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TheWalker: New here and looking forward to learning about getting free of Paxil

TheWalker

By TheWalker
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TheWalker Newbie

TheWalker

Posted
Posted (edited)

Hi everybody - I just joined as I've been blown away with what an incredible resource this is. Major thanks to the administrators and to all who contribute. I'm very grateful to be here as I intend to begin my journey to finally getting off Paxil which I've been on for 17 years!

First questions I have:

1. I take the tablet form of Paxil. Do I have to switch over to the liquid form, and if so, do I need to get a new prescription from my doctor, or would the pharmacist simply switch over? I also heard somewhere that they discontinued the liquid version. Is there any truth to it?

2. Is it more difficult to get off Paxil for someone who's been on it for 17 years than someone who's been on it for 2 years? 

Thanks in advance for any insights you can provide. 

Edited by Emonda
Name to title
  • Paxil 60mg from 2003-2004 Came off quickly (cold turkey) because I was pregnant. It didn't seem hard because I was pregnant (and I miscarried).
    Went back on Paxil - 60 mg - due to high anxiety in 2006 after a successful pregnancy
    2015: Fast taper - 5mg at at time from 60mg to eventual ending up with 30mg with relative ease by 2017. Trying to taper off more got too difficult.
    2021: tried again to taper off again at 5mg at a time, almost made to 5mg but was too difficult. Back up to 20mg.
    2023: Went from 20mg to 10mg but could not manage the constant anxiety. Stayed on 10mg for a full year to see if it would change, but had to go back to 20mg where I remain now.
    Every now and then my anxiety level heightens and I take 1x 0.25mg Clonazepam.
    __________________
    Quote

    “To heal is to touch with love that which was previously touched by fear.” - Stephen Levine

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Emonda Contributor

Emonda

Posted
  • Administrator
Posted

Welcome @TheWalker,

 

4 hours ago, TheWalker said:

what an incredible resource this is. Major thanks to the administrators and to all who contribute.

 

It is an amazing resource, contributed to by so many people over many years...I am very grateful for the way it has benefited me, too.

 

4 hours ago, TheWalker said:

I intend to begin my journey to finally getting off Paxil which I've been on for 17 years!

 

A few helpful links which you may have already seen:

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?.

 

If you go faster than the recommended maximum of 10%, you may well end up experiencing unpleasant WD symptoms: Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) 

 

The recovery process seems to take a Windows and waves pattern of stabilization. 

 

Many of us find these Non-drug coping strategies helpful. This is helpful when trying to deal with Emotional Spirals

 

This link relates to your specific AD:

 

 

 

4 hours ago, TheWalker said:

1. I take the tablet form of Paxil. Do I have to switch over to the liquid form, and if so, do I need to get a new prescription from my doctor, or would the pharmacist simply switch over? I also heard somewhere that they discontinued the liquid version. Is there any truth to it?

 

You don't need to switch. Some here use a digital scale to taper (although not all ADs can be broken up / cut). If you do choose to switch to a liquid, do it slowly. Read the 4th post down by Gridley: Transitioning from pills to liquid

 

4 hours ago, TheWalker said:

2. Is it more difficult to get off Paxil for someone who's been on it for 17 years than someone who's been on it for 2 years?

 

Just go slow...10% is the maximum. You can go slower. Listen to your body and adjust accordingly.

 

I've been on these things for close to maybe 28 years now. I follow the advice of this site, a maximum of 10% per month, and I have successfully reduced the dose by ~85%. There are others here that have been on them for > 30 years and have succeeded. Slow is the way to go. If you experience unpleasant WD symptoms, hold your dose. Then when settled, make smaller reductions and do it less frequently. 

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but two that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. Add one at a time and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 


Magnesium

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil)

 

Avoid alcohol. 

 

This is your own Introduction topic.  Each member has only ONE Introduction topic.  Your own Introduction topic is the best place to ask questions and the place to journal your progress.  This keeps your history in one place and means you do not have to repeat your story. 

 

Once again, welcome to S.A.

 

Emonda

 

 

Please don't send me PMs. I am not a doctor. My comments are based on my personal experience with ADs and tapering. Consult your doctor about your own medical decisions.

Start of taper: Jan ’22 Vortioxetine 15mg, 

End year 1: 4.5mg, 

End year 2: 2.38mg, 

Year 3: 19 Jan 2.33mg, 26 Jan 2.28mg, 2 Feb 2.24mg, 8 Feb 2.19mg, 29 Feb 2.15mg, 7 Mar 2.10mg, 14 Mar 2.06mg, 21 Mar 1.99mg, 10 Apr 1.95mg, 17 Apr 1.91mg, 24 Apr 1.87mg, 1 May 1.83mg,

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  • Emonda changed the title to TheWalker: New here and looking forward to learning about getting free of Paxil
TheWalker Newbie

TheWalker

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thank you so much!

