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Mental Health Lexapro (cipralex/escitalopram) Taper. Need Taper Advice, Please :)

A long long time ago I wrote a very lengthy topic on withdrawing from SSRI's (specifically Lexapro). Let me see if I can find it for you.
 
exists said:
They're going to get worse, but I'm hoping that for your sake they don't! Brain zaps are utterly horrid :(

I screwed up and took DXM a number of times again, and now I'm suffering all over again. Are you taking malic acid and magnesium? I don't have any malic acid (only what I can get from tomatoes), but I do have plenty of magnesium. I could take more DXM to lessen the zaps, but I don't want to drag this out any further than necessary.
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They're not too bad today. I did long distance motorway driving yesterday, I was turning my head a lot, it was very uncomfortable, lol. Does malic acid and magnesium help?
 
^I really don't know if those supplements help or not. The zaps do tend to abate somewhat after I take magnesium, but I'm not sure if that effect is causal, or just a coincidence. Playing video games helps, provided the screen is far enough away (I think being focused on anything other than the wd symptoms is good, as long as it doesn't require extreme left/right eye or head movement). Sleep helps: I've noticed that upon awakening in the morning I have no brain zaps whatsoever. But I can't sleep all day (not that I won't, I simply cannot do it).

Hopefully somebody from Neuroscience and Pharmacology will chime in!
 
Uncomfortable rushes down my arms and across my chest these past few days, and I feel light-headed when I'm walking around.

I feel like the whole indifferent fogginess of the lexapro has totally worn off now. Just feel a little edgy dealing with this sharper reality. And, I will admit, I've had a smidgen of paranoia creep up on me yesterday.
 
I wish you the best, velmwend. SSRI withdrawals are just terrible. I had to break down and take 25mg DXM yesterday. It eliminated the zaps completely, and they're still gone.... for now. But they'll be back, no doubt about it.

Beside DXM, it's also possible to use other SSRIs such as prozac to help you wean off the lexapro (it's called 'bridging'). People have been doing that when coming off effexor, and according to some they were completely clean of it after two weeks. Just a thought.

Oh, and diphenhydramine has weak SSRI properties (IIRC it was the original inspiration for all SSRIs). By itself it doesn't do much good as far as the zaps go, but it's great for helping you get to sleep.
 
velmwend said:
is there anything else that might give me a hug or two during the next few weeks?
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I don't think there's any hug as comforting as knowing that you arent tapering off a benzo or detoxing from an opiate. and also the knowledge that youve done it before and succeeded. <-- maybe most important. not to minimize what youre going thru!

I quit lexapro through a gradual reduction maybe 10 years ago or so. I dont remember it being all that awful.
 
PriestTheyCalledHim said:
Good luck. You're doing the right thing by being under the supervision of a doctor or medical professional.
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Thanks. All's well right now. The maca root is giving me superhuman power and the ashwagandha is teaching me how to use that power to do good for the world. haha. Oh dear, what a carry-on. :) Will report back in a few months...
 
Following a 20 day taper, it's been 4 weeks and 3 days since I totally stopped taking Lexapro.

I feel fine. Sleep is normal, diet is normal, I feel lifted from 'that fog' and feel more energised.

The only negative: I tend to feel more emotional over things, but not necessarily in a negative way. I feel myself starting to blub if I discuss an emotive subject. It can be a little embarrassing, but it's further proof to me that I'm not 'dumbed down' emotionally by any drug. I'm having a couple of 'dark' days per week, but none during the night, which is a blessing. Taking Ashwagandha every night (great for sleep and mood) and a couple of benzos in the week, just for chill factor, and phenibut 1g per week :)

Will report back in another month or so :)
 
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Bad news for me: I've had to start taking the lexapro again - suffered a pretty rapid downward spiral from Sunday and ended up back in the abyss. It happens every year, I'm not sure why I thought I'd be okay this time.

Ah well - I'll try again next year. 8(

I'm going to continue with the Ashwagandha and maca because they've both helped with sleep and libido :)
 
maybe you should think about tapering off lexapro in the summer time instead of winter time. moods seem to be better in the lighter days and may help keep you off them and stable out before winter sets in
 
puffj said:
A long long time ago I wrote a very lengthy topic on withdrawing from SSRI's (specifically Lexapro). Let me see if I can find it for you.
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I would be interested in reading it as I'm currently trying to get off lexapro
 
motherorc said:
maybe you should think about tapering off lexapro in the summer time instead of winter time. moods seem to be better in the lighter days and may help keep you off them and stable out before winter sets in
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The taper's had its benefits. I've kept to 5mg instead 10 and it's working fine to deter insomnia and is keeping me level. The less the better.

You're right, motherorc, it was a stoopid time to taper, but I was desperate to enjoy some al-lad at xmas, lol. :-/
 
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