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Jimbo: tapering Cipralex (Lexapro)


Jimbo

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Hi,

 

I am currently on 20mg Cipralex (lexapro) and 30mg mirtazapine. I was diagnosed with panic disorder with elements of gad and ocd after having a breakdown of sorts. I have been on the cipralex for a year now. I felt the cipralex made me worse for at least 3-4 months before it calmed down I am not sure if it has been any help to me at all I sort of feel that it might have made my recovery more difficult rather than the other way round but impossible to say. Anyway my docter added mirtazapine 3 months ago and I felt 80% better within just a couple of days. I now want to get off the cipralex and then eventually the mirt but one step at a time.

 

My doctor has told me to reduce by 5mg a week over a period of one month. So far I have just reduced from 20mg to 15mg 5 days ago and have not noticed any real withdrawel symptoms yet. I have a few questions:

1) Is this sort of taper schedule considered reasonable in terms of time and reduction? Or is it dangerously quick?

2) Would the fact that I am on mirtazapine as well help with the withdrawel from cipralex or is not likely to make any difference?

3) How long after reducing the dose would you expect me to notice withdrawel symptoms? Is it normal to reduce by 5mg and not get any withdrawel symptoms for several days or should I have had some by now??

 

Thanks

 

Jimbo

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Hey Jimbo. I have no answers for you as I will start a taper with Lexapro myself. I have a question for you though.

 

Are you cutting tablets or have you switched to the liquid product you can get?

 

I too am looking forward to answers to your original questions.

Fall 1995 xanax, zoloft. switched to Serzone

1996- spring 2003serzone/ xanax/ lightbox.

b]Fall 2003- Fall 2004? Lexapro 10 mg. Light box /4 mg. xanax.[/b]

2004 - Fall of 2009 10 mg Lex, 150 mg Wellbutrin XL % 4 mg xanax

November 2009- Sept. 2011 10 mg lex., 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax [/b

Sept.2012- July 2012 20 mg Lex 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax

My mantra " go slow & with the flow "

3/2/13.. Began equal dosing 5 Xs /day xanax, while simultaneously incorporating a 2.5 % drop ( from 3.5 mg/day to 3.4 mg/day)

4/6/13 dropped from 300 mg. Wellbutrin XL to 150 mg. Difficult but DONE! Down to 3.3 mg xanax/ day / 6/10/13 3 mg xanax/day; 7/15/2013 2.88mg xanax/day.

10/ 1/2013...... 2.5 mg xanax… ( switched to tablets again) WOO HOO!!!!!! Holding here… cont. with Lexapro.

1/ 2/2014.. tapered to 18mg ( by weight) of a 26 mg ( by weight) pill of 20 mg tab. lexapro. goal is 13mg (by weight OR 10 mg by ingredient content) and STOPPED. Feeling very down with unbalanced, unpredictable WD symptoms.

1/2/2014- ??? Taking a brain-healing break from tapering anything after actively tapering something for 1.5 years. So… daily doses as of 2/2/2014: 18 mg by weight Lex, 150 mg Well. XL, 2.5 mg xanax, down from 26 mg by weight Lex., 300 mg well. XL, 4 mg xanax in August, 2012. I'll take it. :) 5/8/14 started equivalent dose liquid./ tabs. 5/13/14 1.5 % cut.

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Hi areyouthere,

 

I asked for 10mg and 5mg tablets rather than my usual 20mg and have for the last 5 days just taken one of each. It seems my taper strategy as advised by my doctor is quite aggressive compared to what is recommended on here. My plan is to just take the 10mg tablet from Monday and see how that goes for a week. All being well I will then just take a 5mg for a week and stop. I am a little worried about this strategy but also very eager to get off of the stuff.

 

Out of curiosity did you find that Cipralex was helpful for you? I am unsure if it has helped me or if it made me worst. I had a breakdown of sorts and after a weekend of panic attacks was prescribed cipralex 20mg. I started to feel even worst and continued to have daily panic attacks but could not be sure if it was the medication or the illness that was behind it. I started to feel a bit better about 6 months in but then had a fairly major relapse. Like I said in my original post a few months back I was prescribed mirtazapine and this had a much better affect on my mood almost instantly. It has left me wondering if I should have gotten off the cipralex months ago. I cant wait to get it out of my system to be honest. Even if I relapse again I would rather tough it out without the cipralex next time.

 

Cheers

 

Jimbo

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Out of curiosity did you find that Cipralex was helpful for you?

