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davidcpp: Escitalopram withdrawal


davidcpp

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Hello,

Sorry for my english, it's not my native language.

I'm David and i have problems with escitalopram (Escitalopram Actavis) withdrawal. In conjunction with my health problems i was in some department of Neurology in March 2015. Medical research don't show anything. There i got a recommendation to get half pill of Escitalopram Actavis 10mg every day. I didn't have problems with psyche, but doctors coudn't find real soruce of my health problems and i didn't know what i should do, so i started to get these tablets. Few months later i started to get whole 10mg tablet.

 

After year from the start of taking I started to withdraw this tabltes. I withdrew to half tablet, and next to half tablet for two days and so on. At the end of every period i've had dizziness and at all time i had lower efficiency of thinking, inefficient,"stiff" muscles. i don't know which symptoms are associated with my other health problems and which are associated with side effects of drugs. 

 

At some point I've tried to totally withdraw this tablet and i withstood to 11. day. After that real health problems began, connected with psyche, cognition, anxiety,indecision, jittery, weak muscles, muscle stiffness. I've never had symptoms like this before. I've decided first to get one tablet for 6 days, and after less than 2 months i started to get 2.5mg dose.

 

I don't know how well I decided, that I increase dosage to 2.5mg. Isn't it too much at this point? Whether starting with the smaller dose would make I be able more quickly to reach to the end of withdrawal? If so, Can i still decrease dose to 1mg, for example?

 

I didn't know earlier that i can make liquid from pills, and i can't cut pill to 8 parts.  What i should do know with dosage? Shoud I continue with 2.5 mg and reduce 10% of dosage (From what dosage? 2.5mg? 5mg?) or maybe shoud i go now to lower dosage and from that shoud I reduce?  Now i feel better than in the last 9 days, but they begin to return side effects of this drug (constipation, flatulence). How should i withdraw this drug now?

 

Thank you!

Edited by scallywag
added paragraph breaks for readability, added tags

3/21/2014 - Escitalopram Actavis 5mg (half of a pill) every day. 

6/1/2014 - Escitalopram 10mg  

2/1/2015 - Escitalopram  5mg  

3/1/2015  Escitalopram 5mg /every 2 days, every 3 days... up to every 6 days

6/30/2015 trying to withdraw totally - I kept waiting until the eleventh day but withdrawal was too strong so reinstated 

7/2/2015 Escitalopram 5mg / every 6 days 

8/27/2015 - Increasing to Escitalopram 2.5mg / per day - a lot of withdrawal symptoms , not sure what to do ....

2015:  12/30 - 2.2mg; 
2016:  2/2 - 1.9mg  4/9 - 1.7mg  5/10 - 1.55mg  6/11 - 1.4mg  7/3 - 1.25mg  7/24 - 1.1mg  8/16 - 1.0mg  9/7 - 0.9mg
2017:  1/24 - 0.8mg  2/14 - 0.7mg  3/4 - 0.64mg  3/19 - 0.58mg  3/30 - 0.53mg  4/16 - 0.48mg  4/29 - 0.43mg  5/26 - 0.37mg  7/1 - 0.32mg  8/6 - 0.26mg  27/08 - 0.21mg  
2018:  2/16 - 0.186mg;  (change to liquid) 3/19 - 0.145mg  4/3 - 0.13mg  4/22 - 0.12mg, lower doses afeter, 09/15 - try to witdraw completelly, but feel that i must reinstate - up to about 1.9mg to 2020/09 but the dose whole time was wrong because I store drug in refrigarator during most of the time - that was big mistake. Next mistake was to reinstate 1.9 mg instead of start from lower doses because doses from drug stored in refrigarator were disturbed. After 3 weeks i find out that i must go down and go down to 2021/06. 2021/06 Going down from 1mg to 0.4 in 2 weeks when I feel that that dose became to high. I started to feeling better then at about 0.4mg after, I started feeling that drug too high dose symptoms starting to let go in few days.
2021/06/05 - next mistake - I take 2 days levocetirizine for allergy, after 2 days crash, symptoms like on too high doses.
2021/06/07 - 2021/06/16 - 0.4mg - 0.1mg
2021/06/17 - 2021/06/20 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.1 - 0.6mg, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/06/21 - 2021/06/28 - 0.6mg - 0.12mg
2021/06/29 - 2021/06/30 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.13 - 0.3, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/07/01 -2021/07/14 - 0.3 - 0.12mg
2021/07/15 - 2021/07/19 - 0.12 - 0.01mg - still I feel too high dose effects, some withdrawal symptoms like dizziness, but they let go and more and more too high dose effects, therfore I go down with dose
 
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hello 'Davidcpp' welcome to SA.

Sertraline 100mg amytrip 60mg diazepam 4mg (and when needed) since late 90's.Reduced all meds over 6 wks (too short) last doses 13 wks ago.Still having withdrawals.I would have done it differently

5th august 2015 reinstated 5mg amytripiline.increased to 10mg amtrip 9th sept 2015.

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I can't stand thinking that i make a mistake through go to 2.5mg dosage after reading this topic about reinstatement. I use 2.5mg dosage 10-11 days, and only 2 days were windows of feeling better. Is that big mistake with this dosage changing? Shoud I still decrease the dosage now and next shoud i waiting on stabilization? It is still possible? What should I do with my current dossage? Did I firmly worsen my withdraw from this drug? Sorry, for that amount of questions, but I'm frustrated that I still make stupid mistakes that cause deterioration of my treatment. I am asking for a quick answer to i wouldn't make further significant mistakes. Shoud I add tags on start of topic to get faster reply? I see that, some people which add topic after me are getting reply faster than i.

3/21/2014 - Escitalopram Actavis 5mg (half of a pill) every day. 

6/1/2014 - Escitalopram 10mg  

2/1/2015 - Escitalopram  5mg  

3/1/2015  Escitalopram 5mg /every 2 days, every 3 days... up to every 6 days

6/30/2015 trying to withdraw totally - I kept waiting until the eleventh day but withdrawal was too strong so reinstated 

7/2/2015 Escitalopram 5mg / every 6 days 

8/27/2015 - Increasing to Escitalopram 2.5mg / per day - a lot of withdrawal symptoms , not sure what to do ....

2015:  12/30 - 2.2mg; 
2016:  2/2 - 1.9mg  4/9 - 1.7mg  5/10 - 1.55mg  6/11 - 1.4mg  7/3 - 1.25mg  7/24 - 1.1mg  8/16 - 1.0mg  9/7 - 0.9mg
2017:  1/24 - 0.8mg  2/14 - 0.7mg  3/4 - 0.64mg  3/19 - 0.58mg  3/30 - 0.53mg  4/16 - 0.48mg  4/29 - 0.43mg  5/26 - 0.37mg  7/1 - 0.32mg  8/6 - 0.26mg  27/08 - 0.21mg  
2018:  2/16 - 0.186mg;  (change to liquid) 3/19 - 0.145mg  4/3 - 0.13mg  4/22 - 0.12mg, lower doses afeter, 09/15 - try to witdraw completelly, but feel that i must reinstate - up to about 1.9mg to 2020/09 but the dose whole time was wrong because I store drug in refrigarator during most of the time - that was big mistake. Next mistake was to reinstate 1.9 mg instead of start from lower doses because doses from drug stored in refrigarator were disturbed. After 3 weeks i find out that i must go down and go down to 2021/06. 2021/06 Going down from 1mg to 0.4 in 2 weeks when I feel that that dose became to high. I started to feeling better then at about 0.4mg after, I started feeling that drug too high dose symptoms starting to let go in few days.
2021/06/05 - next mistake - I take 2 days levocetirizine for allergy, after 2 days crash, symptoms like on too high doses.
2021/06/07 - 2021/06/16 - 0.4mg - 0.1mg
2021/06/17 - 2021/06/20 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.1 - 0.6mg, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/06/21 - 2021/06/28 - 0.6mg - 0.12mg
2021/06/29 - 2021/06/30 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.13 - 0.3, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/07/01 -2021/07/14 - 0.3 - 0.12mg
2021/07/15 - 2021/07/19 - 0.12 - 0.01mg - still I feel too high dose effects, some withdrawal symptoms like dizziness, but they let go and more and more too high dose effects, therfore I go down with dose
 
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What withdrawal symptoms are you getting 'Davidcpp' ? I dont give advice on tapering sorry.I'm sure someone will be along soon.

Sertraline 100mg amytrip 60mg diazepam 4mg (and when needed) since late 90's.Reduced all meds over 6 wks (too short) last doses 13 wks ago.Still having withdrawals.I would have done it differently

5th august 2015 reinstated 5mg amytripiline.increased to 10mg amtrip 9th sept 2015.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hello David and welcome to SA,

 

I'm sorry you had to wait to get a fedback for a while. This site is moderated by volunteers and other members who offered general support might not have been confident with offering suggestions in your case.

 

I read your posts several times and I want to make sure I understood your situation correctly: you tapered Escitalopram from March till June/July by taking 5 mg every second day then every third day and so on. At some some point you completely stopped taking the drug and after 11 days you again started taking 2.5 mg? Or 5 mg?

 

I'm afraid i don't really understand this sentence: I've decided first to get one tablet for 6 days, and after less than 2 months i started to get 2.5mg dose.

 

 Can you please clarify ​for me when you started taking the drug again and at what dose?

 

If you have been taking 2.5 mg since 27 August, I would wait on that dose to stabilise. I don't think it's too much given your whole situation especially since judging by what you write some of your symptoms have decreased. Once you have stabilised you can taper by reducing 10 % every 30 days or so from your current dose.

 

I see that you have already been reading through some of the threads. Here are more links you might  also find helpful.

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms

 

Tips for tapering off Lexapro (escitalopram)

Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2

2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013)

Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 
1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg.
2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg
went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days after
reinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours
28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr  2015 1 mg,  25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64  Xanax     9 month hold

24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26

Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic 

I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. 

