Horns85: Lexapro withdrawal

[Horns85]

Just wanted to say hi and hope we can all support each other on this unknown journey. I'M. interested in how you approach your tapering of Lexapro.What do you plan on doing differently?

Hi Rose!

The first time I 'tapered', I went off 10mg in about 5 months. My doctor, who actually does believe in slowly getting off these drugs, switched me over to 9mg of liquid Lexapro immediately and told me to decrease 1mg every two weeks. So, that's what I did and the WD didn't really catch up to me until about 2mg. At that point it was just really fatigue. I ignored it, dropped to 1mg and then off. It wasn't until about 3 months later I got hit HARD with DP/DR and insomnia with anxiety.

 

Anyway, I reinstated about a year or and stabilized luckily. This time I am slowly reducing to 5mg following the 10% rule( will most likely take 6 or 7 months) and will hold at 5mg and begin making my own solution.

 

The liquid I am on now does not sit well with me at all but I'll ride it out for a bit.

 

I'm here if you need anything. You will be just fine if you take it slow. I thought I was taking it slow the first time. Boy was I wrong. Hang in there!

[Horns85]

Anyone that has tapered off slowly and experienced weight gain as a side effect of the meds, did the weight come off as you got lower in dosages?

 

This being the second time on, I knew I would gain the weight again as I did the first time. Anyway, did it come off at all or did it not come off until you were completely off the med? TIA

[ChessieCat]

Hi Horns,

 

Not sure if you have seen this topic:  weight-gain-weight-loss-and-appetite-changes/

[Rose9975]

Please me aware of the withdrawal symptoms on the body.I started with a 5% taper and as you see I'm after a really unpleasant week due to W/D symptoms 2 & 1/2 month's on!!! I bought a new months prescription of Lexapro today & there is a warning on the leaflet about taking this medication while pregnant & the impact on the baby ....the same if a mother is using heroine the child is born with severe withdrawal symptoms. ..what the hell is in this medication....

[Rose9975]

I make my own liquid suspension 20g Lexapro & 20ml water then I syringe out the amount I wish to reduce....

 

Do you like exercise?

[Horns85]

Hi Horns,

 

Not sure if you have seen this topic: weight-gain-weight-loss-and-appetite-changes/

Thanks!!!

[Horns85]

A little over 1 week into my cut to 9mg. 4th day felt great. WD symptoms started day 5.(Typical it seems) Muscle tension, broken sleep, slight anxiety increase and low mood. Always feel Like I'm in a hurry.

 

Today is day 10 and the 'in a hurry' feeling is subsiding. Still some slight anxiety increase and irritability. Getting better though. DR was bad for a few days. Seems to have normalized. Still not totally gone but manageable.

[Horns85]

Day 12 of my cut to 9mg. VERY tired and low mood yesterday and today. Had to do a lot of driving today for work. High anxiety it seems. Bad day all around. WD symptoms ramped up on day 10/11 of cut. Some burning skin which is a symptom of high anxiety for me and WD. Rough sleep the past few days as well. All signs of WD.

[Horns85]

Last two days have had cortisol mornings and inability to go back to sleep. Some GI issues. Doubled dose of probiotic this morning to 30/billion. Feel more calm and relaxed today.

[Fresh]

Nice to hear things have been going well for you Horn.

If you find the fallout from a 10% decrease is too much , you may do better with smaller cuts more

often. See

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/2878-micro-taper-instead-of-10-or-5-decreases/

 

bw , Fresh

[Horns85]

Nice to hear things have been going well for you Horn.

If you find the fallout from a 10% decrease is too much , you may do better with smaller cuts more

often. See

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/2878-micro-taper-instead-of-10-or-5-decreases/

 

bw , Fresh

 

Thanks, Fresh!

[Horns85]

Week 3 of 9mg saw my sleep start to normalize again after being disrupted the first two weeks. Myself, my wife and kids all came down with a week long stomach bug. Many GI problems, most were from the stomach virus, some were very odd and I attribute to WD symptoms. When I lay down at night my heart beats very strong. Not fast like an anxiety attack, just a thumping.

 

Week 4, the DR has worsened a bit which always seems to coincide with GI issues. All these seem to follow the same pattern as they did when I WD too quickly, just less severe this time around. Plan is to hold to at least 6 weeks. If I feel I have stabilized, I will cut to 8.1.

