LostInCanada: Need help and direction to taper off Paroxetine

[LostInCanada]

@Emondathanks. Appreciate you always. I was wondering how your journey is going as well. Remember self-care. As parents/mates we often forget to give ourselves what we need. I need my advice lolol.

[Go2zero]

On 9/7/2023 at 12:41 AM, LostInCanada said:

I've been in a wave for weeks and it kind of morphed into this so who knows. 

 

Hi @LostInCanada, how are you doing now? Have the symptoms of the wasp bite gone? How is your wave right now? Wish you to get into a window soon again! 

 

✨🙏

[LostInCanada]

Hey @Go2zero things are settling down. Still dealing with the early morning cortisol rush. The anxiety and off feeling has stopped which is great. I still seem easily overstimulated. Just under the surface my nerves seem agitated but it has got much better. Thanks for checking in with me. I was thinking of another drop but I might wait another week and see. How are you doing?

[Go2zero]

24 minutes ago, LostInCanada said:

Hey @Go2zero things are settling down. Still dealing with the early morning cortisol rush. The anxiety and off feeling has stopped which is great. I still seem easily overstimulated. Just under the surface my nerves seem agitated but it has got much better.

 

Actually this sounds quite good to me. The cortisol rush is a famous and common one. So many here deal with that. So did I, for several years and some months ago it suddenly just disappeared. Like all symptoms, this one also will go for you, one day. But the cortisol rush can be a mean one, I know...

 

Great that anxiety stopped. I do not know how this is for you, but anxiety and suicidal ideation are the worst of all symptoms for me.

 

Taking in what you write, I get the feeling you are in the midst of healing. If I were you I would wait another week. Feeling more OK and more stable is so important. Good starting point for a next taper and also some days feeling better. We all need that!

 

How is your sleep?

 

I am doing quite well at the moment. After a long lasting and mean wave I am hopefully in the last part of my prozac taper. When everything continues as it does, I hope to jump off somewhere in November.

✨🙏

[LostInCanada]

@Go2zero my sleep is interesting. 7 or so years ago I was given the wrong prescription. It was an increase to 39mg paroxetine but they gave me 25mg sertaline. I never noticed it was the wrong drug since it was the same shape. Since then I struggled to fall sleep and stay asleep. 

Now I go to bed at 9am, usually fall asleep quickly but can wake every hour to three hours. Then it takes 5 minutes to an hour to fall back asleep each time. The shakes start around 3-5 am. I can sleep on and off till 8 am. 

Lol so it is a mess. I do take .25 mg melatonin.

Glad things are going well for you. 👍

[Emonda]

Hi there, @LostInCanada,

I just thought I'd drop past and say high. How are you doing? Staying away from wasps, I hope!

 

Are you still on a "hold"?

 

[LostInCanada]

@Emonda hey, I am still holding. Feeling much better. Next drop coming soon lol. Looks like you are doing well with yours. Good for you. Thx for checking on me. 💯👍

[LostInCanada]

Did the drop...a whole 1.25%. Will see how I feel in a week. Slow and steady. Hopefully this time will be without wasp stings and benadryl reactions lol.

[LostInCanada]

It is amazing how powerful this drug is. With such a small drop increase in crying, headache, shakes, body tension, nausea, dizziness and tooth sensitivity (maybe connected to sinus headache). Overall feeling of being not right. Round and round we go. Still better than cold turkey.

[Emonda]

Thanks for the update, @LostInCanada, although I am sorry to read the most recent drop has been a pain. Would you consider a 1% drop next time around in search of that sweet spot?

 

Do the WD symptoms feel similar in intensity to what they have been after previous reductions? Was the time frame for them to kick in typical? I know for me, days 2/3/4 are difficult, but then there is some easing.

 

Keep being patient, LostInCanada. Every drop is a win.

[LostInCanada]

@Emonda thanks. I feel this drop hit faster and is easing up quicker. Just the cortisol/ adrenaline shakes so far this morning. I am planning a couple more 1.25% just to make sure no symptoms were coincidence. So hard at the beginning when you have no established pattern. Depending on the results, 1% might be the next step. 🏆

[Emonda]

5 hours ago, LostInCanada said:

is easing up quicker

 

Well, that sounds positive, @LostInCanada. I look forward to hearing how the next drop goes for you.

 

You're doing great!

[LostInCanada]

So I was a little too hopeful. The 3am shakes are lasting easily till 10am. Nausea is back. I read this drug is a sloppy SSRI with SNRI properties as well. It affects all 4 histamine receptors. My body is definitely struggling to make all the adjustments with a drop. Symptoms=less dependence. That's what I am telling myself. 

[Emonda]

8 hours ago, LostInCanada said:

Symptoms=less dependence. That's what I am telling myself. 

 

Love the positivity, @LostInCanada. Keep fighting 🙏

[Go2zero]

Hi @LostInCanada,

 

How are you doing? Is the wave getting lower yet?

[LostInCanada]

Thanks for checking in @Go2zero. The last 4 days I have got a 3 hour stretch of sleep which is huge for me. I am feeling more WD normal again. So I can see it takes me a solid month to stabilize after a reduction. That tells me my CNS is very sensitized still. Hopefully that will get better. I also did some more research on histamine receptors, we have 4. It seems the H2 receptor is responsible for stomach acids, digestion (that explains my reflux issues) and H1/H3 affect sleep. 

