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DizzySizzy: please help, escitalopram withdrawal while on Wellbutrin

DizzySizzy

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DizzySizzy Newbie

DizzySizzy

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Posted

Hi I’m new here!

Lexapro’s side effects were not worth it for me so I added Wellbutrin and although the combination therapy felt kind of perfect, I never intended to be on two meds so I decided to taper off of Escitalopram. A week after last dose, I feel intense panic and fear, a bit out of body, not to mention all the physical symptoms. It is so scary that I’m reevaluating everything. Dr recommends starting Esc. 5mg and tapering more slowly. I don’t know if I should start withdrawal over because I don’t want to go through the hell of the last two days all over again. Any advice on your experience? Should I push through this difficult time? Does taking Wellbutrin have any effect on my withdrawal experience, good or bad? Thank you in advance! 
 

6/2020 escitalopram 5mg
7/2020 escitalopram 10mg
12/3/2020 Wellbutrin XL 150
2/4/2021 escitalopram 5mg
2/18/2021 escitalopram 5mg every other day 
3/14/2021 stopped escitalopram 
Continuing on Wellbutrin 150 XL

6/2020 escitalopram 5mg
7/2020 escitalopram 10mg
12/3/2020 Wellbutrin XL 150
2/4/2021 escitalopram 5mg
2/18/2021 escitalopram 5mg every other day 
3/14/2021 stopped escitalopram 
Continuing on Wellbutrin 150 XL

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getofflex Grand Master

getofflex

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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.  

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

What is Withdrawal Syndrome?

 

Here is some information about how these drugs actually work.  

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

Tapering is best done extremely slowly, and we taper by 10% of the current dose, so that the taper becomes exponentially smaller.

 

 Why Taper by 10% of my Dosage  

Tips for Tapering Lexapro

 

Also, as we are tapering, 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

 

If it were me, I would consider trying your doctors recommendation to go back on 5 mg Lexapro, and see how you feel.  If you feel better, you could stabilize on that for a while, then resume tapering very slowly and carefully.  We call this reinstatement, which is best done very carefully.  There is some risk involved, but it can help in many people.  Here is some information about reinstatement.  

 

About Reinstating and Stabilizing to Reduce Withdrawal Symptoms

 

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. 

 

Please do not private message me.  Only tag me for urgent questions about tapering and reinstating - thank you.  

 

***Please note this is not medical advice.  Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a doctor who understands psych meds and how to withdraw from them, if you can find one.

 

Lexapro   Started Apr 15 2010 - 10 mg;  started taper August 2017, recent taper info: Apr 2 '20  0.18 mg; Jul 16  0.17 mg, Aug 23  0.16 mg, Oct 7  0.15 mg, Nov 8 - 0.14, Jan 16 '21 - 0.13, Feb 7 - 0.12, Feb 22 - 0.11, Mar 26 - 0.10, May 21 - 0.09, June 15 - 0.08 Aug 16 - 0.07, Oct 6 - 0.06, Nov 21 0.05, Dec. 17 0.04, Jan 14 '22 0.03, Feb 19 0.02, Apr 18 0.01, May 15 0.005,  Jul 8, 0.00.  Psych Drug Free as of July 8, 2022!!  Woohoo!!!

other meds: Levothyroxine 75 mg

magnesium in small amounts at 4 AM, before bed

suppl AM: fish oil, flax oil, vit C, vit E, multivitamin, zinc

suppl 8 PM: magnesium 350 mg, extended release vitamin C, melatonin 2 mg

 

Paxil 2002 - 2010, switched to Lexapro 2010 

Trazodone 50 mg. 2002 - 2019, fast tapered in 2019 

Xanax 0.5 mg as needed 2002 - 2019, up to 3x weekly 

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Go2zero Contributor

Go2zero

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Hi DizzySizzy,

 

I have been on the same combination of escitalopram and Wellbutrin, so I can share some of my experiences. 

 

Bu first I read in your post that you have been taking 5mg escitalopram every other day during the last month before you stopped. So actually you were on a daily dose of 2,5mg. 

 

With this kind of medication one should never skip daily dosages! This is asking for trouble. So there is a big chance that your nervous system already started to get upset after you started to skip dosages in February. 

