[hope for the best]

Originally Posted by ivysphotomom

I've been busy the last few weeks with work, so haven't been able to post, or read much....

The good news, I'm almost caught up with work, for the first time in 4 years, due to hiring an assistant (finally)! And, spring is here!!! Yeah!

Now that I've got a bit of a lull in work, I'm planning to start my lexapro taper. I've been back on 10mg for a few months now. I called my Drs. office yesterday, and left a message asking for a prescription for the liquid form...

My question is, I remember reading here, the advice to taper 10% every 14 days. If I'm on 10mg now, that would of course go to 9mg for two weeks. But then would the next taper be 1mg again, or 10% of 9mg, which would be .9mg, putting me on 8.1mg for 2 weeks, then reducing by .81 mg, etc? That could get crazy!!! Just wanted to make sure I was approaching this correctly!

Also, I read a few posts about candida and lex. I've wondered about that too. Because since being on lex., it's weird, but I've had this itchy spot on the outside, middle part of my right ear! Never had that before!

One last weird thing, I've had this weird tickle/gag reflex since being on the lex. Last night, I tried to take a large, slippery capsule, and almost totally threw up, as in when one has the stomach flu! It was horrible! I had to force myself to eat a crack to get my esophogus (sp?) moving back down, instead of up! Has anyone else had this type of symptom?

Oh, in terms of eating, I've been SO bad for years, often don't eat ANYTHING until mid afternoon, or evening! And I weigh as much as I did going into labor w/ my 4 kids! I used to be able to maintain my blood sugar doing this, but since going on lex, I get incredibly hungry, often extremely shaky, etc. This drug really messes with so many things!

Thanks all,

~Mary

Mary,

It sounds like you've been doing really well. I've been reading this forum for awhile (my daughter is tapering) and I know you were having a hard time. From what I understand at least on this forum it's 5-10% (or even less like 2-3%)of the latest dose you're taking every 2-3 weeks or however long it takes to feel ok.

Other places say try 5-10% of the original dose if you've had problems with tapering. My daughter went from 10 to 7.5 for 2 weeks, to 5 for a month (faster than recommended here but she's 21 and has her own ideas) then has been trying .5 (½mg) about every 2 weeks from there. She's at 3.5 and holding (2½ weeks so far) as this is the first time she's been able to notice any change in how she feels and it may just be spring pollen since we all are feeling it. If she has to go slower or decrease less she will. I noticed that she had more energy when she got to 5mg. The best advice I've read is to take it as slowly as you have to by listening to your body. Some can only tolerate tiny changes.

She hasn't had a problem with it but I've read that sensitive gag reflex is a Lex problem.

Don't forget to consider supplements. My daughter started them before she started tapering and I suspect maybe that's why it's gone so well so far.

Good luck!

[ivysphotomom]

Thanks for the reply! I'm glad to read your daughter's been doing OK. With what we know now about these meds, it makes me want to wave a red flag to anyone considering starting on them!

I take a lot of supplements - been on Omega 3s for years, and a few other things, when I think about it! But that's good advice, to make sure my body's getting what it needs. I went on that Road Back site months ago, and bought some of the things suggest at my local Whole Foods. I should pull those out and start using them.

Guess what - I called the pharmacy to see if my Dr. called in the script for the liquid lex (she did) - and I actually spoke to a pharmacist who totally agreed that you HAVE to taper slowly off this med! The first bonafide professional who has admitted this to me!!!

She was also very sympathetic about my friend dying, which was really sweet.

My Dr. only called in 240ml, which is equal to 240mg, so not even a month's worth, at 9mg. So she's going to call the Dr. to get a script for a bigger bottle, and ask for refills, since obviously I'm going to need them.

It was such a relief to have a medical professional acknowledge this problem! She said Drs. never acknowledge it, and it frustrates her too!

I'll follow your advice, and see how I feel. I've got .25 xanax to help me over any rough spots. I'm down to only half of one a day, when I get up, to help me transition from dream land to reality!

My theory, re: anxiety, is that when it's severe, such as trauma, etc., it messes up the chemicals in the brain. And it takes TIME, for those chemicals to return to normal. That's the phase I think I'm in right now.

I had 2 other bouts of anxiety/dread, that lasted months, when I was 10, after the sudden death of my grandfather, and when I was 17, after a sudden surgery. It just took time for the anxiety chemicals to subside. I'm really interested in learning how the brain works, emotionally and cognitively, in terms of chemicals and electrical impulses, etc.

I'm feeling grateful again, for my house, business, of course family, and friends! And mother nature is SO beautiful now! This is absolutely my favorite time of the year!

Now if I could just get my house clean () (never ending battle w/ 4 kids, 2 cats and 1 dog!), start exercising, and eat regularly, I'll be doing even better!

