LostInCanada: Need help and direction to taper off Paroxetine

[j1290]

On 11/22/2023 at 2:21 PM, LostInCanada said:

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.

How's things these days, @LostInCanada?  Sorry to hear that you're going through this.   People always remind me that waves are only temporary, they just feel permanent.   I'm glad they do, because in the moment they feel never ending.   Hang tough, I know it's difficult but you'll get to the other side of this before you know it!

[LostInCanada]

@j1290 thanks for stopping by. It's crazy how we need to constantly remind ourselves that waves aren't permanent. If only all life's stresses could be put in hold till we were through this...the dream. 

[Cheeky]

Hi @LostInCanada, 

I just read though your thread and wanted  to say your so brave to be tapering within the year you crashed. When I crashed I waited for over a couple of years before I felt okay and not so scared. 

This whole process is so hard and you can't avoid making mistakes (I've made many) . 

I understand why you feel even 1% cut is a lot, considering the time this all started for you your nervous system is probably so sensitive. 

Take your time with this and your attitude is going to see you through this. Your one strong lady. 

Let us all fight this together 💜

[LostInCanada]

Thanks @Cheeky for your kind words. It's quite the traumatic journey isn't it? Everyone on this path really is amazing, so many obstacles but we keep getting up. 💯

[Emonda]

I hope all goes well for your daughter today, @LostInCanada 🙏

[wantrelief]

I too hope everything goes well with your daughter, @LostInCanada. I am so sorry you are going through this stressful time whilst in withdrawal. Coping with your daughter's situation would be quite enough so you should be proud of yourself for getting through all of this with a compromised nervous system.....not an easy feat.  I am cheering you on from the sidelines.  Thinking of you and your family, WR.

[LostInCanada]

@Emonda @wantrelief thank you for your thoughts at this time. She is in surgery at this moment. I will post an update. 🙏♥️

[LostInCanada]

Our daughter' s surgery went well. The surgeon is happy. He said the tumor was quite large but visually self contained/no spreading. 👍 2-5 days in hospital, the bowel was resectioned so it needs to start working again. Time to heal. 

[Emonda]

I really appreciate the update, LostinCanada. May she continue to recover. 🙏

[wantrelief]

Oh that is great news!  Thanks for letting us know.  Wishing your daughter the best as she recovers and hopefully you can also rest easier now. 

[Go2zero]

Great to hear @LostInCanada that everything went well. In thoughts I am with you, your daughter and your family! 🥰 🙏 

[Soup]

@LostInCanada so glad to hear this positive update . I will continue to keep your family in my prayers for quick healing 

[Go2zero]

Hi @LostInCanada,

 

How are you doing? I guess still stabilising?

How is it with waves and windows?

 

Hope you daughter is recovering well! 

 

Lots of Love, 🥰 ❤️🙏

[LostInCanada]

Hey @Go2zero Our daughter is doing really well. Each day a bit stronger. Thanks.

I have been in a window so did the smallest drop possible with dry cutting. That was smooth thankfully. How are you? Is the wave gone? 🙏❤️

[Angus]

@LostInCanada It’s wonderful to hear that your daughter is recovering so well🌸. I’m sure this has been very stressful for you and your family. 
It’s also wonderful that you were able to have a window and continue your taper🌸. I trust that there will be continued healing for you all 🌸.

Angus

[LostInCanada]

@Angus thanks so much for your kind words. My daughter has this as her fav song at the moment and I thought it fits well with what we are going through too... especially love the line "And we shall overcome as we've done before"

 

https://g.co/kgs/rGkYs4

[Angus]

@LostInCanadaI love this💕. I will take a listen as well.

I am also a mother and a cancer survivor myself- my heart goes out to you and your loved ones.🙏

[Go2zero]

52 minutes ago, LostInCanada said:

Hey @Go2zero Our daughter is doing really well. Each day a bit stronger. Thanks.

I have been in a window so did the smallest drop possible with dry cutting. That was smooth thankfully. How are you? Is the wave gone? 🙏❤️

 

Great to hear your daughter is doing so well!  And a window in the midst of this stress! I am so happy for you!

 

I am still having this wave. Lots of anxiety and neuro emotions. Now and then so strong that thoughts come up that it will never end. And questions/feelings where am I living for. A part of me knows this is part of withdrawal. Another part of me is just doubting. I know the doubting is also a WD symptom. And I know this will go again one time. But the other part hardly can believe that.