 

Escitalopram is a very strong SSRI (one of the strongest). And many people get into trouble when they quit at a too high dose. And 2,5mg is still blocking more around 50% of the serotonin receptors! So jumping from 2,5mg to zero can have a very big impact.

 

Very often the real impact comes after 2-3 months. And I can tell from experience that this impact can be so extreme, which most people cannot imagine! You don't want to be there!

 

So reinstating might be very clever and taper then very slowly to zero. But do not reinstate to 5mg, because you were already on 2,5mg per day in the last month (because of taking 5mg every other day). I would not go higher than 2,5 mg per day, otherwise you might upset your nervous system even more. Going down and up and down again is also asking for problems.

 

You could take a look at my thread. I also share my experience there about the combination escitalopram and Wellbutrin. They have effect on each other. Wellbutrin is slowing down the metabolism of escitalopram. This means that the escitalopram stays longer in your system, as if you are taking a higher dose than you are actually taking.

 

It also means that if you would start to taper only the wellbutrin (when still taking escitalopram) you would taper the escitalopram indirectly as well, since the metabolism of the Escitalopram would speed up.

1993    Anafranil (Clomipramine) for a few months. Later in 1993 Paxil for a few months 1993- 2006      No medication

2006   Effexor, Cymbalta, some Benzo’s. All for short periods. Later in 2006 Lexapro (escitalopram) 10 mg and shortly after Wellbutrin XR 150mg, against side effects Lexapro 

Since 2006 until end of 2015: Several times on and off Lexapro and Wellbutrin and several slight dosage changes. Mostly taken dosages: 5mg Lexapro and 150mg Wellbutrin

2016  Dosage change Lexapro from 5mg to 2,5 mg. Wellbutrin stayed om 150mg

November 2016 – April 2017 Down from 2,5mg to 0,6mg Lexapro (in steps) without much problems. Wellbutrin down from 150mg to 66mg. Also without much problems.

April 2017 – March 2019       Lexapro 0,6 mg        April 2017 - August 2018       Wellbutrin in small steps down from 66mg in to 37,5 mg . Quite heavy WD after each step.

March 2019 – May 2019 Lexapro down from 0,6 to 0,3mg then Prozac to 0,6 mg switch because severe discontinuation effects (may also have been from Wellbutrin..)    

Wellbutrin down from 37,5mg to 35,3mg 

October 2019        Seroquel 12,5 mg for 4 weeks because of extreme sleeping problems, then weaning off in 2 weeks       Prozac up dosage to 1,2 mg

March 2020     Wellbutrin in 2 steps down from 35,3mg to 33,3mg   Extreme withdrawal effects during 8 months. Stopped tapering Wellbutrin  until total off Prozac. 

February 2020 – November 2020   Prozac down in steps from 1,2mg to 0,57mg. 

Jan 2021 :  Prozac down to:  0,55> 0,53>0,51mg,   Feb 0,47mg ,  Mar 0,42mg,   Apr 0,37, longer hold because of WD symptoms July 0,36 and hold again, Sept 19 0,35, Sept 26 0,34mg, Oct 3 0,33mg  Long hold of 172 days until March 2022

January 20, 2022:  Wellbutrin from 33,3 to 32,3mg

March 22, 2022 Prozac down from 0,33mg to: 0,30mg, Apr 0,29, May 0,28, 0,27, June 0,26, 0,25, July 0,24, 0,23, 0,22, 0,21, Aug 0,20, 0,19 Sep 0,18, Oct 0,17. 0,16, 0,15, Nov 0,14  Jan 2023 0,13, 0,12, 0,11  Feb 0,10, 0,09 Mar 0,08 ,  June 0,07 , July 0,06,  0,05, Aug 0,04, 0,03, Sept 0,026, 0,024 Nov 0,022, 0,019, 0,016, 0,013 Dec 0,012, 0,011, 0,010, 0,009   Jan 2024 0,008, 0,007,  0,006,  0,005, 0,004, 0,003, 0,002, 0,001, Feb  0,0007.  0,0005,   0,0003, 0,0001,  

Feb 23, 2024:  0,00000

Wellbutrin resume tapering: Apr 2024 31,6mg, 30,8, 30

  

Supplements: Fish Oil (3000mg), Magnesium 100 mg, 2 drops of Lavender Oil, only when feeling extreme anxiety. 50mg of L-Theanine only when severe discontinuation effects caused by Wellbutrin

 

Please note this is NOT a medical advice. Discuss all your medical issues with a doctor who understands psychical drugs and really knows how to withdraw from them. I wish that you will find one.

