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Thread: Lexapro and imaginary "i'm better" syndrome

  1. #1
    God/dess Nautilus's Avatar
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    Default Lexapro and imaginary "i'm better" syndrome

    so i know some of you girls have lots of experience with SSRIs etc.

    background:
    mr naut was having a shit time a few months back... combination of things, midlife crisis, hated his job (his employer is worse than an abuser for breaking him down then sucking up to him again - ruining his confidence to leave to find another job etc), hated what he had achieved in life, hated where we were living with a baby on the way (inner city apartment with heaps of noisy, party-drug neighbours)... etc. textbook depression/anxiety.

    eventually i made him go to the doctor once i couldn't stand to see him so upset and lying in an empty bathtub staring into space with tears in his eyes...

    fast forward:
    doc says "lexapro" and he took it for about 3 months.

    we moved house, which relieved a huge amount of pressure once it was done. anyhoo, he was coping very well with the drugs and was nicely evened out. his confidence was coming back and we even got his resume done and out with a couple of headhunter agencies.

    so... in that classic SSRI style he starts to think he's fine. so he weans... then he stops. it's been about 5 days of no drugs for him now and his tension level is through the roof today. it's like his magic 'coping blankie' has been taken away.

    the things that bug him are things that wouldn't normally.

    what sucks is that i can see what's going on and he can't.

    the problem... how do you tell anyone, let alone a head-strong male, that you think they shouldn't have weaned without seeing the doctor. there's nothing more personal than someone else's mental state. what do i say?

    he thinks he's fixed but i know he's not.

    anyone? anyone?
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

  2. #2
    zxcire
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    Default Re: Lexapro and imaginary "i'm better" syndrome

    Tell him he might be having withdrawal from the medication, look up on the internet withdrawal symptoms of SSRIs and show that to him.

    These drugs are shitty to go off cold turkey, withdrawal can last for weeks.

    He might not be returning to his pre-medicated state ie depression/anxiety but instead coping with symptoms that will subside and only then will you, and he, be able to judge if the imaginary-being-better is really imaginary or not.

  3. #3
    God/dess Nautilus's Avatar
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    Default Re: Lexapro and imaginary "i'm better" syndrome

    thanks for your input. i will do that...

    i remember this website where people had listed all kinds of symptoms they'd had on it but i just can't remember it...
    gah!
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

  4. #4
    Banned jasmine's Avatar
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    Default Re: Lexapro and imaginary "i'm better" syndrome

    Maybe tell him you think he weaned too fast and these drugs can cause symptoms to return if you do that. That you think he should see a Dr. for the correct way to wean. After only 3 mos I'm sure a Dr. will tell him to take the meds a little while longer before coming off. I think the standard is at least 6 mos. (Disclaimer-I am not a Dr so I may be wrong on that) Maybe you could even consult BoxingDoc about this.

    Jasmine

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    Veteran Member Kitsune83's Avatar
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    Default Re: Lexapro and imaginary "i'm better" syndrome

    pretty common......it usually has to do with the denial about needing an antidepressant (or any other psych drug....I dare ya to find one Bipolar patient that hasn't gone off of meds because they "didn't need them"....I sure have, and the results, not pretty). It's hard to push someone in the correct direction though....he'll likely come to the conclusion himself after he realizes that he's irritable, and what's causing it (clinical depression) isn't going away just yet. I think looking up withdrawl symptoms is a good idea though! It's valid (he *is* going through a withdrawl) and it gives him an "out" if he simply wants to continue the drug (which may be the best bet right now)....he could just reduce the dosage or find another more suitable antidepressant if he doesn't like the way he feels on it (for whatever reason). Good luck! Being the SO of someone struggling through mood disorders ain't easy! You might want to treat yourself to a nice massage (or whatever makes you relaxed and happy), so you can destress yourself!

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