Will let you all know how things go...

~Mary

[hope for the best]

It's great to hear that a professional agrees with a slow taper because it seems like common sense.

The brain chemical thing is something I've really wondered about. Here's my daughter's story. She is usually an upbeat bubbly kind of girl. She started having problems for the first time in her life after a flu like illness over a year ago in Jan 2007. She had bouts of anxiety and depression that we thought would pass after the illness was gone long enough. It got worse and she started on Lex in Oct ramping to 10mg in Nov. I kept trying different doctors knowing it had something to do with the illness. In Nov an infectious disease specialist (who ended up doing nothing to help) told us that a test that was run 6 months earlier was positive for Lymes disease (she'd had a 2 week course of antibiotics for an "infected throat" at that time and we were told that the Lymes test wasn't really positve by the gp.) He ran a new test that was negative. I took her to a psychiatrist to oversee her meds and she put her on a month of antibiotics because she has Lymes patients with the same symptoms and says there is debate about it in the medical community. So we don't know how much she is improved from the antibiotic or from the antidepressant or if she ever really had Lymes (the doctors don't seem to agree). Add to this her boyfriend broke up with her in November before the Lymes thing came up because he was having a hard time dealing with her issues.

Both my oldest daughter and I also had similar problems with depression after an illness at roughly the same age that didn't go away for many many months so I wonder if our family has brain chemistry problems related to certain viruses or something.

Anyhow....good luck and let us know how you're doing.

[Julia77]

Originally Posted by ivysphotomom

I've been busy the last few weeks with work, so haven't been able to post, or read much....

The good news, I'm almost caught up with work, for the first time in 4 years, due to hiring an assistant (finally)! And, spring is here!!! Yeah!

Now that I've got a bit of a lull in work, I'm planning to start my lexapro taper. I've been back on 10mg for a few months now. I called my Drs. office yesterday, and left a message asking for a prescription for the liquid form...

My question is, I remember reading here, the advice to taper 10% every 14 days. If I'm on 10mg now, that would of course go to 9mg for two weeks. But then would the next taper be 1mg again, or 10% of 9mg, which would be .9mg, putting me on 8.1mg for 2 weeks, then reducing by .81 mg, etc? That could get crazy!!! Just wanted to make sure I was approaching this correctly!

Also, I read a few posts about candida and lex. I've wondered about that too. Because since being on lex., it's weird, but I've had this itchy spot on the outside, middle part of my right ear! Never had that before!

One last weird thing, I've had this weird tickle/gag reflex since being on the lex. Last night, I tried to take a large, slippery capsule, and almost totally threw up, as in when one has the stomach flu! It was horrible! I had to force myself to eat a crack to get my esophogus (sp?) moving back down, instead of up! Has anyone else had this type of symptom?

Oh, in terms of eating, I've been SO bad for years, often don't eat ANYTHING until mid afternoon, or evening! And I weigh as much as I did going into labor w/ my 4 kids! I used to be able to maintain my blood sugar doing this, but since going on lex, I get incredibly hungry, often extremely shaky, etc. This drug really messes with so many things!

Thanks all,

~Mary

Hi Mary,

It's great you're doing so much better.. Remember: the tapering is 10% at a time, and that' MAX your brain can handle. Remember:your brain can say it's too much, and then you should go back to 5, even 2% at a time.
Switching to liquids can also present another problem, so once you switch, please wait for a few weeks to see that you're doing ok.
In terms how much you have to taper, first it's gonna be 9 mg ( 10% of 10 mg), and then 10% of your most recent dose, which is 9 mg in my example. If you taper less( which I truly suggest), then you calculate say 5% of your most recent dose.
Please don't take reducing every two weeks as a universal formula. It will actually take 10 days for you to feel the cut, 5-6 days till they start to subside, and then a week for you to recuperate or so. Please remember that every brain is unique and yours is individual experience, and DON'T DO THE NEXT CUT UNTIL YOU FEEL PRETTY MUCH YOURSELF AGAIN. I refrain saying 'normal' because it's been my experience that we don't feel 'normal' on the drugs.


Regarding the weight and shakiness you are talking about, God I know what you mean. It's a waste of time to try to combat your weight now, please stay assured it will come off by itself, pretty much, with nutrition and exericse, the moment you're close to being off the drug. I actually used to get so shaky that sometimes hit my teeth with a fork when eating, lol It seems like it's much better for me now.

DOn't rush with the cuts, and expect to feel somewhat sick after the cuts, but otherwise you will be ok.

