Wowzer: stopped at 5mgs of lexapro 5 weeks out - what to do next?

[Wowzer]

Been on antidepressants/anxieties on and off since I was 20. I’m 38. Have had episodes of anxiety my whole life. 6 years ago, I was diagnosed with a panic disorder after waking with a panic attack that lasted about a month. I did CBT therapy and got put on celexa. Eventually put on lexapro at 20 mg. Weaned down to 5mg by last year. At that point, I experienced brain zaps, shift eyesight and terrible irritability and rage.

 

Eventually, i got bad at taking the meds. Never at the same time each day, one pill here another pill every three days, etc. I decided to stop taking it. Since I’ve wanted to get off of this for a long time. Felt fine. 4 weeks after, had anxiety and panic that is persistent. I’m 5 weeks off. 

 

I am working with an integrative psychiatrist who has me on some good minerals and vitamins and a healthy eating program. I’m to eat a fat, fiber and protein every 2-3 hours to help cortisol and glycemic levels. She said I can take a crumb of lexapro to get through. Or I can take a bit of Xanax when I’m having a really hard time.

 

just got off the phone with a therapist who said I should reinstate liquid lexapro at 1mg until I’m stable. She said this will help the withdrawal symptoms. She also told me a scary story where someone stopped taking the drug and felt fine, then had severe withdrawal 5 months later and couldn’t reinstate so was no functioning for 2 years. I am now petrified. My panic levels are high, as I feel like I’m doomed.

 

i am looking for some kind guidance. Should I reinstate? I feel like the anxiety and the withdrawal symptoms are getting less and less each day. If they are getting less and less, will I be subject to another withdrawal out of nowhere in a few months?

 

how much to reinstate? Can I reinstate after 5 weeks off?

 

thank you. Please be mindful, gentle and kind in responses.

[Gridley]

Welcome to SA, Wowser.  We're glad you found your way here

 

To start, please add a drug signature, including drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements in the last 12-24 months. Also include supplements. This will help us give you the most accurate advice we can. 

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It is true that withdrawal symptoms can be delayed after a too-fast gaper.  Whether this will be the case with you is, unfortunately, impossible to predict.  It is a good sign that your withdrawal symptoms are decreasing.

 

What is withdrawal syndrome.

 

Delayed onset of withdrawal symptoms

 

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.  At five weeks out, you're well within the time period where reinstatement predictably works, up to 3 months after last dose.  It is best to reinstate as soon as possible after withdrawal symptoms occur. We usually suggest a much smaller reinstatement dose than your last dose.  These drugs are strong, and when reinstating it is better to start with a small amount and increase if symptoms remain unbearable. Your system has become sensitized and If you take too much it may be too much for your brain and can cause you become unstable.  Then, once you've stabilized on that dosage, which can take several months,  you can begin a 10% per month taper down to zero.  

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

The decision whether to reinstate has to be yours.  We are happy to provide information so you can make an informed decision.  Please read:

 

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

 

Your last dose was 5mg, but as you said you weren't consistent about taking the drug.  It is possible that a reinstatement of 1mg might be a little high.  I'd suggest starting out at 0.5mg Lexapro and see how that works.  It takes about a week for it to get to steady-state in your bloodstream, and the effect should get stronger during that time.  If you have an adverse reaction to the reinstatement and feel worse, stop the reinstatement.  The possibility of an adverse reaction is another reason to start low so as to minimize the badness of the reaction.

 

If 0.5mg is enough, it still may take some weeks or months for your nervous system to settle down. You probably will continue to have waves and windows, but symptoms won't be as intense.  

 

 The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

If after a week you've seen no relief and it seems you need a higher dose, it will be easy to very carefully increase it by using the liquid, perhaps to 0.75mg or 1mg.  

 

It's not clear from your post what your integrative psychiatrist meant by taking a "crumb" of Lexapro.  If you do reinstate, the Lexapro dosage should be accurately measured and should be taken every day; the liquid suggested by the therapist would be the way to achieve this consistency.   

 

We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system.  Magnesium glycerinate is a good form.

 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

Please research all supplements first and only add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems.

 

This is your Introductory topic, where you can ask questions, post updates and connect with other members.  We're glad you found your way here.

 

Please let us know how you're doing.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 9, 2019 by Gridley

[Altostrata]

Welcome, Wowser.

 

What are the symptoms you attribute to withdrawal? Do they occur at any particular time of day? How's your sleep?

[laydefish]

Welcome to the Group!