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Sorry for mistake, i meant half of the pill(5mg), not whole pill -  I've decided first to get 5mg for 6 days immediately from that 11 day without drug. It was on the beginning of July. My history in signature is correct. This period  lasted for nearly 2 months, and next from 27 August i started taking 2.5mg for a day - it would be on average 3 times more than that 5mg for 6 days. I did it because i don't know earlier how divide dose of pill and i wanted to start taking drug every day to stabilize its level. Except two days, in last 11 days i feel worse than before. Does it results from radical increasing dose, adverse reactions or from bad withdrawal before, failure to stabilize? According to this topic i understand that i've started to taking to large dose now, although i don't know how treat my withdrawal with one dose for few days. Can it treat in the same way as one lower dose for a day - for example 5mg/6days = 0.9mg/day? i don't know how treat it. In topics of this forum there isn't issue about what to do, in the case of earlier wrong approach - taking one dose for few days. I also cut 5mg on two parts in pill crusher so far and it isn't precise. Now i want to start make liquid with drug, but earlier approach can affect on my deterioration? Sorry for chaotic sentences.

3/21/2014 - Escitalopram Actavis 5mg (half of a pill) every day. 

6/1/2014 - Escitalopram 10mg  

2/1/2015 - Escitalopram  5mg  

3/1/2015  Escitalopram 5mg /every 2 days, every 3 days... up to every 6 days

6/30/2015 trying to withdraw totally - I kept waiting until the eleventh day but withdrawal was too strong so reinstated 

7/2/2015 Escitalopram 5mg / every 6 days 

8/27/2015 - Increasing to Escitalopram 2.5mg / per day - a lot of withdrawal symptoms , not sure what to do ....

2015:  12/30 - 2.2mg; 
2016:  2/2 - 1.9mg  4/9 - 1.7mg  5/10 - 1.55mg  6/11 - 1.4mg  7/3 - 1.25mg  7/24 - 1.1mg  8/16 - 1.0mg  9/7 - 0.9mg
2017:  1/24 - 0.8mg  2/14 - 0.7mg  3/4 - 0.64mg  3/19 - 0.58mg  3/30 - 0.53mg  4/16 - 0.48mg  4/29 - 0.43mg  5/26 - 0.37mg  7/1 - 0.32mg  8/6 - 0.26mg  27/08 - 0.21mg  
2018:  2/16 - 0.186mg;  (change to liquid) 3/19 - 0.145mg  4/3 - 0.13mg  4/22 - 0.12mg, lower doses afeter, 09/15 - try to witdraw completelly, but feel that i must reinstate - up to about 1.9mg to 2020/09 but the dose whole time was wrong because I store drug in refrigarator during most of the time - that was big mistake. Next mistake was to reinstate 1.9 mg instead of start from lower doses because doses from drug stored in refrigarator were disturbed. After 3 weeks i find out that i must go down and go down to 2021/06. 2021/06 Going down from 1mg to 0.4 in 2 weeks when I feel that that dose became to high. I started to feeling better then at about 0.4mg after, I started feeling that drug too high dose symptoms starting to let go in few days.
2021/06/05 - next mistake - I take 2 days levocetirizine for allergy, after 2 days crash, symptoms like on too high doses.
2021/06/07 - 2021/06/16 - 0.4mg - 0.1mg
2021/06/17 - 2021/06/20 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.1 - 0.6mg, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/06/21 - 2021/06/28 - 0.6mg - 0.12mg
2021/06/29 - 2021/06/30 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.13 - 0.3, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/07/01 -2021/07/14 - 0.3 - 0.12mg
2021/07/15 - 2021/07/19 - 0.12 - 0.01mg - still I feel too high dose effects, some withdrawal symptoms like dizziness, but they let go and more and more too high dose effects, therfore I go down with dose
 
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Hello David,

 

Please stick to the 2,5 mg as long as you can. Several months at least. I dropped the dose to 1,25 mg on Aug 4th. The first three weeks it was better. Then all hell broke loose. Unbearable suffering.

 

You wrote about muscle stiffness. It's the side effect of Lexapro, along with anxiety, insomnia, akathisia, uncontrollable behaviour.

 

Take care, Mel

1990-1992 Anafranil. OCD under control, extreme social phobia. Hospitalized for the 1st and 2nd time (out of 3). 1999-2002: Prozac 20 mg. Stopped due to severe anxiety. Increased benzo consumption. 2003-2005: AD free (therapy). Feeling good, started working. Persisted 9 yrs in full-time job. 2005-2007: Ixel (milnacipran). SNRI. 2007-2011: Lexapro 10-15 mg. Fatigue and anxiety. Mania. Insomnia. Acne. Shopoholism. Polydrugging with different meds. 2011-2013: Effexor 37,5-150 mg (mostly 75 mg). SNRI. Fatigue and depression, terrible acne with scars, now gone. April 2013: Wellbutrin 150 mg. Hot flashes, extreme appetite, aggression. May 2013 - May 2014: Prozac - from 10 mg to 0 mg, very harsh taper. Functioning great but EXTREME ANXIETY. From May 2014: tried different ADs to replace Prozac, nothing worked, terrible side effects (Seroxat, Zoloft, Luvox, Brintellix, Doxepin, Trazodone). May 2014 back to benzos (Valium) in hope of improvement, aggravated depression and anxiety. Sept. 2014: Lexapro 2,5 mg, highest dose 5 mg for 1,5 months (Spring 2015). Steady decline, anxiety, fatigue. Diagnosed with OCD, dysthymia, social phobia, anxiety disorder, insomnia, eating disorder (first bulimia, then anorexia). Current meds: Seroquel 6,25 mg for sleep - 5 mg since Nov. 5, 2015. Lexapro 1,25 mg since Aug. 4th 2015. Valium, Ambien prn, tapering. http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/9984-melanie-should-i-reinstate-lexapro/

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Hi David.

 

Can you tell me the level of your muscle stiffness and at which part of your body that you have stiffness?

 

I can tell you how to deal with constipation. You need to take Magnesium. There are many forms of Magnesium on the market. Some are more natural than others. I have a friend who is a pharmacist and has her own pharmacy. She has seen so many illnesses caused by the side effects of medications so she is really into natural treatments. She only finds the best and most natural products to carry in her store. I have been taking Magnesium for a long time because one of my medications deplete Magnesium.

 

The most natural form of Magnesium and brand that she recommends me to take is Magnesium Glycinate. The manufacturer is Pure Encapsulations.

 

The great thing about taking Magnesium is that you Can actually tell how much your body needs on a daily basis so you can adjust the daily dosage. You will start by taking about 2 capsules of Magnesium from Pure total per day, this is 240 mg, one in the morning and one before bedtime. If you continue to experience constipation, this means your body has consumed all of the 240 mg you take the day before. You will increase the dosage by one capsule each day until you have regular bowel movement. If you happen to experience diarrhea, this mean you have taken more a Magnesium that your body needs. You just need to reduce your daily dosage. Over time you can tell the range of Magnesium your body needs so the adjustment you will need to make to take care of the constipation problem is very minimal. So by monitoring your daily bowel movement, you can tell how much Magnesium you need to take on a daily basis....and your constipation is solved.

 

Magnesium is also one of the main electrolytes of our body. It help us to relax and that is why I always take one of the daily dosages at bedtime. You can do more research about the importance of Magnesium on line.

 

David, please make sure Not just to buy any form of Magnesium to put in your body. The brand i recommend is on the higher end but it is the most natural form of Magnesium according to my pharmacist friend. Others on this forum might, and some will, disagree with my recommendation and those members will share with you their personal experiences with Magnesium and how to solve constipation issue. However, what I share with you is what I practice myself on a daily basis for almost one year now.

 

I hope this will help you a little.

 

Again, please share with me your muscle stiffness issue if your are up to that. Thank you David.

Dec 2013 to April 2014: 5.00 mg Valium

Sep 2014: 2.75 mg Valium

Nov 2014: 5.00 mg Valium 300 mg Gabapentin

June 26th, 2015: 0.50 mg Valium. 900 mg Gabapentin

July 14th, 2015: 0.00 mg Valium. 900 mg Gabapentin

July 25th, 2015: 800 mg Gabapentin

July 30th, 2015: 500 mg Gabapentin

August 15th, 2015. 400 mg Gabapentin

August 21st, 2015: 300 mg Gabapentin

August 27th, 2015: 200 mg Gabapentin

Magnesium, Vitamin-B Complex, Calcium, Vitamin D.

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  • Administrator

Welcome, David.

 

If you started taking 2.5mg escitalopram 11 days ago and you are starting to feel better now, that sounds like the dosage is good for you.

 

You will want to stay at this dosage for a while, perhaps months, before tapering again. Then, you probably will want to use a liquid, as explained in Tips for tapering off Lexapro (escitalopram)

 

Please let us know how you are doing.

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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The problem is that for last 11 days i don't feel improvement, i feel worse than for this period before - nearly 2 months from the beginning of July to August 27th. I feel worse mentally. I feel greater anxiety, lower motivation for action. i'm not so concentrated. It seems to me that I sleep worse. I have a feeling that surrounding reality overwhelms me. Can you write honestly: If I would write before decision about 2.5/day, what dosage would you suggest in my situation? Has my decision affected on time, ease of withdrawal and severity of symptoms? I know that i don't change past, but I have obsessive thoughts about it. I want know was that decision good in the perspective of efficiency and speed of my recovery. 

 

Altostrata,

As I wrote in the previous post,  So far I cut tablets in a pill crusher and I see that it isn't precise. The tablets are oval and dosage may be diffrent about a few or over a dozen percent after cutting. 

I don't feel better at all these 12 days until today, two days were exceptionally better. Generally i feel worse. In earlier nearly two months there are more days with better feeling and mental problems weren't so strong as now.

In the evening the symptoms are weak, but after a while after taking drug I feel something like substitute of symptoms. I take drug about 20-21 in the evening. 

whether it can suggest an overdose and that deterioration is associated with increase of dosage on average?

