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Dee12h: weaning from a low dose of Lexapro


Dee12h

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On 10/3/2023 at 12:12 PM, modelarz71 said:

Is Your IBS better? regards

Yes, moslty.

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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  • 3 months later...

Pasting my routine here as well. My kids are in school finally this yr (coming off of 12+ yrs of having preschoolers &/or homeschooling) & not working RN.

I have settled into a good routine for me. It’s helping my nervous system to know what to expect each day. It’s also important to remain flexible & not too rigid & listen to your body. Being kind to myself is very new to me!

 

-I have to get up at 7 to help get my boys out the door to school. (Need to work on getting up at this time every day as consistent sleep wake times are healing to the CNS.)

-Go back to bed, usually don’t go back to sleep but watch a show or something.

-Watch a devotional while I have bfast/decaf coffee.

-Go for a walk outside. This increases my dizziness so much, but it’s helping to train my brain that the symptoms aren’t dangerous. My anxiety response to the dizziness is slowly improving.

-Do gentle exercise (yoga or the guy mentioned above)

-Shower/bath.

-”Morning basket”- this contains journal, Bible, devotional, music, coloring, novel I’m reading, etc. I don’t do all of it every day! I try to meditate some here too.

-Daily & weekly chores/projects- several hours

-Then I try to do something fun before the boys get home, playing Sims lately. 😆

-Someone else is still driving my kids home, but I try to practice driving each day so I can hopefully be able to do that soon.

-The afternoon/evening is family time/ childcare

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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I’ve figured out it’s most likely the drug causing my pppd/constant dizziness. So I have hope now it’s going to get better once I’m off. Going faster now.

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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  • 4 weeks later...

Panic attacks have definitely been added to my symptom list. Never really had them before. Actually, they are considered anxiety attacks, not panic, bc I always know the trigger, & as soon as I’m removed from the situation it starts getting better. Panic attacks usually come out of “nowhere”.

Dr’s visits, big stores alone, even on the phone with my counselor whom I’ve known for years. 🙄 Today it happened in the voting booth. Had to leave after 3 answers. 🫣 &DH was there.


Symptoms that have resolved mostly: insomnia, IBS, loss of appetite, activation

 

Newer ones: much worse anxiety, depression (although still seems limited to hormonal cycle, thank God), dissociation, PPPD (dizziness), hypnotic jerks, head pressure & ear ringing (doesn’t last long), headaches

 

I don’t understand how any of this could happen while tapering this slowly!!! 😤😡

 

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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  • 1 month later...

Now I’m having panic attacks as well. I feel like I’m developing agoraphobia. I minored in psych in college, & I remember studying that condition & thinking that had to be the most miserable. 🙁

 

My dizziness is worse. It’s so bad I feel like my brain is shutting down sometimes. I feel like I’m on the verge of passing out constantly. We think we should do an MRI. I don’t think it’ll show anything, but maybe it’ll lower my anxiety that I’m not actually dying, bc that’s what it feels like.

 

I can’t believe this could happen after 1.5 years on a 1/4 of the starting dose & such a slow taper. I have no idea what to do. I tried up dosing & it didn’t work.

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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@brassmonkey Is interdose withdrawal possible at .05mg lexapro? Should I split my dose?

Could you look at my tapering again? I was fairly stable (WD symptoms would last just a few days) until I went from .15mg to .1. I held that for 9 months but never stabilized, only got slowly, progressively worse as time went on. I started thinking it was the meds, so I kept tapering, & now I’m barely functioning. Extreme dizziness/brain fog & agoraphobic anxiety/panic attacks are the main symptoms. I tried to updose to .07 & got worse, so now I’m back at .05. Should I try .06?

 

I’m assuming this is not WD normal & I should hold for at least a year, but what if it just keeps going downhill like my last 9 month hold? Is it better to get off if that happens?

 

 

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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  • Moderator

Looks like you destabilized things going from .15 to .1. That was a 30% reduction and way too much. The lower doses are quite tricks and could take a very long time to restabilize. I would stay put for a few more months and see if things stabilize.

20 years on Paxil starting at 20mg and working up to 40mg. Sept 2011 started 10% every 6 weeks taper (2.5% every week for 4 weeks then hold for 2 additional weeks), currently at 7.9mg. Oct 2011 CTed 15oz vodka a night, to only drinking 2 beers most nights, totally sober Feb 2013.

