Lexapro (Checking in)

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Lexapro (Escitalopram)Symptoms & Self-Care

November 13, 2026

The hyperbolic tapering was going to be a bit expensive for us, and my psychiatrist felt confident that we could try going very slow by doing a 15 mg - 15 mg - 10 mg schedule. I'm about two weeks in and its been going well, minimal symptoms. However, this morning I forgot to take my meds as early as I usually do (It was my lower day yesterday) and I'm feeling in a bit of a daze. Major brain fog, feeling almost like I'm in slow motion. Has anyone else experienced this? My already super vivid dreams were even more so last night and I think I may have also experienced brain zaps for the first time. Just looking for some empathy and encouragement.

Lexapro — 15 mg — 3 years — planning taper

8 Replies

HopeNeverFails1d ago

Trusted VoiceZyprexa · active

Dear Abby (sorry, couldn't resist!) Welcome to the TC 🙂 I do empathize about any distress and greatly encourage you to beat this drug as best (and cost effective) as you can! Be advised, these meds and their tapering works best through consistent dosage. There is a 5mg pill available and of course cutting and shaving these pills can be pretty reliable. Don't forget to take them though! Best wishes 🙏

Zyprexa started at 2.5mg in late April26 — 0.60mg at Nov 2026— actively tapering
Doxepin (Silenor / Sinequan) — started at 2mg in June26 - 0mg at Nov 2026— completed tapering

AbbyDunham1d ago

Lexapro · planning

Thank you for your reply! Just to clarify - do you mean its better if I just went down to 10 right away? When I tried that in the past I had some significant symptoms. Would the happy medium be to go down to 12.5 (halfing my pill)?

Lexapro — 15 mg — 3 years — planning taper

HopeNeverFails1d ago

Trusted VoiceZyprexa · active

You might try the 12.5 and see how it goes. For ADs, the recommended is a 10% cut, so optimally it'd be 13.5. But I realize that's a pain, so if your symptoms aren't bad, the 12.5 is easy to do by cutting, especially since you're doing ok so far. Usually it's at the lower doses where you'll get hit with symptoms if you're going too fast, like 5mg and less. I'd get myself started with several weeks of 12.5 and see how it goes from there before deciding the next cut

Zyprexa started at 2.5mg in late April26 — 0.60mg at Nov 2026— actively tapering
Doxepin (Silenor / Sinequan) — started at 2mg in June26 - 0mg at Nov 2026— completed tapering

AbbyDunham1d ago

Lexapro · planning

Thank you! I will discuss the cutting option with my provider. I already have 5 mg pills, so I would be able to cut those in half to reach 12.5 I was previously taking 10 mg in the morning, 5 in the evening because it helped with the dizzy side effect. Should that be stopped during this tapering process so that I'm not taking different doses at different times?

Lexapro — 15 mg — 3 years — planning taper

⭐

Catina1d ago

Community AnchorEffexor

"this morning I forgot to take my meds as early as I usually do" — @AbbyDunham

Something that might help is to set an alarm on your phone to remind you when to take your meds. ⏰ Hope this helps!

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 16.64 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Synthroid - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

Ru1d ago

NavigatorLexapro · active

I found the YouTube channel from Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring very informative. He explains tapering very well. Also explains water tapering were you dissolve the tablet. He discusses options that are not that expensive.

Lexapro — 10 — 2 years — actively tapering

HopeNeverFails1d ago

Trusted VoiceZyprexa · active

"I was previously taking 10 mg in the morning, 5 in the evening because it helped with the dizzy side effect. Should that be stopped during this tapering process so that I'm not taking different doses at different times?" — @AbbyDunham

I think taking part of your dose in the AM and part in the PM is just fine as long as you do it consistently!

Zyprexa started at 2.5mg in late April26 — 0.60mg at Nov 2026— actively tapering
Doxepin (Silenor / Sinequan) — started at 2mg in June26 - 0mg at Nov 2026— completed tapering

guava3783h ago

Community AnchorAbilify · active

Remember, receptor occupancy drops steeply at lower doses. You might not get withdrawal symptoms when dropping from 15 mg to 10 mg, but dropping from 5 mg to 0 mg can cause terrible withdrawal, especially since you've been taking the medication for 3 years. Be careful with a standard linear taper from your psychiatrist, as it can be very risky. I only took Lexapro for a month and tapered off from 5 mg over 2 weeks, and I still felt dizzy and had a wobbly head for 2 weeks. Good luck with your taper!

- Aripiprazole / Abilify:
17-May-2026 (15mg -> 10mg)
11-July-2026 (10mg-> 7.5mg
17-Aug-2026 (7.5mg -> 5mg)
28-Sep-2026 (5mg -> 3.6mg)
9-Nov-2026 (3.6mg -> 2.67mg)
1 year - actively tapering
- Procyclidine (5mg) - 1 year - actively tapering
- Propranolol (20mg) - 15 months - holding
- Xanax (0.25mg) - 10 months - holding

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