I started Lexapro (10mg/day) about Nov 20th (2007).
It kicked in about 3 weeks later and I finally started getting some relief from my constant anxiety (GAD). I feel almost completely normal at this time.
Now I am well into working this program and have done a lot of research about this condition (GAD) and how to deal with it and control it.
So starting Jan 7th I started reducing my Lexapro to 3/4 pill (approx 7.5mg). Today is Jan 22nd and so far so good. I can tell a little difference. I am starting to feel a bit less lathargic and my thinking seems a bit more clear. I will continue until the end of Jan then go to 1/2 pills for a month. If at any time along the way I feel I can't handle it I can always increase my dose. But I know that's not going to happen because I have tools to help me control my thoughts and emotions.
What do you folks think, am I going about this correctly? My Dr. says I should stay on Lex for a year or more, but after reading all the scary stories on the internet, I don't want to risk the long term effects of this drug and trying to get off it.
Please, anyone reading this, if you have stopped (or tried to stop) using Lexapro, please share your experience and your advice. Thanks so much.
God Bless and Be well.
Lexapro, Time to stop, Advice?
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Guest
Hey Don 56,
I aint no doc, and I don't have any experience with Lexapro, but I think you're doin the right thing. You seem to me to already have some of the tools in use in your willingness to experiment with your dosages in the small increments and watching for any changes. Hope I can be like you when I grow up
I aint no doc, and I don't have any experience with Lexapro, but I think you're doin the right thing. You seem to me to already have some of the tools in use in your willingness to experiment with your dosages in the small increments and watching for any changes. Hope I can be like you when I grow up
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Guest
Hi Don,
I went off Lexapro. I was on 20 mg a day. At my doctor's direction, I cut back to 10 mg a day for one month. The I went to 10 mg every other day for a month. Then I stopped. Coming off it slowly is best. I had no problem at all.
You say you are on 10mg. Cut pill in half - taking 5 mg for one month and then stop. Or cut the 5 mg in half and stay with 2.5 mg a day for another month, OR you can take 5 mg every other day for a month and then stop. So it looks like 10 mg, 5 mg, 2.5 mg to 0. You should have no trouble at all.
Expect some anxiety, Don, but not because of the lack of Lexapro - more because of the fear of the lack of Lexapro. Deal with the feelings. They won't hurt you and they will pass.
I went off Lexapro. I was on 20 mg a day. At my doctor's direction, I cut back to 10 mg a day for one month. The I went to 10 mg every other day for a month. Then I stopped. Coming off it slowly is best. I had no problem at all.
You say you are on 10mg. Cut pill in half - taking 5 mg for one month and then stop. Or cut the 5 mg in half and stay with 2.5 mg a day for another month, OR you can take 5 mg every other day for a month and then stop. So it looks like 10 mg, 5 mg, 2.5 mg to 0. You should have no trouble at all.
Expect some anxiety, Don, but not because of the lack of Lexapro - more because of the fear of the lack of Lexapro. Deal with the feelings. They won't hurt you and they will pass.
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Guest
Yes, good for you! I, too was on Lexapro for about a year. Tapering off like you're doing is what I did. I had the brain zap side effects, but knew why so it didn't bother me too much. I agree with the previous post that you may feel uneasy, but it's probably because your brain is telling you it "should" be when in reality that's not truth.
Keep it up!
Keep it up!
Hey Don, I'm right where your at with the medication. In September, 2007 I started on ativan 2mg, and lamactil 50mg. Currently, I'm taking 1mg of ativan, and 25mg lamactil. My psych doctor is recommending I increase the ativan, and stay on the lamactil until summer. I too feel better because of this program, and feel I have learned the tools necessary to beat this anxiety.
Not to scare you, but right before Christmas I went to an endocronologist, and she did blood work on me. When I received the results, I was told that my "prolactin" hormone levels were elevated which indicated I had a brain tumor in my pituitary gland. I was in shock! Thank God for this program, because I couldn't believe the news, but I did know how to handle the stress and anxiety. I went to a Neurologist at USC and he informed me that some anti-depressants cause elevated levels of certain hormones. I had an MRI done, and there was no tumor (although he wants to check me in about one year again). He advised to get off the lamactil, with the help of my psych doctor and continue this program. Also, I went back to the endocronologist, and she too recommended "weaning" off the lamactil, and have my blood tested in a month or so. She said the same thing about anti-depressants, and hormone levels, etc.
