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Cheeky: on Paxil for 23 years needing advice


Cheeky

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Oh cheeky, I am so heartbroken for your journey, I'm crying it's so unfair and I can imagine you are terrified, it's all very well struggling with our bodies and brains when we are responsible only for ourselves, but when we have young children it adds an entire new dimension of struggle.

 

I truly am the sort of person who tends towards putting a lot of faith in the training and experience of professionals: police, doctors lawyers etc, however my personal experience has been that doctors I have seen will not accept that I am suffering symptoms of withdrawal when I have changed my doses willy nilly - instead they basically just imply that this 'you' is just the crazy you that you'd be without the lovely drugs to help normalise you. Like I mentioned I tended to believe them, but it's simply not true, and I don't understand why they chose to not recognise and support people, WD symptom is the most REAL thing I've ever experienced! When I read that you've been prescribed new drugs, instead of your doctor recognising what's really going on makes me what to shake him or her for hurting your further! I can't believe I would ever say this, but I would fully recommend you listen and follow the advice of a whole bunch of strangers on a website than this person who took a vow not to do harm.

 

Drug history

  • 20mg paxil in 2001 - 4 months use  
  • 20mg paxil in 2003 - 2 months use 
  • 20mg paxil in 2008 - 8 years continuous

Withdrawal history:

  • March 2014 - disastrous alternate day taper
  • Jan 2015 - 15mg to 10mg. Disaster
  • Sept 2015 -  10mg to 5mg. Disaster. Reinstated to 6mg. Relief
  • Oct 2015 - started slow 10% taper 
  • Oct 2016 - at 4mg- stop taking paxil (not recommended)

 

I'm not a medical professional. Seek advice from a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

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Thanks Molly for your words , if I didn't have chids it would be so much easier. I don't know what to do now. I just hope a moderator can give me some advice.

  • 1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg 2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg of Seroquel

  • Through the years made many mistakes tapering

  • Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 7.5% per month Paxil 9% Seroquel doing daily micro-taper 

  • Guided by Mark Horowitz

  • 31/3/24 Paxil 10.31mg

  • 31/3/24 Seroquel 9.9mg

  • current  11/4/24 

  • 10mg Paxil

  • 7.5mg Seroquel 

 

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Thanks Molly for your words , if I didn't have chids it would be so much easier. I don't know what to do now. I just hope a moderator can give me some advice.

I watched the brief videos Petu had posted on my thread from cepuk.org that might help to understand a little the mess we've found ourselves in xxxx

 

Drug history

  • 20mg paxil in 2001 - 4 months use  
  • 20mg paxil in 2003 - 2 months use 
  • 20mg paxil in 2008 - 8 years continuous

Withdrawal history:

  • March 2014 - disastrous alternate day taper
  • Jan 2015 - 15mg to 10mg. Disaster
  • Sept 2015 -  10mg to 5mg. Disaster. Reinstated to 6mg. Relief
  • Oct 2015 - started slow 10% taper 
  • Oct 2016 - at 4mg- stop taking paxil (not recommended)

 

I'm not a medical professional. Seek advice from a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

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Yes, it is possible for you to be experincing withdrawal from the Paxil even though you are on Zoloft. :(

2005-Zoloft bad reaction.....2006-Lexepro......2012-Upped Lexepro.......2013-Upped Lexepro......2/2014- Attempted Taper Lexepro...2/2014- Updosed Lexepro.......3/2014-Ativan.....5/2014- CT switch from Lexpro to Effexor.....

5/2014-7/2014-Tapered Ativan from 1mg to .25mg.....6/2014-Bad reaction to Effexor........7/2014- Rapid taper Effexor every other day......7/5/2014- Off Effexor.......7/2014-12/2014 - Ativan .25mg.......12/25/2014 -Taper Ativan by 4% due to paradoxical reaction .24mg...11/18/2015-Taper Ativan 1% CURRENTLY ON: .2376mg Ativan taken in 6 .0396mg doses.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

I think I'm going to keep what im doing 25mg Seraquel at night and the original 100of Zoloft for a couple of weeks then slowly reduce the Seraquel .

