks after lunch and after dinner, this is just a normal day and because I am not taking Antidepressants I have zero abnormal cravings. I am not afraid of carbs, I like potatoes and pasta I just pay attention to portions and calories. I do have more of a challenge because I am tracking sodium also and that has to be kept under 1500mgs a day. So processed food even organic processed has salt.
So I mix my own spices to avoid salt and I cook everything from scratch. I do like cheese but limit it to Swiss and I pick out the less processed with the less salt.
I am still learning my way through this but have been doing this since my last Lexapro dose and I feel fantastic.
Exercise
I have found exercise to be a personal choice. Aerobic has always helped my withdrawal symptoms and eased my withdrawal pain, so I stick with it. I use a stationary bike. I also am targeting my upper muscles with dumbbell weights and I exercise with standard situps and side crunches. I add the weights with the bike and exercises 3 days a week and for 3 days I just do the bike and the sit ups and side crunches. My goal to have healthy larger muscles (I started out really slow).
Muscles protect the bones and the bones grow stronger. Added Muscles also burn more calories. I have read a few different books and what interested me was having muscles and when at rest, burns more calories at rest than only aerobic exercises. Meaning I burn more calories while resting for 30 mins than if I ride my bike for 30 mins if I had never exercise and built up my muscles.
Muscles are more dense than fat so the weight will not go down as fast, but you will see the difference and feel the difference. It wards off depression and give you lots of energy. Taking care of you muscles means you exercise them and you feed them good food. Getting a low calorie Whey protein drink really helps also. I drink 100 calorie powder after a weight session, all that protein goes right to the muscle.
Speaking of buring calories ... after working out your muscles you stay in the calorie buring mode well after 24 hours. So as you watch tv or on the computer or while you sleep you are still burning calories!
All I did was go to a used sports and exercise equipment store and buy the dumbbells 3 pounder to 10 pounder sets. I did pick up a weight bench and am planing on getting regular weights and a bar. But for right now I am happy with what I am doing. Hey, best thing about weights is that there are no parts you have to worry about breaking down! Unlike machines your body moves freely and it is harder for your muscles to become too used to the movement. You can change you movements and the weights will always be useful.
I started slow and worked my way up. Adding mins on the bike and adding weight to the dumbbells. I did start while I was in withdrawal and kept reminding myself that once I was off I will see results.
Now my normal routine is the bike 30 mins and the exercise and weights 30 mins, so that is 60 mins every other day, and 45 mins on the no weight days for a total of 6 days a week. I know sounds hard, but not really I gotten used to it, I started slow and eventually worked my way up, I am used to it and I find I can carve out an hour a day with no problems. Sometimes I do that hour at night and sometimes when I wake up but I have to tell you, this is so worth it. I think I would have lost weight without the changes but I know the changes will really boost me into what I want to be.
After the Antidepressant you will have the new found energy and positivity!
During withdrawal my weight gain would not budge. It was not till after I was off the drug that weight-loss has started.
Now think about all the people who were trapped on their antidepressant, those who painstakingly slowly tapered off the drug to be left with a wrecked figure. And then they get this pill probably encouraged by their doctor. It really makes my stomach turn.
Before getting into into these medications I want to express my thoughts on weightloss, and I want to say it is all about exercise and healthy nutrition NOT pills or starvation. Please do not fall for this. There is no pill that will help you. Only hurt you further. The change takes place in your mind and your spirit not your stomach or brain. More about that later.
So the first one to get FDA approval is Belviq (lorcaserin).
This drug has serotonergic properties. what does that mean? Serotonergic or serotoninergic means "related to the neurotransmitter serotonin". A synapse is serotonergic if it uses serotonin as its neurotransmitter. A substance is serotonergic if it produces its effects via interactions with the serotonin system.
A serotonergic, or serotonergic agent, is any chemical which functions to enhance the effects mediated by serotonin in the central nervous system.