Since I wrote this I have continued to decrease my dose by 10% every 6 weeks (2.5% every week for 4 weeks and then hold for an additional 2 weeks). I added in an extra 6 week hold when I hit 10mg to let things settle out even more. When I hit 3mgpw it became hard to split the drop into 4 parts so I switched to dropping 1mgpw (pill weight) every week for 3 weeks and then holding for another 3 weeks.  The 3 + 3 schedule turned out to be too harsh so I cut back to dropping 1mgpw every 4 weeks which is working better.

Final Dose 0.016mg.     Current dose 0.000mg 04-15-2017

 

"It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can loose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general."  Stephen Hawking

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It’s one thing after another here. My husband has run out of patience & empathy. He actually told me my symptoms are making our marriage bad & making him not want to be around me. Who says that to someone who’s struggling? I thought we had a good marriage, but apparently it was a farce. He’s a people pleaser, but says he’s gonna finally start being “more honest”. What a fre@king great time for that. 
 

Needless to say, this makes my symptoms so much worse. How do I deal with this & get to the bottom of it (we’re in counseling) without it setting me back so much? I get so activated, but not dealing with it at this point is also very stressful with the level of rejection I’m dealing with.

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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@Dee12h I'm so sorry you're going through that. I think the hardest part of all this tapering stuff is that life is constantly pushing back and challenging us in the midst of also trying to get off the stupid drugs and deal with all the withdrawal symptoms and nonsense.

Lexapro/Escitalopram history: 2012 to 2020 20 mg

July 2020 10 mg November 2020 5 mg 2/15/21 1/2 a 5mg pill ~2.5 mg 2/25/21 3/4 a 5mg pill ~3.75 mg 3/25/21 1/2 a 5mg pill ~2.5 mg

4/20/21 switched to liquid 2.8 mg, made a couple more increases over a week and a half to 3.5mg

5/14/21 increased further up to 3.8 mg, held there until Oct 2021

Decreasing steadily since 10/1/21

Latest change 3/15/24 .14mg

Current supplements:  Once per morning: men's multivitamin, vitamin c, selenium, zinc, magnesium chelate (100mg per pill), fish oil (1000 mg per pill)

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On 4/17/2024 at 3:46 PM, brassmonkey said:

Looks like you destabilized things going from .15 to .1. That was a 30% reduction and way too much. The lower doses are quite tricks and could take a very long time to restabilize. I would stay put for a few more months and see if things stabilize.

@brassmonkey Thanks so much! If you have time to answer my other questions, that would be great.

I tried to go up to .06, & it hasn’t helped at all (on day 9 today). I’ve gotten worse. I have a really hard time figuring out if I’m on too much or too little. I’m barely functional RN. My anxiety has been getting steadily worse, but this is now all day panic.

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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I definitely feel better in the few hours after my dose. Could be the time of day (evening), but I think it’s the dose.

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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Actually, I feel manic after my dose. I wake up in a panic 12 hours later while it’s still in my system, so I’m thinking I’m on too much. I’m so confused. This is the worst I’ve ever been. 

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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I took .05 last night bc the past 9 days after updosing to .06 have been progressively worse to the point of worst days of my life. I felt slightly better this morning, but when I started feeling panic, I took 1 drop (to get to .06 total), and I had a very bad adverse reaction. I had to call 9-1-1, because I thought I had serotonin syndrome. My husband (a Dr.) & they convinced me it was just a panic attack- worst one of my entire life- had to take .125 xanax 😟. But no hospital thankfully.
 

So now IDK what dose I should be on. I’m never going above .05 again, and am never updosing again. I’m terrified to take anything tonight! I looked over my drug history & noticed bad experiences with updosing. 🙅🏻‍♀️ Please don’t yell @ me. I’ve had very little mod direction on this thread.  @brassmonkey @Gridley

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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It’s impossible to get serotonin syndrome at such low doses, right? 

 

Can you develop poop out while tapering? 

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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1 hour ago, Dee12h said:

I took .05 last night bc the past 9 days after updosing to .06 have been progressively worse to the point of worst days of my life. I felt slightly better this morning, but when I started feeling panic, I took 1 drop (to get to .06 total), and I had a very bad adverse reaction. I had to call 9-1-1, because I thought I had serotonin syndrome. My husband (a Dr.) & they convinced me it was just a panic attack- worst one of my entire life- had to take .125 xanax 😟. But no hospital thankfully.
 

So now IDK what dose I should be on. I’m never going above .05 again, and am never updosing again. I’m terrified to take anything tonight! I looked over my drug history & noticed bad experiences with updosing. 🙅🏻‍♀️ Please don’t yell @ me. I’ve had very little mod direction on this thread.  @brassmonkey @Gridley

@Erimus 

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

@Dee12h

Sorry I can't help you, but I'm no longer moderating.  I'm not sure if Brassmonkey is or not.  

