Giuly88:Having bad withdrawal from escitalopram

[Giuly88]

Hi everyone, I’m currently withdrawing from escitalopram. I was on this AD for 6 weeks and tapered down within 2 weeks. It is now the 16th day since I stopped this medication and I’m experiencing the following symptoms: redness on my hands and feet with burning feelings, vaginal burning, muscle spasms on my legs, tingling sensations all over and a severe insomnia. How can ease these symptoms. Can anybody help please? Will they go away? 

[Gridley]

Welcome to SA, Giuly88.

 

To give members the best information, we ask them to summarize their medication history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements.  A list format is best.  Here's an example for your situation:

 

Escitalopram: starting dose, date you started, dates of your 2-week taper, and final dose before you stopped taking the drug.

 

Here's the link to post your signature:

 

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

You are suffering withdrawal symptoms from a too-fast taper off the Escitalopram.  We recommend tapering by no more than 10% of current dose every 4 weeks.  

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

A person is at risk of withdrawal after taking an antidepressant for 4 weeks. The symptoms you describe are typical withdrawal symptoms.

 

What is withdrawal syndrome.

 

Brain Remodelling 

 

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) 

 

Regarding easing your symptoms, the only known way to mitigate withdrawal symptoms is a very, very small reinstatement of the drug you were taking, in your case Escitalopram.  The only alternative is to wait it out until the symptoms go away.  Unfortunately, there is no way to predict how long this will take. 

 

Reinstatement works most predictably if done within 3 months of your last dose; at 16 days out you're well within this frame.  It's best to reinstate as soon as possible after cessation.  Then, once you've stabilized on that very small dosage, which can take several months, you can begin a 10% per month taper down to zero.   Please read:

 

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms. -- at least the first page of the topic

 

Once you've completed your drug signature, we can suggest a reinstatement dose.  Please do not reinstate without allowing us to suggest a dosage.  Your system has been sensitized and destabilized by your fast taper, and reinstating too much can overwhelm your brain and worsen your situation.

 

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 -- the place for you to ask questions, record symptoms, share your progress, and connect with other members of the SA community.  I hope you’ll find the information in the SA forums helpful for your situation.  I'm sorry that you are in the position that you need the information, but I am glad that you found us.

 

 

 

[Jakeblack14]

Hey Giuly88,

 

I have been going through waves and windows of Escitalopram withdrawals for quite a long time. 

I don't say that to scare you, but to encourage you that there are many people who have gotten through this and are working through this. 

Glad you're here, it may be a long process, but we are here to get through it together. 

 

The moderators and admin here are really wise in this process. 

Any questions or concerns are welcome. Good luck and we are here for you. 

[Giuly88]

Hi Jakeblack14,

 

Thank you for your reply,

 

What dose would you recommend reinstating please? 16 days ago I stopped at about 2mg.

 

Thank you 🙏 

[Gridley]

14 minutes ago, Giuly88 said:

 

What dose would you recommend reinstating please? 16 days ago I stopped at about 2mg.

 

 

I'd suggest you reinstate with 0.25mg (1/4mg), no more.  It takes around 4 days for the reinstated dose to reach full strength in your bloodstream and a bit longer to register in the brain.  

 

The following link gives you information about how to get the nonstandard .25mg recommended reinstatement dose.  If you can get prescription liquid Escitalopram, this would be an excellent method for reinstatement.  If this isn't available, the link also gives you information about three other methods, making your own liquid, weighing using a digital scale, and using a compounding pharmacy.  

 

Tips for tapering off escitalopram (Lexapro)

 

Please keep us updated.

 

 

Edited February 28, 2023 by Gridley

[Giuly88]

Thank you for your answer Jackbkack14. Just a bit worried, Is 0.25 not too little a dose to reinstate? Since I stopped at about 2mg?

 

Thank you 

[Gridley]

15 minutes ago, Giuly88 said:

Just a bit worried, Is 0.25 not too little a dose to reinstate? Since I stopped at about 2mg?

