Posted by Lou Pilder on April 18, 2010, at 17:51:42
In reply to Re: Tapering down Lexapro 20mg, posted by bleauberry on April 18, 2010, at 13:24:16
> From what I have seen in others over the years and experienced myself, the taper schedules given us by doctors are often extremely aggressive. Those schedules almost guarantee some very rough times. 20mg to 10mg in such a short time is huge.
>
> These meds are extremely potent at what they do.
>
> I would suggest getting some practice at cutting pills, or crushing them into powder so you can make custome sized piles for doses, and lower your doses by about 1mg every 3 days or so. Bringing the dose down in very tiny steps over a gradual time period is the best way to avoid severe unpleasantness. There is no way to avoid it completely. But it can be greatly minimized.
>
> What you are experiencing right now does not need to be that way. It is your nervous system in total confusion from a 50% decrease in dose. An informal general rule of thumb is to reduce dose no faster than 10% per week.
>
> While benzos, stimulants, and other addictive substances are known for their withdrawal symptoms, I have experienced some of the worst withdrawals on common things like paxil, lexapro, zoloft, effexor, zyprexa. These drugs in my opinion are greatly underestimated in their power to create severe withdrawals.
>
> Bleau,
You have a great message here. I invite all here to look at the following video. You find it by
A. bring up google
B. key in as you see it here: Youtube, Xanax (anxiolytic addiction and withdrawal)
C. If more than one come up, see Gwen Olsen
Lou
poster:Lou Pilder
thread:943708
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100416/msgs/943891.html