 

Did you ever increase back up to 50mg of Seroquel?  Its important that you pick a dose and stick to it,  every change is causing more destabilization.

 

I suggest that you hold for much longer than 2 weeks.  Think in terms of months in order to give your nervous system a chance to settle down before beginning another taper.  You have been on these drugs for a long time, almost 20 years, its going to take time for you to safely come off them without doing more harm.

 

Please read through:

 

The rule of 3KIS: Keep it simple. Keep it slow. Keep it stable.

 

Here is something our very experienced staff member Rhi posted in someone else's thread recently:

 

 A lot of people, including healthcare practitioners; in fact, I guess, most people-- are operating from entirely the wrong paradigm, or way of thinking, about these meds. They're thinking of them like aspirin--as something that has an effect when it's in your system, and then when it gets out of your system the effect goes away.

That's not what happens with medications that alter neurotransmitter function, we are learning.

 

What happens when you change the chemistry of the brain is, the brain adjusts its chemistry and structure to try to return to homeostasis, or biochemical and functional balance. It tries to restabilize the chemistry. 

 

For example: SSRI antidepressants work as "serotonin reuptake inhibitors." That is, they cause serotonin to remain in the space between neurons, rather than being taken back up into the cells to be re-used, like it would be in a normal healthy nondrugged brain.

 

So the brain, which wants to re-establish normal signaling and function, adapts to the higher level of serotonin between neurons (in the "synapse", the space between neurons where signals get passed along). It does this by removing serotonin receptors, so that the signal is reduced and changed to something closer to normal. It also decreases the amount of serotonin it produces overall. 

 

To do that, genes have to be turned on and off; new proteins have to be made; whole cascades of chemical reactions have to be changed, which means turning on and off OTHER genes; cells are destroyed, new cells are made; in other words, a complex physiologic remodeling takes place. This takes place over time. The brain does not grow and change rapidly. 

 

This is a vast oversimplification of the amount of adaptation that takes place in the brain when we change its normal chemistry, but that's the principle.

 

When we stop taking the drug, we have a brain that has designed itself so that it works in the presence of the drug; now it can't work properly without the drug because it's designed itself so that the drug is part of its chemistry and structure. It's like a plant that has grown on a trellis; you can't just yank out the trellis and expect the plant to be okay.

 

When the drug is removed, the remodeling process has to take place in reverse.

 

SO--it's not a matter of just getting the drug out of your system and moving on. If it were that simple, none of us would be here. 

 

It's a matter of, as I describe it, having to grow a new brain. 

 

I believe this growing-a-new-brain happens throughout the taper process if the taper is slow enough. (If it's too fast, then there's not a lot of time for actually rebalancing things, and basically the brain is just pedaling fast trying to keep us alive.) It also continues to happen, probably for longer than the symptoms actually last, throughout the time of recovery after we are completely off the drug, which is why recovery takes so long. 

 

With multiple drugs and a history of drug changes and cold turkeys, all of this becomes even more complicated. And if a person is started on these kinds of drugs at an early age before the brain has ever completely established normal mature functioning--well, it can't be good. (All of which is why I recommend an extremely slow taper particularly to anyone with a multiple drug history, a history of many years on meds, a history of past cold turkeys or frequent med changes, and a history of being put on drugs at a young age.)

 

This isn't intended to scare people, but hopefully to give you some idea of what's happening, and to help you respect and understand the process so you can work with it; ALSO, because you are likely to encounter many, many people who still believe these drugs work kind of like aspirin, or a glass of wine, and all you need to do is stop and get it out of your system. 

 

Now you can explain to them that no, getting it out of your system is not the issue; the issue is, you need to regrow or at least remodel your brain. This is a long, slow, very poorly understood process, and it needs to be respected.

I'm not a doctor.  My comments are not medical advise. These are my opinions based on my own experience and what I've learned. Please discuss your situation with a medical practitioner who has knowledge of tapering and withdrawal...if you are lucky enough to find one.

