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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Cosmobob on May 21, 2004, at 16:22:58
I recently decided to go off of Lexapro after several months of taking 10 mg/day. My doctor said to "just go off" - but I told her I wanted to ease off (I had heard anti-depressant withdrawal nightmares). She said to take 1 pill every other day for a week and then be done.
I tried that and at the end of the week my entire body was "itching" - more like electrical firings everywhere - my legs started to get numb and cold fromthe toes up. I went to the ER and they told me to take a pill. All of the symptoms disappeared within 6 hours. I have tried 1 pill one day followed by 1/2 pill the next, etc., for a week since then but today (a 1/2 pill day) my legs are getting numb again. I cannot work with my current doctor as her knowledge is clearly less than mine.
HOW can I withdraw from this drug safely? What protocol should I try? I am very concerned about doing the right thing, but I want to be off of this as soon as I can without incurring more symptoms.
Posted by Impermanence on May 21, 2004, at 17:28:24
In reply to Help for Lexapro Withdrawal, posted by Cosmobob on May 21, 2004, at 16:22:58
File a little bit (1mg) off the 10mg pill each four or five days, and maybe talk to your doc about getting some benzodiazepines to calm your central nervous system during the hard times.
Good luck.
Posted by ravenstorm on May 24, 2004, at 10:30:55
In reply to Re: Help for Lexapro Withdrawal, posted by Impermanence on May 21, 2004, at 17:28:24
lexapro comes in a liquid form!!!!!!!! It allows you to drop much more slowly than you could with pills. Titrate slowly, by 1mg. I would stay at each level at least one week. If you have no symptoms after a week do the next drop. Doctors are sooooooooo stupid when it comes to withdrawal. While some people can wean off quickly, most people have to take much more time than their doctors have indicated.
Good luck to you!!!!!!!!
Posted by Cosmobob on May 25, 2004, at 13:38:53
In reply to Re: Help for Lexapro Withdrawal, posted by ravenstorm on May 24, 2004, at 10:30:55
Thank you for this info. Until I decide to use the liquid, would you recommend taking whatever dose I take (.5, .75, 10 mg per day) all at one time, or staggering them by cutting the pills into halves/quarters? I find that I have tremendous trouble at night, when I lay flat to go to sleep. If I take a dose 1 hour before some of the symptoms subside enough for me to sleep a little. I seem to have less trouble during the day when I am moving around.
> lexapro comes in a liquid form!!!!!!!! It allows you to drop much more slowly than you could with pills. Titrate slowly, by 1mg. I would stay at each level at least one week. If you have no symptoms after a week do the next drop. Doctors are sooooooooo stupid when it comes to withdrawal. While some people can wean off quickly, most people have to take much more time than their doctors have indicated.
>
> Good luck to you!!!!!!!!
This is the end of the thread.
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