Does that sound familiar? Think about Antidepressants and how they affect the serotonin? After a very painful withdrawal would you want to have anything to do with any drug that affects the serotonin? If you found this Blog via search for Lexapro withdrawal or Antidepressant withdrawal then you know all about the horrible aspects of withdrawal and the weight gain. You know about the pain of withdrawal and want it over. Those symptoms you are going through or went through is the result of your brain trying to get back to "base" the whole thing is your brain coming back from a drug altered state to your normal state.
Now after all that this pill comes along to solve the weight problem? Well no actually this pill does not help, the average weight lost was only 7 pounds. Risk your brain and central nervous system for 7 pounds. Sounds ridiculous to me.
Next pill that is up to be approved is Qnexa® (phentermine and topiramate)
Topiramate otherwise known as Topamax
http://www.drugs.com/topamax.html
You may have thoughts about suicide while taking Topamax. Tell your doctor if you have new or worsening symptoms of depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts. Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits.
FDA pregnancy category D. Taking Topamax during pregnancy may increase the risk of cleft lip and/or cleft palate in the newborn. Do not start taking Topamax without telling your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Use effective birth control while you are taking Topamax.
If you need to stop taking Topamax for any reason, your doctor slowly tapers off your dosage to prevent seizures
Phentermine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phentermine
Drug may increase blood pressure and heart rate. It may also cause palpitations, restlessness, and insomnia. Additionally, phentermine has the potential to cause psychological dependence. After short term use, tolerance begins and can be followed by rebound weight gain.
Cardiovascular Effects
Palpitation, tachycardia, elevation of blood pressure.
Central Nervous System Effects
Overstimulation, restlessness, dizziness, insomnia, euphoria, dysphoria, tremor, headache.
Gastrointestinal Effects
Dryness of the mouth, unpleasant taste, diarrhea, constipation, other gastrointestinal disturbances.
Read more: Topamax Withdrawal Side Effects | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_5527603_topamax-withdrawal-side-effects.html#ixzz1zsh8nkbx
Well you can see why I wanted to post this warning especially for people that are withdrawing from thier Antidepressant or just finished and looking to lose the weight gained. This is no answer and to expose your already fragile Central Nervious System is just frightening,
As a fellow human being that went through this horrible withdrawal with no help from any Doctors I will never take any drug for any reason that affects any brain chemicals or receptors.
I am two months off and I can feel myself getting better and better everyday. I am already almost 20 pounds lighter. I went through all the emotions and worry about the weight and if it will ever budge. And I can tell you it does! I watch my calories according to my BMI and I exercise. Weight is one thing I do not do is worry about anymore and that is the key.
Food
Food is healing and when you care for yourself with good nutritious food and have your portions across the day (eat three times a day and have snacks) You will start to feel better and better. Good portions of fresh fruits and vegetables with lean protein and and low-fat dairy and you will be set.
One of my days of what I eat.
Breakfast - 1 serving of Kashi Cinnamon Harvest with a cup of skim milk and fresh blueberries.
coffee
Lunch - My favorite Omelette : 1/2 cup egg whites Chopped Tomatoes, Chopped Green Peppers, Swiss Cheese 1 Rye Toast with butter. 5 Fresh Strawberries.
Snack: Greek Yogurt with extra fresh fruit and a Tablespoon of granola.
Dinner: 4 oz of Trout, Sweet Peas, Raw Carrot Sticks and a Nectarine.
Snack: At least two hours before I go to bed. The Kashi cereal with fresh fruit or a Cliff bar and a cup of skim milk.
For some reason I prefer snacks after lunch and after dinner, this is just a normal day and because I am not taking Antidepressants I have zero abnormal cravings. I am not afraid of carbs, I like potatoes and pasta I just pay attention to portions and calories. I do have more of a challenge because I am tracking sodium also and that has to be kept under 1500mgs a day. So processed food even organic processed has salt.
So I mix my own spices to avoid salt and I cook everything from scratch. I do like cheese but limit it to Swiss and I pick out the less processed with the less salt.
I am still learning my way through this but have been doing this since my last Lexapro dose and I feel fantastic.
