Advice...anyone wean from an anti-depressant?

nictel

So I've been taking Lexapro for a few years now for anxiety and depression.  After my son was born I had symptoms of PPD, so my dosage was upped to 20mg.  For a host of reasons and with the support of my MD and counselor, I've decided that for the time-being I don't want to be taking it anymore.  I have been slowly weaning for a few weeks now, cutting up the pills and taking 15mg, then 10mg, then 5mg, etc.  For 3 days now, I have been completely off the drug, and feel awful.  I feel dizzy, lightheaded, nausea, and have terrible headaches.  How long until I start to feel better?  It's hard taking care of DS when I feel so terrible.  Caffeine and naps (while he is napping) seem to help a little.  I am so frustrated because I wasn't on a really high dose and I was really careful to wean really slowly. 

Anyone been through this?

JillaBreeze

I have been through this with Paxil.  First of all, you're doing great with how slowly you've been weaning.  That's the best way to do it.  It's amazing to me how many people will just stop taking their SSRI cold turkey.

I had to go off Paxil completely in a 2 week time period, due to an unplanned pregnancy.  Carson is now 2 months old and doing just fine. Anyway, I had lots of problems and ultimately had to quit my job as a teacher's assistant and stay home.  The 'brain zaps' were the worst part.  I felt like I was being electrocuted at times.  Anxiety attacks began to plague me again every hour.  My mind would not rest.  I was shaky, nauseated, impatient, and consumed with worry. 

 When I was in my second trimester and still struggling, my OB put me on a low dose of Zoloft, which was deemed safer in pregnancy than Paxil.  It took the edge off a little and allowed me to function better.  After delivering Carson, I made the tough choice to get back on Paxil as I was having trouble coping still.  I reallly wanted to be rid of the Paxil because it was so traumatic getting off of it.  Anyway, I'm back on it and have been for almost two months and am 95% better.  I guess it's just what my body needs.  My DH is certainly glad I'm on it.  It helps me to be ME.  I was on it for about 7 years straight when I had to withdraw from it.  That may have made the withdrawal process worse that I was on it so long.

 Good luck with your withdrawal from Lexapro.  I certainly hope your experience is much better than mine. 

crazynervous

I had a hard time getting off zoloft awhile back so I started it again and then re weaned If the 5mg is a whole pill cut it in half for a couple weeks, then start taking the half does every other day, for a week or two then every third day and so on. It took me awhile but I didn't have any withdrawal symptoms. As soon as I felt a symptom I would take a does and then try to go that long again and see if I would have any symptoms.

winomom22

I had this when I weaned of Celexa. If I was having a really bad day and feeling like crap, I would take a half of a tab of the celexa and that seemed to help. I would try taking a very small amount every other day and then every couple of days and so on.