This is Gridley.  It's very important not to reinstate too much.  As I said, reinstating too much can overwhelm your brain. If .25mg is, after you've given it a try for 10 days, not enough you can always increase slightly.  Reinstatement is a situation where more is definitely not better. 

Edited February 28, 2023 by Gridley

[Giuly88]

Thank you Gridley

[Jakeblack14]

I agree with Gridley, even the smallest amount can make a huge difference and is safer in the long run. 

Lexapro is a powerful drug. Similar to 2-3 times the potency of other drugs in its class. 

 

Do you find your symptoms come and go or do they stay and just escalate/mitigate? 

[Giuly88]

Thank you for your input.

 

Symptoms are constantly there: tingling, burning sensations, chills and heat flushes, redness in the inside of the hands, spasms on calves and gluteus muscles I have had them now for three weeks awful. 

[Giuly88]

Hi,

 

I am just after an advice. As I absolutely need to sleep since I am not functioning with for my family, I’m withdrawing from lexapro being over 2 weeks now and have few issues with symptoms is it safe to use Mirtazapin at a low dose for sleep to calm me down?

 

Lack of sleep is making everything difficult including recovery and emotions.

 

Thank you 🙏 

[Gridley]

@Giuly88

 

Please post all questions about your situation here in your Introduction topic rather than starting new topics.  This keeps all your information in one place.  

 

With respect to your question about taking Mirtazapine for sleep, we're a site for going off drugs and do not recommend starting a new psychiatric drug to deal with withdrawal symptoms from a previous drug.  If that's what you want to do, you should contact a doctor.

[Giuly88]

Titled:  3 weeks of 2 mg Lexapro

 

Hi, I have tremors and muscle spasms,

 

I am really suffering. Should I reinstate lexapro at a minimum dose?

Edited March 5, 2023 by manymoretodays
merged from tapering forum, title added

[manymoretodays]

Hey there Giuly88,

14 hours ago, Giuly88 said:

Titled:  3 weeks of 2 mg Lexapro

 

Hi, I have tremors and muscle spasms,

 

I am really suffering. Should I reinstate lexapro at a minimum dose?

 

On 2/28/2023 at 8:53 AM, Giuly88 said:

What dose would you recommend reinstating please? 16 days ago I stopped at about 2mg.

It occurs to me, that you might have mentioned your reinstatement of Lexapro @ 2 mg, back when you were given information, and got started here.

 

Posting right here in your topic helps us help you.  I moved your stand alone topic now back here to YOUR very own Introduction and case, for journaling, asking questions, and such......giving us the information we need as well. 

 

Such as the signature:

Here's the full link, which once read and understood, will link you to where you create the Signature, so you might attend to that piece, too. 

How to Summarize Your Drug History in Your Signature

That helps us get a feel for if this is a one time usage of Lexapro and WD, versus you have been on and off drugs for many years.......as all of that makes a difference.  And like I said, helps us understand and then help you.

 

I suppose there is the chance that you made a typo in your last title of your last post, or you are just too embarrassed to say you decided before you even arrived here to reinstate at a 2 mg dose, the same dose I think you said you came off of.   That's a high minimum dose.  It is.

Don't be embarrassed........ we get here how we get here.  Some of us pretty drug and WD weary and easily confused.  We're not a instagram or twitter site, just so you know......

 

Do your signature.  Please and thank you.  Just the year or years on the left.  Month and day for things like your unmentioned here in your Introduction/personal case study, Lexapro already reinstated at 2 mg.  Note all drugs off and on through the years by name and dosage the best you can recall.

 

 

 

So now in addition to these WD(withdrawal) symptoms that I will quote below:

On 2/28/2023 at 7:15 AM, Giuly88 said:

Hi everyone, I’m currently withdrawing from escitalopram. I was on this AD for 6 weeks and tapered down within 2 weeks. It is now the 16th day since I stopped this medication and I’m experiencing the following symptoms: redness on my hands and feet with burning feelings, vaginal burning, muscle spasms on my legs, tingling sensations all over and a severe insomnia. How can ease these symptoms. Can anybody help please? Will they go away? 

