Taper Lexapro

I've been on lexapro 20 mg for more than ten years and, for a variety of reasons, am tapering off of it. Over the past 15 months, through an extremely slow and painful process, I've gotten down to 7.5 mg. For some reason I don't seem to be able to get further. I'm using liquid right now and taking 7 mg and it's unbearable. I don't know how half a milligram makes such a difference. Any tips on getting out of this hole and keeping on with progress? ## Hello, Sophia! How are you? I'm sorry about what you're going through. Have you spoken to your doctor? They may be able to prescribe something to help with the withdrawal effects, until your past the worst of them, such as Klonopin or Ativan. The FDA classifies those medications as benzodiazepines, so they car...

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Hi, I know there is another topic for Lexapro withdraw but I don't feel I can get proper replies posting there because there are more than 2,000 messages there. I have been on lexapro 20mg for over 4 years for anxiety and it has helped me a lot alongside therapy. I am definitely at a much better place now, and my therapist has recommended I didn't need to see him anymore, specially because I was going for couple therapy with my Fiance which also helped us a lot. The couples therapist also recommended that we didn't need the sessions anymore. I mentioned to my doctor (psychiatrist) that lexapro has really affected my libido. I asked him if I could start tapering it down and he suggested I took half (10mg) from now on. This was several months ago and I was in the process of re...

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I have been taking Lexapro for 2 years and have decided that is enough. My doctor suggests taking 1 tablet every 2nd day for 2 weeks, and then one every third day for 2 weeks. 10mg. Not sure this is the right way about it. ## Hello, Stephen! How are you? That is the modern preferred tapering method for such a medication. The FDA lists the typical withdrawal effects as possibly including nausea, fever, chills, diarrhea, rebound depression and rebound anxiety. Have you started his plan, yet? It should help to minimize the withdrawal symptoms.

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I am switching from Lexapro to Pristiq with my Pdoc. He recommended that I drop from my regular 20 mg of lexapro to 10mg and go to 50mg of pristiq. He said after 2 weeks drop the lexapro altogether. is this safe? is it too fast? I take 2 10mg tablets. Should I maybe go to 15mg--10mg-5mg-0? How have other people made the transition with minimum problems? ## How long have you been taking Lexapro for? From my perspective I think what your doctor recommend is fine. What's safe for "you" may not necessarily be safe for someone else (and vise versa, because everyone is different). If you're tapering your Lexapro dose down to 10mg from 20mg within 2 weeks, in my opinion, that seems to be a sufficient time frame to re-adjust. If tapering the dose really concerns you though, I wo...

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In a nutshell, took 10mg Lex for 13 years and heeded the suggestion of my cardiologist that, "it may not be working for you anymore", however, I never felt I was experiencing "poop-out". I tapered for 4 months, and last dose was Feb 2015. Been through all the text book withdrawal and feel that it is just not worth it. I have decided to restart and wonder if anyone has any thoughts, suggestions, difficulties? I have read it may not work as well as it did the first time around. Thx in advance! ## Actually, a break for a couple months usually helps them start working, again, since your body loses its tolerance. Many doctors actually recommend medication vacations for their patients, to try to prevent them from building tolerance. The FDA lists the typical side effects of Le...

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I've been taking Lexapro for over 10 yrs and don't like being dependent on it - has anyone successfully stopped their dependence on this drug? ## Many people have successfully stopped taking it, it's really a matter of doing so properly. If you're not replacing it with a similar medication, it should be tapered slowly to avoid the worst of the withdrawal symptoms and your doctor should be able to help you set up an appropriate tapering schedule. The FDA lists the typical withdrawal effects as possibly including nausea, dizziness, chills, fever, diarrhea, rebound depression and anxiety. Is there anything else I can help with? ## Hey there, I was on 20mg of lexapro a day for 3 years. Went (kinda) cold turkey. So glad I did. The month leading upto it I actually started skip...

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I have been off Lexapro for almost a week now (1 year on 20mg) I am having horrible withdrawals eg. Feeling like Im being zapped through my head chest & arms, especially when I move, insomnia, feeling obsessive, feeling manic, no concentration, feeling like I'm not myself and so on.. I'm just wanting to know if there is anything I can do as I am so close to just starting back on them, I don't know if I can handle this ## Hello, Emily! How are you doing? Have things improved, at all, yet? That is fairly typical for withdrawal from SSRIs, according to the information provided by the FDA. Generally, tapering is preferred, rather than stopping cold turkey, to prevent the worst of the withdrawal and rebound effects. You may also experience nausea, chills and diarrhea. It usua...

