escitralopram - alternate days or 5mg longer term?

[smokinaces]

Hi

was on 10mg of escitralopram (cipralex) for nearly a year. My choice to start coming off.

Got down to 5mg a day for a month. Now gone to every other day. Meant to be taking one tonight after taking one Wednesday night.

However I am sitting here anxious again. feel like I am waiting for something horrible to happen, real bubble of anxiety in my chest, higher heart rate etc.

Is this a sign I should stay on 5mg longer term? Is 5mg ok, or should I go back up to 10mg? Concerned as its Friday night - no GP until Monday earliest. I have managed on 5mg for the last month - should I stay at doing 5mg every night until I see the GP? Or go to OOH tomorrow?

Don't forget you can try missing every 3rd day as you wind them down, rather than every other day? Perhaps you need a bit longer at an ever so slightly higher level before you drop again. Good luck.

Thanks Will.

Think I am going to go back to daily. and Go see the GP Monday. I have a full pack worth, so its not an issue to do 5mg daily.Just noticed the difference today with my attitude and patience with the children - and now this evening.

I am starting to get anxious that the feeling wont go now.

Well, perhaps it's just not the right time, smokin. That doesn't mean it never will be. Good luck.

Hi, I think you should go back to the 5ml every day and forget the alternate day thing, it just doesn't work for a lot of people and doctors just don't seem to understand that! Consider withdrawing a lot slower, the rule of thumb should be no more than 10% of the dose you are already on and stay at that level until you know you feel very stable before making another reduction. If you can get it in liquid form it's so much easier to make a reduction.

Thanks Strawberry

I feel a lot better this morning. Took 5mg last night and went to bed - feel a lot lot better today. Going to go back to 5mg every day. Read the leaflet last night and it seems its all normal. Will ring the GPs on Monday. Was starting to panic a little last night, but feel more normal today

Glad you feel a lot better, that alternate day thing can really mess with your head

Your SSRI is part of the Citalopram family - and as such they are not easy to come off. When I came off Citalopram (20mgs) I did it over 6 months. Really, the slower the better. I would stay on 5mg a day for at least another month, then and only then if you are ok, try and reduce down more. Personally, I wouldn't do the alternate day thing - perhaps reduce down to 2.5mg a day? Give it time. There's nothing worse than rushing this, and ending up back on full dose, because you decreased too quickly. Your body and brain needs plenty of time to stabilise between reductions.

Why, may I ask, if it was working, are you looking to come of them?

I was on them for anxiety and panic last summer Saffy - single mum of 2 kids under 4, uncertain job, marriage breakdown etc. It was part for depression, part anxiety.

I have been through counselling, 1 child is now at school, job has more stability and I have a good balance in my life. Therefore I thought it was time for me to see if I could come off them?

But think 5mg daily is more manageable for me at the moment!

I can see why you want to try to reduce - please take it slowly, stay on 5mg until you feel ok for at least a month on that dose, then consider lowering it. Good luck.