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Godsave: Lexapro withdrawal and reinstatement


Godsave

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Thank u very much 😊👍

very sorry that I started a new topic 

thank u 

2016 - 2017 lexapro 10 mg 

2018- tried to taper but not according to the correct 10% 

Quit at the end 2018 . 

Medication free - 2019 

couldn’t as severe depression and so 2019 Aug  -for 6 months 

reduced to 5 mg . 

2020- was at 5 mg and 2.5 and also quit a few times . 

Severe depression - 5 mg from August 2020 - 2021 oct - 5 mg . Currently 

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Hi altrostata 

I have seen some improvements still I have taken 5 mg .. but still my focus is not clear and I do have memory issues which makes me very scary . 
 

I also wanted to ask u whether taking this for Long term will cause memory loss etc as I am very much scared after reading those horrific stories in Google .. 

 

please help me 

 

thank you 

godsave 

2016 - 2017 lexapro 10 mg 

2018- tried to taper but not according to the correct 10% 

Quit at the end 2018 . 

Medication free - 2019 

couldn’t as severe depression and so 2019 Aug  -for 6 months 

reduced to 5 mg . 

2020- was at 5 mg and 2.5 and also quit a few times . 

Severe depression - 5 mg from August 2020 - 2021 oct - 5 mg . Currently 

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@Gridley

please advise my tapering schedule .. 

I am taking Lexapro 5 mg from nov 25 th 2019 .. 

can feel better now.. 

when should I start my next taper .. 

could u also recommend any supplements.. 

pls help me through my journey.. 

thank you 

2016 - 2017 lexapro 10 mg 

2018- tried to taper but not according to the correct 10% 

Quit at the end 2018 . 

Medication free - 2019 

couldn’t as severe depression and so 2019 Aug  -for 6 months 

reduced to 5 mg . 

2020- was at 5 mg and 2.5 and also quit a few times . 

Severe depression - 5 mg from August 2020 - 2021 oct - 5 mg . Currently 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
12 hours ago, Godsave said:

please advise my tapering schedule .. 

 

What are your symptoms now?  How are you feeling?  Are your symptoms tolerable and are they more or less the same every day?

 

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) 

 

Add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems.

 

Your memory loss is temporary and will return to normal in time once you're off the drug.

Gridley Introduction

 

Lexapro 20 mg since 2004.  Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017.   

End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg 

End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg

End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg  

Oct. 30, 2020  Jump to zero from 0.025mg.  Current dose: 0.000mg

3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete.

 

Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements

Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium

Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium 

End 2021  year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg

End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg 

End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg

Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper.

Taper is 95% complete.

 

Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986.  Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg  

March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper

Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper

Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper.  Current dose as of Feb. 22: 7.6mg

Taper is 90% complete.  

  

Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, anti-candida, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase


I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs.

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Hi gridley.. 

as of now my deep depression pain has resolved .. and  Mood is better .. I have tiredness and at times I have those anxious thoughts on / off .. 

mother than that I feel better .. 

I am taking omega 3 1000 mg already in the mornings .. 

thank you 
 

 

 

 

 

2016 - 2017 lexapro 10 mg 

2018- tried to taper but not according to the correct 10% 

Quit at the end 2018 . 

Medication free - 2019 

couldn’t as severe depression and so 2019 Aug  -for 6 months 

reduced to 5 mg . 

2020- was at 5 mg and 2.5 and also quit a few times . 

Severe depression - 5 mg from August 2020 - 2021 oct - 5 mg . Currently 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
13 hours ago, Godsave said:

please advise my tapering schedule .. 

 

It sounds like you are ready to taper.  As you may already know, we recommend tapering by no more than 10% of your current dose every four weeks.

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

That would make your next dose 4.5mg Lexapro.  You would hold there for four weeks and then, if you're doing okay, you would drop down 10% of 4.5mg. You can calculate what that would be by multiplying 4.5 X .9 = 4.05mg.  That would be your next dose.

