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Debby: tapering off 10mg Escitalopram


Debby

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  • Moderator
8 hours ago, JS11 said:

Teams are good!!!!

take care,

JS

Yes they are!

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

PREVIOUS medications and discontinuations: Have been on medications since 1996. 

 Valium, Gabapentin, Lamictal, Prilosec and Zantac from 2000 to 2015 with a fast taper by a psychiatrist.

 Liquid Lexapro Nov, 2016 to 31-March, 2019 Lexapro free!!! (total Lexapro taper was 4 years-started with pill form)

---CURRENT MEDICATIONS:Supplements:Milk Thistle, Metamucil, Magnesium Citrate, Vitamin D3, Levothyroxine 25mcg, Vitamin C, Krill oil.

Xanax 1mg 3x day June, 2000 to 19-September, 2020 Went from .150 grams (average weight of 1 Xanax) 3x day to .003 grams 3x day. April 1, 2021 went back on 1mg a day. Started tapering May 19, 2023. July 28, 2023-approximately .87mg. Dr. fast tapered me at the end and realized he messed up. Prescribe it again and I am doing "slower than a turtle" taper.

19-September, 2020 Xanax free!!! (total Xanax taper was 15-1/2 months-1-June, 2019-19-September, 2020)

I am not a medical professional.

The suggestions I make are based on personal experience.

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On 9/6/2017 at 4:45 AM, JS11 said:

Oh Debby I wanted to ask, I think we are on just about same or similar dose.  I take liquid and tablet as well.  Do you notice any adverse reaction with the liquid?  I was all over the place with my dose and then added some more medications to the fire, but it seems my anxiety skyrockets shortly after taking it.  

 

 

Hi JS

 

Sorry for not replying sooner - I've been working away for a few days. As I haven't actually reduced my dose yet - I'm still on 10mg, just half of it is in liquid form - I haven't noticed any negative symptoms. Do you mean you get anxious directly after taking the liquid? x

17 years on 10mg Citalopram. June 2016 switched to Escitalopram 5mg (equivalent dose). Then soon increased to 10mg which is where I am now (8th Aug 17). I'd like to get back down to 5mg in the first instance, with a view to coming off completely some time in the future.
 
Taper history:
10.08.17 - switched to 7.5mg tablet and 2.5mg liquid. Started Magnesium Citrate 300mg
14.08.17 - started B12 1000ug and 4000mg of Omega 3 Fish Oil 1000mg
26.08.17 - switched to 5mg tablet and 5mg liquid
25.09.17 - reduced to 9.5mg (5mg tablet and 4.5mg liquid)
26.11.17 - reduced to 9mg (5mg tablet and 4mg liquid)
11.03.18 - reduced to 8.5mg (5mg tablet and 3.5mg liquid)
08.05.18 - reduced to 8mg (5mg tablet and 3mg liquid)
16.07.18 - reduced to 7.5mg (5mg tablet and 2.5mg liquid)
06.11.18 - reduced to 7mg (5mg tablet and 2mg liquid)
12.06.19 - reduced to 6.5mg (5mg tablet and 1.5mg liquid)
24.08.19 - reduced to 6mg (5mg tablet and 1mg liquid)
10.01.20 - reduced to 5.5mg (5mg tablet and 0.5mg liquid)
25.03.20 - reduced to 5mg (5mg tablet)
03.05.20 - INCREASED to 5.5mg as feeling anxious but might be pandemic
07.06.21 - reduced to 5mg 
 
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Hello all on this thread! How is everyone doing? Hope you're all having good days x

17 years on 10mg Citalopram. June 2016 switched to Escitalopram 5mg (equivalent dose). Then soon increased to 10mg which is where I am now (8th Aug 17). I'd like to get back down to 5mg in the first instance, with a view to coming off completely some time in the future.
 
Taper history:
10.08.17 - switched to 7.5mg tablet and 2.5mg liquid. Started Magnesium Citrate 300mg
14.08.17 - started B12 1000ug and 4000mg of Omega 3 Fish Oil 1000mg
26.08.17 - switched to 5mg tablet and 5mg liquid
25.09.17 - reduced to 9.5mg (5mg tablet and 4.5mg liquid)
26.11.17 - reduced to 9mg (5mg tablet and 4mg liquid)
11.03.18 - reduced to 8.5mg (5mg tablet and 3.5mg liquid)
08.05.18 - reduced to 8mg (5mg tablet and 3mg liquid)
16.07.18 - reduced to 7.5mg (5mg tablet and 2.5mg liquid)
06.11.18 - reduced to 7mg (5mg tablet and 2mg liquid)
12.06.19 - reduced to 6.5mg (5mg tablet and 1.5mg liquid)
24.08.19 - reduced to 6mg (5mg tablet and 1mg liquid)
10.01.20 - reduced to 5.5mg (5mg tablet and 0.5mg liquid)
25.03.20 - reduced to 5mg (5mg tablet)
03.05.20 - INCREASED to 5.5mg as feeling anxious but might be pandemic
07.06.21 - reduced to 5mg 
 
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  • 3 weeks later...