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DizzySizzy Newbie

DizzySizzy

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5 hours ago, Go2zero said:

Hi DizzySizzy,

 

I have been on the same combination of escitalopram and Wellbutrin, so I can share some of my experiences. 

 

Bu first I read in your post that you have been taking 5mg escitalopram every other day during the last month before you stopped. So actually you were on a daily dose of 2,5mg. 

 

With this kind of medication one should never skip daily dosages! This is asking for trouble. So there is a big chance that your nervous system already started to get upset after you started to skip dosages in February. 

 

Escitalopram is a very strong SSRI (one of the strongest). And many people get into trouble when they quit at a too high dose. And 2,5mg is still blocking more around 50% of the serotonin receptors! So jumping from 2,5mg to zero can have a very big impact.

 

Very often the real impact comes after 2-3 months. And I can tell from experience that this impact can be so extreme, which most people cannot imagine! You don't want to be there!

 

So reinstating might be very clever and taper then very slowly to zero. But do not reinstate to 5mg, because you were already on 2,5mg per day in the last month (because of taking 5mg every other day). I would not go higher than 2,5 mg per day, otherwise you might upset your nervous system even more. Going down and up and down again is also asking for problems.

 

You could take a look at my thread. I also share my experience there about the combination escitalopram and Wellbutrin. They have effect on each other. Wellbutrin is slowing down the metabolism of escitalopram. This means that the escitalopram stays longer in your system, as if you are taking a higher dose than you are actually taking.

 

It also means that if you would start to taper only the wellbutrin (when still taking escitalopram) you would taper the escitalopram indirectly as well, since the metabolism of the Escitalopram would speed up.

Wow Go2zero. Thank you for taking the time to provide your insight! Your post is very enlightening.

 

I’ve since read  that skipping doses

is indeed harmful and I can’t believe my psychiatrist would suggest it. This is my first round with SSRIs and I put too much faith in the professionals.

 

The state I found myself in after taper was so frightening that I restarted immediately at 5mg and found immediate relief. I didn’t realize it might be too high and I wonder when I might see harm in that, if at all. I’ve secured a liquid Lexapro Rx and will begin a 10% taper when I receive it.
 

Can you please tell me more about your experience 2-3 months after going to zero? I’ve seen some others mention this. Do you hear that this occurs often even with a 10% taper over months? 

Thank you again! 

 

 

6/2020 escitalopram 5mg
7/2020 escitalopram 10mg
12/3/2020 Wellbutrin XL 150
2/4/2021 escitalopram 5mg
2/18/2021 escitalopram 5mg every other day 
3/14/2021 stopped escitalopram 
Continuing on Wellbutrin 150 XL

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getofflex Grand Master

getofflex

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@DizzySizzyI'm very glad to hear you have found relief from reinstating.  I suggest you stick with this 5 mg dose each day and see what happens. Jumping around with the dose and starting and stopping will probably only destabilize your nervous system further, and cause more trouble.  This could make you feel worse, and make it harder to taper off in the future due to kindling (sensitized nervous system). I would also suggest you wait to begin tapering again until your system is well stabilized.  Please refer back to the link I supplied in my original post "Keep it Simple, Stable, etc".  

 

Please read these links to understand why this is important: 

 

Stability

Reinstatement

Please do not private message me.  Only tag me for urgent questions about tapering and reinstating - thank you.  

 

***Please note this is not medical advice.  Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a doctor who understands psych meds and how to withdraw from them, if you can find one.