  • Paxil 60mg from 2003-2004 Came off quickly (cold turkey) because I was pregnant. It didn't seem hard because I was pregnant (and I miscarried).
    Went back on Paxil - 60 mg - due to high anxiety in 2006 after a successful pregnancy
    2015: Fast taper - 5mg at at time from 60mg to eventual ending up with 30mg with relative ease by 2017. Trying to taper off more got too difficult.
    2021: tried again to taper off again at 5mg at a time, almost made to 5mg but was too difficult. Back up to 20mg.
    2023: Went from 20mg to 10mg but could not manage the constant anxiety. Stayed on 10mg for a full year to see if it would change, but had to go back to 20mg where I remain now.
    Every now and then my anxiety level heightens and I take 1x 0.25mg Clonazepam.
    __________________
    Quote

    “To heal is to touch with love that which was previously touched by fear.” - Stephen Levine

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redkite Contributor

redkite

Posted
Posted

Hi glad you have found this site. I have been reducing paroxetine since 2021 and its tough. The anxiety is one of the worst symptoms but I have notices lots of benefits including, but not exclusively, the floaters in my right eye has gone, I have stopped gripping my jaw which was coursing teeth issues, I have stopped dropping stuff all the time and am much less clumsy, my reflux has gone and I can see a time when I will be free of this in the distance!  Reach out if you need a hand, read the above advice and take care to do little drops.... hair and tortoise!!!  Take care Redkite

Anti-depressant roundabout-2013-2019 ( 5 different ones all effectively CT)

Paroxetine-2019-2022- Various from 10 to 30. Reduced from 30mg to twenty over summer, winter 21. Stablized. reduced from 20ml to 12.5 jan-july22. Some holds some reinstate of tiny tiny bit and then hold around 15mg. Last drop from 13.5 to 12.5 18th july . Had to add a tiny bit/ Held on drop day due to stress of invironment, dropped to 12.  7th september 

Droped to 11.25 gradually  threw   september picking smaller bits from the left over pot!!! Will stay at 11.25 for a couple of weeks. Shaky and tired.

10.65 28th October.

Terrible november and december so uped to 11. slightly better will stick at 11 till spring at the earliest.

 May 10mg... finally, but what a drama. Totally exhausted!!!

Back up to 10. and a bit !! Cant believe how sick I get. 10 mg some time in june?

middle of  August back up to 10mg and  30th. ( 10.33?)

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LostInCanada Veteran

LostInCanada

Posted
Posted

@TheWalker welcome to SA. I have been on paroxetine more than 20 years. Generally the longer you are on it the more dependent your body. It is a drug that affects pretty much every system in our body. That is why slow is so important, so that the body can adapt without shock. We cannot get the liquid in Canada so homemade is our option when we get to lower doses. I am presently using a scale and one sided razor. Also stick with the same manufacturer, I have the generic company name on my chart and always specify when I refill. When I started tapering, I tested various percentages under 10% to find a comfortable taper. Glad you are here.

20 yr+ Paroxetine/ Dec2018-May 2022 20 mg/ May 2022 30mg/2022.07.28-2022.08.24 30mg to 0mg/ August 24-29 2022 10mg Prozac/2022.11.28-2022.12.04- 5mg Paroxetine/Dec 5&6/22 10mg Paroxetine/ Dec 8&9/22 10mg Prozac/ 2022.12.07 to 2023.07.01 5mg Paroxetine

TAPER 23.07.02-58mgpw/4.9mgai/ 23.07.21-4.8 mg/23.07.28-4.73 mg/23.08.04-4.65 mg/21.09.23-4.58 mg/27.10.23-4.56 mg/5.12.23-4.54 mg/2.1.24-4.52 mg/9.1.24-4.51 mg/17.1.24-4.49 mg/26.1.24-4.47 mg/6.2.24-4.46 mg/19.2.24-4.44mg /4.4.24-4.43mg/28.4.24-4.4mg/5.5.24-4.39 mg

8am-probiotics/9am-paroxetine, 200mg mag bisglycinate/ 1000mg Vitamin D/noon-1000 mg algae oil (500mg DHA/10mg EPA/620mg Omega 3)/5pm-75 mg DGL/200mg calcium citrate/8pm-.25 mg melatonin

"... your strength will be in keeping calm..."-Isaiah 30:15

I am not a medical professional just your peer. The suggestions I give are based on personal experience and/or the well documented experience of others.