 

I suggest you check to see which moderators are active now and tag them with your questions.  No one will yell at you.

Gridley Introduction

 

Lexapro 20 mg since 2004.  Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017.   

End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg 

End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg

End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg  

Oct. 30, 2020  Jump to zero from 0.025mg.  Current dose: 0.000mg

3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete.

 

Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements

Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium

Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium 

End 2021  year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg

End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg 

End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg

Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper.

Taper is 95% complete.

 

Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986.  Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg  

March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper

Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper

Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper.  Current dose as of Sept 25: 3.6mg

Taper is 95% complete.  

  

Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotic, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase, L-Glutamine, milk thistle, choline


I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice. It is information based on my own experience as well as that of other members who have survived these drugs.

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16 hours ago, Dee12h said:

I took .05 last night bc the past 9 days after updosing to .06 have been progressively worse to the point of worst days of my life. I felt slightly better this morning, but when I started feeling panic, I took 1 drop (to get to .06 total), and I had a very bad adverse reaction. I had to call 9-1-1, because I thought I had serotonin syndrome. My husband (a Dr.) & they convinced me it was just a panic attack- worst one of my entire life- had to take .125 xanax 😟. But no hospital thankfully.
 

So now IDK what dose I should be on. I’m never going above .05 again, and am never updosing again. I’m terrified to take anything tonight! I looked over my drug history & noticed bad experiences with updosing. 🙅🏻‍♀️ Please don’t yell @ me. I’ve had very little mod direction on this thread.  @brassmonkey @Gridley

@Altostrata

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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Worst night of my entire life last night. Extreme panic all the time, and mag glycinate no longer working.

I need help.

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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Hey @Dee12h, I have been where you are and I am sorry its happening. How much magnesium gly are you taking? How much water have you drank today? 

I am not a medical professional - my advice is only based on my experience.

2016 - Lexapro 10mg, Klonapin as needed .5mg - Later Lexapro bumped to 20mg
2020 - (March) Lexapro cold Turkey attempt, reinstated 1 month Later along with Prozac. Tried Buspar, Zoloft and a couple other drugs that were added and removed within a 2 month period 2021 -  (Feb) 15mg -Taper off Lexapro 5mg per psychiatrist suggestion.

2021 -  (Feb) 10mg

2021 - (March) back to 20mg
2022 - Attempt Taper off Lexapro 2mg every 4 weeks (March 18mg, April 16mg, May 14mg, June 12mg, July 10mg, August 10mg hold, September 8mg,  October 8mg to 10mg, Nov 8mg, Dec 6mg, Jan 4mg)

2023 - January 4mg up to 5mg 

2023 - 10 percent brass monkey taper.

August 2023 COMPLETELY off medication.

Sep 2024 Currently in protracted antidepressant withdrawal

Supplements: omega-3, magnesium glycinate

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27 minutes ago, Jakeblack14 said:

Hey @Dee12h, I have been where you are and I am sorry its happening. How much magnesium gly are you taking? How much water have you drank today? 

I am taking 300mg/ day mag glycinate. Not sure how much elemental is in it. And then taking 100mg elemental of mag l-threonate. I’m having diarrhea, but that might just be from all the adrenaline/anxiety. I can’t tell.

I’m drinking a lot because my mouth is so dry (never have this issue, another symptom of too much serotonin?) I can’t eat much at all. I get so much anxiety after eating. @Jakeblack14

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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300mg of magnesium glycinate it a pretty low dose, however I don’t know how it compares with the other dose of magnesium. 300mgs I believe is close to 50mg elemental. If you are having bowel issues, it could be because of not having anything in your system while taking the supplement. I can only give advise based on what worked for me. First is move only slightly and as much as you are able. Second, drink as much water as you are capable. Third eat, but when you eat, eat something Keto Friendly. Seems to not upset the nervous system as much. 

I am not a medical professional - my advice is only based on my experience.

2016 - Lexapro 10mg, Klonapin as needed .5mg - Later Lexapro bumped to 20mg
2020 - (March) Lexapro cold Turkey attempt, reinstated 1 month Later along with Prozac. Tried Buspar, Zoloft and a couple other drugs that were added and removed within a 2 month period 2021 -  (Feb) 15mg -Taper off Lexapro 5mg per psychiatrist suggestion.

2021 -  (Feb) 10mg

2021 - (March) back to 20mg
2022 - Attempt Taper off Lexapro 2mg every 4 weeks (March 18mg, April 16mg, May 14mg, June 12mg, July 10mg, August 10mg hold, September 8mg,  October 8mg to 10mg, Nov 8mg, Dec 6mg, Jan 4mg)

2023 - January 4mg up to 5mg 

2023 - 10 percent brass monkey taper.

