So what should Rekonum do in relation to the escitalopram/lexapro?

14 minutes ago, Steve1 said:

So what should Rekonum do in relation to the escitalopram/lexapro?

Stability is the key. It seems the 5 mg has been activating for him and the 2.5 mg not quite enough. It's about finding a balance between the two. Going to 5 mg from 2.5 mg was a big jump ...3 mg might be better.

1 hour ago, Chippy said:

think reducing to 3mg when you drop next is a completely reasonable thing to do.

It is important once you decide, to stick with it consistently to give it time to help.

@LostinCanada I havent dropped from 5mg yet at all

Has the 5mg been any better than the 10mg?

21 minutes ago, Rekonum said:

@LostinCanada I havent dropped from 5mg yet at all

Was last night the first time you felt activated from the 5 mg? Are you always taking it at exactly the same time each day?

Are you having any caffeine?(coffee, chocolate, tea-green or black) No alcohol? No artificial sweeteners? No msg? All these things can affect our CNS

Do you think going less than 5 mg but a bit more than 3 mg, seems reasonable? or was the activation a one off?

3 hours ago, Rekonum said:

I made a post

That's a positive step. Let us know what they have to say.

3 hours ago, Rekonum said:

but it’s really really really bad.

Just keep going. Sometimes it's minute by minute, but just keep going.

Things will improve with time, and by finding the right dose to stabilise.

3 hours ago, Rekonum said:

I’m sorry for continuing to repeat myself man. I’m just desperate for a solution or a window of relief. I feel like an absolute burden to the people around me; it really sucks.

You don't need to be sorry, and you're certainly not a burden to anyone here. As for family and friends, they just want to see you in a better place. I'm sure they feel your pain.

3 hours ago, Rekonum said:

it isnt as bad chest tightness and other things,

3 hours ago, Rekonum said:

t probably makes it less severe or not “ER level” for like 4 hours

Sometimes we need to celebrate the positives, even if they are not perfect.

3 hours ago, Rekonum said:

I wish there was a pill that just made me feel great and it wasnt addictive

The Holy Grail!

Keep us updated on your progress.

Edited September 8Sep 8 by AlmostOff

@Chippy @AlmostOff @LostinCanada

https://benzobuddies.org/topic/292826-am-i-withdrawing-from-benzos/

here’s my thread on benzobuddies if yall want to follow it and give input on what they say here

23 minutes ago, Rekonum said:

@Chippy @AlmostOff @LostinCanada

https://benzobuddies.org/topic/292826-am-i-withdrawing-from-benzos/

here’s my thread on benzobuddies if yall want to follow it and give input on what they say here

Guess we wait for a moderator to reply

@LostinCanada I just switched to night about a week ago but it seems to not be that beneficial

I may try dropping my lexapro to 3 or 2.5mg tonight..

I’m kind of over medications.. at least if I’m not on medications I know what’s causing my symptoms if the doctors can find anything… it would be the medications

Edited September 8Sep 8 by Rekonum

9 hours ago, LostinCanada said:

Are you always taking it at exactly the same time each day?

It's a good question.

6 hours ago, Rekonum said:

I just switched to night about a week ago but it seems to not be that beneficial

It is best to take the same dose at exactly the same time, each and every day. A change like this, when you are already sensitive, can cause you some difficulty.

I've read that when you need to change the time, it is best to shift it ~1 hour per day.

I'm currently on the other side of the globe from my home, and I make sure I take my tiny dose at exactly the same time in my home country, not where I am now.

Consistency is so important.

Also, for the Lexapro dose, you want to take the same manufacturer each and every time. I've read that when people change from brand 'x' to brand 'y', that can be destabilising.

12 hours ago, Rekonum said:

I have had chest tightness

Back at the start of my journey, I dropped my dose ~50% abruptly, and it literally felt like a rhinoceros was sitting on my chest. It was hard to breathe. It was like someone was tightening a vice around my chest. For me, this was withdrawal.

Is this what you mean by tightness?

I note a few brief comments over at BB to your post. Wait to see what the Mod says.