My Introduction Thread

Full Drug and Withdrawal History

Brief Summary

Several SSRIs for 13 years starting 1997 (for mild to moderate partly situational anxiety) Xanax PRN ~ Various other drugs over the years for side effects

2 month 'taper' off Lexapro 2010

Short acute withdrawal, followed by 2 -3 months of improvement then delayed protracted withdrawal

DX ADHD followed by several years of stimulants and other drugs trying to manage increasing symptoms

Failed reinstatement of Lexapro and trial of Prozac (became suicidal)

May 2013 Found SA, learned about withdrawal, stopped taking drugs...healing begins.

Protracted withdrawal, with a very sensitized nervous system, slowly recovering as time passes

Supplements which have helped: Vitamin C, Magnesium, Taurine

Bad reactions: Many supplements but mostly fish oil and Vitamin D

June 2016 - Started daily juicing, mostly vegetables and lots of greens.

Aug 2016 - Oct 2016 Best window ever, felt almost completely recovered

Oct 2016 -Symptoms returned - bad days and less bad days.

April 2018 - No windows, but significant improvement, it feels like permanent full recovery is close.

VIDEO: Where did the chemical imbalance theory come from?



VIDEO: How are psychiatric diagnoses made?



VIDEO: Why do psychiatric drugs have withdrawal syndromes?



VIDEO: Can psychiatric drugs cause long-lasting negative effects?

VIDEO: Dr. Claire Weekes

 

 

 

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Oh wow Petu and Rhi.   The above (I've got Internet Explorer and Quote doesn't often work), post was awesome!   I did know it, but reading it aloud to myself really hit home for me and consolidated my decision to taper much slower in the low doses.  

 

Cheeky - we are sooo lucky to have found this site and these people yes?  :)

Put on Prothiaden for severe depression in 1989.  Recovered.   Prescribed Paxil for another bout of depression around 2000.   Have been trying to taper ever since but always crash about 2 months after getting to zero.   Because of the crashes, for years I thought that there was something wrong with me.   Then found that the crashes were simply withdrawal.   Now following a maximum of a 10% reduction every month or so and ready to slow down any time I feel any symptoms whatsoever.  Feeling good:).

7th Jan 15 - 3.6mg

28th Jan 15 - 3.2mg

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I have decided to up my Seraquel by 25mg and my Zoloft to 125mg just to try to get through this and sabilize. I'm not going back to Paxil as my GP told me it was too dangerous and wouldn't give it to me . So if I can just ride out these withdrawals , once there over I can taper of my Zoloft,

What do you think ?

I really need your advice someone please.

  • 1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg 2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg of Seroquel

  • Through the years made many mistakes tapering

  • Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 7.5% per month Paxil 9% Seroquel doing daily micro-taper 

  • Guided by Mark Horowitz

  • 31/3/24 Paxil 10.31mg

  • 31/3/24 Seroquel 9.9mg

  • current  11/4/24 

  • 10mg Paxil

  • 7.5mg Seroquel 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Cheeky, I wouldn't go up with the zoloft right now, you started to feel worse after cutting the seroquel to 25mg,

so I would go back to 50mg and hold there until you are stable. Hopefully it will not be too long. I am sorry you are

going through all this and sorry that your doctor doesn't understand anything about the drugs he is prescribing. Sadly

not many doctors know anything about them.  :( .  Keep your doses stable and take them at the same time every day.

I hope you feel better soon. 

**I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge.

 

 

Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem)

1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat

2002  effexor. 

Tapered  March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads.

Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg  

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. 

 

My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33

 

Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible

 

 

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Cheeky,

 

I suggest you reinstate back to 50mg of seroquel and then hold everything else just as it is at the moment. 

 

Here is some information about reinstatement please read though it carefully so then you will know what to expect. 

 

http://survivinganti...rawal-symptoms/

 

Take the same dose of your medications at the same time every day and wait until you stabilize.  It may take several weeks, or possibly several months.  But when you have stabilized, you can begin a proper, slow taper.  The more changes you keep making, the more unstable your nervous system is going to become.

 

Here is the link to our symptoms and self care section, you may find some useful ideas to help manage symptoms as you wait to stabilize.  Especially read the topics pinned at the top.

 

If you're not having an adverse reaction from the other medications, taper the most activating drug first. This is usually an antidepressant, see:

 

Taking multiple psych drugs? Taper the antidepressant first!

