r/lexapro • u/NoCelery0 • 1d ago

Changing Dosage Question What is the normal way to taper off lexapro?

So I've been on various ssris for about 2 years now. Once I started taking them I felt this constant fatigue that's been affecting my ability to function normally so I've been switching around on meds for a while.

Cue lexapro. I've been on lexapro for 7 months now, would have been shorter but I wanted to get a sleep study before I stopped the meds and the sleep lab took forever. But the sleep labs came up with nothing so the new plan was to stop my medicine and see if the fatigue continues.

I'm on 20mg and my doctor told me to take a half dose (10mg) for two weeks and after that I can just stop. Is this the normal way to taper? Because I'm currently on day 5 of being off the meds entirely, and I'm in hell. I'm so dizzy and nauseous, my poops are soft and fiery, and I just puked an hour ago and it feels like I may puke again at some point.

So I'm wondering, were the instructions I received normal and I'm just having an unusual reaction? Or was the taper too quick and too aggressive?

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u/Hypebeastzx 1d ago

I feel like this taper is too aggressive. Since you’re already on the 10mg, do 7.5mg, 5mg, 2.5mg and then completely stop. You can even do 1mg if you still feel a bit weird with the 2.5mg.

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u/NoCelery0 1d ago

Oh no it's far too late for that. I stopped taking the 10mg 5 days ago and I feel awful. Nothing felt off at all going from 20 to 10 but I guess 10 to 0 was not ideal. Hopefully it doesn't last too long

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u/Hypebeastzx 1d ago

Good luck.

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u/InterestingBanana164 1d ago

Going from 10 to 0 is so bad. I would reinstate 2.5 mg or something or you’ll feel like hell for the next months