Lexapro taper by sandaiden

[sandaiden]

I was on 10 mg. Lexapro for 9 years. On 7/17/11 I started weaning myself off. I stopped completely on 8/9/11. I think that may have been a mistake. I've been having panic attacks and anxiety for 2 days. I've had other weaning symptoms the whole time. I took what I had attempted to cut into an eighth of a 10 mg. tablet. I do not know what to do.

[Eliotsmum]

Hi: I was told by a relative who is a pharmacist that almost any antidepressant can be made into a liquid by a compounding pharmacist. This way you could be more precise when weaning off it.....

[Altostrata]

Hi, sandaiden. You're in luck. Lexapro is one antidepressant that is available in liquid form.

 

If I were you, I'd get a prescription for the liquid right away. Since you had withdrawal symptoms while you were tapering, try going back on 5mg (not all the way back to 10mg). That may be enough to reduce the withdrawal symptoms.

 

(If you have tablets left, try cutting one in half and taking 5mg.)

 

If 5mg works, stay at 5mg for a month to let your nervous system adjust. Then we can talk about tapering more slowly with the liquid.