Connect
← Return to Tapering off Lexapro or Cipralex (Escitalopram)
Discussion
Tapering off Lexapro or Cipralex (Escitalopram)
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: Mar 5, 2023 | Replies (28)Comment receiving replies
@helenfrances
Hi there,
Thanks for being responsive.
I appreciate your time in writing those valuable, supportive posts!
I am living in Saudi Arabia; I can hardly access a reputable physician! I should double-check whether his guidelines are recommended or not.
For example, I have finally accessed a reliable source of information about tapering steps:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/how-to-taper-off-your-antidepressant
Harvard medical school states that I should decrese my dose by 5 mg each stage: 20,15, 10, 5 mg then no taking anymore. This is clearly different from my physician’s proposal which seems to be unwise. As I am obsessed with the reliability of information I hear or read, it seems like I have to reduce my daily dose to 15 mg rather than 10 mg.
Replies to "@helenfrances Hi there, Thanks for being responsive. I appreciate your time in writing those valuable, supportive..."
Many years ago I was told by my excellent pharmacologist/psychiatrist that some people are exquisitely sensitive to certain medications, as I was to imipramine. From a top dose of 70 mg, he helped me go down by taking just 10 mg less on one day a week for a month, then on two days a week for a month etc. It took a long time for me to go down, but it was almost painless. If you have been on your med for a long time, there is no rush. Only you know how you feel. You may feel the difference for a day or two, but you know your own body. You will know whether you can tolerate going faster or not.
Connect
I agree with the tapering dose slowly 5mg each month until you off the medication. Some doctors who are not experienced enough with prescribing those medications don’t realize that the process must be slow when coming off those meds. If you come off those meds too fast there is a good chance you will have unpleasant side effects like depression getting worse and withdrawals. These meds effect the brain and should be taken off slowly.