Weaning off Cipralex (Lexapro)

[CanuckGuy42]

Well it's been almost a year since I started Cipralex (lexapro) ended up at 15 mgs a day... so a pretty low dose. Well I have doctor's blessing now to begin the wean off process - SLOWLY. So today i took my first dose of 12.5mg and i will stay at this for about 10-14 days and then drop again to 10 mgs for another 10-14 days then stay at that for 10-14 days and then go down to 7.5, then 5 and then stop. So the entire process will take close to 3 months but I am in no rush and would rather minimize any side effects from the ramping down process.

I will chronicle my progress (like I did on this site when I first went on the drug and was ramping up last year) for anyone who is interested or perhaps thinking about doing the same thing.

[CanuckGuy42]

Ok so latest update on my weaning off Lexapro..... I weaned down to 5 mg doses without too much problem... stayed there for 2 weeks and then stopped completely about 2 weeks ago... and about 3 days later I really started to feel the dizziness, lightheadedness and it is still going on. Some days and/or times of day seems to be worse than others and those times vary. I tried the slow taper (almost two months) and while I had almost no symptoms tapering.. the minute I stopped and the drug exited my system ... well.... different story.

I will never take another dose of this medication again. I cannot understand how a drug that causes this type of physical reaction when you stop it is deemed "non addictive"....clearly my body needs it or thinks it does.... That said, everyone is different.. I learned that ramping up on it last year and the same applies for weaning off. I am hoping that eventually (sooner rather than later) my system will re-adapt and these symptoms will go away. I am working out at the gym everyday now so trying to counteract this with that activity. I dont have anxiety anymore... I just have withdrawal from this <> drug......

[nursegirl6572]

That's great news.  Just goes to show that a controlled, deliberate taper will either greatly reduce, or eliminate symptoms.

[CanuckGuy42]

1.5 weeks at the lowered dosing of 12.5 mgs (down from 15) and don't really feel any different so plan to drop to 10 mgs next week and see what happens.

[nursegirl6572]

Sounds great!  Thanks for the update!

[CanuckGuy42]

the other thing I am doing is getting back to going to the gym everyday.... i read that exercising increases seratonin levels and therefore can reduce weaning off side effects by stimulating increased seratonin levels naturally...

[CanuckGuy42]

well I am on day 6 of a reduced dosing of Cipralex (from 15 to 12.5mgs) So far no major adverse physical effects if I had to say anything it would be perhaps a bit more jittery and find that I get tired more quickly at night... but not at all sure that is attributable to the weaning off process.

I will continue at this dosage for another 10 days and then drop again to 10 mgs.... and hold that for two weeks and see what happens. Taking it nice and slow... no rush...