21 days of benzo use, 70% of the time = 14 days of inconsistent dosing....we were all hoping you weren't dependent. If you are, be guided by them. I do recall reading elsewhere that a faster taper off a benzo for that 'short' period of time is ideal/possible, but I have no personal experience with those, so listen to the people who do.

11 hours ago, Rekonum said:

I’m just desperate for a solution or a window of relief.

12 months ago, I was not in a good place, but today, things are so much better.

You will get through this, too.

Edited September 9Sep 9 by AlmostOff

Hey @Rekonum

9 hours ago, Rekonum said:

@Chippy @AlmostOff @LostinCanada

https://benzobuddies.org/topic/292826-am-i-withdrawing-from-benzos/

here’s my thread on benzobuddies if yall want to follow it and give input on what they say here

Thanks for the link, as others have said, wait for a Moderator to give you some input on your benzo duration and next steps.

8 hours ago, Rekonum said:

@LostinCanada I just switched to night about a week ago but it seems to not be that beneficial

It is REALLY important to be consistent with timings. General in WD we don't want to make abrupt changes. Same brand, same method of taking, same batch, same time every day, with all these drugs. ASAP you need to get to a point where all your doses and times etc are dialled in and then make no further changes. It will be during this period that your body can finally start to work this out for you, it knows best.

It isn't from my understanding sensible to take Lexapro too close to bedtime. Something worth considering would be to move this dose further back in the day. If you choose to do this, do it one hour at a time per day, until it's at the desired time rather than jump imo.

On 8/17/2026 at 7:26 PM, Rekonum said:

I’ve been bedridden, dealing with severe anxiety that was way worse than before the med, a never ending chest tightness, agoraphobia and health anxiety i didn’t have before the med, I can’t hardly shower because I freak out, I’ve lost 15 pounds because my eatings habits are bad, twitches when trying to rest, etc

I note that in your intro post you mention the chest tightness. Is this the same symptom as before or is this since the reduction to 5mg?

Would you say being on 5mg is a little better than 10mg? Has the activation reduced at all?

13 hours ago, Rekonum said:

@Steve1 I don’t think I get any full relief on klonopin 0.5mg

but it probably makes it less severe or not “ER level” for like 4 hours

From memory you have said you were getting 8 hours of relief from the Benzo? Now it's 4.

This suggest to me at least, that the benzo is helping the symptoms, which to me implies the symptoms you reported in your intro from the RI from Lexapro. The fact that you now feel less benefit suggests that you are becoming tolerant to them, which we would expect, and perhaps also suggests your current symptoms are from the Lexapro dose rather than WD from the Benzo. If it was benzo wd (that you would be holding back by taking the dose), I would expect things to be improved for longer than 4 hours, as in that case this would be interdose wd and a increase in those symptoms again which I would not expect to happen so quickly with Klonopin and it's longer than normal half life.

That's not to say you are not dependant on the Benzos, I am increasing convinced since you have been taking more and more of them, you may well be, and so taking some advice from benzo buddies is a smart move. I would imagine this would mean you take the same dose each day and look to taper off them, but perhaps once you are stable, as tapering the benzo whilst trying to get your body stable would be, imo, not a good idea.

Let us know how you are today, and what you did in the end with your Lexapro dose?

@Chippy i wouldn’t say anything has changed much between 10 and 5… I’ve remained at 5 still to today.. I’m still dealing with chest tightness in the exact same spot all day.. If the chest tightness went away I think I could live somewhat normally because I think it brings on the other symptoms bc I worry abt it..

I haven’t taken everything at same time every day to be fair; it’s within a couple hours every day

Does it matter if I take the 0.5mg klonopin at same time? like I took it at 1pm yesterday but I’m lying here right now with chest tightness after waking up feeling like I need it at 9am

I’ve even thought maybe I have some kind of ulcer, reflux, heartburn, gas buildup, etc that might be going on bc I find it pretty odd anxiety shows up in the same spot deep behind the breastbone 24/7..

