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08-28-2007, 09:58 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oregon
Posts: 715
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Weaning off of Lexapro
Would like to know what regimine works best when weaning off of Lexapro. I started taking 10mg of Lexapro 2 weeks after my DX at my Oncologist's recommendation. I have to say it really helped me on my treatment journey. I also used Ativan at the beginning and it was helpful. It has been 16 months now and I really do not think I need Lexapro any more, since I am feeling great. My oncologist said: Taper down to every other day for 2 weeks and then stop. Has anyone else done this? Any other regimens or tappering off suggested?
Thanks for your help, Catherine
__________________
Catherine
Found my own lump in the shower
April 2006 at the age of 58
Stage IIB, ER- PR- HER2+++ multi focal tumors, largest 2.3cm
Chemo first: AC/Taxol over 16 weeks
Bilateral mastectomy Sep 06
33 rads after the surgery
1 year of Herceptin completed Dec 07
15 years and no recurrence as of April 2021
Last edited by Catherine; 08-29-2007 at 08:54 PM..
Reason: clairifcation and spelling
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08-29-2007, 01:13 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Vancouver Canada
Posts: 72
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Hi Catherine,
I would suggest you Google "lexapro withdrawal" to get some feedback from other users of this drug. Lexapro is similar to Effexor and withdrawal can be very nasty, but everyone is different. Good luck,
Jade
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Dx Nov.04 - Stage 1, Grade 3, widespread high grade DCIS, Paget's disease of nipple, 8mm tumor invasive DC (ductal carcinoma), ER/PR-, HER2+++
Nov.04 - left mast., clear margins, 6 of 6 nodes clear
Feb.05 - began EC chemo, 4 rounds (every 3 weeks)
Aug.05 - began Herceptin every 3 weeks for 1 year
Aug.06 - ended treatment
NED
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08-29-2007, 08:47 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Wilmington, Del.
Posts: 1,126
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I agree with Jade. I don't second guess doctors, but I wouldn't stop cold, even after every other day. I would take half for a while, then a quarter, etc. I take Lexapro too, but don't plan to go off it soon due to history of clinical depression. BUt I've heard some stories from people stopped taking it, including an emergency room visits for a suspected stroke that turned out to be Lexapro withdrawal.
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MJO
IDC, Stage I, Grade 2
Oncotype DX Score 32
Her2++ E+P+, Node Neg.
Lumpectomy 11/04/05 Clear Margins
3 Dose dense AC (Couldn't tolerate 4)
4 Dose dense Taxol & Herc. (Tolerated well)
36 weeks Herceptin (Could not complete one year due to decrease in MUGA score)
2 years of Arimidex, then three years of Femara
Finished Femara May 2011
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08-29-2007, 05:20 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oregon
Posts: 715
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thank you
Thank you. I am so happy I have you to ask. I love my oncologist, but I do always try to check out is advice.
Thanks a bunch. Will let you know how it goes. Right now I have skipped 2 days on the every other day program.
Catherine
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Catherine
Found my own lump in the shower
April 2006 at the age of 58
Stage IIB, ER- PR- HER2+++ multi focal tumors, largest 2.3cm
Chemo first: AC/Taxol over 16 weeks
Bilateral mastectomy Sep 06
33 rads after the surgery
1 year of Herceptin completed Dec 07
15 years and no recurrence as of April 2021
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08-29-2007, 06:07 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Savannah, Georgia
Posts: 301
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Hi Catherine
I do not recommend this to anyone, but I decided after I felt that I was doing very well to come off the Lexapro and I took a half of one pill x 3 days and then just stopped. I was however exercising like a fool and feel that the endorphins were keeping me steady. I have remained active (slowed down a bit) and think that there may still be some times when I could benefit from an antidepressent, but for the most part feel ok. I wish you luck with weaning :-)
Love, Kelly
__________________
dx'd 05/06, 37 years old
er/pr-, Her2+, grade 3
double mastectomy, immediate reconstruction- implants
Stage 2b, 2 tumors- 2.2 cm and 0.6 cm, 3/5 + nodes
all scans clear
genetic testing- negative
06/06 began dd A/C x 4, 12 weekly Taxols w/ Herceptin
30 rads
Herceptin weekly x 1 year
Herceptin completed 08/07
Port removed 12/26/07 MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!
05/17/08 Two year anniversary NED
"We gain strength, courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... you must do the thing that you think you cannot do."
-Eleanor Roosevelt
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08-29-2007, 07:58 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oregon
Posts: 715
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what is recommended?
I did google lexapro withdrawal. I found quite a few crazy posts on the web. What I am also looking for is what is really recommended. I could not find in on webmd or even the official Lexapro site. I will call my pharmacist soon and see if he agrees with my onc recommendation.
Catherine
__________________
Catherine
Found my own lump in the shower
April 2006 at the age of 58
Stage IIB, ER- PR- HER2+++ multi focal tumors, largest 2.3cm
Chemo first: AC/Taxol over 16 weeks
Bilateral mastectomy Sep 06
33 rads after the surgery
1 year of Herceptin completed Dec 07
15 years and no recurrence as of April 2021
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10-02-2007, 09:23 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oregon
Posts: 715
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weaning off of lexapro
Just an update. So far, so good. I am off of lexapro. I started weaning off on Aug 24. Took a pill every other day for two weeks. Then a half pill every other day for one week. And then totally stopped. So I have been totally off of Lexapro two and one half weeks. I think I am okay. Sleeping fine. Will let you know if I have a problem.
Catherine in Oregon
__________________
Catherine
Found my own lump in the shower
April 2006 at the age of 58
Stage IIB, ER- PR- HER2+++ multi focal tumors, largest 2.3cm
Chemo first: AC/Taxol over 16 weeks
Bilateral mastectomy Sep 06
33 rads after the surgery
1 year of Herceptin completed Dec 07
15 years and no recurrence as of April 2021
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