Tapering
So, I'm back in the Other State, doing more training to teach people how to take the SAT. This weekend is verbal, which I'm good at... though, of course, teaching something you're really good at to people who aren't can be oddly difficult.
So one of the reasons I started up my blog again, or one of the prompters, at least, is that I am tapering off my meds. The reasons for this are legion, though the most compelling reason can be framed (in honor of SAT math) as an equation:
Tapering off meds = Didn't get teaching/Lost Health Insurance
Actually I'm not sure it made much sense as an equation, but bear with me, it's snowing again and I don't have a lot of time here.
So for various reasons, I have decided in consultation with a (new, temporary) therapist to taper off my meds, namely 10 mg of Lexapro, an SSRI anti-depressant, prescribed in my case for anxiety.
One of the suggestions for tapering that I read was "Keep a journal! Or a blog!" The idea being that you use this to monitor the changes in your well-being. The idea that they would recommend a blog seems humorous. (Hi, Julie!)
But anyway. Also not a bad idea.
So, the doctor said I should have "no trouble" and that I can just split my little pills in half, go with 5 mg for a month, then let it go entirely.
Web research suggested MORE possibilities for wonky feelings, including something called "zaps" or "brain shivers," and so I've decided to go with a SLOWER taper. Since Monday, then, I've been doing a half a pill, plus a half of a half of a pill, or roughly 7.5 mg. I plan, next Monday, to take it down to 5 mg.
Only I'm actually feeling quite a bit of a headache. Headaches have always been my main symptom in going on/going off Lexapro. I don't know if this one is caused by Lexapro or not, but thought I'd note it.
In hopes that noting it will keep it at bay.
Doctor also didn't recommend THIS, but to help with the detox I'm also taking vitamins (B vitamins rock) and barley grass. I read somewhere online that barley grass and cherry (vitamin C) help with this kind of detox.
I trust doctors less these days. Not that I don't trust them, medically, but since I've been into the whole organic foods/yoga thing, I've come to realize just how much nutrition and relaxation effect health and well-being, and no doctor has ever helped much with the nutrition. When I ran the supplement-thing past the dr. at the BMU student health center, he poo pooed it, just like he poo pooed the symptoms other Lexapro users described, esp. the "brain shivers."
Anyway. We'll see how it goes. Blog will sometimes be a real-time play-by-play of What Happens to Your Head when you Go Off Your Meds.
posted by Evie P. @ 8:08:00 AM
5 Comments:
If you're interested, I also strongly recommend yoga--when I was practicing, I found that it really did help me manage my anxiety a lot better.
Good luck.
Good luck with the tapering. The American health care system just sucks rocks.
I have it too.... *panicking* MAKE IT STOP!!!
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