Just an update - today I started to reduce my dose by 5% so I took 5mg tablet and 4.5mg liquid to make 9.5mg of escitalopram.

 

Hope everyone is ok x

17 years on 10mg Citalopram. June 2016 switched to Escitalopram 5mg (equivalent dose). Then soon increased to 10mg which is where I am now (8th Aug 17). I'd like to get back down to 5mg in the first instance, with a view to coming off completely some time in the future.
 
Taper history:
10.08.17 - switched to 7.5mg tablet and 2.5mg liquid. Started Magnesium Citrate 300mg
14.08.17 - started B12 1000ug and 4000mg of Omega 3 Fish Oil 1000mg
26.08.17 - switched to 5mg tablet and 5mg liquid
25.09.17 - reduced to 9.5mg (5mg tablet and 4.5mg liquid)
26.11.17 - reduced to 9mg (5mg tablet and 4mg liquid)
11.03.18 - reduced to 8.5mg (5mg tablet and 3.5mg liquid)
08.05.18 - reduced to 8mg (5mg tablet and 3mg liquid)
16.07.18 - reduced to 7.5mg (5mg tablet and 2.5mg liquid)
06.11.18 - reduced to 7mg (5mg tablet and 2mg liquid)
12.06.19 - reduced to 6.5mg (5mg tablet and 1.5mg liquid)
24.08.19 - reduced to 6mg (5mg tablet and 1mg liquid)
10.01.20 - reduced to 5.5mg (5mg tablet and 0.5mg liquid)
25.03.20 - reduced to 5mg (5mg tablet)
03.05.20 - INCREASED to 5.5mg as feeling anxious but might be pandemic
07.06.21 - reduced to 5mg 
 
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  • 1 year later...

Just an update as I haven't been here for over a year! Started tapering in August 2017 and have now reduced from 10mg (tablets) to 7mg (5mg tablet and 2mg drops). I am still taking it super slow and have to say I haven't had any issues so far. I'm not in a hurry. I will check in again in a few months to record how I'm getting on. Hope everyone is doing well and Happy New Year to all! x

17 years on 10mg Citalopram. June 2016 switched to Escitalopram 5mg (equivalent dose). Then soon increased to 10mg which is where I am now (8th Aug 17). I'd like to get back down to 5mg in the first instance, with a view to coming off completely some time in the future.
 
Taper history:
10.08.17 - switched to 7.5mg tablet and 2.5mg liquid. Started Magnesium Citrate 300mg
14.08.17 - started B12 1000ug and 4000mg of Omega 3 Fish Oil 1000mg
26.08.17 - switched to 5mg tablet and 5mg liquid
25.09.17 - reduced to 9.5mg (5mg tablet and 4.5mg liquid)
26.11.17 - reduced to 9mg (5mg tablet and 4mg liquid)
11.03.18 - reduced to 8.5mg (5mg tablet and 3.5mg liquid)
08.05.18 - reduced to 8mg (5mg tablet and 3mg liquid)
16.07.18 - reduced to 7.5mg (5mg tablet and 2.5mg liquid)
06.11.18 - reduced to 7mg (5mg tablet and 2mg liquid)
12.06.19 - reduced to 6.5mg (5mg tablet and 1.5mg liquid)
24.08.19 - reduced to 6mg (5mg tablet and 1mg liquid)
10.01.20 - reduced to 5.5mg (5mg tablet and 0.5mg liquid)
25.03.20 - reduced to 5mg (5mg tablet)
03.05.20 - INCREASED to 5.5mg as feeling anxious but might be pandemic
07.06.21 - reduced to 5mg 
 
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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Debby, thanks for coming back to update.  It is very much appreciated.  And thank you for updating your drug signature too.

 

Sounds like you are doing really well.  There is nothing wrong with going slowly.

 

You might find these topics helpful:

 

When to end the taper and jump to zero?

 

are-we-there-yet-how-long-is-withdrawal-going-to-take

 

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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Hi ChessieCat and thank you for your reply and for the links! x

17 years on 10mg Citalopram. June 2016 switched to Escitalopram 5mg (equivalent dose). Then soon increased to 10mg which is where I am now (8th Aug 17). I'd like to get back down to 5mg in the first instance, with a view to coming off completely some time in the future.
 
