ProphGur

[ProphGur]

Hello, i am new in this website. I am from Turkey, so English is not my mother tongue. I have been using Paxera for one and a half year. Up to 40mg and last 3 months of tapering-off.

I have a lot of withdrawal symptomps but one of them really bothering me. So i want to ask if anyone has this symptom. It's like an attack, i am having vertigo/dizziness, nausea, tinnitus and sweating. It lasts 20-30 minutes for this symptoms but the tinnitus lasts longer like couple hours. It happened after tapering 10mg and tapering-off, total 4 or 5 times. 

[Frogie]

@ProphGur

 

Welcome to SA. We are a volunteer ran site helping people taper off psychiatric medications or have tapered off and are now healing.

 

This is your introduction page where you will receive information, ask questions and meet other members. We ask that you only have one introduction page so we can keep all your information in one place. You may want to bookmark this page so it is easy for you to find.

 

First can you please create a signature.

 

How to List Drug History in Signature

 

 

How long has been since you tapered off Paxera? Or are you on 10 mg? 

 

 

I'm going to give you some useful links to read:

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Tips for tapering off paroxetine (Paxil, Seroxat)

 

 

Withdrawal Normal Description

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

What to Do for Nausea, Queasiness

 

Digestive Problems

 

Dr. Joseph Glenmullen's withdrawal symptom checklist

 

 

 

 

 

Here is some important information about how these drugs actually work.  This explains why we get symptoms from going off of these medications:

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

 

Stability is really important when we are tapering off psych meds.  Please read the link about stability:

 

Keep It Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

 

 

 

 

If you have recently tapered off Paxera, you could try and reinstate 1 mg to see if that helps with the wd symptoms. It takes about 7-10 days for it to reach fully in your system and brain. You can always increase the dosage if necessary. Then you would hold for quite a while and then taper off at 10% a month.

 

What is withdrawal syndrome?
 
About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms

How do you talk to a doctor about tapering and withdrawal?

 

 

 

We don't suggest supplements on the site as they can be stimulating except 2. If you would like to try one try it in a small amount and wait a few days before introducing the other.

 

Magnesium

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

 

After you read the links provided please reach out with any questions you might have.

 

 

 

[ProphGur]

I am not on 10mg, I take the last dose 31 July. I haven’t had these attacks for three week. I am having some ear pressure and tinnitus sometimes but not too much. I feel numbness on my left foot for two-three  weeks. I had herniated disc surgery three years ago and my anxiety gets worse when something happens about my back,leg,foot.  I haven’t got any pain but the numbness is bothering me. I also want to say something about aggression, I have a bad day at work and all my muscles have stiffness. I can’t do anything to relax them. I need to talk to someone but I am a little asocial and I think my friends can’t understand what I am struggling. I want to thank all of you, it’s good to know I am not alone. That’s all folks 

[ChessieCat]

Please create your drug signature following these instructions.  When you post, we will see your drug history below your post.

 

Instructions:  Withdrawal History Signature

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature

[ProphGur]

I wrote all my drugs, I hope I have done it properly. 

I added the supplements as well but I am not sure if I can use Magnesium, omega 3 and passiflora at the same time.

[ProphGur]

Today I couldn’t sleep well and the symptom that I wrote at first message came back. But this time it lasts like 15-20 minutes. Less dizziness, less nausea. But still I am anxious about it because I am afraid of having a physical problem. I know it is not right to do that but I search symptoms on the internet. So I found Meniere disease and I am really afraid of have that disease. I haven’t had this attack for a month. Today is 48 days after I cut the paxera. Is that alright to have this symptom after 48 days or should I see a doctor about it? Are there anyone have this symptom? If you have please reply. 

[Faure]

On 8/17/2022 at 9:50 PM, Frogie said:

If you have recently tapered off Paxera, you could try and reinstate 1 mg to see if that helps with the wd symptoms. It takes about 7-10 days for it to reach fully in your system and brain. You can always increase the dosage if necessary. Then you would hold for quite a while and then taper off at 10% a month.

Hello, sorry to hear you’re feeling bad and didn’t sleep. That’s always so horrible.
 

You are most likely suffering withdrawal symptoms from stopping the Paxera too quickly. SA recommends tapering no more than 10% of the previous dose and these tapers take around 3 years to complete. Sadly doctors don’t understand about withdrawal symptoms and get people to stop too quickly, this destabilises the nervous system which responds with withdrawal symptoms. 