 

 

When you are ready you can start a safe taper off Zoloft, here are our tips for tapering off it:

 

Tips for tapering off Zoloft (sertraline)

http://survivinganti...oft-sertraline/

 

Try not to worry, you will start to feel better, its just going to take some time for things to settle down again.

 

Petu.

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/7562-about-reinstating-and-stabilizing-to-stop-withdrawal-symptoms/

link says sorry we could not find that... 

This has happened a lot to me this wk

WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG
Had a car accident in 85
Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89
Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year
Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above.
One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking.

As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/

There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in :)

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Welcome Cheeky I just wanted to say and hope you get some relief soon

peace. 

WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG
Had a car accident in 85
Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89
Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year
Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above.
One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking.

As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/

There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in :)

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Thankyou everyone , I'm just going to hang in there , I will keep you updated.

Thankyou for all your support , I haven't meet you in person

But feel like I've made wonderful friends .

Sending you all my love xxxx

  • 1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg 2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg of Seroquel

  • Through the years made many mistakes tapering

  • Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 7.5% per month Paxil 9% Seroquel doing daily micro-taper 

  • Guided by Mark Horowitz

  • 31/3/24 Paxil 10.31mg

  • 31/3/24 Seroquel 9.9mg

  • current  11/4/24 

  • 10mg Paxil

  • 7.5mg Seroquel 

 

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  • Mentor

Hi Cheeky, yes indeed you can have withdrawals from one drug, while on another.  I had effexor withdrawals for two years, while on Zoloft. The effexor is the worst to give up....... However, the zoloft blunted it all, so it was manageable.  I would recommend you stay on 100mg Zoloft, 50mg Seroquol, and hang in there for two weeks. I personally find the zoloft takes a couple of weeks to work. I have just reinstated, and I hope it works.  

 

When you are feeling better, there are some wonderful links here.

 

I am not eating, not even bothering to drink water when I am thirsty, I am sleeping OK.  But it is just day three of reinstating for me, I will write again on Monday. 

 

The doc wanted to put me on a different drug, but I have been on so many, and have had severe immediate reactions to some, I didnt want to risk it.

1992 Dothiepin 375mg 8 weeks, exhaustion/depression.  Serotonin syndrome, oh yes!  seizures . Fell pregnant, 3rd baby, Nitrous Oxide, 3 weeks mental hospital pp psychosis. zoloft tegretol.

Feb 1996 ct tegretol, tapered Zoloft 8 weeks. as (unexpectedly)  pregnant. Steven died after 3 days.(Zolft HLHS baby).  98 had run in with Paxil, 2 tablets, 3 weeks taper, survived.
2005..menopause? exhausted again. Zyprexa, mad in three days, fallout....  Seroquel, Effexor, tegretol,   and 8 years of self destruction. Failed taper.
Damn 1/4 valium... nuts again! .fallout, zoloft 100mg  seroquol 400mg mirtazapine 45 mg  tegretol 400mg.  Mid 14 3 month taper. Nov 14 CRASH.
Mid 15 ....   75mg  seroquel,  3 x 1800mg SJW  2 week window end of December followed by 6 week wave
5/2 68mg seroquel, 2.5 x 1800mg SJW::::20/2 61mg seroquel, 2.5 x  SJW::: 26/2 54mg seroquel, 2 x SJW::::21/3 43mg seroquel, 1 x 2700SJW :::: 23/4 36mg seroquel 1 x 1800 SJW
15/5 33mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::   28/5 30mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::;  18/6 25mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::::, 11/7 21mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::, 26/7 18mg seroquel 1/2 SJW:::, 9/8 12mg seroquel :::, 16/8 6mg seroquel ;;;;, 12/9 0 jump.

23/9  3mg.....,  27/9 0mg.  Reinstated, 6mg, then 12mg.............  LIGHTBULB MOMENT,  I have  MTHFR 2x mutations.  CFS and issues with MOULD in my home. So I left home, and working 150km away during week, loving it.

Oh was hard, panic attacks first week, gone now, along with the mould issues.

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Thanks Ang for your advice .

