Canuck19 Posted July 17, 2023 Posted July 17, 2023 Hi All, I've been having an incredibly tough time with getting off Lexapro (15mg). Ended up panicking after a month of reduction (12.5mg started in April, 2023) and reinstated at my last dose (15mg May 2023). This seemed to reverse any progress I made and probably made the WD symptoms worse than before. Now I have been holding at the 15mg for over 2 months and have seen some improvement but now am starting to get worse again. Would it be worth starting a slow taper again even with some residual symptoms. The physical side effects are really affecting me. The symptoms I am most bothered by are eye related, (eye floaters, blurry vision, snow, eye discomfort, eye twitches), heightened anxiety, high blood pressure, panic attacks. Symptoms I had when switching doses and that have subsided include, dizziness, tinnitus, nausea, headaches, muscle tremors, spasms. I was stable on them for 3 years and when going down to the 12.5 within a few days all the side effects starting to hit me originally. May 2020: started Lexapro 10mg August 2020: increased to 15mg Aug 2020-April 2023:Dose between 10mg to 20mg don't remember when but never had issues) April 2023: Started tapering to 12.5mg after long time at 15mg, Bad side effects (eye floaters, dizziness, headaches, tremors) May 2023: Reinstate at 15mg hoping would help after 3-4 weeks of bad symptoms. Restarted most symptoms that were subsiding July 2023: Holding at 15mg possibly not consistent with dosing 10mg tabs causing some effects, still experiencing symptoms August 2023: Started to attempt very slow 2-5% tapering again by weight which made symptoms worse and then switched to liquid 5mg and pill 10mg combo Sep-Nov: Slowly tapered to 12.5mg with 10mg pill and remainder from Cipralex suspension. Symptoms were tolerable generally, held at 12.5mg for at least 4 weeks. Dec: Dropped to 12.25mg, bad withdrawal symptoms again.
Moderator Emeritus Onmyway Posted July 17, 2023 Moderator Emeritus Posted July 17, 2023 Hi @Canuck19 you need to let your body catch up with the changes so starting to taper again is a bad idea when you are in this situation. The 'windows and wave' pattern of recovery suggests that things will get better and then worse and better again for a while - each is temporary. You will eventually get better. You may wish to taper slower - smaller reductions once you stabilize perhaps using Brassmonkey's slide method (2.5% of your previous week every week for four weeks and then two week hold) or even slower than that. Did the updosing make things better or worse for you? OMW "Nothing so small as a moment is insurmountable, and moments are all that we have. You have survived every trial and tribulation that life has thrown at you up until this very instant. When future troubles come—and they will come—a version of you will be born into that moment that can conquer them, too." - Kevin Koenig I am not a doctor and this should not be considered medical advice. You can use the information and recommendations provided in whatever way you want and all decisions on your treatment are yours. In the next few weeks I do not have a lot of capacity to respond to questions. If you need a quick answer pls tag or ask other moderators who may want to be tagged. Aug 2000 - July 2003 (ct, 4-6 wk wd) , citalopram 20 mg, xanax prn, wellbutrin for a few months, trazodone prn Dec 2004 - July 2018 citalopram 20 mg, xanax prn (rarely used) Aug 2018 - citalopram 40 mg (self titrated up) September 2018 - January 2019 tapered citalopram - 40/30/20/10/5 no issues until a week after reaching 0 Feb 2019 0.25 xanax - 0.5/day (3 weeks) over to klonopin 0.25 once a day to manage severe wd March 6, reinstated citalopram 2.5 mg (liquid), klonopin 0.25 mg for sleep 2-3 times a week Apr 1st citalopram 2.0 mg (liquid), klonopin 0.25 once a week (off by 4/14/19- no tapering) citalopram (liquid) 4/14/19 -1.8 mg, 5/8/19 - 1.6 mg, 7/27/19 -1.5 mg, 8/15/19 - 1.35, 2/21/21 - 1.1 (smaller drops in between), 6/20/21 - 1.03 mg, 8/7/21- 1.025, 8/11/21 - 1.02, 8/15/21 - 1.015, 9/3/21 - 0.925 (fingers crossed!), 10/8/21 - 0.9, 10/18/21 - 0.875, 12/31/21 - 0.85, 1/7/22 - 0.825, 1/14/22 - 0.8, 1/22/22 - 0.785, 8/18/22 - 0.59, 12/15/2022 - 0.48, 2/15/22 - 0.43, 25/07/23 - 0.25 (mistake), 6/08/23 - 0.33mg Supplements: magnesium citrate and bi-glycinate
