Norton: Cipralex for 6 months for anxiety

[Norton]

On 7/1/2020 at 11:14 AM, Gridley said:

Then we can talk about tapering down to zero.  

Hi Gridley,

so 2 months in the reinstatement I feel the same no major swings just a steady everyday state. 
Do you think I’m ready to start tapering down?

 

Thank you!

[Gridley]

20 minutes ago, Norton said:

Do you think I’m ready to start tapering down?

I'm very conservative.  I would feel more comfortable with one more month of holding.  We are dealing with unknowns here, and I would rather err on the side of caution.

 

If you do decide to taper now, you would drop from your current dose of 13mgpw (pill weight) to 12mgpw, which is a drop of 7.69%.  As you may have already figured out, the scale only weighs in 1mgpw decrements.

 

As you get farther down, dropping from 12mgpw to 11mgpw, etc., the percentage will unavoidably increase.  You can calculate the percentage of your drops using this link:

Percentage Decrease Calculator - Calculator Soup

Edited July 27, 2020 by Gridley

[Norton]

17 minutes ago, Gridley said:

would feel more comfortable with one more month of holding.

Ok so you are saying 3 months at 13?

Roughly what will it take to completely get off of it? 
I’m seeing more than a year is that accurate?

 

Thanks

[Gridley]

1 hour ago, Norton said:

Roughly what will it take to completely get off of it? 

If you jump off at 0.05mgpw, 13 months.  If you jump off at 0.025mgpw, 14 months.  That's with a four week hold between drops.  I've been doing okay with 4 week holds, but everyone's different.   If you need to stretch that to 6 weeks between drops, it would be longer. It seems like a long time, I know, but taking this long to get to zero from 1mg is pretty standard.  I'm at 9 months right now at 2mgpw, which for my brand of Lexapro is 0.2mgai.  I'm looking to jump to zero at either 0.5mgpw/0.05mgai, which is another 2 months, or (depending on how I feel and my ability to deal with the tiny bits of powder) 0.25mgpw/.025mgai, which is another 3 months.

 

Yes, 3 months at 13.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 27, 2020 by Gridley

[Norton]

Hello Gridley,

hope all is well. 
So I started lowering my dose from 13 to 12 mg and if feeling very tired in the afternoon with some mild insomnia  , can this be from going down the dose? Other than that no major swings. 
Thank you in advance

[Gridley]

22 minutes ago, Norton said:

if feeling very tired in the afternoon with some mild insomnia  , can this be from going down the dose?

It likely is.  

1. How soon after lowering the dose did you notice the symptoms?

2.  See if the symptoms start to abate after a time.  It is not unusual to experience some WD after a drop, but you should return to WDnormal before your next drop. WDnormal

3. How long did you hold at 13 before dropping to 12?

[Norton]

16 minutes ago, Gridley said:It likely is.  

I was on 0.13 for 3 months as per your recommendation, started to notice the fatigue almost right the way. 

[Gridley]

21 minutes ago, Norton said:

I was on 0.13 for 3 months as per your recommendation, started to notice the fatigue almost right the way. 

I would hold at 13mgpw until the symptoms fade.  Please keep us updated on how you're doing.