Grog Posted August 29, 2023 Posted August 29, 2023 Hello, I am looking for help with Paxil withdrawl. I'm new to the site so I don't know how things go yet. Do I post my experiences here? Ask specific questions? Is there a way to find local professionals in my area to help? I've read some on the Support posts so I'm learning. Please bare with me. Started taking Paxil 7 or 8 years ago. Wanted to get off, so doctor told me to take 1 pill every other day for a week, then 1 pill every 2 days for a week, then stop completely.
Grog Posted August 30, 2023 Author Posted August 30, 2023 Hello, My name here is Grog and I'm seeking some answers with my withdrawl syndrome. I have been on Paxil for almost 8 or 9 years. I dont know exactly how long but it's been a while. In March, I started a health kick of sorts, and one of my goals was to get off some of the medicine I'm taking. One of them was Paxil. I told my doctor this and she didn't have any objections. (She wasn't the same doctor who prescribed the Paxil to me. In fact she was a nurse practioner, not a full doctor) She told me to take one pill every other day for a week, then take one pill every two days for a week, then stop it completely. I did exactly what she told me to do. The first week off was absolute Hell. I had dissiness, trouble focusing, trouble seeing, brain zaps,panic, and I cried a lot, among other symptoms. After that first week I started having other episodes. Forgetfulness, panic attacks/anxiety, a tingling sensation throughout my body, ocular migraines, among other symptoms. I've been to the emergency room several times. The last time I went, they took 4 vials of blood, tested my urine, x-rayed my chest, did a cardiograph, CAT Scan my head, and observed me for 3 hours, and they couldn't find anything wrong with me. Not to mention the migraines. Painful, messes with my eyesight. It feels like something is moving around in my head. Almost like a really bad cold. All the doctors I have seen have not been helpful at all. My MD thinks it's sleep apnea. She is not listening to me. I'm becoming desperate. Is there a professional I can talk to? What do I do? It's been 6 months since my last dose of Paxil. Can someone help me please. I've used all my sick days and I need some relief soon, or at least a good plan on how to beat this. Please and thank you. Started taking Paxil 7 or 8 years ago. Wanted to get off, so doctor told me to take 1 pill every other day for a week, then 1 pill every 2 days for a week, then stop completely.
Moderator Go2zero Posted August 31, 2023 Moderator Posted August 31, 2023 (edited) Hello @Grog, Welcome to this support site. Good that you came to this website. There is a lot of knowledge to be found and shared here. Also the members can support each other here. According to what you write you are suffering from Withdrawal Syndrome. Paxil is a very strong antidepressant that should be tapered off very slowly and careful. Unfortunately most doctors are not trained in this and most of them have no clue how to get away from this medication safely. In this website you will be able to learn how to ge away from this medication in a safe way. In your case where you already stopped the medication it will be advisable to learn how to deal with your current situation. And then how to heal. The good thing is that you can and will heal if you follow the safe route. First some important background info you need to learn (please read all this info very carefully): https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/405-tips-for-tapering-off-paxil-paroxetine/ https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/22958-never-skip-doses-to-taper/ https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/23081-are-we-there-yet-how-long-is-withdrawal-going-to-take/?do=findComment&comment=492497 After reading this you may understand why you got so many withdrawal symptoms. You have been advised completely wrong by your doctor (nurse). Before we can give you ideas how to start healing, please inform us (also in your signature) WHEN you made all steps in tapering, including the dosages. So for example: when did you start to taper 1 pill every other day (including the dosage in mg), when every 2 days, etc. When did you stopped completely. Edited August 31, 2023 by Go2zero 1993 Anafranil (Clomipramine) for a few months. Later in 1993 Paxil for a few months 1993- 2006 No medication 2006 Effexor, Cymbalta, some Benzo’s. All for short periods. Later in 2006 Lexapro (escitalopram) 10 mg and shortly after Wellbutrin XR 150mg, against side effects Lexapro Since 2006 until end of 2015: Several times on and off Lexapro and Wellbutrin and several slight dosage changes. Mostly taken dosages: 5mg Lexapro and 150mg Wellbutrin 2016 Dosage change Lexapro from 5mg to 2,5 mg. Wellbutrin stayed om 150mg November 2016 – April 2017 Down from 2,5mg to 0,6mg Lexapro (in steps) without much problems. Wellbutrin down from 150mg to 66mg. Also without much problems. April 2017 – March 2019 Lexapro 0,6 mg April 2017 - August 2018 Wellbutrin in small steps down from 66mg in to 37,5 mg . Quite heavy WD after each step. March 2019 – May 2019 Lexapro down from 0,6 to 0,3mg then Prozac to 0,6 mg switch because severe discontinuation effects (may also have been from Wellbutrin..) Wellbutrin down from 37,5mg to 35,3mg October 2019 Seroquel 12,5 mg for 4 weeks because of extreme sleeping problems, then weaning off in 2 weeks Prozac up dosage to 1,2 mg March 2020 Wellbutrin in 2 steps down from 35,3mg to 33,3mg Extreme withdrawal effects during 8 months. Stopped tapering Wellbutrin until total off Prozac. February 2020 – November 2020 Prozac down in steps from 1,2mg to 0,57mg. Jan 2021 : Prozac down to: 0,55> 0,53>0,51mg, Feb 0,47mg , Mar 0,42mg, Apr 0,37, longer hold because of WD symptoms July 0,36 and hold again, Sept 19 0,35, Sept 26 0,34mg, Oct 3 0,33mg Long hold of 172 days until March 2022 January 20, 2022: Wellbutrin from 33,3 to 32,4mg March 22, 2022 Prozac down from 0,33mg to: 0,30mg, Apr 0,29, May 0,28, 0,27, June 0,26, 0,25, July 0,24, 0,23, 0,22, 0,21, Aug 0,20, 0,19 Sep 0,18, Oct 0,17. 0,16, 0,15, Nov 0,14 Jan 2023 0,13, 0,12, 0,11 Feb 0,10, 0,09 Mar 0,08 , June 0,07 , July 0,06, 0,05, Aug 0,04, 0,03, Sept 0,026, 0,024 Nov 0,022, 0,019, 0,016, 0,013 Dec 0,012, 0,011, 0,010, 0,009 Jan 2024 0,008, 0,007, 0,006, 0,005, 0,004, 0,003, 0,002, 0,001, Feb 0,0007. 0,0005, 0,0003, 0,0001, Feb 23, 2024: 0,00000 Wellbutrin resume tapering: Apr 2024 31,6mg, 30,8, 30,0 , May 29,1, 28,2, July 23,7, Aug 22,6, 21,4, Dec 21,0 Supplements: Fish Oil (3000mg), Magnesium 100 mg, 2 drops of Lavender Oil, only when feeling extreme anxiety. 50mg of L-Theanine only when severe discontinuation effects caused by Wellbutrin Please note this is NOT a medical advice. Discuss all your medical issues with a doctor who understands psychical drugs and really knows how to withdraw from them. I wish that you will find one.
Grog Posted September 6, 2023 Author Posted September 6, 2023 (edited) Why so little Medical Help You know what I just blew my mind from this whole experience? How completely and overly unhelpful the medical establishment has been during all this. The last time I was at the ER for this, they took 4 vials of blood, urine, EKG, took x-rays of my chest, CAT-Scan of my brain, and observed me for 4 hours, and they told me I was fine. My family MD is even worse. She flat out dosnt believe me about what I'm going through. She thinks it's all sleep apnea. Is longterm withdrawl symptoms a rare condition? Why does it seem like doctors and hospitals know nothing about this? Are there no case studies? Edited September 8, 2023 by manymoretodays merged from events, actions, and controversies, title added Started taking Paxil 7 or 8 years ago. Wanted to get off, so doctor told me to take 1 pill every other day for a week, then 1 pill every 2 days for a week, then stop completely.
