My Lexapro Story

By Dr. Erika M. Karohs

The prelude to my Lexapro story was being diagnosed with hypothyroidism and being treated by a well meaning but horrifically misinformed doctor with Levothyroxine, today’s standard thyroid treatment. I was told that I would be taking this for the rest of my life because, from a thyroid standpoint, there was nothing else a doctor could do.

Unfortunately, at that time, I was completely naïve about the thyroid and especially the dangers of thyroxine (T4) treatment only. I didn’t know about desiccated thyroid like Armour or Naturthroid (which could have provide the same hormones that a healthy thyroid would give). Otherwise, my four-year nightmare might never have started. As it was, I went from one uninformed doctor to another, only to be left undertreated, tired, miserable, anxious, and exhausted to the bone.

One of my greatest roadblocks was my doctors’ overreliance on the inconclusive TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) test results. In 2007, my doctor concluded that my TSH tests were within range; accordingly, my symptoms could no longer have anything to do with being hypothyroid. Consequently, I needed other medications to treat these “non-thyroid” symptoms. I was started on Clonazepam and 10 mg of Lexapro and, as fatigue and anxiety kept getting worse, Lexapro was raised to 20 mg. That was the start of four years of plain hell.

At the start of the Lexapro treatment, I was fatigued and anxious, yes, but basically, I was living a normal life and doing all of my everyday things.  I was walking and driving, and my cholesterol, glucose, and blood pressure were all in the normal range. At 5’2”, I weighed in at 110 lbs.; however, almost with the first Lexapro dose, my weight started to climb. By the end of 2010, I had gained 45 lbs. - and I had never had a weight problem in my life. The doctor’s condescending advice was to exercise more or eat less, or see a nutritionist.

 Then other troubles raised their ugly heads. Within a few months, blood pressure was high, and I left the doctor’s office with a prescription for Bernicar. When cholesterol crept upwards, first one, then two statin drugs were added. Because anxiety got worse rather than less, the next prescription was for Buspar (without a warning that combining multiple Serotonin inducing agents creates the risk of Serotonin Syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition).

Other things were going downhill. I had crippling fatigue. All my life, I had been an energetic walker, but now I could barely drag myself to a bench under a tree in the backyard. There were other terrifying symptoms, such as dizziness, blurred vision, light-headedness, incessant loss of breath, and horrific heart palpitations. I felt “unreal,” had ringing in my ears, dry hair and skin, and periods of uncontrollable sweating. My mental and physical health deteriorated from day to day. I could no longer drive, and I could not go shopping by myself. I could not do any of the things I enjoyed to do; in fact, I could not enjoy anything. My feelings were flat, gone.

Because I could do nothing else, I became obsessed with Internet research. One day in early 2011, on a whim, I Googled “Lexapro.” It was one of those “Oh my God!” moments. Nearly every one of my symptoms was described - and they were all due to Lexapro! At the beginning of my treatment I had asked the doctor about Lexapro side effects and he had assured me that it was so safe that he would give it to his own mother!

I knew at that very moment that I had to get off Lexapro but little did I know the price. I tapered down by 2 mg every two weeks. With every lowering of the dose, the withdrawal symptoms got worse, especially the “brain zaps.” I suffered migraine headaches, extreme nervousness, dizziness, frightening nightmares and insomnia, and I was extremely irritable with everyone around me. I had shock-like sensations when I took a step too quickly, or even turned my head. When I reached 10 mg, the side effects had gotten so bad that I simply could not stand them. I was hearing things that weren’t there, and I had speech difficulties.

I took a full dose again and broke down crying, feeling like the greatest failure.

About a month later, in March 2011, my weight had reached 159 lbs.

When I stepped off the scale that morning I knew that I had to get off Lexapro, no matter what. I also realized that it would be extra difficult the second time around because of the knowledge of having failed before in the back of my mind.

In desperation, I continued haunting the Internet, searching for some kernel of hope, for some kind of supplement, or person, or group, to help with this horrible ordeal.

And then it happened. I don’t remember how I got on the web page, but suddenly my eyes were glued to a testimonial, “JNK has saved my life!” and “I am Klonopin free!” and “After years of frustration I am off Lexapro!” With tears streaming down my face, I read every single testimonial on that site, telling myself this couldn’t be true, and hoping, praying, that it was.

 I learned that all the people were following “The Road Back” program. This program includes taking specific supplements from TRB Health. (The Road Back Program is a non-profit organization; they are not selling supplements themselves.)

I ordered the supplement the very same day. They arrived a few days later in the afternoon, and I took three Omega 3 pills right away (against instructions which prescribe a morning dose). Within 10 minutes, all the “head things” stopped, including the dreadful brain zaps. I had read of such miracles in the testimonials but I did not really believe in my heart until one happened to me.

I started with the full program on May 6, 2011. On May 9, I wrote into my journal: “Took 1 package JNK, 3 Omega3 pills, 1 Admax pill at 8 a.m. Had brain zaps getting up, stopped after taking Omega3. And I lost 2 pounds!!!!”

On July 25, 2011, I took the last 1 mg dose of Lexapro. Today, I am totally Lexapro free! I have lost a total of 11 lbs., and I know I am on my way to losing more.

The road was not always smooth. The weight loss fluctuated, but eventually, the scale would always dip again. There were minor symptoms off and on, but they were just annoyances that were outweighed by the feelings of hope. Today, my soul and spirit are soaring because at last, I am free from this horrible drug. I have been at the very bottom of a pit, but I have climbed out. I can do again what I love to do, I can walk, run, drive. I can sit at my computer and write, I can look at the beauty all around me, and I can shout: “I AM FREE!”