Mascasa: Oral Lexapro taper

[Mascasa]

@ChessieCatSre there thoughts on when I should add the supplement? The dose would be one capsule to start.

[ChessieCat]

I think it would be best to wait until you are stable.  That way it will be easier to notice any changes.

[Mascasa]

@ChessieCatThank you. Agreed. I think this last drop things came on faster than usual. I usually feel a drop about Thursday after the Sunday taper. But experiencing that low that comes with a taper. I am going to hang here awhile. Just a bag of wanting to cry and probably should. Did you ever experience those really lows and wanting to cry? 

[ChessieCat]

There are many existing topics where members discuss their symptoms.  You can either use the site search function or use an internet search engine and add site:survivingantidepressants.org to the search term.

 

deep-emotional-pain-and-crying-spells-spontaneous-weeping

 

[Mascasa]

Thank you. Seems it can definitely happen. Checked out the links.

[Mascasa]

@ChessieCat@AltostrataI am having quite a bit of lows the last two days since my last taper down. I shared this with ChessieCat already. Should I hang in there and stabilize at 8.7 or go back up a bit?

[Mascasa]

@Altostrata Can you please advise on taper? I am at 8.7. Just went down Sunday. It has been such a low low weepy day today. First time in a long time. Would you advise to go back to 9.2 and hang there awhile? Or 8.9 in the middle? Appreciate your thoughts.

[Altostrata]

Do you have any other symptoms you attribute to the Lexapro reduction? How has this mood symptom evolved since Sunday? When did it appear?

[Mascasa]

@Altostrata Thank you for responding.  I have honestly felt so sad and weepy since the drop. Started the next day. Unusual for me because I usually feel it around the 4th day. Thanksgiving night after everyone went home, I just broke. Shared that with my husband on Friday morning. Felt a bit better as the day went on. I did go back up to 8.9 and have stayed there since Tuesday. Other symptoms might be the teeth grinding again. A bit of dizziness. Had a bit of anxiety this morning. But I just sat with it. I ran out of my magnesium and am working on getting it again. So have had to add a new magnesium in place. Need some encouragement and advice please.

[Mascasa]

@Altostrata Boy this is really been so hard.  Very low. I have stayed at 8.9 since last Tuesday. Lots of crying. I am facing health issues too. Am wondering if I just need to hold at 8.9 or go back a bit until the health issues stabilize. Seems like I am trying to tackle a lot and work right now. Can you give me some feedback on sticking with the 8.9 or going back up a notch? Thank you again.

 

[Heath]

Hello mascasa! Sorry you are struggling. Just here to encourage! I can’t answer for Altostrata. 
 

I will tell you when changing dose most of the time with these drugs we will not notice a change for a while ( lag time ) I call it.

About a year ago this happened to me. I was tapering along my merry way within 10% and bam it caught up with me! Same symptoms as you. And I chose to bump dose back up just a little. And then I held for 6 months same dose same time every day. I was feeling myself again around the first 3 months of that 6 months.  After that happened now I taper slower than 10% every 6 weeks. My history with these ssri withdrawals is 3 to 6 month holds usually get me good and stable but that’s me.
Now as far as reinstating or not we are all different in different lives. The choice is yours and Altostrata is the best to guide you. 
my goal used to be get off these stuff ASAP now my goal is to get off this drug with less symptoms as possible 

sometimes a long hold is good. And sometimes slowing the taper is a good thing.

This will pass hang on 💪

[Mascasa]

@Heath Thank you for responding. So curious I left 9.2 to go to my next drop. That was 8.7 but obviously too much for me. Plus I have  a lot of health issues while trying to drop. So with  your situation you just went back to the dose before you dropped? Mine would be 9.2. I have been on 8.9 for almost 1 week. I am wondering if just sticking it out another week to see if I stabilize before I go back to 9.2?

I am willing to hold here if things settle down. These lows though... 