[Petunia]

Thanks for letting us know how you're doing Horns. It looks like your symptoms are increasing as your dose is getting lower, this sometimes happens, especially with Lexapro because mg for mg its a stronger drug. Good idea to slow your taper down, I'm happy to hear you have decided to hold longer. Have you seen this topic which explains the need for slowing down as the dose gets lower:

 

Why taper? Paper demonstrates importance of gradual change in plasma concentration

[Horns85]

Weeks 5 and 6 saw minimal symptoms. DP/DR is still present but manageable. Fatigue is starting come back which was always a side effect of the med for me. Saturday was 6 weeks at 9mg. Began taking my probiotic again, increased my water intake to to about 100/ml a day for a 200/lb man.

 

I have always eaten pretty clean and lean but have recently moved to a pretty strict paleo diet with the increased water intake and feel pretty darn good. I believe Wed 5/11 I will cut to 8mg.

[Horns85]

Thanks for letting us know how you're doing Horns. It looks like your symptoms are increasing as your dose is getting lower, this sometimes happens, especially with Lexapro because mg for mg its a stronger drug. Good idea to slow your taper down, I'm happy to hear you have decided to hold longer. Have you seen this topic which explains the need for slowing down as the dose gets lower:

 

Why taper? Paper demonstrates importance of gradual change in plasma concentration

Thanks, Petunia! Yes, I have read that. I am going slooooow this time!

[Horns85]

I am finding that about 5 weeks after a drop, a slight wave of GI issues and anxiety hits. The first 10-14 days after a reduction is rough, it levels out until about 5-5 1/2 weeks. This has happened both times so far. Last time it lasted about a week and then I reduced. Amazing how our body works. It's been six weeks today since my last reduction. I will hold for another week and re evaluate if it's time to drop.

[Horns85]

So I am about 4 weeks into my drop to 6.25mg. The last day or two I have felt REALLY crappy. I refilled my 5mg tablet prescription last Thursday and took it Friday morning. I noticed when I took it the tablet was different and Walgreens had changed the generic brand. I didn't think anything of it but man today I'm dizzy and spacey and anxious like I was when I went from 10mg tablet to 5mg tablet and 5mg liquid 6 months ago. Could the manufacturer change really have an effect? It's the only explanation. Crazy.

[bubble]

Hello Horns.

 

Yes, members often report increased symptoms upon changing the brand so it might well be the case. Can you get your old brand?

 

I've read through your thread and as somebody just resuming my Lexapro taper find it very helpful. Thank you for documenting your journey. I hope this settles down soon.

[LexAnger]

Hi horns,

 

It must be the med change. It happened to me even before my taper and when my system was not sensitized. But gradually you should get used to the new brand.

 

It also happened to me when I changed from tablet to liquid, the same brand.

 

So I hope you can stick to the one you can get for the rest of taper.

 

Lex

[Horns85]

Hi horns,

 

It must be the med change. It happened to me even before my taper and when my system was not sensitized. But gradually you should get used to the new brand.

 

It also happened to me when I changed from tablet to liquid, the same brand.

 

So I hope you can stick to the one you can get for the rest of taper.

 

Lex

 

 

Hey Lex,

It was the med change. After about a week or so, I was ok. It's amazing how sensitive we are. Luckily, I am seeing a pattern now as I make cuts. I'm not looking forward to getting below 5mg as I have a fear it's going to get much more difficult. O well, onwards and upwards. 

 

How are you doing?

[LexAnger]

Not too good, sorry to say.

 

Glad you made quick peace with the new tablet.

 

Lexapro is twice as powerful as other ssirs so 5mg lex is equivalent to 10mg paxil. Based on my own experience and also from others, it seems the most tricky part is below 2.5mg or really even below 1.5mg. So I would guess you will have a smooth slide down until then.

 

How often and how much do you usually cut?  you mentioned 6.25mg so I am guessing you do multiple cuts each month to make it 1mg.

[Horns85]

Hey Lex,

 

Sorry to hear you were not doing well a couple weeks ago. How are you now? 

 

In regards to my cuts, from 10mg down to 6mg, I was cutting roughly 1mg every 8 weeks. I did not have much issue until I cut to 6mg and six weeks into that cut. The probiotics that I was taking have turned on me and make very anxious now, go figure. It's time to hold and move to an actual 10% taper. One thing that has given me peace, I am noticing some of the WD symptoms in lesser form that I had during the year off of meds. I say it gives me peace because I did sooooooo much second guessing during that year. "Is this WD, is it not?" Now I know for sure what those symptoms are and I can better manage them and not add extra anxiety.

