sailingman: Tapering off Lexapro

[sailingman]

Hello! I found this site a few months ago as I've been going through a reckoning with ADs after 15 years of taking them daily.  I've had a complete 180 from believing in psychiatric drugs and western medicine, to now believing they are no longer helpful (at least for me, and I believe a large percentage of people as well). 

 

I was originally prescribed Celexa 20mg in 2009 in college while struggling with anxiety from a heavy course load and a depression from a breakup. I've put my faith in ADs for the past decade and a half, and I'm finally over it. I had a come to Jesus moment in September 2023 when I was abruptly switched from Lexapro 20mg to Effexor 187mg over a two week period, while simultaneously stopping 3 months of 5mg Abilify cold turkey. I realized then that ADs are not the answer.

 

I went into severe withdrawal for about 2 months, almost quit my job, and moved back in with my parents and sister for that time. I got introduced to some alternative approaches by my mother, first Kelly Brogan's Vital Mind Reset program (slightly helpful though a little woo-woo for me, but it started me on the right track I'd say - especially with the diet), then the book Anatomy of an Epidemic by Robert Whittaker, and then by Brook Siem's book May Cause Side Effects and blog happiness is a skill (https://brookesiem.substack.com/) among many other books, online resources, and health and wellness guides. Most recently, I read the Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines by Mark Horowitz (https://markhorowitz.org/) which is the backbone of the taper I will be attempting over the next 2 years.

 

Since September 2023 I have completely cut out alcohol and caffeine, and have cleaned up my diet (virtually no gluten, dairy, or added sugars). I've had lots of ups and downs, but am excited about embarking on a taper, and getting clean of these medications once and for all, because I no longer believe in them. I started tapering Lexapro on March 15, 2023. Hoping to check back in later with some positive progress on the taper.

 

Thank you for having me as a member of this community, I am grateful to have found you and to be able to share my experience here.

 

[Onmyway]

Welcome to SA @sailingman.  This is a lovely community and I hope you enjoy it. 

The most active places would be the Symptoms forum but also feel free to jump in with words of support on other people's threads. 

 

We have similar histories. I was also started on Celexa in college due to transient anxiety and stayed on it for 19 years (well, now 24 years with the taper). I was lucky I didn't switch or get on the atypical ntipsychotics train. I would agree with your views on psychiatry but not with your views on all modern medicine. 

 

It is great that you are here and you are starting your taper well informed. My one advice will be to listen to your body and go as gently as possible. Slow and steady definitely wins this race. 

 

 

OMW

[Catwoman73]

Hi @sailingman and welcome!  I'm new here too!

 

I started my antidepressant journey in college as well.  30 years later, here I am, after many fast tapers and cold turkey stops under my belt.  Now trying to take things slow and undo some of the damage that has been done to my nervous system over the years.  I have long covid as well, so it's complicated lol!

 

I'm with you- quitting alcohol and clean diet (I'm a very strict whole foods vegan) have been critical to my long covid journey (having trouble giving up my morning coffee though lol), and I have no doubt these things will help greatly as I continue to taper my escitalopram as well.  I'm currently at 10mg from 20- I rapidly tapered to this point, but I'm slowing way down now.  

 

Looking forward to following your journey and supporting you along the way!

[sailingman]

Thanks for the warm welcome and words of support @Onmyway and @Catwoman73!