 

Yes I did. But the definition of "helpful" for me is complicated. See my other recent posts. The reason I ask about it is that I upped the dose almost a year ago from 10mg to 20 mg. I am not sure that it helped. And I know that it made me more drowsy/ lethargic with less stamina. But it has taken me months to recognize it. Thus the ? of tapering.

Fall 1995 xanax, zoloft. switched to Serzone

1996- spring 2003serzone/ xanax/ lightbox.

b]Fall 2003- Fall 2004? Lexapro 10 mg. Light box /4 mg. xanax.[/b]

2004 - Fall of 2009 10 mg Lex, 150 mg Wellbutrin XL % 4 mg xanax

November 2009- Sept. 2011 10 mg lex., 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax [/b

Sept.2012- July 2012 20 mg Lex 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax

My mantra " go slow & with the flow "

3/2/13.. Began equal dosing 5 Xs /day xanax, while simultaneously incorporating a 2.5 % drop ( from 3.5 mg/day to 3.4 mg/day)

4/6/13 dropped from 300 mg. Wellbutrin XL to 150 mg. Difficult but DONE! Down to 3.3 mg xanax/ day / 6/10/13 3 mg xanax/day; 7/15/2013 2.88mg xanax/day.

10/ 1/2013...... 2.5 mg xanax… ( switched to tablets again) WOO HOO!!!!!! Holding here… cont. with Lexapro.

1/ 2/2014.. tapered to 18mg ( by weight) of a 26 mg ( by weight) pill of 20 mg tab. lexapro. goal is 13mg (by weight OR 10 mg by ingredient content) and STOPPED. Feeling very down with unbalanced, unpredictable WD symptoms.

1/2/2014- ??? Taking a brain-healing break from tapering anything after actively tapering something for 1.5 years. So… daily doses as of 2/2/2014: 18 mg by weight Lex, 150 mg Well. XL, 2.5 mg xanax, down from 26 mg by weight Lex., 300 mg well. XL, 4 mg xanax in August, 2012. I'll take it. :) 5/8/14 started equivalent dose liquid./ tabs. 5/13/14 1.5 % cut.

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  • Administrator

Hello, Jimbo, welcome. I moved your introductory post here to the Intro forum. This is your topic for updates and questions about your specific situation.

 

Many people can go off these drugs with a fairly fast taper. You may or may not be one of them. You won't know until it's too late and you develop withdrawal symptoms.

 

That's why we recommend a slower taper, to protect your nervous system. Contrary to what doctors believe, withdrawal symptoms sometimes don't show up for several weeks. If you're susceptible to them, by that time with your taper schedule you'll have reduced at least 75% and your withdrawal symptoms will be more severe, indicating worse damage to your nervous system.

 

The nervous system is delicate; experiencing withdrawal symptoms indicates it's in distress. Full recovery from this sort of damage can take a long time.

 

So you might be a person who can taper quickly, but tapering more conservatively will save you a lot of pain and suffering if you're not.

 

If I were you, I'd hold at 15mg for a couple more weeks. If no problem, reduce by 2.5mg, hold for a few weeks. If no problem, do it again.

 

For a lot of people, problems show up at low doses. When you're at 10mg, you may wish to get liquid Cipralex and reduce by 1mg every couple of weeks, barring withdrawal symptoms, and by .5mg when you reach 5mg.

 

Your doctor may or may not agree with this, but it's your nervous system. He will not be able to fix it if it gets damaged by withdrawal.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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I tapered off of Remeron over about six weeks while still on Pristiq (50 Mg. time-released) and didn't seem to have any problems with withdrawal. My doctor then switched me from Pristiq to 10 mg. Lexapro, which was a less damaging antidepressant but an altogether different story when it came to tapering off.

 

I tapered off of the 10 mg. of Lexapro over four months and it was a terrible experience. I had just about every withdrawal symptom in the book and am still suffering from feelings of sadness alternating with no feelings at all after eight months off of the drug. (You can follow my posts and progress by clicking on the link at the end of this post.) If I had it to do over again, I would probably stretch that taper out over a year or so and avoid all the anguish.

 

Most doctors have no idea what they're doing with antidepressants and antidepressant withdrawal. It's possible that you may have no problems tapering off of 20 mg. Lexapro over a month, but that seems awfully fast to me and it really isn't worth taking the chance just to be able to say you're off the drug.

