Katy2104 - Escitalopram taper after valium

[Katy2104]

I have recently decided to taper off escitalopram as I want to be med free. 29 months ago I finished a valium taper (6mg for 2 years) and am still getting over this. I want to see if coming off the SSRI will help but am doing it really slowly as I'm so sensitive. I would just like some advice.
 
I have been on 10mg for nearly 4 years and currently I am dissolving the tab in 60ml of water and taking out 0.1ml daily. I'm on day 3 and really nervous, however the valium damaged my CNS and I'm still healing.
 
Thank you

Edited September 5, 2016 by scallywag
moved 4 posts from Lexapro topic, tags added

[Frogie]

I found this app that is free on my phone (I have an android). It really helps, it's called "Calm". I journal a lot that helps, telling myself to not be nervous, and for some reason that helps. I also take Xanax. Maybe you should wait a little longer before trying to taper because of the Valium and your CNS. I was tapering my Lexapro and Prilosec at the same time and had to stop the Lexapro. The Lexapro did make me nervous and nausea. I'm tapering the Prilosec 1st. I did a really stupid thing and went from 20mg to 10mg Lexapro in 6 weeks and really messed myself up. Maybe a natural store would have something you could take. I know there is a powder called Calm that is supposed to be good. I hope I helped even a little.

[Katy2104]

Thank you. you have helped and I think you are right. i'm going to give it more time. The stress right now is too much with the benzo WD

[Frogie]

That's the advise they gave me on here and it's been great. But would love to keep in contact with you

[scallywag]

Katy -- Welcome to Surviving Antidepressants (SA)

It's good to hear that you've waited over 2 years since your Valium taper to start reducing escitalopram, and that you are moving cautiously with those reductions.

A request: Would you summarize your history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-18 months particularly? Any drugs prior to that can just be listed with start and stop years. Please put your withdrawal history in signature
 
Some questions for you:

• Valium:
  What was your Valium dose before you started to taper it?
  How long did it take you to reach 0 mg?
   
• Escitalopram:
  Were you taking the full dose of Lexapro as a liquid before you started the dose reduction?
  Are you removing an additional 0.1 ml Lexapro solution each day, such that on day 3 you removed 0.3 ml and by day 8 you'll remove 0.8 ml?
  Or are you removing exactly 0.1 each day, thereby taking the same dose each day?

If you are making daily dose reductions, please read our topics about slow gradual tapers:
3KIS: Keep it slow. Keep it simple. Keep it stable.
Why taper by 10% of my dosage?
 
You may have already seen and read this topic. I'll leave it here for your reference anyway:
Tips for tapering off Lexapro (escitalopram)  

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Have a look at the topics I've posted and come back here to ask your questions.