cold turkeying

laurlaur · 01-19-2007, 04:28 PM

i think i'm gonna do it tonight

i'm on 5mg of cipralex(lexapro)

i'm starting to have that derealization feeling, and i'm confident in my ability to manage panic attacks on my own.

i desperatly want to be off meds.

the last time when i went off paxil i was feeling better in a month.

wish me luck, any suggestions are MORE then welcome.

Iksfreundin · 01-19-2007, 06:39 PM

Why not 2.5 for a few weeks? Why make such a drastic drop? I know you want off - hell, so do I, and I'm on FOUR mgs. But why not two more weeks on 2.5?

Delynbetter · 01-19-2007, 09:05 PM

If that's your final answer, best of luck to you. Don't put yourself through any unnecessary discomfort or danger.

scotty · 01-19-2007, 09:14 PM

Why, why, why, why???? For the sake of a few more weeks, wean.

Scott · 01-19-2007, 11:50 PM

just be aware of the possible symptoms you can have in quitting lexapro.. i had terrible akathisia.

Kitsyl · 01-20-2007, 05:23 AM

I'd do it a bit slower Laulau.

laurlaur · 01-22-2007, 12:53 PM

I didn't do it. I chickened out.

I allready have to cut my 10mg pills, how would i cut it more?

mapleleafgirl25 · 01-22-2007, 01:23 PM

yikes..you have to taper..it took me almost a year to do it..i went like a snail..just cut the 10 in half..then each of those halves in half..then chisel away from there..i know its frustrating..but get a super sharp thin knife or pill cutter..it will work!!

michele

canadiangirl · 01-22-2007, 01:24 PM

i am at 12.5..i have a pill cutter i cut the pill in 4 it works well...Tammy

summer bee · 01-22-2007, 03:28 PM

hi laurie! it's totally possible to quarter your pills with a pill cutter. just cut your halves in half to achieve that 2.5 -- granted, they might not be incredibly accurate, but you can do a bunch at a time and line them up from biggest to smallest.

laurlaur · 01-23-2007, 09:37 AM

i haven't done anything yet. we'll see come the weekend.

it's too risky to try during the week. need to be able to focus at work.

nicemom · 01-23-2007, 09:50 AM

I'm glad your rethinking it. I would sure rather be safe than sorry! Why go through anything bad that might come up if you don't have to. Take the time and do it right. Don't get impatient! You will get there.

01-23-2007, 04:49 PM

Get liquid lexapro or even get the 5 mg tablets.

laurlaur · 01-24-2007, 09:52 AM

can you get 5mg tablets? i'm doc said you couldnt which is why i have 10mg that i have to cut.

Homerbcool · 01-24-2007, 09:54 AM

Laur

LC gets her tabs compounded nito the exact dose..so i wuold think that you can get the 5mg tabs..hers is for paxhell..so I am not certain on lexapro...

scotty · 01-24-2007, 09:55 AM

Lexapro comes in 5,10, and 20mg tablets.

pamela · 01-24-2007, 10:04 AM

My doc says the same, that there isn't anything smaller than 10 mg. I am still at 5 mg of Paxil. I kind of feel stuck, I have reservations about going any lower. The last few weeks have been trying for me. wd symptoms. But anyway I use a pill splitter and it works great for me. It is better to go at a slow pace than to go cold turkey and end up back on this stuff.

laurlaur · 01-24-2007, 10:06 AM

If it comes in those doses why would my doc tell me it doesnt? *sigh*

Just shows what docs really know. hehe.

For now i have lots of 10. I think i'm going to see my doc this friday, asses what she says and go from there. I know in respect to getting off she will tell me to most likely stop taking it one day, and take it the next or something. She doesn't know I didn't even bump up to 10mg.

scotty · 01-24-2007, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pamela

My doc says the same, that there isn't anything smaller than 10 mg. I am still at 5 mg of Paxil. I kind of feel stuck, I have reservations about going any lower. The last few weeks have been trying for me. wd symptoms. But anyway I use a pill splitter and it works great for me. It is better to go at a slow pace than to go cold turkey and end up back on this stuff.

Paxil's lowest dose is 10mg, unless you go liquid.

scotty · 01-24-2007, 10:20 AM

From rxlist:

LEXAPRO tablets are film coated, round tablets containing escitalopram oxalate in strengths equivalent to 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg escitalopram base. The 10 and 20 mg tablets are scored. The tablets also contain the following inactive ingredients: talc, croscarmellose sodium, microcrystalline cellulose/colloidal silicon dioxide, and magnesium stearate. The film coating contains hypromellose, titanium dioxide, and polyethylene glycol.

laurlaur · 01-24-2007, 10:27 AM

hmmm.

we'll see what happens. i wonder if she would perscribe me liquid. the cost isn't an issue cuz i'm fully covered, but i feel like she might then i'm nutso to want to wean without even tryign to just go off.

i'm 99% sure i will have some sort of issue with withdrawl as the other day when i cut my pill(i was at my bf's hosue and he had dull scissors) i took the smaller half and felt weird the next day. not bad just a little off. so i'd rather wean over a few weeks.

i kick myself now for ending up back on meds again after my first stint with paxil. just say NO.

pokie · 01-24-2007, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laurlaur

If it comes in those doses why would my doc tell me it doesnt? *sigh*

Just shows what docs really know. hehe.