[jewels64]

Thread: My doc put me on lexapro when I was going through my divorce. I was a mess and needed to be on it then. I gained 10 pounds and just hate it. Maybe this was not a good ideal but I stoped taking it cold turkey. The only thing so far after seven day's with out it is dizziness. I can not tell how much better I feel yes, that's it I feel. Like so many others I just stop feeling and having interest doing things. I have wroked out my entire life even that was a struggle. I'm not staying you shoild take my advise but, the weight gain has made more depressed. I will never take this stuff again there are too many natural things we can do.

Originally Posted by lara955

I'm so glad to have found this site! I was just put on Lexapro a little over a month ago, 10mg per day. I started feeling "better" after one - 1 1/2 weeks, but the past 2 weeks I've been disconected, exhausted. I've had bouts of insomnia in the middle of the night (if I wake up I can't get back to sleep) but am tired and worn out all day. I don't feel like doing anything and have to make myself do regular every day stuff. I could just sit and stare at a wall and be content. Another wierd side effect (I've read other people have this happen too) is I've been craving alcohol, beer specifically. I used to drink beer a lot, but quit 6 months ago when I quit smoking, hadn't had a beer since. I did drink a few glasses of wine occasionally. When I started the Lexapro I couldn't stand the taste of wine all of the sudden, but craved beer after months of not having any! Any one else experience this? I really want to stop taking this stuff. I'm considering trying 5 mg a day for a week, then 5 mg every other day, then 5 mg every 2 days - does anyone think this is a good way to go off it since I've only been on it about 5 weeks? Any other suggestions? Thanks so much.

[jewels64]

[QUOTE=jewels64;201047] Thread: My doc put me on lexapro when I was going through my divorce. I was a mess and needed to be on it then. I gained 10 pounds and just hate it. Maybe this was not a good ideal but I stoped taking it cold turkey. The only thing so far after seven day's with out it is dizziness. I can not tell how much better I feel yes, that's it I feel. Like so many others I just stop feeling and having interest doing things. I have wroked out my entire life even that was a struggle. I'm not staying you should take my advise but, the weight gain has made more depressed. I will never take this stuff again there are too many natural things we can do.[/quote]

[ivysphotomom]

Hi everyone,

So I picked up my first bottle of liquid lexapro today, 300ml, which = 300mg.

I've been taking 10mg by tablet, for about the last 3 months or so...

So what I decided to do, was instead of cutting down 1 whole mg every 2 weeks, to cut down by .5mg every week. I figured that'd be a more gradual transition. I just took 9.5mg. It's not too bad. Kind of yucky, kind of minty. Not bad for liquid medicine! The pharmacist gave me to kinds of measuring devices. One is a syringe (recommend this) and a hollow measuring spoon. When trying to get .5ml doses, the syringe is much easier.

I wrote on my calendar, each week and what dose to move to. At this rate, it will take me 20 weeks, or until the first week of September, to be (hopefully) off of this medicine! (As opposed to my trying to go cold turkey off 10mg in 3 days last December! )

Am having fun with the faces, have you noticed!

And am only taking half of a .25 of xanax, mostly in the early morning, to help me get back to sleep. I've got 4 kids, and at 6am, my 8 yr old daughter climbed into bed w/ me 'cause of nightmares, sandwiching me in between her and my hubby. Then his alarm goes off at 7am. My 8 yr old gets up for school at 8am, my 4 yr old wakes up at 9am. Meanwhile, I tend to work until 1am or so (am self-employed), and while on lex, have needed to sleep until 11am at least, to feel I've gotten enough sleep! Not fun, but w/ adrenal problems as well, and suspicious about getting into deep sleep while on SSRIs, I'm trying to get as much rest as possible!

OK. Will let you all know how things go!

~Mary
Ha, was going to put a winky face, but got a message the max is 4! So, :-(

[erinkj]

