josh93: diplopia/double vision after dropping to 5mg of paroxetine

[josh93]

So I’ve been on SSRIs for years. For several years I was on 50mg of paroxetine. This last week I dropped from 10mg to 5mg. But now I’m experiencing Diplopia. I went to get my eyes checked out and was told I have 20/20 vision and pretty much perfect eyes. Any one else experience this? 

[Frogie]

@josh93

 

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 each member only have one introduction page so we can keep all your information in one place.

 

 

Please add a signature.  Include drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements in the last 12-24 months. Also include supplements. This will help us give you the most accurate advice we can. 

• Any drugs and supplements prior to 24 months ago can just be listed with start and stop years. 
• Please use actual dates or approximate dates (mid-June, Late October) rather than relative time frames (last week, 3 months ago) 
• Spell out months, e.g. "October" or "Oct."; 9/1/2016 can be interpreted as Jan. 9, 2016 or Sept. 1, 2016. 
• Please leave out symptoms and diagnoses. 
• A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs. 
• This is a direct link to your signature:  Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

 

How long did it take you to taper from 50 mg to 10 mg? And then last week you cut your dose in 1/2? That is probably why you are experiencing the symptoms you are. We don't suggest more than 10% a month and many go slower than that.

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

Tips for tapering off paroxetine (Paxil, Seroxat)

 

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

What is withdrawal syndrome?

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:

 

 

 

Since it has only been a week, you could go back up to 10 mg and hold for quite a few months before beginning to taper again. Then a slow, 10% a month or less.

 

 

We don't suggest supplements on here as they can be stimulating to the nervous system except 2. You could try one in a small amount and wait a few days before introducing the other.

 

Magnesium

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

 

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

 

Keep It Simple, Slow, and Stable

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

[josh93]

On 9/18/2022 at 6:11 PM, Frogie said:

@josh93

 

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 each member only have one introduction page so we can keep all your information in one place.

 

 

Please add a signature.  Include drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements in the last 12-24 months. Also include supplements. This will help us give you the most accurate advice we can. 

• Any drugs and supplements prior to 24 months ago can just be listed with start and stop years. 
• Please use actual dates or approximate dates (mid-June, Late October) rather than relative time frames (last week, 3 months ago) 
• Spell out months, e.g. "October" or "Oct."; 9/1/2016 can be interpreted as Jan. 9, 2016 or Sept. 1, 2016. 
• Please leave out symptoms and diagnoses. 
• A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs. 
• This is a direct link to your signature:  Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

 

How long did it take you to taper from 50 mg to 10 mg? And then last week you cut your dose in 1/2? That is probably why you are experiencing the symptoms you are. We don't suggest more than 10% a month and many go slower than that.

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

Tips for tapering off paroxetine (Paxil, Seroxat)

 

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

What is withdrawal syndrome?

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:

 

 

 

Since it has only been a week, you could go back up to 10 mg and hold for quite a few months before beginning to taper again. Then a slow, 10% a month or less.

 

 

We don't suggest supplements on here as they can be stimulating to the nervous system except 2. You could try one in a small amount and wait a few days before introducing the other.

 

Magnesium

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

 

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

 

Keep It Simple, Slow, and Stable

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

I’ve been on Paroxetine for 4 or so years now. Maybe a year ago I went down over several months from 50mg to 10mg. I tried to cold Turkey stop at one point but had massive withdrawals so went back. I went from 10mg to 5mg less than a week ago.

I’m also on finasteride 1mg. I take athletic greens, vitamin B and A and Claritin for runny nose (I live in FL).

 

idk what you mean by “signature”?

 

I was diagnosed with depression  and anxiety. I’ve also had vertigo since my car accident in May 2021. Which has gotten worse since the dosage drop. Related? Not sure.

Edited September 20, 2022 by josh93

[Frogie]

@josh93

 

I provided a link for you to add a signature, and I will post it again here. Please follow the directions on the link "Account Settings-Create or Edit a signature" that is listed below.

 

Please add a signature.  Include drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements in the last 12-24 months. Also include supplements. This will help us give you the most accurate advice we can. 

• Any drugs and supplements prior to 24 months ago can just be listed with start and stop years. 
• Please use actual dates or approximate dates (mid-June, Late October) rather than relative time frames (last week, 3 months ago) 
• Spell out months, e.g. "October" or "Oct."; 9/1/2016 can be interpreted as Jan. 9, 2016 or Sept. 1, 2016. 
• Please leave out symptoms and diagnoses. 
• A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs. 
• This is a direct link to your signature:  Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature. (The link is here)

 

I would be cautious of taking b vitamins as they can be stimulating to the nervous system also.

 

Going from 10 mg to 5 mg in a week is something we do not suggest. That is cutting your dose in 1/2. We don't recommend this. 

 

Again, please read all the information that I provided to you in the first answer I gave you as I stated you could reinstate and follow our guidelines for tapering. Without you reading the information, we can't help you through this process. 

 

Once you have read the information provided previously reach out with questions.

 

Thank you.

 

[josh93]

How do I cut a 10mg tiny pill into 1/10ths? That seems impossible

[Frogie]

@josh93

 

I gave you the link twice, please make a signature. I am giving you the link to click on now.

 

How to List Drug History in Signature

 

You can use a scale and crush and weigh the tablets. I will give you a link to follow on how to do this:

 

Using a scale to weigh and measure doses

 

 

[josh93]

I updated it - I did my best, I can't remember everything though

[Frogie]

11 hours ago, josh93 said:

I updated it - I did my best, I can't remember everything though

 

It looks good, thanks.

 

You can crush and weigh your tablets to get the most accurate dose.

 

Let me know how I can help further