Will chromium allow me to take less Lexapro?

Q: I heard you on Martie Whittelin's radio show. Informative. Thank you.

I am on Lexapro for anxiety. It has really helped, but my doctor and I want to start the withdrawal process. I’ve been taking 5mg and will go down to 2.5 next week…with goal of being off in a month or so. Will chromium help?

A: In Lifting Depression, I wrote about "The Grateful Psychiatrist" who had been taking Lexapro for a year. It helped him somewhat. When he added chromium, he felt much, much better, so much better in fact that he decided to discontinue Lexapro. Within two weeks, however, of stopping Lexapro, he became quite irritable. He resumed Lexapro at a reduced dosage and found that the combination of Lexapro and chromium was quite beneficial and better than either alone.

Please let me know what you and your physician decide to do and whether it helps.