Hi everyone, new to the forum was previously on SA. Sorry I havnt done an intro I will get back to that.

Right now I’m in desperate need of some help I’m currently tapering lexapro and are at a dose of 2.9mg

I’m not great but much better then I was when I was in full blown withdrawal after to fast of tapper several times.

I’m currently laying in a hospital bed with a compound fracture.

I’m terrified of taking any medications these days as I’ve been so sensitive to everything. So far I have not accepted any pain relief but it’s starting to become un bearable. I need to go to surgery to have my break set and pinned back together. I am absolutely terrified the anathesia will send me back into full blown withdrawal and akathisia. I can’t go back there! What do I do? Has anybody had any experience with this.

I might add I have never had issues with pain killers or anesthesia before WD

Hi new to forum I was previously on SA it really helped me early on in my journey when I had no idea what was happening to me and the medical professionals wouldn’t believe me.

I’ll write up a proper back story soon

But right now I’m in desperate need of some help and advice. I have come off my bike and have a very nasty brake in my collarbone.

Dr have sent me home for now but I will require surgery in next day or two to set and pin.

I’m so scared of pharma drugs and have not taken any in 3 plus years no alcohol nothing.

They’ve sent me home with oxycodone which I havnt taken yet but the pain is starting to be un bearable. I’m so scared of having anathesia I’m worried it will send me into a spiral of full blown withdrawal and akathisia. I can’t go back there

What do I do, doesn’t look like avoiding surgery is an option. Do I take the pain meds?

Appreciate any help.

Welcome to the forum!

 

This is a volunteer-run, community forum aimed at helping those who are tapering and/or experiencing difficulties with psychiatric medications and withdrawl syndrome. We are not medical professionals and cannot offer medical advice. We simply offer support and opinions which you could use as talking points with a medical provider knowledgeable in withdrawing off psychiatric medications.

 

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11 hours ago, Pedro said:

Hi new to forum I was previously on SA it really helped me early on in my journey when I had no idea what was happening to me and the medical professionals wouldn’t believe me.

Hey, good to have your here. This is very common, I am glad SA was able to support you at this time.

11 hours ago, Pedro said:

I’ll write up a proper back story soon

But right now I’m in desperate need of some help and advice. I have come off my bike and have a very nasty brake in my collarbone.

No rush, I am sorry to hear this. Motorbike or pedal bike?

11 hours ago, Pedro said:

Dr have sent me home for now but I will require surgery in next day or two to set and pin.

Glad you are home now. Better there then in a hospital.

11 hours ago, Pedro said:

I’m so scared of pharma drugs and have not taken any in 3 plus years no alcohol nothing.

I get that. Me too tbh.

11 hours ago, Pedro said:

They’ve sent me home with oxycodone which I havnt taken yet but the pain is starting to be un bearable. I’m so scared of having anathesia I’m worried it will send me into a spiral of full blown withdrawal and akathisia. I can’t go back there

I am sorry. This is a tough call. We don't know how you will react but as oxycodone is psycoactive I would personally do everything you can not to take it. Perhaps something less strong if you need it.

11 hours ago, Pedro said:

What do I do, doesn’t look like avoiding surgery is an option.

If you have to have surgery then you must. Some people in WD have surgery and have no problems at all, of course there is always a possibility it might set you back, but if you can't avoid it then you just have to take that risk. Don't forget, whatever happens your body will recover from it! It's amazing!

 

In the mean time this is what I would do if I were you:

 

-Stay Hydrated 

 

-Eat a good clean whole food diet, avoiding processed foods and sugars.

 

-Stay away from caffeine, alcohol and antihistamines and any other psychoactive substances.

 

Supplements are to be avoided initially, as they often irritate our nervous systems. Try to get your nutrition through food.

 

Down the line, you may wish to introduce Fish Oil and Magnesium. Those who can tolerate them have found them calming to the nervous system. Be careful try one at a time and start low and see how you get on should you choose to try them.

 

A daily walk is very important as much as you can manage, if you can manage it. Gets you your fresh air and Vitamin D does wonders for your mind!

 

You are very welcome here and I hope you find the site supportive.

Thanks @Chippy

I’m not very technologically advanced hence the double post.