I spit up some acid lying in bed this morning but it didn’t really relieve it.. I’ve also taken antacids and it didn’t do much

I don’t think klonopin necessarily makes me feel normal like some people say.. I think it helps with the chest tightness for maybe a little while, but it like suppresses my breathing some, which might be because I take it so inconsistently my body doesnt know what the heck is going on

What are your thoughts on next steps?

No mods have replied on my benzo post

Edited September 9Sep 9 by Rekonum

3 minutes ago, Rekonum said:

@Chippy i wouldn’t say anything has changed much between 10 and 5… I’ve remained at 5 still to today.. I’m still dealing with chest tightness in the exact same spot all day.. If the chest tightness went away I think I could live somewhat normally because I think it brings on the other symptoms bc I worry abt it..

Thanks for letting us know this, so the chest tightness that you are getting now, is the same chest tightness you felt when you RI 10mg originally? Nothing got worse or better, just stayed about the same? Sorry to ask again, just want to be sure.

4 minutes ago, Rekonum said:

I haven’t taken everything at same time every day to be fair; it’s within a couple hours every day

Ok, well you need to take everything at the same time from now onwards. Personally I would look to not take Lexapro before bed. As you have been taking this for a week at this time you may wish to move it slowly should you decide to move it at all, 1 hour per day.

Do you think the symptoms are worse shortly after the dose or in the following hours? So for example, now you take Lexapro at bedtime are your symptoms worse at bedtime then they were?

6 minutes ago, Rekonum said:

Does it matter if I take the 0.5mg klonopin at same time? like I took it at 1pm yesterday but I’m lying here right now with chest tightness after waking up feeling like I need it at 9am

Yes take everything at the same time, everyday. You are gaining tolerance to the Benzo, it will keep reducing how much benefit it will give you, we only think you should take it reguarly now, not to treat your symptoms but to keep Benzo WD at bay. This is important Benzo WD is serious.

7 minutes ago, Rekonum said:

I’ve even thought maybe I have some kind of ulcer, reflux, heartburn, gas buildup, etc that might be going on bc I find it pretty odd anxiety shows up in the same spot deep behind the breastbone 24/7..

Unfortunately WD can effect the whole body

9 minutes ago, Rekonum said:

I don’t think klonopin necessarily makes me feel normal like some people say.. I think it helps with the chest tightness for maybe a little while, but it like suppresses my breathing some, which might be because I take it so inconsistently my body doesnt know what the heck is going on

No it's taking the edge off for you I think, but the relief it does give you in decreasing over time.

9 minutes ago, Rekonum said:

What are your thoughts on next steps?

Well, Im not a doctor and these are only my thoughts which you must use along with those of others on here to consider what you think it the correct thing to do.

You are clearly taking and have taken alot of the Benzo, so I would keep taking this daily at this point, at the same time everyday, and not when you feel you need it. This is important.

I personally I think you are still reacting to the dose, I think reducing the dose to 3mg is a good idea. Im not sure it's enough, but it might help and that would be a clue and perhaps a more cautious approach to 2 or 2.5mg. What we are concerned about with a rapid taper like this is balancing the potential for WD from the drug with the gains of reducing the hypersensitivity. It's a risk. But this all started when you took 10mg, and reducing to 5mg hasn't helped or made it worse,

So you have 2 choices in my eyes,

1. Hold this 5mg and keep taking the benzo reguarly until things settle down for you.

2. Reduce the dose in the hopes the hyper sensitivity reduces along with it, and keep taking the benzo.

I hope that helps and makes sense

@LostinCanada what do you think?

1 hour ago, Rekonum said:

I’ve even thought maybe I have some kind of ulcer, reflux, heartburn, gas buildup, etc that might be going on bc I find it pretty odd anxiety shows up in the same spot deep behind the breastbone 24/7..

This is classic withdrawal.....our gut is majorly affected by these drugs. Now that you have added this piece to the puzzle, the chest tightness is probably the reflux. I have had this symptom myself on and off.

One thing that has helped many of us is DGL- deglycyrrinated licorice. Taking it 20 minutes prior to eating and before bed really helps. 100 mg-200 mg a time. Vital DGL powder is pure, no additives.