 

Antidepressants actually change the way the brain functions, destroying some neurotransmitters and growing some new ones. When you go off the drug, the brain begins to change back to its previous state, but very slowly, so the fact that the drug is out of your system isn't the whole story. It's much better to taper very slowly and not jangle your nervous system any more than necessary.

Psychotropic drug history: Pristiq 50 mg. (mid-September 2010 through February 2011), Remeron (mid-September 2010 through January 2011), Lexapro 10 mg. (mid-February 2011 through mid-December 2011), Lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg. as needed mid-September 2010 through early March 2012

"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." -Hanlon's Razor


Introduction: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1588-introducing-jemima/

 

Success Story: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/6263-success-jemima-survives-lexapro-and-dr-dickhead-too/

Please note that I am not a medical professional and my advice is based on personal experience, reading, and anecdotal information posted by other sufferers.

 

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Hi Jimbo...

 

Lexapro is a a tough drug as far as tapers go. Like Alto said you may be fortunate not to experience WD.

 

The WD symptoms can come immediately after a drop, two days later or for some as long as two weeks. If you drop your dose and have WD you can always go back up, stabilize and then droy by a much smaller dose the next time.

 

5mgs. is a large drop in dose. Good news is that you are only on 20mgs. I was on 40mgs.

 

It's advisable to play it on the safe side, go slowly and use he liquid. For alot of people on ssri's, WD symptoms can become troublesome once we hit the 10mg. mark.

 

Again this may not be your situation. Why play with fire. Easy does it :)

 

Loved watching the Olympics in Great Britain....happy your country scored alot of Gold :)

Intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1902-nikki-hi-my-rundown-with-ads/

 

Paxil 1997-2004

Crossed over to Lexapro Paxil not available

at Pharmacies GSK halted deliveries

Lexapro 40mgs

Lexapro taper (2years)

Imipramine

Imipramine and Celexa

Now Nefazadone/Imipramine 50mgs. each

45mgs. Serzone  50mgs. Imipramine

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Good call, Georgia.

 

It could be that after 3 months, Jimbo's doctor realized he had prescribed a dangerous combination and wants Jimbo off Cipralex as soon as possible.

 

Fortunately, if serotonin syndrome hasn't happened by now, it probably won't -- but, Jimbo, I'd be very, very careful adding any other drug, psychiatric or not, until you're off the Cipralex.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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http://www.drugs.com/interactions-check.php?drug_list=1640-0,1013-565

 

Maybe the potential for interaction is the reason he recommnded a rapid taper?

Just a thought... please don't consider this as advice, just something to ask your doctor about to be on the safe side.

 

Sheesh! I had no idea I'd been exposed to that danger! :o:angry:

Psychotropic drug history: Pristiq 50 mg. (mid-September 2010 through February 2011), Remeron (mid-September 2010 through January 2011), Lexapro 10 mg. (mid-February 2011 through mid-December 2011), Lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg. as needed mid-September 2010 through early March 2012

"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." -Hanlon's Razor


Introduction: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1588-introducing-jemima/

 

Success Story: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/6263-success-jemima-survives-lexapro-and-dr-dickhead-too/

Please note that I am not a medical professional and my advice is based on personal experience, reading, and anecdotal information posted by other sufferers.

 

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Hi Everyone,

 

Thanks a lot for your replies and helpful. I have been away from my computer for a few days so have only seen them today.

 

I went down to 10mg last night as per my original plan. I may not have done that if I had seen your advice yesterday. So far I have not experienced any withdrawel symptoms at all. I dont know whether that is because I wont, whether that is because I am also on mirtazapine or whether it hasn't been long enough for them to start to surface.

 

I cant tell you just how desperate I am to get off this stuff though, I really just want to be myself again and I almost just want to get it over with as quick as possible no matter how bad it is. My biggest concern with the withdrawel is my anxiety and panic attacks coming back. When that was at its worst I felt like my life was a living hell. The other symptoms sound unpleasant but I cant imagine anything being worse than that. I spent months having constant panic attacks, all day every day. I have always felt deep down that these attacks where induced by the cipralex and that it just didn't agree with me but because I wasn't sure I stayed on and continued with it. The mirtazapine made a difference to my anxiety instantly, within a few days and I wish I had been given that instead of cipralex in the first instance.

 

I think I may see how it goes this week before deciding whether to drop to 5mg. Maybe I will stay on 10mg for a few weeks now and then drop down. My psychiatrist said that the worry about withdrawel is exagerrated but I have come across too many horror stories online to believe him.

 

Glad you enjoyed the Olympics Nikki, so did I. Shame its all over now ..

