Coming off Escitalopram (Lexapro)

[Liz0828]

Hi

I have only been on Escitalopram for 19 days. I started out with 5MG for the first 11 days and now I am on 10MG. I have found that this medication is not for me and I would like to try other ways of dealing with my anxiety. Has anyone ever had any experiences getting off this drug when you were only on it for a short time? I took only 7.5MG last night. Also, if anyone has any experiences with vitamin supplements that help, please let me know what has worked for you.

Thanks everyone.

[lene54]

You sound like me.  I have such awful side effects from so many medications that I know I can not survive until they go away, if ever. If you have been able to taper as you have without side effects, then you should be able to come off of it.  You do need to talk to your doctor about what you are doing.  He may want to try you on something else.  However, I can tell you from my experience, I can not take any anti-depressants.  People are so different when it comes to medicine.

[Liz0828]

I took 7.5mg for two days and have taken 5mg for the past 3 days and no side effects. I have also been taking omega 3 and vitamin b complex and exercising. So far so good!

[Paxiled]

You should go down pretty much as you went up, but given the short duration you've been taking it stopping should be easy -- it probably hasn't even begun working yet (side effects start before effects) so your brain isn't adapted to it, which means it shouldn't have a difficult time adapting back to being without it.  As to vitamins, pick up a book called Natural Highs by Hyla Cass, a psychiatrist from UCLA who uses natural medicine in her practice.  It's a good overview of how remedies are combined for maximum effects and how to dose them.  Then, because you're not experienced in these remedies, seeing a doctor who practices integrated medicine or a naturopath would be a good idea.

[birdie0907]

Why did you go on it, and why do you want to go off?
Does doc know, and did you receive tapering instructions from doc or a pharmacist? I wouldn't go off any med without getting the go ahead FROM DOC, so suggest taking it today to be safe.
I have no idea if you can go off immediately so you need professional guidance before attempting it. I went off Celexa and had no problems, but it was the type of med that required a taper, so I am not trying to frighten you - just preventing an unnecessarily unhappy experience if it requires tapering.