Exercise
I have found exercise to be a personal choice. Aerobic has always helped my withdrawal symptoms and eased my withdrawal pain, so I stick with it. I use a stationary bike. I also am targeting my upper muscles with dumbbell weights and I exercise with standard situps and side crunches. I add the weights with the bike and exercises 3 days a week and for 3 days I just do the bike and the sit ups and side crunches. My goal to have healthy larger muscles (I started out really slow).
Muscles protect the bones and the bones grow stronger. Added Muscles also burn more calories. I have read a few different books and what interested me was having muscles and when at rest, burns more calories at rest than only aerobic exercises. Meaning I burn more calories while resting for 30 mins than if I ride my bike for 30 mins if I had never exercise and built up my muscles.
Muscles are more dense than fat so the weight will not go down as fast, but you will see the difference and feel the difference. It wards off depression and give you lots of energy. Taking care of you muscles means you exercise them and you feed them good food. Getting a low calorie Whey protein drink really helps also. I drink 100 calorie powder after a weight session, all that protein goes right to the muscle.
Speaking of buring calories ... after working out your muscles you stay in the calorie buring mode well after 24 hours. So as you watch tv or on the computer or while you sleep you are still burning calories!
All I did was go to a used sports and exercise equipment store and buy the dumbbells 3 pounder to 10 pounder sets. I did pick up a weight bench and am planing on getting regular weights and a bar. But for right now I am happy with what I am doing. Hey, best thing about weights is that there are no parts you have to worry about breaking down! Unlike machines your body moves freely and it is harder for your muscles to become too used to the movement. You can change you movements and the weights will always be useful.
I started slow and worked my way up. Adding mins on the bike and adding weight to the dumbbells. I did start while I was in withdrawal and kept reminding myself that once I was off I will see results.
Now my normal routine is the bike 30 mins and the exercise and weights 30 mins, so that is 60 mins every other day, and 45 mins on the no weight days for a total of 6 days a week. I know sounds hard, but not really I gotten used to it, I started slow and eventually worked my way up, I am used to it and I find I can carve out an hour a day with no problems. Sometimes I do that hour at night and sometimes when I wake up but I have to tell you, this is so worth it. I think I would have lost weight without the changes but I know the changes will really boost me into what I want to be.
After the Antidepressant you will have the new found energy and positivity!
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Klonopin
It has been about 40 days since my last Lexapro dose. I am happy to say that all is well with that.
However I have started my Klonopin tapering.
I feel very naive in that I did all this research in Antidepressant withdrawal and tapering and just thought the Klonopin taper and withdrawal would be simple and a minor inconvenience.
I started my first cut of 10percent. day 3 to 11 was not very pleasant. Lots of head pressure just like AD withdrawal. Restless Leg Syndrome and a bout of insomnia.
What is different? No muscle pain as of yet.
I was upset to have to go through this again. But I am getting over it and am not going into this with any gloom or doom. It will be over once and for all and that will be a great day.
However I have started my Klonopin tapering.
I feel very naive in that I did all this research in Antidepressant withdrawal and tapering and just thought the Klonopin taper and withdrawal would be simple and a minor inconvenience.
I started my first cut of 10percent. day 3 to 11 was not very pleasant. Lots of head pressure just like AD withdrawal. Restless Leg Syndrome and a bout of insomnia.
What is different? No muscle pain as of yet.
I was upset to have to go through this again. But I am getting over it and am not going into this with any gloom or doom. It will be over once and for all and that will be a great day.
Friday, June 15, 2012
26 days off
I still feel great! 26 lovely days. No it had not been perfect, but feel normal and I feel good mentally.
Weight
I have lost 8 pounds. I didn't think this was a significant amount to post, but for 14 months of the 6 days a week workouts including aerobic, exercises and strength training with weights and nothing budged during all of that. Then to finally get Lexapro out of my system and now an amount has shifted. So this is a good sign and is a good motivator.
Foods and Cravings
This one is so weird, not long after I stopped my last dose of Lexapro I found any cravings being less intense. Now I don't really get them. During my tapering Lexapro, I was also tapering coffee. However now I do not crave coffee at all. I noticed that I had a craving for it and now that I do not take Lexapro I do not crave coffee.
