BrainZapBuzz: suffering Paxil withdrawal syndrome for two years

[BrainZapBuzz]

I was on Paxil from 1996 to 2013 when I foolishly thought I was doing well after my father's death the year before.  I asked my then psychiatrist about changing to a newer med, one that wouldn't cause weight gain.  He recommended Wellbutrin, so I titrated off Paxil for 4 to 6 weeks.  This was the beginning of my ride on the anti-depressant merry-go-round from hell....

Edited July 9, 2022 by Karma
Name update

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a volunteer-run community of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  Did you have symptoms of withdrawal from 2013 - 2015, the time after you went off Paxil with a fast taper?  Is this why you ended up in the hospital in 2015?  Are you now off the Paxil?  Are you still on these drugs below? 

 

- 1600 Mg Gabapentin (400 Mg 4 Times A Day)

- 20 Mg Busperone (Two Tablets In Morning)

- 0.5 Klonopin (Twice A Day)

- 5 Mg Ambien (Evening)

- 50 Mg Seraquel (Evening)

 

Can you please give us specific information in your signature about your drug history for all drugs you are on and have been on, especially for the past 18-24 months?  It would be especially helpful to have the details of your drugs in a concise vertical list (no symptoms), only drug names, specific dates (as best you can say for example early March if you don't recall the day) and dosages of each medication decrease or increase.  Use this format:

 

Drug name: date, dose, date, dose, date, dose…

Drug name: date, dose, date, dose, date, dose…

Etcetera

 

Please read the link below for instructions.  This will allow us to give you the best guidance.  

 

How to List Drug History in Signature

 

 

Here is some important information about how these drugs actually work.  This explains why we get symptoms from going off of these medications, and why it's so important to taper slowly and carefully, and be very cautious about changing our doses: 

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

I can relate to what you said, antidepressants being the merry go round from hell.  Many of us here have experienced this.  There is a way off of this merry go round.  Did you come here to get off of drugs?  Please let us know how we can help you.  

[BrainZapBuzz]

My name is BrainZapBuzz and...

 

I'm so glad to find this place, I now know I'm not alone in the pain and suffering.  I've had multiple MRI's to try and determine whether I had Pulsatile Tinnitus, but they found nothing.  I've come to believe that my tinnitus plus brain zaps are part of the Paroxetine Withdrawal Syndrome that I've read about.  No GP or psychiatrist seems to know about this, all they've been able to do is throw more meds at me.  I did two rapid tapers of 4 to 6 weeks, once in 2013 and one in 2020.  Since 2020 I've been off Paxil, but left with brain zaps, tinnitus (which my 12 yr old daughter can hear when she puts her ear next to my ear) and shivering when I wake up.

 

Edited July 10, 2022 by ChessieCat
added Intro topic title before merging with intro topic

[getofflex]

Eventually, you should gradually recover from the tinnitus, brain zaps, etc. assuming they are a result of Paxil withdrawal.  Please let us know if you are interested in getting off of any of your current meds, and we can help you do a very slow taper.  However, I would wait until your brain zaps resolve themselves before doing any more drug changes.  Please keep in touch, and let us know how you are doing. 

[BrainZapBuzz]

Thanks for your response, I'll try to clean this up as much as possible.  Some of the meds I don't remember, as I was on them for such a short time.  I suffer from depression and anxiety, as well as PTSD from growing up in an alcoholic household.  I'll be here a lot, as I've got a lot to learn here!

[getofflex]

8 hours ago, BrainZapBuzz said:

I suffer from depression and anxiety, as well as PTSD from growing up in an alcoholic household

I grew up in the same type of household.  There is help for this.  Al anon, although I don't fully agree with the 12 step model, has groups specifically for adult children of alcoholics.  There is a book by Pete Walker called "Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving".  I wouldn't suggest you read this book, unless you are stable, and mostly free of withdrawal symptoms.  There are other resources out there too.  Good luck, and keep in touch.