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Was on Wellbutrin only about a month, just didn't seem to be working or helping at all. Dr finally decided to try Lexapro. Just curious if I'll experience any major effects while tapering Wellbutrin (only on it a month) and start up effects of Lexapro....these in between stages are horrible because it's hard to tell which is the culprit. I just need some relief. Second guessing my decision to stop paxil after years of being on it- maybe I should have just stayed on it. ## Why did you stop the Paxil? The FDA does warn that while switching medications, you may experience nausea, dizziness, headache, dry mouth, rebound depression, and anxiety. What dosage were you taking of the Paxil?

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Discontinuing lexapro. 10 year old is having violent episodes. He has been taking for four months. Violent episodes started when began lexapro. Recently weaned from abilify. ## Hello, Diane! How is he doing? It would be best to consult the prescribing doctor for the best way to wean off of it and what to replace it with, if he still needs a medication. There can be some withdrawal and rebound symptoms that could make things worse, if he is tapered too rapidly and, at is age, it is best to let his doctor handle the situation for his health and safety. Rebound effects may include nausea, diarrhea, headache, irritability and insomnia. What dosage is he on and what condition is being treated?

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I was on brand Lexapro for about eight years with great success. My pharmacy switched me to generic and I was happy to be saving the money, but within a few days, I was nauseous and dizzy, having nightmares and hot flashes, and suffering from depression again. It took me about a month to realize the cause was the generic, and I decided to pay the difference to get the brand. When I asked the pharmacist if this was common, she said those who start on the generic seem to do well, but those who switch from brand seem to have difficulties. Not too long after switching back, I was doing well again. In answer to a few other people who posted, you can not quit lexapro cold turkey, you must wean yourself off!!!! I stopped taking it for awhile by tapering off and had no issues, but after my depr...

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Hi. I just got back on Lexapro after being off for 6 months because my anxiety returned after being on for 2.5 years. I was on 5mg for a week with side effects that started to feel manageable on day 7. On day 8 I upped dosage to 10mg and it seems as though it's all started over again with the side effects. I thought I had prepared my system with 5mg,but here I am lethargic again and drowsy. The mornings are the worst, afternoons its like I wake up from the nasty fog and at night I'm fine. Please some help me out in this..I'm on day 3 of 10mg and it's like I started over... ## Hello, Brownstone88! How are you? Yes, that is completely normal and you'll usually experience side effects anytime you raise the dosage of a medication. They should taper off and eventually go ...

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I take 10 mg of Lexapro. It works better for me than the Celexa.However, I am still experiencing a groggy, heavy-headed sleepiness most of the early to late afternoon. I have been on it for 3 months. Anybody have the same experience. **I am also in the beginning of Menopause, that can also bring about the same symtons. ## I was on Paxil for 10 years, then switched to 20 mg of Lexapro for another 4 years. I hired a psychiatrist to help me taper off - he took me off way too fast. Two months. A nightmare with a capital F. Took my last dose on 7/11/12. I was nonfunctional for three weeks. Physical withdrawl symptoms were gone within 2 months. I am in therapy, have a strong support system, friends, take excellent care of myself, exercise an hour a day and don't drink. I feel like I'm...

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Just wondering the best way to taper off Ativan. I have been on Ativan for 3weeks now, was put on for anxiety 1mg. 4x a day. My doctor told me to take this much for a week and then taper to 1mg 3x a day the next week and that is when I would see him again. Well I did what he told me to do and the first week it really helped me and then I cut it down to 3 a day but by the 3rd day of tapering down to 3 A day I started feeling a little shaky and a bit Anxious. I saw my doctor 2days after this and was really quite emotional. He stated he was hoping that this would take care of my anxiety and that I could start tapering but it did not look like that was going to happen. He put me on lexapro and I have now been on this for a week and still taking Ativan per my doctor until lexapro kicks in. I...

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I have been on Lexapro for about 7 years. I feel like it has just been masking my anxiety/depression. I want to try to come off of it, I want to try and be healthy on my own. Does anyone have long use effects? I feel tired all the time. I have ZERO libido. I eat all the time, almost feel like anxiety is still there. I'm lazy, just don't want to do anything. Has anyone tapered off? How was the experience? What do you do now for anxiety? Thank you so much. ## What does your Dr say about coming off? Do they agree you should? ## Hi Lariana, How are you? I actually don't have any personal experience with this medication, but from reading your description I get the sense that you may need to talk with your doctor about developing some sort of tapering schedule to help you graduall...

