OtterMom No more Lex after 10 years

[OtterMom]

Hi... I probably tapered too quickly, but I've been off Lexapro (10mg) for more than a month now.  The flu-like symptoms have subsided but the brain zaps, itching and anger issues are persisting.  I'm glad this site is here.  I hate feeling so rageful.  It's frightening and unlike me.  

[Gridley]

Hello, OtterMom and welcome to SA.

 

Yours was a very fast taper.  At Surviving Antidepressants, it is recommended that a person taper by no more than 10% of their current dose with at least a four week hold in-between decreases.  The 10% taper recommendation is a harm reduction approach to going off psychiatric drugs.  Some people may have to taper at a more conservative rate as they are sensitive to even the smallest drops.

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

Brain Remodelling

  

These links will give you a better understanding of the withdrawal you are experiencing.

What is Withdrawal Syndrome?

 

Glenmullen’s withdrawal symptom list.

 

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. 

Reinstatement of a very small dose of the original drug is the only known way to help alleviate withdrawal syndrome.  The only other alternative is to try and wait out the symptoms and manage as best you can until your central nervous system returns to homeostasis.  Unfortunately no one can give you an exact timeline as to when you will start feeling better and while some do recover relatively easily, for others it can take many months or longer.  

 

Reinstatement isn't a guarantee of diminished symptoms for everyone but it's the best tactic available.  You're still in the time period where reinstatement predictably works.  It is best to reinstate as soon as possible after withdrawal symptoms occur. During the month you've been off the Lexapro and during your one-month taper your brain has already started to make some adjustments to the lower dose, which is why we usually suggest a much smaller reinstatement dose than your last dose.  You might find that a small increase of 0.5mg or 1mg may be enough to reduce the withdrawal symptoms.  Please Keep Notes on Paper so we can see if reinstatement is working. 

 

You will need to give it at least a week on the new dose.  It takes about 4 days for a dose change to get to full state in the blood and a bit longer for it to register in the brain.  The idea of updosing/reinstating is not to get rid of the withdrawal symptoms completely but to bring them to a level that you can live with.  If after 1 week you are still experiencing unbearable symptoms you could increase by another 0.5mg.  Please remember that these drugs are strong, especially Lexapro. These may seem like very small amounts, but it may be all that your brain needs.  Then, once you've stabilized, you can begin a 10% taper down to zero.

 

Please read

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms. -- at least the first page of the topic.

 

Thanks for creating your signature.  Could you add the date you started Klonopin, plus any other psychiatric drugs you've been on?  This link will take you to your signature.

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

This is your introduction topic -- the place for you to ask questions, record symptoms, share your progress, and connect with other members of the SA community. 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 I am glad that you found us.

[ChessieCat]

Hi Ottermom,

 

Welcome from me too.  My suggestion would be to try a small reinstatement of 0.5mg as Gridley suggested.  These drugs are strong.  The idea of reinstatement isn't to get rid of withdrawal symptoms altogether but to bring them to a tolerable level.  It is better start with a small amount and increase after a week if the withdrawal symptoms don't improve than to start with too high a dose.  After stabilising, perhaps 3-4 months, you could then taper by the 10% of previous dose with 4 week hold protocol.  Please read Post #1 of the reinstatement topic.

 

Psychiatric drugs create a physiological dependence, not physical like caffeine or nicotine.

 

I will tell you of my own experience trying to reduce my drug.  I was taking 100mg Pristiq and reduced by 1/2 to 50mg.  I experienced extreme cog fog for 3 weeks.  At the end of the 3 weeks I was unable to type.  Because I have been a typist for about 40 years or so I knew that something was wrong.  I had joined SA a few days before this happened and they had suggested updosing.  When I couldn't type I took extra Pristiq and about 4 hours later I was able to type again and the cog fog was lifting.  I knew it was because of the drug.  I have been following SA's tapering protocol and have managed to reduce from 100mg Pristiq to 12mg in that time.