Demi918: Lexapro taper

[Demi918]

Hey everyone!

Feel blessed to be here and You guys are extremely helpful.

Here’s my story.

I was on 10mg Escitalopram for 1 years, started feeling better with no anxiety after 3 weeks of stating Escitalopram 10 mg but would suffer with horrible side effects like head ache all day, Nasal congestion, blurred vision and. I did my Pill check (DNA testing) and found out that Escitalopram is not suitable and considered as dangerous drug for possible many side effects. Dr. advised me to tapper dose to zero and be off of it. Only if needed to go for suitable Anti-anxiety drug.

I started feeling all my symptoms go worst after week of not talking escitalopram. are these really side effects that worst after stopping and how long does it take normally to feel better again?

Heavy head (Migraine)

double vision

Shakes

Dizziness

ear ringing

Nasal Congestion (Feels like difficulty breathing)

numbness, tingling and weakness in my hand, legs

Back and neck pain

Dry mouth and dry and painful eyes

Brain Zap

The list goes on! Any support or guidance would be appreciated 

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a peer owned and run forum of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  

 

Thank you for giving us your drug history in your signature.   Normally we suggest tapering by 10% of the current dose, so that the taper becomes exponentially smaller.  However, in your case, it sounds like you had an adverse reaction to the drug and you needed to get off of it.  

 

These drugs are powerful, and they make changes to our nervous systems.  When we get off, the nervous system then has to adjust back to it's predrug state.  That is why we have the symptoms.  These links go into that more: 

 

What is Withdrawal Syndrome?

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

When we are recovering from drug withdrawal, we suggest keeping things slow, simple, and stable. 

 

Keep it Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

 

When we recover, there are times of feeling OK mixed in with times of feeling bad.  This is called windows and waves.

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

Here are some techniques to cope with symptoms: 

 

Non Drug Ways to Cope with Withdrawal Symptoms

 

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but 3 that many of us find helpful are magnesium, omega-3, and melatonin. Here are the links for info about those.  It is suggested to add one at a time, and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

Magnesium

Omega 3 Fish Oil

Melatonin

 

I've given you quite a bit of information here.  Please read through it, and mull it over, and we will take it from there. In the meantime, take care of yourself, and take heart.  We in this forum have been through this, and we understand first hand the pain and discomfort you are going through.  Please know that the brain is amazing in it's healing abilities.  It takes time, but healing can and will happen. 

 

[Demi918]

Thank you So much for all this. I have read most of them and they are very helpful.

This forum is so helpful. 

My withdrawal symptoms start to be fading in just a week. I more have Physical symptoms than Mental. 

[Altostrata]

Good to hear you're feeling better, Demi. Please let us know how you're doing.

[Demi918]

So, I had a week of bad symptoms followed by two days of grace period followed by last two days with all symptoms came back. is this normal?.

[Demi918]

Hey!

Feel blessed to be here and You guys are extremely helpful.

Here’s my story.

I was on 10mg Escitalopram for 1 years, started feeling better with no anxiety after 3 weeks of stating Escitalopram 10 mg but would suffer with horrible side effects like head ache all day, Nasal congestion, blurred vision and. I did my Pill check (DNA testing) and found out that Escitalopram is not suitable and considered as dangerous drug for possible many side effects. Dr. advised me to tapper dose to zero and be off of it. And only if needed to go for suitable Anti-anxiety drug.

I started feeling all my symptoms go worst after week of not talking escitalopram. are these really side effects that worst after stopping and how long does it take normally to feel better again?

Heavy head

double vision

Shakes

Dizziness

ear ringing

numbness, tingling and weakness in my hand, legs

Back and neck pain

Dry mouth and dry and painful eyes

Brain Zap

The list goes on!

Recently, today with all other symptoms, I feel my right side of the body is acting more than left. I have facial twitching with my right eyelid always heavy. right ear pain. are these really a symptoms of I have developed a serious mental condition here.

[ShiningLight]

Welcome @Demi918! One of the mods will be along soon to answer your question in more detail.

 

The symptoms you are reporting are known symptoms of withdrawal in the layperson community (and a few choice professionals 😀 agree with us). You're not going crazy or developing a new mental problem.

 

In the meantime, can you write how you tapered? How many mgs at a time and over how long? That info will help the mods.

[ipuka]

Hi Demi,

 

I think you tapered too fast. The recommendation is 10% reduction per month - maximum, which means you need a lot longer that 10 weeks to taper from 10 mg of escitalopram.

I attempted to taper like you did (before finding this site), and the symptoms I had are identical. I had to reinstate,wait to stabilize, and start slow tapering again. I am averaging 8% (based on current dose) per month. The key for me is to listen to the body. It takes time to stabilize, hence the slow taper regimen. There is a spreadsheet somewhere in this forum, which can help you map your reduction, either regular, brass monkey method, etc. I have been following it, and must admit that my taper (especially for the last three months) has been with very little symptoms. it took me 8 months to taper from 10 mg to currently 4 mg.

