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StillTired - hello, extended withdrawal symptoms from Paxil plus chronic fatigue, looking for anyone who has experienced similar


StillTired

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My story is fairly long but I will try to keep it to the basics. Approximately 10 or so years ago I was mistakenly prescribed Paxil for nocturnal panic attacks. I say mistakenly because many years later I was able to determine that I was actually experiencing acid reflux when I went to bed. The problem is that Paxil is often treated off label for reflux, and it solved the problem it wasn’t prescribed to solve. 
 

Due to this, I was on Paxil for a very long time. When I finally put two and two together I decided to go off Paxil. I wish I had taken longer to go off, but I tapered over 4 months from 20mg in late 2020. Not a great experience you can imagine. When I was done, I as left feeling in a bit of a state of extended withdrawal, and still am today. I have very minor but noticeable brain zaps at times, and I feel generally nervous, especially in my hands and feet and sometimes my groin. A secondary problem was that I did actually start having panic attacks a few years ago, seemingly tied to a bicycle accident I had, and the Paxil may have actually kept those at bay. Without the medication I’ve had anxiety tied mostly to highway driving and medical procedures (dentist, for example)

 

To add to the complications in April 2021 I started experiencing daily fatigue. I had every test under the sun and everything pointed to this being related to depression/anxiety. I had recently taken on a new job and my wife was recovering from very invasive breast cancer surgery. I’ve even done an updated round of tests recently to confirm I have no heart blockages or breathing issues. 
 

Over the last year and a half I’ve been working with an NP to find a medication to help me. Going back on Paxil did nothing and I’ve been through a range of SSRIs and SNRIs that did at best very little and at worst made me feel very unwell as the dosage went up. 
 

So right now I am on nothing at all while I am finishing up medical tests, other than an occasional half of a clonazepam. If feeling very lost about what to do next. I was wondering if anyone had experienced this kind of long term withdrawal, and especially if anyone has experience with chronic fatigue. Thank you. 
 

Here’s a pretty exhaustive list of what I’ve been on 

 

2010?-10/2020 Paroxetine 20mg (taper 15mg-10mg-5 mg from 7-9/2020)

 

Side effects: some sexual desensitization but acceptable. Positive effect on acid reflux frequency. 

 

7/22/2021 Paroxetine (Paxil) 20mg resumed due to extended withdrawal and chronic fatigue but did not have an effect 

 

9/17/2021 Sertraline (Zoloft) 50mg - replaced previous 

 

Side effects: not on long enough to know. Provider switched off due to presumed sexual side effects in men. 

 

10/29/2021 Fluoxetine (Prozac) 10mg - replaced previous 

 

11/10/2021 Fluoxetine (Prozac) 20mg

 

Side effects: brain fog, general “unwell” feeling, fatigue 

 

12/03/2021 Mirtazapine 15mg - replaced previous 

 

12/16/2021 Mirtazapine 22.5 mg

 

Side effects: brain fog, general “unwell” feeling, fatigue 

 

1/11/2022 Escitalopram (Lexapro) 5mg (in addition to 15mg Mirtazapine)

(Some missing info here - was on Lexapro by itself for a period and may have been up to 10mg)

 

Side effects: some negative sexual effects 

 

7/31/2022 Duloxetine (Cymbalta) 20mg - replaced all previous 

 

8/12/2022 Duloxetine (Cymbalta) 30mg

 

9/2022 Duloxetine (Cymbalta) 40mg

 

12/2022 (Duloxetine discontinued, short course of Fluoxetine 10mg to handle withdrawal symptoms)

 

Side effects: at max dose again had fatigue, brain fog, unease. Positive effect on acid reflux frequency. 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Welcome to SA, StillTired.

 

To give members the best information, we ask them to summarize their medication history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly.  A list format is best.  You can simply copy the list from your post, but please omit all the information on side effects

 

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

We're a site for going off psychiatric drugs.  You wrote in your post that you're working with an NP to find a medication that will help you, so this may not the right site for you.  From our perspective, what you've been experiencing is what is called "the drug merry-go-round," which is going on and off different drugs in the hope that one will finally work.  The symptoms you describe in your post, including fatigue, are typical withdrawal symptoms.  So that you have a better idea of what you've been experiencing, here is some information on withdrawal:

 

What is withdrawal syndrome.

 

Brain Remodelling 

 

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) 

 

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization


You wrote in your post that you're currently not on any psychiatric drugs except for an occasional clonazepam. Our recommendation would be not to start any additional psychiatric drugs.  

 

Please be careful with the clonazepam.  Physical dependency can result from two weeks of regular use and also from intermittent use.

 

I recommend reading Anatomy of an Epidemic by Robert Whitaker, which makes a strong case against psychiatric drugs.  

 

 

 

Here's a video book trailer by the author:

 

 
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 (glycinate is a good form) and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system. 
 
 
 
Add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems.
 
This is your introduction topic -- the place for you to ask questions, record symptoms, share your progress, and connect with other members of the SA community.  I hope you’ll find the information in the SA forums helpful for your situation.  
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gridley Introduction

 

Lexapro 20 mg since 2004.  Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017.   

End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg 

End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg

End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg  

Oct. 30, 2020  Jump to zero from 0.025mg.  Current dose: 0.000mg

3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete.

 

Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements

Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium

Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium 

End 2021  year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg

End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg 

End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg

Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper.

Taper is 95% complete.

 

Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986.  Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg  

March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper

Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper

Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper.  Current dose as of Oct 15: 3.2mg

Taper is 96% complete.  

  

Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotic, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase, L-Glutamine, milk thistle, choline


I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice. It is information based on my own experience as well as that of other members who have survived these drugs.

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