 

Anyway, it's a long and miserable journey, but, it will all be worth it in the end. 

 

Hang in there, Lex.

[Happy2Heal]

Hi Horns85

I just found your thread and was reading thru it, I did a search on reinstating lexapro and this thread popped up

 

Your story seems a little bit similar to mine in some ways

 

you can see my history in my signature but I ended up jumping off at 2.5mgs of lexapro (i just gotten the liquid)

I tried to reinstate at 2mgs and felt so horrible I just stopped taking any.

I *thought*  I was doing fine, so far all the WD symptoms have been manageable, but now suddenly WHAM! I am hit with the kind of anxiety and intrusive thoughts, early morning cortisol spikes etc that you mentioned.

I have been afraid that I'll get desperate enough to consider "ending myself" just to end this horror.

I posted in my thread about it, and got a lot of good suggestions but now I am considering reinstating at a tiny tiny dose, because I don't think I can manage this any other way

 

I know we are all very different but when you re instated, did the anxiety attacks stop or decrease gradually or....?
I have such bad anxiety that I mgiht have read taht in your thread but already forgot

 

it's also very hard for me to see sometimes, i almost go blind with fear.

and I can't feel my feet on the ground, etc

this sucks!

since there does seem to be a common pattern among ppl who go off lexapro of having more trouble the lower we get, I thought I'd see how things went for you and try to figure out what I might try

 

I am scared to do anything but also scared that if I don't do something, things could get even worse

 

I have some short windows but they are just SO very short that I don't see how I'm going to get thru this.

 

every 5 mins I make it thru, I congratulate myself but I"m exhausted, and losing wt fast due to diarrhea and lack of appetite.

[Horns85]

Hi Horns85

I just found your thread and was reading thru it, I did a search on reinstating lexapro and this thread popped up

 

Your story seems a little bit similar to mine in some ways

 

you can see my history in my signature but I ended up jumping off at 2.5mgs of lexapro (i just gotten the liquid)

I tried to reinstate at 2mgs and felt so horrible I just stopped taking any.

I *thought*  I was doing fine, so far all the WD symptoms have been manageable, but now suddenly WHAM! I am hit with the kind of anxiety and intrusive thoughts, early morning cortisol spikes etc that you mentioned.

I have been afraid that I'll get desperate enough to consider "ending myself" just to end this horror.

I posted in my thread about it, and got a lot of good suggestions but now I am considering reinstating at a tiny tiny dose, because I don't think I can manage this any other way

 

I know we are all very different but when you re instated, did the anxiety attacks stop or decrease gradually or....?

I have such bad anxiety that I mgiht have read taht in your thread but already forgot

 

it's also very hard for me to see sometimes, i almost go blind with fear.

and I can't feel my feet on the ground, etc

this sucks!

 

since there does seem to be a common pattern among ppl who go off lexapro of having more trouble the lower we get, I thought I'd see how things went for you and try to figure out what I might try

 

I am scared to do anything but also scared that if I don't do something, things could get even worse

 

I have some short windows but they are just SO very short that I don't see how I'm going to get thru this.

 

every 5 mins I make it thru, I congratulate myself but I"m exhausted, and losing wt fast due to diarrhea and lack of appetite.

 

 

Hey Cat,

When I reinstated after being off for a year, I felt pretty crappy for about 6 weeks, it was as if some of my WD symptoms went away, but I got the "start up" symptoms as well. I knew I needed to stick it out and after about 10-14 days, the anxiety started to dissipate. After about 8 weeks, I felt 70% better and about 12 weeks, I felt 90% better and that's about where it peaked. My derealization has never fully gone away, but it's only about 10%.

 

The thing that helped me the most, honestly, was once I was stabilized, I began taking a probiotic. I started taking it to help with Acid Reflux and after about 3 days, my mood was so much better, I felt calmer and had a much happier disposition( helping my acid reflux became a small part of it). I knew then that all the posts about healing your gut were spot on( it really is your second brain). It also made sense as to why all my previous WD symptoms increased 10x when my gut fell apart.

 

Anyway, I digress a bit. We are all so different, all I can do is share my story and know that I UNDERSTAND the struggle. You WILL make it through all of this, but, I know the temptation to reinstate, obviously.

 

I'm not sure if I helped you at all, but hang in there. 

[LexAnger]

Hey Horns85,

 

I'm doing much better since 1.3 mg. I can feel the drug is losing its power. Still some WD symptoms, but feel control of who I am with my brain picked up and much less DR ( from the drug reaction).

