Neir1648: struggling to decrease Lexapro from 5 to 4(?)mg

[neir1648]

Hi,

 

I've been on Lexapro for almost 20 years now at various doses.  For many years I stabilized at 2.5 mg.  Going down to that level was not THAT difficult, but I was not going able to decrease further.  

 

Then, during a stressful period of my life I stupidly agreed to temporarily increase the dosage back to 10 mg, thinking that I can then go down to 2.5 just like I did before.  So when the 10 mg dosage did nothing for me, I pretty promptly tried to go down back to 2.5, but this time for some reason it was much more difficult.  It took me more than 4 months to get down to 5 mg and the experience tired me so much that i decided to take a break until decreasing further.

 

9 days ago i finally pulled the trigger by starting to cut off a relatively little piece off the 5 mg pill every day.  To my horror, I started intermittently experiencing withdrawal symptoms, mainly unbearable travelling tension headaches, on the 3rd day.  With each day the symptoms lasted longer and increased in intensity until today I reached a point that they are constant.  My body has also began to feel sore, tense and shaky. 

 

Reading this forum i've realized that I both tried to taper too fast, and also incorrectly as just using your eyes to cut off small pieces day-to-day cannot possibly result in a consistent dosage.  I guess i am currently taking about 4 mg but i can't really tell precisely.  I would like to start accurately measuring my dosage.  If then i still cannot handle 4 mg. i can at least go back up to 4.5 mg for a while and then try 4 mg ago. 

 

My question is can i just use a scale like this which i've seen recommended on other threads?  https://awscales.com/gemini-20-precision-milligram-scale/.  Given that i am still at a relatively high dose, can i just still cut off little pieces until reaching the desired weight or is it best to crush the pill and put the powder into capsules?   Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

[Emonda]

Welcome to S.A. @neir1648,

Thanks for completing your drug signature.

 

6 hours ago, neir1648 said:

Reading this forum i've realized that I both tried to taper too fast, and also incorrectly as just using your eyes to cut off small pieces day-to-day cannot possibly result in a consistent dosage. 

 

Many of us have made these mistakes, me included! Have you read this for future reference Why taper by 10% of my dosage? 

 

Have you read this about tapering from Lexapro? 

 

 

 

I've read that plenty here use the scale you refer to. However, can you obtain liquid Lexapro in the USA? Tapering from liquid may be easier / more accurate than cutting/weighting a pill. If you go down that path, there is some information on the site about transitioning from a tablet to a liquid that would be worth reading. Personally, I make my own liquid of a different AD, but only because a liquid is not available in AUS.

 

Emonda

[neir1648]

Thank you for your suggestions Emonda.  Re liquid Lexapro i thought about it, but i am paranoid about transitioning to a different form by a different manufacturer at this point.  I am used to a particular manufacturer brand (Teva) and few years back when i couldn't get it one time and had to use a different manufacturer brand (Aurobindo) i got withdrawal symptoms even though i didn't change my dosage!  

[Heath]

@neir1648

 

i understand . Yes different brands do make a difference while our body is sensitive. 
 

I changed from pill to liquid a few years ago and am glad I did. It makes it much easier. Made me feel more confident.
 

I did run in to a little trouble I think because I started tapering too soon after transition. If I was given a chance to go back in time I would have done it much slower. 

Acumilate as many pills as possible before the transition. Calculate how many you will need then triple that. 
I use amneal brand. 

 

I do understand you not wanting to transition to liquid. But if you do that’s my take on it. Just my experience. 

 

link below
 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/28978-cross-over-from-one-form-of-a-drug-to-another-such-as-solid-to-liquid-or-changing-the-brand/

 

[Emonda]

Hi @neir1648

 

11 hours ago, neir1648 said:

Re liquid Lexapro i thought about it, but i am paranoid about transitioning to a different form by a different manufacturer at this point.

 

That's a valid concern.

 

Have you seen this link about making your own liquid? That's what I do. I thought about buying scales, but figured I'd have to make my own liquid eventually as I got down below the effectiveness/sensitivity of the scales. It takes me all of two minutes each morning....Just a thought.