Washy: Big mess

[Washy]

Hello.  Brief history,   20 years of paxil/seroxat use,  16 months ago i decided with my doctor i wanted to reduce and stop this medication.   With his direction of reduction i went down from 30mg to 10mg in 5 months.  Brief headaches was experienced during going down.  Decided to hold at month 5 as some anxiety issues started. I was advised by my doctor to give my body a rest and hold on a therapeutic dose of 10mg for some time. Really symptoms held for a further 4 months, and was adout to start to reduce further  when different symptoms appeared.  Since then to today i've been in a slow spiral of worsening symptoms.   Since due to research i know he took me off too fast and I'm now suffering for that.  I've lost my job as my condition is deteriorating slowly.   My doctor advised me to go back on my full dose about 3 months ago, i had my apprehension about his method as he led me to this condition in the first place.  So i remained  as i am.  Maybe now i wish i had listen to him as i am in a pretty rough state. .  Do i list my symptoms?   I now do not know where to turn or what to do.  Loosing hope personally.  If anyone here can give me some advise please.  

[Gridley]

Hello, Washy, and welcome to SA.  Thank you for completing your drug signature.  

As you have learned, you tapered too fast.  We recommend tapering no more than 10% of current dose every 4 weeks.

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

What symptoms are you experiencing?  How bad are they?     

 

What is withdrawal syndrome.

 

Glenmullen’s withdrawal symptom list.

 

When we take medications, the CNS (central nervous system) responds by making changes over the months and years we take the drug(s). When the medication is discontinued, the CNS has to undo all the changes it made. Rebuilding the neurotransmitter production and reactivating the receptor and transporter cells takes time -- during that rebuilding process symptoms occur.  

 

These explain it really well:

 

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

   On 8/30/2011 at 2:28 PM,  Rhiannon said: 

When we stop taking the drug, we have a brain that has designed itself so that it works in the presence of the drug; now it can't work properly without the drug because it's designed itself so that the drug is part of its chemistry and structure. It's like a plant that has grown on a trellis; you can't just yank out the trellis and expect the plant to be okay. When the drug is removed, the remodeling process has to take place in reverse. SO--it's not a matter of just getting the drug out of your system and moving on. If it were that simple, none of us would be here. It's a matter of, as I describe it, having to grow a new brain. I believe this growing-a-new-brain happens throughout the taper process if the taper is slow enough. (If it's too fast, then there's not a lot of time for actually rebalancing things, and basically the brain is just pedaling fast trying to keep us alive.) It also continues to happen, probably for longer than the symptoms actually last, throughout the time of recovery after we are completely off the drug, which is why recovery takes so long.

During the time you've been at 10mg, you brain has made adjustments to the lower dose.  Going back up to 30mg could be too much for your brain to handle, resulting in further destabilization.

 

Reinstatement/updose of a very small amount of the original drug is the only known way to alleviate withdrawal symptoms.  However, you are outside the 3-month time frame when reinstatement dependably works.  Please read the following link and let us know if this is something you want to explore and we can advise you further.  Reinstatement doesn't always work, but I wanted you to be aware of this possibility.

 

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms. -- at least the first page of the topic

 

The other alternative is to try and wait out the symptoms and manage as best you can until your central nervous system returns to homeostasis.  Unfortunately no one can give you an exact timeline as to when you will start feeling better and while some do recover relatively easily, for others it can take many months or longer.  Then, once you have stabilized, you can, if you wish, begin a 10% taper off the drug.

 

We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system. 

 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

Please research all supplements first and only add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems.

 

This is your introduction topic -- the place for you to ask questions, record symptoms, share your progress, and connect with other members of the SA community.  I hope you’ll find the information in the SA forums helpful for your situation.  I'm sorry that you are in the position that you need the information, but I am glad that you found us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Washy]

Hi. Thank you for your reply,  I am not bed bound, but cant move far, I have a extensive mixture of symptoms.  Lots of constant aches, pressures, zaps, freezes, burnings in my head., flue feelings, weak limbs, weak snapping joints,  fatigue, itchy skin, inner shakes, muscle twiches, reflux, sensitive hearing, nausea, stomach pain, shakes and shivers,  body jerks,  sleep jerks, loss of sleep,  burning skin, anxiety periods, restless legs that sometimes feels in the arms and lower stomach,  i have a lot of pains in my manhood and pain discomfort deep in the pubic area also feels like bladder infection need to urinate. Aswell as everything this is worrying me a lot.  

My cognative ability remains good,  but loss of interest in passtimes.

I do get shortb periods of feeling a little  better though.  

I have have cut out sugar,  and only drink water,  i dont smoke or drink,  i take no other form of medication or supplements.  

I would like to ask some questions if it possible?  

Thanks 

[Washy]

Hi hello,  i've read through many items on this site, its very informative and basically i now see the road before me..  would anyone  available to answer some questions?????  

Firstly I have a question on reinstatement.  Reinstatement wasnt in my mind at all, on reading it seems a shot in the dark if it works or not.   

As i am currently not completely off  the medication, would reinstatement of a small dose have better chances?  As opposed to being completely off it? 

I do get windows of where symptoms are a lot less severity, but they seem to be getting less in numbers . Waves seem to be getting worse as well as other symtoms appearing.  

I guess this is normal? 

I actually can go to bed and feel worse flu symtoms  during sleep as it wakes me up, 

Opon waking i seem to return to base line flu symptoms.