For now i have lots of 10. I think i'm going to see my doc this friday, asses what she says and go from there. I know in respect to getting off she will tell me to most likely stop taking it one day, and take it the next or something. She doesn't know I didn't even bump up to 10mg.

What ever happens don't go every other day I did that with advice from my doctor and I am still trying to get past the horribleness of it .It was pure I hell know I keep repeating this to the threads but I was great on 10 mg prozac for about three months than the doctor recommended the every other day and it again I repeat it was pure hell. For your own sake try not to do that.
And what you said" but i feel like she might then i'm nutso to want to wean without even tryign to just go off." I thinkl she is nutso to advise that!~

laurlaur · 01-24-2007, 11:21 AM

haha true

we'll see

i might try cutting the 5mg into 2 for now

and just go from there

i went off paxil 10mg cold turkey 2 years ago fine. so we'll see.

01-19-2007, 04:28 PM	#1
laurlaur Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 302	cold turkeying i think i'm gonna do it tonight i'm on 5mg of cipralex(lexapro) i'm starting to have that derealization feeling, and i'm confident in my ability to manage panic attacks on my own. i desperatly want to be off meds. the last time when i went off paxil i was feeling better in a month. wish me luck, any suggestions are MORE then welcome. __________________ Feb 19th NONE !!!!!!!!!! Feb 9th 2.5mg Cipralex Switched to 5mg Cipralex Dec 1st 2006 October 29th 2006 20mgs back to 10mg after 4 days Re-started Paxil: Sept 24th 2006 10mgs For: Aniexty/Panic Attacks April 29th 2005 CT 10mg Paxil from Feb to April 2005

01-19-2007, 06:39 PM	#2
Iksfreundin "Dancing Queen" Join Date: May 2006 Location: USA Posts: 3,572	Re: cold turkeying Why not 2.5 for a few weeks? Why make such a drastic drop? I know you want off - hell, so do I, and I'm on FOUR mgs. But why not two more weeks on 2.5? __________________ 95' - started paxil, 20 mgs; up to 30. two ct's, then 60 mgs for years. 40 mgs in '02, poop-out in '05 start taper= 5/8/06 at 20 = 6/17/06 at 15 = 8/8/06 at 10 = 10/15/06 at 5 = 12/14/06 Paxil free as of 3/8/08 (drops were done gradually - not from 20 to 15 and so on) Smoke-free as of 2/27/08 Still doing well, no smoking yet and I haven't been hospitalized - 10/2/09 "You, however, smear me with lies; you are worthless physicians, all of you!" Job 13:4, KJV Bible

01-19-2007, 09:05 PM	#3
Delynbetter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 10,518	Re: cold turkeying If that's your final answer, best of luck to you. Don't put yourself through any unnecessary discomfort or danger. __________________ Diagnosed anxiety/panic disorder without agoraphobia 1989. Talk/music therapy. Major anxiety and mild depression in 2004 from situational stressors. Began Paxil CR 25mg, 10/04. Quit cold-turkey 5/5/05 as demanded by doctor. Found paxilprogress 5/17/05. Began Paxil CR 12.5mg 5/17/05. Weaned 4 1/2 months. During taper - anx/panic/depression, manic episodes, agoraphobia, suicidal ideation, many other physical symptoms. Paxil-free 10/2/05.

01-19-2007, 09:14 PM	#4
scotty Administrator & Advocate Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 38,590	Re: cold turkeying Why, why, why, why???? For the sake of a few more weeks, wean. __________________ AKA Laurie "If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere." ~Frank A. Clark

01-19-2007, 11:50 PM	#5
Scott Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: somewhere in between Posts: 11,616	Re: cold turkeying just be aware of the possible symptoms you can have in quitting lexapro.. i had terrible akathisia. __________________ Scott aka Scott What has happened to it all? Crazy, some are saying Where is the life that I recognize? Gone away But I won't cry for yesterday There's an ordinary world Somehow I have to find And as I try to make my way To the ordinary world I will learn to survive surviving an ssri reaction alternative anxiety treatments

01-20-2007, 05:23 AM	#6
Kitsyl Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: England Posts: 842	Re: cold turkeying I'd do it a bit slower Laulau. __________________ Diazepam 'Family' (28 years) - Cold turkey 2000 Seroxat (Paxil) 20mgs Since 1998. Slow w/d since Aug 2005 05/06: 8.2mgs : 06/06 : 8mgs : 07/06 : 7.4 : 08/06: 7mgs : 09/06 : 5mgs : 10/06 : 4.4mgs : 11/06 : 4mgs : 12/06 : 3.4 mgs : 01/07 : 3mgs : 02/07 : 2.75mgs : 02/07 : 2.4mgs : 03/07 : 2mgs : 04/07 : 1mg : 05/07 : 0.5mg 06/07 : 0.1 mgs : 07/07 : ZERO! Almost 2 years later: Drug and symptom free.

