how to wean off lexapro?

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-10-2004
how to wean off lexapro?
2
Fri, 08-27-2004 - 3:20pm
I've been taking Lexapro for almost a month and am having a terrible time sleeping at night. My dr. said I could wean myself off it by taking a pill every other day (instead of every day) for 2 weeks. I may then start taking Buspar--we'll see.

Is it necessary to wean myself from Lexapro for 2 weeks? That seems like a long time when I've only been on it not quite a month!

thanks, Katie

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-16-2003
Fri, 08-27-2004 - 4:33pm

I'm weaning off of Lexapro right now too, and I have found it to be tough, but I've been on it for over a year. I also take a mood stabilizer for bipolar, which I will continue taking. My psychiatrist gave me two options for withdrawing from the Lexapro--either take 3 doses skipping a day between doses and then stopping cold turkey or take 1/2 a pill every other day and then every two days, etc. I tried stopping cold turkey after three doses, and it did not work for me. I had some problems with lightheadedness. My counselor told me, however, that some people withdraw differently and that those who have problems need to take longer to wean off. I'm taking

Ting 

Avatar for all_girls4me
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 08-27-2004 - 7:09pm
I just weaned off Lexapro. But I started taking Wellbutrin at the same time that I started to wean off Lexapro. My Dr. told me to take half a dose for 4 days, then cut that dose in half for another 4 days, and then take it every other day for 6 days. It worked pretty good for me. If you stop cold turkey you will experience way more side effects. Just make it easier on you and follow the directions.

Good luck, Ilka



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