Frontsider Can't wait for life after Lexapro

[Frontsider]

I'm so happy I found this forum and coincidentally, I'm no stranger to withdrawing from a psychiatric drug. I just never thought I'd have to go through it again. I had to go through a slow and very rough taper from Valium back in 2011. But once I got through to the other side, that light at the end of the tunnel was even better than I'd imagined. 

 

Life was great for the next 9 years. And then the pandemic hit, along with my at bay and very well managed anxiety. Needless to say, it came back with a vengeance. The nervous tension that built up inside of my body just kept on knocking harder and harder until I couldn't take it anymore. I was never afraid of the pandemic nor COVID-19. But the absurd lockdowns did something to a lot of us including myself. I became agoraphobic. I suppose it's natural being stuck inside for an entire year. Clearly it wasn't good for my psyche for my overall well being.

 

In early 2021 I decided, and along with the suggestion of my at the time girlfriend, to get on an SSRI. It was a struggle in the beginning to adapt to what was happening but over a period of 8 weeks, I started to feel a lot better and my debilitating symptoms of anxiety and nervous tension, slowly started to melt away. 

 

Despite feeling better psychologically, I never fully felt amazing on Lexapro. It wasn't a magic pill for me. Almost everything on this Earth that you put into your body has side effects; and Lexapro constantly made me feel fatigued and tired. They say it takes about a couple of months for those feelings to go away. Well I guess after 2 1/2 years I don't quite fit in that sample group. Maybe I'm an outlier. 

 

Life has been better for me overall, I'm happy at work, my social life is thriving and my anxiety is at bay. It's time for me to get off of Lexapro. In fact, I tried a week ago. I cut my 2.5 mg down to 1.25 and oh boy were the withdrawal effects extremely noticeable for me. Brain zaps, flu-like symptoms, headaches, shivers, dizziness and nausea. I didn't take a dose last night just to see if I could handle it. Well...I couldn't. And I took my dose at around 5:00 p.m. today. It's 9:00 p.m. right now and I'm starting to feel better again. Although I don't know if I should get back to 2.5 mg and do a slower taper. I called my prescribing doctor to see if I could get liquid form but as it turns out he retired two months ago so I have to find another option or doctor that can help me.

 

It almost reminded me of what I felt like getting off of benzodiazepines but not quite as bad. I think it was just the process of my brain and body readjusting and struggling to find a medium that felt similar to me. Today was a rough day for me and just driving home from work felt like a challenge. 

 

Regardless, I'm happy to be a part of this community and the read through the wealth of information from others that who have succeeded before me. I look forward to the day that I get to write my success story and help the many that are struggling just like I am right now to find that light at the end of the tunnel. 

[Frontsider]

After 10 days of making the jump to 1.25 mg of Lexapro, I have now stabilized. I was honestly worried about making a 50% cut as it's my only option right now and reading all the horror stories of people who are suffering with even the smallest of cuts. I did experience flu-like symptoms and body aches after day 3 which lasted about 5 days. That was no fun. But it was worth it to come out on the other end feeling a sense of liberation and clear-headedness. A feeling I haven't had in a couple years since starting the medication. 

 

I'm also noticing that I'm a little more energized although it could be a placebo effect due to my own success of stabilizing on the current dose. Either way, I I'm feeling a lot better and that's all that matters.

 

I plan on staying on this dose for at least another week or two until I'm able to see a new doctor as the prescribing physician retired two months ago without me knowing. If I'm able to make the jump at 1.25, I will, although the thought scares me and excites me at the same time. 

 

But for now, I will celebrate this success and take it one day at a time.  

[Altostrata]

Welcome, @Frontsider

 

Escitalopram often causes people to feel tired, it's an adverse drug effect.

 

On 8/15/2023 at 1:33 PM, Frontsider said:

After 10 days of making the jump to 1.25 mg of Lexapro, I have now stabilized.

 

Good to hear. Since you had a bout of withdrawal symptoms before and it took 10 days for you to stabilize from the last reduction, if I were you, I'd stop tapering and let your system rest for a while.

 

Here are our Tips for tapering off escitalopram (Lexapro) You will find the prescription liquid to be a good way to taper.
 

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