1 hour ago, Chippy said:

So you have 2 choices in my eyes,

1. Hold this 5mg and keep taking the benzo reguarly until things settle down for you.

2. Reduce the dose in the hopes the hyper sensitivity reduces along with it, and keep taking the benzo.

I think taking the lexapro in the morning makes sense since it activated you at night. Again move it slowly towards the morning.

Since you have not been consistent with your timing, it is hard to become stable and see the true benefits of the reinstatement.

If overall you have felt better on the 5 mg, stick with it, otherwise reduce.

As far as the Benzo goes, it has its limits as you are already experiencing. It has a long half life...it is very important you do not increase your intake of it...it will become a vicious cycle. Taking it consistently and working on stability is key. Then getting off the Benzo through a careful taper is important. If you read through BB, you will clearly see benzos present more issues than they ever "solved".

Edited September 9Sep 9 by LostinCanada

I just posted on BB for further clarification.

@Chippy @LostinCanada I would say I’ve kind of remained the same at the 5mg dose as 10mg.. I would say I may be worse in some areas like I don’t leave the house at all now hardly but that might be just the natural progression of what I’m going through with uncertainty around my health..

It kind of worries me to continue taking the benzo daily if you guys think WD is dangerous.. I find it hard to think I’d be one of the dangerous ones considering I take 0.5mg of xanax/klonopin for only 5 weeks and very inconsistently.. no way to tell what it is I’m dealing with tbh

3mg will be hard to get with pill cutter so I was thinking about starting 2.5mg tonight if you guys think it’s okay.. just to clarify I have been on 5mg consistently for about 2 1/2-3 weeks I think that’s correct timeline

I wouldn’t say I get worse after my doses really and if so I think it’s bc it’s already in my head lexapro is causing this so I get extra fixated on it after taking it

If we can somehow figure out a way to convince me this chest tightness isn’t going to kill me and lessen it, I think I can recover a lot quicker.. until then I’m struggling bc the chest tightness sometimes causes doom feeling/breathing issues etc

Something online said to maybe buy a pulse oximeter and have it on and when it happens if your oxygen levels are good you know you are breathing so it gives your mind the reassurance.. I also take my BP religiously and track the pulse with it.. all is within normal range every time usually

How do I convince myself I won’t die if I go out and do something? I’m 100% positive the symptoms will get worse and remain the entire time bc I’ve been put in them situations recently and that’s why I’ve remained in the house.. Idk man I’m struggling worried about dying daily from these symptoms so idk what to do

I know a lot of what I’m saying is repetitive btw and I’m sorry

28 minutes ago, Rekonum said:

3mg will be hard to get with pill cutter

Using a pill cutter is not accurate enough. The pills need to be weighed to get an average weight...the pills have filler so for example a 5 mg dose may weigh ten times as much. Then the pill needs to be shaved to the accurate weight.

This is part of the necessary consistency to reach stability.

As far as the Benzo goes, BB really didn't answer the questions.

33 minutes ago, Rekonum said:

How do I convince myself I won’t die if I go out and do something? I’m 100% positive the symptoms will get worse and remain the entire time bc I’ve been put in them situations recently and that’s why I’ve remained in the house.. Idk man I’m struggling worried about dying daily from these symptoms so idk what to do

Please read up on CBT and other coping techniques mentioned on the site. This is adrenaline speaking. Thoughts and feelings aren't facts. Start slowly, maybe 2 minutes outside, then 5 and so on. ❤️🙏

@LostinCanada @Chippy

Yeah they weren’t much help; maybe they give more input soon though.

Still kind of confused if I should do.. I asked my NP in psychiatry some stuff and here’s the response attached somewhere in here idk how attachments work

I responded to the attachment with I’m not taking xanax anymore which is true.. I was emphasizing to her I had been on xanax for 3 weeks prior to me and her meeting and changing to klonopin..

I also followed up with asking is she/he saying it’s okay to only take klonopin as needed (inconsistently) for the moments where I’m on urge of going to ER.. waiting on that response

48 minutes ago, LostinCanada said:

Please read up on CBT and other coping techniques mentioned on the site. This is adrenaline speaking. Thoughts and feelings aren't facts. Start slowly, maybe 2 minutes outside, then 5 and so on. ❤️🙏

I'm with you, LostinCanada. I sense that fear and anxiety are taking over at times.