 

The following link is specifically about tapering Lexapro and includes information about how to get the small non-standard doses you will need for your taper.  The methods are having the doses compounded at a compounding pharmacy, making your own liquid from tablets, or cutting tablets and weighing them on a digital scale.

 

Tips for tapering off Lexapro (escitalopram)

 

I don't know if you have Amazon.com in Singapore.  If you decide to cut tablets and weigh, many members use the AWS Gemini-20 scale, available on Amazon.com.

 

 

Using a digital scale to measure doses

 

How to make a liquid from tablets or capsules

Gridley Introduction

 

Lexapro 20 mg since 2004.  Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017.   

End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg 

End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg

End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg  

Oct. 30, 2020  Jump to zero from 0.025mg.  Current dose: 0.000mg

3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete.

 

Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements

Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium

Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium 

End 2021  year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg

End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg 

End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg

Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper.

Taper is 95% complete.

 

Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986.  Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg  

March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper

Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper

Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper.  Current dose as of Feb. 22: 7.6mg

Taper is 90% complete.  

  

Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, anti-candida, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase


I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs.

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@Gridley thank you very very much 😊🙏🏼  for all ur guidance and information.. I will try to buy the weighing machine and will try to taper very slowly

 

thank you very much 

2016 - 2017 lexapro 10 mg 

2018- tried to taper but not according to the correct 10% 

Quit at the end 2018 . 

Medication free - 2019 

couldn’t as severe depression and so 2019 Aug  -for 6 months 

reduced to 5 mg . 

2020- was at 5 mg and 2.5 and also quit a few times . 

Severe depression - 5 mg from August 2020 - 2021 oct - 5 mg . Currently 

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  • 3 months later...

Hi altrostata and others .. 

how are you all doing .. 

I was doing well when I tapered down my 5 mg Lexapro to 2.5 from Feb 2020 until now .. 

 

but suddenly I developed anxiety and depression symptoms for the past 1 week .. should I start taking 5 mg again ? .. 

 

please advice .. thank you v much 😊🙏🏼🙏🏼

2016 - 2017 lexapro 10 mg 

2018- tried to taper but not according to the correct 10% 

Quit at the end 2018 . 

Medication free - 2019 

couldn’t as severe depression and so 2019 Aug  -for 6 months 

reduced to 5 mg . 

2020- was at 5 mg and 2.5 and also quit a few times . 

Severe depression - 5 mg from August 2020 - 2021 oct - 5 mg . Currently 

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  • Administrator

When was the last time you made a dosage change? What has been your reduction schedule?

 

Have you recently taken an antibiotic, another drug, or had an alcoholic drink?

 

To help us out, follow these instructions Please put your drug and withdrawal history in your signature You may need to use a computer to do this.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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On 1/10/2020 at 2:50 PM, Godsave said:

Hi I withdraw Lexapro for 1 year completely facing unbearable withdrawals and again started for 6 months slowly tapered to 5 and was on 2.5 for 1 year and again quit for 5 months .. crashed very badly again and now reinstated 5 mg for 1 month .. when will my symptoms improve .. and is there anyone who really quit this hell and leading their life again .. PKEASE PKEASE OKEASE HELP ME 

 

hi .. I was taking Lexapro 5 mg from nov 2019 to jan 2020 .. then reduced to 2.5 mg and suddenly I developed this anxiety due to this pandemic and crashed again badly .. 

 

so now I am taking 5 mg again for the past 3 days .. 

 

I am trying to quit this medication so hard for a very Long time I am trying and also I fall very badly .. so much disappointed as I have to go back with these medication again .. 

 

kindly advise me if I need to take 5 mg or I can take lesser .. kindly advise my tapering schedule.. thank you very much 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

2016 - 2017 lexapro 10 mg 

2018- tried to taper but not according to the correct 10% 

Quit at the end 2018 . 

