Humanpincushion: Starting taper soon from 20mg lexapro, done klonopin taper already.

[Humanpincushion]

Hello,

time to change forums since I finished my benzo taper already (benzobuddies). Now I'm looking to start Lexapro taper at some point and thought I share some of my story.

I have had OCD since I was 7-8 years old. 15 years old I started to get panic attacks a lot so I went to doctor and he gave me some random SSRI and Klonopins. Long story short, I changed to Lexapro (escitalopram) at some point. I quit them both at some point but continued. I was pretty stable for many years until I started to have very bad headaches and mood changes so I pretty much thought it was from SSRI etc.. so I tapered it fast from 15mg to zero.. doing like 2 weeks of 10mg, 2 weeks of 5mg and 2 weeks of 5mg every other day. That was pretty much written everywhere how to do it. I didn't even have much withdrawals I think. Well my headache went away and I was pretty ok for like few months. Then I started to get really emotional. I started to get some weird headaches and sudden pains on my fingers and toes, and all kinds of weird vibrations on my body and feelings of hot and cold on skin and even feelings as if there was cold rain falling on my hands and face. Went to doctor and well in 4 years I have done every test possible and well I don't have any problem with my health. I kinda know it was from quitting Lexapro, I got some sort of neuropathy from it. I started lexapro again and well, my stomach and mood got better but the "neuropathy" stuff still remained. some days better some days I wish I would die. I tapered from 2mg Clonazpam benzo with very long 3+ years taper and the taper ended 3 weeks ago. The taper was so hard at some point that I needed to add 25mg seroquel so I can even sleep. Guess I'm pretty dependant of it now.. yay for future tapering.

 

Anyway, I want to ask and I hope someone have some experience with the neuropathic pain feelings that I described. I pretty much want to know that am I screwed for my whole life because I took SSRI for 10+ years ????? 

 

I will start to taper it soonish whenever I will find some doctor who will prescribe me 15mg and 10mg etc. Can you even dry cut those super hard escitalopram pills like you can with Klonopin ? My biggest fear is that my brain is somewhat destroyed of the 10+ years SSRI and the pains and prickling vibrating stuff will never end.

 

Hpc

 

[ChessieCat]

Hi JPC & welcome to SA,

 

Congratulations on tapering your benzo!!!  This a great site with very supportive members and lots of excellent information.

 

I'll get the other mods' opinion on your situation (I'm a new mod).

 

However, you can start with these links:

 

Why Taper My Dose by 10%?

 

Brain Remodelling

 

Video:  Healing from Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery (4 minutes)

 

Tips for tapering off Lexapro (escitalopram)

 

 

You can use your Intro/Update topic to ask questions and to journal your progress.  Click Follow This Topic (top right) & you will be notified when someone replies.

[Petunia]

Welcome Humanpincushion,

I'm sorry you haven't been feeling well, but I'm glad you found this site, you will find a lot of friendly help and support here.

 

Chessie has given you some good links to read, they will help explain what may be going on and why you may be having the symptoms.

 

When did you fast taper and quit Lexapro, and then start taking it again. How long were you off it before you started taking it again? How long have you been back on it? If we had some dates that would be helpful.

 

It sounds like your nervous system is still unstable, so its not a good idea to start another taper yet. When we have a few more details, we will be in a better position to offer support and suggestions.

 

Don't worry, you are not permanently damaged. Over time, these drugs change your nervous system. Their effects on your nervous system change as well.  These changes are temporary, but the CNS does take quite a while to right itself. It's important to learn how to taper properly so you can minimize the risks.

 

Petunia.

[Humanpincushion]

I was off of Lexapro for 3 months. Went back to 10mg about 4 years ago. Then upped to 15mg few years ago and 20mg now for 9 months. Last dose of Klonopin was 1st of march this this year.

[Fresh]

Hi HPC ,  welcome to the site.

 

The prickling sensations are a common w/d symptom , see the thread on "Paresthesia , tingling , prickling , numbness" in the Symptoms and Self Care section.

 

I'd wait a good 3 or 4 months before starting to taper lexapro.  You've put in so much hard work , it would be a shame to jeopardize that by changing things up too soon.

 

See the link Chessie gave you above , "Tips for Tapering Lexapro".  Your first drop would be to 18mg , and there's lots of information on how to make smaller doses accurately.

 

Please could you add the date and dose you ceased klonipin to your sig.

 

bw ,  Fresh

[Rose9975]

I would really really advice you to thoroughly read the information on this website. I have started tapering from 20mg Lexapro in January 2016 by 5% (I should have started at maybe 2.5% taper), three months (17mg)later I am only now experiencing unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. ...this drug is potent & I'm only detoxifying from one...