 

You have new onset of tremors and muscle spasms?  When did those begin?  I just hope you are not over identifying with other cases, as I just talked about serotonin toxicity with another.  True that you might be hypersensitive now to SSRI's, and especially if you have been going on and off drugs like this for years.

 

If it's been  3 weeks now of your 2 mg Lexapro reinstatement taken daily at the same time each day has anything improved for you? 

If absolutely no improvement, rather than go up with your dose, I might go down to 1 mg. now.  You do need to read the Lexapro topic too, so you can figure out how to measure doses not ordinarily prescribed.  So here that is too:

Tips for tapering Lexapro(escitalopram)

 

Post right here.  Go on over and look at the Symptoms and Self care forum, especially the top pinned topics.  You'll see......so many of your symptoms and then ways to understand and then begin to cope with them as well.

 

Welcome aboard,

Love , peace, healing, and growth,

mmt(for my long user name manymoretodays)

* and do scroll up in your topic, moved your post asking about mirtazapine here and Gridley has answered

Edited March 6, 2023 by manymoretodays
merged another post from S and SC, non drug coping tips might help too, when someone has a chance

[Giuly88]

Hi,

 

I have just purchased a precision digital scale from Amazon which will arrive Wednesday 15th so that I can start reinstating 0.25 mg escitalopram as you guys have kindly suggested me. 
 

Main issue is sleep at the moment as some burning, tingling and muscle aches have eased a bit, I am now 4 weeks on from the day I stopped escitalopram. 
 

I hope it is still safe to reinstate. At the moment my biggest debilitating symptoms are SLEEP, intrusive thoughts which lead to physical anxiety and muscle tremor.
 

I wonder if 0.25 mg reinstatement would ease sleep. Any thoughts from tour experiences are enormously welcomed.

 

Thank you so much 🙏 

[Gridley]

25 minutes ago, Giuly88 said:

I wonder if 0.25 mg reinstatement would ease sleep. Any thoughts from tour experiences are enormously welcomed.

 

It could ease sleep.  I could also help the other withdrawal symptoms you have.  A few things to keep in mind about reinstatement as you prepare to start:

--Don't reinstate more than the recommended .25mg.  Too much can overwhelm your nervous system.

--The purpose of reinstatements isn't to eliminate withdrawal symptoms--though it can--but rather to make them more tolerable.

--It's possible that you'll feel the effects of the reinstatement within the same day but, as I said earlier, it takes 4 days for the reinstated drug to reach full strength in our bloodstream and a few more days for it to register in the brain.  Give it a week to 10 days.

--It's a good idea to takes notes to keep track daily how the reinstatement is doing.

--If you feel worse after the reinstatement, stop the reinstatement immediately.

 

[Giuly88]

58 minutes ago, Gridley said:

It could ease sleep.  I could also help the other withdrawal symptoms you have.  A few things to keep in mind about reinstatement as you prepare to start:

--Don't reinstate more than the recommended .25mg.  Too much can overwhelm your nervous system.

--The purpose of reinstatements isn't to eliminate withdrawal symptoms--though it can--but rather to make them more tolerable.

--It's possible that you'll feel the effects of the reinstatement within the same day but, as I said earlier, it takes 4 days for the reinstated drug to reach full strength in our bloodstream and a few more days for it to register in the brain.  Give it a week to 10 days.

--It's a good idea to takes notes to keep track daily how the reinstatement is doing.

--If you feel worse after the reinstatement, stop the reinstatement immediately.

Thank you so much Gridley 😊

58 minutes ago, Gridley said:

 

 

[Giuly88]

Hi,

 

Can anybody provide some encouraging accounts of overcoming insomnia during or after SSRI or lexapro withdrawal, of sleep coming back please?

 

I am so down and hopeless at the moment.

