Posted by Jim Thompson on October 30, 2003, at 20:35:18
In reply to Weird Hot Flashes Prickly Arms, posted by Scribbler on October 30, 2003, at 20:05:35
After about four years of Anxiety and eventually Panic Attacks, I decided to see someone and was diagnosed with Panic Disorder. I started with Celexa 10mg (Summer 2002) and was brought up to 60mg within a month. I complained that I was extremely tired and had completely lost my sex drive. So I was switched to Lexapro. Within a month or two I was feeling a bit more normal. I landed at 20mg of Lexapro which I took for 9 months.
My early side effects also included the hot flashes described below (man those freaked me out) which usually would result in panic (thank you Ativan). I started gaining weight (30 lbs. total in 9 months) and still had sex drive issues but it was better than daily Panic Attacks. My wife helped me through it and understood. By the early summer I felt the need to step down from 20mg and started breaking my pills in half. I took 10mg for two months then broke THOSE in half and took 5mg (+/- a few mg) for the last 45 days or so. I finally stopped one week ago with doc's approval.
For the last three days I have felt the "zaps" running through my head and a little dizziness. I am hopeful that any withdrawl effects will cease within the next week. I am hoping through meditation I can ease my ongoing anxiety level. My sex drive has increased a bit in the last two months although it is nothing like it was a year or two ago. It is hard going through a wedding and honeymoon with no interest in having sex.
I originally found this site when searching for SSRI withdrawl, and have been comforted and scared by some of the things I have read. Like many of you, I can't stand the idea of taking such an intense medication for the rest of my life.
>> Hey, I'm on Day #18 and today my arms were tingly off and on but tonight I'm having these strange hot flashes that start on my chest and extend down through my arms -- really hot, like burning, and then they go away (and come back again). Anyone else ever experience this?
poster:Jim Thompson
thread:109458
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031030/msgs/275105.html