Kewlbeanz: New here and wanting to taper off of Lexapro

[Kewlbeanz]

Hi. I thought I would introduce myself. I am a 40 year old mother of 3 and have been on citalopram and lexapro for a combined 19 years. I've tapered before to get pregnant in the past. Those times were hell because I tapered way too fast. This time I plan to do the 10% a month taper and adjust as need be. I want to do it the right way. I've been preparing myself by exercising consistently and eating healthier. I tapered of klonopin and have been off it for a year. I didn't do the 10%a month taper with that. I cut my pills in 4ths and reduce a quarter a month at a time. It wasn't fun but I am glad to be off. I'm super optimistic this time around and I will probably be coming here for support and offering any I can. 

 

Edited May 29, 2021 by Gridley

[Gridley]

Welcome to SA, Kewlbeanz.  Congratulation on being off the benzo.  It's great that you wrote in before stating your antidepressant taper.

 

To give members the best information, we ask them to summarize their medication history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly.  

 

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

As you already know, we recommend tapering by no more than 10% of your current dose every four weeks.

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

This link is specifically about tapering Lexapro.   I'm 7 months off tapering 20mg Lexapro, the same dose you're on, and am doing well.

Tips for tapering off escitalopram (Lexapro)

 

Lexapro comes in a prescription liquid, and that is an easy and accurate way to taper.  That and other methods of tapering are  described in the link.  Let us know which method you feel most comfortable with and we can answer any questions you may have.

 

If you want to alert me (or anyone else on the site) that you've responded, enter @ plus the member/moderator's name.  A rectangle with the member's or moderator's name will appear.  Click on that and write your post.  The member or moderator will be alerted.  Forexample, to alert me you would type @ then Gridley (no space between the two) and click on "Gridley."

 

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. Get supplements that are single ingredient (not mixed with other types of supplements).

 

This is your Introduction topic, where you can complete your drug signature, ask questions and connect with other members.  We're glad you found your way here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 29, 2021 by Gridley

[Kewlbeanz]

Hi. I'm wanting to start my taper tomorrow and I was weighing my lexapro pills and it seems like they weigh in a rang of 0.307mg to 0.318 mg. Is this a cause for concern?

[Kewlbeanz]

@Gridley

 

I did my signature and I hope i did it right. I'm wanting to start my taper tomorrow. I was weighing my lexapro pills today with my scale and I noticed the pills do not weigh exactly the same. They fluctuate between 0.307 mg and 0.317 mg. Is this a cause for concern? I was just going to start my calculations at 0.315 mg and start there. 

[Gridley]

13 hours ago, Kewlbeanz said:

I noticed the pills do not weigh exactly the same. They fluctuate between 0.307 mg and 0.317 mg. Is this a cause for concern?

It is normal for pills to have different weights, and the fluctuation you describe is normal and no cause for concern.   The pills contain much more inactive filler than they contain the drug.  The best procedure is to weigh ten pills and use the average for your calculations.

 

I kept a handwritten chart to keep track of my taper.  One column was for milligrams of pill weight (abbreviated mgpw) and this is how you'll keep track of your pill weight as you taper.  Your taper will be based on mgpw.  The best.  Another column is for milligrams of active ingredient (abbreviated mgai) and this is how you'll keep track of your dosage.  Right now you're on 20mgai.

 

The best procedure is to thoroughly crush your 20mgpw pill into powder for weighing. I did this by crushing the pill between two spoons.  Then stir the powder with a toothpick to make sure the active ingredient is evenly distributed throughout the powder.  Then you can use tweezers to remove or add powder to get the weight you need.  Save whatever powder is left over in a gelatin capsule for later use.  Size 0 gelatin capsules are a good size.  I poured the powder into the capsule using a bent 3" Post-it.  If you want, you can order LabExact weighing paper from Amazon for this purpose.  You can also order a powder weighing spoon (several varieties are available on Amazon) to add/subtract powder from the scale.

 

If you're tapering by 10% every four weeks, to calculate the mgpw and mgai you multiply your current dose by 0.9 and that will give you a 10% reduction.

 

A variation of the 10%/4 week taper is the Brassmonkey slide taper, which is four 2.5% reductions from current dose per week followed by a two-week hold.  It's a bit slower but more gentle than the 10% taper.  This is what I used for my taper of 20mg Lexapro, and it worked very well for me.  

 

The Brassmonkey Slide Method of Micro-tapering

 

Your signature is fine.

Edited May 31, 2021 by Gridley

[getofflex]

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24949-kewlbeanz-new-here-and-wanting-to-taper-off-of-lexapro/?do=findComment&comment=534665

 

Above linked post moved to first Intro thread.  Please post questions and discussion about your situation in this one thread, to avoid confusion and duplication of efforts.  Thank you.  

[Kewlbeanz]

Having a hard time starting

 

I am trying again to wean from lexapro. I started earlier at 10% and that was too much. I felt like someone struck me with an axe on the left side of my head. I started 3 days ago again and same thing except I tried dropping 2%. I crushed the last pill and weighed it and put it on applesauce. That seemed like it was worse. I just took a whole 20 mg today. Maybe next week I'll start back by just shaving off. I am scared. I feel like I'll never come off of this. I've been on this for 1 year and celexa before that for 19 years. Any advice? 

 

Edited October 2, 2021 by ChessieCat
added topic title before merging with intro topic

[getofflex]

It sounds like your brain just doesn't want any changes in your drugs at this time.  I'm sorry you are having this difficulty.  It could be that your system is still not fully healed and stabilized from your fast taper off Klonopin, the fact that you switched from citalopram to Lexapro a year ago, and the taper attempts in the recent months.  If it were me, I would stay on my 20 mg dose of Lexapro for about 6 months to a year, and really let my system rest from any drug changes.  Then, I would attempt a micro taper. The more we go on and off drugs, especially suddenly, the more the possibility that our system will go through WD in the future as we try to go off drugs again.  What was your withdrawal like when you tapered off the Klonopin a year ago?  Are you currently having any other symptoms besides headache and stomach pain?  How is your sleep? 

 

During this next 6 - 12 months, take really good care of yourself.  Eat well, get gentle exercise like walking, spend time outside in nature every day if you can, do activities that nourish and calm your mind and body, develop a spiritual life, avoid unnecessary stress and drama, etc.  This will all go a long way to helping you to heal.  

 

Here is some information about how these drugs actually work.  This will help you understand why your nervous system is struggling.  

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

 Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

What is Happening in Your Brain

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

 

Here is a link to information about micro tapering, for when that time comes: 

 

Micro Tapering

 

 

Also, as we are recovering, we suggest keeping things slow, simple, and stable. 

 

Keep it Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

 

Here are some techniques to cope with symptoms: 

 

Non Drug Ways to Cope with Withdrawal Symptoms

 

 

I see Gridley already gave you info about magnesium and omega 3.  Have you tried these? 

 

Take care, and hang in there.  Let us know how you are doing.