Hi all, Before I was dxed with Lyme, I asked my GP for something for general anxiety. It was very bad and I was having a hard time coping. He put me on Lexapro, stating that it was "safe and non-addictive and wouldn't leave me worse than before whenever I wanted to go off it". Of course, he was quoting the drug reps.
I was on it for almost 7 years. Last fall, I decided to go off it as it had been a long time, was getting more and more expensive and I really thought I would be better off not taking it anymore.
I weaned myself very slowly for months. By the end of January, I was totally off it. Then began the horrible emotional roller coaster! Ok, so I realized that I was having withdrawal. Head zings were the least of it.
I would cry over anything/everything. I could not cope with even the slightest annoyance let alone anything big. The big stuff was pushing me over the edge.
My biggest problem is it is now almost 9 months later and I still have the worst coping problems. The anxiety has been back in force and I cannot handle ANY emotional thing. Still in withdrawal???
I have been using herbal calmers/antidepressants and they help but only to take a very small edge off. I still have head zings, by the way.
I read an article recently that said Lyme patients who take antidepressants/anxiety meds are typically worse when they go off them. I guess this is another vote for "yes, I do have Lyme" although there hasn't really been any question about it since I was dxed.
My questions are: Is there anything I can do short of going back on the nasty prescription meds? And do any of you guys have this same problem and if so, how do you handle it?
Thanks in advance!
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
UGH!! Sounds awful!!
I doubt I can ever get off the trazodone I take. I've tried .. got way down to nearly nothing and then got depressed.
So .. choose your poison, I guess.
Posted by JAC (Member # 34240) on :
I have been on abx for about 3 months and was able to totally wean myself off 13 yrs of anxiety medication. I truly think the abx helped. I still take an antidepressant that relieves anxiety but no anxiety medication anymore.
I don't know any that are not really addictive except maybe Buspar.
An antidepressant would take the edge off it as well. It just stinks having to take anything at all! You have to do whats best for your body to be able to function and heal properly.