Hang in there too, it can take up to 6 weeks

to feel better. I'm only 38 and have take these drugs for 20 years, it's crazy.

I'm too young for this , especially with 2 children.

Keep us updated Ang so we can help you out.

  • 1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg 2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg of Seroquel

  • Through the years made many mistakes tapering

  • Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 7.5% per month Paxil 9% Seroquel doing daily micro-taper 

  • Guided by Mark Horowitz

  • 31/3/24 Paxil 10.31mg

  • 31/3/24 Seroquel 9.9mg

  • current  11/4/24 

  • 10mg Paxil

  • 7.5mg Seroquel 

 

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  • Mentor

And my advice, DONT fall pregnant on zoloft.  It causes devastating heart defects.  I know, it happened to my baby. It is written in the information now.   I am 55.  I started my spiral down journey 10 years ago.  I should have known better, as I had managed to kick the things before, had been off them for 8 years I think.  A gp gave me a script for Aropax, which is paxil I believe, as I was tired and skinny.  Sent me crazy, then the polydrugging begins again.  One drug to mask the effects of the others.

 

I stayed in bed all day, today, just got up and it is 4.30pm here. Not sleeping, just being, I guess.  My son has gone camping, luckily he gets a break from me  :)  I am hoping the all day in bed thing was a good sign, I havent been able to do that for weeks,  it is either zonked out on seroquol to sleep, or out of bed (the anxiety was just too horrific to stay there), but when up and about, totally chronic fatigue like..

 

Dont be too worried about the seroquol, in the doses we are on it is a sedative,  only at higher doses does it become an antipsychotic,  It freaked me out when I got put on that, as the box says for schizophrenia and stuff like that.  But that is only at high doses.  BEWARE OF THE DIFFERENCE IN DOSAGES of many drugs. Just because the package says maximum dose is:   and gps are very unaware of this, low doses are for one problem, high doses for a different problem.

 

Dont be too quick to panic, and go on higher and higher doses of Zoloft, with these horrible drugs more is not always better.  Will write tomorrow.  Do you have someone to help with the kids?  Nothing worse than the guilt from not doing that as well as we wish.....   In WD I feel so guilty about everything.   At least today my brain seems to have slowed down a bit.

1992 Dothiepin 375mg 8 weeks, exhaustion/depression.  Serotonin syndrome, oh yes!  seizures . Fell pregnant, 3rd baby, Nitrous Oxide, 3 weeks mental hospital pp psychosis. zoloft tegretol.

Feb 1996 ct tegretol, tapered Zoloft 8 weeks. as (unexpectedly)  pregnant. Steven died after 3 days.(Zolft HLHS baby).  98 had run in with Paxil, 2 tablets, 3 weeks taper, survived.
2005..menopause? exhausted again. Zyprexa, mad in three days, fallout....  Seroquel, Effexor, tegretol,   and 8 years of self destruction. Failed taper.
Damn 1/4 valium... nuts again! .fallout, zoloft 100mg  seroquol 400mg mirtazapine 45 mg  tegretol 400mg.  Mid 14 3 month taper. Nov 14 CRASH.
Mid 15 ....   75mg  seroquel,  3 x 1800mg SJW  2 week window end of December followed by 6 week wave
5/2 68mg seroquel, 2.5 x 1800mg SJW::::20/2 61mg seroquel, 2.5 x  SJW::: 26/2 54mg seroquel, 2 x SJW::::21/3 43mg seroquel, 1 x 2700SJW :::: 23/4 36mg seroquel 1 x 1800 SJW
15/5 33mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::   28/5 30mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::;  18/6 25mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::::, 11/7 21mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::, 26/7 18mg seroquel 1/2 SJW:::, 9/8 12mg seroquel :::, 16/8 6mg seroquel ;;;;, 12/9 0 jump.

23/9  3mg.....,  27/9 0mg.  Reinstated, 6mg, then 12mg.............  LIGHTBULB MOMENT,  I have  MTHFR 2x mutations.  CFS and issues with MOULD in my home. So I left home, and working 150km away during week, loving it.

Oh was hard, panic attacks first week, gone now, along with the mould issues.