Plenty of time on my hands write now so here’s my story

In 2012 I went to my Gp with general anxiety and a bit of depression. Probably nothing out of the norm for a 22 year old man still trying to work life out

Straight away I was told I needed some medication to help balance the chemicals in my brain and was prescribed paroxetine I cannot remember the dose now. I took this for a couple years but decided I didn’t like who it turned me into. I’d pushed my friends away was taking a lot of risks and just didn’t care about anything or anyone. Went back to prescribing doctor who said “if you want to stop just stop so this is what I did. Within a week all hell broke loose and after several doctors visits and psychiatrist appointments I ended up being convinced it was just my anxiety back and that I’d probably need to take something for the rest of my life. You know the whole chemical imbalance lie. So after a very short stint of cymbalta I ended up on 10mg of lexapro

A decade later and a few unexplained health problems like BP, Cholestrole and fertility issues I decided to stop. I had a little more knowledge at this stage so I tapered the original dose by quarters every fortnight. I got down to zero waited for the shit to hit the fan and it never did, I had 4-5 months of pure bliss best I’d felt in a very long time and all my mysterious health problems disappeared. I felt emotions for the first time since I was 22 years old. Then it hit like a ton of bricks. Extreme anxiety panic attacks, feelings in my head I just can’t explain. Extreme terror.

Went back to the doctor, once again got fed same story of you just need to be on meds just like a diabetic needs insulin.

I reinstated the lex and overnight everything went away. I persisted on the lex for another 6 months and decided I was a zombie again and there’s no way I’m living like this for rest of my life.

Still not knowing each time had been withdrawal I tapered back off with the same 1/4 reduction method. Once again I was drug free and feeling great and once again several months later full blown withdrawal struck again. This time I was adamant I wasn’t going back on the drugs. I white knuckled for months on end and then it just got to much so I reinstated the lexapro. But this time it didn’t get better, it got worse much worse. Full blown akathisia to this day I still can’t describe the experience in any way that does it justice. Over the next fortnight and many doctor and ER visits I went on and off the drugs 3 times. On the fourth time I was threatened with involuntary admission to hospital if I couldn’t get back on the drugs on my own. I weaned back in very slowly past my original dose up to 12.5mg

This is when I stumbled along SA and managed to get several appointments with dr mark horowitz. He taught me that what I’d been going through wasn’t an incurable problem with me that it was withdrawal from the drugs. It makes me so made that this could have all been avoided had I got the right advice over a decade ago when stopping the paroxetine or better yet having been given full informed consent I would have never taken it to begin with.

So I tapered down slowly 10% a month using some scales and a pill cutter. After I reached 5mg I transition over to a liquid version of lexapro where I started using the slide method of tapering 10% each month with 2.5% reduction weekly.

That brings me to today where I am at 2.9mg of lexapro. I had actually been holding for the last 4 weeks as I had become a little off after a bit of a dosage mix up. I was just coming out the other side when this damn motorbike accident has happened.

I guess I will continue to hold for the foreseeable future.

I currently take magnesium and cod liver oil nightly. As well as creatine each morning

I havnt had alcohol in 3 years. I do seem to be able to tolerate caffeine again currently having 2 coffee each day. All though sometimes I know this causes my symptoms to uptick so I just monitor this as needed.

The only blessing to all this is it has opened my eyes to all the lies and poison in the food and health industry.

We eat a completely clean diet wit zero preservatives, artificial additives or sugar.

Mostly organic. My family has adopted this with me and they are all so healthy.

I’m currently still waiting for the hospital to call with a surgery booking. I ended up taking a couple half doses of the oxycodone and one full dose last night. ( my collar bone is splintered into 5 different pieces) the pain was just getting to be to much and I had been going into shock. So far I havnt had a bad reaction to it. How ever today I havnt had any and I do feel rather panicked, I’m wonder if now the sedative effect has worn off if ill see some issues. I guess my body and mind have also been under extreme stress the last couple days and I’m still terrified about having to be put asleep and wether or not that will derail me.

Even though I’m still struggling through withdrawal and nowhere near ok I’m so so much better then I was in those dark times of not knowing what was happening being forced in and off the meds, As I said earlier and I’m sure almost everyone here can relate. I’m not going back there I don’t think I could id rather deal with this physical pain of the broken bone then go back there.

4 hours ago, Pedro said:

Thanks @Chippy

I’m not very technologically advanced hence the double post.

Pleasure.

4 hours ago, Pedro said:

In 2012 I went to my Gp with general anxiety and a bit of depression. Probably nothing out of the norm for a 22 year old man still trying to work life out

Straight away I was told I needed some medication to help balance the chemicals in my brain and was prescribed paroxetine I cannot remember the dose now.

Such a common story, all supported by the chemical imbalance lie/myth.

4 hours ago, Pedro said:

That brings me to today where I am at 2.9mg of lexapro. I had actually been holding for the last 4 weeks as I had become a little off after a bit of a dosage mix up. I was just coming out the other side when this damn motorbike accident has happened.

I guess I will continue to hold for the foreseeable future.

Sorry to read, fellow ex-biker here. I was lucky and never came off on the road. It puts me off getting back on tbh! I miss it.