August 2023 COMPLETELY off medication.

Sep 2024 Currently in protracted antidepressant withdrawal

Supplements: omega-3, magnesium glycinate

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  • Moderator

No, you do not get serotonin syndrome at these low doses.

No, you cannot develop poopout at low doses while tapering.

If you are having bowel issues you are taking too much magnesium.

 

You need to stop changing your dose whenever the symptoms get out of hand. Your body is screaming out for stability. You need to pick a dose and stay on it for many months to let things stabilize. Everything you are experiencing is common for ADWD, especially when things are not stable.

 

We have many threads on how to cope with the stress of ADWD, please look them up and read through them. ADWD is the most stressful/difficult thing most people will go through in their lives. There is no getting around having symptoms, but how you react to them makes all the difference in the world.

20 years on Paxil starting at 20mg and working up to 40mg. Sept 2011 started 10% every 6 weeks taper (2.5% every week for 4 weeks then hold for 2 additional weeks), currently at 7.9mg. Oct 2011 CTed 15oz vodka a night, to only drinking 2 beers most nights, totally sober Feb 2013.

Since I wrote this I have continued to decrease my dose by 10% every 6 weeks (2.5% every week for 4 weeks and then hold for an additional 2 weeks). I added in an extra 6 week hold when I hit 10mg to let things settle out even more. When I hit 3mgpw it became hard to split the drop into 4 parts so I switched to dropping 1mgpw (pill weight) every week for 3 weeks and then holding for another 3 weeks.  The 3 + 3 schedule turned out to be too harsh so I cut back to dropping 1mgpw every 4 weeks which is working better.

Final Dose 0.016mg.     Current dose 0.000mg 04-15-2017

 

"It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can loose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general."  Stephen Hawking

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3 hours ago, brassmonkey said:

No, you do not get serotonin syndrome at these low doses.

No, you cannot develop poopout at low doses while tapering.

If you are having bowel issues you are taking too much magnesium.

 

You need to stop changing your dose whenever the symptoms get out of hand. Your body is screaming out for stability. You need to pick a dose and stay on it for many months to let things stabilize. Everything you are experiencing is common for ADWD, especially when things are not stable.

 

We have many threads on how to cope with the stress of ADWD, please look them up and read through them. ADWD is the most stressful/difficult thing most people will go through in their lives. There is no getting around having symptoms, but how you react to them makes all the difference in the world.

Thank you. @brassmonkey. What dose would you recommend right now? I was at .06 10 days & kept getting worse & worse. .04 or .05? I’m worried I’m kindling. 
 

I’ve taken .03 so far today, .01 at a time bc I was terrified to have another adverse reaction. The first 2 doses definitely helped. The 3rd one, I feel worse.

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

Link to comment

Deleted.

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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Also, can I get interdose withdrawal this low, or is that not a thing with lex?

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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I took .05 total yesterday. Last night was much better than the night before (skipped that dose bc I was still afraid of SS). 
 

I have a phone appointment Friday with a counselor recommended by mad in America website. 
 

Magnesium l-threonate, glycinate, & lysinate are all helping with the panic waves. I still have them today, worse after eating, trying to eat just fruit & then meat or eggs. Body feels hot all over (no fever), feels like my brain is burning.

 

I know switching up my dose too much caused this (as well as recent life stress), but I just keep second guessing what dose I should be on.

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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  • Moderator

Sounds like the .05 would be a good place to start.

20 years on Paxil starting at 20mg and working up to 40mg. Sept 2011 started 10% every 6 weeks taper (2.5% every week for 4 weeks then hold for 2 additional weeks), currently at 7.9mg. Oct 2011 CTed 15oz vodka a night, to only drinking 2 beers most nights, totally sober Feb 2013.

Since I wrote this I have continued to decrease my dose by 10% every 6 weeks (2.5% every week for 4 weeks and then hold for an additional 2 weeks). I added in an extra 6 week hold when I hit 10mg to let things settle out even more. When I hit 3mgpw it became hard to split the drop into 4 parts so I switched to dropping 1mgpw (pill weight) every week for 3 weeks and then holding for another 3 weeks.  The 3 + 3 schedule turned out to be too harsh so I cut back to dropping 1mgpw every 4 weeks which is working better.

