Brian 81: Newbie to site

[Brian81]

Brian81

 

Hi All

 

I am Brian. 38 year old male from Ireland

I am an SSRI user of 2.5 years and i am hoping to wean off it altogether

 

Reasons why.

I feel too good tbh and i feel like i dont need to take anymore.

I want to try and be pharma free

I want to be able to try  handle the world with my own ups and downs

Most of all i want my libido back😊

 

Anyway

Hope to meet nice people here for genuine converations and shared info

 

Brian

Edited May 4, 2020 by Gridley

[Gridley]

Welcome to SA, Brian81.  We'll be happy to help you taper your SSRI.  All your reasons for wanting to be drug-free are good ones.

 

I have a couple of questions, please.

 

1.  What SSRI are you taking and at what dosage?

2.  Have you already started tapering or are you currently on your full dose?

 

We recommend tapering by no more that 10% of your current dose every four weeks.

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

The Brassmonkey Slide is a way of making micro-taper reductions weekly, as opposed to a larger reduction once a month.  I've used this method to taper Lexapro.

 

The Brassmonkey Slide Method of Micro-tapering

 

Once you let me know the drug you're taking, I can supply you with a link specific to tapering that drug, including how to get the non-standard doses you'll need for your taper.

 

We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium (glycinate is a good form) and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system. 

 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

Add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems.

 

This is your Introduction topic, where you can answer my questions, ask your own questions and connect with other members.  We're glad you found your way here.

 

 

[Brian81]

Hi

 

First of all i am taking 15mg of escitalopram(lexapro)

I started on 10mg in aug 2017 and went to 15mg in early 2018. 

I am on my last 2 weeks of pills and i hope to tell my doctor shortly that i aim to get down to a lower dose(5mg) .

I aim to hold on 5 for a small bit before i go the rest of the way. Hopefully or maybe he might opt for a liquid dose from there

 

My Doc is a cool guy,easy to talk too but im not looking foward to seeing his expression when i tell him about tapering.  Hes funny that way and thinks anyone on these should stay on them etc. Thats my take of it..

 But its my life right,???

 

Brian

[Gridley]

25 minutes ago, Brian81 said:

 

I am on my last 2 weeks of pills and i hope to tell my doctor shortly that i aim to get down to a lower dose(5mg) .

I'd strongly urge you not to drop any faster than what we recommend.  If you're on 15mg now, your taper should be no more that 3mg, to a new dose of 12mg, which you should stay at for 4 weeks.  Getting down to a lower dose is great but should be done slowly.

 

Tapering too fast puts you at risk of withdrawal syndrome, which can be long-lasting and unpleasant.

 

What is withdrawal syndrome.

 

Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) 

 

When we take psychiatric medications, the CNS (central nervous system) responds by making changes over the months and years we take the drug(s). When the medication is discontinued, the CNS has to undo all the changes it made. Rebuilding the neurotransmitter production and reactivating the receptor and transporter cells takes time -- during that rebuilding process symptoms occur.  

 

It is especially important to taper slowly below the 10mg point. 85% of the drug's potency is in the last 10mg, and Escitalopram is the strongest antidepressant on the market.  This is a time to go slowly, not speed up.  

 

Here is the link about tapering Escitalopram, which includes instruction on how to get the nonstandard doses you'll need for a 10% taper.

 

Tips for tapering off Lexapro (escitalopram)

 

 

 

 

 

[Brian81]

Titled:  Lowering your dose for libido

 

Mods this may not be in right topic form so please move if needed too

 

Hi all

I introduced myself last night in the introductions forum

 

I hoping to wean myself off lexapro this summer. Im hoping to take my time and taper with care.

I am om 15mg and i hope to get down to 5mg and lay idle on that for a while to see how i feel

 

Im feeling too good now and dont need them anymore but another reason is not to feel numb in my body  and get my libido back

 

Id like to hear from people who have lowered their dose and stayed there for a while before taking the final step to quit

 

Have any of yous ever seen a rise in libido via lowering your dose.

A lower does means less activity of serotoin in the brain so could libido rise

 

Cheers

Brian

Edited May 5, 2020 by manymoretodays
added title, merged from tapering

[manymoretodays]

Hi Brian81, @Brian81, and welcome aboard,

I agree completely with Gridley.  Did you get a look at the last response above?

And then I moved your new topic from tapering, back here.  You might get some members comments, right here on your page.

We've got a topic on Post- SSRI sexual dysfunction, but I'm not seeing one, on lowering dose for rise in libido.

It may well be a side effect of your medication, I know Celexa(Lexapro's baby cousin) has this side effect.

Drugs.com is a good source for finding the side effects of your medication(s).

 

Okay, and best.

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

[jozeff]

Hi Brian, welcome here!

 

I was exactly like you! About same age, feeling great but no libido.

 

I very strongly advise you to NOT drop to 5 mg immediately. Escitalopram is very very strong stuff and 15 mg is not a small dose although it seems like it is.

 

I would advise you to go to 12 mg as gridley said or even higher. Personally, (after experiencing intense wd problems for nearly 3 years) I would try to decrease 1.5 mg to 13.5 and take a couple of weeks or maybe 2 months and see how that goes.

 

You can always go faster if everything goes well.

 

I know and understand how you feel. You want to get rid of the meds asap but don't be in a hurry. You'll be thankful...

 

Cheers

Jozeff