Healing > Medications and Therapy

Getting off of an SSRI

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outontheweekend:
Hi guys, I've been wanting to get off of Lexapro for a long time now. I've been on it almost 5 years. I want to get off of it because I don't like the sexual side effects, the horrible hangovers from drinking alcohol, and I want to take a more natural approach to my GAD (generalized anxiety disorder.) I'm trying to figure out a good time to start tapering off. If I start tapering off now (as in within the next week or two) then I will be completely off by my spring break when I'm traveling to NYC- (I have horrible anticipatory travel anxiety.) Or I could wait and start to taper off after my trip...which would mean putting off something that I really want to get going with.

Any suggestions? Also, would anyone like to share their experience with tapering off of Lexapro? (I currently take 10mg and have for the entire time I've been on it)

Thank you!

stevo1111:
I only took Lexapro for about 4 months at the 10mg dose. It didn't do good things for me and didn't really seem to be helping much - a holistic natural approach totally changed everything for me- so it was time to move on from it. Being young and having a vibrant social life and great friends means that I just can't keep myself from occasionally drinking, the Lexapro basically robbed be of being able to hang out with my friends and be a normal 20 something so, like you, I decided it wasn't right for me.

I tapered down to 5mg first for a few weeks then just cut to 0 because I had been on it for such a short time. I noticed a lot of mood swings but my anxiety didn't seem to increase at all. The physical symptoms were minimal if anything. It seems like physical symptoms move on after a relatively short time, a week or two, but your mood might swing for a while afterwords. It really wasn't half as bad as getting onto the Lexapro in the first place. In terms of swings I would just notice that for a few days I'd be sad for no reason and then I'd feel like my normal self. After a bit this goes away.

When I stopped taking it I really boosted my working out, water intake and cut the caffeine way down. I noticed that I was hyper sensitive to caffeine for the 1-2 weeks after stopping it but after that I was back to normal.

The two best suggestions: 1. work with your Dr. to taper off. Often at the end they may give you one or two doses of prozac (much longer half life) to take the edge off of the first 1-3 days. A slow taper always works best. 2. If you have big plans for the near future and you're feeling pretty good right now, I'd suggest just hanging out for a little bit then after your spring break come off of the Lexapro.

It seems like you're young also, so your body is still able to relearn pretty easily. I always operated at such a high tension level before, always pushing myself to the edge and living under huge self imposed stress. I totally retooled my life at 24 because I was burning myself out and my body was pushing back. Exercise and meditation have totally changed my life and being young really helps that. Also, I forced myself to bring the stress back into check.

Best of luck, have a fun spring break! NYC is spring is great. Such a fun city.

outontheweekend:
Thank you so much for your reply, stevo!

Although Lexapro has done great things for my anxiety, being 25 and very social I feel like you were in the exact same boat as me with Lexapro. I'm definitely planning on taking care of my anxiety and stress through natural alternatives once I'm off of Lexapro. I already do yoga and exercise regularly, but I plan on practicing regular mediation techniques and seeing a naturopath to prescribe natural, anxiety reducing supplements and possibly dietary changes....oh, you also mentioned caffeine, I am definitely going to cut that way down as well!  :yes:

I really appreciate your suggestion on waiting until after spring break to start tapering off...my anxious, impulsive mind was telling me "get off this stuff ASAP!" but my rational mind was telling me to wait...and getting that advice has prompted me to wait. I think that it's the best idea. I won't be able to drink in NYC but oh well, there's lots of other stuff to do! ;)

Thanks again,

outontheweekend

coeus:
I'm currently on 10mg Lexapro though it has only been close to a month for me. I plan to wean off Lexapro in the near future as I believe that I have met my therapeutic goals whilst on Lexapro.

Given that you have been on Lexapro for almost 5 years now, it would probably be best for you to cut down your dosage gradually and allow for each reduction transition to occur for at least two weeks allowing your body to adapt to the new changes. Like stevo suggested, best to speak to your GP to work together on how to prudently cut down your medication.

Meditation and exercise was a fantastic suggestion to combine in your regimen. Exercise can alleviate the symptoms that come with GAD and depression while meditation can help you deal with your cognitive functioning.

Hope this helps!

DMB1972:
I want off the Ssri rollercoaster too, any sugestions?

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