Long-Term Use of Paxil / Paroxotine. TaperJourney

[Brando2052]

Hello Everyone,

 

My name is Brandon, I'm 37 years old and have been taking SSRIs since I was diagnosed with OCD at the age of 19.  Approximately 7 years ago I switched from Escitalopram to Paxi.  I started at 20 mg and eventually went up to 40 mg.

 

I tried multiple times coming off in the last few years, eventually realizing that severe panic, distress, and OCD-like symptoms were all coinciding with these drops.

 

June 22nd, 2024, I started my taper from 40mg to 30 mg.  I have gotten down to 10mg daily, however with school, work, travel, and some focused ERP work for my OCD coming up in the next couple of months, I have decided to hold at 10mg until at least February once my practicum is underway and I can settle down into a nice routine.

 

I was inspired by BrassMonkey's journey and validated in my struggles as of late.  Looking at a parabolic SERT inhibition curb, I felt discouraged at my progress as I know that 50 percent of the taper effects occur below 5mg.  Seeing how steady and slow others are pursuing this is very encouraging.

 

I am very open to any questions, comments, or advice people may have... I take a lot of supplements, am doing cold/hot exposures, regular exercise, a healthy diet, and different forms of alternative therapies.  I'm hoping these other resources will help in the process.

 

I really appreciate this community.  Mental illness can really distort reality and remembering what is the source of this distortion and knowing that I'm not alone is so important. 

 

Thank you all,

Brandon

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a volunteer-run community of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  Congratulations for getting from 40 mg to 10 mg of Paxil!  I'm very glad you found us before you continue with your taper, and that you plan to hold for a while.  This will really help your nervous system to adjust to the lower dose.  

 

Can you please give us specific information in your signature about your drug history for all drugs and supplements you are on and have been on, especially for the past 18-24 months?  Only give us drug names, dosages, and dates, as best you can remember, in a list format.  Read the link below for instructions.  

 

How to List Your Drug History in Your Signature

 

Here is some important information about how these drugs actually work.  This explains why we get symptoms from going off of these medications, and why it's so important to taper slowly and carefully, and be very cautious about changing our doses: 

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

Have you been having any symptoms since your recent taper starting in June 2024?  If so, what are they?  

 

 

Tapering is best done extremely slowly, and we generally taper by 10% of the current dose no more than once every 4 weeks, so that the reduction becomes exponentially smaller.  This is especially important as we get to the lower doses!    

 

 Why Taper by 10% of my Dosage  

 

Tips for Tapering Paxil

 

Your other option, which is even gentler, is micro tapering, which by the way Brass Monkey recommends.  You may want to do this, as you have had problems trying to taper it in the past.  

 

Micro-Taper Instead of 10 or 5 Percent Decreases

 

I suggest you switch to a liquid before you resume your tapering, and after you get through all the activities coming up, as this will make measuring the non standard doses much easier.