Mary, your taper plan sounds like a good one. I WAS planning on dropping by 1mg each reduction but, I now wonder if I should start with .5 instead?! If I reduce by 1mg every 2 weeks, I would be down to 12 mgs at the end of December ! This is going to take me FOREVER! I am currently at 30 mgs of celexa which equals 15 mgs lexapro. I am STILL fighting the withdrawl symptoms after 3 months of being at the 30 mg dose. I was on either 20 mgs lex or 40 mgs celexa for 4 years. (switched between them a few times because of insurance issues) Some of my withdrawl could also be from switching back to celexa from lexapro when I re-instated...Lex was just to hard on my stomache and I don't have those problems on celexa. I understand all about wanting to sleep. I WISH I could well and truely sleep....I daydream about getting restfull, refreshing sleep yet, it remains elusive! I average between 2-4 hrs of deep sleep per night. (at least I think it is deep sleep) then I wake up a few times, maybe roll over, then, sleep lightly for another 2 hours. The day's that I do not have classes I will try to go back to bed for a few hours after the kid's are off to school. If I get back to sleep it is for an hour sometimes 2. The day's that I have classes I have a break from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm so, I try to get a nap then if I can. Sometimes I can fall asleep, it is 50/50. If I comment that I am tired or that I don't sleep, I hear "but, you sleep ALL the time" or "well you are always taking naps" in reply from my sister and sometimes my daughter (she is 18 and sleeps 12 hrs a night ) I know that my boys think this but, they never say anything. ( they are 16 and 12) My husband constantly sais that if I didn't take nap's that I would sleep at night and it would reset my sleep patterns...There are alot of day's when I do not have the time to take a nap. Day's when I am very busy. Up very early and in bed very late yet, I still only ever sleep a maximum of 6 hrs. I take a xanax every night to help me sleep. I have tried many, many times to get to sleep without taking a xanax only to toss and turn ALL night. My doctor, friends and family have all been trying to talk me into taking a sleeping pill but, I WON'T! I already depend on xanax and celexa (as we all now our bodies are dependent on the SSRI or else we would be able to quit them with ease) I REFUSE to ADD any other RX med's!!! My husband doesn't understand why I won't take anything else. I have to be in alot of pain and very uncomfortable before I will even take tylenol or advil. My hubby gives me a hard time about using liquid supp's. Liquids are so much easier for me because I often have that "choking" feeling, etc. And that makes swallowing large pills difficult. it is very frustrating when my family don't understand! So, I do my best to cover it up and act like everything is "hunky dory" happy, joy, joy and all "sunshine and smiles" when, all that I realy want to do is go to bed and SLEEP! Oh, sweet sleep. If I could just get some restfull sleep I think I would feel ALOT better. I cannot begin to count the times that I have physicly exhausted myself on purpose praying that would leed to 8 hours of sleep... WRONG. Sorry to rant..I guess I needed to get that out...I sure do hope you can get the sleep that you need. I understand that all to well. Good luck Mary and sleep well ...Erin

[hope for the best]

Erin you touch my heart. You offer so much advice to so many people yet are struggling yourself. Just a thought, why don't you try a very small drop for a time or two and see how you do? I'm rooting for you

(Mary this one is for you)

[Julia77]

Originally Posted by ivysphotomom

Hi everyone,

So I picked up my first bottle of liquid lexapro today, 300ml, which = 300mg.

I've been taking 10mg by tablet, for about the last 3 months or so...

So what I decided to do, was instead of cutting down 1 whole mg every 2 weeks, to cut down by .5mg every week. I figured that'd be a more gradual transition. I just took 9.5mg. It's not too bad. Kind of yucky, kind of minty. Not bad for liquid medicine! The pharmacist gave me to kinds of measuring devices. One is a syringe (recommend this) and a hollow measuring spoon. When trying to get .5ml doses, the syringe is much easier.

I wrote on my calendar, each week and what dose to move to. At this rate, it will take me 20 weeks, or until the first week of September, to be (hopefully) off of this medicine! (As opposed to my trying to go cold turkey off 10mg in 3 days last December! )

Am having fun with the faces, have you noticed!

And am only taking half of a .25 of xanax, mostly in the early morning, to help me get back to sleep. I've got 4 kids, and at 6am, my 8 yr old daughter climbed into bed w/ me 'cause of nightmares, sandwiching me in between her and my hubby. Then his alarm goes off at 7am. My 8 yr old gets up for school at 8am, my 4 yr old wakes up at 9am. Meanwhile, I tend to work until 1am or so (am self-employed), and while on lex, have needed to sleep until 11am at least, to feel I've gotten enough sleep! Not fun, but w/ adrenal problems as well, and suspicious about getting into deep sleep while on SSRIs, I'm trying to get as much rest as possible!

OK. Will let you all know how things go!

~Mary
Ha, was going to put a winky face, but got a message the max is 4! So, :-(

Please read my post to you to avoid my mistakes!! Please read it again.I beg you..it sounds like you don't quite understand tapering. Please research and read this thread to avoid putting yourself into misery, you've had enough of it already.
1. Please stay on FULL DOSE of liquid Lex to allow your body to get used to it,
switching pills to liquids is already a big transition.
2. Don't cut every week!!!!! Let your body feel the cut, let it get over it, and then make the net cut. SOmetimes the difference between the cuts might take up to 4 weeks! If you cut every week, it will accumulate and your body will freak out one day, making you up the dose. Do you understand?
3. You can not taper properly and be off this drug ( 10 mg??) by September. My dear, it should take you up to a year... I tapered off 2.5 mg for almost 7 months and still feel it, being off for close to 3 months! Sorry, I know how you feel now reading all this, but please listen to me.