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I am defiantly not falling pregnant , it would be crazy . I just hope I see light at the end of tunnel ,

  • 1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg 2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg of Seroquel

  • Through the years made many mistakes tapering

  • Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 7.5% per month Paxil 9% Seroquel doing daily micro-taper 

  • Guided by Mark Horowitz

  • 31/3/24 Paxil 10.31mg

  • 31/3/24 Seroquel 9.9mg

  • current  11/4/24 

  • 10mg Paxil

  • 7.5mg Seroquel 

 

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I don't know what to do , I just spoke to a man named Joseph
Atman , who is from Brisbane Australia . He has worked
In mental Health from13 years and has seen a lot of withdrawals cases. He has argued a lot with physiatrist's in antidepressant abuse .
He said he can help me out and get me off all my meds in 3 months with nutrition and other things he dose.
He also follows Peter breggin , a psychiatrist who has written alot of books about the dangers of these drugs.
I just don't know what to do, I feel helpless , I just want to stablize on the 125mg of Zoloft and 50mg of seraquel and when I feel better , then take my next step
.I just Neef to know how long does these Withdrawel symptoms last as everyday now I feel like it's s struggle to face my day . I have two amazing children that need me to be here for them, but at the moment all I think about is how awful
I'm feeling. My family don't believe in withdrawal and think I need to see the psychartrist again.
What do you think would be wise to do. Stay on what I'm on and when the the withdrawal
Finished then think about coming of the Zoloft and Seraquel or going back on paxil.

I just dont now what to do .

  • 1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg 2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg of Seroquel

  • Through the years made many mistakes tapering

  • Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 7.5% per month Paxil 9% Seroquel doing daily micro-taper 

  • Guided by Mark Horowitz

  • 31/3/24 Paxil 10.31mg

  • 31/3/24 Seroquel 9.9mg

  • current  11/4/24 

  • 10mg Paxil

  • 7.5mg Seroquel 

 

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  • Moderator

How much does he want to charge you?

20 years on Paxil starting at 20mg and working up to 40mg. Sept 2011 started 10% every 6 weeks taper (2.5% every week for 4 weeks then hold for 2 additional weeks), currently at 7.9mg. Oct 2011 CTed 15oz vodka a night, to only drinking 2 beers most nights, totally sober Feb 2013.

Since I wrote this I have continued to decrease my dose by 10% every 6 weeks (2.5% every week for 4 weeks and then hold for an additional 2 weeks). I added in an extra 6 week hold when I hit 10mg to let things settle out even more. When I hit 3mgpw it became hard to split the drop into 4 parts so I switched to dropping 1mgpw (pill weight) every week for 3 weeks and then holding for another 3 weeks.  The 3 + 3 schedule turned out to be too harsh so I cut back to dropping 1mgpw every 4 weeks which is working better.

Final Dose 0.016mg.     Current dose 0.000mg 04-15-2017

 

"It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can loose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general."  Stephen Hawking

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not sure yet

  • 1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg 2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg of Seroquel

  • Through the years made many mistakes tapering

  • Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 7.5% per month Paxil 9% Seroquel doing daily micro-taper 

  • Guided by Mark Horowitz

  • 31/3/24 Paxil 10.31mg

  • 31/3/24 Seroquel 9.9mg

  • current  11/4/24 

  • 10mg Paxil

  • 7.5mg Seroquel 

 

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  • Moderator

Just be careful, there are a lot of scams out there and I'd hate to see you caught in one.  From what I have seen any place making claims like this can't live up to them, but that's just my experience.

20 years on Paxil starting at 20mg and working up to 40mg. Sept 2011 started 10% every 6 weeks taper (2.5% every week for 4 weeks then hold for 2 additional weeks), currently at 7.9mg. Oct 2011 CTed 15oz vodka a night, to only drinking 2 beers most nights, totally sober Feb 2013.

Since I wrote this I have continued to decrease my dose by 10% every 6 weeks (2.5% every week for 4 weeks and then hold for an additional 2 weeks). I added in an extra 6 week hold when I hit 10mg to let things settle out even more. When I hit 3mgpw it became hard to split the drop into 4 parts so I switched to dropping 1mgpw (pill weight) every week for 3 weeks and then holding for another 3 weeks.  The 3 + 3 schedule turned out to be too harsh so I cut back to dropping 1mgpw every 4 weeks which is working better.