 

Lexapro   Started Apr 15 2010 - 10 mg;  started taper August 2017, recent taper info: Apr 2 '20  0.18 mg; Jul 16  0.17 mg, Aug 23  0.16 mg, Oct 7  0.15 mg, Nov 8 - 0.14, Jan 16 '21 - 0.13, Feb 7 - 0.12, Feb 22 - 0.11, Mar 26 - 0.10, May 21 - 0.09, June 15 - 0.08 Aug 16 - 0.07, Oct 6 - 0.06, Nov 21 0.05, Dec. 17 0.04, Jan 14 '22 0.03, Feb 19 0.02, Apr 18 0.01, May 15 0.005,  Jul 8, 0.00.  Psych Drug Free as of July 8, 2022!!  Woohoo!!!

other meds: Levothyroxine 75 mg

magnesium in small amounts at 4 AM, before bed

suppl AM: fish oil, flax oil, vit C, vit E, multivitamin, zinc

suppl 8 PM: magnesium 350 mg, extended release vitamin C, melatonin 2 mg

 

Paxil 2002 - 2010, switched to Lexapro 2010 

Trazodone 50 mg. 2002 - 2019, fast tapered in 2019 

Xanax 0.5 mg as needed 2002 - 2019, up to 3x weekly 

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Go2zero Contributor

Go2zero

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14 hours ago, DizzySizzy said:

Can you please tell me more about your experience 2-3 months after going to zero? I’ve seen some others mention this. Do you hear that this occurs often even with a 10% taper over months? 

 

This is my thread, you can find more about my experiences there in detail

.

 

1993    Anafranil (Clomipramine) for a few months. Later in 1993 Paxil for a few months 1993- 2006      No medication

2006   Effexor, Cymbalta, some Benzo’s. All for short periods. Later in 2006 Lexapro (escitalopram) 10 mg and shortly after Wellbutrin XR 150mg, against side effects Lexapro 

Since 2006 until end of 2015: Several times on and off Lexapro and Wellbutrin and several slight dosage changes. Mostly taken dosages: 5mg Lexapro and 150mg Wellbutrin

2016  Dosage change Lexapro from 5mg to 2,5 mg. Wellbutrin stayed om 150mg

November 2016 – April 2017 Down from 2,5mg to 0,6mg Lexapro (in steps) without much problems. Wellbutrin down from 150mg to 66mg. Also without much problems.

April 2017 – March 2019       Lexapro 0,6 mg        April 2017 - August 2018       Wellbutrin in small steps down from 66mg in to 37,5 mg . Quite heavy WD after each step.

March 2019 – May 2019 Lexapro down from 0,6 to 0,3mg then Prozac to 0,6 mg switch because severe discontinuation effects (may also have been from Wellbutrin..)    

Wellbutrin down from 37,5mg to 35,3mg 

October 2019        Seroquel 12,5 mg for 4 weeks because of extreme sleeping problems, then weaning off in 2 weeks       Prozac up dosage to 1,2 mg

March 2020     Wellbutrin in 2 steps down from 35,3mg to 33,3mg   Extreme withdrawal effects during 8 months. Stopped tapering Wellbutrin  until total off Prozac. 

February 2020 – November 2020   Prozac down in steps from 1,2mg to 0,57mg. 

Jan 2021 :  Prozac down to:  0,55> 0,53>0,51mg,   Feb 0,47mg ,  Mar 0,42mg,   Apr 0,37, longer hold because of WD symptoms July 0,36 and hold again, Sept 19 0,35, Sept 26 0,34mg, Oct 3 0,33mg  Long hold of 172 days until March 2022

January 20, 2022:  Wellbutrin from 33,3 to 32,3mg

March 22, 2022 Prozac down from 0,33mg to: 0,30mg, Apr 0,29, May 0,28, 0,27, June 0,26, 0,25, July 0,24, 0,23, 0,22, 0,21, Aug 0,20, 0,19 Sep 0,18, Oct 0,17. 0,16, 0,15, Nov 0,14  Jan 2023 0,13, 0,12, 0,11  Feb 0,10, 0,09 Mar 0,08 ,  June 0,07 , July 0,06,  0,05, Aug 0,04, 0,03, Sept 0,026, 0,024 Nov 0,022, 0,019, 0,016, 0,013 Dec 0,012, 0,011, 0,010, 0,009   Jan 2024 0,008, 0,007,  0,006,  0,005, 0,004, 0,003, 0,002, 0,001, Feb  0,0007.  0,0005,   0,0003, 0,0001,  

Feb 23, 2024:  0,00000

Wellbutrin resume tapering: Apr 2024 31,6mg, 30,8, 30

  

Supplements: Fish Oil (3000mg), Magnesium 100 mg, 2 drops of Lavender Oil, only when feeling extreme anxiety. 50mg of L-Theanine only when severe discontinuation effects caused by Wellbutrin

 

Please note this is NOT a medical advice. Discuss all your medical issues with a doctor who understands psychical drugs and really knows how to withdraw from them. I wish that you will find one.