It sounds like you're close to being 100% normal now. Please do yourself a favor and taper wisely.

Good luck and lots of healing.
Julia


PS. PLEASE READ THIS...

[Julia77]

Originally Posted by erinkj

Mary, your taper plan sounds like a good one. I WAS planning on dropping by 1mg each reduction but, I now wonder if I should start with .5 instead?! If I reduce by 1mg every 2 weeks, I would be down to 12 mgs at the end of December ! This is going to take me FOREVER! I am currently at 30 mgs of celexa which equals 15 mgs lexapro. I am STILL fighting the withdrawl symptoms after 3 months of being at the 30 mg dose. I was on either 20 mgs lex or 40 mgs celexa for 4 years. (switched between them a few times because of insurance issues) Some of my withdrawl could also be from switching back to celexa from lexapro when I re-instated...Lex was just to hard on my stomache and I don't have those problems on celexa. I understand all about wanting to sleep. I WISH I could well and truely sleep....I daydream about getting restfull, refreshing sleep yet, it remains elusive! I average between 2-4 hrs of deep sleep per night. (at least I think it is deep sleep) then I wake up a few times, maybe roll over, then, sleep lightly for another 2 hours. The day's that I do not have classes I will try to go back to bed for a few hours after the kid's are off to school. If I get back to sleep it is for an hour sometimes 2. The day's that I have classes I have a break from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm so, I try to get a nap then if I can. Sometimes I can fall asleep, it is 50/50. If I comment that I am tired or that I don't sleep, I hear "but, you sleep ALL the time" or "well you are always taking naps" in reply from my sister and sometimes my daughter (she is 18 and sleeps 12 hrs a night ) I know that my boys think this but, they never say anything. ( they are 16 and 12) My husband constantly sais that if I didn't take nap's that I would sleep at night and it would reset my sleep patterns...There are alot of day's when I do not have the time to take a nap. Day's when I am very busy. Up very early and in bed very late yet, I still only ever sleep a maximum of 6 hrs. I take a xanax every night to help me sleep. I have tried many, many times to get to sleep without taking a xanax only to toss and turn ALL night. My doctor, friends and family have all been trying to talk me into taking a sleeping pill but, I WON'T! I already depend on xanax and celexa (as we all now our bodies are dependent on the SSRI or else we would be able to quit them with ease) I REFUSE to ADD any other RX med's!!! My husband doesn't understand why I won't take anything else. I have to be in alot of pain and very uncomfortable before I will even take tylenol or advil. My hubby gives me a hard time about using liquid supp's. Liquids are so much easier for me because I often have that "choking" feeling, etc. And that makes swallowing large pills difficult. it is very frustrating when my family don't understand! So, I do my best to cover it up and act like everything is "hunky dory" happy, joy, joy and all "sunshine and smiles" when, all that I realy want to do is go to bed and SLEEP! Oh, sweet sleep. If I could just get some restfull sleep I think I would feel ALOT better. I cannot begin to count the times that I have physicly exhausted myself on purpose praying that would leed to 8 hours of sleep... WRONG. Sorry to rant..I guess I needed to get that out...I sure do hope you can get the sleep that you need. I understand that all to well. Good luck Mary and sleep well ...Erin

Erin my dear, I truly sympathize with you. It's really hard to get off those drugs, and I am still in withdrawals!! Was taking 2.5 mg for 7 months and tapered off for 7 months as well.

Those drugs are highly addictive. Please be patiend and taper off wisely.....that's the trick. Real healing does not happen until you're completely off those drugs. Off for a long time.

But please don't get discouraged. You will get yourself back. I know some people were sick for up to several years after they tapered their medication. But what's several years comparing to a lifetime?

[ivysphotomom]

Boy, we have a lot in common!

I'm so relieved to know I'm not the only one who wants to sleep all day! I've never had sleep problems, until going on lexapro. I used to be able to stay up until 2-3am, and get up around 9-9:30am with no problem.

Yes, it is kinda embarrassing, around my older kids, that mom doesn't get out of bed sometimes until 11am! When I sleep at my studio, and it's quiet, some weekends I didn't wake up until after 2pm!!!!! Yikes! On those days, I'm super shaky all day. Not sure why.

A Dr. also wanted me to take a sleeping pill. Filled it, but never took it. I know you're not supposed to drink (when you're on anything, face it!), but I do drink some wine and or beer at night, with dinner and before bed. It helps me relax, and I know my limits, and how to gauge it. I also take milk thistle. But I never mix xanax with alcohol, unless it's a half a .25 and I'm only having one drink, such as at a cocktail party or reception. (I've seemed to have developed a bit of a social phobia lately, as I've become concerned I'll get intestinal cramps when away from home. So sometimes I'll take a tiny bit of xanax to get over the hump, so to speak...)

