What you describe — being on escitalopram (Nexito) after tapering clonazepam, feeling stable for a while, and then having a sudden worsening of depression with thoughts of “feeling like dying” — is clinically important. Antidepressant treatment does not always produce a steady, linear improvement; mood can worsen due to inadequate dose, drug interactions, psychosocial stressors, or because stopping benzodiazepines can cause rebound anxiety and sleep disturbance that exacerbate depression. Monitor closely and treat this worsening as a red flag that needs urgent review.
Next Steps
Contact your treating psychiatrist today for an urgent medication review (tell them exact medicines, doses, recent stops/tapers, sleep, and any stressors).
Health Tips
Do not stop or change medicines on your own — abrupt benzodiazepine cessation can cause rebound anxiety/insomnia and worsen mood.