simonb Posted April 20, 2020 Posted April 20, 2020 It all started when I was a teenager and I was involved in an incident in a night club. After this incident my behaviour started to change, I became more withdrawn and the anxiety was overwhelming. Depression was bad and I was in a spiral of poor mental health, trouble with the police and alcohol. I now know what I was experiencing was post traumatic stress disorder. It was getting worse and in the early 80’s there did not seem to be any help. Things were getting bad and I decided to join the British Army to get out of the downward spiral of depression, anxiety and Alcohol. I served for three and a half years and mostly the symptoms abated but I could still feel them underneath the excitement and adventure that the military afforded me a distraction from my predicament .When I left the army and went back home, I felt the symptoms coming back up to the surface. After a few weeks of bad feelings and alcohol I took an overdose mostly to highlight my condition. After having my stomach pumped in A and E I was referred to a psychiatrist. He said I was depressed and prescribed imipramine. Initially 75 mg then 150mg. This helped at first but not for long and caused excessive sweating(diaphoresis) that was very uncomfortable. This was the start of my 30-odd year of SSRI addiction. I have been on these drugs on and off over the past twenty years. I have been very productive over the years, I have trained as an Operating Department Practitioner, working in the theatre mostly as an anaesthetic practitioner. I have also trained as a counsellor. I have completed many challenges climbed Kilimanjaro for charity and am completing the Annapurna circuit this year The Drug that I am on now is Paroxetine. I was on 30 mg but have tapered down to 15mg. I tried to go down to ten but within two weeks of that I started to feel withdrawal symptoms such as High anxiety and just unease plus not sleeping well. I have decided to go back up to 15 and cut down in 2.5 mg increments as I really think that I am sensitive to drugs. I am finding it hard to stay clear of the SSRI’s. I have also in the last few weeks day 34 given up drinking for now. I think I need this group for support while I slowly reduce the dose of Paroxetine.
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted April 20, 2020 Moderator Emeritus Posted April 20, 2020 Welcome to SA, simonb. We're happy to help you taper the Paroxetine. We recommend tapering by no more than 10% of your current dose every four weeks. Why taper by 10% of my dosage? We advise tapering by a percentage of current dose rather than your current plan of decreasing by a straight 2.5mg each time. Decreasing by a straight amount, such as 2.5mg, accelerates the amount the amount you'd be decreasing each time, making it rougher and rougher with each drop. By contrast, decreasing by a percentage of your current dose decelerates the amount of each drop and makes things gentler on your system. This link is specifically about tapering Paroxetine, including instructions on how to get the nonstandard doses you'll need for your 10% taper. Tips for tapering off Paxil (paroxetine) 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) Add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems. This is your Introduction topic, where you can ask questions and connect with other members. We're glad you found your way here. 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 Dec 28: 2.2mg Taper is 97% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotic, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase, L-Glutamine, milk thistle, choline I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice. It is information based on my own experience as well as that of other members who have survived these drugs.
Mentor Cocopuffz17 Posted April 20, 2020 Mentor Posted April 20, 2020 Hey, welcome to SA. I was on paroxetine for 11 years. I am now 14 months off and could not of done it without this forum. There is so much useful and relevant info on here. For me it took a change in mindset, nutrition and the overwhelming support of this forum. I know you can get off of this medication! Everyday that passes is one day closer to being healed I follow The Plant Paradox lifestyle by Dr.Gundry. This lifestyle has given me my life back and I feel better than I have ever felt in my life. It has enabled me to finally get off of this medication and truly live my life. Nutrition is the key to health!!!!! 2008 to 2019 - 20 mg Paroxetine Attempted 2 CT's around the 5-6 year mark. Were absolutely terrible and reinstated. Was never explained by the doctor the seriousness of the short half life of this drug. 2017 - Attempted a tapered discontinuation of this drug and reinstated after being unsuccessful. 2019 - Feb. 12 - After a three month taper I am off of paroxetine. The 3 months were terrible, awful withdrawal feelings. I followed the doctors guidelines for the reduction of this drug and now know it was way too fast. 2019 - Oct. 12 - 8 months off paroxetine. 75% improvement since coming off the drug. Definitely have had tons of challenges along the way. Let’s go!!!! 2021 - Feb. 12 - 24 months off paroxetine. I have minor challenges now. Tinnitus/Headaches are still around but are reduced by a massive amount.
simonb Posted April 21, 2020 Author Posted April 21, 2020 Hi thank you for the replies. I am staying on Paroxetine 15 mg for the next four weeks as I have stressful things going on at the moment and then going to taper down by 10% so about 12 mg. I have already gone down to 10 mg a few days ago but went back up as started to feel a lot of anxiety and light headedness, So took myself back up to 15 for a while and take it more slowly.
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted April 21, 2020 Moderator Emeritus Posted April 21, 2020 48 minutes ago, simonb said: 10% so about 12 mg. Please keep us updated as to when you start your taper. Given your reaction to dropping to 10mg, I definitely wouldn't go any lower than to 12mg. 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 Dec 28: 2.2mg Taper is 97% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotic, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase, L-Glutamine, milk thistle, choline I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice. It is information based on my own experience as well as that of other members who have survived these drugs.
simonb Posted April 22, 2020 Author Posted April 22, 2020 I have also bought magnesium and good quality omega 3 fish oils from a company called mind1st.
simonb Posted April 22, 2020 Author Posted April 22, 2020 Today after going back up to 15mg . The anxiety and the dizziness has nearly completely gone . This does reiterate to me that this is withdrawal and not original psychiatric symptoms returning.
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