Medication free - 2019 

couldn’t as severe depression and so 2019 Aug  -for 6 months 

reduced to 5 mg . 

2020- was at 5 mg and 2.5 and also quit a few times . 

Severe depression - 5 mg from August 2020 - 2021 oct - 5 mg . Currently 

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On 5/29/2020 at 2:02 AM, Altostrata said:

When was the last time you made a dosage change? What has been your reduction schedule?

 

Have you recently taken an antibiotic, another drug, or had an alcoholic drink?

 

To help us out, follow these instructions Please put your drug and withdrawal history in your signature You may need to use a computer to do this.

Hi alto 

it was suddenly I raised my dose to 5 mg last week due to some anxiety to this pandemic and then spiraled .. like I don’t want to take this medication and so next day stopped again the next day 5 .. like this alternate doses for the last week .. 

 

but I have determined to stay in 2.5 mg .. today I went to cycling too .. but I want the hope from you that I can do it definitely this time in 2.5 as for the past two years I stay in that dose and I quitter too for a few months .. 

 

kindly give me hope .. 

thank you very much 😊🙏🏼

2016 - 2017 lexapro 10 mg 

2018- tried to taper but not according to the correct 10% 

Quit at the end 2018 . 

Medication free - 2019 

couldn’t as severe depression and so 2019 Aug  -for 6 months 

reduced to 5 mg . 

2020- was at 5 mg and 2.5 and also quit a few times . 

Severe depression - 5 mg from August 2020 - 2021 oct - 5 mg . Currently 

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  • Administrator

I think you can expect to get weird symptoms when you make sudden changes in your drugs. Alternating dosages is a terrible idea.

 

When you make a sudden change in your drugs, you are making your own problems. We can't help you if you continue to do this.

 

If I were you, I would take 2.5mg Lexapro at the same time each day, perhaps for 2 months or longer. Please let us know how you're doing.

 

If you expect answers to your questions, you will need to follow these instructions Please put your drug and withdrawal history in your signature

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Hi .. alto and otters .. pls help me 

I had been taking Lexapro 2.5 mg since feb 2020 until now and last week suddenly I developed some anxiety and then the deep depression spiral started and I was scared and took 5 mg again a couple of times last week but alternate days 2.5 and 5 mg .. 

but I am very very strong that I should not go into 5 mg again and should hold on 2.5 mg only .. 

 

olease advise me if I could do it .. but at a times I am nervous and I am depressed .. but hoping that this too will pass 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
 

need your sincere advice 😊🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

2016 - 2017 lexapro 10 mg 

2018- tried to taper but not according to the correct 10% 

Quit at the end 2018 . 

Medication free - 2019 

couldn’t as severe depression and so 2019 Aug  -for 6 months 

reduced to 5 mg . 

2020- was at 5 mg and 2.5 and also quit a few times . 

Severe depression - 5 mg from August 2020 - 2021 oct - 5 mg . Currently 

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  • 2 weeks later...

How are you doing godsave?

 

 

 

 

 

Sep- 2016 - Okt 2017 citalopram some months 15 mg some months 20 mg

Nov 2017- Apr 2018 citalopram 25 mg

Apr 2018 -  Jun 2018 citalopram 3 month TAPER too fast  from 25mg to 16.5 mg (0.1 mg per day decrease, felt horrible and crashed)

Jun 2018 - Aug13th 2018 citalopram trying to stabilize at 16.5 mg for 5 wks

- August 14th 2018 - April 29th 2019  citalopram 18 mg (1.5 mg updose).

 

2019 apr 27 : START taper citalopram @ 18 mg: 29Jun 16.4 mg / 19aug 15.4 mg / 25aug 15.2 mg / 30sep 14.0 mg / 4dec 13.1 mg

2020  03Jan 12.75 mg / 28Jan 12.29 mg / 18Feb 11.83 mg, 25Feb 11.68 mg hold.. / 7May 11.33 mg hold...., 4Aug 10.98 mg / 5Dec 10.0 mg 4 month hold...

