no longer need lexapro?

[libbie123]

ive been on Lexapro 10mg for 2.5 years now. I started taking it for extreme panic attacks and mild depression. for a while its worked fine, but gradualy over the last 6 months or so I feel as if my anxiety has gotten worse, or less manageable, and my depression has deepened more than it ever was. and by that I mean it is harder and harder to pull myself out of it. basically I do not feel like me, like I am no longer on the right path to dealing with the anxiety and depression. I don't feel myself. I really don't know what to do. if I tell my doc that I want off the AD im fearful that I will rebound horribly. and do people successfully wean off AD and manage their anxiety with only Xanax? btw, my depression has never been as deep as it has been since ive been on this Lexapro. I feel as if my life for the last 2.5 is a constant roller coaster, up down up down. thanks

[Paxiled]

Absolutely true.  I only mentioned it because you might find it works better with a higher dose, but it's always better to get by with a lower dose -- makes it easier to stop taking it.  Totally agree.  Good luck.

[libbie123]

i do have 1 mg xanax that i take at night regularly. and i also take the lexapro in the evening too. i just want to be off the lexapro because even though it helped when i had my "episode" a few years back, ive never really been myself since ive been on it. its hard to concentrate, i have brain fog, and no motivation to do much of anything. i do know that the doses for depression and anxiety are different, but also people are different in the doses needed to deal with their issues.

[Paxiled]

When I was on Lexapro for anxiety, the dose for depression was 20mg, so it might be you're not on the right dose.  10mg was the dose for anxiety.  I don't know if that's changed -- it didn't work for me.  But you've been on it a while now, so if you do decide to quit rather than try an increased dosage, be sure your doctor knows how to taper you off slowly and carefully -- this isn't a strong point with regular docs, and even with psychiatrists you have to choose carefully who to trust.  The benzo will only increase depression unless it's caused by the anxiety -- it's a downer.