Sunflower414: medicated at age 7, now 27

[Altostrata]

How are you feeling? We have to watch this for a while.

[Sunflower414]

@Altostrata I add in 2.5mg of Prozac and just wait on that and 14mg Paxil? I thought you weren’t suppose to take both medications for more than 2 weeks?

[Altostrata]

We need to see how you feel with the additional Prozac. One day is not enough!

[Sunflower414]

@Altostrata I didn’t add it yet. I don’t want to add it without a plan! I don’t want to get stuck on two meds.

 

How does the process work?

[Altostrata]

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]

Thank you @Altostrata I gave that a read.

 

if I’m on 14mg Paxil, what dose of Prozac would I go to? 
 

would you recommend this, or holding Paxil longer and trying to reduce Paxil again? 
 

Thank you for all your help 

[Altostrata]

2 hours ago, Sunflower414 said:

would you recommend this, or holding Paxil longer and trying to reduce Paxil again? 

 

Unless I'm mistaken, you have decided you don't want to try tapering Paxil anymore and want to switch to fluoxetine.

 

We suggest a switch to fluoxetine (or citalopram) when people hit a wall in Paxil tapering. It's up to you to decide if you've reached that point.

 

It could be that 5mg Prozac substitutes for your Paxil, or you may need more. We can't tell until you see how you do with the cross-taper.

[Sunflower414]

Thank you @Altostrata

 

you are correct, however I fear getting worse or making symptoms more unbearable. 
 

I appreciate you so much, you have no idea! I will keep you updated.

 

I did do a genesight test that says Paxil and Prozac are in my “red zone”. Celexa is in the “yellow”. Not sure how valid or helpful this test is.

[Altostrata]

38 minutes ago, Sunflower414 said:

genesight test that says Paxil and Prozac are in my “red zone”. Celexa is in the “yellow”.

 

Not relevant when it comes to dealing with withdrawal.

[Sunflower414]

Thank you @Altostrata does this look ok? Are there Certain things I should be watching for during this process? 
 

Check everyday how I feel 

 

Week 1 - 14mg pax + 2.5 pro 

Week 2 - 10mg pax + 5mg pro 

Week 3 - 5mg Pax + 5mg pro 

Week 4 - 2.5 pax + 5mg or 7.5 pro

Week 5 - drop Paxil, only 7.5 pro

 

 

[Sunflower414]

Thank you @Altostrata does this look ok? Are there Certain things I should be watching for during this process? 
 

Check everyday how I feel 

 

Week 1 - 14mg pax + 2.5 pro 

Week 2 - 10mg pax + 5mg pro 

Week 3 - 5mg Pax + 5mg pro 

Week 4 - 2.5 pax + 5mg or 7.5 pro

Week 5 - drop Paxil, only 7.5 pro

[Altostrata]

Depending on how it's going, I would drop Paxil in week 4. Please let us know how you're doing.

[Sunflower414]

@Altostrata so take 2.5mg of Prozac and not drop any Paxil until four weeks? 

[Altostrata]

I suggest this:

 

Week 1 - 14mg pax + 2.5 pro 

Week 2 - 10mg pax + 5mg pro 

Week 3 - 5mg Pax + 5mg pro 

Week 4 - 0 pax + 5mg or 7.5 pro

 

We need to see how you're doing all through this process, to change course if necessary. 

 

The 5mg Prozac will continue to ramp up past Week 4, so you may not need to increase it.

[Sunflower414]

Thank you @Altostrataill keep you updated 

Why would 5mg of Prozac be enough if I’m on 14mg Paxil? Or is there somewhere I can read about this? 
 

as always I appreciate you more than you know and your dedication 

[Altostrata]

4 minutes ago, Sunflower414 said:

Why would 5mg of Prozac be enough if I’m on 14mg Paxil?

 

As ever, we need to see how you do. Could be you'll need more Prozac. Or 5mg could be enough.

[Greatful]

@Sunflower414  I've been thinking about you.❤️ How is it going for you.

Did you start the crossover?  

[Sunflower414]

Hi @Grateful I have not. I am now on day 14 of a window! I have never had a window longer than 3-5 days! So I’m staying here and may try to continue lowering the Paxil in a few weeks. If I can’t do it, I’ll reconsider the switch. How are you? 

[Greatful]

@Sunflower414  

I am so happy for you🌞  

Day 14 of a window.......wow  that is great to hear.........You really needed the break to rejuvenate.

Wow this is your answer to  your question...Can I get off these drugs........ 

Your brain is finally catching up to all the changes.  It can heal😊

 

I have a lot going on, if you want you can read my thread..  I don't want to clog your thread.

I'll be anxiously watching your progress.......

 

 

[Sunflower414]

My latest update: I had 14-15 days of feeling good. I can’t believe it! But now, back in the depths of despair. It’s so odd how it comes and goes so much easily. 
 

is this normal? Still holding on 14mg of Paxil. Trying to decide if I should try the Prozac switch or if I should try going to 13.6mg Paxil. Does anyone have any recommendations?

[Greatful]

@Sunflower414 I would bet that you will start to experience windows more now.  

The brain is adjusting and healing Yeah for you......I want you to make it through this. You can heal.  

 

Please share what the window felt like lol   

How bad is the wave?  Remember this will pass.❤️

I'll let the mod's give their advice on the drugs.

 

 

[Sunflower414]

@Altostrata & @getofflex - do you have recommendations about the medication?