 

That's right, with your experience being off completely, you know for sure what is WD and what is not. I hope the pattern helps for the tapering strategy. But always be open minded to this most mysterious process, that the sure pattern can change.

 

Being at the low dose I'm at after years of constant struggling and doubt, I can say now you are so right that we can beat this beast.

[Horns85]

Hey Horns85,

 

I'm doing much better since 1.3 mg. I can feel the drug is losing its power. Still some WD symptoms, but feel control of who I am with my brain picked up and much less DR ( from the drug reaction).

 

That's right, with your experience being off completely, you know for sure what is WD and what is not. I hope the pattern helps for the tapering strategy. But always be open minded to this most mysterious process, that the sure pattern can change.

 

Being at the low dose I'm at after years of constant struggling and doubt, I can say now you are so right that we can beat this beast.

 

Great to hear, Lex! Your are almost there!

[Happy2Heal]

Hey Cat,

When I reinstated after being off for a year, I felt pretty crappy for about 6 weeks, it was as if some of my WD symptoms went away, but I got the "start up" symptoms as well. I knew I needed to stick it out and after about 10-14 days, the anxiety started to dissipate. After about 8 weeks, I felt 70% better and about 12 weeks, I felt 90% better and that's about where it peaked. My derealization has never fully gone away, but it's only about 10%.

 

The thing that helped me the most, honestly, was once I was stabilized, I began taking a probiotic. I started taking it to help with Acid Reflux and after about 3 days, my mood was so much better, I felt calmer and had a much happier disposition( helping my acid reflux became a small part of it). I knew then that all the posts about healing your gut were spot on( it really is your second brain). It also made sense as to why all my previous WD symptoms increased 10x when my gut fell apart.

 

Anyway, I digress a bit. We are all so different, all I can do is share my story and know that I UNDERSTAND the struggle. You WILL make it through all of this, but, I know the temptation to reinstate, obviously.

 

I'm not sure if I helped you at all, but hang in there.

thank you so much for your response.

I use a probiotic too, I don't take it every day but most days. I actually got it for my rats (they need it when they are on antibiotics)

I didn't think it had much effect one way or the other but I will try to remember to take it every day and see what happens (I keep it in the fridge, so that's why I sometimes forget it)

 

I decided to reinstate- at 0.20 mgs.

yes you read that right, I take one half of one tenth of a mg.

(I have the liquid and I have the needle less syringes that are marked in tenths of a ml,. The liquid lexapro is 1mg per 1mL)

 

I am so worried about things getting bad, and since this drug is so freaking strong, it seemed like the best thing to do.

I have had 2 doses, and I do see a difference ( a LOT less anxiety) but I think it's too early to say if that's from the tiny reinstatement dose,

or if it would have happened any way (the end of a bad wave..?)

 

my mood is drastically different when the anxiety is gone, I am almost euphoric, I am so happy and relieved for the anxiety/intrusive thoughts to be gone.

oh yes  you did help. Just having people who understand and believe in what we are going thru is HUGE. I sense that my new therapist is quite skeptical that my symptoms are WD and not something else, and I find that very frustrating.

 

 

I hope things continue to go well for you.

[Horns85]

 

thank you so much for your response.

I use a probiotic too, I don't take it every day but most days. I actually got it for my rats (they need it when they are on antibiotics)

I didn't think it had much effect one way or the other but I will try to remember to take it every day and see what happens (I keep it in the fridge, so that's why I sometimes forget it)

 

I decided to reinstate- at 0.20 mgs.

yes you read that right, I take one half of one tenth of a mg.

(I have the liquid and I have the needle less syringes that are marked in tenths of a ml,. The liquid lexapro is 1mg per 1mL)

 

I am so worried about things getting bad, and since this drug is so freaking strong, it seemed like the best thing to do.

I have had 2 doses, and I do see a difference ( a LOT less anxiety) but I think it's too early to say if that's from the tiny reinstatement dose,

or if it would have happened any way (the end of a bad wave..?)

 

my mood is drastically different when the anxiety is gone, I am almost euphoric, I am so happy and relieved for the anxiety/intrusive thoughts to be gone.

oh yes you did help. Just having people who understand and believe in what we are going thru is HUGE. I sense that my new therapist is quite skeptical that my symptoms are WD and not something else, and I find that very frustrating.

 

 

I hope things continue to go well for you.

Glad the anxiety is lessening, Cat. Do try and take the probiotic regularly and see what happens. I had to take a 30 billion count to get an effect. After about 3 or 4 days, I felt better.