 

@Frogie suggested reinstating 1mg if Paxera to see if that helps with WD symptoms. I don’t know if they would still recommend that or if they’d recommend a lower dose as it’s a while since they said that.  This is the only thing that might help with WD symptoms. No other drugs are known to help and adding other drugs often makes things worse. You are most unlikely to have developed any other disease, we see people all the time here with WD symptoms that make them think they have something else when it’s almost always WD. Of course sometimes it’s something else but not usually. Reinstatement has the best chance of helping within 3 months of stopping the drug (I think). 
 

I have tagged Frogie by typing the @ symbol followed by their name, then you tap on the name and that’s how you tag. They will hopefully respond before too long. In the meantime do check out the links you were given earlier on, they are very helpful. 

[ProphGur]

Faure, thank you for reply. I am trying to read the links that you said. I am not a native English speaker so I can’t understand all of that, I also use translate websites to understand them clearly. 
 

As you said my doctor used quick taper method. I didn’t aware of tapering off problems. It’s almost two months Paxera free. I don’t want to take another mg of that because I am afraid of this symptom get worse or the wd time gets longer. So I am trying to hold where am I. 
 

I use some supplements as I wrote my drug signature. Passiflora is really helping me to calm down but not enough. I also read books about anxiety and how to control anxiety disorder. If anyone fighting with their own demons I recommend them to read about hot to control depression and anxiety. 

[Frogie]

@ProphGur

 

I think taking 1 mg would help being down your wd symptoms because you were tapered off so quickly. I gave you links to read in the introduction that I sent you.

 

Please read these and see what you would like to do.

[ProphGur]

Thank you frogie. I am trying to hold where I am, started talk-therapy. I am living in Turkey. I can’t get ssri’s without doctor’s prescription. And also I am living this physical wd symptom rarely.
 

The thing that bothers me is anxiety and paranoia. I normally wake up 7.30am, but for a week I wake up 5-6am and I feel waking up anxiety. I feel like something terrible has happened. I can not pull myself together till noon. And after then till sleeptime I feel anxious always but I can work minimum performance. I can not speak with my parents, I don’t know why. I feel like I am upsetting them with my situation. 
 

I want to write here for a little relief, I don’t have anyone to tell how I feel. I want to believe it’ll pass before I find myself on drugs again. 

[Faure]

15 hours ago, ProphGur said:

but for a week I wake up 5-6am and I feel waking up anxiety

This happens in withdrawal, it is cortisol rising the starts to wake us up. For people who are well it isn’t a problem, but for those in WD it causes what you’re describing. You might try keeping an eye mask by your bed so that when you wake up so can out it on. Blocking out the light can help reduce the anxiety. It helped me and it helps others here as well. 
 

There is a window of about 2 months where reinstatement of a small amount of the original drug may help, after this it is less likely to help. 1mg is very unlikely to harm you and as Frogie says my well help reduce your symptoms. 

Edited September 25, 2022 by Faure

[ChessieCat]

16 hours ago, ProphGur said:

I normally wake up 7.30am, but for a week I wake up 5-6am and I feel waking up anxiety. I feel like something terrible has happened.

 

early-morning-waking-managing-the-morning-cortisol-spike

 

[ProphGur]

Thank you all of you for your help. I can’t do it. It feels like more than withdrawal. It’s so severe, I feel like I’m losing my mind. I literally worse than ever. I had to go to emergency today. I can do nothing, no work no eating no clearing the house, anything. I have an appointment tomorrow. I am afraid of I am turning back to ad. I also afraid of if ad’s or this wd damage my brain permanently. I really wanted to write a success story but…  

[ChessieCat]

If you do decide to start taking an antidepressant again, please start with a very low dose to see how you react (see red text in quote - you will need to click Expand to show all the information in the quote).

 

Generally SA would suggest reinstating the same drug that you stopped taking, in your case Paxera / paroxetine.  But paroxetine is a very difficult drug to taper, so you might think about changing to a different drug.  The two drugs that might be better options are Prozac / fluoxetine (if you had no problems taking it before) or citalopram.  See:

 

On 10/9/2012 at 10:17 AM, Altostrata said:

How about substituting another drug for reinstatement? (Especially for paroxetine)

It is preferable to reinstate the drug that caused the withdrawal symptoms rather than another drug, the same drug is more likely to stop the symptoms.