Slow is the key!

 

 

*I speak from my experience. Nothing I say is medical advice. I'm not a doctor.

[ChessieCat]

This topic will be moved to Demi's Introduction topic here: 

 

[ChessieCat]

You have done a very fast taper.  What you are experiencing are withdrawal symptoms from stopping the drug too quickly.  It was also a linear taper.  SA recommends a hyperbolic taper reducing 10% of current dose followed by a hold of about 4 weeks to allow the brain to adapt to not getting as much of the drug. 

 

In post #1 of this topic at the bottom of the post you will see 2 graphs which compare the 2 different taper methods.

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Dr Joseph Glenmullen's WD Symptoms Checklist

 

Please read Post #1 of this topic.  You might find that taking a small amount would bring your symptoms to a bearable level.  It is better to start with a small amount and increase by a bit more than to risk taking too much.  You could try reinstating 0.5mg escitalopram.  However if you are too scared to start with that dose you could try 0.25mg.

 

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms

 

Please note that escitalopram is a very strong drug.  Post #1 of this topic gives a comparison of the dose to other ADs.  Post #1 also explains how to get non-standard doses:

 

Tips for tapering off escitalopram (Lexapro)

 

It takes about 4 days for a dose to get to full level in the blood and a bit longer for it to register in the brain.  The idea of reinstating is not to get rid of the withdrawal symptoms completely but to bring them to a bearable level.  After stabilising, which might take several months or more, you could then taper following SA's protocol linked above.

 

[Demi918]

Thank you so much for a quick responses from everyone.

I believe I did tapered too fast looks like. my reduction was 1 mg every week. that would last for 10 week.

I was already suffering from a side effects of the Meds (as I mentioned that I did Pill/DNA check and find out this drug is not for me).

Now question is should I restart from 5 mg as my last dose was on 4th March 2021 and I just want to understand if it is too late to restart and just deal with symptoms. I am managing this symptoms so poorly as all I am doing is being in bed after my work. 

Starting a dose at 5mg again will bring the side effects that I had so there is no win-win situation here. it's all about a time game as I have to clear this drug out of my body any way.

 

Thank you folks again! your awesome.

[Altostrata]

Hello, @Demi918 Please put your questions in your Intro topic here.

 

You might try 1mg escitalopram liquid and see if that's enough. Give it 3-4 days to reach full effect. You'd taper off by tiny amounts later. Please let us know how you're doing.

[Demi918]

Hello @Altostrata,

I was listening to your interview. it was very usefully to understand Acute and post-acute withdrawal symptoms.

It is indeed hard to explain it to my doctor as he thinks that the symptoms I am experiencing are not from antidepressant rather other mental condition and referred me to neurologist.

 

I have a simple question or reintroducing 1 mg Escitalopram back in to my body after a 20 days of no drug?.

I would not like to take any antidepressant drug specially after going through a lot with it's side effect. and now that I am dealing with withdrawal symptoms it doesn't get any worst then this. 

 

I know that I am headed for a long road recovery. I am considering restarting with 1 mg and slowly tapered to come off of it.

[Yesyes123]

Hey @Demi918 hope you are doing well. 

 

What kind of DNA test did you do? What is it called?

 

Thanks

Peace and healing

[Demi918]

Hi @Yesyes123,

I have done a DNA test call Pill check. When they take a swab of your saliva in the morning before brush.

This test is to identify what kind of enzymes your body produces and if at all you will be affected by side effects any pills starting from pain killers to psychotic drugs.

it helps you identify which medication to take out of a whole lot of options.

hope this will help.

[Demi918]

@Altostrata I started Escitalopram 1 mg so I could deal with this WD that were increasing everyday by day. I realized that I tapered too quickly and was affected by worst possible symptoms. Hoping to be normal by week and than would taper 10%. what would be the frequency?, biweekly of each month?.

[Altostrata]

5 hours ago, Demi918 said:

@Altostrata I started Escitalopram 1 mg so I could deal with this WD that were increasing everyday by day. I realized that I tapered too quickly and was affected by worst possible symptoms. Hoping to be normal by week and than would taper 10%. what would be the frequency?, biweekly of each month?.

 

How do you feel on 1mg escitalopram? 

 

If you feel better, you'd stay on this for several months, to make sure withdrawal symptoms have gone away, then taper with these 

Tips for tapering off escitalopram (Lexapro)

[Demi918]

@Altostrata hit hard with anxiety and headache today with some chest pain, Agitation, body pain, concentration issues and on bed whole day. Just a third day with 1mg escitalopram and feels like my brain still thinks I am off of it so I have to give it few more days to be able to feel oke. Luck enough that I had day offs until next Tuesday. I will take this time to just relax and try and deal with this stupid Anxiety attack. 
sometime feel so hopeless that will this end at all as I don’t see light ahead of the dark tunnel.

some encouragement please!!!