 

TerrifyingStiffMad,

 

Muscle stiffness is most noticeable in calves, but generally i feel less efficient muscle. Actually, except slight and uncommon intensial bloating and very smelly gases, I haven't problems with digestive system

Sorry for misleading. From my observation it is that intestinal bloating were getting weaker or at lower doses, and constipation occurred and were stronger when i've been taking more frequent dose. Very smelly and more frequent gases have started to occure when i start suddenly withdraw at the beginning of July. Intensial bloating appeared when 

 

melanie

However, I've already been taking 5mg for 6 days before my sudden withdraw and my serious withdrawal symptoms, and i don't know how can i treat my earlier doses according to tips in this topic I'm not sure that my choosed dose isn't too big according to that topic.

 

 

 

Generally I have doctor which for more than 8 months deals with purifying my organism from fungus (for example candida), infectants and other things. Among other things, these issues were the true source of my previous health problems. I use antifungal diet and I supplement Solgar B-vitamin complex, Sanprobi IBS probiotic and few grams of pure C Vitamin for a day.

 

Is it that I hadn't mental problems before in taking this drug has some effect on the effect of this drug on me and his withdrawal? I can not cope with the idea that a recommendation to me this drug it was a complete mistake. Doctors just couldn't find real source of problem and I wasn't informed about consequences of this drug. I didn't know what should I do with my health problems so I started to taking this drug. i'm a little bit frustrated.

3/21/2014 - Escitalopram Actavis 5mg (half of a pill) every day. 

6/1/2014 - Escitalopram 10mg  

2/1/2015 - Escitalopram  5mg  

3/1/2015  Escitalopram 5mg /every 2 days, every 3 days... up to every 6 days

6/30/2015 trying to withdraw totally - I kept waiting until the eleventh day but withdrawal was too strong so reinstated 

7/2/2015 Escitalopram 5mg / every 6 days 

8/27/2015 - Increasing to Escitalopram 2.5mg / per day - a lot of withdrawal symptoms , not sure what to do ....

2015:  12/30 - 2.2mg; 
2016:  2/2 - 1.9mg  4/9 - 1.7mg  5/10 - 1.55mg  6/11 - 1.4mg  7/3 - 1.25mg  7/24 - 1.1mg  8/16 - 1.0mg  9/7 - 0.9mg
2017:  1/24 - 0.8mg  2/14 - 0.7mg  3/4 - 0.64mg  3/19 - 0.58mg  3/30 - 0.53mg  4/16 - 0.48mg  4/29 - 0.43mg  5/26 - 0.37mg  7/1 - 0.32mg  8/6 - 0.26mg  27/08 - 0.21mg  
2018:  2/16 - 0.186mg;  (change to liquid) 3/19 - 0.145mg  4/3 - 0.13mg  4/22 - 0.12mg, lower doses afeter, 09/15 - try to witdraw completelly, but feel that i must reinstate - up to about 1.9mg to 2020/09 but the dose whole time was wrong because I store drug in refrigarator during most of the time - that was big mistake. Next mistake was to reinstate 1.9 mg instead of start from lower doses because doses from drug stored in refrigarator were disturbed. After 3 weeks i find out that i must go down and go down to 2021/06. 2021/06 Going down from 1mg to 0.4 in 2 weeks when I feel that that dose became to high. I started to feeling better then at about 0.4mg after, I started feeling that drug too high dose symptoms starting to let go in few days.
2021/06/05 - next mistake - I take 2 days levocetirizine for allergy, after 2 days crash, symptoms like on too high doses.
2021/06/07 - 2021/06/16 - 0.4mg - 0.1mg
2021/06/17 - 2021/06/20 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.1 - 0.6mg, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/06/21 - 2021/06/28 - 0.6mg - 0.12mg
2021/06/29 - 2021/06/30 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.13 - 0.3, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/07/01 -2021/07/14 - 0.3 - 0.12mg
2021/07/15 - 2021/07/19 - 0.12 - 0.01mg - still I feel too high dose effects, some withdrawal symptoms like dizziness, but they let go and more and more too high dose effects, therfore I go down with dose
 
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Hi David

 

I too have sleeping problems, a lot of sleeping problems due to withdrawal. I take Melatonin in liquid form every night to help me sleep. I take a very small dosage, equivalent to 5 mg or less. It takes about 20 minutes to work. You need to check with Altostrata and other experts on this site to see if Melatonin will interfere with my tapering or not before you try this supplement.

 

Last night I was going crazy from all types of sufferings. I was in so much pain, felt so angry, desperately, and had waves and waves

of panic attacks. I kept saying out loud that I wanted to die. At the very this moment, I started to pray with all my heart. My body calmed down to the point that I was able to sleep. Praying helps me dealing with these terrifying emotions that cause me to experience so much sufferings. Please try Praying to The God of Your religion. Everything helps David, we must find helps from all sources to help us survive. Please just at least try but please try with your truest of heart.

Dec 2013 to April 2014: 5.00 mg Valium

Sep 2014: 2.75 mg Valium

Nov 2014: 5.00 mg Valium 300 mg Gabapentin

June 26th, 2015: 0.50 mg Valium. 900 mg Gabapentin

July 14th, 2015: 0.00 mg Valium. 900 mg Gabapentin

July 25th, 2015: 800 mg Gabapentin

July 30th, 2015: 500 mg Gabapentin

August 15th, 2015. 400 mg Gabapentin

August 21st, 2015: 300 mg Gabapentin

August 27th, 2015: 200 mg Gabapentin

Magnesium, Vitamin-B Complex, Calcium, Vitamin D.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Honestly, I have problems understanding your drug changes in August. After taking 5 mg every 6 days, you stopped taking the drug altogether.

 

After 11 days of not taking anything you went back to how much? 5 mg for 6 days? Why do you say you increased to 2.5 mg on 27 August if you were taking 5 mg? Do you mean decrease or you were not taking 5 mg?

 

In any case, it is stability that is sticking with a dose that helps our CNS to heal and not so much a particular dose. Don't worry about what you read in the thread on the reinstatement: you were not off the drug for that long so that 2.5 mg would be too much for you. (We recommend reinstating a smaller dose to people who were off for more weeks or even months). Which part of that thread confuses you?

 

Have you been reading about The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization ?

Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2

2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013)

Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 
1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg.
2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg
went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days after
reinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours
28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr  2015 1 mg,  25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64  Xanax     9 month hold

24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26

Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic 

I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. 

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Sorry, but I thought that what is in my signature and my posts explain all. Maybe they are too chaotic. I meant that I try to withdraw totally the drug at the turn of June and July (I withstood 11 days). Before it I've been already taking 5mg (half of the pill) for 6 days. I might add that when I've gradually increased a period of the drug on the end of every period I have only dizziness. Then I also have stiff and less efficient muscles, but i didn't know does it results from side effects or bad withdrawal of the drug or from unhealed yet other issues.

 

After these 11 days I returned to 5mg for 6 days, and I've continued it to August 27th.  On August 27th i've started taking 2.5mg/day. As I wrote before this means an average of 3 times higher dose than these 5mg for 6 days. I've also written about 11 days which lasted from August 27th to current day (today it is already 12 days). Maybe it could be confusing.

3/21/2014 - Escitalopram Actavis 5mg (half of a pill) every day. 

6/1/2014 - Escitalopram 10mg  

2/1/2015 - Escitalopram  5mg  

3/1/2015  Escitalopram 5mg /every 2 days, every 3 days... up to every 6 days

6/30/2015 trying to withdraw totally - I kept waiting until the eleventh day but withdrawal was too strong so reinstated 

7/2/2015 Escitalopram 5mg / every 6 days 

8/27/2015 - Increasing to Escitalopram 2.5mg / per day - a lot of withdrawal symptoms , not sure what to do ....

2015:  12/30 - 2.2mg; 
2016:  2/2 - 1.9mg  4/9 - 1.7mg  5/10 - 1.55mg  6/11 - 1.4mg  7/3 - 1.25mg  7/24 - 1.1mg  8/16 - 1.0mg  9/7 - 0.9mg
2017:  1/24 - 0.8mg  2/14 - 0.7mg  3/4 - 0.64mg  3/19 - 0.58mg  3/30 - 0.53mg  4/16 - 0.48mg  4/29 - 0.43mg  5/26 - 0.37mg  7/1 - 0.32mg  8/6 - 0.26mg  27/08 - 0.21mg  
2018:  2/16 - 0.186mg;  (change to liquid) 3/19 - 0.145mg  4/3 - 0.13mg  4/22 - 0.12mg, lower doses afeter, 09/15 - try to witdraw completelly, but feel that i must reinstate - up to about 1.9mg to 2020/09 but the dose whole time was wrong because I store drug in refrigarator during most of the time - that was big mistake. Next mistake was to reinstate 1.9 mg instead of start from lower doses because doses from drug stored in refrigarator were disturbed. After 3 weeks i find out that i must go down and go down to 2021/06. 2021/06 Going down from 1mg to 0.4 in 2 weeks when I feel that that dose became to high. I started to feeling better then at about 0.4mg after, I started feeling that drug too high dose symptoms starting to let go in few days.
2021/06/05 - next mistake - I take 2 days levocetirizine for allergy, after 2 days crash, symptoms like on too high doses.
2021/06/07 - 2021/06/16 - 0.4mg - 0.1mg
2021/06/17 - 2021/06/20 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.1 - 0.6mg, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/06/21 - 2021/06/28 - 0.6mg - 0.12mg
2021/06/29 - 2021/06/30 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.13 - 0.3, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/07/01 -2021/07/14 - 0.3 - 0.12mg
2021/07/15 - 2021/07/19 - 0.12 - 0.01mg - still I feel too high dose effects, some withdrawal symptoms like dizziness, but they let go and more and more too high dose effects, therfore I go down with dose
 
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Can I still reduce the dose or should I stay at 2.5mg/dose? It was mistake with starting with this dose or not? I worry a little bit because I want to chose the best and the fastest way to final withdrawal and i don't know does it my chose of dose slow down my withdrawal. 

Today about 6 PM i've started to deeling better but i don't know how affects my attitude and how affects effect of using daily dosage instead of taking one dose for few days. I must see how i'll feel from tomorrow  morning.

3/21/2014 - Escitalopram Actavis 5mg (half of a pill) every day. 