 

All the best

 

Jimbo

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Just wanted to mention in reponse to the comments about taking cipralex and mirt together. My doctor added mirtazapine as an augmenting agent on top of my cipralex because he says that he gets good results from combining the two. I only had a 'partial' response to cipralex after about 9 months on it and he thought that adding mirtazapine was a good idea. I think there is a small risk of serotonin syndrome but I dont think its that uncommon now days for drugs of these two classes to be prescribed together. My doctor actually wanted me to stay on both but I insisted that I wanted off. When I did he recommended doing it over a month. I did question this but he claimed it was ok and that if I cannot function, to up the dose again and then go more slowly. I really dont know what to do to be totally honest but as I am feeling ok so far I am tempted to continue at the current pace.

 

Cheers

 

Jimbo

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  • Administrator

Concern about withdrawal syndrome is exaggerated until you experience it. Your doctor is safe from that, so he's free to play soccer with your brain.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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I cant tell you just how desperate I am to get off this stuff though, I really just want to be myself again and I almost just want to get it over with as quick as possible no matter how bad it is.

Getting off the stuff as quickly as possible won't necessarily get you back to being yourself as quickly as possible. In fact, it may be inviting severe and prolonged withdrawal symptoms. I tapered off of 10 mg. Lexapro over three and a half months per doctor's instructions and went through hellish withdrawal. I was barely functional for the first two-plus months off the drug, particularly during the daytime hours, because my adrenal hormones were so screwed up.

 

 

The problem is that SSRI antidepressants change the structure of the brain, destroying some neurotransmitters and growing others, and they also alter a number of hormones, especially cortisol. When the drug is withdrawn abruptly, the brain begins restoring itself in a haphazard way that is unpredictable and often painful and sickening. Just getting the drug out of one's system as fast as possible doesn't solve the problem because of these structural changes. A slow taper off is far more supportive of a person's nervous system and health in general.

 

Please take it slow and easy. I wish I had known better from the beginning. I'm eight months off Lexapro now and still having some withdrawal symptoms although, thank God, they're fading.

Psychotropic drug history: Pristiq 50 mg. (mid-September 2010 through February 2011), Remeron (mid-September 2010 through January 2011), Lexapro 10 mg. (mid-February 2011 through mid-December 2011), Lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg. as needed mid-September 2010 through early March 2012

"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." -Hanlon's Razor


Introduction: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1588-introducing-jemima/

 

Success Story: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/6263-success-jemima-survives-lexapro-and-dr-dickhead-too/

Please note that I am not a medical professional and my advice is based on personal experience, reading, and anecdotal information posted by other sufferers.

 

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Thanks for the advice Jemima, as someone who has been through this I value your opinion.

 

What sort of symptoms did you experience and what symptoms are you still experiencing now? How long during the taper process before the symptoms started to occur?

 

Cheers

 

Jimbo

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Concern about withdrawal syndrome is exaggerated until you experience it

 

God Bless you Alto for putting it that way. It's true.

 

Jimbo I agree with Jemima, go slow. I have learned that SSRI withdrawal will super-cede another drug.

 

I was just posting with Alto about me dropping my Celexa by 5mgs. as I increase Imipramine. This would take time. It's all trial and error.

 

If in your gut, you know that the Cipralex didn't do what you thought it would do and may have exacerbated anxiety then Trust Your Instincts. ;) They are there for a reason.

Too much Lexapro and too much Celexa can bring on anxiety/agitation.

 

This is my opinion, go easy with the Cipralex taper while on the Mirtaz. 10mgs. is alot even while on another drug. You can go back up if you feel poorly and then just wait to feel better.

 

Hugs

Intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1902-nikki-hi-my-rundown-with-ads/

 

Paxil 1997-2004

Crossed over to Lexapro Paxil not available

at Pharmacies GSK halted deliveries

Lexapro 40mgs

Lexapro taper (2years)

Imipramine

Imipramine and Celexa

Now Nefazadone/Imipramine 50mgs. each

45mgs. Serzone  50mgs. Imipramine

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Thanks for the advice Jemima, as someone who has been through this I value your opinion.

 

What sort of symptoms did you experience and what symptoms are you still experiencing now? How long during the taper process before the symptoms started to occur?

 

Cheers

 

Jimbo

 

You can read all about it in the Intro link in my signature below. I'm over the physical symptoms now as best I can tell, but I still have daily episodes of sadness and fear that aren't rational and that sometimes keep me from trying new things that might be good for me.