 

Keep me updated on how the reinstatement goes.

 

Best,

Horns

[Happy2Heal]

 

 

thank you so much for your response.

I use a probiotic too, I don't take it every day but most days. I actually got it for my rats (they need it when they are on antibiotics)

I didn't think it had much effect one way or the other but I will try to remember to take it every day and see what happens (I keep it in the fridge, so that's why I sometimes forget it)

 

I decided to reinstate- at 0.20 mgs.

yes you read that right, I take one half of one tenth of a mg.

(I have the liquid and I have the needle less syringes that are marked in tenths of a ml,. The liquid lexapro is 1mg per 1mL)

 

I am so worried about things getting bad, and since this drug is so freaking strong, it seemed like the best thing to do.

I have had 2 doses, and I do see a difference ( a LOT less anxiety) but I think it's too early to say if that's from the tiny reinstatement dose,

or if it would have happened any way (the end of a bad wave..?)

 

my mood is drastically different when the anxiety is gone, I am almost euphoric, I am so happy and relieved for the anxiety/intrusive thoughts to be gone.

oh yes you did help. Just having people who understand and believe in what we are going thru is HUGE. I sense that my new therapist is quite skeptical that my symptoms are WD and not something else, and I find that very frustrating.

 

 

I hope things continue to go well for you.

Glad the anxiety is lessening, Cat. Do try and take the probiotic regularly and see what happens. I had to take a 30 billion count to get an effect. After about 3 or 4 days, I felt better.

 

Keep me updated on how the reinstatement goes.

 

Best,

Horns

 

 

 

hi

so far this tiny dose of lexapro has been almost a miracle, from the difference in the anxiety and the ability to sleep. so I'm gonna say it was the right thing to do

 

the probiotic I have has 10 different strains and is 25billion count; can't afford to buy anything new so this will have to do for now.

 

I have been gradually healing my GI issues with a nutrient dense, whole foods, plant based diet, so I may not have the same digestive issues as you do, but the lexapro itself causes GI upsets, so it surely can't hurt to take the probiotic

 

at several points in my life, I was overweight and had acid reflux along with a terrible diet. I never really believed diet could make that much of a difference til I really gave it a good try, and am pleased to learn it does help.

I still have IBD and I know that's a brain-gut condition that I may always have to wrestle with.

I used to have issues w/constipation, now it's gone the other way.

It would be nice if it hit that middle ground at some point LOL

 

 

I will let you know how it goes and check in to see how you are doing too

[Horns85]

I have a question in regards to moving from tablet to liquid. I have tapered down to 5mg from 10mg using a 5mg tablet and reducing from 5ml of liquid down to 0. I am now only on the 5mg tablet and will hold for at least 6 weeks or until i feel ready. Now that I am close to getting below 5mg I would like to switch to just the liquid but I don't want 6-8 weeks from now to just switch. Any ideas on how I can slowly transition from the tablet to 5ml of liquid? My 5mg tablet is not cut in the middle so I would have trouble splitting it. Anyway, I've got some time but just curious to anyones thoughts. Thanks!

[Happy2Heal]

I have a question in regards to moving from tablet to liquid. I have tapered down to 5mg from 10mg using a 5mg tablet and reducing from 5ml of liquid down to 0. I am now only on the 5mg tablet and will hold for at least 6 weeks or until i feel ready. Now that I am close to getting below 5mg I would like to switch to just the liquid but I don't want 6-8 weeks from now to just switch. Any ideas on how I can slowly transition from the tablet to 5ml of liquid? My 5mg tablet is not cut in the middle so I would have trouble splitting it. Anyway, I've got some time but just curious to anyones thoughts. Thanks!

I don't know why I"m responding because I really don't have a clue, but I wonder if you were to crush your tablet and mix it with water plus the suspension stuff that they sell on amazon.com if that would help you make the transition?

 

I'm trying to find it now, I bought some last year but it's not in my list of orders from amazon, grrr! there might be info about it in my thread though, let me check

I tried just mixing crushed lexapro tablets with water but they would sink down out of the water too fast.

 

 

ETA: found it: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GGHSQM?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01

[scallywag]

Lexapro is soluble in water.

 

Here's what I would do:

• Use a pill cutter to cut the tablet. The results will probably be good enough results with that.
  Cut up tablets or pills using a pill cutter
   
• Keep the dose the same throughout the transition to liquid, e.g. 6 mg from 5mg tablet + 1 ml pharmacy liquid lexapro.
   