Canuck19 Posted July 17, 2023 Author Posted July 17, 2023 Thanks for that. I’ve been trying to stabilize and seem to be going through some waves and windows. Thought it had maybe gotten better but have had a major setback the last few weeks. overall it had gotten worse since the updose though. I strongly regret it since I think I was stabilizing at the 12,5 mg possible I was also being to careless with breaking my tablets in half and not taking a consistent 15mg dose May 2020: started Lexapro 10mg August 2020: increased to 15mg Aug 2020-April 2023:Dose between 10mg to 20mg don't remember when but never had issues) April 2023: Started tapering to 12.5mg after long time at 15mg, Bad side effects (eye floaters, dizziness, headaches, tremors) May 2023: Reinstate at 15mg hoping would help after 3-4 weeks of bad symptoms. Restarted most symptoms that were subsiding July 2023: Holding at 15mg possibly not consistent with dosing 10mg tabs causing some effects, still experiencing symptoms August 2023: Started to attempt very slow 2-5% tapering again by weight which made symptoms worse and then switched to liquid 5mg and pill 10mg combo Sep-Nov: Slowly tapered to 12.5mg with 10mg pill and remainder from Cipralex suspension. Symptoms were tolerable generally, held at 12.5mg for at least 4 weeks. Dec: Dropped to 12.25mg, bad withdrawal symptoms again.
Moderator Emeritus Onmyway Posted July 17, 2023 Moderator Emeritus Posted July 17, 2023 Have you had any alcohol in the last few days - or other psychoactive substances (some supplements and non psych medications also cross the blood brain barrier). The brain in withdrawal is super sensitive to changes so keep it steady in every aspect as much as you can. You will know when you're ready to taper- it took me about 5 months after i stopped tapering to get some sense of normal. Also drinking more water helps floaters a lot - they're physical objects in the eye (vitreous) so I think in withdrawal what changes is your noticing of them - the same way you become hypersensitive to sound or light (some do). OMW "Nothing so small as a moment is insurmountable, and moments are all that we have. You have survived every trial and tribulation that life has thrown at you up until this very instant. When future troubles come—and they will come—a version of you will be born into that moment that can conquer them, too." - Kevin Koenig I am not a doctor and this should not be considered medical advice. You can use the information and recommendations provided in whatever way you want and all decisions on your treatment are yours. In the next few weeks I do not have a lot of capacity to respond to questions. If you need a quick answer pls tag or ask other moderators who may want to be tagged. Aug 2000 - July 2003 (ct, 4-6 wk wd) , citalopram 20 mg, xanax prn, wellbutrin for a few months, trazodone prn Dec 2004 - July 2018 citalopram 20 mg, xanax prn (rarely used) Aug 2018 - citalopram 40 mg (self titrated up) September 2018 - January 2019 tapered citalopram - 40/30/20/10/5 no issues until a week after reaching 0 Feb 2019 0.25 xanax - 0.5/day (3 weeks) over to klonopin 0.25 once a day to manage severe wd March 6, reinstated citalopram 2.5 mg (liquid), klonopin 0.25 mg for sleep 2-3 times a week Apr 1st citalopram 2.0 mg (liquid), klonopin 0.25 once a week (off by 4/14/19- no tapering) citalopram (liquid) 4/14/19 -1.8 mg, 5/8/19 - 1.6 mg, 7/27/19 -1.5 mg, 8/15/19 - 1.35, 2/21/21 - 1.1 (smaller drops in between), 6/20/21 - 1.03 mg, 8/7/21- 1.025, 8/11/21 - 1.02, 8/15/21 - 1.015, 9/3/21 - 0.925 (fingers crossed!), 10/8/21 - 0.9, 10/18/21 - 0.875, 12/31/21 - 0.85, 1/7/22 - 0.825, 1/14/22 - 0.8, 1/22/22 - 0.785, 8/18/22 - 0.59, 12/15/2022 - 0.48, 2/15/22 - 0.43, 25/07/23 - 0.25 (mistake), 6/08/23 - 0.33mg Supplements: magnesium citrate and bi-glycinate
Canuck19 Posted July 17, 2023 Author Posted July 17, 2023 I have not had alcohol in the last week or two but had some before that. I am now cutting it out completely. I have some ativan .5mg that I have taken as needed. Lately to calm down from panic attacks but am trying my best to withhold. I was able to go months without any but now seem to be panicking more regularly. I have had to travel by plane which has not helped with the anxiety. I have been trying to take magnesium and omega 3's, sometimes some other vitamins as well. May 2020: started Lexapro 10mg August 2020: increased to 15mg Aug 2020-April 2023:Dose between 10mg to 20mg don't remember when but never had issues) April 2023: Started tapering to 12.5mg after long time at 15mg, Bad side effects (eye floaters, dizziness, headaches, tremors) May 2023: Reinstate at 15mg hoping would help after 3-4 weeks of bad symptoms. Restarted most symptoms that were subsiding July 2023: Holding at 15mg possibly not consistent with dosing 10mg tabs causing some effects, still experiencing symptoms August 2023: Started to attempt very slow 2-5% tapering again by weight which made symptoms worse and then switched to liquid 5mg and pill 10mg combo Sep-Nov: Slowly tapered to 12.5mg with 10mg pill and remainder from Cipralex suspension. Symptoms were tolerable generally, held at 12.5mg for at least 4 weeks. Dec: Dropped to 12.25mg, bad withdrawal symptoms again.
