Help.Tapering off escitalopram.

[lostritenow]

I was on 10 mg escitalopram for 7 or 8 years. I tapered down by 1 mg over a 9 month period to come off completely when I got down to 1 mg. Would that be a feasible taper plan?I have severe ocd which came back 3 months after getting of the ssri. I am having a nervous breakdown. I have been ill for 2 months, barely functioning, not getting any better.

[panic_down_under]

I was on 10 mg escitalopram for 7 or 8 years. I tapered down by 1 mg over a 9 month period to come off completely when I got down to 1 mg. Would that be a feasible taper plan?I have severe ocd which came back 3 months after getting of the ssri. I am having a nervous breakdown. I have been ill for 2 months, barely functioning, not getting any better.

I'm confused. Are you intending to taper off escitalopram, or did you stop taking it 3 months ago and the anxiety disorder has come back?

If you're intending to wean off then 1mg a month is far slower than it needs to be. Most can taper off at 5mg per week, but cutting back by 2.5mg at weekly intervals may be better psychologically.

OTOH, for some of us these are chronic conditions which vary in intensity, but never completely go away and so we need to treat them on an ongoing basis either with meds, or therapy, ideally both. Neither antidepressants or therapy are cures.

[lostritenow]

I stopped taking it in December. ocd came back mid March.

[panic_down_under]

I stopped taking it in December. ocd came back mid March.

Then you have relapsed and need to begin treatment again. :(

If escitalopram worked well for you then it would be your best med option. If not, the two antidepressants with the best record for treating OCD are the SSRI fluvoxamine (Luvox) and the TCA clomipramine (Anafranil). I think the latter is the better long-term med.