1 hour ago, Steve1 said:

Feel like there is no end to this suffering. Still holding at 5mg coming up to 10 weeks.

Body is clearly unhappy at something but unsure what exactly. Feel like I will never get better

Sorry to hear you’re still suffering @Steve1 your body is readapting to less of the drug in your system. It’s like it’s reverse engineering. You’ve had a 50% drop so it’s going to take a while for it to sort itself out. Try to think of it as healing going on. If the WD symptoms are unbearable you could discuss potential RI with one or more of the more experienced mentors on the site

Think the general consensus is if I stay on 5mg long enough the body will eventually stabilise. Trying to tough it out

Starting to think the body is incapable of stabilising

6 hours ago, Steve1 said:

Starting to think the body is incapable of stabilising

Why @Steve1 ? 10 weeks really isn't too long when it comes to the nervous system. You've had many changes too and had been on the drug a while. It will come I think, hang in there.

Feel like i have new symptons every few days. Is this normal?

1 hour ago, Steve1 said:

Feel like i have new symptons every few days. Is this normal?

Symptoms coming and going in intensity and new ones cropping up is very common mate. Unfortunately.

I read on another thread that Horowitz says a taper should be less than the original time on a drug.

I was only on 10mg for 9 weeks and now done nearly 10 weeks at 5mg.

Why am I experiencing such bad withdrawal or is it something else?

1 hour ago, Steve1 said:

I read on another thread that Horowitz says a taper should be less than the original time on a drug.

I was only on 10mg for 9 weeks and now done nearly 10 weeks at 5mg.

Why am I experiencing such bad withdrawal or is it something else?

This is just a guide as to how long to taper. So if you are on a drug for 4 weeks, it seems reasonable you might try to get off in 4 weeks.

You RI a drug you were taking before to try to help your WD symptoms and are far from stable yet. You actually have taken it from 2014-2025. So once you are stable you will need to go nice and steady. 4 weeks isn't how long you have been taking drug for. Just how long you have been taking it for since you RI. Not that same thing.

Thanks @Chippy feel like I'm going to be stuck like this permanantly

4 minutes ago, Steve1 said:

Thanks @Chippy feel like I'm going to be stuck like this permanantly

I dont think that for a minute mate. I can understand how it can feel like it. Remember Dr Horowitz would say that holds sometimes need to be long holds. If thats you that doesn't mean you are not doing the right thing.

Thanks for the replies @Chippy . Just as some symptons ease, some new more agrresive symptons develop

28 minutes ago, Steve1 said:

Thanks for the replies @Chippy . Just as some symptons ease, some new more agrresive symptons develop

Cycling through symptoms is all part of this for many mate. Hang in there.

So pi$$ed off with the doctor not believing me when I say its withdrawal

11 minutes ago, Steve1 said:

So pi$$ed off with the doctor not believing me when I say its withdrawal

Aren't we all? My psych just thought I was bi-polar and that the Lexapro "uncovered" it or something. It's all lies.

11 hours ago, Steve1 said:

So pi$$ed off with the doctor not believing me when I say its withdrawal

I feel you mate. Disgusting isn't it.

Everybody is telling me to get off the pills as they think they are making me worse. But surely the only thing I can do is to stay at 5mg?

2 hours ago, Steve1 said:

Everybody is telling me to get off the pills as they think they are making me worse. But surely the only thing I can do is to stay at 5mg?

Who is "everybody" Steve? Presumably folks around you who know nothing about withdrawal?

Cold-turkeying your lexapro is very likely to make you much worse.

Just feel like I'm never going to get better. Feel like I'm getting worse week to week

15 minutes ago, Steve1 said:

Just feel like I'm never going to get better. Feel like I'm getting worse week to week

I know. I'm really sorry. Unfortunately it's common with long holds after a lot of destabilization for things to feel like they're getting worse before they get better. I didn't see any real progress with my hold for many months. But that doesn't mean healing isn't happening under the surface.

I don't mind feeling rubbish if I can see some gradual marginal improvement. What concerns me is I feel like I'm getting worse each week of my hold at 5mg.

Is this normal? Please be honest...

1 hour ago, Steve1 said:

I don't mind feeling rubbish if I can see some gradual marginal improvement. What concerns me is I feel like I'm getting worse each week of my hold at 5mg.

Is this normal? Please be honest...

I had my worst wave after holding for 3.5 months, and I've seen others with similar stories. So I'd definitely say it's not abnormal and it doesn't mean you won't stabilize in time.

Ok thanks @SarahMc just concerned it seems to be escalating rather than plateauing/calming down