6/1/2014 - Escitalopram 10mg  

2/1/2015 - Escitalopram  5mg  

3/1/2015  Escitalopram 5mg /every 2 days, every 3 days... up to every 6 days

6/30/2015 trying to withdraw totally - I kept waiting until the eleventh day but withdrawal was too strong so reinstated 

7/2/2015 Escitalopram 5mg / every 6 days 

8/27/2015 - Increasing to Escitalopram 2.5mg / per day - a lot of withdrawal symptoms , not sure what to do ....

2015:  12/30 - 2.2mg; 
2016:  2/2 - 1.9mg  4/9 - 1.7mg  5/10 - 1.55mg  6/11 - 1.4mg  7/3 - 1.25mg  7/24 - 1.1mg  8/16 - 1.0mg  9/7 - 0.9mg
2017:  1/24 - 0.8mg  2/14 - 0.7mg  3/4 - 0.64mg  3/19 - 0.58mg  3/30 - 0.53mg  4/16 - 0.48mg  4/29 - 0.43mg  5/26 - 0.37mg  7/1 - 0.32mg  8/6 - 0.26mg  27/08 - 0.21mg  
2018:  2/16 - 0.186mg;  (change to liquid) 3/19 - 0.145mg  4/3 - 0.13mg  4/22 - 0.12mg, lower doses afeter, 09/15 - try to witdraw completelly, but feel that i must reinstate - up to about 1.9mg to 2020/09 but the dose whole time was wrong because I store drug in refrigarator during most of the time - that was big mistake. Next mistake was to reinstate 1.9 mg instead of start from lower doses because doses from drug stored in refrigarator were disturbed. After 3 weeks i find out that i must go down and go down to 2021/06. 2021/06 Going down from 1mg to 0.4 in 2 weeks when I feel that that dose became to high. I started to feeling better then at about 0.4mg after, I started feeling that drug too high dose symptoms starting to let go in few days.
2021/06/05 - next mistake - I take 2 days levocetirizine for allergy, after 2 days crash, symptoms like on too high doses.
2021/06/07 - 2021/06/16 - 0.4mg - 0.1mg
2021/06/17 - 2021/06/20 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.1 - 0.6mg, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/06/21 - 2021/06/28 - 0.6mg - 0.12mg
2021/06/29 - 2021/06/30 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.13 - 0.3, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/07/01 -2021/07/14 - 0.3 - 0.12mg
2021/07/15 - 2021/07/19 - 0.12 - 0.01mg - still I feel too high dose effects, some withdrawal symptoms like dizziness, but they let go and more and more too high dose effects, therfore I go down with dose
 
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Hi David

Be ready to hear from all of the experts on this website and all other websites that the safest way to taper is a very slow tapering schedule. Altostrata states somewhere stating that "once the withdrawal symptoms appear, all bets are off". This is a very delicate and scary process that cannot be messed up. I am paying the most expensive price right now for messing up my tapering. Do not rush and look for the Fastest Way until you hear from the experts.

Dec 2013 to April 2014: 5.00 mg Valium

Sep 2014: 2.75 mg Valium

Nov 2014: 5.00 mg Valium 300 mg Gabapentin

June 26th, 2015: 0.50 mg Valium. 900 mg Gabapentin

July 14th, 2015: 0.00 mg Valium. 900 mg Gabapentin

July 25th, 2015: 800 mg Gabapentin

July 30th, 2015: 500 mg Gabapentin

August 15th, 2015. 400 mg Gabapentin

August 21st, 2015: 300 mg Gabapentin

August 27th, 2015: 200 mg Gabapentin

Magnesium, Vitamin-B Complex, Calcium, Vitamin D.

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I just want to know if I choosed good dosage in perspective of further witdrawal of drug. For now I keep this dose. However, I'm not sure that my deterioration in last 11-12 days may still results from withdrawal symptoms or from choosing too big dose in compared  to the previous average daily dose.

I know that it's necessary to taper slowly, but I wonder if I go to some smaller dose than 2.5mg/day (transition from 5mg/6days) it would be better for me. Does it tapering from smaller dose would be less severe, faster and simply better than that what i choosed? That is what i meant.

However, I feel a little bit better  today.

3/21/2014 - Escitalopram Actavis 5mg (half of a pill) every day. 

6/1/2014 - Escitalopram 10mg  

2/1/2015 - Escitalopram  5mg  

3/1/2015  Escitalopram 5mg /every 2 days, every 3 days... up to every 6 days

6/30/2015 trying to withdraw totally - I kept waiting until the eleventh day but withdrawal was too strong so reinstated 

7/2/2015 Escitalopram 5mg / every 6 days 

8/27/2015 - Increasing to Escitalopram 2.5mg / per day - a lot of withdrawal symptoms , not sure what to do ....

2015:  12/30 - 2.2mg; 
2016:  2/2 - 1.9mg  4/9 - 1.7mg  5/10 - 1.55mg  6/11 - 1.4mg  7/3 - 1.25mg  7/24 - 1.1mg  8/16 - 1.0mg  9/7 - 0.9mg
2017:  1/24 - 0.8mg  2/14 - 0.7mg  3/4 - 0.64mg  3/19 - 0.58mg  3/30 - 0.53mg  4/16 - 0.48mg  4/29 - 0.43mg  5/26 - 0.37mg  7/1 - 0.32mg  8/6 - 0.26mg  27/08 - 0.21mg  
2018:  2/16 - 0.186mg;  (change to liquid) 3/19 - 0.145mg  4/3 - 0.13mg  4/22 - 0.12mg, lower doses afeter, 09/15 - try to witdraw completelly, but feel that i must reinstate - up to about 1.9mg to 2020/09 but the dose whole time was wrong because I store drug in refrigarator during most of the time - that was big mistake. Next mistake was to reinstate 1.9 mg instead of start from lower doses because doses from drug stored in refrigarator were disturbed. After 3 weeks i find out that i must go down and go down to 2021/06. 2021/06 Going down from 1mg to 0.4 in 2 weeks when I feel that that dose became to high. I started to feeling better then at about 0.4mg after, I started feeling that drug too high dose symptoms starting to let go in few days.
2021/06/05 - next mistake - I take 2 days levocetirizine for allergy, after 2 days crash, symptoms like on too high doses.
2021/06/07 - 2021/06/16 - 0.4mg - 0.1mg
2021/06/17 - 2021/06/20 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.1 - 0.6mg, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/06/21 - 2021/06/28 - 0.6mg - 0.12mg
2021/06/29 - 2021/06/30 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.13 - 0.3, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/07/01 -2021/07/14 - 0.3 - 0.12mg
2021/07/15 - 2021/07/19 - 0.12 - 0.01mg - still I feel too high dose effects, some withdrawal symptoms like dizziness, but they let go and more and more too high dose effects, therfore I go down with dose
 
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Hi David

I knew exactly what you meant. I understood you were waiting for advices from either Altostrata or other members who are knowledgeable with the tapering process. I wrote Altostrata an email yesterday asking her to help you. I hope you will hear from other knowledgable members soon.

Take care for now David.

Dec 2013 to April 2014: 5.00 mg Valium

Sep 2014: 2.75 mg Valium

Nov 2014: 5.00 mg Valium 300 mg Gabapentin

June 26th, 2015: 0.50 mg Valium. 900 mg Gabapentin

July 14th, 2015: 0.00 mg Valium. 900 mg Gabapentin

July 25th, 2015: 800 mg Gabapentin

July 30th, 2015: 500 mg Gabapentin

August 15th, 2015. 400 mg Gabapentin

August 21st, 2015: 300 mg Gabapentin

August 27th, 2015: 200 mg Gabapentin

Magnesium, Vitamin-B Complex, Calcium, Vitamin D.

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David, have you heard of the term "Micro Tapering"? A lot of people use this technique to chose the next dose to taper. I hope you will hear more from the admin team or other members regarding this technique and whether it is appropriate for you. If it does, it will help you how to choose the next dose to take.

Dec 2013 to April 2014: 5.00 mg Valium

Sep 2014: 2.75 mg Valium

Nov 2014: 5.00 mg Valium 300 mg Gabapentin

June 26th, 2015: 0.50 mg Valium. 900 mg Gabapentin

July 14th, 2015: 0.00 mg Valium. 900 mg Gabapentin

July 25th, 2015: 800 mg Gabapentin

July 30th, 2015: 500 mg Gabapentin

August 15th, 2015. 400 mg Gabapentin

August 21st, 2015: 300 mg Gabapentin

August 27th, 2015: 200 mg Gabapentin

Magnesium, Vitamin-B Complex, Calcium, Vitamin D.

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David, Micro-taper involves a lot of works. It is also difficult to titrate your medication if there is no liquid form. It seems like the more I tried to be helpful, the more I became unhelpful. I think it is better for me to stay quiet. I really hope you will hear from the admin team and other knowledgeable members soon. Take care David.

Dec 2013 to April 2014: 5.00 mg Valium

Sep 2014: 2.75 mg Valium

Nov 2014: 5.00 mg Valium 300 mg Gabapentin

June 26th, 2015: 0.50 mg Valium. 900 mg Gabapentin

July 14th, 2015: 0.00 mg Valium. 900 mg Gabapentin

July 25th, 2015: 800 mg Gabapentin

July 30th, 2015: 500 mg Gabapentin

August 15th, 2015. 400 mg Gabapentin

August 21st, 2015: 300 mg Gabapentin

August 27th, 2015: 200 mg Gabapentin

Magnesium, Vitamin-B Complex, Calcium, Vitamin D.

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Thanks for interest, generally my drug is slightly soluble in water. After shaking liquid in a little jar a little powder is deposited on the cap and internal surface of the jar and i don't know if it's a problem. I suspect that micro-taper isn't possible in the case of my drug. 

I can add that the last two days I feel that while a growing part of the day I am getting better. I have to observe in the next few days if it looks like the trend. 

3/21/2014 - Escitalopram Actavis 5mg (half of a pill) every day. 

