Kl8t: Why come off?

[Kl8t]

I was put on lexapro 20mg about 20 years ago by my psychiatrist who didn’t really believe in them at the time but was trying everything to help me with debilitating disassociation and depression. At the time I remember thinking it didn’t help and it certainly wasn’t what turned my situation around. Have tried to taper off multiple times but usually got to 10mg dose and then would become teary and terribly unstable. Psychiatrist retired and now I only see a GP and psychologist. Neither have been able to help with the perennial ‘is it me or the withdrawal’ question. Got to 5mg dose but was still feeling very flat so had finally decided it was just me and was about to give up trying to come off when I found this site. Just in time as Dr had put me onto snri- duoxetine and that would have been even harder to get off. I switched back to 5 mg of lexapro and now Have just had compounding pharmacy make up liquid lexapro and am going to take it VERY slow. 10% decreases over as long as it takes. I Still loose sight of the ‘why bother’ part sometimes as I’m very unstable and highly sensitive as I come off this and usually the gp says- is it worth it and why? And sometimes I don’t know the answer. I tend to self medicate in other ways so I get concerned that I might do lore damage without them than if I take them. But at the moment I will still give it a red hot go. Any thoughts on why to get off would be helpful. Especially to keep my resolve on what will be a rough ride.  
 

Edited September 2 by Emonda
Name to title

[Emonda]

Welcome @Kl8t

 

Could you please add details to your signature to show Drug/Dose/Date. You mentioned you tapered down to 5mg in January...can you shed some light on the steps you took to get to 5mg?

 

On 9/1/2024 at 12:09 PM, Kl8t said:

Have tried to taper off multiple times but usually got to 10mg dose and then would become teary and terribly unstable.

 

I suspect you tapered too quickly, leading you to feel "teary and unstable".

 

On 9/1/2024 at 12:09 PM, Kl8t said:

Have just had compounding pharmacy make up liquid lexapro and am going to take it VERY slow.

 

Have a read of the 4th post down by Gridley: Transitioning from pills to liquid

 

 

On 9/1/2024 at 12:09 PM, Kl8t said:

10% decreases over as long as it takes

 

The reductions should get smaller and smaller each month, for example: 10mg, 9mg, 8.1mg, 7.3mg etc. This process involves a degree of trial and error, as there is no way of predicting how an individual will respond. Importantly, if you develop unpleasant side effects from tapering, halt the taper, give yourself time to settle, and once stable, taper more slowly and by smaller amounts moving forward. The experience of others suggests that the lower you go in dose, the slower you need to go with tapering.

Those that taper too quickly often develop very unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. This Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) is a helpful summary of what many experience.

Some people find tapering by smaller weekly amounts more tolerable. You can read more about this approach here: The Brassmonkey Slide Method of Micro-tapering

Recovery from ADs and tapering is not linear. There are good days and not-so-good days/weeks/months. This is referred to as the Windows and waves pattern of stabilization.

On 9/1/2024 at 12:09 PM, Kl8t said:

Any thoughts on why to get off would be helpful.

This is a decision that we each make for ourselves. For me, the side effect that were developing over time caused me concern. I started to notice ticks in my arm and shoulders.

On 9/1/2024 at 12:09 PM, Kl8t said:

I tend to self medicate in other ways so I get concerned that I might do lore damage without them than if I take them.

Alcohol and other drugs are not advisable.

The following general links are worth reading:

Emotional Spirals

Non-drug coping strategies

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)

Don't change the manufacturer of your AD.

Once again, welcome to S.A.

Emonda