[niceday7]

Hi!

I am prescribed Lexapro for anxiety. I started at 10mgs and it was very strong. Felt buzzed but not in a good way. So was put on 5mgs with the goal of going up to 10mg slowly. 10-20 mgs is considered the normal dose.

Well, 5 mgs was OK. It helped. So I stayed on 5 mgs.

After being on it for about a year at 5 mgs a day, I decided I didn't need it anymore. It is half the normal dose and I figured there are lot of herbs (such as Passion Flower) that have an immediate calming effect I could take if I was taking 1/2 the dose of something.

So on my own I just stopped cold turkey. 10-20mgs is the normal amount, and being it was 5mgs I saw absolutely no harm in just stopping due to the dosage.

Wow, that was as huge mistake.

First few days were OK but then I really got into "withdrawl"

Possible trigger:

and felt like I wanted to kill myself or die.

I went back on it yesterday and today. I can't believe that going cold turkey on what is half of what is considered the normal dose for a med would really throw you into the depths of despair.

Am truly shocked.

[Skeezyks]

Hello niceday: Thank you for sharing your medication experience.
I see this is your first post here on PC. Welcome to Psych Central. I hope things have begun to settle back down for you now & that you find PC to be of benefit.

[WildcatVet]

Every individual responds differently to these medications. There is no "normal". one size fits all dosage. What works for me may not work for you and vice versa.
Take care, be safe!