6/1/2014 - Escitalopram 10mg  

2/1/2015 - Escitalopram  5mg  

3/1/2015  Escitalopram 5mg /every 2 days, every 3 days... up to every 6 days

6/30/2015 trying to withdraw totally - I kept waiting until the eleventh day but withdrawal was too strong so reinstated 

7/2/2015 Escitalopram 5mg / every 6 days 

8/27/2015 - Increasing to Escitalopram 2.5mg / per day - a lot of withdrawal symptoms , not sure what to do ....

2015:  12/30 - 2.2mg; 
2016:  2/2 - 1.9mg  4/9 - 1.7mg  5/10 - 1.55mg  6/11 - 1.4mg  7/3 - 1.25mg  7/24 - 1.1mg  8/16 - 1.0mg  9/7 - 0.9mg
2017:  1/24 - 0.8mg  2/14 - 0.7mg  3/4 - 0.64mg  3/19 - 0.58mg  3/30 - 0.53mg  4/16 - 0.48mg  4/29 - 0.43mg  5/26 - 0.37mg  7/1 - 0.32mg  8/6 - 0.26mg  27/08 - 0.21mg  
2018:  2/16 - 0.186mg;  (change to liquid) 3/19 - 0.145mg  4/3 - 0.13mg  4/22 - 0.12mg, lower doses afeter, 09/15 - try to witdraw completelly, but feel that i must reinstate - up to about 1.9mg to 2020/09 but the dose whole time was wrong because I store drug in refrigarator during most of the time - that was big mistake. Next mistake was to reinstate 1.9 mg instead of start from lower doses because doses from drug stored in refrigarator were disturbed. After 3 weeks i find out that i must go down and go down to 2021/06. 2021/06 Going down from 1mg to 0.4 in 2 weeks when I feel that that dose became to high. I started to feeling better then at about 0.4mg after, I started feeling that drug too high dose symptoms starting to let go in few days.
2021/06/05 - next mistake - I take 2 days levocetirizine for allergy, after 2 days crash, symptoms like on too high doses.
2021/06/07 - 2021/06/16 - 0.4mg - 0.1mg
2021/06/17 - 2021/06/20 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.1 - 0.6mg, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/06/21 - 2021/06/28 - 0.6mg - 0.12mg
2021/06/29 - 2021/06/30 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.13 - 0.3, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/07/01 -2021/07/14 - 0.3 - 0.12mg
2021/07/15 - 2021/07/19 - 0.12 - 0.01mg - still I feel too high dose effects, some withdrawal symptoms like dizziness, but they let go and more and more too high dose effects, therfore I go down with dose
 
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  • Administrator

David, what is your daily symptom pattern? When do you take 2.5mg?

 

The changes you've made in the last several months could be affecting you now. It may not be the 2.5mg that's the problem.

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 take this 2.5mg between 9 and 11 PM (for 2-3 hours before bedtime). As i've written before, last two days were clearly better. Problems with cognition (confusion, inability to concentrate, disorientation, depersonalization), unusual and powerful emotions (hard to bear anxiety), some jittery weakens. Maybe today it's a little bit worse. However, i don't feel maybe this kind of muscles stiffness (for example during climbing stairs) as before, but i feel more weary and i have feeling severe muscles and they are less efficiency. These problems seem like those that occurred during regular taking of the drug. In addition, last three days I sleep nearly 10 hours with one break after 7-8 hours, it's obviously to much and more than i usually sleep. It's still a problem with very smelly gases and sometimes slight intestinal bloating.

However it seems that problems with withdrawal are getting weaker on average, but i think that after at least a couple of days i'll be able to said more.

Will next withdrawal and recovery last a lot of time or maybe not so long (less than a year) according to kind of my drug, taking drug and withdrawal history ? How do you suspect? 

3/21/2014 - Escitalopram Actavis 5mg (half of a pill) every day. 

6/1/2014 - Escitalopram 10mg  

2/1/2015 - Escitalopram  5mg  

3/1/2015  Escitalopram 5mg /every 2 days, every 3 days... up to every 6 days

6/30/2015 trying to withdraw totally - I kept waiting until the eleventh day but withdrawal was too strong so reinstated 

7/2/2015 Escitalopram 5mg / every 6 days 

8/27/2015 - Increasing to Escitalopram 2.5mg / per day - a lot of withdrawal symptoms , not sure what to do ....

2015:  12/30 - 2.2mg; 
2016:  2/2 - 1.9mg  4/9 - 1.7mg  5/10 - 1.55mg  6/11 - 1.4mg  7/3 - 1.25mg  7/24 - 1.1mg  8/16 - 1.0mg  9/7 - 0.9mg
2017:  1/24 - 0.8mg  2/14 - 0.7mg  3/4 - 0.64mg  3/19 - 0.58mg  3/30 - 0.53mg  4/16 - 0.48mg  4/29 - 0.43mg  5/26 - 0.37mg  7/1 - 0.32mg  8/6 - 0.26mg  27/08 - 0.21mg  
2018:  2/16 - 0.186mg;  (change to liquid) 3/19 - 0.145mg  4/3 - 0.13mg  4/22 - 0.12mg, lower doses afeter, 09/15 - try to witdraw completelly, but feel that i must reinstate - up to about 1.9mg to 2020/09 but the dose whole time was wrong because I store drug in refrigarator during most of the time - that was big mistake. Next mistake was to reinstate 1.9 mg instead of start from lower doses because doses from drug stored in refrigarator were disturbed. After 3 weeks i find out that i must go down and go down to 2021/06. 2021/06 Going down from 1mg to 0.4 in 2 weeks when I feel that that dose became to high. I started to feeling better then at about 0.4mg after, I started feeling that drug too high dose symptoms starting to let go in few days.
2021/06/05 - next mistake - I take 2 days levocetirizine for allergy, after 2 days crash, symptoms like on too high doses.
2021/06/07 - 2021/06/16 - 0.4mg - 0.1mg
2021/06/17 - 2021/06/20 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.1 - 0.6mg, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/06/21 - 2021/06/28 - 0.6mg - 0.12mg
2021/06/29 - 2021/06/30 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.13 - 0.3, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/07/01 -2021/07/14 - 0.3 - 0.12mg
2021/07/15 - 2021/07/19 - 0.12 - 0.01mg - still I feel too high dose effects, some withdrawal symptoms like dizziness, but they let go and more and more too high dose effects, therfore I go down with dose
 
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  • Moderator Emeritus

It seems you are recovering very well. As we said, stabilisation occurs in windows and waves pattern just as you describe: periods when you feel better (windows) are getting longer and periods when symptoms return still happen but are lesser in intensity. That's normal. It's actually very good that you are sleeping longer than typically. Your brain is using a lot of energy to recover so this is a good sign.

 

As I always sa, treat yourself as if you broke a leg. Would you then complain of not being able to run and experience pain when walking? You woudl probably accept that this is how things are for the time being, rest, spare yourself of anythingstrenuous and wait for the leg to hell. This is very similar except that "broken" brain manifests in different difficulties than a broken leg.

 

I would wait for at least a month. the same as one would keep a leg in a plaster cast.

 

You were on the drug for a relatively short period of time, much shorter than most of us. You don't have any prior history of taking and stopping this type of drugs so withdrawing and recovery shoudl be easier for you. But there are no rule since it is a very individual process. Nobody can predict how long it will take. It will depend on your brain. Try not to think about the time but healing.

Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2

2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013)

Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 
1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg.
2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg
went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days after
reinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours
28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr  2015 1 mg,  25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64  Xanax     9 month hold

24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26

Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic 

I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. 

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Thanks. My problems with muscles aren't so strong that i have serious problems with walking, just i feel some resistance from muscles when walking or trying physical exercices and the muscles get tired faster. Maybe I'll try tomorrow to play football if i feel enough good to do it, but i feel that muscles aren't so lively. I hope that i've describe it so that i'll be well understood. i don't know how else to describe it.

 

Writing i think that after at least a couple of days i'll be able to said more I've meant that maybe i'll see some good trend in next days. However, the fact is that it may last longer before I'll see a clear trend.

3/21/2014 - Escitalopram Actavis 5mg (half of a pill) every day. 

6/1/2014 - Escitalopram 10mg  

2/1/2015 - Escitalopram  5mg  

3/1/2015  Escitalopram 5mg /every 2 days, every 3 days... up to every 6 days

6/30/2015 trying to withdraw totally - I kept waiting until the eleventh day but withdrawal was too strong so reinstated 

7/2/2015 Escitalopram 5mg / every 6 days 

8/27/2015 - Increasing to Escitalopram 2.5mg / per day - a lot of withdrawal symptoms , not sure what to do ....

2015:  12/30 - 2.2mg; 
2016:  2/2 - 1.9mg  4/9 - 1.7mg  5/10 - 1.55mg  6/11 - 1.4mg  7/3 - 1.25mg  7/24 - 1.1mg  8/16 - 1.0mg  9/7 - 0.9mg
2017:  1/24 - 0.8mg  2/14 - 0.7mg  3/4 - 0.64mg  3/19 - 0.58mg  3/30 - 0.53mg  4/16 - 0.48mg  4/29 - 0.43mg  5/26 - 0.37mg  7/1 - 0.32mg  8/6 - 0.26mg  27/08 - 0.21mg  
2018:  2/16 - 0.186mg;  (change to liquid) 3/19 - 0.145mg  4/3 - 0.13mg  4/22 - 0.12mg, lower doses afeter, 09/15 - try to witdraw completelly, but feel that i must reinstate - up to about 1.9mg to 2020/09 but the dose whole time was wrong because I store drug in refrigarator during most of the time - that was big mistake. Next mistake was to reinstate 1.9 mg instead of start from lower doses because doses from drug stored in refrigarator were disturbed. After 3 weeks i find out that i must go down and go down to 2021/06. 2021/06 Going down from 1mg to 0.4 in 2 weeks when I feel that that dose became to high. I started to feeling better then at about 0.4mg after, I started feeling that drug too high dose symptoms starting to let go in few days.
2021/06/05 - next mistake - I take 2 days levocetirizine for allergy, after 2 days crash, symptoms like on too high doses.
2021/06/07 - 2021/06/16 - 0.4mg - 0.1mg
2021/06/17 - 2021/06/20 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.1 - 0.6mg, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/06/21 - 2021/06/28 - 0.6mg - 0.12mg
2021/06/29 - 2021/06/30 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.13 - 0.3, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/07/01 -2021/07/14 - 0.3 - 0.12mg
2021/07/15 - 2021/07/19 - 0.12 - 0.01mg - still I feel too high dose effects, some withdrawal symptoms like dizziness, but they let go and more and more too high dose effects, therfore I go down with dose
 
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I'm worried about a liquid with the drug issue. The liquid has a powder suspension, and hard to say if in liquid it is uniform distribution of drug (obviously after shaking). Some parts of powder are deposited on internal surfaces of a jar. Can I dissolve, for example 2.5mg in 5mL of water instead of 2.5mL? Would it be more accurate? Maybe I made a mistake that I've shaked a liquid too strongly and then some parts of powder deposited on surfaces of a jar. I can't also dissolve greater amount of the drug because i don't know how stable is this drug in a liquid, it making  even harder measuring equal doses.