 

Thank you 🙏 

Edited March 16, 2023 by manymoretodays

[manymoretodays]

I can give you some links to sleep tips and insomnia.

 

And then I'm still wondering if there was another 2 mg reinstatement after your January 2023 entry in your signature.

 

From your signature:

"Beginning of January 2023 stopped escitalopram for 1 day then 2.5mg for the next day. Developed  discontinuation symptoms reinstated it at 2.5 for 1 week and 1.5 for the following week then stopped."

On 3/5/2023 at 4:35 AM, Giuly88 said:

Titled:  3 weeks of 2 mg Lexapro

 

Hi, I have tremors and muscle spasms,

 

I am really suffering. Should I reinstate lexapro at a minimum dose?

This would have been in February then, the one I quoted.

Was there any improvement with the 2 mg reinstatement for 3 weeks in February?

Any at all noticed?

 

Sorry it's still so difficult and with the insomnia too.

Do start low if you try a third reinstatement would be my best advice.

 

Do try to keep your posts right here for now too Giuly88.  I'll bold your question in the last one I moved, in hopes you get some success stories on insomnia too.  I do know you're not alone with that symptom now.  Hope you find the right solution and soon.

I'm sorry as I guess was lucky in that insomnia wasn't one of the biggest symptoms I had in withdrawal.  So many do have it and I know it throws everything off.  Hoping your reinstatement helps, that 0.25 mg.  It may.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 16, 2023 by manymoretodays

[Giuly88]

On 3/13/2023 at 4:02 PM, Giuly88 said:

Thank you so much Gridley 😊

 

Hi Manymoretodays,

 

The reason why I struggle to fall asleep is because my muscles won’t relax: I can’t keep still because my abdominal and chest muscles tighten up involuntarily without my control so I have to do constant deep breathing to relax but then as soon as I stop they tighten again. An absolute nightmare. I have not done any reinstatement yet it has been nearly 5 weeks since I stopped. Other symptoms have subsided apart from the muscle tightened and insomnia. Would the 0.25 suggested reinstatement help with these two debilitating symptoms do you think? 
 

Thank you 🙏 

[Giuly88]

Hi everyone,

 

I have read the section about tapering, however as I am about to do a 0.25 mg tapering by crushing tablet and using water, I wonder what syringe I can use as my one goes down to 0.50 and then there is just space left without lines which doesn’t allow for a precise measuring.

 

Than you for your support again.

[manymoretodays]

Giuly88,

You are still posting out of your topic.

Your answers to your current question of getting a dose below 1 mg are already right here.

I'll quote the main topic for you to look at for help with getting the 0.25 mg dose needed:

On 2/28/2023 at 9:06 AM, Gridley said:

The following link gives you information about how to get the nonstandard .25mg recommended reinstatement dose.  If you can get prescription liquid Escitalopram, this would be an excellent method for reinstatement.  If this isn't available, the link also gives you information about three other methods, making your own liquid, weighing using a digital scale, and using a compounding pharmacy.  

 

Tips for tapering off escitalopram (Lexapro)

 

Here is the direct link to:  using an oral syringe and other tapering techniques

If you are making your own suspension of 10 mg to 10 mL, you'll need a syringe that measures below 0.5 mL to get 0.25 mL, which with a 1mg per 1ml suspension approximates 0.25 mg.

 

Hope that helps.

And best.  L, P, H, and G,

mmt

 

 

 

 

[Giuly88]

Hi Manymoretodays,

 

I’m just after some reassurance. It is two weeks that I have developed voice spasmodic dystonia where I struggle to utter/project my voice and my diaphragmatic muscles spasm and hurt to the point that I have to make a real effort to be heard and it is so disabling. I have never had this before.

 

No I’m afraid of reinstating because I’m not sure whether these symptoms will subside or be made worse?

 

Thank you for any word of encouragement 🙏.

 

[Giuly88]

Hi everyone,

 

I have just reinstated 0.25 mg micro dose of escitalopram an hour ago.