Anxiety and Panic
Since my last dose of Lexapro I have not had any anxiety or panic. I feel calm. During the last few weeks of my taper and up t o now I have had problems with my blood pressure. I started to take a medication and had an unpleasant reaction and then was left off and was waiting for the next step, my Blood pressure shot up and I felt sick and concerned.
I have to say normally I would have freaked out. But I didn't I calmly made appointments, talked to the Doctor, keep records of blood pressure reading. Now I am on a very very low dose of an Ace inhibitor and I am waiting to see if this works and yet I am not freaking out. So I wonder after I was given these drugs for grief, did the drugs cause the Anxiety and panic and then I was re-diagnosed with panic disorder?
Sure there were moments I was scared because of the strange pressure in the head and the head spins. But I had no negative thoughts or overblown reactions. I felt in control and concerned and I guess normal?
This is just a window of how I am feeling post Lexapro.
What is Next.
I am giving my brain a little rest, maybe a month before I venture back into withdrawal (not looking forward to this)
I am going to continuing with the exercising plan I started 14 months ago. Aerobics (spin bike daily) exercises (sit-ups and side crunches) and weights. Weights every other day, Aerobics and exercises 6 days a week. Is this too much or too little? I don't know it is what I have built myself up to. I am now using 8 pound dumbbells soon to move on to 10 pounds.
Sit-ups 60 six days a week with 120 side crunches 6 days a week,
The Spin bike is such a great bike! I ride six days a week for 30 mins. It really helped me with all my withdraw symptoms. I think the combo of what I am doing is a good one and am planning on adding new and mixing it up.
I am just so grateful to get to the end and see life without Antidepressants. The secret is in the slow taper.
Weight
I have lost 8 pounds. I didn't think this was a significant amount to post, but for 14 months of the 6 days a week workouts including aerobic, exercises and strength training with weights and nothing budged during all of that. Then to finally get Lexapro out of my system and now an amount has shifted. So this is a good sign and is a good motivator.
Foods and Cravings
This one is so weird, not long after I stopped my last dose of Lexapro I found any cravings being less intense. Now I don't really get them. During my tapering Lexapro, I was also tapering coffee. However now I do not crave coffee at all. I noticed that I had a craving for it and now that I do not take Lexapro I do not crave coffee.
Anxiety and Panic
Since my last dose of Lexapro I have not had any anxiety or panic. I feel calm. During the last few weeks of my taper and up t o now I have had problems with my blood pressure. I started to take a medication and had an unpleasant reaction and then was left off and was waiting for the next step, my Blood pressure shot up and I felt sick and concerned.
I have to say normally I would have freaked out. But I didn't I calmly made appointments, talked to the Doctor, keep records of blood pressure reading. Now I am on a very very low dose of an Ace inhibitor and I am waiting to see if this works and yet I am not freaking out. So I wonder after I was given these drugs for grief, did the drugs cause the Anxiety and panic and then I was re-diagnosed with panic disorder?
Sure there were moments I was scared because of the strange pressure in the head and the head spins. But I had no negative thoughts or overblown reactions. I felt in control and concerned and I guess normal?
This is just a window of how I am feeling post Lexapro.
What is Next.
I am giving my brain a little rest, maybe a month before I venture back into withdrawal (not looking forward to this)
I am going to continuing with the exercising plan I started 14 months ago. Aerobics (spin bike daily) exercises (sit-ups and side crunches) and weights. Weights every other day, Aerobics and exercises 6 days a week. Is this too much or too little? I don't know it is what I have built myself up to. I am now using 8 pound dumbbells soon to move on to 10 pounds.
Sit-ups 60 six days a week with 120 side crunches 6 days a week,
The Spin bike is such a great bike! I ride six days a week for 30 mins. It really helped me with all my withdraw symptoms. I think the combo of what I am doing is a good one and am planning on adding new and mixing it up.
I am just so grateful to get to the end and see life without Antidepressants. The secret is in the slow taper.
