Sunflower414: medicated at age 7, now 27

[Sunflower414]

@getofflex if the bottle says 250ml, how many mg is that or how do I convert it?

[getofflex]

You will need to ask your pharmacist how many milligrams of Paxil is in 1 milliliter of the liquid.  Let me know, and I'll help you convert it.  Also ask him/her if this is a solution, or a suspension.  

Edited March 31, 2022 by getofflex

[Sunflower414]

Thanks @getofflex

im a bit confused because I saw that brassmonkey posted this. It’s about $400 without insurance for me so I want to make sure the bottle lasts more than 30 days 

 

 

 

“ Like I said, liquids are another story, even the commercial ones.  If they stay sealed from the factory they will last a long time if stored correctly.  Once they are opened, yes they need to be used with in the month. ”

[ChessieCat]

8 hours ago, Sunflower414 said:

Thanks @getofflex

im a bit confused because I saw that brassmonkey posted this. It’s about $400 without insurance for me so I want to make sure the bottle lasts more than 30 days 

 

“ Like I said, liquids are another story, even the commercial ones.  If they stay sealed from the factory they will last a long time if stored correctly.  Once they are opened, yes they need to be used with in the month. ”

 

Paxil is different.  I contacted the manufacturer and was advised that the brand version of Paxil prescription liquid will last until the expiry date even after opening.  Most other liquids need to discarded x amount of time after opening.

 

See both of these posts:

 

tips-for-tapering-off-paxil-paroxetine/426001

 

tips-for-tapering-off-paxil-paroxetine/441109

[ChessieCat]

On 3/31/2022 at 9:52 AM, Sunflower414 said:

@getofflex if the bottle says 250ml, how many mg is that or how do I convert it?

 

According to https://www.drugs.com/monograph/paroxetine.html

 

Oral Suspension

10 mg (of paroxetine) per 5 mL

Paxil (with parabens, propylene glycol, saccharin sodium, and sorbitol)

GlaxoSmithKline

 

According to https://medlibrary.org/lib/rx/meds/paxil-3/

 

PAXIL oral suspension is available as:

• 10 mg/5 mL orange colored, orange flavored suspension in bottles containing 250 mL.
•  

Edited April 1, 2022 by ChessieCat

[Sunflower414]

Hi @getofflex! I got the liquid. I’ll add a picture if I can. It says 

 

10MG/5ML and I got 3ml syringes from Amazon. I have pills from the compounding pharmacy for 13.2 and 13. So my first drop using 10mg tablet and liquid will be 12.8mg, so I need to know how to measure 2.8mg of liquid

 

i hope this makes sense. Thank you 

[getofflex]

Hi sunflower.  We want to be careful about making any reductions.  Back on March 25 you said you were back in a wave.  Have you been feeling better for the past week?  I would strongly suggest you are stable for at least 2 weeks before making any reductions.  I would stay on the 13.4 mg for now.  You've read the information on our site about stability and WD Normal, right?  Even if you are stable now, we need to crossover to part liquid before making any dose reductions.  

 

For now, take a pill for 13.2, and then take 0.1 ml (0.2 mg Paxil) of the liquid each day for your dose for a total of 13.4 mg Paxil.  Do this for a week or two.  If you feel OK during this time, then take a 13 mg pill, and 0.2 ml of the liquid (0.4 mg Paxil) for about a week or two.  What we are trying to do is gradually crossing over to the liquid.  

 

Let's do this first, and then we will take it from there.  Your body need to adjust to taking part of your drug as a liquid.  Please let me know how this goes.  

Edited April 3, 2022 by getofflex

[Sunflower414]

Thanks @getofflex yes I had an “ok” day today so I will wait. Is the conversion to ml half of the mg? Like

 

4mg = 2ml?

[Sunflower414]

@getofflex I can’t add a picture, but I have the 3 mL syringes.  How would I measure 0.1 ml (0.2 mg Paxil) 

[getofflex]

15 hours ago, Sunflower414 said:

Is the conversion to ml half of the mg? Like

 

4mg = 2ml?

Yes.  

 

11 hours ago, Sunflower414 said:

@getofflex I can’t add a picture, but I have the 3 mL syringes.  How would I measure 0.1 ml (0.2 mg Paxil)

 

Read the last 2 links in the first paragraph.  You may need a smaller 1 ml syringe.  

