jess20: Supports needed in Australia

[jess20]

Hi all,

 

I'm currently in my 3rd attempt to wean off paxil, I've managed to get from 20mg down to 7mg with help from a psychiatrist and a compound chemist. 

 

I'm in Australia and there isn't much known about antidepressant withdrawal here. My first 2 attempts where horrific, I kept going to different GP's looking for someone that believed me and that could refer me to a psychiatrist. They all said withdrawal is flu like and should only last a couple weeks, and the psychiatrist said my depression/anxiety was just coming back (I was never diagnosed with depression and had never had suicidal and violent thoughts until I tried to come off paxil). 

 

I have managed to find 1 professional (psychiatrist) to support me in Australia but the other people that I have spoken to and have knowledge of antidepressant withdrawal and tapering all in the UK and USA which is not financially viable for me. They also don't know of anyone in Aus. 

 

I really want to hear and share about the professionals that have helped you along the way.  Eventually I hope to create a list/directory for others struggling to find support in Australia. 

 

 

 

Edited July 31 by Emonda
Name to title

[Emonda]

Welcome @jess20

 

Nice to have another Aussie on board.

 

53 minutes ago, jess20 said:

I'm currently in my 3rd attempt to wean off paxil, I've managed to get from 20mg down to 7mg with help from a psychiatrist and a compound chemist. 

 

I strongly encourage you to slow down with your taper, especially with Paxil. Why taper by 10% of my dosage? The reductions should get smaller and smaller each month, for example: 10mg, 9mg, 8.1mg, 7.3mg etc. This process involves a degree of trial and error, as there is no way of predicting how an individual will respond. Importantly, if you develop unpleasant side effects from tapering, halt the taper, give yourself time to settle, and once stable, taper more slowly and by smaller amounts moving forward. The experience of others suggests that the lower you go in dose, the slower you need to go with tapering.

 

Those that taper too quickly often develop very unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. This Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) is a helpful summary of what many experience. The point of providing this list is not to scare you but to ensure your eyes are open to the warning signs as you taper.

 

54 minutes ago, jess20 said:

I'm in Australia and there isn't much known about antidepressant withdrawal here.

I think it's a common story regardless of where you live. Incidentally, Dr Mark Horowitz was presenting in Sydney only last night. There will be a recording made available over the coming days. When I have the link, I'll post it is the Aussie section (which I note you've already found).

This website and the Maudsley Deprescribing guidelines are my sources of knowledge. 

57 minutes ago, jess20 said:

They all said withdrawal is flu like and should only last a couple weeks, and the psychiatrist said my depression/anxiety was just coming back

Spoken by someone with absolutely no idea, or personal experience.

58 minutes ago, jess20 said:

I have managed to find 1 professional (psychiatrist) to support me in Australia

What you need from a doctor is the prescription. From there, you are welcome to follow the 10% rule (or slower if your body tells you to slow down).

1 hour ago, jess20 said:

I really want to hear and share about the professionals that have helped you along the way.

For me: full credit to the owner of this site for everything she has done, her team of volunteers, and Dr Horowitz. 

1 hour ago, jess20 said:

Eventually I hope to create a list/directory for others struggling to find support in Australia. 

We have a list of recommended doctors on the site, in the tapering section. There are three listed in AUS. I have no knowledge of them.

 

Some general info now:

Emotional Spirals

 

Non-drug coping strategies

 

Melatonin for sleep

 

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.

Don't change the manufacturer of your AD.

Once again, welcome to S.A.

Emonda

[jess20]

Sorry what I meant is I've been tapering for 1 year so far (on 3rd attempt) from 20mg (1mg at a time) now currently holding on 7mg (for the past 3 months).

 

My compounding pharmacy can only do 0.25 as they don't do liquid..

 

Does anyone know of a chemist in Aus that does liquid paxil?

[Emonda]

24 minutes ago, jess20 said:

Sorry what I meant is I've been tapering for 1 year so far (on 3rd attempt) from 20mg (1mg at a time) now currently holding on 7mg (for the past 3 months).