 

But In some situations, you may want to substitute another drug. For example, paroxetine (Paxil) stands out as being difficult to taper. It is so difficult, that if you went off paroxetine and you want to try reinstatement, we suggest substituting a very low dose of another drug, such as fluoxetine or citalopram. Fluoxetine and citalopram are most often used as substitutes; fluoxetine has a long half-life, which may make tapering easier, while citalopram's half-life is longer than the other SSRIs.

 

Milligram for milligram, escilatopram is several times stronger than its sibling citalopram. If you've gone off escitalopram and always felt it was too strong for you, you may wish to reinstate with citalopram instead, or fluoxetine.

 

We always urge attempting reinstatement of a very low dose initially, such as 1mg-2mg, to limit adverse reactions, in case the new drug doesn't agree with you. All the SSRIs come in prescription liquid form for easy titration.

 

Post #1 of these topics explain how to get non standard doses:

 

Tips for tapering off fluoxetine (Prozac)

 

Tips for tapering off citalopram (Celexa)

 

Please note that you need to decide what is best for you.  I am not a medical professional and just providing you with information so you can make a decision.

 

Please read Post #1 of this topic:

 

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms

 

Edited September 25, 2022 by ChessieCat

[Altostrata]

6 hours ago, ProphGur said:

Thank you all of you for your help. I can’t do it. It feels like more than withdrawal. It’s so severe, I feel like I’m losing my mind. I literally worse than ever. I had to go to emergency today. I can do nothing, no work no eating no clearing the house, anything. I have an appointment tomorrow. I am afraid of I am turning back to ad. I also afraid of if ad’s or this wd damage my brain permanently. I really wanted to write a success story but…  

 

Hello, @ProphGur As explained before, you are having typical withdrawal symptoms from stopping Paxera too quickly. Quite often, people think they're losing their minds.

 

You might find relief by reinstating a small amount of SSRI, such as 1mg-5mg fluoxetine, stabilizing, then tapering off properly from there. You can do this by using a liquid drug. Fluoxetine is easier to taper than paroxetine. Ask your pharmacist for the liquid. Please let us know how you're doing.

[ProphGur]

I couldn’t hold it anymore. I had to go to psychiatrist again. He thinks it’s not withdrawal and he said withdrawal symptoms lasts 2 or 4 weeks. He says it’s relapse and I need to take AD again. He said best option for OCD and anxiety is Anafranil. I am using Anafranil and Xanax for almost 4 weeks.
 

My ocd is under control right now. Anxiety goes on but the problem is my ear pressure problem which I have living wd of paroxetine. I am still thinking what if I have another problem, what if something wrong with my ear and it will make me deaf. It’s like hypochondriac. My psychiatrist says also this thing is not a big problem and it’s because of stress. 
 

I know Anafranil is a strong med and it has got a lot of side effects but I have got no choice. What do you guys think should I go with Anafranil or should I change my doctor? 
 

You said get Prozac or Citalopram I know that. But in my country we can not go pharmacies and get the drugs. We need to have doctor’s prescription.

[ChessieCat]

14 minutes ago, ProphGur said:

But in my country we can not go pharmacies and get the drugs. We need to have doctor’s prescription.

 

Everywhere in the world you need to get a prescription for psychiatric drugs from a doctor.  We then go to the chemist/pharmacy which is where you get the drug from, but you always need the prescription.

[Altostrata]

Very few doctors know anything about withdrawal.

 

23 hours ago, ProphGur said:

I am using Anafranil and Xanax for almost 4 weeks.

 

Why do you think Anafranil is helping you rather than Xanax?

 

Please let us know if you would like peer support for tapering off your drugs.

[ProphGur]

Thank you for your comments. Actually I don’t know which drug is helping my ocd. But my anxiety is still here. I use Xanax 0,5 mg a day. And I use Anafranil about 100 mg a day. 
 

I have tinnitus for 6-7 hours today. Is this possible I still have wd symptoms? Maybe anxiety doing it. It’s so annoying. 

[Altostrata]

Sorry, we do not treat OCD or anxiety.

 

What has been your symptom pattern since you went off Paxil in July 2022, and how has it changed since you started taking Anafranil and Xanax?

 

Please put start dates and dosages for Anafranil and Xanax in your signature.