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Necrosis: Quitting escitalopram


Necrosis

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Hi! My name is Erik, i live in Norway and i have been using Escitalopram Activis since December, 19. 2017. I was at 20mgs when i started tapering. I started tapering off the drug a few weeks ago, i went 5 mgs down each time, using about 3-4 days per taper. 2 days ago i quit the medicine alltogether. (Stupid i know). My doctor told me i should use 4-5 weeks per 5 mgs.

 

Today i felt jittery, had some minor brain zaps? (I think, i never understood what the zaps were). Reading online i had found people saying they had quit cold turkey no problem, no stress so i thought it would be ok. Then today i read that you might die from quitting the medicine and that it might induce braindamage. Panicing i found this site and read about reinstating (https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/7562-about-reinstating-and-stabilizing-to-reduce-withdrawal-symptoms/) I decided to start at 5 mgs again and i took a 5 mg pill. I hope i did not make a mistake. I am abit nervous now and feel pretty stupid. I hope i haven't ruined myself.

 

-Erik

Escitalopram Actavis: Jun. 2015-2016. About 9 Months.

Escitalopram Actavis: Dec. 2017-2018. About 6 months.

Tapering off the last 2 weeks, started taking 5 mg again 23.06.18

 

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  • ChessieCat changed the title to Necrosis: Quitting escitalopram
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Erik, welcome to SA.  I don't think you would die or have brain damage from quitting, but it can certainly cause some severe long-lasting problems, which you would definitely want to avoid.  You did taper off far too quickly, but your doctor's taper plan was also far too quick.

 

You found the right topic (about reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms), and I think you have made a good choice to reinstate.  It may take some time to restabilize, so you'll need to be patient.  It's important to be consistent with your dose and let your system take the time to readjust.  Every change in dose causes instability in your system, as it has to rebalance everything to cope with the change.  When you stick with one dose consistently, the body is able to adapt and make the changes it needs to stabilize.

 

Please create a signature containing a summary of your med history, including all drugs, doses and dates (starting and stopping).  Your signature appears below every post you make, and helps us to help you as best we can.  Instructions for creating your signature are here: Please put your withdrawal history in your signature . You can edit your signature here: edit your signature in Account Settings. 

 

Here are some topics you may find helpful: 

The rule of 3KIS keep it simple keep it slow keep it stable

stabilizing - what does that mean?

before you begin tapering - what you need to know

why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

 

 

Edited by Songbird
add info

2001–2002 paroxetine

2003  citalopram

2004-2008  paroxetine (various failed tapers) 
2008  paroxetine slow taper down to

2016  Aug off paroxetine
2016  citalopram May 20mg  Oct 15mg … slow taper down
2018  citalopram 13 Feb 4.6mg 15 Mar 4.4mg 29 Apr 4.2mg 6 Jul 4.1mg 17 Aug 4.0mg  18 Nov 3.8mg
2019  15 Mar 3.6mg  21 May 3.4mg  26 Dec 3.2mg 

2020  19 Feb 3.0mg 19 Jul 2.9mg 16 Sep 2.8mg 25 Oct 2.7mg 23 Oct 2.6mg 24 Dec 2.5mg

2021   29 Aug 2.4mg   15 Nov 2.3mg

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Thank you Songbird! I have been reading abit. Now that i havce been on the 5 mgs for 3 days, i feel abit better, but i have become sick aswell. (Cold, sore throat, headache). Should i go higher in my dose? The anxiety/jitteryness is abit better, but i still feel strange... Almost as when i turn my head quickly etc i feel dizzy. I can't describe it properly.

-Erik

Escitalopram Actavis: Jun. 2015-2016. About 9 Months.

Escitalopram Actavis: Dec. 2017-2018. About 6 months.

Tapering off the last 2 weeks, started taking 5 mg again 23.06.18

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
8 hours ago, Necrosis said:

Should i go higher in my dose?

 

It's hard to say, but it's possible that a higher dose might work better to alleviate withdrawal symptoms, since you haven't been off for long.  Generally, the longer you wait to reinstate, the higher the risk that it won't work or may cause adverse reaction.  I would not go all the way back up to the original dose of 20mg - you might find 10mg is enough to settle your symptoms and restabilise.

2001–2002 paroxetine

2003  citalopram

2004-2008  paroxetine (various failed tapers) 
2008  paroxetine slow taper down to

2016  Aug off paroxetine
2016  citalopram May 20mg  Oct 15mg … slow taper down
2018  citalopram 13 Feb 4.6mg 15 Mar 4.4mg 29 Apr 4.2mg 6 Jul 4.1mg 17 Aug 4.0mg  18 Nov 3.8mg
2019  15 Mar 3.6mg  21 May 3.4mg  26 Dec 3.2mg 

2020  19 Feb 3.0mg 19 Jul 2.9mg 16 Sep 2.8mg 25 Oct 2.7mg 23 Oct 2.6mg 24 Dec 2.5mg

2021   29 Aug 2.4mg   15 Nov 2.3mg

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I will try. Thank you!

Escitalopram Actavis: Jun. 2015-2016. About 9 Months.

Escitalopram Actavis: Dec. 2017-2018. About 6 months.

Tapering off the last 2 weeks, started taking 5 mg again 23.06.18

 

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