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Go2zero Contributor

Go2zero

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14 hours ago, DizzySizzy said:

Can you please tell me more about your experience 2-3 months after going to zero? I’ve seen some others mention this. Do you hear that this occurs often even with a 10% taper over months? 

 

I will also share some of my experience with this here:

 

I have quit 3 times when I was on Escitalopram. The first time was about 1 1/2 - 2 years after starting this med in 2006. The 2nd time was end 2013. 

Both times I tapered over several months. But I did not have the knowledge then, that I have know. I did not know that the blockage of the serotonin receptors was still very high at extreme low dosages. In 2013 I jumped to zero at a dosage of "only" 0,3mg. I do not have the exact figures, but the blockage of the receptors will still be somewhere between 20 and 25% at this very low dosage. 

 

Now I know that one should best taper to a dosage of approximately 0,01mg ! (yes 0,01 !   not 0,1...)

 

Both times (2008 and 2013) I felt very good and energetic at first after stopping. But after 2-3 months I started to feel extremely bad. Much worse than before taking the meds. In 2013/2014 I really went to hell, with extreme depersonalization, depression, suicidal ideation, crying spells, extreme insomnia and much more terrible withdrawal effects (although I did not know yet that they were). I never had these symptoms before in my life!

 

Doctors convinced me that it was relapse so I started again with the drugs. It took me an extreme long time to get stable again. I was suggested to take the full dose again, which I did. 

 

Now I can tell that it was withdrawal both times. In 2017 I started to taper for the 3rd time (see my thread for details). In summer 2019, I went down too fast (I was still not aware of the high serotonin receptor blockage at low dosages). At a dosage of approximately 0,25mg I crashed.... Then I made a switch to Prozac. This is sometimes seen by as a way to make withdrawal easier, because of the long half time of Prozac. 

 

After this switch I still got in extreme withdrawal of escitalopram. For me is clear that the Prozac bridge is not always that ideal as some doctors say...

I found on this site more people who have experienced heavy withdrawal from the first drug which was changed to Prozac. It took me more than a half year to stabilize after this switch to Prozac. Again with extreme withdrawal effects. I have to say that the Wellbutrin tapering probably also played a part in that, although not sure.

 

So I was away from the Escitalopram, but had to taper the Prozac then, which I am still doing....

1993    Anafranil (Clomipramine) for a few months. Later in 1993 Paxil for a few months 1993- 2006      No medication

2006   Effexor, Cymbalta, some Benzo’s. All for short periods. Later in 2006 Lexapro (escitalopram) 10 mg and shortly after Wellbutrin XR 150mg, against side effects Lexapro 

Since 2006 until end of 2015: Several times on and off Lexapro and Wellbutrin and several slight dosage changes. Mostly taken dosages: 5mg Lexapro and 150mg Wellbutrin

2016  Dosage change Lexapro from 5mg to 2,5 mg. Wellbutrin stayed om 150mg

November 2016 – April 2017 Down from 2,5mg to 0,6mg Lexapro (in steps) without much problems. Wellbutrin down from 150mg to 66mg. Also without much problems.

April 2017 – March 2019       Lexapro 0,6 mg        April 2017 - August 2018       Wellbutrin in small steps down from 66mg in to 37,5 mg . Quite heavy WD after each step.

March 2019 – May 2019 Lexapro down from 0,6 to 0,3mg then Prozac to 0,6 mg switch because severe discontinuation effects (may also have been from Wellbutrin..)    

Wellbutrin down from 37,5mg to 35,3mg 

October 2019        Seroquel 12,5 mg for 4 weeks because of extreme sleeping problems, then weaning off in 2 weeks       Prozac up dosage to 1,2 mg

March 2020     Wellbutrin in 2 steps down from 35,3mg to 33,3mg   Extreme withdrawal effects during 8 months. Stopped tapering Wellbutrin  until total off Prozac. 

February 2020 – November 2020   Prozac down in steps from 1,2mg to 0,57mg. 