 

I am doing all kinds of things to deal with the anxiety. I have done 2 sessions of family constellations lately. Doing a lot of meditation, Claire Weekes, etc.

 

It helps a little, but I feel this anxiety is really chemical (withdrawal) driven. That makes it so difficult to change anything about it. Acceptance is the most important thing I can "do"...

[LostInCanada]

@Go2zero sorry to hear that you are still in this wave. It will break. I agree with you about the chemical driven anxiety. This is definitely the drug and not who you are. Be kind to yourself, no deadlines, no expectations and try to find some joy each day if you can. I just posted a link to a good song a couple posts up. The lyrics really resonate with me... 

You are so close to finishing this marathon and honestly doing so well. You give me hope and courage. 💯🙏❤️

[Go2zero]

1 minute ago, LostInCanada said:

sorry to hear that you are still in this wave. It will break. I agree with you about the chemical driven anxiety. This is definitely the drug and not who you are. Be kind to yourself, no deadlines, no expectations and try to find some joy each day if you can. I just posted a link to a good song a couple posts up. The lyrics really resonate with me... 

You are so close to finishing this marathon and honestly doing so well. You give me hope and courage. 💯🙏❤️

 

I know you are right @LostInCanada. But your words feel really encouraging. This really helps. Great that we support each other. This is so helpful! Thank you! 🥰🙏

[Emonda]

You've dropped again, LostinCanada 🤗. How are you responding to that?

 

I hope your daughter is progressing ok as well 🙏

[LostInCanada]

@Emonda no issues with that mini microdose. I'll be 100 by the time I get off this drug lol. But forward is my only direction. 

My daughter is doing well - 2 weeks tomorrow. It's slow but steady as well. Thanks for asking. How are you doing?

[Emonda]

9 hours ago, LostInCanada said:

no issues with that mini microdose

 

Excellent news!

 

9 hours ago, LostInCanada said:

I'll be 100 by the time I get off this drug lol

 

Moses made it to 120, so maybe you'll have 20 years in the clear 🙃

 

But as you've said before, every drop is a win. Just because you've had a slower year tapering as you recovered from the CT, that doesn't necessarily mean every year going forward will be the same.

 

9 hours ago, LostInCanada said:

My daughter is doing well - 2 weeks tomorrow. It's slow but steady as well.

 

Let's give Praise for that blessing.

 

9 hours ago, LostInCanada said:

How are you doing?

 

Got the usual third weekly drop wobbles. Heightened anxiety/fear/panic over the past two days. I know it's the pills, and it will subside, but man, it's unpleasant. 

 

One more drop to go tomorrow (I'll reassess in the morning), then I'll hold until mid-January. I don't want to be tapering and dealing with jet lag over Christmas.

 

Thanks for being such a great encourager to so many here.

 

Emonda

 

[LostInCanada]

29 minutes ago, Emonda said:

I'll hold until mid-January.

I think that is a great plan. It's a stressful time of year with lots of expectations. 

 

31 minutes ago, Emonda said:

 

Moses made it to 120, so maybe you'll have 20 years in the clear 🙃

Lolol...with God's blessing 👍🙏💯

[LostInCanada]

Been in a wave since Tuesday the 12th. Usual crying, worse insomnia, headaches, dizziness, aches. Surprised it hasn't been worse tbh. 

Still unwinding the stress from the last month and a half. 

Sticking to a simple routine. Trying to have no expectations for myself. I am going to heal. 💯🙏

[Angus]

@LostInCanada You are healing💗. I’m thinking of you and praying that your window will come shortly. Take care of yourself🌸.

Angus

[LostInCanada]

@Angus thanks so much. How are you doing? I am interested in the info about medication/surgery etc from Angie Peacock if you don't mind sharing. Hope you get some clarity for sure.

[Angus]

@LostInCanadaYou have had such a full month with your daughter’s surgery. I’m trusting that she continues to heal- this should give you such peace.🌸

I’m doing okay- I am holding onto my current dose and believe my withdrawal symptoms are lessening. I am going to continue to hold for quite some time to give myself more stability once I begin my taper. I have reached out Angie for guidance with my taper/withdrawal and also for help bc I may need surgery in the future. I definitely will share the info I get in regards to this w/ you. I wish there were more doctors that were knowledgeable to help us - but at least we have each other.🌸
 

[LostInCanada]

1 hour ago, Angus said:

at least we have each other.🌸

Glad things are getting better for you. I am so glad we have each other. It is a priceless blessing. ❤️

[Emonda]

4 hours ago, LostInCanada said:

Still unwinding the stress from the last month and a half. 