@Rekonum Breathing exercise on Spotify got me through some very difficult periods.

52 minutes ago, LostinCanada said:

Using a pill cutter is not accurate enough.

Yep, consistency and accuracy are vital. You have a Gemin-20, right?

@LostinCanada Yeah I have the scale but even it seems kind of off.. I sometimes put it on, take it off and shave it and throw it back on and it weighs more than before I shaved it a little.. idk if the oils from your fingers get on it and disrupt the reading or the scale gets dust.. ill try my best tonight to get .0312… I weighed 10 of my 5mg pills divided it by 10 to get .0625 then divided it by 2 to get 2.5mg at .0312

i try to get within that reading but sometimes it’s .029-.032 range when it try

50 minutes ago, Rekonum said:

@LostinCanada Yeah I have the scale but even it seems kind of off.. I sometimes put it on, take it off and shave it and throw it back on and it weighs more than before I shaved it a little.. idk if the oils from your fingers get on it and disrupt the reading or the scale gets dust.. ill try my best tonight to get .0312… I weighed 10 of my 5mg pills divided it by 10 to get .0625 then divided it by 2 to get 2.5mg at .0312

i try to get within that reading but sometimes it’s .029-.032 range when it try

Make sure the scale is level. Calibrate it. Make sure it is not near a fan or open window. Just do your best.... weighing is definitely better than eyeballing it.

13 hours ago, Rekonum said:

@Chippy @LostinCanada I would say I’ve kind of remained the same at the 5mg dose as 10mg.. I would say I may be worse in some areas like I don’t leave the house at all now hardly but that might be just the natural progression of what I’m going through with uncertainty around my health..

Thanks for letting us know this. If your symptoms have not increased or decreased to me this is a sign the RI is still too high. Your fear of leaving the house is understandable given how you are feeling, in WD we have to learn many coping skills that normal life doesn't teach us. Learning to understand this process, not fear it, accept it (most importantly) and trust the process, know that you are doing your best and given enough time and few strategic choices you will be ok. Many many people have been here before you and come out the other side.

13 hours ago, Rekonum said:

It kind of worries me to continue taking the benzo daily if you guys think WD is dangerous.. I find it hard to think I’d be one of the dangerous ones considering I take 0.5mg of xanax/klonopin for only 5 weeks and very inconsistently.. no way to tell what it is I’m dealing with tbh

It is why I wanted you to stop if you felt you could. However the more you keep taking them more the more dependant you will become. As you don't seem to able to not take them and have as a result taken lots now my opinion is to keep that dose consistent.

13 hours ago, Rekonum said:

3mg will be hard to get with pill cutter so I was thinking about starting 2.5mg tonight if you guys think it’s okay.. just to clarify I have been on 5mg consistently for about 2 1/2-3 weeks I think that’s correct timeline

As lic cutting is not enough on it's own. Use the scales and be as accurate as you can. One thing that helps lots with the Gem-20 is to add the calibration weight t the scales and then hit the tar button. This puts the scales more into a state of loaded, and I have found they are less flighty that way. Give that a go.

13 hours ago, Rekonum said:

I wouldn’t say I get worse after my doses really and if so I think it’s bc it’s already in my head lexapro is causing this so I get extra fixated on it after taking it

Ok yeah well don't think too much about it and worry about this any further. It is clear all this started on the 10mg and hasn't reduced any yet, so I am still convinced you are reacting to the dose.

13 hours ago, Rekonum said:

If we can somehow figure out a way to convince me this chest tightness isn’t going to kill me and lessen it, I think I can recover a lot quicker.. until then I’m struggling bc the chest tightness sometimes causes doom feeling/breathing issues etc

This is where acceptance comes in. You have found the community, heard others similar experiences, hopefully this is enough information to reassure you that what is happening is normal. You have had tests and so on done too right? They were all clear in the ER. This is classic drug injury stuff. start taking the steps forward to be internally at peace with these facts, this can actually calm the nervous system and help keep the symptoms lower. We need to let the symptoms be and float and not add second fear....