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Hi, I am currently in my 4th week of being off lexapro. I had all the horrific withdrawal symptoms which most have subsided. The only one I have left is the dizziness. Its not an all day dizziness like it was but waves of dizziness that come and go. Has anyone else had this side affect for this long? ## Hello Wendi! How are you? Yes, I actually had that when I stopped Zoloft, after being on it for several years due to a misdiagnosis. It lasted about 8 weeks, before finally stopping. Has it improved any? I just kept noticing a gradual improvement, until it finally stopped. ## Did you do a slow taper down on dosage? In my experience you cannot taper down too slowly. ## Lexapro for many years and every time go off terrible dizziness -- more of a labrinthitis so I feel the dizziness when I ...

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I need to get of Lexapro because of the side effects but understand the withdrawl is a horror ## Hi Kate, Usually for drugs like this the safest way to stop taking them is to tapper off them, if possible. Some medications can be taken in fractions (actually cut into pieces) and these smaller pieces can be taken in place of the regular dose for a period of several weeks until the body is no longer dependent upon them. In addition to that, I'd also suggest making yourself a tapering schedule on a calender to track your progress and keep you on the right path to complete your goal within a specific time frame. Without a way to track your progress, tapering can sometimes be much more difficult than it needs to be. I hope this advice helps! ## I just started Lexapro, normal spoken side e...

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Help! I have been free of lexapro for over a year. Benzodiazepine Cree for 9 months after a very slow taper. I still suffer from anxiety like I never had before, insomnia, chronic pain, irritability and brain fog. Please warn folks not to take these drugs. I want to die almost every day. I am unable to do much. I have been working very hard on this recovery. Thanks. M W. ## Hello, Madeline! How are you doing? I'm very sorry about the problems that you're having. However, neither of those medications is a cure, so it's highly possible that you still suffer from anxiety and it may have gotten worse with time. While withdrawal can cause some rebound effects, it wouldn't last for 9 months, especially after having done a very slow taper. Have you tried anything else to treat ...

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I am on a valium taper for withdrawal of Klonopin which I took for over 20 years. I am one year off of the Klonopin I am down to 5 mg of valium and almost finished with the taper. Although I am better, I still have anxiety, angry outbursts, "brain fog," insomnia.. The dr. had me on Wellbutrin for mood swings. The Wellbutrin seemed to cause my anxiety to be worse and cause my hypomania to return. (I was dx with bipolar II many years ago and that was why I was on Klonopin) . Both my dr. and therapist have suggested I am NOT BIPOLAR. Have a MOOD DISORDER. Until the benzo withdrawal I had several years of stability while bipolar. My question is this: In spite of withdrawal symptoms (which are far less after one year of tapering off of Klonopin), I am basically depressed and the dr. ...

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So agitation, increased anxiety, insomnia. Increased pulse,digestive disturbances, itchy skin that feels like it's crawling. The side effects from hell basically. My doctor left a message saying I could stop the med since I was only 8 tabs in. How long until I stop feeling like death warmed over? ## Hello, Dani! How are you feeling? Have things improved, yet? Those can all be normal side effects of starting a medication like this and usually last about 3 to 4 weeks. As to when they should taper off, since you were only on it for 8 days, it should only take a couple days, before you feel back to normal. Have you tried any other medications? ## Feeling a little bit better. Very itchy and still suffering chills and lack of hunger. Years ago I tried zoloft. Made me sucidal. And paxil ma...

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I was diagnosed with MS in 2008 and have panic and anxiety disorder. I was put on lexapro in 2009 and have been on it for six years and it has so helped with my anxiety and panic, I do still get anxiety if I over do it, but I am able to brush it off easily. I would say it helps OK with depression, and due to weight gain, which I'm sure my MS does not help with that it kinda makes it worse but bearable cause I do well wanting to go out and do things. Well, I decided to wean off under my doctor's supervision in April just to see what would happen and he put me on a very long and safe taper. When I got down to just taking 5mg every other day, the panic attacks and depression started to creep back on. I decided I can't handle this on top of my MS so again, under my doctor's ...

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