I'm not in school now, thank goodness. Been there done that. Did that from 18-28. A bachelors and two masters. Yoi. In painting, teaching, and architecture. So what that means, is my kids are younger, and I'm older! I had my 16 yr old at age 29, and my 4 yr old at age 42! So it sounds like we did things in slightly different order!

I should lay down for a half hour. We have a surprise party to go to in an hour and a half, then my son has a little league game! Sometimes, even just laying flat for a while, helps recharge. Don't you agree?

Feel free to vent anytime! That's what we're here for!

~Mary

[ivysphotomom]

[ivysphotomom]

I've been reading about other's tapering here for months. It sounded to me as if many people tapered 10% every 2 weeks. With success. So I thought, why not taper by 5% every week?

I can't imagine any method being a cake walk. But am I missing something, in terms of how others have done this?

You mentioned taking 7 months to come off of 2.5mg. Well, when I went cold turkey off of 10mg last December, the symptoms weren't all that terrible. They weren't intolerable. And that was a BIG change to make! I also was having a lot of emotional stuff going on at the time, that compounded things. (Getting over the shock of my friend's death.)

Isn't it possible people's bodies metabolize things differently? Also, don't taking good supplements help? I've been on Omega 3s for years, and take milk thistle, multis (when I remember) and eat fairly well.

When I took the liquid yesterday, I first only took 6.5mg, then waited, to see if I would feel funny, funky, sick, whatever. An hour later, I felt fine. So I took the additional 3mg.

The past few months, I've been breaking 20mg tabs in half. NOT an exact science. So some days I probably got 9mg, some days 11, etc.

I'm on day 2 of 9.5mg of liquid. Feel fine. Just a bit worn out, as I'm fighting a slight cold bug (standing out at little league fields in the cold at night!)

Thanks for your concern. I'm hoping it doesn't take me a year to wean off this stuff! I've been seeing a psychologist as well, using the EMDR technique, and I've been using the Bach Flower remedies. All those combined with spring, have really been helping my moods and emotional stability. Along with finally catching up with my work for my clients!

But I'll keep you posted, and do appreciate your advice.

~Mary

[ivysphotomom]

Hi there,

I was wondering, if you had the time, if you could respond to my letter above, describing how I was planning on tapering off lex? Erin and I are both wondering if instead of reducing by 10% every 2 weeks, it would make more sense to reduce by 5% every week?

Julia77 seems to think I need to spread this out longer...

I just spent almost an hour reading through old posts, and couldn't seem to land on the right ones...though boy did I miss the fireworks last November!!! Glad I wasn't around for that!

Thanks much. I hope your daughter is doing better,

~Mary

[Julia77]

Originally Posted by ivysphotomom

Hi there,

I was wondering, if you had the time, if you could respond to my letter above, describing how I was planning on tapering off lex? Erin and I are both wondering if instead of reducing by 10% every 2 weeks, it would make more sense to reduce by 5% every week?

Julia77 seems to think I need to spread this out longer...

I just spent almost an hour reading through old posts, and couldn't seem to land on the right ones...though boy did I miss the fireworks last November!!! Glad I wasn't around for that!

Thanks much. I hope your daughter is doing better,

~Mary

Once you cut your 5%, you should feel it. Not in an hour or two days, as you're saying, but in 7-10 days. Before you FEEL your cut, don't make the next one. Otherwise you will feel 2-3 cuts are the same time, compounding the situation and actually making you up the dose.
After you've felt the cut, give yourself time to recuperate. It might be 3-4 days, or a week. Wait till you feel normal again, and only then make your next cut.
You can't calculate now how long it will take you since your brain has little to do with calendar math. If you see that you handle 5% quite well, then you may try 10%. 10% is the max your brain can handle, so.....be wise in cutting your doses.
Supplements do help, but not a lot. Nothing can actually help or decrease withdrawals, supplements only give 'food' to your brain to help it heal. Please take tapering wisely, and now that you've made your cut, please wait for 7-10 days. You will feel it. It takes every person a different amount of time to feel cuts, I felt mine in 10 days....By reducing every week you will go through multiple withdrawals, do you understand? Do not reduce every week, at least for the first cut.
See when you start to feel the cut (7-10 days), give yourself time to recuperate and feel normal again ( for me it was a week or 10 days, but some people felt better in 4-5 days, depending on how much you cut), and then some time to come back to your senses.

I am pretty sure Aunty will have the same suggestion, because I followed her advice when I tapered. If I find her postings on that, I will post them again.

