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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by mardot on May 1, 2006, at 18:09:11
I am 38 yrs old and have been taking lexapro for about eight months now. I was started on 10 mg and increased to 20mg a day. I have gained about 10 pounds and can't really tell any difference regarding my social anxiety disorder. I decided to stop lexapro and cut my dose back down to 10 mg a day for about a week and then quit altogether about a week ago. My head feels like it is going to explode. Do I need to go back to my doctor or can I ween myself off of this. I NEVER knew it would be like this if I wanted to quit. Also feel dizzy and really tired all of the time. How long will the withdrawl symptom last and will they get worse before it gets better?
Posted by bassman on May 1, 2006, at 18:09:12
In reply to lexapro withdrawl....help, posted by mardot on April 28, 2006, at 12:25:32
This message has "redirect to withdrawal board" written all over it, so before the Redirect Police strike, my suggestion: start taking the Lexapro again until you don't have the withdrawal feelings (I know, I know it feels like you're going the wrong way-I just had to do the same thing on benzo withdrawal) Try 10 mg and see if you feel better and then 15 or 20 if that doesn't work. This time, taper slowly, maybe 2 mg a week (just break the Lexapro into pieces and eyeball it)-if you have some 10's around, great, break then into 4th's or get a $3 pill cutter from the pharmacy and use that. Take your time-there's no hurry, and if you go slowly, no/less discomfort.
Best of luck!
Posted by edgaras on May 1, 2006, at 18:09:13
In reply to Re: lexapro withdrawl....help, posted by bassman on April 28, 2006, at 13:26:58
Yes, it is a nasty withdrawal, going cold turkey
with this drug causes severe symptoms.
I am still taking it, after switching from other medication. I was not able to discontinue the use of
other SSRI altogether, and went on lexapro.
I was hoping it would be less "addictive" but I think I am hooked now.
Consider switching to some other SSRI
if you cannot continue taking lexapro. The switch might be much easier.
Posted by blueberry on May 1, 2006, at 18:10:34
In reply to lexapro withdrawl....help, posted by mardot on April 28, 2006, at 12:25:32
The taper schedule we are given by doctors I think is usually too aggressive and too fast.
Three options:
Tough it out. It could be a total of 2 to 6 weeks before withdrawals are over.
Restart it to the smallest dose that helps, and then reduce the dose by 1mg or 2mg every 4 days or so. Use a razor blade to cut the pills as close as you can. When you are ready to stop, you might be taking just crumbs by that time. In the following days after you do stop, take more crumbs as needed. Eventually you will notice you can go 2 days without any, take some crumbs, go 3 days without any, take some crumbs, and so on until one day you will realize things are manageable and not too uncomfortable and then you can just wait it out a lot easier.
Try 5htp. When I withdrew from lexapro, I started 5htp. The dizziness fogginess tiredness stuff didn't go away completely but the 5htp did take the edge off quite a bit. I started with one 50mg a day to test, ended up on 50mg 3 times a day, and then slowly tapered off that which was a lot easier than tapering off lexapro.
Eventually though, I don't think there is any way to avoid withdrawals completely.
Posted by mardot on May 1, 2006, at 18:10:35
In reply to Re: lexapro withdrawl....help, posted by blueberry on April 29, 2006, at 10:31:43
Oh, I thought the withdrawl process would be longer than that. I will try to tough it out. Hopefully everything will be back to normal in a few weeks.
This is the end of the thread.
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