[Yesyes123]

@Demi918 you will get better! Time is the biggest healer!

 

Is there any way you could get more time away from work? That could help so much.

 

Peace and healing

[Demi918]

Hi all,

update on my condition.

so, month of stopping and 5 days of restarting 1 mg escitalopram and I have been hit hard with anxiety and headaches, whole right side of the body is affected with pain, double and blurred vision, twitching of right eye, facial muscle. Worst tinnitus and pressure in ear. Mild insomnia. Looks like it’s hard for my brain to understand that I have started taking 1 mg and still think I have super fast tapered it to zero. @Altostratashould I wait for a month to see if my Brain will settle to 1 mg?? I do not want to go to taking full med again.

[Altostrata]

What time of day do you take escitalopram? How do you feel after you take the 1mg escitalopram? Do you feel better or worse?

[Demi918]

@AltostrataI take 1mg Escitalopram in the evening at 6pm. I feel bit worst after I take 1 mg.

However, it's just 5 days since I started 1 mg. 

[Demi918]

But, I am getting windows as well. I feel I am in a  anhedonia phase where I would feel fine for hour or two in a day with most of my day pass thinking what's wrong with me and my body. I will most likely continue with this 1 mg for 2-3 months to feel close to normal before I start tapering. 

I cannot appreciate enough this website and help from all members. reading success stories and advise is so motivating.

 

[Altostrata]

In what way do you feel worse?

 

How are you sleeping? Did your sleep pattern change after adding 1mg escitalopram?

[Demi918]

@Altostrata I had Insomnia for about two days but my sleep return to normal on day 3. I am feeling all symptom when I was tapering and felted back again

additional was Anxiety which is lowering I guess. So confused. Anxiety lowered but WD increased.

[Altostrata]

2 hours ago, Demi918 said:

Anxiety lowered but WD increased.

 

Please explain. What do you mean by withdrawal increased? What symptoms?

 

It sounds like insomnia and anxiety improved.

[Demi918]

Hi @Altostrata,

 

So My anxiety and insomnia settled. but following symptoms started getting worst.

1. Sever headache all day except sleeping (Like Migraine)

2. double vision

3. Shakes

4. Dizziness

5. ear ringing

6. Nasal Congestion (Feels like difficulty breathing)

7. numbness, tingling and weakness in my hand, legs

8. Back and neck pain

9. Dry mouth and dry and painful eyes

10. Brain Zap

[Demi918]

I have done a pill check (DNA TEST) and escitalopram is considered as most damaging drugs in terms of sideeffects.

Do you think I should change to prozac? as it is consider safe drug for me. if so, what would be the equivalent dose of Prozac to escitalopram 1 mg?. 

[Altostrata]

11 hours ago, Demi918 said:

I have done a pill check (DNA TEST)

 

What does this mean?

 

Do your symptoms follow any daily pattern?  Please keep daily notes of times of day you take your drugs, their dosages, and your symptoms throughout the day. Post 24 hours of notes at a time in this topic, in a simple list format with time of day on the left and notation (symptom or drug and dosage) on the right. This can show if your symptoms are adverse effects from one of your drugs.

[Demi918]

HI @Altostrata, Pill check analysis is the DNA testing which tells you which medication is good for you and which should be switched to an alternative drug based on your enzyme present in the body and your body response to drug and it's side effects.

https://www.pillcheck.ca/ here is the link to further explain how it works. 

 

With regards to my symptoms,

12 hours ago, Altostrata said:

Post 24 hours of notes at a time in this topic, in a simple list format with time of day on the left and notation

8:am- Wake up and realized headache right away.

9am- ready to go to work

9:30am- at work, head is still spinning an difficulty concentration, Double vision, Painful eyes, tinnitus. sitting on a chair and starring at computer is difficult as hell.

12pm- took half of lunch. no desire to eat.

4:30pm- ready to go home. God knows how I killed time.

5pm at home, eat light food and fell on the couch. just laying on couch is getting difficult because of headache and racing thoughts.

7:30 - walking on treadmill for about 20min. Condition is still worst.

8:30pm - took dinner, and was walking in the house for about 20 min.

9pm in bed watching videos on mobile and reading some success story on SA.

11pm fall a sleep.

2am- wake up following bad dream.

2:30am slept again

7:30am wake up and waiting my alarm to go on at 8am.

this is my normal day looks like.

I am either on couch or bed all the time when I don't do anything.

 

In Regards to pill check,

I have 100% chance 0f getting adverse effect and it is in the list of my mads to be altered by other similar med. where as fluoxetine is in my safe medication list.

 

I can send you my report through personal email if you like. 