[erinkj]

Originally Posted by Julia77

Erin my dear, I truly sympathize with you. It's really hard to get off those drugs, and I am still in withdrawals!! Was taking 2.5 mg for 7 months and tapered off for 7 months as well.

Those drugs are highly addictive. Please be patiend and taper off wisely.....that's the trick. Real healing does not happen until you're completely off those drugs. Off for a long time.

But please don't get discouraged. You will get yourself back. I know some people were sick for up to several years after they tapered their medication. But what's several years comparing to a lifetime?

Thank you very much for the encouragement dear. It REALY helps. I will taper slow. I don't have a choice. I do get a bit frustrated when I think about how long this is going to take. For me it will take over a year considering the many years I have been on SSRI and the dose . I know it will all work out in the end, I just need to vent sometimes...Thanks again...Hugs...Erin

[erinkj]

Originally Posted by hope for the best

Erin you touch my heart. You offer so much advice to so many people yet are struggling yourself. Just a thought, why don't you try a very small drop for a time or two and see how you do? I'm rooting for you

(Mary this one is for you)

Thanks to you as well hope! Your understanding and encouragement are greatly appreciated. I read your post this morning and it brightened my entire day! Hugs...Erin

[erinkj]

Talk about coinsidence (sp?) I have one semester left on my bachelors and then I begin my Masters in visual Arts. I am getting my Masters so that I can teach visual Art! Actually, as soon as I graduate with my Bachelors next spring I will begin teaching some art classes at my current university at the "Instructor" level until I complete my Masters. The lady who teaches visual arts at my current U, reccomended me to the department chair as she plans to retire within the next 2 years and wants to cut back on some of the classes she teaches prior to retirement. I met with the department chair last week. (I have taken many of his classes so, I know him well ) No FORMAL promises have been made but, for all intents it seems I will take over the Art department eventually...Hurray! Next semester I will be the art department assistant. (My art prof has never had an assistant before) so, it look's like I am being groomed to take over. Yesterday was my birthday and now I am 35 so, I agree that our lives are similar only reversed . My daughter was born when I was 16 (she is 19 in july) My oldest boy was born when I was 19 (he just turned 16) and my youngest son was born when I was 23 (he is 12). I was married at 19 and divorced at 24. I dropped out of high school my sophmore year (had to work and care for a baby) and got my G.E.D. I always wanted to go to college but, my x-husband was against it (part of why we split). I worked manual labor and factory job's mostly. They just paid better than anything else besides, the work kept me in good shape. It took several injuries and getting laid off for me to take the plunge and go back to school. I went back the fall after my 30th b-day. Better late than never. It is kind of weird that my daughter and I are in college at the same time . I was born in Iowa but, grew up in Washington state and have traveled all over the us and canada while growing up. I moved back to Iowa with my family at 16 when my daughter was only 3 months old and been here since. I still have the travel bug though, I think I was born with it! I am also working on getting my TOFL certification to teach English as a second language so that I can eventually do more world travel while getting paid. I want my kid's to see the world before I send them out in it. This is my second and LAST marraige. We met via match.com 6 years ago and were married June of 07. Hubby and I are a pretty good fit. He dropped out of school at 16 to. (family nightmares) but, he has owned and opperated a succesfull business for 18 years and before that he learned his trade by hard work in his field and was also the youngest foreman in the Catapillar (sp?) company history for 8 years. Despite his lack of formal education he is without a doubt one of the smartest people I have ever known. Sometimes I wonder if the fact that hubby and I both dropped out of school young is why we have such an insatiable thirst for knowledge...Anyway , now you know my life story! You have shared so much about your life that I thought I should share back...Have a great nap!...Hugs...Erin

[erinkj]

The book: Secrets of Serotonin, by: Carol Hart, has been revised and updated and was just re-releases at the begining of April. I ordered a copy and just picked it up today, I will post what I learn from this...There is ALOT of info in this book about the Serotonin and IBS connection so, Mary, you may want to read this. More later...Have a great night everyone...Peace...Erin

[auntybiotic]

Originally Posted by Julia77

Once you cut your 5%, you should feel it. Not in an hour or two days, as you're saying, but in 7-10 days. Before you FEEL your cut, don't make the next one. Otherwise you will feel 2-3 cuts are the same time, compounding the situation and actually making you up the dose.
After you've felt the cut, give yourself time to recuperate. It might be 3-4 days, or a week. Wait till you feel normal again, and only then make your next cut.
You can't calculate now how long it will take you since your brain has little to do with calendar math. If you see that you handle 5% quite well, then you may try 10%. 10% is the max your brain can handle, so.....be wise in cutting your doses.
Supplements do help, but not a lot. Nothing can actually help or decrease withdrawals, supplements only give 'food' to your brain to help it heal. Please take tapering wisely, and now that you've made your cut, please wait for 7-10 days. You will feel it. It takes every person a different amount of time to feel cuts, I felt mine in 10 days....By reducing every week you will go through multiple withdrawals, do you understand? Do not reduce every week, at least for the first cut.
See when you start to feel the cut (7-10 days), give yourself time to recuperate and feel normal again ( for me it was a week or 10 days, but some people felt better in 4-5 days, depending on how much you cut), and then some time to come back to your senses.