 

How to Use an Oral Syringe

[getofflex]

When you have basic questions like this, please use the site search to find answers to your questions.  Thank you.  

 

How to Do a Site Search

[Sunflower414]

Thank you so much @getofflex you are so helpful

[Sunflower414]

Mikhalia Peterson interviewed a psychiatrist about SSRIs and she said some people will never be able to discontinue them. Do we think this is true?

[getofflex]

No, I don't believe that.  Please watch this video:  

 

Robert Whitaker, author Anatomy of an Epidemic 

 

BTW, I love your bible quote.  

[Sunflower414]

Thank you @getofflex 🙏🏻 

Since adding the liquid I’ve had a headache. Is this normal? My pills says paroxetine and my liquid says Paxil. Would I be better off taking all liquid? Right now I’m taking some of both. Thank you 

[getofflex]

I wouldn’t worry about it. Paxil is paroxetine. You may feel some symptoms from changing to part liquid or the headache may be entirely unrelated. We don’t want to make changes to our drugs whenever we have a symptom necessarily.   It’s good to ask which you did.  😊

[getofflex]

Just wanted to add that if the headache is from going to part liquid it will subside as your system adjusts to it and as you stabilize.  In the meantime you could take ibuprofen or Tylenol. I would not switch to all liquid.  

Edited April 9, 2022 by getofflex

[Greatful]

@sunflower  I think Paxil is the brand name and Paroxetine is generic 

I found this on google

Paxil is an antidepressant in the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor class. Doctors prescribe Paxil to treat major depressive disorder. Paxil is the brand name of a generic drug paroxetine.  Ask your pharmacy if you can get liquid generic Paroxetine?  I am sure that is why your liquid is so expensive......It is name brand......

 

[Sunflower414]

Thanks everyone for your help. I am having one of the worst days in a very long time. I don’t know if I can continue to taper. I am going to maybe switch to Prozac. I have no clue — feeling hopeless. 
 

@Altostrata I’m sorry to tag you but I am so scared and lost. It seems no matter how long I hold or how small I drop, the withdrawal is too severe. Would you continue holding? Or would you try a switch to Prozac? I just don’t want to make anything worse 

[Altostrata]

As discussed earlier, Paxil can be extraordinarily difficult to go off. Many doctors routinely switch to Prozac (or citalopram) as a "bridge" to going off. It's up to you to decide whether what you're experiencing now is worth taking the risk in switching. It can work, and it can not work.

 

On 1/8/2022 at 6:18 PM, Altostrata said:

Please read this The Prozac switch or "bridging" with fluoxetine

 

If you add Prozac, you'd want to wait a week to see how it works for you. If activation occurs you would be able to reduce it.

 

Anyway it will take that long for Prozac to partly ramp up. When it does, then you can start reducing Paxil, by 5mg at a time.

 

[Sunflower414]

@Altostrata thank you. 
 

I can either attempt to switch to Prozac, or start lowering my dosage by under 1% because 2% causes me to be unable to function for 2-3 weeks.
 

Do you have a recommendation or suggestion on which is the best option?  When people switch to Prozac, what things happen to let you know the switch is not working or isn’t right for you?

[getofflex]

Please read this thread thoroughly and carefully.  It should answer your questions.  

 

The Prozac Switch or Bridging with Fluoxetine (Paxil)

[Sunflower414]

1 hour ago, getofflex said:

Please read this thread thoroughly and carefully.  It should answer your questions.  

 

The Prozac Switch or Bridging with Fluoxetine (Paxil)

Thanks @getofflex I’ve read it but don’t see where it says how you know if it’s “not working” and what to do if that happens

[getofflex]

If it's not working, you would get worsened withdrawal symptoms.  

 

Dr Joseph Glenmullen Withdrawal Symptom Checklists

 

I'm not sure what one would do if it didn't work.  I'm not experienced in bridging.  

[Sunflower414]

Thank you @getofflex, I suppose I would expect some worsening of symptoms, but I just want to know how much is too much and if that happens what I should do. I wasn’t sure if @Altostrata had any insight on this because I am obviously not experienced with bridging either

[Altostrata]

18 hours ago, Sunflower414 said:

I can either attempt to switch to Prozac, or start lowering my dosage by under 1% because 2% causes me to be unable to function for 2-3 weeks.
 

