Thinking of reducing meds slowly, curious about others who have done this.

[HowYaDoing?]

Hi, i first got panic attacks about 2 years ago and was getting them really bad. I was a musician and got really bad tendinitis and couldn't play for over a year and at the same time i had just quit smoking and im pretty sure thats what triggered them as i never had them before.
Been on 20mg of citalopram teva after taking 10mg for awhile and it works perfectly, have had 1 or 2 since but i know what to expect and so i can kinda control them when they do happen. Hard Deep breathing and lying upside down off a bed/coach seems to sort them out.

Just curious to hear from some people who have reduced meds and stopped altogether and how it went. Did you have to go back on them? Did you successfully stop them?
I feel like i'm finally ready to reduce them but slightly worried about the side effects of cutting down.

[chrismex89]

Hello, because one of my irrational fears is having a serious liver disease, I have a tendency to want to reduce the doses of my medication gradually in order to try to leave, I have achieved temporary success with Lexapro where I reached to 20mgcurrently is taking 15mg and also with momentary success with 3mg 1/4 Lexotan well as propranolol 5mg. Sadly I must say that for two or three weeks until I succeed and then I fall moderately in the end we have to obey our psychiatrists.

[Davit]

All I can say is if you are not ready, reducing or stopping is a mistake. I don't take anything now but CBT prepared me sort of and replaced them.

[soManyProblems]

I went drug-free for many months, and for me it was a mistake. I have had very serious anxiety for my whole life, so I think I need the drugs. I suspect other people can go drug-free. I wish you good luck with whatever you decide.

[RoderickLariviere]

You can reduce medication gradually but on correct stage, consult with your doctor before reducing your meds to avoid side effects.

[The Intolerable Kid]

It's worked somewhat for me. Just reduce them very slowly, one at a time. Sometimes natural (slightly less effective) substitutes help cushion the transition like liquid melatonin or valerian root.