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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Fred23 on September 12, 2009, at 14:33:38
I've seen a few posts from those on 15 mg of Lexapro per day.
Since it comes in 10 mg and 20 mg tablets, some sort of splitting is needed to arrive at 15 mg.Are doctors recommending the 15 mg? (As up from 10 or down from 20?)
Or, are patients trying to reduce the monthly cost by taking 3/4 of the presribed amount to make 30 pills last longer?
Posted by Justherself54 on September 12, 2009, at 15:14:54
In reply to 15 mg dose of Lexapro?, posted by Fred23 on September 12, 2009, at 14:33:38
Could be that 10 is not enough and 20 is too much..pharmacy will do the pill splitting, if there is no scoring in the pill. I can't remember if Lex had a score or not.
Posted by bearfan on September 12, 2009, at 17:26:48
In reply to Re: 15 mg dose of Lexapro?, posted by Justherself54 on September 12, 2009, at 15:14:54
Apparently it comes in 15mg doses outside the U.S.
Posted by Sunbath on September 12, 2009, at 17:51:40
In reply to 15 mg dose of Lexapro?, posted by Fred23 on September 12, 2009, at 14:33:38
They come in 10 and 20mg strength over here (EU) and they have a scoring in the middle so it's very easy to split..
Posted by Lisa2712 on September 12, 2009, at 20:14:52
In reply to 15 mg dose of Lexapro?, posted by Fred23 on September 12, 2009, at 14:33:38
I was put on 20 mg a day and was on this dose for several months before I realized it was too activating for me, like I couldn't sit still for a second, and I asked my psychiatrist if I could try going down to 15 mg a day. He looked puzzled when I asked him this, and I explained to him I had a pill cutter and the 10 mg pills are scored in the middle and I could cut them into 5 mg. He then understood and said ok and let me try 15 mg to see if it will be less activating for me.
Posted by Phillipa on September 12, 2009, at 21:44:18
In reply to Re: 15 mg dose of Lexapro?, posted by Lisa2712 on September 12, 2009, at 20:14:52
I split meds all the time if not enteric coated. Phillipa
Posted by Fred23 on September 13, 2009, at 14:42:52
In reply to Re: 15 mg dose of Lexapro?, posted by Lisa2712 on September 12, 2009, at 20:14:52
> I was put on 20 mg a day
Isn't 20 mg a high *starting* dose? I've seen advice to start at 5 mg or 10 mg, depending on whether it is for anxiety/panic or depression, then work up to 20 mg. Here on 'babble, I've seen reports of even 30 and 40 mg per day, but after working up from lower doses.
> and was on this dose for several months before I realized it was too activating for me, like I couldn't sit still for a second, and I asked my psychiatrist if I could try going down to 15 mg a day.
Was using a benzodiazepine considered?
> He looked puzzled when I asked him this, and I explained to him I had a pill cutter and the 10 mg pills are scored in the middle and I could cut them into 5 mg. He then understood and said ok and let me try 15 mg to see if it will be less activating for me.
Were you taking two 10 mg pills to get the 20 mg?
(Due to marketing factors, typically 30 20 mg pills will cost only slightly more than 10 mg pills, so splitting 20 mg pills would be a cheaper way to arrive at 15 mg.)
Posted by Lisa2712 on September 13, 2009, at 19:18:49
In reply to Re: 15 mg dose of Lexapro? » Lisa2712, posted by Fred23 on September 13, 2009, at 14:42:52
I was started on 10 mg for a few weeks (by my family doctor) but I didn't think 10 mg was enough for my severe anxiety and anger and situational depression so the doctor upped it to 20 mg.
Yes, my psychiatrist told me I could try adding a benzo to the 20 mg lexapro but I wanted to go down to 15 mg and go on a benzo.
Yes, I was taking 2 10 mg pills.
This is the end of the thread.
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