I thank god for the outcome, and know that I will completely be able to handle this anxiety. I no longer fear "it", and I know I will handle anything that comes my way (even a so-called tumor).
You'll be fine, and I'll be fine. Keep up the great work!
God bless, Suz
Not to scare you, but right before Christmas I went to an endocronologist, and she did blood work on me. When I received the results, I was told that my "prolactin" hormone levels were elevated which indicated I had a brain tumor in my pituitary gland. I was in shock! Thank God for this program, because I couldn't believe the news, but I did know how to handle the stress and anxiety. I went to a Neurologist at USC and he informed me that some anti-depressants cause elevated levels of certain hormones. I had an MRI done, and there was no tumor (although he wants to check me in about one year again). He advised to get off the lamactil, with the help of my psych doctor and continue this program. Also, I went back to the endocronologist, and she too recommended "weaning" off the lamactil, and have my blood tested in a month or so. She said the same thing about anti-depressants, and hormone levels, etc.
I thank god for the outcome, and know that I will completely be able to handle this anxiety. I no longer fear "it", and I know I will handle anything that comes my way (even a so-called tumor).
You'll be fine, and I'll be fine. Keep up the great work!
God bless, Suz
Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.....Mother Theresa
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Hey Don...just curious...How did the Lexapro make you feel? I am on 10mgs as well....This starting my 7th week...I can't tell if it's working or not...But I have been drinking waaaayyy to much while Iv'e been taking it....PM me or write what exactly it did...My anxiety...I don't think has went anywhere....I am going to give it the full 8 weeks, to see where I'll be. Any inof will be appreciated!!!1
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Guest
Don-congratulations on feeling better enough to wean off! I have not taken Lexapro myself, but I would caution you to make sure you run your tapering plan by your doctor just to be safe. I did once taper myself off of Prozac and it seemed okay for a while but when I realized I was not ready had to go through the "ramping up" part all over again. NOT that this will happen to you, but just be sure your doc is aware of what you've decided.
Good luck to you!!!!
Tara
Good luck to you!!!!
Tara
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Bernard,
Be careful about drinking while taking Lexapro. That’s one of the things they warn about. Check into to that and see what possible problems that may cause.
Lexapro takes 2 – 6 weeks to start working. Mine took just over 3 weeks to kick in. But when it did, I started feeling better right away. Since then I have felt pretty normal. However, I have no way to tell if I would have gotten better anyway on my own plus by using this course or if most my improvement is due to the drug.
I did experience some side effects, mostly during the first 1 -2 weeks after taking this drug:
Stomach pain
Loss of sex drive
Weird head aches and heavy feeling in back of head
Night sweating, palms and bottoms of feet
Strange dreams about dead people
Feeling lethargic
What I do know at this point is that I want OFF this drug before it takes over my life.
If you decide to quit taking Lexapro, make sure you taper off very gradually. Stopping all at once can cause more severe anxiety.
Good luck to you.
Be careful about drinking while taking Lexapro. That’s one of the things they warn about. Check into to that and see what possible problems that may cause.
Lexapro takes 2 – 6 weeks to start working. Mine took just over 3 weeks to kick in. But when it did, I started feeling better right away. Since then I have felt pretty normal. However, I have no way to tell if I would have gotten better anyway on my own plus by using this course or if most my improvement is due to the drug.
I did experience some side effects, mostly during the first 1 -2 weeks after taking this drug:
Stomach pain
Loss of sex drive
Weird head aches and heavy feeling in back of head
Night sweating, palms and bottoms of feet
Strange dreams about dead people
Feeling lethargic
What I do know at this point is that I want OFF this drug before it takes over my life.
If you decide to quit taking Lexapro, make sure you taper off very gradually. Stopping all at once can cause more severe anxiety.
Good luck to you.
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Guest
Yep, but I really want to seperate myself from anxiety....If I could be the person I used to be before anxiety for a little while, while being on lex, then I think when it's time to stop it should be an easy transition....I'm just all for getting my life back....For some reason the present moment is eluding me....But it may come back....Yes Iv'e been drinking almost everyday sun up sun down, gowing to work everything...I haven't touched it in a couple days....I'm hoping to wake up one morning feeling like me, the same way I woke up that August morning feeling like a train wreck!!!!