jicamajack: Lexapro slow taper - 5 months in, symptoms began including insomnia. I've also had ketamine therapy to help me - need advice pls

[jicamajack]

Hello,

 

I've been doing a very slow taper of 10% reduction every month. I started at 10mg Lexapro. Been on it for 10 years. Switched to liquid for an easier tapeer

 

At around 6mg I started experiencing insomnia, the kind where I wake up at 4am and can't fall back asleep. That's gotten worse. I just went down to 4mg.

 

Question: Should I increase my dose and go even slower? Should I take trazadone again? I took it before as needed for sleep. 

How much should I increase? 

 

Side note: The Ketamine therapy has helped tremendously withe my depression but not at all with this insomnia I'm now battling. 

 

[Emonda]

Welcome to S.A. @jicamajack

 

So the moderators can best help you, please complete your drug signature by following these instructions. Adding a signature ensures your drug history appears at the bottom of every post, making it more efficient for those trying to assist. 

 

When you say you reduced by 10% per month, is that a hyperbolic or linear taper? Are your monthly reductions getting smaller and smaller...that's what is meant to happen (hyperbolic taper).

 

When did you switch to the liquid? Did the problems occur at this time?

 

2 hours ago, jicamajack said:

At around 6mg I started experiencing insomnia, the kind where I wake up at 4am and can't fall back asleep. That's gotten worse. I just went down to 4mg.

 

When you experience WD symptoms, that's a sign you need to hold your taper until stability returns. If you push on, it can cause you grief.

 

Insomnia is a WD symptom: Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) 

 

2 hours ago, jicamajack said:

Question: Should I increase my dose and go even slower?

 

We can try to comment once you add your signature.

 

2 hours ago, jicamajack said:

insomnia I'm now battling.

 

Melatonin for sleep

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but two that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. Add one at a time and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

Magnesium

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil)

 

Avoid alcohol. 

 

This is your own Introduction topic.  Each member has only ONE Introduction topic.  Your own Introduction topic is the best place to ask questions and the place to journal your progress.  This keeps your history in one place and means you do not have to repeat your story. 

 

Once again, welcome to S.A.

 

Emonda

[jicamajack]

Thank you so much. 
 

for those with similar experience, should I increase my lexapro dose back up? I know to I crease a little at a time but how much and how frequently?

[Emonda]

Thanks for adding your signature.

 

Do you mind letting us know the exact dates and doses you have taken since September?

 

What was the exact date you switched to the liquid?

 

And you only take Lex now?

 

When did you last take the other drugs, and at what doses/frequency?

[jicamajack]

On 3/4/2024 at 7:08 PM, Emonda said:

Thanks for adding your signature.

 

Do you mind letting us know the exact dates and doses you have taken since September?

 

What was the exact date you switched to the liquid?

 

And you only take Lex now?

 

When did you last take the other drugs, and at what doses/frequency?

9/1/23 went down to 9mg using liquid dose for the first time

10/1/23 8mg lex

This is when depressive episodes started and poor sleep. Started smoking weed again daily

11/1/23 - stuck to 8 mg

11/6/23 7.2 mg

Started waking before 6am

11/20/23 - did Ketamine Therapy 6 infusions. Started feeling great again

12/20/23 - down to 6mg

1/22/24 - down to 4.5mg

2/20/24 - down to 4mg

3/5/24 - went back to 4.4mg

 

I can see that since September my sleep has suffered. It's clearly due to the tapering down. I'm realizing I'm going too fast. 

Glad I wrote this all out.

Should I slowly go back up? To what dose? In what increments? 

 

I'm continuing ketamine and it's definitely helping with the depression and quitting weed.