[Heath]

Yes I went back to previous dose . I am with you on the other health issues. Yes lows are tough enough besides trying to go to work. 
 

I am not experienced enough to give the best advice nor am I a moderator. Altostrata can advise you. 

either way you go you will stabilize just how long which way? No one knows. 

 

I can say that for most stability after being destabilized doesn’t come as fast as a week or so.   I’m not trying to disappoint but just to give you an idea and to know it will come . It’s a gradual thing. Patience key. 

 

[ChessieCat]

It isn't always necessary, or a good idea, to go back to the last dose.  Doing an updose partway means that you have still made a reduction and also that you will have less to taper.  Just something to consider.

[Mascasa]

So what I think I am hearing is just stay put at 8.9 until I feel better?

[ChessieCat]

It depends on how bad the withdrawal symptoms are.  When I had withdrawal symptoms after a reduction I would ask myself if this continues like this can I cope with it.  There were a couple of times when I knew that I was not able to so I updosed by a small amount, but not back the previous dose.  And there were times when I could handle them and knew that holding on that dose would allow my brain to get used to the new dose.

 

Only you can make the decision about how bad your withdrawal symptoms are and what you do regarding your dose.

 

It is important not to taper again until you are stable:

 

Stability

 

WDnormal

 

Moderator brassmonkey has written more about WDnormal in his Success Story:

 

tao-of-the-brassmonkey

[Mascasa]

Thank you again. I read the links you provided. I am not stabilized. The symptoms are compounded with health issues too right now. I have developed costochronditis and deal with back issues. So thinking I can maybe keep at 8.9 a bit more. Then if things don't improve back up a bit to 9? I do believe if the health issues were calmer, things would be a bit easier. Who knows? I just know now that I am dizzy off and on, and a bit nauseous from something. Just not feeling well. Surprised it came at this reduction.

[Altostrata]

On 11/29/2021 at 12:30 PM, Mascasa said:

I am facing health issues too.

 

Are these health issues related to Lexapro or something else? Are these the trigger for your weeping spells?

 

Do you have any other symptoms you attribute to withdrawal from Lexapro?

[Mascasa]

@AltostrataThank you for answering me. I know the RLS is from tapering. The costochronditis is mechanical related to bone, but really came about during the tapering process.

Very weepy but more so with this drop or reduction. I know health plays a part of things, but this is different like depressed. I never was depressed or felt this low before being on this medication. The thing is I was on it for 1.5 years with it never really helping.

Symptoms right now are very dizzy, feel nauseated, a little out of sorts like trying to function in my job. Just not feeling well. Goodness I thought this would start lower than then 8.9. So not sure what I should do at this  point.

[Altostrata]

21 hours ago, Mascasa said:

I have been on 8.9 for almost 1 week. I am wondering if just sticking it out another week to see if I stabilize before I go back to 9.2?

 

It sounds like you have fairly mild withdrawal symptoms. You might go to 9.0mg and stay there for a couple of months or more. 

 

It happens that if people have been steadily tapering, at different points they need to stop tapering and let their systems rest from drug changes for a while. 

 

Have you tried fish oil and magnesium supplements helpful, see

 

https://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/

 

https://survivingantidepressants.org/topic/15483-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/

 

You might try a little bit of one at a time to see how it affects you.

 

Magnesium in particular is good for muscle aches and spasms. Leg twitches are also related to not drinking enough water.

 

Please let us know how you’re doing.

[Mascasa]

@AltostrataThank you again. That is good advice. Yes, I take magnesium glycinate on a regular basis. I am eating more fish with omega 3. Tried the fish oil supplements. I found they might have made things a bit worse weepy wise.

I will go back to 9 and hang out there.

Appreciate you all.

Kathy

[Mascasa]

@Altostrata I know this might be an age old question. But looking at the taper spreadsheet it will take me maybe 2+ years to finally taper off. That’s not including the 7 months I have done. I was on Lexapro for about 1.8 years. So longer to taper than been on it? 