Do you have a recommendation or suggestion on which is the best option?  When people switch to Prozac, what things happen to let you know the switch is not working or isn’t right for you?

 

This is your decision. You can try tapering paroxetine by smaller amounts if you wish.

 

If the switch works properly, you'll feel better. It it doesn't, you'll feel worse.

[Sunflower414]

Thank you @Altostrata I appreciate your response. Should I expect some discomfort during the switch or is any discomfort not good?

[25yearsonP]

I've been following this thread and have a lot of empathy for sunflower.  Every time I read your updates I'm rooting for you! 

Also-

I have the utmost of respect and admiration for the team here who's doing all of these caring responses. 

 

It might be out of scope for this group but I can't help but wonder the impacts of nutritional choices in these cases, if sunflower is not getting enough complex carbohydrates how does her brain get its energy to do all the rewiring it needs to do? Could that be another variable that's causing delays in finding homeostasis?  (And I also wonder if her sleep and wake cycles are stable or there's also a circadian rhythm loading that's going on as well, just some random thoughts, at least in my case they've helped me lower my withdrawal symptoms)   

[Sunflower414]

@Altostrata sorry for tagging you, still trying to decide how to move forward.

 

if I try the Prozac bridge — I guess it’s not helping if it gets worse but I don’t see how I’d have no discomfort or withdrawal from the Paxil? Should I expect discomfort? What if I switch all the way over and it’s miserable then do I go back to my original dosage of Paxil? 

[getofflex]

@Sunflower414I understand you are having a hard time making this decision.  We cannot predict what is going to happen in the future.  Can you please refrain from tagging us repeatedly asking us about this?  We have given you all the information.  Thank you.  In this next link, please read about a page and half down in the first post the section "- Overuse of tagging to get reassurance from the staff" 

 

What Will Get You Warned

Edited April 20, 2022 by getofflex

[Greatful]

@Sunflower414

I can relate to the fear of making things worse when making changes--I had a hard time when I was trying to decide if I wanted to switch to liquid and split the dose......No one wants to feel worse.😓  I wish I could tell you what to do but sadly you have to make the decsion, you are the one that has to go through the experience of it..   Some how you will need to make choice-Maybe make a list of your pro's and con's.  Then have a real heart to heart with yourself......Am I so bad that I need to make this change...Either way I go it is going to be rough at times.....Make the commitment to move ahead either way and know that you will survive and can heal........

 

I would also stay away from the thoughts and idea that you may not be able to get off these drugs......Ruminating and worry will only make things worse.......  Look to see how much of your pain and fear is coming from you with negative and self doubts. Sometime we have to  go through personal healing too.... So hard to do I know....Pain from all sides and not to mention having your emotions dampened down for years...

 

Stay away from any interviews or people that say negative things......No one really knows enough, the data and  science is not available to make broad statements that support never healing.......On the other hand there is testimony that does support healing.....Don't get me wrong I totally can relate to that fear.....I have it too--- have been on drugs for a  over 20+ years.......My hubby keep reminding me that the brain can heal and that I can not compare myself to others- We all will heal at our own rate.  Here is a link on how remarkable our brain is in healing and retraining   https://youtu.be/sK51nv8mo-

Happy2heal recovered  from 40+ years of many drugs......please reach out to her...Find reassurance from proof of healing.... 

 

I see that you had the gene test down  ( had it done too)  Sadly some doctors don't seem to take much stock in it...May old Doctor didn't seem too.......May new one does....

 

You are in the red zone for Paxil and Prozac-  do you know if you are a fast metallizer on them?  I keep trying to find out if that affects your symptoms at all.........Here again nobody can answer this because where is the studies on it.....What do these drugs do to our brain anyways?  All of this should be studied to help find answers.......This could be one of the reasons we all react different to the drugs.  How in the world can they keep handing them out like candy when they really don't know enough about these drugs and what they are doing to us.

 

I see that you had quite a nice long window in Feb.....Did your wave start when you did a cut?

