Lexapro withdrawal

bobpriest · Post by **bobpriest** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 10:55 am

Hi Friends

I am trying to slowly withdraw from lexapro a little at a time. I was on 10 mg for over 4 years and am now on 5 mg for 4 weeks. when do I know when to reduce again? I am having some symptoms - but am working through them slowly. I know I have made a good advance and am able to do most of what I was able to do before. I just need to be able to go out more - its hard when there are no others to go out with. Any suggestions or comments about the lexapro would be helpful.

Bob

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 2:56 pm

Have you consulted your doctor/psychiatrist about your decision to withdraw? I would ask them what they recommend. The slower you do it, the easier it is.

great lakes blue · Post by **great lakes blue** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 2:18 am

I have been taking Lexapro for years. I weaned myself off of them once. I just cut the dosage in half every week until I was done. I have since learned that I shouldn't have done that. I thought I was better, but I am not. Make sure you are ready to get off of them. Depression is harder to treat everytime you quit taking your meds.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 8:34 am

Bob,
Go much slower. I was on Lex for only about 2 months but took almost 3 months to ween off.
First off, don't start by cutting your meds in half, that's normally too big a jump to start with. That's why you were still having some symptoms.
Also, before you start reducing your meds, make sure you have completed some sort of CBT education so you know what you are dealing with and how to handle it.
I'd recommend staying with your current (reduced) dose for a longer time until you are ready to take the next small step downward.
I went from 10mg to 7.5mg for a full month before I dropped down to 5mg and stayed there for another full month. Then 2.5mg for another month and finally stopped altogether.
When you do this, be sure to add fish oil tablets and magnesium supplements to your diet.
And of course cut out all caffene and greatly reduce sugar.
Also,if you increase your daily exercise to 2 hours per day and keep a positive atitude you will likely find you don't need any meds at all.

God bless and peace be with you.
Don

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:17 am

I'm finding it hard to eliminate caffeine ( I have cut down) as well as reduce my dosage of lexapro. I feel pretty good, am able to work ,but have difficulty getting out of the house to relax. Anyone else have trouble getting out for fun, even though getting out for work is not a problem.