2021 30mar 9.8 mg / 06apr 9.5 mg /  13apr 9.4 mg / 14may 8,5 mg / 04jun 8,0 mg / 11jun 7.75 mg, 02jul 7.35 mg /  09jul 7.2 mg hold 3 weeks during holiday /31jul 7 mg/ 8aug 6.8 mg / 15aug 6.63mg / 22aug 6.5mg / 1sep 6.3 mg / 8sep 6.15 mg / 15sep 6.0 mg / 22sep 5.9 mg / 29sep 5.8 mg / 04 oct 5.65 mg / 10oct 5.55 mg / 17oct 5.45 mg / 24oct 5.35mg / 30oct 5.25 mg hold 3 wks / 22nov 5.15 mg / 01dec 5.1mg / 12dec 5.0mg / 20dec 4.85mg / 30dec 4.70mg

2022   08jan 4.5 mg / 16jan 4.4 mg / 23jan 4.3 mg / 27jan 4.2 mg / 18feb 4.1 mg / 25feb 4.0 mg / 04mar 3.9 mg / 11mar 3.75 mg / 18Mar 3.65 mg / 09apr 3.55 mg / 16apr 3.45 mg / 23apr 3.35 mg / 01may 3.25 mg / 8may 3.15 mg / 17may 3.10 mg / 28 may 3.0 mg / 7jun 2.94 mg / 18 Jun 2.88 mg / 27 jun 2.84 mg / 05 jul 2.80 mg / 16 jul 2.75 mg / 23 jul 2.70 mg / 01aug 2.65 mg / 09aug 2.60 mg hold 5wks / 18sep 2.55 mg / 25sep 2.5 mg /02oct 2.45 mg / 10oct 2.40 mg / 19oct 2.35 mg / 27oct 2.30 mg / 05nov 2.27 mg / 14nov 2.25 mg / 22nov 2.20 mg / 29nov 2.10mg / 09dec 2.05 mg / 15dec 2.0 mg 

2023  hold 2.0 mg for 5 months / 05may 1.95 mg / 14may 1.90 mg / 24may 1.87 mg / 02jun 1.85 mg / 17jun 1.82 mg / 27jun 1.79 mg / 07jul 1.75 mg / 31jul 1.72 mg / 12aug 1.69mg / 27aug 1.67 mg / 04sep 1.65 mg / 09sep 1.63 mg / 22sep 1.61 mg / 27sep 1.60 mg / 12oct 1.58 mg / 18oct 1.56 mg / 31oct 1.54 mg / 06nov 1.52 mg / 18nov 1.50 mg / 04dec 1.48 mg / 11dec 1.46 mg / 22dec 1.45 mg / 28dec 1.44 mg

2024 01jan 1.43 mg / 06jan 1.42 mg/ 10jan 1.40 mg hold /

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Hi Joseph I am doing better now with 5 mg .. but hoping to cut to 2.5 mg soon as 5 mg makes me too tired drowsy and more depressed sometimes.. 

thank you 

2016 - 2017 lexapro 10 mg 

2018- tried to taper but not according to the correct 10% 

Quit at the end 2018 . 

Medication free - 2019 

couldn’t as severe depression and so 2019 Aug  -for 6 months 

reduced to 5 mg . 

2020- was at 5 mg and 2.5 and also quit a few times . 

Severe depression - 5 mg from August 2020 - 2021 oct - 5 mg . Currently 

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  • 1 month later...

Hi all 

how r u doing .. 

anybody over here who is active recently.. 

as all of u know I was taking Lexapro 5 mg since nov 2019 -jan 2020 

lex 2.5 mg from Feb 2020 - May  2020 .. 

jun again I got severe withdrawals  and went to lex 5 . For 1 month 

July - 5 mg and again in August I fell v badly and now I am

Taking  5 mg for the past 1 week . 
 

please advise me .. very sorry for not follow the 10 % reduction .. kindly bear with me .. 

