weaning off Lexapro

[hhkos]

Planning to start tapering off Lexapro tomorrow. (I'm on 15 mgs.) I'm sure it's responsible for my hair thinning (I've read a lot on this) and I want off this drug. (I'm female.)
I plan to cut down slowly and carefully.
*** Is there anyone here who has gone off Lexapro and stayed off? (The withdrawal stories I've read are scary, but I badly want off this stuff, which never really worked for me anyway...)
I'm worried, cause I've been on it a while -over 4 years or so...
Any advice?
Any feedback at all would be appreciated.
--Thanks a lot

[gizmogirl]

I never had it help me or hurt and weaned off then back on to make my doc feel like he'd done SOMETHING! I'm on 20 mg and just weaned twice as slow as started up.
I lost 1/3 my hair in menopause, one third when anemic, and got about a sixth of it back - must be time.
Good luck

[Rozia]

please call your dr. and get instructions how to get off the med. Please dont do it on your own. the phone call is free. I was instructed by my dr.

[sleepy1]

If your on 15mgs - go to 10mg for a week - 5mg for a week - done!

This was the taper for my son who had been at 20mg.

[hhkos]

I'm steadily tapering off and doing well so far; going even slower than what some of your replies say. (I had asked my dr. how to do this over a year ago, but feel he's a bit careless w/advice & didn't quite trust him. So I'm slowing it down a bit; am really afraid of those "brain zaps" people talk about.)

Thank you; it's reassuring to read that your son was able to wean off it successfully, even going faster than I am. (Did he have any problems getting off it, and is he still off it?) It seems that many people end up going back on it, so it's nice to hear when someone doesn't.

[sleepy1]

Thank you; it's reassuring to read that your son was able to wean off it successfully, even going faster than I am. (Did he have any problems getting off it, and is he still off it?) It seems that many people end up going back on it, so it's nice to hear when someone doesn't.

At the time my son was weaning off of Lexapro he had started taking Cymbalta. He did not notice any problems when he was decreasing Lexapro but I noticed. He had more anxiety and his facial expression changed from being "just him" to looking angry even when he was not angry. He is in the trial and error phase of these medications.

I'm glad to hear your tappering process is going well and of course there is nothing wrong with going even slower ;)

[shelley2]

any withdrawl from any medication like this should be very slow as you can suffer from some horrible withdrawl symptoms.

[Gsw19]

HHKOS,

What method did you choose for your taper? I am on 10 mg of Lexapro and really want to get off of it and any help would be appreciated.

[Nana4&cntn]

HHKOS,

Are you taking the Lexapro for pain or for depression. If it is for the later. You should talk to your shrink first. There are other less toxic meds you can take. Some of the older ssri's are much better. The ssnri's are much worse. JMHO.

take care,
Kathy