I am gearing up for another reduction. How are you?

[Go2zero]

It sounds indeed as if your CNS still is sensitised. The best way is to go slow and with little steps. But you know how to deal with this. That is clear to see, also how you advise other members on SA.

 

I am still in a wave (6 weeks now) and holding on a tiny dose...

[Angus]

@LostInCanada I’ve been reading your thread. I am a new member and if you don’t mind have a question. You are doing so well in your taper and being aware of your symptoms. When you taper do you still have some symptoms present- are these more side effects and less withdrawal? Just trying to gain insight in this process. You have made great progress!

Angus 

[LostInCanada]

@Angus my situation is a little different from yours. I basically went cold turkey and am in protracted withdrawal. So I reinstated the 5 mg dose to stabilize. I held that for a little over 6 months. In those 6 months most of the symptoms either stopped like SI, monophobia and dp/dr or majorly reduced. (Nausea, dizziness, crying, balance and vision issues etc).

My CNS is very sensitized still and the few drops I have done definitely increase my withdrawal symptoms. It takes about a month after a dosage change to stabilize again. 

You may need to stabilize further since you made many changes in a few months and your body is trying to figure it out. It is a long, slow process with no shortcuts. Your body will set the pace. All of us trusted the medical system unfortunately. Don't beat yourself up over it. Acceptance and kindness toward yourself is so important. 💯👍

[Angus]

@LostInCanada Thank you for your response! You are moving in the right direction and my hope is that soon I may also be able to do the same. I really appreciate your help and will definitely be popping by to read your progress. I know you will have continued healing!😊

Angus

[Emonda]

Hey @LostInCanada,

Do I see another drop in your signature from the other day? 

 

I hope it's treating you ok.

 

Sending you warm wishes from AUS 🤗

[LostInCanada]

Thanks Emonda. The smallest drop possible with my scale. So far so good. Dealing with major stress so trying to take that into consideration. Hope all is well with you. Might be holding for a few months. My daughter is facing some serious medical issues. Just waiting on results.

[Emonda]

Sorry to hear about your daughter's medical issues, LostinCanda...hope all is ok 🙏

 

That sounds like a good reason to hold for a while.

 

[Carmie]

Dear @LostInCanada, I’m really sorry to hear about your daughter’s serious health concerns, that must be so extremely stressful for you, sending you both big hugs🤗

[Angus]

@LostInCanadaPraying for your daughter. I’m so sorry to hear of her health issues. Take care.

Angus

[LostInCanada]

Thanks so much @Emonda @Carmie @Angus It means alot. ♥️ 

[SertralineIssues29]

Hey @LostInCanada I’m so sorry to hear about your daughter’s health! Keeping you all in my thoughts and wishing you the best of luck with the results 🙏🏻

 

stay strong!

[LostInCanada]

Thanks @SertralineIssues29 ♥️ It's my daughter that lives in the UK. Good medical team in Oxford thankfully.👍🙏 She see the surgical team in a week Monday. 

[Go2zero]

Dear @LostInCanada, sorry to hear about the health problems of your daughter. Good to read that she seems to be in good hands in the UK.

 

How are you doing?

[LostInCanada]

Thanks @Go2zero. Appreciate it. All the stress has sent me into a wave. No surprise. I am trying to be positive. She has had a CAT scan and MRI in a week since they found the mass in her colon. She is meeting with the surgical team a week from Monday. I tell myself it is routine for the doctors, they know what they are doing. She is in the Oxford area so definitely better than being here in Canada. 

I need to be as stable as possible at this moment.

Glad you are moving forward through your wave. Soon prozac will just be a bad memory. One step at a time. ♥️

[Go2zero]

With my thoughts I am with you and your daughter @LostInCanada. Trust and Faith will help you! And yes, of course this gives stress. Be loving, kind and forgiving to everything you feel. That will help! And good to hold until this stress has gone. Also this will pass.

 

Lots of Love ❤️ 🙏

[Emonda]

How are things at your end, @LostInCanada, for you and your daughter?

 

Hope things are ok 🙏

[LostInCanada]

Hey @Emonda hope you are doing well. Our daughter has surgery in the 29th. The surgeon seems very competent. He is certain she will not need a colostomy or chemo. Good news. 4-6 week recovery. So praying for a successful outcome. 👍🙏♥️

[Soup]

@LostInCanada wonderful to hear about your daughter’s outcome . Sending healing wishes to all of you . 

[LostInCanada]

The wave is back. Intense nausea, body aches, tension headaches, shakes, chills, emotional, lack of concentration, exhausted. Glad my hubby recognized it because I didn't. Just to stressed to think straight.

[Emonda]

Your hubby gets a gold star, LostinCanada! What a blessing to have him right there by your side.

 

Sorry to hear of the wave. I guess you've had some significant external stressors of late with your daughter, and that would likely contribute to the wave.

 

I appreciate it doesn't make you feel better right now, but you've been here before, and you know the wave is temporary.

 

I look forward to hearing that things have picked up for you in the not too distant future 🙏