I am pretty sure Aunty will have the same suggestion, because I followed her advice when I tapered. If I find her postings on that, I will post them again.

I agree with JULIA. Do NOT cut your dose EVERY week as this will not give the neurotransmitters time to heal as you will not feel the effects of the first cut for 7 to 10 days and you will already be doing the second cut.

There is SO much research into the posts on here. Sometimes even two weeks inbetween cuts is not enough. People do react differently, but in the long run, you will be doing your body a disservice as a fast taper will cause aftereffects taht may last years, even if you may not feel the withdrawls during the taper.

Julia is so knowledgeable. She is so correct in her warning to you. My daughter has been tapering for two years and stll has about another year. She can only taper about 2% or less at a time. She just got a full scholorship to college. She was nominated by the Department of Education as the scholar of the year and will have a award's dinner with the Govenor next week..............all this with tapering and having missed abot 50 days of school this year due to tapering ...............she still mamaged to be #4 in her graduating class of 500 kids, work and do community service as well as take 3 college courses. She also sleeps about 12 to 14 hourse a day and usually naps after school on nights she does not work and wakes up at 10 PM and then stays up till 2 PM. then gets up 6:30 for school.

So if I use her as an example, slow tapering is the best way to get off this poison and still be able to function. I have dedicated every spare momement to researching lexapro..........................this forum I hope has helped others.

Please listen to our warnings about fast tapering. I would love to have my daughter off lexapro but it alters the brain's chemistry and by tapering slowly the neurotransmitters have the chance to get use to functioning with lesser amounts of lexapro.

Julia is absolutely correct..........................do not taper every week or EVER skip a dose of lexapro.

aunty

[auntybiotic]

Originally Posted by erinkj

Thank you very much for the encouragement dear. It REALY helps. I will taper slow. I don't have a choice. I do get a bit frustrated when I think about how long this is going to take. For me it will take over a year considering the many years I have been on SSRI and the dose . I know it will all work out in the end, I just need to vent sometimes...Thanks again...Hugs...Erin

I agree..................... it may take you three years to taper due to your high dose and the length of time you have been on SSRI's but if you can function and know that you are not hurting your body......who cares. Think of it as a necessary inconvenience.
aunty

[ivysphotomom]

Thanks Julia and Aunty for the advice.

I understand now why you're recommending not changing doses every week.

So what I'll do, is cut down to 9mg, rather than 9.5, and hang there for a while. And see how things go.

It's a good time for me to do this, as I'm almost caught up with my work, and don't have much going on for a couple of months.

Will continue to check in here, to learn, and hopefully help others when I can.

~Mary

[ivysphotomom]

Hi Erin,

Just wanted to let you know that I enjoyed reading your history! Wow, a baby at 16! My oldest daughter is now 16!

I admire your determination to educate yourself, and jump into teaching! Good for you!

My mom was also in college, to become a nurse, when I started! Was kinda cool!

I need to start painting again. After my photography work is done, then come kids (3 little league teams, homework), bills, house, maybe eating, sleeping, reading the paper, watching the Pittsburgh Penguins, then knitting. Those have been my priorities the last several years! But I miss drawing and painting. That's what I spent my childhood, and undergrad years, doing!

Did you see Aunty and Julia's recommendations for tapering? Hopefully when I feel the 'cut' it won't be too bad! I feel ********************py on the lex, and felt ********************py going off. I just don't want to have the long, drawn out side effects stuff happen.

Will be in touch!

~Mary

[dancinsunshine]

I hear all of u talking about percentages and liquids. I am confused. I have cut down from 30mg to 20mg for about the last week. I actually cut down last Saturday so it's been exactly a week. I want to know about how long i should wait to go down to 10mg or should i even do that? Like i said before i am just pretty clueless about this stuff. I went to my Psychiatris who specializes in addiction medicine and he said i could cut back once a week for the next few weeks til i am off of it. He also said that the side effects are uncomfortable, but can't kill you unlike other drug withdrawl. I want to do this right, but it seems like no one has any definite answers. I mean the Dr. says one thing, but i trust what you all are saying too so i'm torn..help please!! I am 28yrs old and i gained like 20lbs on this stuff i want off of it and i want the real me back too!!

Carey