Holding till you feel better is a good idea 100%

4 hours ago, Pedro said:

I havnt had alcohol in 3 years. I do seem to be able to tolerate caffeine again currently having 2 coffee each day. All though sometimes I know this causes my symptoms to uptick so I just monitor this as needed.

This is good. Some can tolerate Coffee and find it actually helps their symptoms. I personally avoid it, but we are all different. Most important thind is low slow and careful with the nervous system. No sudden changes. If you notice an up tick in symptoms ease your intake down rather than reduce too quickly. I would also try to drink the same amount each day and just reduce that rather than jump cups about. I know it sounds a bit extreme but it is a drug too.

4 hours ago, Pedro said:

The only blessing to all this is it has opened my eyes to all the lies and poison in the food and health industry.

We all feel like this. Like an awakening in general. I think once we recover we will have super powers tbh!

4 hours ago, Pedro said:

We eat a completely clean diet wit zero preservatives, artificial additives or sugar.

Mostly organic. My family has adopted this with me and they are all so healthy.

Amazing. Perfect. And another 'benefit' of having to endure all of this.

4 hours ago, Pedro said:

’m currently still waiting for the hospital to call with a surgery booking. I ended up taking a couple half doses of the oxycodone and one full dose last night. ( my collar bone is splintered into 5 different pieces) the pain was just getting to be to much and I had been going into shock. So far I havnt had a bad reaction to it. How ever today I havnt had any and I do feel rather panicked, I’m wonder if now the sedative effect has worn off if ill see some issues. I guess my body and mind have also been under extreme stress the last couple days and I’m still terrified about having to be put asleep and wether or not that will derail me.

I feel terrible for you, that you have to deal with all this ontop of a taper/WD. You have to do what you need in the moment. Listen to your body, take as little as you can, have the surgery and then trust your system to cope with the stress. It can, just give it as little as possible.

I find in WD, change what you can and accept the rest is a good general rule of thumb. No good comes from worry about something that is out of your control.

4 hours ago, Pedro said:

Even though I’m still struggling through withdrawal and nowhere near ok I’m so so much better then I was in those dark times of not knowing what was happening being forced in and off the meds, As I said earlier and I’m sure almost everyone here can relate. I’m not going back there I don’t think I could id rather deal with this physical pain of the broken bone then go back there.

Glad you found us, we all totally get it.

I wish you a speedy recovery.

Chippy

10 hours ago, Pedro said:

Straight away I was told I needed some medication to help balance the chemicals in my brain and was prescribed paroxetine

10 hours ago, Pedro said:

I ended up being convinced it was just my anxiety back and that I’d probably need to take something for the rest of my life.

Hi Pedro, sorry to hear about your situation. I was also prescribed paroxetine, took it for a year in total. After two weeks off, I started experiencing severe anxiety almost non-stop for 3 days and was told for the first time that it was a chemical imbalance, more specifically very low serotonin, and that that was the reason for my anxiety and depressed-like symptoms.

My doctor also said that there was no shame in having to take this for the rest of my life. I was speechless and a bit shocked. She recommended me to go back to paroxetine but I didn't want to and asked for a different AD and so I was prescribed escitalopram.

Wishing you a good and speedy recovery.

I have read that propofol seems to be the safest for most dealing with withdrawal..I personally would avoid any opioids.

You want to talk to the anesthesiologist about your concerns. You can say you don't want epinephrine...it can cause anxiety. Also say absolutely no methylene blue or maoi's.

Tramadol, fentanyl and meperidine are also problematic.

Use a drug checker if possible to see any contraindications before trying something.

If you need pain relief, short term OTC like Advil might be the better option.

This is what AI says:

General anesthesia is generally not contraindicated with Lexapro (escitalopram). However, some anesthetics require caution or dosage adjustments to avoid complications. Certain pain medications also require careful monitoring to prevent a dangerous drug interaction.Anesthetic ConsiderationsWhile general anesthesia is typically manageable for those taking Lexapro, medical teams often monitor for specific physiological interactions:QT-Interval Monitoring: Certain inhalation anesthetics, including desflurane, isoflurane, and sevoflurane, may influence heart rhythms. Anesthesiologists often monitor the QT interval during procedures to ensure cardiovascular stability.Adrenergic Interactions: Local anesthetics that include vasoconstrictors like epinephrine are generally used with caution. This allows medical providers to monitor hemodynamics and prevent sudden changes in blood pressure.Contraindicated Compounds: Lexapro is strictly contraindicated with Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) due to the risk of severe reactions. Some surgical agents, such as intravenous methylene blue, can possess MAOI-like activity and are typically avoided.Pain Management InteractionsSerotonergic Activity: Combining Lexapro with certain opioids that possess serotonergic activity—such as tramadol, meperidine, or fentanyl—may increase the risk of serotonin syndrome, a serious condition characterized by excess serotonin levels. Clinical teams may prioritize non-serotonergic analgesics to mitigate this risk.Bleeding Risk and NSAIDs: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Lexapro can affect platelet function. Using them alongside Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin may further increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.Acetaminophen Use: Acetaminophen is frequently cited as a compatible alternative for minor pain relief because it does not share the same bleeding or serotonergic risks associated with NSAIDs or certain opioids.