I will not repeat this in near future . 
 

and also let me know if how I should go on in near future .. 

 

omg Lexapro is do dreadful .. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 
please anyone can help me .. thanks 

2016 - 2017 lexapro 10 mg 

2018- tried to taper but not according to the correct 10% 

Quit at the end 2018 . 

Medication free - 2019 

couldn’t as severe depression and so 2019 Aug  -for 6 months 

reduced to 5 mg . 

2020- was at 5 mg and 2.5 and also quit a few times . 

Severe depression - 5 mg from August 2020 - 2021 oct - 5 mg . Currently 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Please create your drug signature so we can see your drug history at a glance.  We need details for the last 2 years for ALL drugs.  Summary for anything older than 2 years.  Thank you.

 

Instructions:  Withdrawal History Signature


Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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  • Moderator Emeritus
24 minutes ago, Godsave said:

Lexapro 5 mg nov 2019 -jan 2020 

lex 2.5 mg Feb 2020 - May  2020 .. 

jun  lex 5 . For 1 month 

July - 5 mg

Taking  5 mg for the past 1 week . 

 

This information is very confusing.

 

Please provide specific dates.

 

jun  lex 5 . For 1 month 

 

 

Did you reduce after this?  If yes, what dose?

 

July - 5 mg

 

Did you reduce after this?  If yes, what dose?

 

Taking  5 mg for the past 1 week . 

 

 

OR

 

Have you been on 5mg Lexapro all the time since June 2020?  If yes, then please state it as 5mg Lexaprox date June 2020 to current, instead of splitting it into months.

 

It is important that we get accurate information about the dates and doses of your drug.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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Hi to be in a detailed manner for the past 2 years I have been taking Lexapro 2.5 mg most of the times and when I get severe withdrawals I went to 5 mg 

 

2016 - 2017 - May -10 mg 

2017 - June tapered trial and error and was drug free 

2018 - quit completely 

2019 - severe withdrawals so restart 5 mg in jan 2019 - Mar 2019  
apr 2019 - 2.5 mg Lexapro until 2020 jan 

feb 2020- may 2020 - 5 mg 

jun 2020 - 2.5 mg 

bad withdrawals and again now from August 2020 - till date 5 mg Lexapro .. 

 

members I am very sorry that I didn’t follo the 10 % method as my doctor was advising me to just quit as it was a small dose and to my horror suffering in this withdrawals so much .. 

 

I should learn my lesson ATLEAST now and will surely follow the brass monkey method in future .. 

 

anyone here would advise me please .. 

 

thank u very much 😊🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

 

2016 - 2017 lexapro 10 mg 

2018- tried to taper but not according to the correct 10% 

Quit at the end 2018 . 

Medication free - 2019 

couldn’t as severe depression and so 2019 Aug  -for 6 months 

reduced to 5 mg . 

2020- was at 5 mg and 2.5 and also quit a few times . 

Severe depression - 5 mg from August 2020 - 2021 oct - 5 mg . Currently 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

How are you feeling now since you updosed to 5mg Lexapro 1 week ago?

 

Have you noticed any improvement?

 

Has anything got worse?

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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Intially my depression got worse and now after a week I feel better .. 

Please advise me if How Long should I stay in this dose .. 

ultimateky MY AIM IS TO QUIT THIS POISON 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
have undergone so much during my withdrawals and still I am not able to reach my goal .. 

 

ATLEAST I want to be in 2.5 and not in 5 .. 

 

kindly please advise me .. thank u very much 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

2016 - 2017 lexapro 10 mg 

2018- tried to taper but not according to the correct 10% 

Quit at the end 2018 . 

Medication free - 2019 

couldn’t as severe depression and so 2019 Aug  -for 6 months 

reduced to 5 mg . 

2020- was at 5 mg and 2.5 and also quit a few times . 