Canuck19 Posted January 9 Author Posted January 9 I have been using 10mg now from a pill and slowly tapering the rest with a liquid suspension. Is this safe to do long term? Haven't seen other people stay on a pill and liquid combo before? May 2020: started Lexapro 10mg August 2020: increased to 15mg Aug 2020-April 2023:Dose between 10mg to 20mg don't remember when but never had issues) April 2023: Started tapering to 12.5mg after long time at 15mg, Bad side effects (eye floaters, dizziness, headaches, tremors) May 2023: Reinstate at 15mg hoping would help after 3-4 weeks of bad symptoms. Restarted most symptoms that were subsiding July 2023: Holding at 15mg possibly not consistent with dosing 10mg tabs causing some effects, still experiencing symptoms August 2023: Started to attempt very slow 2-5% tapering again by weight which made symptoms worse and then switched to liquid 5mg and pill 10mg combo Sep-Nov: Slowly tapered to 12.5mg with 10mg pill and remainder from Cipralex suspension. Symptoms were tolerable generally, held at 12.5mg for at least 4 weeks. Dec: Dropped to 12.25mg, bad withdrawal symptoms again.
Moderator Emeritus Onmyway Posted January 10 Moderator Emeritus Posted January 10 @Canuck19, yes, people do it sometimes. No issues as long as you are consistent with the tapering Good luck. "Nothing so small as a moment is insurmountable, and moments are all that we have. You have survived every trial and tribulation that life has thrown at you up until this very instant. When future troubles come—and they will come—a version of you will be born into that moment that can conquer them, too." - Kevin Koenig I am not a doctor and this should not be considered medical advice. You can use the information and recommendations provided in whatever way you want and all decisions on your treatment are yours. In the next few weeks I do not have a lot of capacity to respond to questions. If you need a quick answer pls tag or ask other moderators who may want to be tagged. Aug 2000 - July 2003 (ct, 4-6 wk wd) , citalopram 20 mg, xanax prn, wellbutrin for a few months, trazodone prn Dec 2004 - July 2018 citalopram 20 mg, xanax prn (rarely used) Aug 2018 - citalopram 40 mg (self titrated up) September 2018 - January 2019 tapered citalopram - 40/30/20/10/5 no issues until a week after reaching 0 Feb 2019 0.25 xanax - 0.5/day (3 weeks) over to klonopin 0.25 once a day to manage severe wd March 6, reinstated citalopram 2.5 mg (liquid), klonopin 0.25 mg for sleep 2-3 times a week Apr 1st citalopram 2.0 mg (liquid), klonopin 0.25 once a week (off by 4/14/19- no tapering) citalopram (liquid) 4/14/19 -1.8 mg, 5/8/19 - 1.6 mg, 7/27/19 -1.5 mg, 8/15/19 - 1.35, 2/21/21 - 1.1 (smaller drops in between), 6/20/21 - 1.03 mg, 8/7/21- 1.025, 8/11/21 - 1.02, 8/15/21 - 1.015, 9/3/21 - 0.925 (fingers crossed!), 10/8/21 - 0.9, 10/18/21 - 0.875, 12/31/21 - 0.85, 1/7/22 - 0.825, 1/14/22 - 0.8, 1/22/22 - 0.785, 8/18/22 - 0.59, 12/15/2022 - 0.48, 2/15/22 - 0.43, 25/07/23 - 0.25 (mistake), 6/08/23 - 0.33mg Supplements: magnesium citrate and bi-glycinate
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