mercha: Tapering off of Lexapro 20mg

[mercha]

Hello everyone! I made the decision recently to just finally do it--I'm gonna try to taper off of my prescription Lexapro 20mg.

I suppose it was two years ago that I began taking 10mg of Lexapro. I am a shy person and visiting doctors is stressful, so although I didn't feel like the dose was helping, I had the mindset that I needed to "wait" and maybe it would kick in. It never did for around a year or so--I was just a zombie. When my medication ran out around 11/15, I didn't bother to fill it. I was off it for a month with no bad side effects when a very hard life event struck my family and I went to my doctor again. I continued again for a few months until she finally said to kick the dosage up.

 

From there, I was still "eh." Then, another life event occurred--but it was great! I was so happy! It was an invaluable experience. It is, unfortunately, over, but I do feel fulfilled and more confident today. But since I have been on 20mg of Lexapro, I gained weight. I have been exercising (and enjoying it!) and making healthy decisions but I just don't see the difference on my body. I used to be a soccer player and runner, so when I worked out and exercised, it showed and it gave me confidence! But I see nothing now--no muscle toning or anything. My slip dress just feels tighter and my breasts are heavier. It's discouraging to me.

 

Although I had quit the drug cold turkey once with no side effects, I did have a difficult time when I went on vacation last February and was not able to fill my prescription for two weeks. It was manageable. The worst part was brain zaps, but those subsided over a few days. One time, I cried hysterically because the lady next door was playing opera music and I HATED it, haha.

 

I also just don't want to be confined to this drug my whole life. I am not sure if it has helped me or not, but I do feel more alive after taking it for two years, but I'm not sure if that's also in conjunction to what has been happening to me life-wise. Before I took the drug, I was in an unstable, critical moment of my life. I didn't have a full-time job, my mother's mental health was on the fritz, and I was overcome by student loans. But now, I have a nice apartment with two cute cats, I have enough money to get by, and life is just much more stable.

 

Although not recommended by you folks, I cut my dosage in half since 10/30. I read that the effects won't start until approximately four or so days of taking a new dose, but I have not yet felt anything new or bad. Today I have been rather tired, but I'm not so sure that's different from my normal routine.

 

Thank you for being involved in such a wonderful forum. I really hope I can cut most of the Lexapro out of my life.

 

[scallywag]

mercha -- Welcome to Surviving Antidepressants (SA)

 

Thank you for posting a signature. Is Lexapro the only medication (prescription, over-the-counter, or street drug) you take? If not, please post about that and add it to your signature.
 
Lexapro is one of the strongest antidepressants. A 50% reduction could send you into very difficult withdrawal symptoms. If you want to minimize that risk, please make your next dose 18 mg not the 10 mg you've taken since Sunday. It's much better to make this change now than wait until symptoms "slam" you.

Like most of us, you want to get off the medication NOW, or ASAP. Unfortunately sometimes going fast means causing harsh symptoms that require longer holds or even updosing making the "fast" taper slower than the gradual taper.

Please read this topic with guidelines about tapering: Before you begin tapering -- what you need to know
 
If you read our topic about tapering by 10% of current dose once per month, you'll see that we suggest modifications if you have no symptoms after 2 dose reductions and holds of 1 month after each.
Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

I've gone through a few cycles of 4 weeks, then a few at 3 weeks. This time I will test holding for only 2 weeks before the next dose reduction. If it works, great! If not, back to 3 weeks for me.

Here's some information about Lexapro:
Tips for tapering off Lexapro (escitalopram)

I hope you'll find the information in the SA forums helpful for your situation. I'm sorry that you are in the position that you need the information, but am glad that you found us.

[nz11]

Any update?