 

Yep, understood that bit. I'd still slow down the taper...more helpful info below:

 

 

Why not have a read of LostinCanada's thread. Same drug.

 

Plenty here use a Gemini-20 scale to make their own dose. LostinCanada uses the one below as I believe it is more accurate:

 

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/275185411474

 

26 minutes ago, jess20 said:

My compounding pharmacy can only do 0.25 as they don't do liquid..

 

Depending on the tablets you have, the digital scale would help you do it yourself.

 

Or, some turn them into their own liquid and taper with a 0.5ml syringe.

 

28 minutes ago, jess20 said:

Does anyone know of a chemist in Aus that does liquid paxil?

 

I looked around for this option in AUS, and came up empty handed, so went down the DIY liquid option for myself. Just wondering, what was the cost of compounding versus the regular medication?

 

For anyone else reading this, not all medications can be crushed/turned into a liquid...so don't assume you can with yours.

 

I hope this helps.

[jess20]

Compounding costs me $69 per batch plus postage (usually $10)

[jess20]

Emonda, can you please attach a link to the list of professionals? I'm having trouble finding it

[Emonda]

Here you go, Jess20:

 

 

 

[jess20]

Can I ask, are you aware of any issues in switching from compounded capsules to liquid paxil in the middle of the taper (or where I currently am at at 7mg). I'm guessing liquid is absorbed quicker but no longer in the gut. I'm just cautious of complicating anything for myself and want to be as safe and secure as possible

[Emonda]

20 hours ago, jess20 said:

re you aware of any issues in switching from compounded capsules to liquid paxil in the middle of the taper

 

I'd have a read of the 4th post down by Gridley. Some people to have problems doing a direct switch.

 

20 hours ago, jess20 said:

I'm just cautious of complicating anything for myself and want to be as safe and secure as possible

 

Very good to be cautious 👍

[jess20]

My partner started reading about Buspirone and I’m curious to hear more about it. People on reddit are loving it, I see quite a few people are on it. I don’t think the Maudsley deprescribing guidelines is in favour of it. 

[Emonda]

Hi Jess,

There is a little bit of info on the site about tapering off that AD.

 

If you use the search function in the top right, you'll find something in the "Tapering" section.

 

 As to how it compares to other ADs 🤷‍♂️

 

 

[Sebas]

On 7/31/2024 at 6:09 AM, Emonda said:

My compounding pharmacy can only do 0.25 as they don't do liquid..

On 8/28/2024 at 4:54 AM, jess20 said:

My partner started reading about Buspirone and I’m curious to hear more about it.

 

Hi Jess 👋,

Also here for some guidance.

 

Considering you are tapering paxil do not add any other medicine or (medicinal) supplement. Big chance there will be unwanted interactions. Do not try to cover up wd symptoms, just acknowledge and work around them.

 

If possible then proceeding with current compound pil will be best from stability point of view. Any switch will cause (temporarily) side effects ramping up stability. 

 

I would advice introducing smaller cuts (0.25) around the 5 mg mark at the latest (!) so you do not exceed the 10% rate (most people need even smaller cuts at a certain point ranging from 1 to 5% or take weekly micro cuts referred to as brassmonkey slide method). Especially those like us who have been on the drug for a longlasting timeframe.

 

Whenever it becomes necessary down the road- probably at lower dose (<2.5 mg) - it will be possible to make your own liquid using your pill, water, a dark amber jar and a fridge. Or shaving your pil with the use of a gemini scale. There's enough time to search this website for more detailed info.

 

Also important to take 2 weeks dosehold after every 4 weeks taper to let cns fully recover in the background. No skipping.

 

On this website you will get the advice you need from people with lots of case experience. You need doctor primarely for prescription, 99/100 have absolutely no clue about paxil withdrawal, taper strategy or drug interactions. Take control in your own hands with advice given on this site.

 

Due to work can't reply 24-7 but will keep track.

 

Bye Sebas