Mattacmotoring: Trying to taper off paxil. Need help.

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SquirrellyGirl

Posted April 28, 2016

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Posted April 28, 2016

Hi Matt,

I am concerned that your variable benzo use is a problem since you have dependency there and using different amounts each day is going to muddy the waters with regards to your Paxil withdrawal. Rather than use "as needed," it would be better to stick to the same dose every day regardless of need. Since you have been going back and forth between 0.5 and 1.0 mg per day (I think that's what you meant), if there were a way to I'm not a benzo expert so you might want to visit our Benzo forum and get their take on it. Wellness is a mod over there so you will get excellent guidance.

Members-only benzo forum

This topic will help you understand about which drug you should taper first.

Taking multiple psych drugs? Which drug to taper first?

It may be a matter of alternating back and forth between tapering one and then the other. If you find yourself too sedated as you get down on the Paxil, then you can focus a bit on the benzo.

Started ADs back around 1995 after bad break-up, starting with Prozac. Switched to Wellbutrin, and then to Effexor in 2002
Effexor XR 2002-2014 up to 225 mg at one point, down to 37.5 mg towards end but back up to 75 mg in 2014; now realize I had W/D as I dropped down, memory very poor about history. Extreme emotions, poor concentration as I stepped back down, didn't connect the dots!
Summer 2014 reduced to 0 very quickly, was sick of anhedonia/sexual dysfunction due to meds, depression never controlled if not worse. Didn't recognize WD since symptoms built slowly (thought I had ADD! and menopausal on top of it), starting with severe sweats, very bad cog-fog and memory issues, culminating in weight loss, severe anxiety and depression, panic, severe apathy and insomnia by eight months off. Saw p-doc who put me on Remeron, increased from 7.5 mg/day to 37.5 mg by May 22, 2015; still doing very badly though able to sleep.

June 1. 2015 Reinstated Effexor XR 37.5 mg, Remeron dropped to 30 mg PM. Immediate relief of symptoms, like nothing had ever happened! Joined SA and began on advice of friend who recognized it was WD all along! Began tapering in July 2015.

Been tapering both meds ever since, focusing on one more than the other or doing no more than 5% of each per month.

12 mg Effexor and 5.8 mg Remeron (mirtazapine SolTabs to make a solution with OraPlus) as of 5/4/2017

Update 3/14/18: 2.9 mg Remeron and 6 mg Effexor; 6/10/18: 2.6 mg Remeron and 4.9 mg Effexor

My intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/9313-squirrellygirl-effexor-withdrawal-etc/page-2#entry196679

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

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Mattacmotoring: Trying to taper off paxil. Need help.

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