Take a deep breath  and find ways to keep going♥️

 

 

 

[Sunflower414]

8 hours ago, getofflex said:

@Sunflower414I understand you are having a hard time making this decision.  We cannot predict what is going to happen in the future.  Can you please refrain from tagging us repeatedly asking us about this?  We have given you all the information.  Thank you.  In this next link, please read about a page and half down in the first post the section "- Overuse of tagging to get reassurance from the staff" 

 

What Will Get You Warned

 
 

i apologize. I’ll post when I begin the switch. Thanks 

[Sunflower414]

5 hours ago, Greatful said:

@Sunflower414

I can relate to the fear of making things worse when making changes--I had a hard time when I was trying to decide if I wanted to switch to liquid and split the dose......No one wants to feel worse.😓  I wish I could tell you what to do but sadly you have to make the decsion, you are the one that has to go through the experience of it..   Some how you will need to make choice-Maybe make a list of your pro's and con's.  Then have a real heart to heart with yourself......Am I so bad that I need to make this change...Either way I go it is going to be rough at times.....Make the commitment to move ahead either way and know that you will survive and can heal........

 

I would also stay away from the thoughts and idea that you may not be able to get off these drugs......Ruminating and worry will only make things worse.......  Look to see how much of your pain and fear is coming from you with negative and self doubts. Sometime we have to  go through personal healing too.... So hard to do I know....Pain from all sides and not to mention having your emotions dampened down for years...

 

Stay away from any interviews or people that say negative things......No one really knows enough, the data and  science is not available to make broad statements that support never healing.......On the other hand there is testimony that does support healing.....Don't get me wrong I totally can relate to that fear.....I have it too--- have been on drugs for a  over 20+ years.......My hubby keep reminding me that the brain can heal and that I can not compare myself to others- We all will heal at our own rate.  Here is a link on how remarkable our brain is in healing and retraining   https://youtu.be/sK51nv8mo-

Happy2heal recovered  from 40+ years of many drugs......please reach out to her...Find reassurance from proof of healing.... 

 

I see that you had the gene test down  ( had it done too)  Sadly some doctors don't seem to take much stock in it...May old Doctor didn't seem too.......May new one does....

 

You are in the red zone for Paxil and Prozac-  do you know if you are a fast metallizer on them?  I keep trying to find out if that affects your symptoms at all.........Here again nobody can answer this because where is the studies on it.....What do these drugs do to our brain anyways?  All of this should be studied to help find answers.......This could be one of the reasons we all react different to the drugs.  How in the world can they keep handing them out like candy when they really don't know enough about these drugs and what they are doing to us.

 

I see that you had quite a nice long window in Feb.....Did your wave start when you did a cut?

Take a deep breath  and find ways to keep going♥️

 

 

 

Hi there, thanks so much. You are so sweet. No my windows and waves seem to have no pattern or correlation with my drops. It’s very odd. How are you doing?

[Greatful]

@Sunflower414

I hear you about the windows and waves and tapering.....I couldn't seem much of a difference from my 1% cut to the bigger ones........Actually I think smaller earlier ones where worse......Maybe was still in recovery from the mishap and the drug hoping the winter of 20-21.

Still very tired of it though.  So hard to fathom the destruction from these drugs. 

I  can say that my brain panic is going down with the cuts. 

 

I am with you as you journey on, either on Paxil or Prozac♥️

[Sunflower414]

3 hours ago, Greatful said:

@Sunflower414

I hear you about the windows and waves and tapering.....I couldn't seem much of a difference from my 1% cut to the bigger ones........Actually I think smaller earlier ones where worse......Maybe was still in recovery from the mishap and the drug hoping the winter of 20-21.

Still very tired of it though.  So hard to fathom the destruction from these drugs. 

I  can say that my brain panic is going down with the cuts. 

 

I am with you as you journey on, either on Paxil or Prozac♥️

thank you @Greatful you are always so sweet and kind. I did see that we both had a crazy year of drug switching and swapping. What do you mean by your brain panic is found down with the cuts? I hope that’s a good thing! Do you feel like you have improved since all the drug switches? Are you only on lexapro now?

 

thank you so much. I’m here for you, too 🙏🏻🤍

[Sunflower414]

It’s been a last month since my last drop of 1.5%. Things have not improved. My symptoms are:

 

extreme anxiety / terror

Nightmares 

chronic fatigue 

no motivation 

ringing in ears 

crying spells 

Moments of extreme anger 

intrusive thoughts 

leg jerks 

 

Does anyone have a guess as to whether this is withdrawal or my normal anxiety coming back? I’ve been on medication since the age of 7, so I’m not sure what is normal anxiety or withdrawal. It feels so terrible it’s hard to believe this is from a 1.5% drop a month ago