Nolabud1: Tapering off low dose of Lexapro

[Nolabud1]

Thank you to all of those who have responded to my posts. I was tapering on 2.75 mg of Celexa for a month and felt better so decided to taper further to 2.5 mg. I started at 5 mg 4.5 months ago. Has anyone experienced feeling ok the first few days of tapering but getting withdrawal symptoms after about a week? Also, even though this is a low dosage, has anyone experienced lightheadedness or dizziness with head movement or when visual field is has movement or is complex? After a slew of tests, I went to a specialized optometrist who ran many eye tests and concluded I have esophoria at distance and fusional vergence dysfunction. The mismatch between vision and balance is called visual/vestibular dysfunction. I’m curious if this could be a side effect of the SSRI or if the SSRI is causing this dysfunction to make me symptomatic. Any thoughts or help would be greatly appreciated as always.

[Nolabud1]

Looking for some advice. Exactly one month ago, after tapering from 5 mg of Citalopram (Celexa) to 4, then 3, then 2mg, I decided it was time to jump off completely. I was on 5mg for 3 months, then over the course of 60 days, I tapered to 2 mg, then off. The fogginess is gone, and I’m not as tired. I do have issues when moving my head, sometimes feeling lightheaded or slightly dizzy for a second. It happens when I’m sitting or standing and is generated from head movement up or down or side to side. Is this a symptom of withdrawal and can it happen 30 days after quitting the drug? Please feel free to respond and I thank you kindly.  

[Gridley]

This list of common withdrawal symptoms includes disequilibrium, which I would read as dizziness.  I certainly have experienced dizziness throughout my taper, and consider it a "normal" WD symptom.

 

PDF Monthly List of Dr Glenmullen's Symptoms to Print 

 

To help you understand any symptoms you are experiencing, here is some information on withdrawal.  Wiithdrawal time doesn't necessarily correlate with the time you were on the drug.  These drugs alter the architecture of the brain, and the time necessary to heal the brain and return to homeostasis is, unfortunately, impossible to predict.  

 

What is withdrawal syndrome.

 

When we take medications, the CNS (central nervous system) responds by making changes over the months and years we take the drug(s). When the medication is discontinued, the CNS has to undo all the changes it made. Rebuilding the neurotransmitter production and reactivating the receptor and transporter cells takes time -- during that rebuilding process symptoms occur.  

 

Youtube video, 4 minutes: Healing from antidepressants

 

Withdrawal symptoms can appear at any time during or after the taper.  

 

Delayed onset of withdrawal symptoms

 

Best,

Gridley