 

I am scared of the adverse effects.

 

Help please!!! 
 

 

[Fifree]

Hi giuli. I read your thread tonight and I was hoping you’d take the mods’ advice. Well done. It’s a very low dose so if there are any adverse effects they should be minimal. If it’s not enough, you can go up. 
 

go well

[j1290]

On 3/21/2023 at 5:20 AM, Giuly88 said:

I wonder what syringe I can use as my one goes down to 0.50 and then there is just space left without lines which doesn’t allow for a precise measuring.

Ask on the oral syringe thread but I would increase the amount of water I used and adjust the size of my dose proportionally.  

[manymoretodays]

13 hours ago, Giuly88 said:

Hi everyone,

 

I have just reinstated 0.25 mg micro dose of escitalopram an hour ago.

 

I am scared of the adverse effects.

 

Help please!!! 
 

 

 

Okay........same dose, same method, same time each day.

17 hours ago, Giuly88 said:

I’m just after some reassurance. It is two weeks that I have developed voice spasmodic dystonia where I struggle to utter/project my voice and my diaphragmatic muscles spasm and hurt to the point that I have to make a real effort to be heard and it is so disabling. I have never had this before.

This is unusual, and I think you should definitely have it checked out as soon as possible.  It may not be related to your withdrawal.

Hoping the 0.25 mg mitigates some of your anxious feelings, which could be the neuroemotions of withdrawal and a presently unstable nervous system, sensitivity to everything.

If no symptoms are worse then previous to the reinstatement, keep going with it........let's see if there is any improvement by 4 days to 7 days......however slight.......this would be a good thing and a sign that this may help.

 

How did you feel before taking the 0.25 mg of escitalorpram.

What time, your time did you take it?

How did the day go after you took it?

How was your activity, eating, and finally sleep?

 

And then tell us again tomorrow too.  Put the times on the left and go through the day, with little notes as to your symptoms.  Be sure to account for symptoms that are changed, if they have in anyway.  Note the time also on the left, and then write down your drug and dose.

 

I hear a ton of fear and anxiety.  Be a logical observer of yourself.  Don't panic.  Try some breathing, 4 seconds in, hold for 7 seconds, out for 8 seconds, and repeat for at least 4 cycles.  Drink water.  Go through the motions now.

And I'm hoping if this voice spasmodic dystonia persists you feel better prepared to just go get it checked out next week.  This week do everything you can to self calm while trialing the initial reinstatement.

 

Oh hugs honey.  Sending peace and healing.

mmt

 

 

 

 

[Giuly88]

Hi Manymoretodays,

 

Thank you so much for your reply.

 

I think the spasmodic dystonia is related to withdrawal since I have developed it shortly after discontinuing escitalopram. I have also checked online and found two case studies for this. Dystonia is one of the symptoms, in my case it has affected my tummy, legs and buttock.

 

I had a rough night with no sleep and don’t feel any better after reinstatement. 
 

My muscles spasm uncontrollably and so do not allow me to sleep.

I took the low dose at around 2pm.
 

 

 

 

[Giuly88]

Here is the link 

https://www.dysphonia.org/sdbb-archive/189.html
 

I believe the continuous use of escitalopram over 7 years has caused this. It is my muscles that spasm all over including the diaphragm. It is absolutely debilitating.

 

It is a neurological condition linked to the CNS being disregulated and thus sending the wrong signal to the muscles.

[manymoretodays]

Giuly88,

I'm so sorry I was reading your mention of dystonia as dysphonia.

And yes we do see dystonia as a withdrawal symptom too.

And yes, it is related to nervous system dysregulation........that's correct.

 

A couple topics you can look at with an eye towards non-drug coping that other members have used:

 

Tardive Dystonia: news to me

Tardive dyskinesia, dyskinsia, dystonia, or involuntary movements

 

I'm seeing heat, and the possibility of weighted blankets of helping from looking over those links with an eye towards those with what sounds more like dystonia.

