I'm curious to hear from those who made it 0 after a long/slow taper. Was the drop to 0 similar to other drops? Or was it much bigger?
I have actually felt better the lower I go during the last year (I am also correcting an iron deficiency, which has really helped.) I do have physical withdrawal symptoms, but my mood has been better the lower I go. The stories of tardive aka & WD hitting hard months later have me really spooked. Looking back, all my really bad mood episodes and aka started after an up dose. Does that mean I will likely be OK? Need reassurance.

 

TIA! Happy to be on the new site!

 

Link to my SA Thread:

 

Hi @Dee12h

 

Welcome to the forum!

 

This is a volunteer-run, community forum aimed at helping those who are tapering and/or experiencing difficulties with psychiatric medications and withdrawl syndrome. We are not medical professionals and cannot offer medical advice. We simply offer support and opinions which you could use as talking points with a medical provider knowledgeable in withdrawing off psychiatric medications.

 

Please familiarise yourself with the forum rules and the disclaimer located here: Guidelines

 

Please make sure your signature is kept up to date with your drug history. This will allow members to see some basic information about your drug history and situation so that they may help you best. Information on how to do this is located in the FAQs section above, but here is a direct link: Update Signature

Once this is done, future posts made by you will have this signature turned on by default. For this reason please keep it clear but condensed as possible.

I'm so sorry to read about the tough time you've had recently you will find plenty of support here for sure.

 

Thanks for creating your introduction topic. Perhaps you might give us little more background about your journey?

 

You have always been on quite a 'small' dose of Lexapro which is something Ive not really seen yet in my travels.

 

Lexapro is very potent in the lower doses so I am not surprised you have had issues with it. 

 

Looking at your footer you have just crossed to 0 this month from 0.06mg? This seems like a reasonable off point to me.

 

Have a read of this fantastic post by Brass Money from SA I think this will help with your question.

 

It doesn't end at "0"

 

In the mean time this is what I would do if I were you:

 

-Stay Hydrated 

 

-Eat a good clean whole food diet, avoiding processed foods and sugars.

 

-Stay away from caffeine, alcohol and antihistamines and any other psychoactive substances.

 

Supplements are to be avoided initially, as they often irritate our nervous systems. Try to get your nutrition through food.

 

Down the line, you may wish to introduce Fish Oil and Magnesium. Those who can tolerate them have found them calming to the nervous system. Be careful try one at a time and start low and see how you get on should you choose to try them.

 

A daily walk is very important as much as you can manage, if you can manage it. Gets you your fresh air and Vitamin D does wonders for your mind!

 

You are very welcome here and I hope you find the site supportive.

 

Chippy

Thanks for answering.
 

It took me a year to go from .06 to 0 (per my sig), kind of did micro-tapers every 3 wks. 
 

What more info do you need?

 

I've been on SA for years. Just read that BM post yesterday. 😆

Just curious about those who dropped to 0 after a slow taper, if that drop was much worse? Especially considering I had all my bad mood issues after updoses. 
 

(edit- *correcting an iron deficiency, not "efficiency"! In my 1st post.)

Edited February 16Feb 16 by Dee12h

Hey @Dee12h

 

Thanks for the post.

 

If wanted to make a more detailed post to start your topic off that is always encouraged so members on here can get to know you and read about your journey. It's completely up to you just a suggestion. 🙂

 

Sorry I didn't realise you were an SA member. Ive linked your thread above for you! 🙂 

 

Glad you found the Brass Monkey post, he added so much to this community over the years and his wisdom and experience is always appreciated with me.

 

I cant answer your question directly but hopefully others will have something to add.

 

Ive updated the typo in your first post.

 

Thanks again for joining wonderful to have you here.

 

Chippy

 

 

Hey @Dee12h I would check out the success stories here and on SA to according to their signature how it worked for them in the final drops. Hopefully that will bring you some reassurance. Congratulations on getting to zero… 🎉🎉🎉

Well, it's been 5 months off now, and it looks like my fears have come true. 😟 At 4.5 mo off I suddenly got a wave I haven't experienced in over a year. Still not as bad as my crash/aka, thankfully. The anxiety symptoms calmed after 5 days, but I'm still stuck in depression/dysphoria now, a couple wks later. ALL my waves in the past 1.5 yrs have been shorter than this one. 😖 I hope this isn't my "new normal" & those 4.5 mos were just a honeymoon phase.

6 hours ago, Dee12h said:

Well, it's been 5 months off now, and it looks like my fears have come true. 😟 At 4.5 mo off I suddenly got a wave I haven't experienced in over a year. Still not as bad as my crash/aka, thankfully. The anxiety symptoms calmed after 5 days, but I'm still stuck in depression/dysphoria now, a couple wks later. ALL my waves in the past 1.5 yrs have been shorter than this one. 😖 I hope this isn't my "new normal" & those 4.5 mos were just a honeymoon phase.

I remember all too well how tough it was in my previous attempts, at the time obviously I didn't know how hard the system works after zero to reach full regulation, I was convinced that this was the new horrible me, and that's how I would stay which led me right back to the drugs which definitely made thing much worse..

Don't let it discourage you, I know how cruel it feels especially after a period of improvement but the fluctuations are part of the process and it will fade with time.

There are many success stories on YouTube with similar cases that can give some hope, worth a look if you haven't already.

So very sorry for the bad spot @Dee12h it will get better, you got it just stay strong.

Edited July 19Jul 19 by Fullhealing

@Fullhealing Thank you. If you have links of youtube videos with someone doing great after 0 and then a late wave, I would appreciate it.

Hello @Dee12h , how are you doing? I’m so sorry that you got hit by a nasty wave so far out. Has it subsided? Wishing you peace and strength!