 

I've been off Lexapro eight months now and I'm glad to be done with it and healing, but if I had it to do over again I might have taken as much as a year or more and tapered off very, very gradually.

Psychotropic drug history: Pristiq 50 mg. (mid-September 2010 through February 2011), Remeron (mid-September 2010 through January 2011), Lexapro 10 mg. (mid-February 2011 through mid-December 2011), Lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg. as needed mid-September 2010 through early March 2012

"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." -Hanlon's Razor


Introduction: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1588-introducing-jemima/

 

Success Story: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/6263-success-jemima-survives-lexapro-and-dr-dickhead-too/

Please note that I am not a medical professional and my advice is based on personal experience, reading, and anecdotal information posted by other sufferers.

 

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Thanks for the replies again. I agree that its totally incorrect to trust my doctor on these issues and much better to listen to the advice on offer here that is written from experience. Doctors have proven to be a total letdown and i have lost a lot of faith in the medical community.

 

When I was given cipralex by my gp I had only been panicky/nervous for a couple of days following a stressful life event. This was an unusual experience for me because I had not been particularly anxious at any other stage in my life and so I went to the doctor for advice thinking there might be something seriously wrong with me. I was put straight on 20mg which I believe is the maximum and I felt crazy on it. Like I said before, was having panic attacks several times a day every single day. At the time I was totally trusting that I had been given the right medication, believing it was the only thing that was there to help and so drew the conclussion that I was getting worst just because I was very ill. Its only since taking the mirtazapine that I realise that I could have just had a very bad reaction to the cipralex all along. It seems quite rare to have a bad reaction to cipralex but certainly not beyond the realms of possibility. I just want to get it out of my system now and as you can probably tell I dont feel very patient towards the process. I feel like I have lost too much of my life already.

 

I went down to 5mg last night, so thats 20mg to 5mg since I started 3 weeks ago. I have had flu like symptoms the last few days and some mild anxiety but not too bad yet. If it become untolerable I will up my dose again but I am hoping i can grit my teeth and face it. No doubt the worst is yet to come but I am taking lots of vitamins and flax seed oil (im a vegatarian) and exercising as much as i can.

 

I will let you know how it goes. Thanks again for all your advice.

 

Cheers

 

Jimbo

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  • Administrator

It is NOT quite rare to have an adverse reaction to Cipralex. It's a very activating drug. Anxiety and panic attacks are common side effects.

 

Jimbo, I would suspect your diagnosis is not accurate. It seems you might have had adverse effects to Cipralex all along.

 

If this is the case, it's an additional reason you should go off it carefully. Your nervous system has already been stressed by dealing with the adverse effects.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Hi Alto,

 

Yes I agree with you, I think that is what has happened too. It makes me very angry that when I was first ill I was given a packet of cipralex and a print out from the internet about gad and panic attacks and no other help or advice whatsoever. I had no idea what had happened to me and was basically told you have a disorder so take this medicine. The fact that I was obviously worst a month after i started should have set alarm bells ringing with my doctor but I was just told it takes time. The other highly irritating thing is I was not told at the time that it was a medicine for the longish term, that it might not be the right type of medicine for me or that getting off could be problematic. At the time I was just relieved I was given something and assumed it would help me very quickly. When it didn't rather than question the medication I instead believed I was just really very ill.

 

After 6 months off work I discovered I was entitled to some private health care and got the opportunity to see a psychiatrist. In fairness to him he had no idea whether the cipralex was making me worst or was helping a little as he did not see me at the time I was first ill. He decided to introduce the mirtazapine and it was him who agreed that i should get off the cipralex a few weeks ago although I wasn't really going to take no for an answer.

 

I hope I can get through these next few weeks, I am currently only on 5mg and feeling a little rough but am still functioning. Out of curiosity would you have expected me to have had some more severe withdrawl symptoms by now or are the worst symptoms likely to occur when I stop altogether or even a week or so after stopping??

 

Thanks

 

Jimbo

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  • Administrator

If you're feeling a little rough, that's a sign to slow down now before withdrawal symptoms get worse. You might hold on reducing the Cipralex for two weeks, make sure those symptoms go away.

 

Then go down by 1mg per week or every 2 weeks. Reductions at low doses tend to be more difficult -- or, the previous fast reductions might catch up with you. It's best to go slow now and let your nervous system adjust.

 

This brings the need for the mirtazapine into question, too. How long have you been taking it?

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Yes, that sounds like good advice, I will see if i can take these last 5mg really slowly.

