Mildman: Self-introduction. Tapering from long term paroxetine

[Mildman]

I was prescribed Paxil in 1996 or thereabouts by a psychiatrist for depression and anxiety. I fairly quickly went to a dose of 40 mg/day and in the 27 years or so since then, have mostly been on that dosage. A few times in the first 5 years I felt recovered from the depression and tried to discontinue the medication, either on my own or working with a doctor. Each time I had withdrawal side effects and / or relapse of the depression.

 

I now am in my 60s, feel not depressed and not unduly anxious. I am trying to taper my dosage, very slowly. My initial goal is to get to 30 mg/day and see how that works for me. I began this taper on the 1st of November 2023, chopping up a paroxetine tablet and taking 37.5 mg daily. I felt no effects in the first three weeks, and my doctor (a GP) suggested I try 30 mg one day and 40 mg the next, alternating like this every other day. I tried this for 4 days and started suffering headaches, nausea, and light headedness. I resumed the 37.5 dosage, until 1 December, when I dropped to 35 mg/day. The headaches, nausea, lightheadedness, dizziness returned. I think these are now improving, after 33 days on 35 mg/day. I am thinking of staying at this dosage for the month of January before trying any other change.

 

A complicating factor in recognizing what might be withdrawal symptoms is that I have had a chronic condition since 2020, which I think is long covid. Some of the symptoms of that disorder are the same as possible withdrawal symptoms. My doctors have done a number of tests to try to give me a firm diagnosis but haven't succeeded. I did suffer a brain hemorrhage (a subarachnoid hemorrhage) in May 2022 and was hospitalized for a couple of weeks, but the neurologists haven't related that to my long term condition, or anything else really.

 

Ok, that's me for now. Thanks for reading! 

[LotusRising]

Hi @Mildman

 

Welcome to SA,

 

We are a peer-run volunteer site dedicated to a harm reduction tapering approach in an effort to minimize withdrawal symptoms. We suggest tapering by no more than 10% of your most recent dose each month. See  Why taper by 10%. We do not recommend skipping doses, as this creates uneven drug levels in your body.

 

 

Could you help us out by adding a signature, which will ensure your drug history appears at the bottom of every post, making it more efficient for those trying to assist. 

 

How to Create a Signature 

 

The two links below will help you to understand withdrawal syndrome:

 

What is Withdrawal Syndrome?

 

Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

When we take medication, the CNS responds by making changes over the months and years we take the drug(s). When the medication is discontinued, the CNS must then undo all the changes that were made. As the changes are undone, symptoms may occur. You can expect that they will follow 

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization  and since the CNS likes stability, we suggest to Keep it simple, slow and stable.

 

Please post any updates or questions related to your specific situation right here in your thread. It's helpful to keep everything related to your tapering journey in one spot and it helps to keep the site tidy  

 

9 hours ago, Mildman said:

Each time I had withdrawal side effects and / or relapse of the depression.

 

You might find this link helpful Withdrawal or relapse.

 

Also, you may want to look into getting a scale to measure your doses for better accuracy. Alternatively, once you get to lower doses, you could switch over to liquid. 

 

 

I've given you a lot of information here. Please take some time to process it and let us know if you have any questions!

 

Glad you've found us - you're in the right place for support!

 

Lotus Rising

 

 

[Mildman]

Hi LotusRising,

 

Thanks much for the response. There is so much information on this site, it will definitely take me time to absorb, and also to learn how to use the site.

 

I do feel encouraged!

 

For now I'll try to take it slow and steady.