The genital issue still remains also,  

If anyone could reply i would appreciate.  

 

 

 

 

[Washy]

Hi hello,  i've read through many items on this site, its very informative and basically i now see the road before me..  would anyone  available to answer some questions?????  

Firstly I have a question on reinstatement.  Reinstatement wasnt in my mind at all, on reading it seems a shot in the dark if it works or not.   

As i am currently not completely off  the medication, would reinstatement of a small dose have better chances?  As opposed to being completely off it? 

I do get windows of where symptoms are a lot less severity, but they seem to be getting less in numbers . Waves seem to be getting worse as well as other symtoms appearing.  

I guess this is normal? 

I actually can go to bed and feel worse flu symtoms  during sleep as it wakes me up, 

Opon waking i seem to return to base line flu symptoms.

The genital issue still remains also,  

If anyone could reply i would appreciate.  

 

 

 

 

[Washy]

Hello hello,  can anyone see my posts??????   I see lots of traffic on this site, but im getting no replies.  

If anyone can help with my question of increasing my dose.   I understand the concerns of being far past the window of going back. .    With all the years of experience here,  Do i pose a better chance of increasing my dose to alleviate symptoms whilst still being on paxil. Rather than opposed to being completely off the drug. Surely this would balance in favour.  

[MikeysMum]

Hi Washy. I can't give advice on reinstating as I don't feel experienced enough to offer anything. I just wanted to say I hear you. I've come off Paxil after 25 plus years and I've tapered far too quickly towards the end. It is hell. However this site offers so much wisdom and experience. Have you read through symtoms and self care section? I'm sorry I don't have much other information to help you but I just wanted to say you are not alone. I personally have been helped by listening  Claire Weeks (anxiety info) on YouTube which was recommended here. Epsom salt footbaths and breathing in excuses seem also to have helped with the inner agitation feeling. If you type these terms into search engine of this forum it should come up with many relevant posts. I found some Tapping for anxiety videos on YouTube that are helping. my mind/thoughts are full of fearful anxious thoughts at the moment so I am just trying to change that. Hang in there. And try and take care. My go to mantra has been 'one breath at a time' just to get through. 

[laydefish]

Hi @Washy & Welcome to the group! Sorry to hear you having such a hard time, unfortunately it's not uncommon.  But fortunately you came to the right place, the staff here are very knowledgeable & should be with you directly- hang in there & be strong- it will get better!  You can reach them quicker in a few different ways;  in a post, type @ then the name of the staff or group member & select it out of the list. Or @ the top left of each page, see staff & send them a message directly. Hope this helps- Take Care - Laydefish

[Songbird]

On 5/11/2019 at 6:05 PM, Washy said:

Hello hello,  can anyone see my posts??????   I see lots of traffic on this site, but im getting no replies.  

If anyone can help with my question of increasing my dose.   I understand the concerns of being far past the window of going back. .    With all the years of experience here,  Do i pose a better chance of increasing my dose to alleviate symptoms whilst still being on paxil. Rather than opposed to being completely off the drug. Surely this would balance in favour.  

 

Hi Washy.  I think it's better that you stopped tapering at 10mg rather than went all the way off, which could have left you in a much worse state of withdrawal. 

 

Regarding an updose - it's really hard to predict what an updose would do, especially since you've been in withdrawal at 10mg for so many months, and on 30mg for so many years.  Did you read the reinstatement topic?  At this stage it would be a big gamble.  If you decide to try it, the safest option is to updose by a tiny amount, to see how it affects your system, say from 10mg up to 10.5mg or 11mg.  Smaller changes are easier for your body to adapt to, and less likely to cause chaos.  The aim of an updose would be to reduce severity of symptoms, as it is unlikely to completely "cure" all symptoms.  Unfortunately there is also a risk that an updose could cause an increase in severity of symptoms.  We can't decide for you, we can only provide you with the information that we have.

[Washy]

@Altostrata

@Shep

@apace41

@brassmonkey

@bubble

@Gridley

 

Hello 

,sorry for that, just trying to get some attention as suggested. 

So for now reading all the info, it would be a not good idea to go up from my current dose.  So i am presuming remaining as i am couldbe a safer option.  Can anyone answer my question as regards to tolerance/poop out, or other. I can safely say my symptoms are getting worse by the day even.  So where if i was to poop out on my remaining dose whilst i am in withdrawals, how would i know.  Would i in fact get worse?   How do you recognise poop out whilst in withdrawals? 

Also please i get some amazing head problems all day every day, some get very painful and relentless and dont give in all day.  Seems to be worsening also.  Is this pretty normal in withdrawals?

Thank you for any help.

[Altostrata]

Hello, Washy.

 

Paxil can be very difficult to go off. You have a couple of choices:

 

1) Try an updose of paroxetine. If you add 1mg and feel better, you'll know a little higher dose might be more comfortable. If it makes you feel worse, you can back down immediately. This topic explains how to measure 1mg Tips for tapering off Paxil (paroxetine)

 

2) Given going off paroxetine is so difficult, you might consider a switch to fluoxetine (Prozac). This topic describes it The Prozac switch or "bridging" with Prozac

 

Have you ever had a bad reaction to fluoxetine?

[Vonnegutjunky]

Hi washy I’m coming off Paxil too, and i am also wondering about poop out during wd. 

I am at 7mg. I am so worried I’m going to get worse and worse the more I go down. I  feel like I am in a mess too.