Weighted blankets and bed tents

Worth a try to see if it helps calm the dysregulation at night, along with trying out some of the other coping tips for insomnia.

And there is hope in the concept of Neuroplasticity and the brains inherent ability to heal.

 

 

And I'm so sorry, as I can only try to understand how debilitating it must be and how you feel right now.

For clarity, can you confirm that none of this started happening until you were completely off the Lexapro/escitalopram?

5 hours ago, Giuly88 said:

I had a rough night with no sleep and don’t feel any better after reinstatement. 
 

My muscles spasm uncontrollably and so do not allow me to sleep.

I took the low dose at around 2pm.

 

Is this any different from previous nights?

One day of reinstatement is just one day, we would not expect all symptoms to completely disappear after just one day of reinstatement.

 

Can you try the daily drug and symptom logs in a format like this:  keep notes on paper and then share todays tomorrow, and so forth.......for this period of a week.

DATE:

 

6 a.m. Woke with anxiety
8 a.m. Took 2.5mg Lexapro
10 a.m. Stomach is upset
10:30 a.m. Ate breakfast
11:35 a.m. Got a headache, lasted one hour
12:35 p.m. Ate lunch
4 p.m. Feel a bit better
5 p.m. Took 2.5mg Lexapro
6 p.m. Ate dinner
9:20 p.m. Headache
10:00 p.m. Took 50mg Seroquel
10:20 p.m. Feeling dizzy
10:30 p.m. Fell asleep
2:30 a.m. Woke, took 3mg Ambien (NOT "took 1/2 tablet Ambien")
2:45 a.m. Fell asleep
4:30 a.m. Woke but got back to sleep

 

Do be sure to note if and when you might feel even just a little bit okay, a time when your muscles don't feel like they are in spasm or locked up.

Stick with 2 pm, with the escitalopram 0.25 mg for at least another couple of days and honestly.........it's too soon to tell if it might help, even a little bit.

Make sure you get that noted, when you take it, to the right of the time, with the name and dose.  Get some other times down too though, with what is happening both before and after this trial dose.

 

Meantime I hope you get some sleep today, or can find some restful periods......and calm.

And again, apologies......for not noting the dystonia........my brain went to dysphonia.  And just in a busy, overwhelmed time of my own right now.  Trying to dig out.

 

Best, L, P, H, and G,

mmt

 

 

 

 

 

[Giuly88]

Hi Manymoretodays,

 

Thank you so much for all your advice and support.

 

I have not carried on reinstatement after that first 0.25mg dose since my muscle spasms worsened. Some of my symptoms subsided prior to that first dose reinstatement i.e. tremor, headaches and burning. What I have now still is muscle pain and rigidity on my buttock, arms and tummy as well as sound hyper vigilance I can literally hear even the smallest cricking noise particularly when it is silent.

My sleep is still an issue due to the brain jolting/zaps although taking magnesium at night yesterday has helped me sleep. 
 

What can you suggest? I have also read on the Rxisk online that done people never got their sleep back after stopping antidepressants even after a long time.

 

 

[manymoretodays]

12 hours ago, Giuly88 said:

Some of my symptoms subsided prior to that first dose reinstatement i.e. tremor, headaches and burning. What I have now still is muscle pain and rigidity on my buttock, arms and tummy as well as sound hyper vigilance I can literally hear even the smallest cricking noise particularly when it is silent.

My sleep is still an issue due to the brain jolting/zaps although taking magnesium at night yesterday has helped me sleep. 

 

Good on that some symptoms subsided even before you took the 0.25 mg Lexapro.  I just don't think you can psychologically do the Lexapro anymore.  Citalopram is another option so you wouldn't have to deal with your nemesis any more.  You could even start at 1 mg with that.  It is thought to be gentler than Lexapro.  And remember........you did not have these symptoms while on Lexapro, they've come about after withdrawing.  And so even with Citalopram I don't think you'll have an adverse reaction to it, at such a low dose.

