Wookie :)

[Wookie]

Hello just a quick intro as I am new to the site. I was referred to someone from a facebook group and am happy I came across it! I have been on Lexapro since July 2018 and am going to try and taper soon. I tried to before but the withdraw symptoms were too much to bear after 3 weeks and I started back on 5mg. I had some symptoms but not bad enough to take a Xanax so I am hoping I stabilize soon. I hope to learn everyones experience and hopefully next time I try, have an easier taper no matter how long I have to do that for. 

[Wookie]

So I have been reading and haven't found where people use pills to taper. for under 5mg do you crush the pill up and weigh it then transfer it to a gelatin capsule? 

[Gridley]

Welcome to SA, Wookie.  I'm glad you found your way here before you started your taper.

 

We recommend tapering by no more than 10% of your current dose every four weeks.  The purpose of going slowly is to minimize withdrawal symptoms.

 

 http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1024-why-taper-by-10-of-my-dosage/

 

This link is specifically about tapering Lexapro, including how to take the smaller doses you will need for your taper.

 

Tips for tapering off Lexapro (escitalopram)

 

How are you feeling now? What are your symptoms?  When did you reinstate the 5mg Lexapro?   

 

I encourage you to read various posts on the site and learn as much as you can.  You will find the members and moderators here are very supportive.  Here is some information on withdrawal, so you'll have a better understanding of what you experienced earlier.

 

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.  

 

These explain it really well:

 

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

   On 8/30/2011 at 2:28 PM,  Rhiannon said: 

When we stop taking the drug, we have a brain that has designed itself so that it works in the presence of the drug; now it can't work properly without the drug because it's designed itself so that the drug is part of its chemistry and structure. It's like a plant that has grown on a trellis; you can't just yank out the trellis and expect the plant to be okay. When the drug is removed, the remodeling process has to take place in reverse. SO--it's not a matter of just getting the drug out of your system and moving on. If it were that simple, none of us would be here. It's a matter of, as I describe it, having to grow a new brain. I believe this growing-a-new-brain happens throughout the taper process if the taper is slow enough. (If it's too fast, then there's not a lot of time for actually rebalancing things, and basically the brain is just pedaling fast trying to keep us alive.) It also continues to happen, probably for longer than the symptoms actually last, throughout the time of recovery after we are completely off the drug, which is why recovery takes so long.

 

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, 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 and answer questions and connect with other members.  As I said, we're glad you found your way here and look forward to helping you with your taper.

 

 

 

 

[Altostrata]

Welcome, @Wookie

 

Please put your questions and status updates in this topic, follow it to see responses.

 

Gridley gave you the link for Tips for tapering off Lexapro (escitalopram)  Please answer his questions by posting in this topic. Thanks.