MomWantingToHeal: Paxil CR Reinstatement and Possible Kindling

[MomWantingToHeal]

Hello, 

I am new here and this is my first time posting, so forgive me if this is not posted on the correct place. 
 

On May 10th or so I quick taking my Paxil 12.5mg CR (Extended Release) dose. About 2 weeks later I thought I went through withdrawal with all the symptoms of brain zaps, nausea, exhaustion, fear, anxiety, anger and insomnia. I assumed that that was the extent of my withdrawal and I felt great until about June 13th when I started having anxiety and panic, fear, nausea, etc. I thought this was just due to me having a rough luteal phase of my cycle. After weeks and weeks of suffering and not out it together, I’m now realizing that this is withdrawal and it feels awful. (These same symptoms happened back in 2016 when I had previously stopped, based on my doctors orders to stop taking the medication cold turkey. Same in 2019. At that time I thought there was something wrong with my brain so I restarted the Paxil cr and have been on it since.)

 

Now that I’m realizing that this is indeed withdrawal I’m desperate to do something about it to stop the suffering. I know I need to reinstate to some extent, but I’m unsure how, partially because I’m on the controlled release formula. Any advice from those that have been through this would be appreciated. In addition I have the following questions. 
 

1. Should I reinstate at the full dose of 12.5mg CR as I have in the past to re-stabilize? I have done this in conjunction with ativan in both 2016, and briefly in 2019 (after a doc again said to go cold turkey) and I did well with this and was able to wean off the ativan no problem and stabilize. Then taper properly many many months after. I understand the kindling effect and have not had this before. 
 

OR

 

2. Should I try and crush and weight out the Paxil CR and reinstate at a lower dose? My problems with this are that I’m not sure the dose would be accurate because the coating would still be in the crushed powder; and since my body is used to getting an extended release form, and is currently in withdrawal, I’m not sure it would do well with both a lower amount AND getting one large dose at once rather than throughout the day. 
 

Yes, I realize this was a bad decision on my part and I know better for the next time. The mistake is done and now I’m trying to fix it to the best of my ability so I can stop suffering. Advice is appreciated but no mean comments or judgments. Thank you.

 

 

Also, I don’t know how to add a drug signature so I’m just copy pasting what I told the moderators in my request to join. I hope this will be ok for now until I figure out how to do a proper drug signature. Thank you. 
 

2002-prescribed Paxil for social anxiety after being put on Birth control. 

2005- Quit cold turkey with minimal side effects 

11/2014- put back on Paxil after a stressful event involving my child. 

12/2015- Doctor cleared me to come off Paxil. Had sever withdrawal adapter several months but didn’t realize that’s what it was, thought something was wrong with my brain and desperate for help I went back on the Paxil as well as ativan and Klonopin. 

2016-quit Klonopin cold Turkey because the side effects were so bad. 

2016-weaned off ativan no problem. 

2017-2019 treated for mold illness and Lyme disease. 

2019- Attempted stopping at 12.5mg cr per my doctor. Felt some symptoms of withdrawal- reinstated at 25mg CR per his recommendations. 

2022- Dropped from 25mg cr to 12.5mg cr, no withdrawal symptoms. 

5/10ish- dropped from 12.5mg cr to none. Took until mid June for withdrawal to hit. Didn’t realize it was withdrawal until first week in July. Currently suffering and wanting advice about proper re-instatement and tapering, especially the controlled release formulation. 

Edited July 9, 2023 by manymoretodays
name to topic title, tags, combined titles

[MomWantingToHeal]

Hello, 

I am new to this site. I recently reinstated my Paxil Cr 12.5mg after quitting cold turkey the first week of May. I felt well after I did it except some minor brain zaps and other minor symptoms. Then on June 13th I woke up feeling very anxious and attributed this to the anxiety I feel during the luteal phase of my cycle. I started taking Ativan 0.5mg in the morning and the evening to help relieve the symptoms. My period came and went and I was still not putting 2 and 2 together that this could be withdrawal until about 3 days ago. The symptoms have gotten worse of course since June- crying spelling, anxiety, shaking, inability to eat much, fear, etc. Once it dawned on me that this was withdrawal I reinstated my Paxil CR at the full 12.5mg dose on 7/6. Yesterday, 7/7,  I was still weepy and anxious and struggling, but calmer. Today, 7/8 I noticed that I feel much more jittery and anxious throughout the entire day. I'm not sure if this could be kindling, or just a wave as my body tries to stabilize back on this medication. I guess my biggest question is what to do if this is kindling since the CR (extended release) of Paxil cannot be cut to reduce the dose..... or should I do nothing and just ride this out for several more days to see if my body is stabilizing, not kindling.

 

I appreciate any help. I feel very scared that my body is reacting this way, so any guidance or reassurance would be appreciated.

Edited July 9, 2023 by manymoretodays
name to topic title, merged with first Introduction

[Altostrata]

Welcome, @MomWantingToHeal

 

Paroxetine may be the most difficult antidepressant to quit. This is well known; it must be tapered. Your prescriber has been seriously remiss if they told you to abruptly stop it 3 times.

 

Have you ever taken fluoxetine (Prozac) or citalopram (Celexa)?

 

 

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