3/21/2014 - Escitalopram Actavis 5mg (half of a pill) every day. 

6/1/2014 - Escitalopram 10mg  

2/1/2015 - Escitalopram  5mg  

3/1/2015  Escitalopram 5mg /every 2 days, every 3 days... up to every 6 days

6/30/2015 trying to withdraw totally - I kept waiting until the eleventh day but withdrawal was too strong so reinstated 

7/2/2015 Escitalopram 5mg / every 6 days 

8/27/2015 - Increasing to Escitalopram 2.5mg / per day - a lot of withdrawal symptoms , not sure what to do ....

2015:  12/30 - 2.2mg; 
2016:  2/2 - 1.9mg  4/9 - 1.7mg  5/10 - 1.55mg  6/11 - 1.4mg  7/3 - 1.25mg  7/24 - 1.1mg  8/16 - 1.0mg  9/7 - 0.9mg
2017:  1/24 - 0.8mg  2/14 - 0.7mg  3/4 - 0.64mg  3/19 - 0.58mg  3/30 - 0.53mg  4/16 - 0.48mg  4/29 - 0.43mg  5/26 - 0.37mg  7/1 - 0.32mg  8/6 - 0.26mg  27/08 - 0.21mg  
2018:  2/16 - 0.186mg;  (change to liquid) 3/19 - 0.145mg  4/3 - 0.13mg  4/22 - 0.12mg, lower doses afeter, 09/15 - try to witdraw completelly, but feel that i must reinstate - up to about 1.9mg to 2020/09 but the dose whole time was wrong because I store drug in refrigarator during most of the time - that was big mistake. Next mistake was to reinstate 1.9 mg instead of start from lower doses because doses from drug stored in refrigarator were disturbed. After 3 weeks i find out that i must go down and go down to 2021/06. 2021/06 Going down from 1mg to 0.4 in 2 weeks when I feel that that dose became to high. I started to feeling better then at about 0.4mg after, I started feeling that drug too high dose symptoms starting to let go in few days.
2021/06/05 - next mistake - I take 2 days levocetirizine for allergy, after 2 days crash, symptoms like on too high doses.
2021/06/07 - 2021/06/16 - 0.4mg - 0.1mg
2021/06/17 - 2021/06/20 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.1 - 0.6mg, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/06/21 - 2021/06/28 - 0.6mg - 0.12mg
2021/06/29 - 2021/06/30 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.13 - 0.3, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/07/01 -2021/07/14 - 0.3 - 0.12mg
2021/07/15 - 2021/07/19 - 0.12 - 0.01mg - still I feel too high dose effects, some withdrawal symptoms like dizziness, but they let go and more and more too high dose effects, therfore I go down with dose
 
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  • Administrator

Yes, you can use 5mL, just make sure you adjust your calculations for your dosage.

 

Don't worry about sleeping too much.

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 have one, less important, maybe stupid question, but i often analyze and think about mistakes form the past when i feel worse. Should i avoid coffee? Generally i drink coffee once at two weeks, but i am thinking that i feel worse today because yesterday i drunk coffee. Could be one coffee, especially during that long period of time injure?

3/21/2014 - Escitalopram Actavis 5mg (half of a pill) every day. 

6/1/2014 - Escitalopram 10mg  

2/1/2015 - Escitalopram  5mg  

3/1/2015  Escitalopram 5mg /every 2 days, every 3 days... up to every 6 days

6/30/2015 trying to withdraw totally - I kept waiting until the eleventh day but withdrawal was too strong so reinstated 

7/2/2015 Escitalopram 5mg / every 6 days 

8/27/2015 - Increasing to Escitalopram 2.5mg / per day - a lot of withdrawal symptoms , not sure what to do ....

2015:  12/30 - 2.2mg; 
2016:  2/2 - 1.9mg  4/9 - 1.7mg  5/10 - 1.55mg  6/11 - 1.4mg  7/3 - 1.25mg  7/24 - 1.1mg  8/16 - 1.0mg  9/7 - 0.9mg
2017:  1/24 - 0.8mg  2/14 - 0.7mg  3/4 - 0.64mg  3/19 - 0.58mg  3/30 - 0.53mg  4/16 - 0.48mg  4/29 - 0.43mg  5/26 - 0.37mg  7/1 - 0.32mg  8/6 - 0.26mg  27/08 - 0.21mg  
2018:  2/16 - 0.186mg;  (change to liquid) 3/19 - 0.145mg  4/3 - 0.13mg  4/22 - 0.12mg, lower doses afeter, 09/15 - try to witdraw completelly, but feel that i must reinstate - up to about 1.9mg to 2020/09 but the dose whole time was wrong because I store drug in refrigarator during most of the time - that was big mistake. Next mistake was to reinstate 1.9 mg instead of start from lower doses because doses from drug stored in refrigarator were disturbed. After 3 weeks i find out that i must go down and go down to 2021/06. 2021/06 Going down from 1mg to 0.4 in 2 weeks when I feel that that dose became to high. I started to feeling better then at about 0.4mg after, I started feeling that drug too high dose symptoms starting to let go in few days.
2021/06/05 - next mistake - I take 2 days levocetirizine for allergy, after 2 days crash, symptoms like on too high doses.
2021/06/07 - 2021/06/16 - 0.4mg - 0.1mg
2021/06/17 - 2021/06/20 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.1 - 0.6mg, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/06/21 - 2021/06/28 - 0.6mg - 0.12mg
2021/06/29 - 2021/06/30 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.13 - 0.3, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/07/01 -2021/07/14 - 0.3 - 0.12mg
2021/07/15 - 2021/07/19 - 0.12 - 0.01mg - still I feel too high dose effects, some withdrawal symptoms like dizziness, but they let go and more and more too high dose effects, therfore I go down with dose
 
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i have stopped drinking caffeinated coffee during my WD process. I'm very sensitive to caffeine now. May be one day I can take it back up along with Alcohol.

 

Namaste

1997 - 2001 Seroxat 10mg

2001 - 2013 Escitalopram 10mg

Gradual taper from 10mg to 5mg over 2.5 years (between 2011 - 2013)

Last taper from 5mg to 0 under advice from doctor done in 1 month (too damn fast!) - included missing out days.

Have been drug free since Oct 2013.  - Yep 5 years drugs free

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I have doubts about that if I good measure doses. I don't know for how many days can I make this liquid (stability of Escitalopram is unknown) and that causes that I have less amount of liquid and doses may be not so exactly equalParticles of the drug float around in the liquid and quickly sink to the bottom. It causes that it hardly to say if drug is uniform in a liquid and then in a taken dose. When i shake liquid, powder is deposited on the internal surfaces od the jar. I don't know what i should do with regard to these issues.

3/21/2014 - Escitalopram Actavis 5mg (half of a pill) every day. 

6/1/2014 - Escitalopram 10mg  

2/1/2015 - Escitalopram  5mg  

3/1/2015  Escitalopram 5mg /every 2 days, every 3 days... up to every 6 days

6/30/2015 trying to withdraw totally - I kept waiting until the eleventh day but withdrawal was too strong so reinstated 

7/2/2015 Escitalopram 5mg / every 6 days 

8/27/2015 - Increasing to Escitalopram 2.5mg / per day - a lot of withdrawal symptoms , not sure what to do ....

2015:  12/30 - 2.2mg; 
2016:  2/2 - 1.9mg  4/9 - 1.7mg  5/10 - 1.55mg  6/11 - 1.4mg  7/3 - 1.25mg  7/24 - 1.1mg  8/16 - 1.0mg  9/7 - 0.9mg
2017:  1/24 - 0.8mg  2/14 - 0.7mg  3/4 - 0.64mg  3/19 - 0.58mg  3/30 - 0.53mg  4/16 - 0.48mg  4/29 - 0.43mg  5/26 - 0.37mg  7/1 - 0.32mg  8/6 - 0.26mg  27/08 - 0.21mg  
2018:  2/16 - 0.186mg;  (change to liquid) 3/19 - 0.145mg  4/3 - 0.13mg  4/22 - 0.12mg, lower doses afeter, 09/15 - try to witdraw completelly, but feel that i must reinstate - up to about 1.9mg to 2020/09 but the dose whole time was wrong because I store drug in refrigarator during most of the time - that was big mistake. Next mistake was to reinstate 1.9 mg instead of start from lower doses because doses from drug stored in refrigarator were disturbed. After 3 weeks i find out that i must go down and go down to 2021/06. 2021/06 Going down from 1mg to 0.4 in 2 weeks when I feel that that dose became to high. I started to feeling better then at about 0.4mg after, I started feeling that drug too high dose symptoms starting to let go in few days.
2021/06/05 - next mistake - I take 2 days levocetirizine for allergy, after 2 days crash, symptoms like on too high doses.
2021/06/07 - 2021/06/16 - 0.4mg - 0.1mg
2021/06/17 - 2021/06/20 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.1 - 0.6mg, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/06/21 - 2021/06/28 - 0.6mg - 0.12mg
2021/06/29 - 2021/06/30 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.13 - 0.3, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/07/01 -2021/07/14 - 0.3 - 0.12mg
2021/07/15 - 2021/07/19 - 0.12 - 0.01mg - still I feel too high dose effects, some withdrawal symptoms like dizziness, but they let go and more and more too high dose effects, therfore I go down with dose
 
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I would ask for an answer.  Am I doing something wrong that I have such problems and doubts? I wouldn't want to make mistakes and i would want to react as soon as possible. However, maybe 5mL it's too much for 2.5mg dose? Generally I have doubts as to the accuracy in case of my drug. Will it be big mistake if for two days the dose will be 5mg in total, but doses won't be exactly equal for a day?