• Cut the tablet. Get a piece that looks equivalent to ¼ of the tablet, dissolve it in water. Drink that liquid + take the rest of the tablet as a solid + the rest of the dose from the pharmacy liquid lexapro.  Take this for 2-3 weeks.
   
• Get ½ your dose from home-made liquid -- cut a tablet, dissolve piece(s) that look equivalent to ½ the tablet in water. Drink that liquid + take the rest of the tablet as a solid + the rest of the dose from the pharmacy liquid lexapro.  Take this for 2-3 weeks.
   
• Get ¾ of your dose from home-made liquid -- -- cut a tablet, dissolve piece(s) that look equivalent to ¾ the tablet in water. Drink that liquid + take the rest of the tablet as a solid + the rest of the dose from the pharmacy liquid lexapro.  Take this for 2-3 weeks.
   
• Throughout each step ¼, ½, ¾ as liquid monitor your symptoms. If they intensify or new ones arise, it's probably because you are absorbing and metabolizing the home-made liquid portion of the dose faster than the solid tablet. Either
  • hold at the current balance of liquid:tablet until symptoms settle down
    or
  • back up a step and hold for longer.

[Horns85]

<p>

 

Lexapro is soluble in water.

 

Here's what I would do:

• Use a pill cutter to cut the tablet. The results will probably be good enough results with that.

  Cut up tablets or pills using a pill cutter

• Keep the dose the same throughout the transition to liquid, e.g. 6 mg from 5mg tablet + 1 ml pharmacy liquid lexapro.
• Cut the tablet. Get a piece that looks equivalent to ¼ of the tablet, dissolve it in water. Drink that liquid + take the rest of the tablet as a solid + the rest of the dose from the pharmacy liquid lexapro. Take this for 2-3 weeks.
• Get ½ your dose from home-made liquid -- cut a tablet, dissolve piece(s) that look equivalent to ½ the tablet in water. Drink that liquid + take the rest of the tablet as a solid + the rest of the dose from the pharmacy liquid lexapro. Take this for 2-3 weeks.
• Get ¾ of your dose from home-made liquid -- -- cut a tablet, dissolve piece(s) that look equivalent to ¾ the tablet in water. Drink that liquid + take the rest of the tablet as a solid + the rest of the dose from the pharmacy liquid lexapro. Take this for 2-3 weeks.
• Throughout each step ¼, ½, ¾ as liquid monitor your symptoms. If they intensify or new ones arise, it's probably because you are absorbing and metabolizing the home-made liquid portion of the dose faster than the solid tablet. Either
• hold at the current balance of liquid:tablet until symptoms settle down

  or

• back up a step and hold for longer.

Thank you, Scallywag. I was debating as I move forward to make my own liquid or move to the pharmacy liquid solution. After reading your suggestion, I think I will just make my own solution. Thanks, again.

[Horns85]

Hello! Just updating my thread. I have been on 5mg now for about 11.5 weeks. I am transitioning to making my own liquid (cutting the 5mg tablet in half, taking 1/2 and dissolving the other 1/2  in water). Unfortunately, I am feeling the effects, my gut mostly. My plan is to switch to dissolving the whole tablet in about 2- 3 weeks and hold there until I am fine to reduce to 4.5mg. 

 

Hang in there everyone! There is a light at the end of this tunnel.

[Horns85]

So I began dissolving the whole 5mg tablet in 10ml of water 6 days ago. I feel pretty crappy today. It's amazing how taking the same dosage and dissolving in water can throw your system off.  Some of the old symptoms I remember from WD a while back have returned. I will hold here until I stabilize. Dizziness, DR and anxiety. 

 

Hang in there everyone!

[Horns85]

Update:

 

I am now 21 months into my taper after reinstatement.  I am down to 1.25mg. This last drop has found itself more difficult, as expected. Many of the symptoms I remember so vividly from WD are appearing in much lesser form. Only to prove once again what I was going through before  was Lexapro WD. e.g.) Interupted sleep, increased anxiety, short temper and low mood to name a few. Just floating by, accepting this for what it is(healing) and accepting the symptoms has made this taper MUCH more manageable, despite the weight gain from reinstatement, which is incredibly frustrating.

 

I have also noticed that my symptoms tend to flare up as my gut does. Any GI issues seem to coincide with increased symptoms only to further prove that healing the gut is of the utmost importance. All things I experienced before reinstatement but refused to accept. I am healing, this is getting better, acceptance is key and have faith. We will all make it to the other side!

 

Hang in there!!