Edited July 14Jul 14 by LostinCanada

I found this thread in SA which has had some helpful info in it

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/forums/topic/3441-surgery-and-anesthesia/

Still waiting for hospital to call and Havnt been given a date yet

The waiting and worrying is the worse.

I was really reluctant to take the oxycodone, I have taken as little as possible to get me through I’m ok so far hopefully in a couple days as it leaves my system i don’t have any issues.

It’s just so amazing how much harder life is due to withdrawal. I’ve had so many broken bones and surgery’s In the past from sports injuries and never thought twice about them just got on with it and hammered the pain killers like lollies.

Tried uploading a screenshot of X-ray but it says file is to large

4 hours ago, Pedro said:

Tried uploading a screenshot of X-ray but it says file is to large

We have an upload limit to keep the site file size low. You just have to use an app or something to reduce file sizes before uploading.

Hi Pedro,

I’m so sorry to hear of your story, it’s criminal that the medical system does not recognise withdrawal but I’m so glad you found SA and Mark H.

Please try and stay calm about the surgery, it is a necessary task so that you can live free from pain in the longer run. I have a surgery that is booked in for next Friday and have spent extensive time researching. I have yet to find a single case of anyone who reacted badly to Propofol, and I have trawled the akathesia groups . I’ve also seen that oxycodone is widely tolerated with no ill effects and many people get on okay with OTC pain relief.

The issues with surgery seem to come from 3 things, epinephrine, anti sickness medication, and steroids. If possible, these should all be avoided. Some opioids also, but oxy seems well tolerated. Please check in to let us know how you get on, I will be thinking of you as I’ll be in your shoes shortly! Though a much lesser surgery. All the best, G

Edited July 16Jul 16 by SparklingG

So I’ve ended up having the surgery to fix my broken bone nearly 5 weeks after the initial incident.

I’m currently back in the ward post op and have been for a few hours. Currently I’m ok I guess I feel weird but ok.

The pre-op was one of the nervous I’ve ever been solely due to worrying about how the drugs would affect me I was ok with the procedure itself. ( never had any surgery issues pre withdrawal )

I managed to have a good discussion with anesthesiologist prior to procedure, whilst he listened He also didn’t really acknowledge/understand antidepressant withdrawal. I did ask for propofol which he said he uses any way. I asked strictly no ketamine or fluoroquinolones. I can’t remember if we talked about fentanyl, I did mention I was worried about anti nausea meds but I completely forgot about steroids.

So reading my post op report looks like they used propofol as per request but have also added in fentanyl, an anti nausea medication and a steroid.

I did agree to one dose of antibiotics pre-op ( they did just cut me open

And screw a foreign body into my bone) but have denied any post op doses unless infection presents.

Earlier in the evening in my room I got very panicked and emotional but that seems to have past and now just don’t feel right. This could be from the drugs or it could be from the ridiculous stress I put myself through post op worrying about things the last 24hrs.

I’m hoping things will begin to settle by tomorrow, being a worrier I’m scared that they may decline as things wear off completely. I guess only time will tell

@SparklingG how did you get on after your procedure

Thanks for the update @Pedro good you have the surgery now behind you. Sounds like you did all you could to mitigate risk. Good work mate!

Your nervous system is wobbly I wouldn't judge how you reacted to a stressful situation too much, hard to deal with all of what you have been through in a non WD state let alone in one! I think you are very brave and strong tbh!

Be easy in your mind, trust your body to recover from the surgery, try and avoid worrying about the future, just one day at a time.

Hey @Pedro

How is it going? Recovering okay? I’ve recently seen someone in WD have a full hip replacement and got on just fine! Hope you are keeping well?

My procedure has been pushed back to the 28th, wish me luck. I’m also very worried.

@SparklingG 5 days post op now, feeling much better. Still feel a little panicked and unsettled but I’m sure this will continue to improve as time goes on. Like I said I’m sure a lot of this is due to the huge amounts of worry/stress I put on myself pre op. I know it’s so hard not to worry, the procedure was not a concern at all, all my worry was with WD and the drugs administered during the surgery.

I’m sure you will be. As you stated earlier your all over what drugs will be the most problematic. Make sure you get an appointment to talk with your anesthetist prior to the procedure and have all your information and concerns ready.( if I could go back I would be much more prepared for this appointment).

All the best