 

Can this drug cause depletes magnesium? I wonder if my problems with muscles may be associated with too low level of magnesium. Today I've thought about it because when I woke up and I hit the thigh of the calf, the calf has cramp or got much more stiff.  I don't know how to describe it, probably I never had muscle crumps. Generally, it seemed to me that I have enough amount of magnesium in my antifungal diet and it shouldn't be problems with too low level of it. 

3/21/2014 - Escitalopram Actavis 5mg (half of a pill) every day. 

6/1/2014 - Escitalopram 10mg  

2/1/2015 - Escitalopram  5mg  

3/1/2015  Escitalopram 5mg /every 2 days, every 3 days... up to every 6 days

6/30/2015 trying to withdraw totally - I kept waiting until the eleventh day but withdrawal was too strong so reinstated 

7/2/2015 Escitalopram 5mg / every 6 days 

8/27/2015 - Increasing to Escitalopram 2.5mg / per day - a lot of withdrawal symptoms , not sure what to do ....

2015:  12/30 - 2.2mg; 
2016:  2/2 - 1.9mg  4/9 - 1.7mg  5/10 - 1.55mg  6/11 - 1.4mg  7/3 - 1.25mg  7/24 - 1.1mg  8/16 - 1.0mg  9/7 - 0.9mg
2017:  1/24 - 0.8mg  2/14 - 0.7mg  3/4 - 0.64mg  3/19 - 0.58mg  3/30 - 0.53mg  4/16 - 0.48mg  4/29 - 0.43mg  5/26 - 0.37mg  7/1 - 0.32mg  8/6 - 0.26mg  27/08 - 0.21mg  
2018:  2/16 - 0.186mg;  (change to liquid) 3/19 - 0.145mg  4/3 - 0.13mg  4/22 - 0.12mg, lower doses afeter, 09/15 - try to witdraw completelly, but feel that i must reinstate - up to about 1.9mg to 2020/09 but the dose whole time was wrong because I store drug in refrigarator during most of the time - that was big mistake. Next mistake was to reinstate 1.9 mg instead of start from lower doses because doses from drug stored in refrigarator were disturbed. After 3 weeks i find out that i must go down and go down to 2021/06. 2021/06 Going down from 1mg to 0.4 in 2 weeks when I feel that that dose became to high. I started to feeling better then at about 0.4mg after, I started feeling that drug too high dose symptoms starting to let go in few days.
2021/06/05 - next mistake - I take 2 days levocetirizine for allergy, after 2 days crash, symptoms like on too high doses.
2021/06/07 - 2021/06/16 - 0.4mg - 0.1mg
2021/06/17 - 2021/06/20 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.1 - 0.6mg, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/06/21 - 2021/06/28 - 0.6mg - 0.12mg
2021/06/29 - 2021/06/30 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.13 - 0.3, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/07/01 -2021/07/14 - 0.3 - 0.12mg
2021/07/15 - 2021/07/19 - 0.12 - 0.01mg - still I feel too high dose effects, some withdrawal symptoms like dizziness, but they let go and more and more too high dose effects, therfore I go down with dose
 
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Hi David,

 

My muscle stiffness started after withdrawing. While taking a SSRI I didn't have any problems with it. I also feel it especially in my calves and cuurently forearms. I started taking magnesium but it hasn't helped so far. I think I also have enough of it in my diet so I think it is more related to the chaos I inflicted on my nervous system while withdrawing too fast too often.

 

I hope you feel better soon!

 

PB

- Paroxetine since more than 10years

- 20mg for the first five year, then 10mg since

- Several attempts to withdraw cold turkey following doctor's advise

- Last attempt in spring 2015 to reduce 10 -> 5 -> 2.5 -> 0mg within 2 months -> Extreme wd problems

- Reinstated with 10mg then down to 5mg again

 

04/01 5mg (tingling and muscle problems)

07/20 5mg (less problems)

08/20 4.95mg (muscle tightness, no more tingling sensations)

12/28 3.27mg (muscle tightness, numb feeling in feet and hands, light tingling sensations

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Could someone answer my doubts, questions about the drug and its dosage measuring?

3/21/2014 - Escitalopram Actavis 5mg (half of a pill) every day. 

6/1/2014 - Escitalopram 10mg  

2/1/2015 - Escitalopram  5mg  

3/1/2015  Escitalopram 5mg /every 2 days, every 3 days... up to every 6 days

6/30/2015 trying to withdraw totally - I kept waiting until the eleventh day but withdrawal was too strong so reinstated 

7/2/2015 Escitalopram 5mg / every 6 days 

8/27/2015 - Increasing to Escitalopram 2.5mg / per day - a lot of withdrawal symptoms , not sure what to do ....

2015:  12/30 - 2.2mg; 
2016:  2/2 - 1.9mg  4/9 - 1.7mg  5/10 - 1.55mg  6/11 - 1.4mg  7/3 - 1.25mg  7/24 - 1.1mg  8/16 - 1.0mg  9/7 - 0.9mg
2017:  1/24 - 0.8mg  2/14 - 0.7mg  3/4 - 0.64mg  3/19 - 0.58mg  3/30 - 0.53mg  4/16 - 0.48mg  4/29 - 0.43mg  5/26 - 0.37mg  7/1 - 0.32mg  8/6 - 0.26mg  27/08 - 0.21mg  
2018:  2/16 - 0.186mg;  (change to liquid) 3/19 - 0.145mg  4/3 - 0.13mg  4/22 - 0.12mg, lower doses afeter, 09/15 - try to witdraw completelly, but feel that i must reinstate - up to about 1.9mg to 2020/09 but the dose whole time was wrong because I store drug in refrigarator during most of the time - that was big mistake. Next mistake was to reinstate 1.9 mg instead of start from lower doses because doses from drug stored in refrigarator were disturbed. After 3 weeks i find out that i must go down and go down to 2021/06. 2021/06 Going down from 1mg to 0.4 in 2 weeks when I feel that that dose became to high. I started to feeling better then at about 0.4mg after, I started feeling that drug too high dose symptoms starting to let go in few days.
2021/06/05 - next mistake - I take 2 days levocetirizine for allergy, after 2 days crash, symptoms like on too high doses.
2021/06/07 - 2021/06/16 - 0.4mg - 0.1mg
2021/06/17 - 2021/06/20 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.1 - 0.6mg, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/06/21 - 2021/06/28 - 0.6mg - 0.12mg
2021/06/29 - 2021/06/30 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.13 - 0.3, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/07/01 -2021/07/14 - 0.3 - 0.12mg
2021/07/15 - 2021/07/19 - 0.12 - 0.01mg - still I feel too high dose effects, some withdrawal symptoms like dizziness, but they let go and more and more too high dose effects, therfore I go down with dose
 
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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi david, I will try and answer your questions below

 

I don't know for how many days can I make this liquid (stability of Escitalopram is unknown) and that causes that I have less amount of liquid and doses may be not so exactly equalParticles of the drug float around in the liquid and quickly sink to the bottom. It causes that it hardly to say if drug is uniform in a liquid and then in a taken dose. When i shake liquid, powder is deposited on the internal surfaces od the jar. I don't know what i should do with regard to these issues.

 

Some people here who make their own liquid report that they keep it in the fridge for 2 - 3 days, but I'm not sure about escitalopram, if you read through the topic, you may find an answer:  Tips for tapering off Lexapro (escitalopram)

 

When drawing up your dose, stir the mixture and then quickly draw from the middle of the container.

 

However, maybe 5mL it's too much for 2.5mg dose? Generally I have doubts as to the accuracy in case of my drug. Will it be big mistake if for two days the dose will be 5mg in total, but doses won't be exactly equal for a day?

 

Can this drug cause depletes magnesium? I wonder if my problems with muscles may be associated with too low level of magnesium. Today I've thought about it because when I woke up and I hit the thigh of the calf, the calf has cramp or got much more stiff.  I don't know how to describe it, probably I never had muscle crumps. Generally, it seemed to me that I have enough amount of magnesium in my antifungal diet and it shouldn't be problems with too low level of it. 

 

The instructions in this topic are the best we have for ensuring your self made liquid is as accurate as possible:  How to make a liquid from tablets or capsules  The only way to be more accurate is to have your doctor prescribe your medication in its liquid form.

 

Many people have a magnesium deficiency and drugs/withdrawal can make it worse. Taking a magnesium supplement can often help to relieve muscle tension and general aches and pains. Many people find  fish oil and magnesium helpful, see King of Supplements: Omega 3 Fatty Acids (Fish Oil) and Magnesium, Nature's Calcium Channel Blocker

 

Also see: 

Foot and leg cramps - Surviving Antidepressants

I'm not a doctor.  My comments are not medical advise. These are my opinions based on my own experience and what I've learned. Please discuss your situation with a medical practitioner who has knowledge of tapering and withdrawal...if you are lucky enough to find one.

My Introduction Thread

Full Drug and Withdrawal History

Brief Summary

Several SSRIs for 13 years starting 1997 (for mild to moderate partly situational anxiety) Xanax PRN ~ Various other drugs over the years for side effects

2 month 'taper' off Lexapro 2010

Short acute withdrawal, followed by 2 -3 months of improvement then delayed protracted withdrawal

DX ADHD followed by several years of stimulants and other drugs trying to manage increasing symptoms

Failed reinstatement of Lexapro and trial of Prozac (became suicidal)

May 2013 Found SA, learned about withdrawal, stopped taking drugs...healing begins.

Protracted withdrawal, with a very sensitized nervous system, slowly recovering as time passes

Supplements which have helped: Vitamin C, Magnesium, Taurine

Bad reactions: Many supplements but mostly fish oil and Vitamin D

June 2016 - Started daily juicing, mostly vegetables and lots of greens.