13 hours ago, Rekonum said:

Something online said to maybe buy a pulse oximeter and have it on and when it happens if your oxygen levels are good you know you are breathing so it gives your mind the reassurance.. I also take my BP religiously and track the pulse with it.. all is within normal range every time usually

Could be useful, I think in the end these things can feed an OCD loop, better to try to learn acceptance and floating techniques. Lots of great youtibe videos on the subject to watch as well as content from likes of Angie Peacock. Connecting to others who are going though this is so important especially in the early stages. Learning about what you are experiencing helps reduce the fear.

13 hours ago, Rekonum said:

I know a lot of what I’m saying is repetitive btw and I’m sorry

Don't be sorry. We all get it.

12 hours ago, Rekonum said:

@LostinCanada @Chippy

Yeah they weren’t much help; maybe they give more input soon though.

Still kind of confused if I should do.. I asked my NP in psychiatry some stuff and here’s the response attached somewhere in here idk how attachments work

I responded to the attachment with I’m not taking xanax anymore which is true.. I was emphasizing to her I had been on xanax for 3 weeks prior to me and her meeting and changing to klonopin..

I also followed up with asking is she/he saying it’s okay to only take klonopin as needed (inconsistently) for the moments where I’m on urge of going to ER.. waiting on that response

I agree with her apart from the as needed bit.....

@Chippy

Took 2.5mg for first time last night

Going to also stick to 0.5mg of klonopin at night as well until I feel stable..

One thing I’m noticing is my breathing feels off still, chest tightness feels a little better today maybe because of the later dose of klonopin.. had one spell today where I stood up and walked to another room and almost felt faint in my body but not faint in my head if that even makes sense (no dizzy or losing conscious feeling)… these changes in meds and anxiety in general I’m sure can cause some very peculiar stuff in the body.. and it’s very scary bc I tend to associate it with something rare and deadly every time

Going to hold 2.5 for however long you guys think and stay on 0.5mg of klonopin a day if you guys think that’s good.. the psychiatrist reiterated “0.5mg of klonopin as needed; up to once daily” so she is giving me that option to take it once a day..

Still having intolerance to hot showers and hot weather.. seems to make me panic, but this all started at a golf course in 95 degree heat so I think subconsciously that affects me.. my body has just adapted and learned to perceive heat as a threat which sucks.. which everything is a threat to it right now until I stabilize some

What does stabilization look like ? Being able to go out and do things without symptoms because right now I’m struggling to make it out the bed unless it’s quick shower, to eat, or sit and play playstation.. and I’m on edge doing all 3 of those

38 minutes ago, Rekonum said:

Going to hold 2.5 for however long you guys think and stay on 0.5mg of klonopin a da

I think this is a good plan. Now we wait, give it time, let your body catch up to all the changes.

39 minutes ago, Rekonum said:

almost felt faint in my body but not faint in my head if that even makes sense

I know myself I get something similar...weakness in my body.

40 minutes ago, Rekonum said:

started at a golf course in 95 degree heat

Many of us do not do well in the heat....at least you know to avoid. Stay hydrated. One day at a time. ❤️🙏

14 hours ago, Rekonum said:

@Chippy

Took 2.5mg for first time last night

Going to also stick to 0.5mg of klonopin at night as well until I feel stable..

I agree with Lic, good solid plan. Lets wait and see. Let us know how things are each day and if you are noticing any improvements from the lower dose.

14 hours ago, Rekonum said:

What does stabilization look like ? Being able to go out and do things without symptoms because right now I’m struggling to make it out the bed unless it’s quick shower, to eat, or sit and play playstation.. and I’m on edge doing all 3 of those

We just want you to be more comfortable. Symptom free is not really the goal. Your nervous system has had a bit of a hit with all this. We would like your symptoms more like 1-3/10 ideally. That can give you a baseline to work from to taper.

Healing is happening all the time and we are here for you as it does. You are doing a great job, you seem very calm and calculative now, I think this is commendable. Keep that up. Just one day at a time. You are not on your own.