Brief Answer: It will help you to continue it for some time Detailed Answer: hello and welcome to HCM! I have read the query carefully and it say that you had some stress in your life due to which you started feeling very sad...your friend gave you escitalopram, with 5 mg daily now you are feeling much better. You also mentioned OCD and yourself being a worry wart in medical history. You wanted to learn about how to discontinue escitalopram. I would like to advice you that you should take it for atleast 3-6 months. If you do not have supply of the medicine then, it would be worthwhile to meet a psychiatrist and get a prescription. There will not be any major side effect to worry about by taking them for this much time. A 3-6 months is the minimum amount of time which we recommend to every one who takes drugs for first episode. Moreover, you already are a stress prone person, have symptoms suggestive of OCD, so , taking the medicine for some time will give you well deserved benefit in OCD as well. Stopping it within few days, might pose a risk of relapse if illness, or that this drug may not be found very effective when given again. So, my sincere advice is that you should continue with this medicine for sometime. Meet a psychiatrist, and get detailed evaluation. You should also get your blood counts, and thyroid leves done to check these. As hypothyroidism is commonly seen comorbid with depression. Suddenly stopping will not do any major harm to you in any way, but there is high possibility that illness will appear ( as it has been very little time that you started medicine.). Hope the reply is useful for you feel free to ask more questions for clarification If you are satisfied kindly rate the answer and close the query. Dr. Manisha Gopal MD psychiatry

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