 

I have been taking the mirt for a few months now, cant remember exactly, I think about 3.5 months, maybe 4. My plan was to leave that until I have completely withdrawn from the cipralex. Once off the cipralex i plan to go through the same process with the mirt. Do you agree this is the correct cource of action?

 

Thanks

 

James

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  • Administrator

Yes, unless you have a bad reaction from the mirt.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi,

 

I have been completely off now for a whole week and am feeling a little worst for wear. I was wondering if I could get some advice.

I've had some flu like symptoms and brain zaps/dizziness which have made life difficult but I have been able to handle them fairly well and carry on. The last couple of days however I have started to feel agitated and panicky again which is the one thing I really cant handle very well and my biggest fear about coming off. Do you think this is a normal part of withdrawel or is it more likely that my original condition is relapsing without the medication? I suppose its impossible to tell for sure but I really dont want to go back on the pills. How long would you advise trying to live with the symptoms before biting the bullet and going back on the SSRI. I am thinking I should try and tough it out for a fortnight?

 

 

Thanks

 

Jimbo

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  • Administrator

Did you drop from 5mg to zero? If so, you might want to take 2.5mg right away.

 

Proper tapering means no or very little withdrawal symptoms, don't try to tough it out.

 

If you're feeling a little rough, that's a sign to slow down now before withdrawal symptoms get worse. You might hold on reducing the Cipralex for two weeks, make sure those symptoms go away.

 

Then go down by 1mg per week or every 2 weeks. Reductions at low doses tend to be more difficult -- or, the previous fast reductions might catch up with you. It's best to go slow now and let your nervous system adjust.

 

....

 

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Thanks for the reply again Alto.

 

I feel a bit foolish, because I ask your advice, understand it and agree with it and then go and do something completely different. I feel there is no doubt that despite all of the good advice I was getting I came off too quickly ... from 20mg - zero in 3 weeks. I suppose I was just desperate to get off something which I had started to believe was poisening me and making me ill. Now I am not feeling great of course I am wondering if maybe it was helping me after all but because I came off quickly its impossible to tell what is withdrawel and what is a relapse. Do you think anxiety and agitation are common with withdrawel? I know that the brain zaps, headaches and flu are but although not nice I can handle them ...

 

Is there anything else you could recommend other than going back on the lexapro .. If the way I feel doesn't start to let up I think i am going to have to but would rather give pretty much anything else a try. Was thinking something like 5htp? At least its natural ...

 

Cheers

 

Jimbo

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  • Administrator

If you have brain zaps, there's no doubt you have withdrawal symptoms. Yes, anxiety and agitation are very common with withdrawal.

 

Withdrawal symptoms mean your nervous system is complaining. Throwing in some supplements may make you worse. If I were you, I'd try going back on 5mg Lexapro and tapering slower. It's a hair-of-the-dog-that-bit-you kind of thing.

 

Don't try to be a hero, you've only got one nervous system.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Thanks for the advice again.

 

Yes, the brain zaps are almost constant, every time I move my head or stand up. I went for a run the other night and was virtually getting a zap every stride. Although uncomfortable I can manage them but I cannot stand the panic/high anxiety symptoms that make me feel like I am going crazy. I had a day of intense agitation and anxiety a few days ago that reminded me of my panic disorder when it was at its very worst. I am still not well and psychologically still recovering from that episode but perhaps I am starting to feel ever so slightly better. In hindsight I wish I had taken your advice in the first place and come off at a much gentler pace however its been two weeks now since I stopped so want to avoid going back on unless I absolutely have to. A lot will depend on how I can cope with the next 2-3 days. If the anxiety gets too much then I will have no choice. My doc wants to start me on lustral but I am determined to prove to him that I am better off without any drugs.

 

Cheers

 

Jim

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  • 6 years later...

My doctor want to start me on another drug too. I want out of this nightmare of taking these type of drugs. Dizzy, limbs feel heavy, balance is off. This is the 6th day of cold turkey,. I am afraid to go back on even a small amount because it mess with my blood pressure and make me drowsy the next day even when I took it at nite lexpro generic 5 mg. 

Escitalopram (generic of lexapro)  5 mg 6/6/2019 to 6/29/2019  CT  Restarted 7/5 /2019  5mg

Alprazolam (Generic of xanaz) ..  3 dose 2.5 mg  and 2 dose of 5 mg between 6/6/2019 to 6/20

 

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  • ChessieCat changed the title to Jimbo: tapering Cipralex (Lexapro)

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