Weaning off Lexapro

DukeR · Post by **DukeR** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 6:07 am

Has anyone weaned off lexapro? Did you have any side effects?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 4:32 am

I am weaning off it right now, so far so good.
But I was only taking 10mg/day and I have only cut back to 7.5mg/day during the last month.
This week I am doing 7.5 & 5 every other day.
I will continue that for several weeks and see how I do. If I am still doing ok, I'll drop down to 5mg/day for another month.
I'm working my way down VERY slowly because of all the scary stories I've read about stopping this drug too soon.
Weaning off Lexapro is very do-able but you have to be careful about how fast you come off it.
How much are you taking and how long have you been on it?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:46 am

I have been on 10 mg as well. I have started weening down to 5 mg a day. I have been doing this for a week. I have noticed that I was very sensitive and little irritable last week and a little tired but this week I am going to stay at 5 mg. I think that I am doing it slow enough...

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:46 am

once you get down to 5 mg, would the next step be to quit?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:15 am

Hey! I was only on 10 mg too. I went off partially b/c I didn't feel it was helping and partially b/c I no longer had insurance. I didn't have the luxry of wheening off though. Once my insurance was gone I didn't have any left. I just started taking it every other day and eventually cut cold turkey. I didn't seem to have any side effects. I am back on a generic form that costs less now b/c after I graduated from school my temper and panic were out of control. If you're only on ten mg. I wouldn't worry too much about side effects.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 10:19 am

thank you very much Steve cat. I just want to make sure that I am doing it correctly, I have been taking it for 3 and half years.

honeydew3 · Post by **honeydew3** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 3:48 am

Beth,
Please continue to post here an let us know how you are doing. I am very interested in your results. Hoping the best for you.
Thanks,

luvpiggy · Post by **luvpiggy** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 5:48 am

Beth-

Stay on the 5 mg for one month. After the one month is over you should be fine stopping the Lexapro. If you want to go even slower then go to 2 and a half mg a day for one month and then stop. (You can buy a pill cutter from your pharmacy.)

However, staying on the 5 mg for a month and then stopping should be cautious enough.

Confirm this with your doctor. I am just sharing with you what my doctor had me do. I stopped after the 5 mg for one month.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 6:00 am

I've been off Lexapro for about 6 weeks now. I was taking 10 mg. My doctor said to take half for a week, and then 1/2 every other day. However I was afraid that was too quick so I took 1/2 for 2 weeks; 1/4 for a week. I tried the every other day thing but found I felt great on the days I didn't take it, and terrible the days I would. I was a little bit weepy but that's it and it cleared up as soon as I was off it entirely. I feel great now. In retrospect, weaning off was easier than going on it for me. Good luck.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 6:28 am

Yes, going 5 mg every other day for a month is also another option.