Taper history:
10.08.17 - switched to 7.5mg tablet and 2.5mg liquid. Started Magnesium Citrate 300mg
14.08.17 - started B12 1000ug and 4000mg of Omega 3 Fish Oil 1000mg
26.08.17 - switched to 5mg tablet and 5mg liquid
25.09.17 - reduced to 9.5mg (5mg tablet and 4.5mg liquid)
26.11.17 - reduced to 9mg (5mg tablet and 4mg liquid)
11.03.18 - reduced to 8.5mg (5mg tablet and 3.5mg liquid)
08.05.18 - reduced to 8mg (5mg tablet and 3mg liquid)
16.07.18 - reduced to 7.5mg (5mg tablet and 2.5mg liquid)
06.11.18 - reduced to 7mg (5mg tablet and 2mg liquid)
12.06.19 - reduced to 6.5mg (5mg tablet and 1.5mg liquid)
24.08.19 - reduced to 6mg (5mg tablet and 1mg liquid)
10.01.20 - reduced to 5.5mg (5mg tablet and 0.5mg liquid)
25.03.20 - reduced to 5mg (5mg tablet)
03.05.20 - INCREASED to 5.5mg as feeling anxious but might be pandemic
07.06.21 - reduced to 5mg 
 
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  • Moderator Emeritus

You're welcome.

 

I've just noticed that you are reducing by 0.5mg increments.  Once you get under 4.5mg, a 0.5mg reduction will be more than 10% of the current dose.  Reducing from 4.5mg to 4mg will be an 11.11% reduction.

 

Are you planning to change over to all liquid once you get under 5mg?  If so, we suggest doing a cross over.

 

A = tablet, B = liquid.

 

3/4 A + 1/4 B, 1/2 + 1/2, 1/4 A + 3/4 B

 

with about 3 days to a week on each combo.  This is much gentler on your system.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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  • 3 months later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Debby, 

 

How have you been doing?💚

Been on APs, benzos, ADs and opiates, for chronic pain. Had Akathisia in the past that made me suicidal. Still on Seroquel. 2019:➡️ March10=7.25mg ✔️ April17=7.0✔️ June5=6.75✔️ July14=6.50✔️ Aug28=6.25✔️ Oct10=6.20  ✔️ Oct21=6.0✔️ Dec16=5.80 ✔️ 2020➡️ Jan 21=5.60 ✔️ April2=5.40 ✔️ May29=5.20 ✔️ Aug14= 5.0 ✔️Sep29=4.80✔️2021➡️ Jan31=4.60 mg✔️ April24=4.40mg✔️Jul17=4.30mg ✔️ Aug 28=4.20 ✔️ Oct 11=4.15✔️Nov1=4.10 ✔️ Nov21= 4.05✔️ Dec13= 4mg ✔️2022 ➡️ Jan8=3.95✔️ Jan31=3.90✔️ March2=3.85 ✔️ April4=3.80 ✔️ June16=3.75✔️ July26=3.70✔️ Sep2=3.65✔️ Oct21=3.60 ✔️ Dec8=3.55✔️2023➡️ Jan 26=3.50✔️ March 17=3.45✔️ June12=3.40✔️ July30=3.35✔️ Sep14=3.30✔️ Oct31=3.25✔️This is NOT medical advice.Consult your doctor.

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  • 2 years later...

Hi everyone,

 

Wow, it's been nearly 3 years since I last popped in! I'm down to 5mg tablet of Escitalopram now. I've been stable on that since June 2021. I've decided to hold there for a while. The pandemic and menopause has made life a little anxious so I'm not in a hurry to reduce any further for now. 

 

I hope everyone is doing well xxx

17 years on 10mg Citalopram. June 2016 switched to Escitalopram 5mg (equivalent dose). Then soon increased to 10mg which is where I am now (8th Aug 17). I'd like to get back down to 5mg in the first instance, with a view to coming off completely some time in the future.
 
Taper history:
10.08.17 - switched to 7.5mg tablet and 2.5mg liquid. Started Magnesium Citrate 300mg
14.08.17 - started B12 1000ug and 4000mg of Omega 3 Fish Oil 1000mg
26.08.17 - switched to 5mg tablet and 5mg liquid
25.09.17 - reduced to 9.5mg (5mg tablet and 4.5mg liquid)
26.11.17 - reduced to 9mg (5mg tablet and 4mg liquid)
11.03.18 - reduced to 8.5mg (5mg tablet and 3.5mg liquid)
08.05.18 - reduced to 8mg (5mg tablet and 3mg liquid)
16.07.18 - reduced to 7.5mg (5mg tablet and 2.5mg liquid)
06.11.18 - reduced to 7mg (5mg tablet and 2mg liquid)
12.06.19 - reduced to 6.5mg (5mg tablet and 1.5mg liquid)
24.08.19 - reduced to 6mg (5mg tablet and 1mg liquid)
10.01.20 - reduced to 5.5mg (5mg tablet and 0.5mg liquid)
25.03.20 - reduced to 5mg (5mg tablet)
03.05.20 - INCREASED to 5.5mg as feeling anxious but might be pandemic
07.06.21 - reduced to 5mg 
 
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