simonb: tapering Paxil / paroxetine

[simonb]

I have reduced dose  My Paroxetine from 15 to 12 mg. This is now the third day . I feel very lethargic and tired. My head also feels a little numb.  I am also taking omega 3 fish oils and vit D and Magnesium. I plan to stay at this dose for a month.

History initial dose 30 mg.

Next dose 25 mg 

20 mg

15 mg Tried to take ten after  bad withdrawal. Anxiety. light-headedness. went back up to 15 

12 mg

[Gridley]

Welcome to SA, simonb.

 

You are tapering too fast, which is causing the withdrawal symptoms you're experiencing.  

 

What is withdrawal syndrome.

 

Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) 

 

When we take psychiatric 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.  

 

Sometimes withdrawal symptoms can build up and be delayed.   Since you've been at 12mg for 3 days, I'd suggest you go back to 15mg and hold there for a month before tapering further. This would allow your system to catch up with the decreases you've made.

 

 We recommend tapering by no more than 10% of current dose every four weeks.

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

This link is specifically about tapering Paroxetine, including how to get the nonstandard doses you'll need for your 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.

 

[simonb]

i have been tapering now for over a year . I initially went down from 15 mg to 10 and felt the anxiety and light-headedness and so went back up to 15 mg , i was on 15 mg for 6 weeks and have now come down to 12 mg

[Gridley]

1 minute ago, simonb said:

have now come down to 12 mg

That's a 20% drop.  You may be fine with that much, but it is more than we recommend.  As I said earlier, you've been tapering fast and symptoms can back up and then hit.  That's why I suggested you not add an additional  20% reduction to your previous large drops.  Your drop from 30 to 25 was 16.6%.  Your drop from 25 to 20 was 20%.  Your drop from 20 to 15 was just over 20%    Your drop from 15 to 10 was just over 30%.  These percentages mount up and can be destabilizing.  Will they be?  We don't know. That's why we take a cautious approach of 10%.  It's your decision how fast you taper, but my suggestion still stands: to go back up to 15, hold there for four weeks to let the previous large tapers settle in, then taper from 15 to 13.5.

[simonb]

After trying to reduce the paroxetine 20mg pills for sometime and not being very successful I have managed to persuade the GP to prescribe me the liquid version so I can reduced more effectively. Have yo got any ideas about how slowly and how much I should reduce to complete it safely. I am already taking supplements of Omega and magnesium to help with brain zaps. Any advice specific to paroxetine liquid 20 mg would be truly appreciated. Thank You for your help.

[Altostrata]

@simonb, that question was answered here in your Intro topic by Gridley last year:

 

Tips for tapering off Paxil (paroxetine)