Severe depression - 5 mg from August 2020 - 2021 oct - 5 mg . Currently 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

It takes about 4 days for a dose to get to full strength in the blood and a bit longer for it to register in the brain.

 

Because you have been jumping around in your doses you will need to stay on 5mg until you stabilise.  This might take 2 or 3 months.  Once this happens you could try making a reduction.  To see if you are ready to reduce your dose you could try a small reduction, eg 1% or 2%.  If you find that you still feel okay after that test you could then make a larger reduction the next time.

 

It is important to realise that there is no fast way to get off these drugs if you want to do it without causing withdrawal symptoms.  We have members here who have tried to go faster than 10% (of current dose) and have ended up taking longer to get off their drug.  Some members have ended up adding a drug which means they have to get off that one as well.

 

Please note that stabilisation happens in a windows and waves pattern.  You might feel okay for a little while and then feel a bit worse and then feel a bit better again.  It is important NOT to panic.  Please keep taking the same dose.  The brain gets confused when we keep changing the dose..  We strongly encourage members to learn and use non drug coping techniques.  Non-drug techniques

 

Getting off a psychiatric drug has nothing to do with how strong or determined we are as a person.

 

On 8/31/2011 at 5:28 AM, 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.

 

 

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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@ChessieCatThank u very much for your support 🙏🏼 Sure I will follow ur advice and will hold on for next 3 months and then follow 10% reduction this time for sure . 

 

thank u v v much dear for giving me hope and also please advise me if I can survive and later on withdraw completely.. 

 

some online scary stories about this drug made me to withdraw so fast with trial and error and will not repeat that in future . 
 

olease pray for my recovery and give me strength and hope 🙏🏼😊

 

thanks a ton 

2016 - 2017 lexapro 10 mg 

2018- tried to taper but not according to the correct 10% 

Quit at the end 2018 . 

Medication free - 2019 

couldn’t as severe depression and so 2019 Aug  -for 6 months 

reduced to 5 mg . 

2020- was at 5 mg and 2.5 and also quit a few times . 

Severe depression - 5 mg from August 2020 - 2021 oct - 5 mg . Currently 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Have a look at the success stories from members who were taking Lexapro:

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/search/?q=lexapro&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=28

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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Sure .. thank you 😊 

2016 - 2017 lexapro 10 mg 

2018- tried to taper but not according to the correct 10% 

Quit at the end 2018 . 

Medication free - 2019 

couldn’t as severe depression and so 2019 Aug  -for 6 months 

reduced to 5 mg . 

2020- was at 5 mg and 2.5 and also quit a few times . 

Severe depression - 5 mg from August 2020 - 2021 oct - 5 mg . Currently 

Link to comment

Please stop changing your dose!

 

You have been going up and down 100% and 50% . This is an awful lot. I've been there too and it is just so destabilizing. I understand you completely, you just want to live on without this stuff. But, we're trapped between a rock and a hard place.

We need this medication too counteract wd. But our bodies want to get rid of it asap, only our brain needs it to function. We can slowly trick our brain by taking the poison away slowly.

 

We can even eat a Poison and get used to it by eating a little more everyday. This is just the other way around. Our body has to learn to live without the stuff that brutally hacked our brain.

 

Let yourself stabilize and don't act in panick. I've updosed also in panick to stop the misery but it only made things worse and we notice it 1week, 2weeks later ...who knows. Before you know it things go worse again.

 

 

I wish you all the best and keep the faith!!

 

 

Jozeff

 

Sep- 2016 - Okt 2017 citalopram some months 15 mg some months 20 mg

Nov 2017- Apr 2018 citalopram 25 mg

Apr 2018 -  Jun 2018 citalopram 3 month TAPER too fast  from 25mg to 16.5 mg (0.1 mg per day decrease, felt horrible and crashed)

Jun 2018 - Aug13th 2018 citalopram trying to stabilize at 16.5 mg for 5 wks

- August 14th 2018 - April 29th 2019  citalopram 18 mg (1.5 mg updose).

