Long term use of Lexapro - to lower dose or to wean off the drug?

I have suffered from anxiety illness most of my life. I have used an SSRI since about 1994 and they are one of the few treatments that have helped me. Initially, in 1994, I used paxil. When I tried to come off, the anxiety symptoms would become almost unbearable, leading into depression. So, to make a long story short, I am a long term user, and anytime I tried to wean off completely, it was not a good experience. I retired about 18 months ago, and was feeling quite well, and against my pdoc's advice I slowly weaned myself off lexapro (was stable and doing fine on low dose of 5 mg). I weaned off very slowly over a 2-3 month period, cutting the dose to approximately 1.25 mg/day before phasing it out completely). I was able to come off it without too many issues this time. I did reasonably well for about 6 months, but then noticed the anxiety symptoms slowly creeping back in. My sleep started to become very disturbed and I was irritable and anxious most of the day. At about the 8 month point I consulted with my pdoc and we decided to go back on the lexapro, trying only 5 mg. So I am just into my 5th week of 5 mg, and the startup has been very rough. I am hoping the 5 mg will help me get back to where I need to be. So for me, I believe the illness is more of a physiological, chronic condition and I am no longer adverse to accepting the idea that I function better on them than off them. You may want to try going down to 5 mg and holding there for a while (3-6 months) and see how you feel. I hope this helps. BTW, I am 57 year old male, professional, that did manage to have a 30 year career and somewhat normal life, but definitely affected by mental health issues. It is not easy, but there are treatments like SSRI's that can help manage things.

THISGIRL20; I really want to warn you if the 20 is your age and even if not, Way to many people make this mistake, Is not understand that we have a chemical Imbalance where the Lexapro supplements the serotonin and other balances in our brains. So it is real hard to tell if you are over with you panic disorder anxiety etc. Go through all the hard work of Tapering off of the Lexapro and very shortly afterward end up right back where you were years ago. And then you are doing so well now, But not always does the Lexapro work as good the second time around. I am not trying to scare you by any means but many people suffer from this for years or their life. And it is much better to take a pill and fell and be normal. I see that you're seeing a Gp now they are fine. But I think prior to even thinking of going off the Lexapro you should be evaluated by a physiatrist or a mental health expert that may be able to put some balance in your thinking to make sure. And no matter what happens you have been on 10mg for many years dropping to 5mg would be a big mistake and many doctors are not as good at tapering you off because until not too long ago they did not believe we had problems getting off of these medications. All I can say is the slower you do go off the better and this would be like you never cut more than one pill at a time, But most studies say from a 16th of a pill at a time and keep it like that from 2 weeks to 4 weeks it is a long drawn out process. but you keep chipping off with a one-sided razor blade most are called Gem blades in pharmacy or hardware stores. Anyway, the doctor should give you more information on this and for no reason do you accept the answer just take 1/2 blah blah. you must come off with as little discomfort as possible or you well get the panic attacks etc brain zaps anxiety and you well not be able to tell if it is from the withdrawals Or just you normal reasons for taking this medication to start with. Please there are many great people here and many can help you, So please keep in touch and someone is around that well be more than happy to try and help you.