Moderator Emeritus manymoretodays Posted September 8, 2023 Moderator Emeritus Posted September 8, 2023 Hi Grog and welcome aboard, @Grog I just moved your recent post from Events, Actions, and Controversies back here for now. How long term is your Paxil withdrawal syndrome? When did you come off completely? Thanks for doing your signature, helpful will be to see the Year and month(if remembered) that you came off completely. More on that here, with a link to get you to yours: How to Summarize Your Drug History in Your Signature More on protracted withdrawal syndrome, in case you haven't seen that topic yet: What is withdrawal syndrome? On 9/6/2023 at 2:08 PM, Grog said: Why so little Medical Help You know what I just blew my mind from this whole experience? How completely and overly unhelpful the medical establishment has been during all this. The last time I was at the ER for this, they took 4 vials of blood, urine, EKG, took x-rays of my chest, CAT-Scan of my brain, and observed me for 4 hours, and they told me I was fine. My family MD is even worse. She flat out dosnt believe me about what I'm going through. She thinks it's all sleep apnea. Is longterm withdrawl symptoms a rare condition? Why does it seem like doctors and hospitals know nothing about this? Are there no case studies? And I know, I hear you. Sometimes members can find an article to share with an open minded doctor, other times it does seem futile, and maybe not worth stressing over, especially if in symptoms. Last I heard, and I think that the condition affects maybe 50% of us, when coming off our psych drugs that we do get into WD and then protracted WD. Which to me, is enough....... And oh, there are many out there working hard to get the knowledge, and case studies, and collecting data for those, and then getting the knowledge out there in professional journals and to doctors. If you go to Current Events> Journals and Scientific Sources from the Main Page, you might find more. And comfort in that work is being done. And it is improving.......oh, so slowly though.......but it is. It can feel so darn frustrating, when in symptoms, that no one gets it or believes you. We all do, here. Hang in there. How is your sleep apnea? Hopefully improving? Insomnia, or poor sleep can certainly add to symptoms, and so I hope it's improving. Also do explore our Symptoms and Self Care forum too. To the extent to find topics that might help with your symptoms now, and to discuss with others experiencing similar. At the top of each forum, you'll see a search box, where you can even put a topic in, and then you'll see what we have already as far as topics and discussions. Welcome again. Good to post here too, with questions, or if difficulty navigating the site.......we can help with that. And tell us more about what is going on now with you right here too, in your introduction topic. Then we can offer more directed help, specific to your situation and case. Love, peace, healing, and growth, manymoretodays(mmt) Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks. Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988. In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm. Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time). 5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014) 12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs. My last psycho med ever! Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to 2016 Dec 16, medication free!! Longer signature post here, with current supplements. Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016. And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed. Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022, and again finally 5/25/24. Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜 None of my posts are intended as medical advice. Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider. My success story: Blue skies ahead, clear sailing
Moderator Emeritus manymoretodays Posted September 8, 2023 Moderator Emeritus Posted September 8, 2023 Withdrawal dialogues and encouragement How to talk to a doctor about tapering and withdrawal? What to expect? Recommended doctors, therapists, and clinics Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks. Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988. In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm. Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time). 5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014) 12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs. My last psycho med ever! Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to 2016 Dec 16, medication free!! Longer signature post here, with current supplements. Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016. And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed. Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022, and again finally 5/25/24. Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜 None of my posts are intended as medical advice. Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider. My success story: Blue skies ahead, clear sailing
Celeste1990 Posted October 8 Posted October 8 Hi @Grog how are you doing now? 2012-2013 - 5mg Lexapro 2015-2016 - 5mg Lexapro (the above are approximate dates but each time i was taking it for at least 6 months) April 6, 2024 - one 10mg dose Lexapro and immediate adverse reaction
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