[ChessieCat]

It doesn't look like you were given the link to this topic:

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

When I got to a low dose and got frustrated and thought it was stupid taking such a small amount of drug I keep reminding myself that it was my brain which needed the drug.

 

The brain is always trying to reach homeostasis.  That is it is always making changes to get the balance right.

 

When we take a psychiatric drug our brain adapts to getting that drug.  The brain can fully adapt to the drug in a little as 1 month.  Sometime people can taper faster than 10%/4 weekly if they have only been on the drug for about up to 3 months (and they haven't taken previous drugs).

 

The rate of taper is dictated by the brain and has nothing to do with how determined or strong we are as a person.  The 10%/4 weekly taper is a guide.  Some people might be able to taper faster and some have to taper more slowly.

 

The 10%/4 weekly taper allows the brain to adapt gradually as the drug is taken away gradually and this can help to keep withdrawal symptoms to a minimum.  When the drug is taken away too quickly it has a lots of adaptation to make which is why a lot of people get bad withdrawal symptoms when the stop the drug too fast.

 

It is better to taper as slowly as you need to so that you keep withdrawal symptoms to a minimum than to go too fast and risk getting bad withdrawal symptoms.  We have SA members who have tried to go faster and it ended up taking them longer than if they had followed SA's taper rate.  And some of them ended up changing to a different drug (and things became worse) or another drug was added and of course then they have to taper off that one too.

[Mascasa]

I read the link and have a few questions about it when you get a chance.

[ChessieCat]

5 hours ago, Mascasa said:

have a few questions about it

 

?

[Mascasa]

On 8/5/2011 at 1:43 PM, Altostrata said:

• If you have very minor or no symptoms from these 2 reductions, you can try reducing by 10% (calculated on the last dosage, the amount of decrease keeps getting smaller) every 3 weeks. Do that twice. If no problems, you might be able to reduce by 10% every 2 weeks.
•  

@ChessieCatCan you help with this quote? The first part reducing by 10% on the last dosage every 3 weeks? And then 10% every 2 weeks. So if I am at 8.9. Having some nausea with this drop, might go to 9 (per Altostrata) and stick there. Then how do I calculate that for those options? Thank you.

[ChessieCat]

1 hour ago, Mascasa said:

The first part reducing by 10% on the last dosage every 3 weeks?

 

If your last dose will be 9mg (I am assuming that you are going to increase) then to get a 10% reduction you multiple 9mg x 0.9 = 8.1mg.

 

The next reduction is calculated on the 8.1mg dose.  So 8.1mg x 0.9 = 7.29mg.

 

If you round the amount for easier measuring always round up so the reduction is never greater than 10%.  If you round up to 7.3mg then the next reduction is calculated on 7.3mg, not 7.29mg.

 

Edited December 2, 2021 by ChessieCat
hit reply before I had completed post

[Mascasa]

Thank you. I just finished reading your story and taper calendar. Was your taper soley based on your body and how it was feeling? I see fluctuations in the taper and days held. Also, it looks like you had some tummy issues, but going back up helped a bit? I would so love the nausea to subside. Been all day today. Any suggestions for that? Any supplements you used?

So I stay at the 8.1 for three weeks? Or longer depending on my body and how things go.

Edited December 2, 2021 by Mascasa
added more

[ChessieCat]

I did NOT increase due to stomach issues.  I did have an upset stomach when I reduced right at the start but it went after a few days.  My reason for updosing was due to very bad cog fog which lifted after I updosed.

 

I only supplements I took were magnesium and omega.

 

Here is the topic on nausea:

 

what-to-do-for-dizziness-queasiness-nausea

 

You stay on the current dose for as long as you need to.  Making a reduction when you are still experiencing withdrawal symptoms is probably only setting yourself up for new and possibly worse symptoms.  You need to listen to your body/symptoms and taper according to them.  The symptoms are because the brain is adapting to get less of the drug.  You cannot hurry it up.