Jan 2021 :  Prozac down to:  0,55> 0,53>0,51mg,   Feb 0,47mg ,  Mar 0,42mg,   Apr 0,37, longer hold because of WD symptoms July 0,36 and hold again, Sept 19 0,35, Sept 26 0,34mg, Oct 3 0,33mg  Long hold of 172 days until March 2022

January 20, 2022:  Wellbutrin from 33,3 to 32,3mg

March 22, 2022 Prozac down from 0,33mg to: 0,30mg, Apr 0,29, May 0,28, 0,27, June 0,26, 0,25, July 0,24, 0,23, 0,22, 0,21, Aug 0,20, 0,19 Sep 0,18, Oct 0,17. 0,16, 0,15, Nov 0,14  Jan 2023 0,13, 0,12, 0,11  Feb 0,10, 0,09 Mar 0,08 ,  June 0,07 , July 0,06,  0,05, Aug 0,04, 0,03, Sept 0,026, 0,024 Nov 0,022, 0,019, 0,016, 0,013 Dec 0,012, 0,011, 0,010, 0,009   Jan 2024 0,008, 0,007,  0,006,  0,005, 0,004, 0,003, 0,002, 0,001, Feb  0,0007.  0,0005,   0,0003, 0,0001,  

Feb 23, 2024:  0,00000

Wellbutrin resume tapering: Apr 2024 31,6mg, 30,8, 30

  

Supplements: Fish Oil (3000mg), Magnesium 100 mg, 2 drops of Lavender Oil, only when feeling extreme anxiety. 50mg of L-Theanine only when severe discontinuation effects caused by Wellbutrin

 

Please note this is NOT a medical advice. Discuss all your medical issues with a doctor who understands psychical drugs and really knows how to withdraw from them. I wish that you will find one.

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Gridley Contributor

Gridley

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14 hours ago, DizzySizzy said:

I’ve secured a liquid Lexapro Rx and will begin a 10% taper when I receive it.

 

We advise a gradual crossover when going from tablet to liquid.  Do not taper until you've completed the crossover.

3/4 dose tablet, 1/4 dose liquid for 3 to 7 days or more if necessary

1/2, 1/2 for 3 to 7 days

1/4 dose tablet, 3/4 dose liquid for 3 to 7 days

All liquid thereafter.

 

Then see how you're feeling before beginning your taper.  Monitor your symptoms during the crossover to make sure the ,liquid agrees with you.  Most do fine on the liquid but some don't.

 

I'm 4+ months out after a 4-year Brassmonkey slide taper of 20mg Lexapro in tablet/powder form and doing okay.  By okay I mean what they call WDnormal, which is not feeling good but no big swings in symptoms and feeling same degree more or less of feeling blah day to day.

 

Right now I'm around two months into my benzo taper.

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 April 1: 6.8mg

Taper is 91% complete.  

  

Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, 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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DizzySizzy Newbie

DizzySizzy

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On 3/23/2021 at 12:24 PM, getofflex said:

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. 

Thank you, Getofflex! This is indeed a wealth of information. These links are guiding me to questions I was already having. I appreciate your taking the time to share this information 😄

6/2020 escitalopram 5mg
7/2020 escitalopram 10mg
12/3/2020 Wellbutrin XL 150
2/4/2021 escitalopram 5mg
2/18/2021 escitalopram 5mg every other day 
3/14/2021 stopped escitalopram 
Continuing on Wellbutrin 150 XL

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DizzySizzy Newbie

DizzySizzy

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On 3/25/2021 at 1:10 PM, Go2zero said:

Now I know that one should best taper to a dosage of approximately 0,01mg ! (yes 0,01 !   not 0,1...)

Go2zero, you’re the best! I read through your history and thank you for adding more detail here— I feel like I thoroughly understand what went wrong and how I can try again and more carefully this time around. I got a liquid escitalopram rx and feel more in control of the dosage, especially when I get to .01! 
 

 

6/2020 escitalopram 5mg
7/2020 escitalopram 10mg
12/3/2020 Wellbutrin XL 150
2/4/2021 escitalopram 5mg
2/18/2021 escitalopram 5mg every other day 
3/14/2021 stopped escitalopram 
Continuing on Wellbutrin 150 XL

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DizzySizzy Newbie

DizzySizzy

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  • Author
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On 3/25/2021 at 1:24 PM, Gridley said:

We advise a gradual crossover when going from tablet to liquid.  Do not taper until you've completed the crossover.