 

@Greatful Thank you. You are so sweet. I felt almost like my old self. I went to 3 parties, out to dinner twice. No bad dreams. I had some moments of anxiety but it wasn't bad. Now I am back to laying in bed, intrusive thoughts, terror, hopelessness, etc. It is the strangest thing how quickly it can switch. It makes me sad now that I have a glimpse of what my life could be like. I fear it will never be that way all the time again. I can only pray. How are you doing?

[Greatful]

@Sunflower414

Remember those are just thoughts........You know now that your brain is healing.🤩

We all have those fears...I know the feeling though, you think you can stop yourself but there they are.......

 

When I have some moments of sanity lol I think now this is it, things have to keep heading to the top of this hole and I will be me again...........Then the craziness show back up again.  So I go from the one that will heal faster back to the one that will be like this forever lol

Someday I will learn 😬

 

I've had a few window opening (not 14 days lol)a evening here and afternoon there. 

hanging in there😊

 

 

[Altostrata]

We've discussed waves and windows, as well as potentially bridging with fluoxetine. Please re-read this topic.

[getofflex]

16 hours ago, Sunflower414 said:

Still holding on 14mg of Paxil. Trying to decide if I should try the Prozac switch or if I should try going to 13.6mg Paxil. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Personally, if it were me, I would hold on the 14 mg of Paxil for a good long time, as I've expressed in the past.  The fact that you had a 2 week window is a very good sign!  I believe that roughly 9 months or so ago, you were doing a lot worse, so you have shown improvement!   A year and a half ago, I held on my dose for about 5 months, and it did me a world of good.  Subsequent dose reductions were easier, because I had given my system a chance to heal and stabilize.  

 

I know how disappointing and discouraging it is to fall back into a wave after you have felt so good for 2 weeks!  I've been there myself, and it is disheartening.  However, windows and waves are the typical pattern of recovery from psych meds.  

[thenextguy]

@Sunflower414 the fact that you had a good window is great news for a few reasons. It means that you are healing and, in my opinion, you don’t even need to consider messing with another drug.

 

As someone that has been dealing with windows and waves lately, I know how frustrating they are. But I’ve experienced them just like everyone said I would. First the windows were short, but my daily life was mostly waves. Then the windows started getting longer and then waves shorter. Now I would say my days are 50/50 and improving weekly.

 

If I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t even consider trying Prozac. I would also stay steady on the paxil dose until I was stable.

 

I agree with @Greatful that you will likely begin to experience windows more now.

[getofflex]

@Sunflower414what @thenextguysaid is right on point!  

[Sunflower414]

Thank you all for commenting. Back in a terrible wave, panicking. Thinking how will I go on. How can people feel this way for years? 
 

this experience has already taken so much from me. How can I continue to take something I know is harming me, but another part of me feels like I should try a new medication out of desperation. 

[Greatful]

@@Sunflower414

Rest assured you are not alone with these thoughts.......Waves can be so overwhelming....Try not let your distorted thoughts that are coming from fears take control.........Remind yourself over and over again these thoughts are normal to have but I am healing even as I am thinking and feeling these fears........Find positive affirmations to tell yourself......I really found some helpful encouragement from Baylissa Frederick book Recovery and Renewal. (bought is on Amazon) Her Website has a lot of helpful encouraging messages...She has short clips of encouraging messages and meditations and more  http://BAYLISSA.COM

 

When I talk about how this could take years to my hubby, he reminds me that I don't know that and we are all different.....Sunflower, we just don't know what's around the corner......You had a long stretch of good days, that is huge when it comes to windows.........Look back to when you had maybe a 1 hour window, or less.. You made it through that and had 14 days of sunshine...

Hopefully this wave will be less deep and shorter😊 I know they are discouraging🥴

 

[getofflex]

23 hours ago, Sunflower414 said:

another part of me feels like I should try a new medication out of desperation. 

 

Please make any decisions about anything, including drugs, using reason and logic, and not desperation and intense emotion.   I have seen improvements in you from when you first came on this forum almost a year ago.  I believe that you can continue to improve.  I know how discouraging and frustrating these waves are, I've experienced that myself.  A 14 day window is a very strong sign that your nervous system is recovering.  

Edited February 7, 2022 by getofflex

[Greatful]

@Sunflower414  Checking to see how you are doing❤️

[Sunflower414]

Hi @Grateful I’m doing well! In another long window so I am grateful. I may try dropping 2%. How are you doing?

[Greatful]

@Sunflower414  This is so crazy how you can go from a window and to total desperation lol

I had a nice little window the other day....To feel the peace of a (almost) normal person lol

I did a 5% drop a week ago, feeling better in some ways but still have a fair amount of WD symptoms. 

Hang in there........You got this❤️

 

[getofflex]

I’m so glad to hear this!   You’ve got this sunflower.  Let us know how you feel after your reduction.  You are wise for doing a 2.5% reduction.  

[Sunflower414]

@Grateful thank you for your sweet words… how are you doing? 
 

thanks @getofflex— I had another 17 day window! Of course today I had bursts of

anher, crying spells and bad thoughts. And tomorrow is when I will have to lower it. Thanks for always commenting on my posts. How are you? 

[getofflex]

18 hours ago, Sunflower414 said:

Of course today I had bursts of

anher, crying spells and bad thoughts. And tomorrow is when I will have to lower it.

Is there a particular reason you have to lower it tomorrow?  If it were me, I would wait until I was more stable before doing a dose reduction.  Why not wait another week or two and see what happens?  

 

Stability