SunflowerNeedsSun: just me, muse and I

[SunflowerNeedsSun]

Hi,

I am brand new to the group. I have found this forum while I was googling tapering off Lexapro. I have been on it for 11 years and I feel like it stopped working. I would like to quit taking it eventually, but I am not physically and mentally ready yet. I’d like to take things slow and I small steps. My plan is to first start back to yoga and weight lifting as well as meditating daily, and control my hypothyroidism. 
I am so grateful that I have found this site with lots of supportive people who understand what I have been going through  and with really good information. 
Thank you!

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a volunteer-run community of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  I'm very glad you came here for help before you started your taper!  If you taper according to our protocol, you should be able to avoid or minimize your withdrawal symptoms.  

 

On 11/23/2022 at 10:26 PM, SunflowerNeedsSun said:

I’d like to take things slow and I small steps.

I'm very glad to hear this.  This will really help you to taper properly off your current drug(s).  

 

Can you please give us specific information in your signature about your drug history for all drugs and supplements you are on and have been on, especially for the past 18-24 months?  It would be especially helpful to have the details of your drugs in a concise vertical list (no symptoms), only specific dates, include the day (as best you can say for example early March if you don't recall the day), drug names, and dosages of each medication decrease or increase.

 

Please read the link below for instructions.  This will allow us to give you the best guidance.  

 

How to List Your Drug History in Your Signature

 

Here is some important information about how these drugs actually work.  This explains why we get symptoms from going off of these medications, and why it's so important to taper slowly and carefully, and be very cautious about changing our doses: 

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

 

Tapering is best done extremely slowly, and we generally taper by 10% of the current dose no more than once every 4 weeks, so that the reduction becomes exponentially smaller.

 

 Why Taper by 10% of my Dosage  

 

This thread will help you choose which drug to taper first, if you are on multiple psych drugs: 

 

Which Drug to Taper First

 

Here is a link with checklists of common WD symptoms: 

 

Dr Joseph Glenmullen Withdrawal Symptom Checklists

 

 

Here are some techniques to cope with symptoms: 

 

Non Drug Ways to Cope with Withdrawal Symptoms

 

Stability is really important when we are tapering off psych meds.  Please read the link about stability:

 

Keep It Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but 2 that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. 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

 

Please feel free to ask any questions, and keep us posted!