Hi Gridley,

 

Wow-ok. Gotta look into this! This is way more complex than I thought. But it makes sense given we are dealing with a very delicate system. 

6/2020 escitalopram 5mg
7/2020 escitalopram 10mg
12/3/2020 Wellbutrin XL 150
2/4/2021 escitalopram 5mg
2/18/2021 escitalopram 5mg every other day 
3/14/2021 stopped escitalopram 
Continuing on Wellbutrin 150 XL

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ChessieCat Grand Master

ChessieCat

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Posted

The reason for doing a cross over is because it is gentler on your system.  When you change form of a drug, eg tablet to liquid, tablet to crushed tablet, the rate at which it is absorbed may be different.

* 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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Go2zero Contributor

Go2zero

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Posted

@DizzySizzy

I sent you a personal message (click on mail logo on the right top op this website to get to you personal messages)

1993    Anafranil (Clomipramine) for a few months. Later in 1993 Paxil for a few months 1993- 2006      No medication

2006   Effexor, Cymbalta, some Benzo’s. All for short periods. Later in 2006 Lexapro (escitalopram) 10 mg and shortly after Wellbutrin XR 150mg, against side effects Lexapro 

Since 2006 until end of 2015: Several times on and off Lexapro and Wellbutrin and several slight dosage changes. Mostly taken dosages: 5mg Lexapro and 150mg Wellbutrin

2016  Dosage change Lexapro from 5mg to 2,5 mg. Wellbutrin stayed om 150mg

November 2016 – April 2017 Down from 2,5mg to 0,6mg Lexapro (in steps) without much problems. Wellbutrin down from 150mg to 66mg. Also without much problems.

April 2017 – March 2019       Lexapro 0,6 mg        April 2017 - August 2018       Wellbutrin in small steps down from 66mg in to 37,5 mg . Quite heavy WD after each step.

March 2019 – May 2019 Lexapro down from 0,6 to 0,3mg then Prozac to 0,6 mg switch because severe discontinuation effects (may also have been from Wellbutrin..)    

Wellbutrin down from 37,5mg to 35,3mg 

October 2019        Seroquel 12,5 mg for 4 weeks because of extreme sleeping problems, then weaning off in 2 weeks       Prozac up dosage to 1,2 mg

March 2020     Wellbutrin in 2 steps down from 35,3mg to 33,3mg   Extreme withdrawal effects during 8 months. Stopped tapering Wellbutrin  until total off Prozac. 

February 2020 – November 2020   Prozac down in steps from 1,2mg to 0,57mg. 

Jan 2021 :  Prozac down to:  0,55> 0,53>0,51mg,   Feb 0,47mg ,  Mar 0,42mg,   Apr 0,37, longer hold because of WD symptoms July 0,36 and hold again, Sept 19 0,35, Sept 26 0,34mg, Oct 3 0,33mg  Long hold of 172 days until March 2022

January 20, 2022:  Wellbutrin from 33,3 to 32,3mg

March 22, 2022 Prozac down from 0,33mg to: 0,30mg, Apr 0,29, May 0,28, 0,27, June 0,26, 0,25, July 0,24, 0,23, 0,22, 0,21, Aug 0,20, 0,19 Sep 0,18, Oct 0,17. 0,16, 0,15, Nov 0,14  Jan 2023 0,13, 0,12, 0,11  Feb 0,10, 0,09 Mar 0,08 ,  June 0,07 , July 0,06,  0,05, Aug 0,04, 0,03, Sept 0,026, 0,024 Nov 0,022, 0,019, 0,016, 0,013 Dec 0,012, 0,011, 0,010, 0,009   Jan 2024 0,008, 0,007,  0,006,  0,005, 0,004, 0,003, 0,002, 0,001, Feb  0,0007.  0,0005,   0,0003, 0,0001,  

Feb 23, 2024:  0,00000

Wellbutrin resume tapering: Apr 2024 31,6mg, 30,8, 30

  

Supplements: Fish Oil (3000mg), Magnesium 100 mg, 2 drops of Lavender Oil, only when feeling extreme anxiety. 50mg of L-Theanine only when severe discontinuation effects caused by Wellbutrin

 

Please note this is NOT a medical advice. Discuss all your medical issues with a doctor who understands psychical drugs and really knows how to withdraw from them. I wish that you will find one.

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