Final Dose 0.016mg.     Current dose 0.000mg 04-15-2017

 

"It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can loose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general."  Stephen Hawking

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Hey Dee, I messaged you 

Zoloft  3/2022 4 doses- adverse reaction

Lexapro  4/2022 10mg

Taper began 6/2022: 5.0mg

End of 2022: 3.2mg

End of 2023: 1.8mg

2024 taper:

2/3/24: 1.76mg

3/2/24: 1.7mg

4/15/24: WD symptoms 

4/24/24: updose 1.72mg
Propranolol  30mg 3x day 4/15/2425mg 3x day 5/13/24 

 

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Hi Dee, I was just looking at the board & noticing your posts. Fellow patient tapering slowly, and also a stay at home mom for now.

 

i remember going through WD in the past & having a really similar period of constant panic.  At that time there wasn’t SA and the community and I got back on meds believing I had a serious mental illness.

 

You are not alone!  
 

In another post you mentioned following a routine using your morning basket after the kids are in school. Do you still do this? 

 

 

 

Zoloft 50 mg since 2019.   
2024. January. 33.75 February. 33.75 March 32.5 April 30.0

2023. January 33.75 mg  February 32.5 mg March 30.0 mg April 27.5 mg June 50 mg August 40 mg September-December 37.5 mg December 33.75 mg 

2022. January 50mg February 45 mg March 40.5 April-November 37.5  December 33.75 mg

 

Prior to discontinuation:  20 years of a variety of antidepressants & anti-anxiety meds from months to  years at a time (fluoxetine, nefazodone, venlafaxine, clonazepam, hydroxyzine).  I was unknowingly experiencing discontinuation and was frequently diagnosed with anxiety/exacerbations of previous illness as opposed to discontinuation. 

 

Supplements: Fish oil, Vitamin D3, magnesium,  B complex, l-theanine

 

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I dropped to .045 for 3 days, and each day has been slightly better than the last. Yesterday, I had 0 waves after 11am! 😳 Until… I took my dose in the evening, bad reaction again. Feels like my brain is burning, weird activation, just feel sick, anxiety. Ug. I may do .04 tonight, but I’m honestly scared to take anything again.

 

@CeruleanSea I’m in survival mode atm. I was able to get my self care list out yesterday & do some things on it, so that’s improvement!

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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Well, you guys would be proud, I stuck to my dose yesterday, and didn’t get many side effects. 🙌🏼 Feeling slightly better again today. Walked for 20 min outside with my teenage son this am. 
 

It’s really hard to measure to this decimal pt. .00_ with a 1ml syringe. You can do right in the middle of 2 marks for .005, but even that can have variance. I may need to start diluting but scared to change anything RN.

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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  • 2 weeks later...

I now have akathesia from an updose. 4 days since. I need to lower, correct?

 

@brassmonkey @Erimus

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

Link to comment

Or will my brain adjust? Help!

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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Hey @Dee12h

 

How are things for you? Any change from your last message?

 

What dose are you taking right now?

 

 

Supplements: Vit D3, Fish oil, Magnesium bisglycenate 200mg (when needed), Melatonin 1.25mg (when needed), Camomile tea (1 cup before bed), THC oil (0.03ml once a week, don't do this to yourself), Vit C 500mg a day
Started effexor in 2011.

Stopped effexor in 2012 (fast tamper).

Got back on effexor in 2012.

Tried stopping effexor again in 2014 (I'm not sure?), fast tamper again.

Started effexor again in 2014.

Switched to Escitalopram in 2016 I believe

Stopped Escitalopram 10mg cold turkey on January 3 2024.

Reinstated Escitalopram 5mg on april 2 2024.

Down to 1mg on april 3 2024, 1.25mg on april 11 2024

 

 

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I am on .06 and holding no matter what. Barely holding onto life by a thread.

those who got AKA from playing around with doses, how long to stabilize?

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

Link to comment

I'm so sorry @Dee12h, it is quite a battle that you are fighting against lexapro withdrawal.

 

I wish I had an answer about the aka. I have no experience at all with it.

 

Keep fighting and keep us updated.

Supplements: Vit D3, Fish oil, Magnesium bisglycenate 200mg (when needed), Melatonin 1.25mg (when needed), Camomile tea (1 cup before bed), THC oil (0.03ml once a week, don't do this to yourself), Vit C 500mg a day
Started effexor in 2011.

Stopped effexor in 2012 (fast tamper).

Got back on effexor in 2012.

Tried stopping effexor again in 2014 (I'm not sure?), fast tamper again.

Started effexor again in 2014.

Switched to Escitalopram in 2016 I believe

Stopped Escitalopram 10mg cold turkey on January 3 2024.

Reinstated Escitalopram 5mg on april 2 2024.

Down to 1mg on april 3 2024, 1.25mg on april 11 2024

 

 

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