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Suggest Treatment For Anxiety, Depression And Psychosis

Posted on Wed, 24 Dec 2014

Question: I was on lexapro and then i withdrew from that and then i became psychotic. Did the lexapro cause the psychosis? then i took olanzapine and i took it for 13 days and when i was withdrawing from it i got sleep disturbances, head twitching and vertigo but the worst thing was like a delayed reaction slowness of movement in my left leg and left arm, can u explain this?

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Clarification

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for using health care magic for posting your query.

I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through.

However I would require a couple of more details to help you in answering your query in a better justified way.

1. Why were you started on lexapro. What were the symptoms
2. How long did youtake olanzapine?

Hope to hear from you at your earliest convenience.

Regards and wish you good health,

Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD

Neuro-Psychiatrist and Sexologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Srikanth Reddy (2 hours later)

I was started on lexapro for anxiety and depression, i took it for four months and i was on a very small dose. I had tingling in my brain and zaps when i withdrew from it. A couple of months later i became psychotic. They put me on olanzapine for four months but i decided to come off it and i withdrew from it slowley. After coming off it i started to hear voices so i was told to take it for a couple of days and come off it. I took 2.5mg for five days, 5mg for three days and then 2.5mg for five days then stopped. My brain wouldnt turn off to sleep, i was jolted in and out of sleep, vertigo and i had one night where my brain did a warping sensation then ever since then i had this movement problem in my left leg and left arm, i also had a problem where my breathing would turn off when i was sleeping, all symptoms have gone away except for the delayed movement in my left arm and left leg. It doesnt feel as fluid when i move my arm and leg. My doctor said its part of the mental illness but i dont think so, i think it was the olanzapine.

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (13 hours later)

Brief Answer:
It could have beeen an onset of psychosis

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for all the information.
Lexapro is an ssri and has many kniwn side effects but development of psyhosis is not a reported side effect. Infact the older generation antipeychotics such as amitriptyline or imipramine in high doses were knkwn to develop psychosis. But not the lexapro.
However from my experience, many times it happens so thay psychosis starts with neurotic symptoms initially and it may be confused with a depression. And then gradually a full blown psychosis develops. It may have happened so in your case as well.
Regarding the other aspect of olnzapine causing movement disorder, it is very rarely reported but tardive dyskinesia can occur with olazapine as well . This requires treatment with Vit E and clozapine. However diagnosing a type of movement disorder without having an actual look at it is very difficult.
I would suggest you to seek a neurologist near yout area to show him this movement disorder.
Hope this helps
In case you have any further query, do let me know.
Kind regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar