CyclistN: introduction

[CyclistN]

Hi,

On 16/01/22, I started a new Paroxetine taper, from 3.36mg to 3.23mg. So far so good. I'm now questioning on the date of my next taper, going from 3.23mg to 3.12mg. I'm sort of thinking about 7 to 8 weeks? 

Cheers,CyclistN 

[CyclistN]

Whoops, my taper on 16/01/22 was 3.28mg not 3.23mg. A drop of 0.08mg from 3.36mg. Maths is not always my thing!

[CyclistN]

Hi,

On March 2, 2022, I started a new Paroxetine taper of 3.195mg from 3.28mg. So far - so good. Dizziness has increased slightly, nothing to bad though.

I have been putting a lot more time into meditation lately. It helps so much.

Cheers,

CyclistN.

[CyclistN]

Hi All,

 

I recently unintentionally missed a dose of Seroquel. In less than 24 hours, I was feeling totally exhausted, my fingers were tingling. 

So I went to sleep about 3 hours early and had my usual Seroquel dose. About 7 hours later I woke up to go to the "men's room" and it felt like it never happened.

Years ago I used to skip a dose when I would do a night shift for work. Now I'm thinking, it's not a good idea?

Does anyone know if this happens to other people?

 

Many thanks,

CyclistN 

[ChessieCat]

It's not a good idea to miss a dose of any psychiatric drug.  It is better to take them at about the same time every day.  The brain likes consistency.  It generally takes about 4 days for dose to get to full level in the blood and a bit longer for it to register in the brain.  Bouncing the doses up and down can sometimes cause the nervous system to become sensitised.

 

And the effect of changing psychiatric drugs and doses is cumulative.  What you might have been able to do before might not work in the future.

[CyclistN]

Thanks so much ChessieCat. Survivingantidepressants.org have helped me so much.

 

[CyclistN]

Sorry to ask, would the short half life, I think it's about 7 to 10 hour, of Seroquel have been why I had bad withdrawal within 24 hours?

Many thanks, 

CyclistN 

[ChessieCat]

Yes the shorter half life would cause the interdose withdrawal to happen sooner than for a drug with a 24 hour half life.  I could just about get away with missing 1 dose of 100mg Pristiq but when I missed 2 doses I would get very brain zaps (afternoon of the 2nd day) that were so bad I would have to lie down and wait for the tablet to get into my system because even moving my eyes when closed they would happen.

[CyclistN]

Thank so much ChessieCat.

 

I thought Paroxetine was bad! I guess maybe they all can be bad in their own way?

 

Cheers,

CyclistN 

[ChessieCat]

Yes I think they can all be bad.  In 2015 two weeks after I reduced my Pristiq from 100mg to 50mg I was not able to type.  I'm a professional typist since mid 70s.  I took extra Pristiq and after only 4 HOURS I was able to type again.  There was no way that it was placebo.

[CyclistN]

This is great talking to someone who "gets it". Thank you so much.

Late 2019 when I ended up in Hospital ED, the second time. They gave me 10mg of Paroxetine, I could actually feel it going through my body and brain. Within a few hours I was walking around and talking normally. My brother had to get a wheelchair from the Emergency Department to get in there and back to the car after.

[ChessieCat]

Yes it definitely makes a huge difference.  I've been on SA since October 2015 and had read a lot of members' posts about insomnia.  However it wasn't until I hurt my back mid 2021 and had a few days where I hardly slept that I truly understood what it was like.  I can remember saying to someone that I know why they use sleep deprivation as a torture technique.

[CyclistN]

Yeah, I can see the funny side and not so funny side of that. 🙂

[CyclistN]

Hi All,

On May 1, 2022, I tapered my Paroxetine by 0.08, from 3.19mg to 3.11mg.

It seems to be going ok.

I have noticed I get headaches in and around my forehead. It's not like the pins and needles (brain zaps?) I had when I was taped to fast, by the powers that be or when I was tapering too fast.

I think tapering, for me, every 8 weeks works much better than the 4 week taper I tried late last year. It was a dizzy time. A part of me wants it to go faster. I know it's not good for me.

 

Many thanks to everyone,

CyclistN 

🙂

 

 

[CyclistN]

Hi All,

On May 1, 2022, I tapered my Paroxetine by 0.08, from 3.19mg to 3.11mg.

It seems to be going ok.

I have noticed I get headaches in and around my forehead. It's not like the pins and needles (brain zaps?) I had when I was taped to fast, by the powers that be or when I was tapering too fast.

I think tapering, for me, every 8 weeks works much better than the 4 week taper I tried late last year. It was a dizzy time. A part of me wants it to go faster. I know it's not good for me.

 

Many thanks to everyone,

CyclistN 

🙂

 

 

[CyclistN]

Hi,

 

I saw a Dr today for a flu vaccination. I don't know him that well. In the past he has written "variable dose" when writing a prescription for Paroxetine.

I did bring him some articles and papers, either written by or co-written by Dr Mark Horowitz.

Anyway, to shorten the subject. He ends up saying that withdrawal from SSRIs only last up to 1 month. He has had patients who just say they are not doing so well and are feel sick. I don't believe them because they "put it on" because they want to stay on the drug.

It just brought up a lot of what happened to me late 2019 and early 2020. The 2 panic attacks and end up in Hospital Emergency Department on two times, when I was told that I need benzodiazapines, as I was considered to be an anxious type of person, after they tapered me from 5mg of Paroxetine. The end of a 5 day taper.

I have truly lost trust or faith in the Medical Fraternity. I feel really scared about Drs/Psychiatrists. 

[CyclistN]

Hi,

 

I haven't updated for while.

 

On July 1, 2022, I tapered my Paroxetine by 0.08mg from 3.11mg to 3.03mg.

 

On September 1, 2022, I tapered my Paroxetine by 0.08mg from 3.03mg to 2.95mg.

 

The last 3 days I felt really flat and exhausted. Good news is that my dizziness has decreased. 

 

Many thanks to everyone,😊

CyclistN 

[CyclistN]

Hi,

 

I haven't updated since September 1, 2022!

 

On November 1, 2022, I tapered from 2.95mg to 2.87mg of Paroxetine. I had 2 days that I found were difficult. Severe Lethargy.

 

On January 1, 2023, I tapered from 2.87mg to 2.79mg. This taper, from what I can remember, was pretty well absent of withdrawal.

 

This March 1, I was due to taper again. I have decided not to, as I have Covid!

 

Cheers,

CyclistN 

[Fifree]

Hi CyclistN. I just read your thread. It's so great to read a positive story and you are such a positive person. I also try to meditate regularly and find it really helpful for recognising what 's going on with my symptoms.

 

Thanks for sharing your journey.

 

Fifree