 

Please make sure you read these that I posted before:

 

On 11/30/2021 at 4:30 PM, ChessieCat said:

It is important not to taper again until you are stable:

 

Stability

 

WDnormal

 

Moderator brassmonkey has written more about WDnormal in his Success Story:

 

tao-of-the-brassmonkey

 

 

[Mascasa]

Thank you. I am planning on staying put at 9 until I settle down. I will look at the links you sent me. 

[Mascasa]

18 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

You cannot hurry it up.

I just finished reading the links. I saw where ginger can help. I ordered some ginger tablets to help me.

I was wondering about the pain medicine I am on too. I have been prescribed tylenol #3 (codeine) for RLS that has come along with the tapering. I take 1/2 to maybe on a rare occasion 1 tablet. It does help and I get to sleep without moving my legs too much AND having pain from my foot. However, I am not sure about it after seeing some research. Any thoughts on pain medicine during a taper? I will check the search bars too.

Last question, do you have any recommendations for fish oil? There are so may brands. 

You have been so kind to answer me. This is so hard.

[ChessieCat]

59 minutes ago, Mascasa said:

I was wondering about the pain medicine I am on too. I have been prescribed tylenol #3 (codeine) for RLS that has come along with the tapering. I take 1/2 to maybe on a rare occasion 1 tablet. It does help and I get to sleep without moving my legs too much AND having pain from my foot. However, I am not sure about it after seeing some research. Any thoughts on pain medicine during a taper? I will check the search bars too.

 

Non-drug treatments for restless legs

 

From Wikipedia

 

Quote

Codeine is an opiate and prodrug of morphine used to treat pain, coughing, and diarrhea.

 

It can cause constipation.  It is also addictive and it best to be taper it if you take it every day.  SA does not provide assistance with this.  However, for me personally, I was able to make 25% reductions every 2-3 days.  Just like antidepressants you need to listen to your body, and only make one change at a time.

 

1 hour ago, Mascasa said:

Last question, do you have any recommendations for fish oil? There are so may brands. 

 

You will need to check the topic:

 

Omega-3 Fish Oil

 

 

 

 

 

[Heath]

Trader Joe’s brand is mentioned in the topic chessiecat listed. I use it sometimes. The topic will tell you how to look for quality omega 3

[ChessieCat]

  

59 minutes ago, Mascasa said:

I was wondering about the pain medicine I am on too. I have been prescribed tylenol #3 (codeine) for RLS that has come along with the tapering. I take 1/2 to maybe on a rare occasion 1 tablet. It does help and I get to sleep without moving my legs too much AND having pain from my foot. However, I am not sure about it after seeing some research. Any thoughts on pain medicine during a taper? I will check the search bars too.

 

Non-drug treatments for restless legs

 

From Wikipedia

 

Quote

Codeine is an opiate and prodrug of morphine used to treat pain, coughing, and diarrhea.

 

It can cause constipation.  It is also addictive and it best to be taper it if you take it every day.  SA does not provide assistance with this.  However, for me personally, I was able to make 25% reductions every 2-3 days.  Just like antidepressants you need to listen to your body, and only make one change at a time.

 

1 hour ago, Mascasa said:

Last question, do you have any recommendations for fish oil? There are so may brands. 

 

You will need to check the topic:

 

Omega-3 Fish Oil

 

[Mascasa]

Thanks again. So if I am to read this correctly best just taper the ad and let the Tylenol alone for a bit. I take 1/2 tab. So hoping I won’t have too much of a problem. I will look at the link

[ChessieCat]

26 minutes ago, Mascasa said:

So if I am to read this correctly best just taper the ad and let the Tylenol alone for a bit.

 

It is your decision what you do. 

 

All I was doing was providing you with relevant information and telling you what I did when I stopped my pain killers which contained codeine.  Before I started taking them I knew that they were addictive so I knew not to stop taking them suddenly.