01-22-2007, 12:53 PM	#7
laurlaur Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 302	Re: cold turkeying I didn't do it. I chickened out. I allready have to cut my 10mg pills, how would i cut it more? __________________ Feb 19th NONE !!!!!!!!!! Feb 9th 2.5mg Cipralex Switched to 5mg Cipralex Dec 1st 2006 October 29th 2006 20mgs back to 10mg after 4 days Re-started Paxil: Sept 24th 2006 10mgs For: Aniexty/Panic Attacks April 29th 2005 CT 10mg Paxil from Feb to April 2005

01-22-2007, 01:23 PM	#8
mapleleafgirl25 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 2,132	Re: cold turkeying yikes..you have to taper..it took me almost a year to do it..i went like a snail..just cut the 10 in half..then each of those halves in half..then chisel away from there..i know its frustrating..but get a super sharp thin knife or pill cutter..it will work!! michele __________________ aka MICHELE My history with paxil is too long to write here..lol..but you can look at my old posts to see!

01-22-2007, 01:24 PM	#9
canadiangirl Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: canada Posts: 149	Re: cold turkeying i am at 12.5..i have a pill cutter i cut the pill in 4 it works well...Tammy __________________ started paxil 6 years ago 10mg2000 increased 20mg 2002\increased 30 mg 200\increased 40mg feb2006 cold turkey aug2006 back to 10 mg sept 2006for a week\ 20mg for 2 weeks sept2006 30 mg oct 2006(hopefully not for long) 20mg oct 20 2006 15 mg dec10,2006 12.5mg jan15 2007 10 mg...feb7 2007 now started 10 mg of celexa on feb 12(no more Paxil)trying to stabilze and having a hard time 20 mg of celexa on march 27 40mg of celexa april 30

01-22-2007, 03:28 PM	#10
summer bee Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: pennsylvania Posts: 1,665	Re: cold turkeying hi laurie! it's totally possible to quarter your pills with a pill cutter. just cut your halves in half to achieve that 2.5 -- granted, they might not be incredibly accurate, but you can do a bunch at a time and line them up from biggest to smallest. __________________ 06/26/2006: 10mg; found paxilprogress.org 06/28/2006-01/20/07: a long, zappy time of tapering paxil-free for: TWO YEARS! video: tapering off of paxil. facebook: the dangers of antidepressants. la times: my paxil withdrawal story "all systems begin and end in silence; nothing needs solving, nothing is a problem..." - al zolynas, the algebra nightmare

01-23-2007, 09:37 AM	#11
laurlaur Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 302	Re: cold turkeying i haven't done anything yet. we'll see come the weekend. it's too risky to try during the week. need to be able to focus at work. __________________ Feb 19th NONE !!!!!!!!!! Feb 9th 2.5mg Cipralex Switched to 5mg Cipralex Dec 1st 2006 October 29th 2006 20mgs back to 10mg after 4 days Re-started Paxil: Sept 24th 2006 10mgs For: Aniexty/Panic Attacks April 29th 2005 CT 10mg Paxil from Feb to April 2005

01-23-2007, 09:50 AM	#12
nicemom Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 3,183	Re: cold turkeying I'm glad your rethinking it. I would sure rather be safe than sorry! Why go through anything bad that might come up if you don't have to. Take the time and do it right. Don't get impatient! You will get there. __________________ Diane On Paxil for 5+ years Weaned from 40mg to 15 over a 1 1/2 year period. From 15mg-0 May/June 06 (before finding PP) Protracted w/d from c/t. First 10 mths up and down but tolerable. Akathesia hit at 11 months. Many months of terrible mental and physical torture. 3/09 started Prozac but too stimulating. Currently on 15mg Lexapro and feeling so much better. Not all who waunder are lost.

01-23-2007, 04:49 PM	#13
emmy Posts: n/a	Re: cold turkeying Get liquid lexapro or even get the 5 mg tablets.

