Paxiltozoloft: switched from Paxil to Zoloft

[Paxiltozoloft]

Hello there! I’m a 31 yr old female. I’m looking for some insight. Around 2012 when I was about 20 yrs old, I started suffering from severe panic attacks and anxiety which turned into a depression. I went to therapy and the whole thing, they put me on 20 mg of celexa which I was on for about 4 yrs. I had my regular check ups with my doctor and overall was doing fine, I had panic attacks here and there but they were manageable. Well because I said that to my doctor, he said Paxil would be better so switched me to Paxil which I’ve been on for about 5 years which I’ve been relatively stable. I have panic attacks and anxiety here and there and am an emotional person so I never expected the meds to make that go away completely. Well me and my bf have been discussing starting a family in the next few yrs and I know I can’t be on Paxil so I decided that maybe it was time to taper which was pure hell (was going on alternating dose taper for 4 weeks). My doctor decided maybe we should switch to a safe antidepressant bc of my history and switched me to an alternating dose taper of Paxil to Zoloft. Well I had NO side effects! Which I thought was a complete miracle after reading the hell it is to come off Paxil. Anyways, I’m 3 months in and my anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and panic attacks are in full force. I’m finding it hard to function honestly and I’m wondering if I’m body is low adjusting to being off Paxil or if the Zoloft just isn’t working for me? Is it normal for this to happen 3 months after? I don’t know if its withdrawal or my anxiety is just back because the Zoloft isn’t cutting it. I’m scared to go back to my doctor bc he already mentioned upping my 50 mg to 100 mg. I find that my anxiety is not bad when I’m distracting myself but it comes back bc I’m scared of it. I don’t know if I’m doing this to myself or the meds are contributing to it but any insight would be helpful! Thanks! 

[manymoretodays]

Hi Paxiltozoloft, and welcome aboard,

Sometimes WD(withdrawal) can be delayed, as we've seen:

See:  Do withdrawal symptoms always show up right away? Delayed onset.

 

And would you please do a signature for us:

How to Summarize Your Drug History in Your Signature

this explains how to, and what the signature is.  Very helpful, so we all can see at a glance your recent drug history and changes.

 

(just click on the underlined passages to get to the links, and do scroll up, being sure to see the 1st post in the topics)

 

Is it your intention then to taper and then get off SSRI's?

 

More about WD(withdrawal) and our harm reduction tapering:

The 10% taper recommendation is a harm reduction approach to going off psychiatric drugs.

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Why we don't recommend alternating or skipping doses to taper:

NEVER SKIP DOSES TO TAPER

 

Tips for tapering off Zoloft(sertraline)

and substituting another AD(antidepressant) for the Paxil, such as your prescriber did, may not take away the Paxil WD, if it sets in, and if tapering wasn't judiciously done unfortunately

 

So you've had about 10 years now of AD's.  Unfortunately, physiological dependency can set in in only about 4 weeks of usage.  And so with tapering, in a harm reduction manner, we hope to offset at least some of WD setting in or none. 

 

More about what is likely happening now:

 

 

Brain Remodelling

What is withdrawal syndrome.

The windows and waves pattern of withdrawal stabilization

 

Dr.Glenmullen’s withdrawal symptom list.

 

When we take medications, the CNS (central nervous system) responds by making changes over the months and years we take the drug(s). When the medication is discontinued, the CNS has to undo all the changes it made.  The CNS likes stability. Rebuilding the neurotransmitter production and reactivating the receptor and transporter cells takes time -- during that rebuilding process symptoms occur. And sleep is really important during withdrawal. 

 

We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system.  

 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

This is your introduction/journal page where you have now introduced yourself to the community, you can ask questions here regarding your tapering, give updates, and just keep a record of your journey.

 

Welcome aboard.  And best.

 

Love, peace, healing, and growth,

manymoretodays(mmt)

Edited September 29, 2022 by manymoretodays