 

2019 apr 27 : START taper citalopram @ 18 mg: 29Jun 16.4 mg / 19aug 15.4 mg / 25aug 15.2 mg / 30sep 14.0 mg / 4dec 13.1 mg

2020  03Jan 12.75 mg / 28Jan 12.29 mg / 18Feb 11.83 mg, 25Feb 11.68 mg hold.. / 7May 11.33 mg hold...., 4Aug 10.98 mg / 5Dec 10.0 mg 4 month hold...

2021 30mar 9.8 mg / 06apr 9.5 mg /  13apr 9.4 mg / 14may 8,5 mg / 04jun 8,0 mg / 11jun 7.75 mg, 02jul 7.35 mg /  09jul 7.2 mg hold 3 weeks during holiday /31jul 7 mg/ 8aug 6.8 mg / 15aug 6.63mg / 22aug 6.5mg / 1sep 6.3 mg / 8sep 6.15 mg / 15sep 6.0 mg / 22sep 5.9 mg / 29sep 5.8 mg / 04 oct 5.65 mg / 10oct 5.55 mg / 17oct 5.45 mg / 24oct 5.35mg / 30oct 5.25 mg hold 3 wks / 22nov 5.15 mg / 01dec 5.1mg / 12dec 5.0mg / 20dec 4.85mg / 30dec 4.70mg

2022   08jan 4.5 mg / 16jan 4.4 mg / 23jan 4.3 mg / 27jan 4.2 mg / 18feb 4.1 mg / 25feb 4.0 mg / 04mar 3.9 mg / 11mar 3.75 mg / 18Mar 3.65 mg / 09apr 3.55 mg / 16apr 3.45 mg / 23apr 3.35 mg / 01may 3.25 mg / 8may 3.15 mg / 17may 3.10 mg / 28 may 3.0 mg / 7jun 2.94 mg / 18 Jun 2.88 mg / 27 jun 2.84 mg / 05 jul 2.80 mg / 16 jul 2.75 mg / 23 jul 2.70 mg / 01aug 2.65 mg / 09aug 2.60 mg hold 5wks / 18sep 2.55 mg / 25sep 2.5 mg /02oct 2.45 mg / 10oct 2.40 mg / 19oct 2.35 mg / 27oct 2.30 mg / 05nov 2.27 mg / 14nov 2.25 mg / 22nov 2.20 mg / 29nov 2.10mg / 09dec 2.05 mg / 15dec 2.0 mg 

2023  hold 2.0 mg for 5 months / 05may 1.95 mg / 14may 1.90 mg / 24may 1.87 mg / 02jun 1.85 mg / 17jun 1.82 mg / 27jun 1.79 mg / 07jul 1.75 mg / 31jul 1.72 mg / 12aug 1.69mg / 27aug 1.67 mg / 04sep 1.65 mg / 09sep 1.63 mg / 22sep 1.61 mg / 27sep 1.60 mg / 12oct 1.58 mg / 18oct 1.56 mg / 31oct 1.54 mg / 06nov 1.52 mg / 18nov 1.50 mg / 04dec 1.48 mg / 11dec 1.46 mg / 22dec 1.45 mg / 28dec 1.44 mg

2024 01jan 1.43 mg / 06jan 1.42 mg/ 10jan 1.40 mg hold /

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Tanks @Joseph will definitely follow ur advice and goals slowly as possible hereafter.. 

 

thank u v much 

2016 - 2017 lexapro 10 mg 

2018- tried to taper but not according to the correct 10% 

Quit at the end 2018 . 

Medication free - 2019 

couldn’t as severe depression and so 2019 Aug  -for 6 months 

reduced to 5 mg . 

2020- was at 5 mg and 2.5 and also quit a few times . 