01-24-2007, 09:52 AM	#14
laurlaur Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 302	Re: cold turkeying can you get 5mg tablets? i'm doc said you couldnt which is why i have 10mg that i have to cut. __________________ Feb 19th NONE !!!!!!!!!! Feb 9th 2.5mg Cipralex Switched to 5mg Cipralex Dec 1st 2006 October 29th 2006 20mgs back to 10mg after 4 days Re-started Paxil: Sept 24th 2006 10mgs For: Aniexty/Panic Attacks April 29th 2005 CT 10mg Paxil from Feb to April 2005

01-24-2007, 09:54 AM	#15
Homerbcool "colors outside the lines" Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 15,949	Re: cold turkeying Laur LC gets her tabs compounded nito the exact dose..so i wuold think that you can get the 5mg tabs..hers is for paxhell..so I am not certain on lexapro... __________________ That's one of the curses of anxiety--we make possibilities into certainties.....Tim

01-24-2007, 09:55 AM	#16
scotty Administrator & Advocate Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 38,590	Re: cold turkeying Lexapro comes in 5,10, and 20mg tablets. __________________ AKA Laurie "If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere." ~Frank A. Clark

01-24-2007, 10:04 AM	#17
pamela Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 13	Re: cold turkeying My doc says the same, that there isn't anything smaller than 10 mg. I am still at 5 mg of Paxil. I kind of feel stuck, I have reservations about going any lower. The last few weeks have been trying for me. wd symptoms. But anyway I use a pill splitter and it works great for me. It is better to go at a slow pace than to go cold turkey and end up back on this stuff. __________________ 1995-1st Panic attack-Doctors/tests 1996- Started PAXIL 10 mg to 30 mg. 5/06- Started tapering-15mg daily. 6/06 - 10 mg - dizziness( vision jerks) started. 8/06 - 7.5mg. Depression kicking in 9/06 - Depression subsided -stepped down to 5.0 mg. feelin good. 1/25/07 - Down to 2.5 mg. 3/24/07 - PAXIL FREE

01-24-2007, 10:06 AM	#18
laurlaur Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 302	Re: cold turkeying If it comes in those doses why would my doc tell me it doesnt? sigh Just shows what docs really know. hehe. For now i have lots of 10. I think i'm going to see my doc this friday, asses what she says and go from there. I know in respect to getting off she will tell me to most likely stop taking it one day, and take it the next or something. She doesn't know I didn't even bump up to 10mg. __________________ Feb 19th NONE !!!!!!!!!! Feb 9th 2.5mg Cipralex Switched to 5mg Cipralex Dec 1st 2006 October 29th 2006 20mgs back to 10mg after 4 days Re-started Paxil: Sept 24th 2006 10mgs For: Aniexty/Panic Attacks April 29th 2005 CT 10mg Paxil from Feb to April 2005

01-24-2007, 10:20 AM	#20
scotty Administrator & Advocate Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 38,590	Re: cold turkeying From rxlist: LEXAPRO tablets are film coated, round tablets containing escitalopram oxalate in strengths equivalent to 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg escitalopram base. The 10 and 20 mg tablets are scored. The tablets also contain the following inactive ingredients: talc, croscarmellose sodium, microcrystalline cellulose/colloidal silicon dioxide, and magnesium stearate. The film coating contains hypromellose, titanium dioxide, and polyethylene glycol. __________________ AKA Laurie "If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere." ~Frank A. Clark

01-24-2007, 10:27 AM	#21
laurlaur Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 302	Re: cold turkeying hmmm. we'll see what happens. i wonder if she would perscribe me liquid. the cost isn't an issue cuz i'm fully covered, but i feel like she might then i'm nutso to want to wean without even tryign to just go off. i'm 99% sure i will have some sort of issue with withdrawl as the other day when i cut my pill(i was at my bf's hosue and he had dull scissors) i took the smaller half and felt weird the next day. not bad just a little off. so i'd rather wean over a few weeks. i kick myself now for ending up back on meds again after my first stint with paxil. just say NO. __________________ Feb 19th NONE !!!!!!!!!! Feb 9th 2.5mg Cipralex Switched to 5mg Cipralex Dec 1st 2006 October 29th 2006 20mgs back to 10mg after 4 days Re-started Paxil: Sept 24th 2006 10mgs For: Aniexty/Panic Attacks April 29th 2005 CT 10mg Paxil from Feb to April 2005

01-24-2007, 11:21 AM	#23
laurlaur Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 302	Re: cold turkeying haha true we'll see i might try cutting the 5mg into 2 for now and just go from there i went off paxil 10mg cold turkey 2 years ago fine. so we'll see. __________________ Feb 19th NONE !!!!!!!!!! Feb 9th 2.5mg Cipralex Switched to 5mg Cipralex Dec 1st 2006 October 29th 2006 20mgs back to 10mg after 4 days Re-started Paxil: Sept 24th 2006 10mgs For: Aniexty/Panic Attacks April 29th 2005 CT 10mg Paxil from Feb to April 2005

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