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How To Taper Off Cipralex?
Question: Dear Sir,
I have been on Cipralex 10mg for the past 2.5 years for anxiety and depression. I am feeling fine and would like to stop the medicine.
But my psychiatrist would not let me and says to continue the same.
Please let me know a safe way to taper off from this medicine.
I would also like to let you know that I had epilepsy as a child and had taken Tegretol and Eptoin for five years from 1992 to 1997. I was off those medicines and have been seizure free for the last 21 years.
My Psychiatrist told me while starting Cipralex that in rare case it can cause seizures. I am lucky enough it didn't/
So please let me know if stopping it can cause seizures too?
Thanks and Regards,
XXXX
I have been on Cipralex 10mg for the past 2.5 years for anxiety and depression. I am feeling fine and would like to stop the medicine.
But my psychiatrist would not let me and says to continue the same.
Please let me know a safe way to taper off from this medicine.
I would also like to let you know that I had epilepsy as a child and had taken Tegretol and Eptoin for five years from 1992 to 1997. I was off those medicines and have been seizure free for the last 21 years.
My Psychiatrist told me while starting Cipralex that in rare case it can cause seizures. I am lucky enough it didn't/
So please let me know if stopping it can cause seizures too?
Thanks and Regards,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Half of the dose can be continued
Detailed Answer:
Hi, Thanks for your query.
Welcome to HCM.
Depression can occur again because it is episodic illness in most of the cases. For the first episode I used to insist my patients to take medications for 8 to 9 months and then gradually taper the drugs.
If you are really doing well and completely off the symptoms for more than 1 year then Dose reduction can be started.
In my patient I usually ask to take half the dose for 1 to 2 months and then drugs can be stopped within next 1 to 2 months.
In your case decreasing cipralex from 10 to 5 mg and then to 2.5 mg will work over period of time. Discuss about this your doctor.
If your earlier episode was related to some stress then there are more chances that you will developed depression in future with major stressors.
You can try to understand your problems and identify the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Whenever you feel that you have started having depression or anxiety, immediately you will have to visit a psychiatrist and start the drugs.
You can also go for cognitive behavior therapy, if your symptoms were moderate.
I hope this will be helpful to you. Wishing you good health.
Half of the dose can be continued
Detailed Answer:
Hi, Thanks for your query.
Welcome to HCM.
Depression can occur again because it is episodic illness in most of the cases. For the first episode I used to insist my patients to take medications for 8 to 9 months and then gradually taper the drugs.
If you are really doing well and completely off the symptoms for more than 1 year then Dose reduction can be started.
In my patient I usually ask to take half the dose for 1 to 2 months and then drugs can be stopped within next 1 to 2 months.
In your case decreasing cipralex from 10 to 5 mg and then to 2.5 mg will work over period of time. Discuss about this your doctor.
If your earlier episode was related to some stress then there are more chances that you will developed depression in future with major stressors.
You can try to understand your problems and identify the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Whenever you feel that you have started having depression or anxiety, immediately you will have to visit a psychiatrist and start the drugs.
You can also go for cognitive behavior therapy, if your symptoms were moderate.
I hope this will be helpful to you. Wishing you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
Sir,
I consulted my psychiatrist and he said to continue taking this medicine. I would like to stop it as I am doing well.
I have planned to cut from 10mg to 5mg per day for the next 1 month and then to 2.5 mg for the next month.
Please let me know if this is a safe way to stop this medication. If not, please suggest.
Regards
I consulted my psychiatrist and he said to continue taking this medicine. I would like to stop it as I am doing well.
I have planned to cut from 10mg to 5mg per day for the next 1 month and then to 2.5 mg for the next month.
Please let me know if this is a safe way to stop this medication. If not, please suggest.
Regards
Brief Answer:
With due caution you can
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writng again.
If you have understood what I have previously told than it is okay to taper these drugs off.
If the problems are particularly related to stress then develop a strategy to identify the preliminary symptoms like, decrease sleep, appetite, sadness, lethargy etc. When you will find these symptoms you should report to your psychiatrist and get help.
This way of tapering the drugs off is acceptable. You are going on right path.
I think this will be helpful to you.
Do consider psychotherapy before going for drugs next time.
Wishing you good health.
With due caution you can
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writng again.
If you have understood what I have previously told than it is okay to taper these drugs off.
If the problems are particularly related to stress then develop a strategy to identify the preliminary symptoms like, decrease sleep, appetite, sadness, lethargy etc. When you will find these symptoms you should report to your psychiatrist and get help.
This way of tapering the drugs off is acceptable. You are going on right path.
I think this will be helpful to you.
Do consider psychotherapy before going for drugs next time.
Wishing you good health.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
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