Severe depression - 5 mg from August 2020 - 2021 oct - 5 mg . Currently 

Link to comment
On 8/14/2020 at 9:09 AM, ChessieCat said:

How are you feeling now since you updosed to 5mg Lexapro 1 week ago?

 

Have you noticed any improvement?

 

Has anything got worse?

Hi 

I am very sorry to say that my depression got worse and anxiety too .. I am very much scared this time 😭🙏🏼 
PlEase give me positive support and hope . 
sometimes I feel like I am thinking v slow and worried about my memory . 

2016 - 2017 lexapro 10 mg 

2018- tried to taper but not according to the correct 10% 

Quit at the end 2018 . 

Medication free - 2019 

couldn’t as severe depression and so 2019 Aug  -for 6 months 

reduced to 5 mg . 

2020- was at 5 mg and 2.5 and also quit a few times . 

Severe depression - 5 mg from August 2020 - 2021 oct - 5 mg . Currently 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Please describe your symptoms.  What do you mean when you say depression?  What happens when you get anxious?  Do these symptoms seem to happen at the same time each day?

 

Please provide daily symptoms notes for the next 3 consecutive days, post 24 hours period in one post.  This might help us to see a pattern.

 

The post I linked above explains why we request the symptom notes and provides an example.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Q:  How is your sleep?

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

Link to comment

Sleep is good dear . 
 

yesterday went out had a lot of hopelessness and felt dreadful . 
came back cried then felt normal . Slept well 

morning woke up felt hopeless anxiety and fear crippled as I had been hooked up to this drug . 
And at the moment feeling better less depression after I took 5 mg but anxiety crippled in . 
 

thank you 😊 

2016 - 2017 lexapro 10 mg 

2018- tried to taper but not according to the correct 10% 

Quit at the end 2018 . 

Medication free - 2019 

couldn’t as severe depression and so 2019 Aug  -for 6 months 

reduced to 5 mg . 

2020- was at 5 mg and 2.5 and also quit a few times . 

Severe depression - 5 mg from August 2020 - 2021 oct - 5 mg . Currently 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
Just now, Godsave said:

yesterday went out

 

You might have been overstimulated.  How did you feel the day before you went out?

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

Link to comment
1 minute ago, ChessieCat said:

 

I was at home for the past 10 days and only yesterday I went out in the eve not alone with my hubby . 
 

but I was regularly walking 5 km and was very active when I was in 2.5 mg . 

Sleep is good dear . 
 

yesterday went out had a lot of hopelessness and felt dreadful . 
came back cried then felt normal . Slept well 

morning woke up felt hopeless anxiety and fear crippled as I had been hooked up to this drug . 
And at the moment feeling better less depression after I took 5 mg but anxiety crippled in . 
 

thank you 😊 

2016 - 2017 lexapro 10 mg 

2018- tried to taper but not according to the correct 10% 

Quit at the end 2018 . 

Medication free - 2019 

couldn’t as severe depression and so 2019 Aug  -for 6 months 

reduced to 5 mg . 

2020- was at 5 mg and 2.5 and also quit a few times . 

Severe depression - 5 mg from August 2020 - 2021 oct - 5 mg . Currently 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Please answer my question.  You have just repeated your post.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

Link to comment
4 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

Please answer my question.  You have just repeated your post.

Hi 

sorry for the past 10 days was at home after my dose increase .. only yesterday I went out with my hubby 

before in 2.5 I was walking Everyday 5 km 

2016 - 2017 lexapro 10 mg 

2018- tried to taper but not according to the correct 10% 

Quit at the end 2018 . 

Medication free - 2019 

couldn’t as severe depression and so 2019 Aug  -for 6 months 

reduced to 5 mg . 

2020- was at 5 mg and 2.5 and also quit a few times . 

Severe depression - 5 mg from August 2020 - 2021 oct - 5 mg . Currently 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
43 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

 

How did you feel the day before you went out?

 

 

Please read the question carefully.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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