 

You've had an enormous amount of stress, LostinCanada...we're not bulletproof. Add in Paroxetine tapering, and it's an even tougher combination.

 

4 hours ago, LostInCanada said:

Surprised it hasn't been worse tbh. 

 

You're amazing. A hint of positivity, even when you're doing it tough.

 

It's horrible when you are in the midst of it, but as you know, it's temporary. You've been here a few times, and you know a window will come.

 

Hang tight, improvement is coming 🙏🤗

[Go2zero]

You are healing @LostInCanada. We both of us know that. You need to remember me now and then. Now I am remembering you again.

 

Sometimes during a wave it can feel as endless. But this wave will also pass. You are doing this so great! And such a support to members here!

 

Lots of Love and Healing! 🥰 🙏

[LostInCanada]

1 hour ago, Go2zero said:

Lots of Love and Healing! 🥰 🙏

Has your wave passed yet? I've been thinking alot about drug half lives especially because of you on prozac. So see if this makes any sense to you lol. Paxil roughly has a 24 hour half life so on day 1 it is 10 mg but on day 2 it is now 15mg (10 mg plus 5 mg half life from previous day), day 3 is 17.5 mg and so on. So for me at 4.5 mg, the drug in my system is really about 9 mg when you add in all the half lives. To me this explains why the percentage of serotonin inhibitors is still so high at 4.5 mg. I think this is important as well to understand why jump off has to be so low. It also backs up the need for a slow (10% or less) taper. We already know this but just some more math behind it. Thought it might interest you. 

 prayers and healing too. 💯

[Go2zero]

On 12/19/2023 at 7:19 PM, LostInCanada said:

Has your wave passed yet?

Sorry for late reaction. I was really not feeling OK enough to react. The wave seemed to stop about 1 week ago. And 2 days later it came back full blast. In the same moment I picked up a heavy cold virus or so, which didn't help.

 

Could not tell the cold symptoms from the withdrawal. My wife however can tell. She sees and feels often sooner than myself when WD symptoms are arising. That helps a lot in getting things clear for myself then.

 

Last week the extreme anxiety mostly went away again. And in return I got several days with migraines. But everything better than the anxiety. That was dreadful again this time. And so clear it was withdrawal. There were no triggers for the anxiety. Two months ago, there were enough triggers, but no anxiety. So clear proof to me, that the anxiety must be a WD symptom. When having these anxiety symptoms, I often start doubting whether it is WD or not. But I have learned that even the doubting is part of WD...

 

By the way, I continued my tapering again. Doing tiny, tiny steps. I am already lower than the theoretical jump off dosage. But I will taper a few steps further. Hope to jump off now in 1-2 months...

 

On 12/19/2023 at 7:19 PM, LostInCanada said:

I've been thinking alot about drug half lives especially because of you on prozac.

These are interesting thoughts. I did some math on this some years ago and I came to a few conclusions (based on the long half life of Prozac and the norfluoxetine).

 

1) If we see the dose we take as 100 the full amount we build up over time reaches a maximum of 199,3 (so lets say double of the basis dose). It does not get higher than that and stays stable as long as we stay on the same dose. The period to reach this maximum is about 3 months.

 

2) When we start to taper it may take about 8-10 weeks before we fully reach the tapered dosage levels in our body. Most of this is reached however after 6 weeks.

 

 

[LostInCanada]

Day 18 of this wave and it has intensified the last 2 days. 

Trying to keep positive and distract, this too will pass. 

[j1290]

Hi, @LostInCanada

 

So does this match previous reductions, symptom wise?   I never did a daily WD checklist for venlafaxine, but I recall it took about 3 full weeks before I started feeling better but worn out from the struggle.   

 

I've been doing a lot of somatic stuff lately,grounding exercises.  Because I live in my head mostly, it really helps to do physical stuff like walking or exercise or or word puzzles and the like to get focused in the moment.   Easy to say, but really difficult for me to do during heavy WD symptoms whem I just want it to stop🤣

 

Hang in there, lostin, you'll be through before you know it!

[LostInCanada]

@j1290hey how are you doing? Thanks for dropping by.I have had alot of stressors lately so I think my body is tired of dealing with it all and tired of no sleep. I haven't really seen a pattern yet but this wave seems long and I am so over it lol.