Tapering off of 20 Mg of Lexapro

I tried and couldn't do it... So more power to you I really hope you can do it.
I will also add that I ended up switching to Effexor and that I also tried to go off of it and now it is not as effective so unless you really just do not want to take it anymore. You should consider how it has helped you and if it is worth it to possibly have to take more once you get back on, if you are unsuccessful... I wish I would have just stayed on it.

Please ask your doctor.

I agree with the other posts, this is not a do-it-yourself project, talk to your doctor!

Yeah, you really need to be discussing this with your doctor. I stopped mine cold-turkey when I became pregnant and it wasn't pretty.

Definately ask your dr about how to taper off from this. You can get brain zaps and they are not fun. Hard to describe that, but they feel weird.

I am in the middle of tapering off right now! I am following my doctor's orders on doing this. So please check with your doctor about what he wants you to do. I was 20 mg of Lexapro for ppd and anxiety. My doctor had me cut the pills in half and so I was taking 10 mg for 3 weeks. Next, I cut the 10 mg pieces in half and started taking 5 mg for 2 weeks. I am now on 5 mg every other day. I have had no side effects what-so-ever. Now I will say that I was weaned off of Lexapro after my first son's birth (ppd again). And I didn't quite follow the doctor's orders right and ended up getting really bad head aches and extremely dizzy. So you have to do it the right way. Please, please, please ask your doctor for advice! Good luck!

The best way to taper off your Lexapro is to discuss this with your doctor (who knows your health history) and come up with a weaning plan.

Hi....I am on day 12 of tapering off of Lexapro, 10 Mg for 1 1/2 years. I cut the pills in 1/2 (5mg) for 7 days and a couple of those nights I woke up kinda for squirming around a bit in the bed...restless I would say, but nothing major from what I've read (i.e. brain zaps, sweats, vivid dreams, sleeplessness is very common). Then I cut the pills into 2.5 and took one and then I was going to skip a night and then take another but decided not to and now it's been 3 night w/o anything and I feel fine so far. I thought it would be more difficult, but it hasn't. I take it for IBS anxiety (irrital bowel syndrome - not depression). This is how my doctor suggested that I do it.......So as for my behavior...we'll have to see a little further down the road....Good Luck!!!

Go down to 10mg for a week and then start taking it every other day. Then eventually stop. I quit cold turkey when I found out I was pregnant and didnt have any problems.

When you started the lexapro, was talk therapy also involved? if so, you may want to have someone who knows what is happening to be available so that you talk through your feelings as well. Tapering off is a GOOD thing when done through the doc. Everyone is right here.
But, in my experience, when you have someone to talk about the other stuff, you may be better off and will also make the withdrawals a bit easier.
Good luck!! It's great that you feel ready to do this!

I stopped it cold turkey a few years ago. It was a nightmare. If your drs weaning plan is not working, let him know. I wish my dr would have told me how horrible it was to get off of this med.