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TheWalker Newbie

TheWalker

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thank you both, Redkite and LostinCanada for your messages. Very helpful. I am wondering about the intensity of the anxiety that I experienced as well when I started to go below 20mg. From 60mg to 50mg up until 20mg it felt like I had to build capacity for fear/anxiety and when I "got used" to it I felt settled and good. It felt like it was part of lowering the dose, building capacity and tolerating more intensity. But, when I tried to go below 20mg I could not build the capacity for the intensity. I am wondering is this "real" fear of "induced" fear, meaning it is because of the withdrawal. If I know which one it is I might not feel like I am going crazy. Fact is that I went from 20mg to 15, then to 10mg within 2 or 3 months which was contrary to the best practises advised here. Thanks for being here 🙂

 

  • Paxil 60mg from 2003-2004 Came off quickly (cold turkey) because I was pregnant. It didn't seem hard because I was pregnant (and I miscarried).
    Went back on Paxil - 60 mg - due to high anxiety in 2006 after a successful pregnancy
    2015: Fast taper - 5mg at at time from 60mg to eventual ending up with 30mg with relative ease by 2017. Trying to taper off more got too difficult.
    2021: tried again to taper off again at 5mg at a time, almost made to 5mg but was too difficult. Back up to 20mg.
    2023: Went from 20mg to 10mg but could not manage the constant anxiety. Stayed on 10mg for a full year to see if it would change, but had to go back to 20mg where I remain now.
    Every now and then my anxiety level heightens and I take 1x 0.25mg Clonazepam.
    __________________
    Quote

    “To heal is to touch with love that which was previously touched by fear.” - Stephen Levine

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LostInCanada Veteran

LostInCanada

Posted
Posted
57 minutes ago, TheWalker said:

I am wondering about the intensity of the anxiety that I experienced as well when I started to go below 20mg

I think that is why it is important to make sure you are good and stable and then just try a small reduction like 2% or 5%. After the reduction a hold of a month will let you know if you could increase the percentage or decrease it. 

20 yr+ Paroxetine/ Dec2018-May 2022 20 mg/ May 2022 30mg/2022.07.28-2022.08.24 30mg to 0mg/ August 24-29 2022 10mg Prozac/2022.11.28-2022.12.04- 5mg Paroxetine/Dec 5&6/22 10mg Paroxetine/ Dec 8&9/22 10mg Prozac/ 2022.12.07 to 2023.07.01 5mg Paroxetine

TAPER 23.07.02-58mgpw/4.9mgai/ 23.07.21-4.8 mg/23.07.28-4.73 mg/23.08.04-4.65 mg/21.09.23-4.58 mg/27.10.23-4.56 mg/5.12.23-4.54 mg/2.1.24-4.52 mg/9.1.24-4.51 mg/17.1.24-4.49 mg/26.1.24-4.47 mg/6.2.24-4.46 mg/19.2.24-4.44mg /4.4.24-4.43mg/28.4.24-4.4mg/5.5.24-4.39 mg

8am-probiotics/9am-paroxetine, 200mg mag bisglycinate/ 1000mg Vitamin D/noon-1000 mg algae oil (500mg DHA/10mg EPA/620mg Omega 3)/5pm-75 mg DGL/200mg calcium citrate/8pm-.25 mg melatonin

"... your strength will be in keeping calm..."-Isaiah 30:15

I am not a medical professional just your peer. The suggestions I give are based on personal experience and/or the well documented experience of others.

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TheWalker Newbie

TheWalker

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Got it...I will try that and keep you posted. With much gratitude...

  • Paxil 60mg from 2003-2004 Came off quickly (cold turkey) because I was pregnant. It didn't seem hard because I was pregnant (and I miscarried).
    Went back on Paxil - 60 mg - due to high anxiety in 2006 after a successful pregnancy
    2015: Fast taper - 5mg at at time from 60mg to eventual ending up with 30mg with relative ease by 2017. Trying to taper off more got too difficult.
    2021: tried again to taper off again at 5mg at a time, almost made to 5mg but was too difficult. Back up to 20mg.
    2023: Went from 20mg to 10mg but could not manage the constant anxiety. Stayed on 10mg for a full year to see if it would change, but had to go back to 20mg where I remain now.
    Every now and then my anxiety level heightens and I take 1x 0.25mg Clonazepam.
    __________________
    Quote

    “To heal is to touch with love that which was previously touched by fear.” - Stephen Levine

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