Aug 2016 - Oct 2016 Best window ever, felt almost completely recovered

Oct 2016 -Symptoms returned - bad days and less bad days.

April 2018 - No windows, but significant improvement, it feels like permanent full recovery is close.

VIDEO: Where did the chemical imbalance theory come from?



VIDEO: How are psychiatric diagnoses made?



VIDEO: Why do psychiatric drugs have withdrawal syndromes?



VIDEO: Can psychiatric drugs cause long-lasting negative effects?

VIDEO: Dr. Claire Weekes

 

 

 

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I don't know what i should to do. I don't know do i right feeling, but it seems to me that I choosed to big dose. I feel worse at this dose as before. I am very annoyed that I haven't written on this forum earlier  :angry:.  I can't stand thought that I probably make stupid choice with this dosage  :(.

The worst is 2-3 hours for over a dozen hours after taking the drug. Now even it's difficult for me to fall asleep when I take drug at least half hour before i go to sleep. With only a late afternoon, evening I started to feel better. Just slight muscle pain in calf occurs in the morning.

Can I still reduce the dosage or it isn't possible? Is the higher dose, contrary to appearances, lengthen the stabilization and withdrawal? I can not stand the fact that I neglected the question of the effect of this drug :(

3/21/2014 - Escitalopram Actavis 5mg (half of a pill) every day. 

6/1/2014 - Escitalopram 10mg  

2/1/2015 - Escitalopram  5mg  

3/1/2015  Escitalopram 5mg /every 2 days, every 3 days... up to every 6 days

6/30/2015 trying to withdraw totally - I kept waiting until the eleventh day but withdrawal was too strong so reinstated 

7/2/2015 Escitalopram 5mg / every 6 days 

8/27/2015 - Increasing to Escitalopram 2.5mg / per day - a lot of withdrawal symptoms , not sure what to do ....

2015:  12/30 - 2.2mg; 
2016:  2/2 - 1.9mg  4/9 - 1.7mg  5/10 - 1.55mg  6/11 - 1.4mg  7/3 - 1.25mg  7/24 - 1.1mg  8/16 - 1.0mg  9/7 - 0.9mg
2017:  1/24 - 0.8mg  2/14 - 0.7mg  3/4 - 0.64mg  3/19 - 0.58mg  3/30 - 0.53mg  4/16 - 0.48mg  4/29 - 0.43mg  5/26 - 0.37mg  7/1 - 0.32mg  8/6 - 0.26mg  27/08 - 0.21mg  
2018:  2/16 - 0.186mg;  (change to liquid) 3/19 - 0.145mg  4/3 - 0.13mg  4/22 - 0.12mg, lower doses afeter, 09/15 - try to witdraw completelly, but feel that i must reinstate - up to about 1.9mg to 2020/09 but the dose whole time was wrong because I store drug in refrigarator during most of the time - that was big mistake. Next mistake was to reinstate 1.9 mg instead of start from lower doses because doses from drug stored in refrigarator were disturbed. After 3 weeks i find out that i must go down and go down to 2021/06. 2021/06 Going down from 1mg to 0.4 in 2 weeks when I feel that that dose became to high. I started to feeling better then at about 0.4mg after, I started feeling that drug too high dose symptoms starting to let go in few days.
2021/06/05 - next mistake - I take 2 days levocetirizine for allergy, after 2 days crash, symptoms like on too high doses.
2021/06/07 - 2021/06/16 - 0.4mg - 0.1mg
2021/06/17 - 2021/06/20 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.1 - 0.6mg, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/06/21 - 2021/06/28 - 0.6mg - 0.12mg
2021/06/29 - 2021/06/30 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.13 - 0.3, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/07/01 -2021/07/14 - 0.3 - 0.12mg
2021/07/15 - 2021/07/19 - 0.12 - 0.01mg - still I feel too high dose effects, some withdrawal symptoms like dizziness, but they let go and more and more too high dose effects, therfore I go down with dose
 
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In addition, now it seems to me that after starting to take a dose 2.5mg they began to bigger problems. I feel worse mental and in cognition issue (apathy, anxiety, confusion, ), muscle discomfort and it doesn't occur any better day/s (window) in last 6 days. Every night I have to wake up to go piss, regardless of whether I drink something within for example 3 hours before bedtime or not. It appeared after my sudden withdrawal, but now it intensified - I wake up even at 4-5 AM. They also appeared some bowel problems like some "splashing", frequent, very smelly gases, light constipation. They are also faster cooled down feet, hands, dry skin between his fingers, corner of mouths. However, these last problems are less significant. Just i wanted to show, that some problems began to occur or deepened, after several, over a dozen days after reinstating 2.5mg. 

3/21/2014 - Escitalopram Actavis 5mg (half of a pill) every day. 

6/1/2014 - Escitalopram 10mg  

2/1/2015 - Escitalopram  5mg  

3/1/2015  Escitalopram 5mg /every 2 days, every 3 days... up to every 6 days

6/30/2015 trying to withdraw totally - I kept waiting until the eleventh day but withdrawal was too strong so reinstated 

7/2/2015 Escitalopram 5mg / every 6 days 

8/27/2015 - Increasing to Escitalopram 2.5mg / per day - a lot of withdrawal symptoms , not sure what to do ....

2015:  12/30 - 2.2mg; 
2016:  2/2 - 1.9mg  4/9 - 1.7mg  5/10 - 1.55mg  6/11 - 1.4mg  7/3 - 1.25mg  7/24 - 1.1mg  8/16 - 1.0mg  9/7 - 0.9mg
2017:  1/24 - 0.8mg  2/14 - 0.7mg  3/4 - 0.64mg  3/19 - 0.58mg  3/30 - 0.53mg  4/16 - 0.48mg  4/29 - 0.43mg  5/26 - 0.37mg  7/1 - 0.32mg  8/6 - 0.26mg  27/08 - 0.21mg  
2018:  2/16 - 0.186mg;  (change to liquid) 3/19 - 0.145mg  4/3 - 0.13mg  4/22 - 0.12mg, lower doses afeter, 09/15 - try to witdraw completelly, but feel that i must reinstate - up to about 1.9mg to 2020/09 but the dose whole time was wrong because I store drug in refrigarator during most of the time - that was big mistake. Next mistake was to reinstate 1.9 mg instead of start from lower doses because doses from drug stored in refrigarator were disturbed. After 3 weeks i find out that i must go down and go down to 2021/06. 2021/06 Going down from 1mg to 0.4 in 2 weeks when I feel that that dose became to high. I started to feeling better then at about 0.4mg after, I started feeling that drug too high dose symptoms starting to let go in few days.
2021/06/05 - next mistake - I take 2 days levocetirizine for allergy, after 2 days crash, symptoms like on too high doses.
2021/06/07 - 2021/06/16 - 0.4mg - 0.1mg
2021/06/17 - 2021/06/20 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.1 - 0.6mg, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/06/21 - 2021/06/28 - 0.6mg - 0.12mg
2021/06/29 - 2021/06/30 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.13 - 0.3, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/07/01 -2021/07/14 - 0.3 - 0.12mg
2021/07/15 - 2021/07/19 - 0.12 - 0.01mg - still I feel too high dose effects, some withdrawal symptoms like dizziness, but they let go and more and more too high dose effects, therfore I go down with dose
 
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I don't know what should I think about it. Please someone on an assessment of all of this. 

3/21/2014 - Escitalopram Actavis 5mg (half of a pill) every day. 

6/1/2014 - Escitalopram 10mg  

2/1/2015 - Escitalopram  5mg  

3/1/2015  Escitalopram 5mg /every 2 days, every 3 days... up to every 6 days

6/30/2015 trying to withdraw totally - I kept waiting until the eleventh day but withdrawal was too strong so reinstated 

7/2/2015 Escitalopram 5mg / every 6 days 

8/27/2015 - Increasing to Escitalopram 2.5mg / per day - a lot of withdrawal symptoms , not sure what to do ....

2015:  12/30 - 2.2mg; 
2016:  2/2 - 1.9mg  4/9 - 1.7mg  5/10 - 1.55mg  6/11 - 1.4mg  7/3 - 1.25mg  7/24 - 1.1mg  8/16 - 1.0mg  9/7 - 0.9mg
2017:  1/24 - 0.8mg  2/14 - 0.7mg  3/4 - 0.64mg  3/19 - 0.58mg  3/30 - 0.53mg  4/16 - 0.48mg  4/29 - 0.43mg  5/26 - 0.37mg  7/1 - 0.32mg  8/6 - 0.26mg  27/08 - 0.21mg  
2018:  2/16 - 0.186mg;  (change to liquid) 3/19 - 0.145mg  4/3 - 0.13mg  4/22 - 0.12mg, lower doses afeter, 09/15 - try to witdraw completelly, but feel that i must reinstate - up to about 1.9mg to 2020/09 but the dose whole time was wrong because I store drug in refrigarator during most of the time - that was big mistake. Next mistake was to reinstate 1.9 mg instead of start from lower doses because doses from drug stored in refrigarator were disturbed. After 3 weeks i find out that i must go down and go down to 2021/06. 2021/06 Going down from 1mg to 0.4 in 2 weeks when I feel that that dose became to high. I started to feeling better then at about 0.4mg after, I started feeling that drug too high dose symptoms starting to let go in few days.
2021/06/05 - next mistake - I take 2 days levocetirizine for allergy, after 2 days crash, symptoms like on too high doses.
2021/06/07 - 2021/06/16 - 0.4mg - 0.1mg
2021/06/17 - 2021/06/20 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.1 - 0.6mg, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/06/21 - 2021/06/28 - 0.6mg - 0.12mg
2021/06/29 - 2021/06/30 - I feel that i could reinstate - 0.13 - 0.3, but after 2 days again too high dose
2021/07/01 -2021/07/14 - 0.3 - 0.12mg
2021/07/15 - 2021/07/19 - 0.12 - 0.01mg - still I feel too high dose effects, some withdrawal symptoms like dizziness, but they let go and more and more too high dose effects, therfore I go down with dose
 
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