rwsa78 Posted March 20, 2020 Share Posted March 20, 2020 So I had been on 20 mg Paxil for 7 years. I started last year tapering at 5 to 10% per month. After 15 months, I was down to 8 mg. But I got the flu, which gave me bad withdrawal effects like I had quit cold turkey. I panicked, and reinstated at 20 mg. It started out fine for 2 weeks, but now I'm getting slight zaps when I try to sleep, which in turn is giving me bad anxiety and body twitching. Im taking hydroxyzine when I have to for sleep. It's been a month since reinstatement. Do I wait it out and hope to stabilize. Started 20 mg Paxil in 2012. Did a six week taper in April 2018, a month later had terrible brain zaps trying to sleep. Reinstated 20 mg June 2018. Began a linear 10% taper in Nov. 2018 At 8 mg in Feb. 2020, got the flu. On day 4 of the flu, got terrible brain zaps trying to sleep as if I had stopped Paxil cold turkey (which I hadn't). Reinstated 20 mg in Feb. 2020. First two weeks were fine, but now experiencing mild zaps as I try to sleep. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted March 20, 2020 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 20, 2020 Welcome to SA, rwsa78, Welcome to SA. I've brought your situation to the attention of the other moderators. Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of April 1: 6.8mg Taper is 91% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted March 20, 2020 Administrator Share Posted March 20, 2020 Welcome, rw. When did the zaps start? Do you have any other odd symptoms since you reinstated 20mg? When did you reinstate, was it 2 weeks ago? How have your symptoms changed over the 2 weeks? This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
rwsa78 Posted March 21, 2020 Author Share Posted March 21, 2020 Hi, thanks for the reply. I reinstated a month ago. The first 2 weeks were fine, but then for some reason the zaps started on week 3 only when I try to go to sleep. And they're light zaps, but still enough to keep me awake. I can't tell if the situation has changed over 2 weeks. The hydroxyzine used to help me sleep through the night. Now, it gets me to about 1 am. I was getting vivid dreams in the beginning, but that has stopped. My legs tremble and pulse a bit, but I believe that's do to anxiety. If I can relax and calm down, my legs are ok. I did have to take my first Xanax today because of the previous 48 hours of panic. I'm trying not to take that, but may have to over the next couple of days until I can wrap my head around what's going on with the zaps. For the past week, I have started taking 1100 mg fish oil and 400 mg magnesium clycinate, and some other B vitamins. Started 20 mg Paxil in 2012. Did a six week taper in April 2018, a month later had terrible brain zaps trying to sleep. Reinstated 20 mg June 2018. Began a linear 10% taper in Nov. 2018 At 8 mg in Feb. 2020, got the flu. On day 4 of the flu, got terrible brain zaps trying to sleep as if I had stopped Paxil cold turkey (which I hadn't). Reinstated 20 mg in Feb. 2020. First two weeks were fine, but now experiencing mild zaps as I try to sleep. Link to comment
rwsa78 Posted March 21, 2020 Author Share Posted March 21, 2020 Actuaĺly, there is still a little bit of twitching in my legs and arms regardless if I'm calm or not.. Sometimes, the twitech correlates with a zap. But again, I only feel the zap when I'm almost asleep. Started 20 mg Paxil in 2012. Did a six week taper in April 2018, a month later had terrible brain zaps trying to sleep. Reinstated 20 mg June 2018. Began a linear 10% taper in Nov. 2018 At 8 mg in Feb. 2020, got the flu. On day 4 of the flu, got terrible brain zaps trying to sleep as if I had stopped Paxil cold turkey (which I hadn't). Reinstated 20 mg in Feb. 2020. First two weeks were fine, but now experiencing mild zaps as I try to sleep. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted March 21, 2020 Administrator Share Posted March 21, 2020 What does the zap feel like? You have felt no effect from the Paxil 20mg reinstatement? To help us out, follow these instructions Please put your drug and withdrawal history in your signature You may need to use a computer to do this. This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
rwsa78 Posted March 22, 2020 Author Share Posted March 22, 2020 Ok, my signature is filled in. I felt no effect from the 20 mg reinstatement until two weeks later when I started getting zaps as I try to fall asleep. The zaps are mild, not sharp. I don't feel them during the day. But they wake me up relentlessly. I haven't slept in a while. I'm to the point where I wonder if I can be hospitalized for no sleep. Started 20 mg Paxil in 2012. Did a six week taper in April 2018, a month later had terrible brain zaps trying to sleep. Reinstated 20 mg June 2018. Began a linear 10% taper in Nov. 2018 At 8 mg in Feb. 2020, got the flu. On day 4 of the flu, got terrible brain zaps trying to sleep as if I had stopped Paxil cold turkey (which I hadn't). Reinstated 20 mg in Feb. 2020. First two weeks were fine, but now experiencing mild zaps as I try to sleep. Link to comment
rwsa78 Posted March 22, 2020 Author Share Posted March 22, 2020 Oh by the way, bless you all for doing this. You are a Godsend Started 20 mg Paxil in 2012. Did a six week taper in April 2018, a month later had terrible brain zaps trying to sleep. Reinstated 20 mg June 2018. Began a linear 10% taper in Nov. 2018 At 8 mg in Feb. 2020, got the flu. On day 4 of the flu, got terrible brain zaps trying to sleep as if I had stopped Paxil cold turkey (which I hadn't). Reinstated 20 mg in Feb. 2020. First two weeks were fine, but now experiencing mild zaps as I try to sleep. Link to comment
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