My 18yo son gradually worked up to 20mg lexapro. His anxiety became much worse on 10mg and we wanted to switch meds, instead his dr increased his dose saying he wasn't taking enough. 
Within days of taking 15, he was cutting himself. Never ever ever has he had thoughts of this. After a week on 15 and upping to 20, he finally came and let us know just how bad it is.
He can't control his anxious thoughts. They come at night when he is alone in his room. Anything can trigger them from his girlfriend not saying the right thing to feeling like he won't get enough sleep. He has now started the cutting to make the thoughts? Voices? Stop. He doesn't know if they're outside voices as in hallucinations or just severe repetitive self destructive thoughts. We don't know.
We are trying to get help without having him put on a hold. He has never exhibited any hint of this kind of behavior until this medicine. He is a criminal justice student...a 5150 will end his law enforcement dream and he is overwhelmingly a good student, employee, son, etc. 
This only happens at night. He doses his lexapro at 11. His anxiety peaks about 3am. When he is supposed to be winding down, his anxiety is gearing up..yet he says if he takes lexapro in the morning, it makes him too tired. 
I found today how the half life is roughly 30 hours. That means his peak concentration is that same nighttime slot. To me, it's causative. 
But of course I don't know that. 
I can't reach his doctor right now and tbh, I don't think he needs to be put on a hold, which is exactly what will happen if we take him somewhere. We can keep him safe at home until we know for sure. 
Has anyone ever experienced these kinds of effects? Self harm (not suicidal more control and pain)..maybe obsessive or repetitive negative thoughts or auditory hallucinations?
He lit has had no indication of any of this. He won't go inpatient right now. He wants to talk to someone but i know the system and the minute he explains that he is compelled to hurt himself, they will 5150 him if he doesn't agree. 
He wants help but is afraid. 
I have read the horror stories about stopping lexapro and don't know what to do. If we stop it abruptly, I see that it is going to make him physically ill and I understand it may even worsen what he is feeling. I also believe that the self harm and thoughts /voices will stop. Do we stop lexapro cold turkey to keep him safe or do we do a slow taper to keep him safe ? We can't reach his doctor and we don't want to go to a psyche er.
I just want to know how best to help him get off this drug. If the symptoms are still there after the taper I will be the first in line to have him taken care of. I don't want to ruin his future over a drug reaction. 
Cold turkey so he might stop cutting? Or taper and just make sure he isn't alone until he's off?
I am torn I just don't know how best to help him and we are afraid to take him anywhere. 
This whole rambling post probably doesn't even make sense.
TLDR my son started lexapro and began having obsessive thoughts and cutting himself. I don't know if it is med related or schizophrenia. I'm scared. I want to stop the medicine to see if that's the cause. We don't want to go anywhere that might 5150 him over what could be a medication reaction.  Has anyone ever had a bad experience like this with lexapro? Do we stop cold turkey or taper over weeks? How do I help him? Please.