 

I had like x-ray hearing early in withdrawal.  I was amusing.  I was suddenly tuned in to conversations in the neighborhood or people on their cell phones, hearing clearly what somehow I had always filtered out?  Pretty common WD symptom too, the hearing enhanced or hypervigilance.

 

Do you want to try and get started with some of the Omega 3's-Fish Oil?  I'll put the link here again.  And repeat what I got on myself and have maintained on.  It's Barlean's fresh catch, ultrapurified, with a total omega 3 content of 680 mg per 2 capsules.  I got myself up to 6 capsules or 2040 mg a day in split doses of it long ago.  I keep it in the freezer and take 3 capsules twice a day. 

You could definitely start with 2 capsules, and go a couple days, and then add 2 more with a meal, and then if all is okay.......add a little more.

Some do dose higher than I do.

It might help with the zaps at night.

 

Here's the topic on: Brain Zaps

And this:  King of supplements Omega-3 fatty acids-fish oil

 

And then if trying a little Citalopram appeals to you more, the tapering topic on that will give you ideas of how to get some that you could easily do a 1 mg dose from.  I believe there is a liquid form, if you can just get someone to prescribe it for you.  Again.....no guarantees if it will help much with this dystonia stuff, but possibly you'll feel less anxious in trying it, rather than Lexapro.

Tips for tapering off Celexa(citalopram)

 

Okay and good you tried the magnesium!!  And it helped.  Often it can help even more if spaced throughout the day, rather than just one dose.  What form did you try and then how much of it? 

You've seen some improvement Giuly88.  That is fantastic.

 

Just decide what to change or try new, and don't be overdoing with trying any multiple things at once.  Any luck with weighted blankets, even just a hefty quilt over you during the night, and/or heat in the form of a hot water bottle, heating paid, gel packs, or those rice things that you can warm in the microwave and then apply to some of those muscle tension areas.  Or a hot or warmish bath if you have a tub, especially before bed.

 

Lot's of things to try slowly.  Good improvements too.  Did you see them?  I did.

 

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

[Giuly88]

Hi Manymoretodays,

 

Thank you ever so much for your support.

 

I came across Altostrata’s suggestion of reinstating 1mg of lexapro. This would save me reinstating two many times to stabilise.

 

I have realised that perhaps my family situation with children being needy of me at the moment doesn’t allow me for a serious tapering.

 

What can you suggest please? I would then gather the courage to reinstate if safe to do so.

 

Thank you 🙏 

[Shep]

On 3/13/2023 at 11:02 AM, Gridley said:

A few things to keep in mind about reinstatement as you prepare to start:

--Don't reinstate more than the recommended .25mg.  Too much can overwhelm your nervous system.

--The purpose of reinstatements isn't to eliminate withdrawal symptoms--though it can--but rather to make them more tolerable.

--It's possible that you'll feel the effects of the reinstatement within the same day but, as I said earlier, it takes 4 days for the reinstated drug to reach full strength in our bloodstream and a few more days for it to register in the brain.  Give it a week to 10 days.

--It's a good idea to takes notes to keep track daily how the reinstatement is doing.

--If you feel worse after the reinstatement, stop the reinstatement immediately.

 

@Giuly88 Please see Gridley's post from two weeks ago. I agree with what he wrote. I wouldn't reinstate more than 0.25 mg. 

 

The more time has passed from when you stopped the drug, the lower you'll want to reinstate. This is because your nervous system is now hyper-sensitive and may over-react to the drug, especially if the dose is too high. 

 

Please read at least the first post in this thread carefully: 

 

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms. 

 

You can always increase later, but for now, adding in just 0.25 mg to start is the best way to test how a reinstatement will affect you. 

[Giuly88]

Thank you Shep 🙏.

[Shep]

@Giuly88 You're welcome. Please let us know how it goes with the reinstatement. It can take about 4 days for your nervous system to register the change and then a week or longer for your system to adjust.