 

 

[Altostrata]

Please include the times you take your drugs in your daily notes.

 

Did the tinnitus in your ears get worse?

[Demi918]

hi,

I slightly got window of 3-5 hours yesterday night.

8:am- Wake up and realized headache right away. took my Vit d, Aswaghanda powder, Vit b12 and Naturapas.

9am- ready to go to work

9:30am- at work, head is still spinning an difficulty concentration, Double vision, Painful eyes, tinnitus. sitting on a chair and starring at computer is difficult as hell.

12pm- took half of lunch. no desire to eat.

4:30pm- ready to go home. God knows how I killed time.

5pm at home, eat light food and fell on the couch. just laying on couch is getting difficult because of headache and racing thoughts.

7:30 - walking on treadmill for about 20min. Condition is still worst.

8:30pm - took dinner, and was walking in the house for about 20 min. took Escitalipram 1 mg

9pm in bed watching videos on mobile and reading some success story on SA.

11pm fall a sleep.

2am- wake up following bad dream.

2:30am slept again

7:30am wake up and waiting my alarm to go on at 8am.

 

No, tinnitus would remain same but My ear pressure would rise to roof. sometimes so unbearable. just in right ears.

[Altostrata]

On 4/9/2021 at 7:09 AM, Demi918 said:

I slightly got window of 3-5 hours yesterday night.

 

This was a period when you felt better? What time was that?

 

Do you feel better, worse, or the same after you take Vit d, Aswaghanda powder, Vit b12 and Naturapas in the morning?

 

Did you always take escitalopram in the evening? Do you feel better after you take it? Does it make you sleepy?

[Demi918]

Hi @Altostrata,

yes, this was A time when I felt better. I am getting Larger windows. Today I could enjoy for about 4-5 hours a day. This happen usually at the afternoon to evening. My headache and anxiety is worst in the Morning. Which gets better by evening.

It feels same after taking supplements.

I have been taking escitalopram at 8pm. I could sleep well at about 12amish.

 

I had an appointment with My GP as a follow call and I explained the situation. Her recommendation was to switch from escitalopam 1 mg to peroxetine 5mg. Which she feel is safe according to my pill ckeck DNA report.

what do you think?. Have got a chance to see pill check website?

[Altostrata]

I would never, ever suggest anyone switch from escitalopram to paroxetine. Paroxetine is probably the worst antidepressant for adverse effects and withdrawal problems.

 

You only reinstated on March 30, less than 2 weeks, and it's going well. It doesn't make sense for you to risk a switch to another drug. Strongly recommend you not worry about an immediate cure and look forward to very gradual stabilization on a little escitalopram.

 

It appears to me that the escitalopram is wearing off overnight and unmasking your withdrawal symptoms in the morning. If taking 1mg escitalopram does not worsen your tinnitus and allows you to sleep, you might add 0.5mg escitalopram at night. If it keeps you awake, you might gradually move your dose earlier in the day. Please continue to keep daily notes.

 

On 4/7/2021 at 7:19 AM, Demi918 said:

Pill check analysis is the DNA testing which tells you which medication is good for you and which should be switched to an alternative drug based on your enzyme present in the body and your body response to drug and it's side effects.

 

These so-called genomic tests identify variations in the liver enzymes utilized in metabolization of drugs. They don't tell you which drugs are "good for you". All they do is identify which drugs you may metabolize too slowly.

 

As it seems 1mg escitalopram is being metabolized overnight, your liver enzymes are up to the job. Lower dosages get metabolized faster, and you're substantially metabolizing 1mg within 12 hours, it appears.

[Demi918]

Thank you so much for this explanation @Altostrata, I will stick to Escitalopram. I will let my GP now. 

So if I read you correctly, you want me to increase my dose to total of 1.5mg at night. and If that cost me my sleep than I would switch that to a morning dose correct?.

also, I feel like I am stabilizing very very slowly but still under that withdrawal symptoms. 

I am fine and can work around with this withdrawal symptoms as of now.  

 

Regards to Metabolism, I am getting this windows couple of hours before takig Escitalopram. at about 4-5pm and would stay until I go to bed.

10:am- Wake up and realized headache right away. 

10:30am-head is still spinning an difficulty concentration, Double vision, Painful eyes, tinnitus. Had light breakfast. and took my supplements.

12pm- Sitting in the sofa with state of confusion. headache.

2:00pm- Had dentist appointment for teeth cleaning. went well.

3pm at home, eat light food and went to do some garden shopping.

4-6pm - did some gardening with Dad and productive work. headache is still there but manageable. 

7:30 - walking on treadmill for about 20min. 

8:30pm - took dinner, Escitalopram 1 mg and was walking in the house for about 20 min.

9pm went to hot-tube with

1am fall a sleep.

10:30am wake up and felt headache right away,