Why don't GPs know how fast to reduce antidepressants???

[oasiswaterpool]

I am coming off of Escitalopram been on it a few months second time around. GP told me to reduce from 20mg to 10mg over one week and then stop. Now have brain zaps, nausea, dizziness and need to work Monday. I knew tbh that this was too quick but she was insistent. Any ideas anyone would an antiemetic help will it improve very soon?? Last dose of 10mg taken on Monday. Please help...

I have recently done exactly this and after coming off completely it took a good couple of weeks to feel closer to normal. It's far too fast. Do you have enough left over to take it slower? Can you talk to another GP and explain that you are struggling coming off and want to do it slower?

I don't know why they don't know but they don't! Mind neither do some psychiatrists - I reduced far too quickly at the psych's recommendation and had horrendous withdrawal symptoms and he agreed to taper off more gradually. You sound like you are having withdrawal symptoms and need to go slower - halving your dose in 1 week sounds far too quick. it may be that you are over the worse, and the symptoms will subside over the next week or so. If you have been off them for 5 days I'm not sure about starting them again, but if you feel you need to, then go back to the GP and insist you have a new reduction plan. Do they come in 5mg tabs, or you could cut the 10mg tab in half with a pill cutter. Don't for goodness sake take them on alternate days as some GPs recommend this and a psychiatrist told me never to agree to this with any drug as it really messes up your system.

To be honest I don't think GPs know a great deal about mental health and can only really diagnose and treat depression and anxiety. Some of the older GPs will have had very little training in MH in their day, but it's changed now, there is a big emphasis on MH in training medics.

Thanks for the advice re-started 5mg Escitalopram and brain zaps gone still a little dizzy but things improving.