Final Dose 0.016mg.     Current dose 0.000mg 04-15-2017

 

"It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can loose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general."  Stephen Hawking

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Just be careful, there are a lot of scams out there and I'd hate to see you caught in one.  From what I have seen any place making claims like this can't live up to them, but that's just my experience.

 

Agreed. Those nutrition things are scams. There is a person here (he was Bruno on PP, not sure if that is his name here) who paid thousands of dollars to a "clinic" who promised the same thing and he still went through a long WD. He is doing better now I think. If there was a quick fix to withdrawal we would know about it. Time is the only healer.

a.k.a JMarie

Paxil since Mar.1998

2006-2007:40-20mg
2009: 20mg to 14mg 2010: 14mg to 10.5mg 2011: 10.5 to 7.6mg  2012: 7.5 to 6.8mg

2013: 6.7-6.3mg 2014: 6.2mg-5.8mg 2015: 5.7 to 5.15mg 2016: 5.1-4.6mg

1/19/17: 4.5mg 3/17/17: 4.4mg

6/15/17: 4.35mg 8/10/17: 4.3mg

1/29/18: 4.1mg 5/07/18: 4.0mg

7/31/18: 3.9mg

 

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How long is this Withdrawel going to take, I'm just so scared and I'm not functioning very well.

 

I went on dr David Healy website and you can now get a consultation with one of his medical staff through Skype .

I hour consultation is $350 Australian dollars and then $500 for a program made for you. He is very good and has a lot of books out.

What do you think?

  • 1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg 2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg of Seroquel

  • Through the years made many mistakes tapering

  • Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 7.5% per month Paxil 9% Seroquel doing daily micro-taper 

  • Guided by Mark Horowitz

  • 31/3/24 Paxil 10.31mg

  • 31/3/24 Seroquel 9.9mg

  • current  11/4/24 

  • 10mg Paxil

  • 7.5mg Seroquel 

 

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Hi, Cheeky! Haven't read your whole thread yet, but sounds like you have quite a history. I've spoken with you on the FB Zoloft board! Just wanted to stop by and say hello and let you know who I am on here!

 

I've heard of Dr. David Healy, but don't know anything about him. Is he in Australia or in the States? I'll have to check it out!

 

I'll try to read more of your thread soon! Just wanted to touch base with you on here. Best Wishes!

Zoloft 100 mg. daily for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome since Oct. 1994 / Synthroid 88 mcg. daily / Supplements: Neptune Krill Oil-1,000 mg. twice daily/Astaxanthin 10 mg. twice daily/Ubiquinol 100 mg. twice daily (These 3 have allowed me to discontinue (approved by doctor) bp meds I was on. Calcium Citrate 500 mg. daily/Vitamin D3 2,400 iu daily/K2 (MK7) 100 mcg daily (osteopenia and fam. hist. of severe osteoporosis). Stress B Complex (1/2 dose)/Quercetin (for allergies/asthma)/Magnesium (400 mg. oral glycinate and about 50 mg. magnesium chloride spray oil a day, divided throughout day).

Tapered Zoloft about 6 wks. Totally off since the end of July (25-29, 2014). 3 wks. vertigo at end of taper, then 3-4 wks. OK, followed by withdrawal symptoms increasing in severity (nausea, gastric disturbances, loss of appetite, insomnia, restlessness, jitters, anxiety, agitation--jumping out of my skin--possible akathisia?) Seem to have paradoxical reactions to everything new, even Vitamin C. Severity of akathisia comes and goes, but is constant to some degree. Hard to leave house, and cannot be home alone. (Retired)

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Is there any way you can possibly get back on Paxil?  IMO you are definitely feeling Paxil withdrawal; you were on it for almost 20 years, and have been off of it a few weeks.  The Zoloft is not going to cover the Paxil withdrawal.  Even if Paxil had stopped working for you, your body is used to it and still wanting that dose.  If your doctor won't work with you on this, could you switch to a different one?

Paxil 20mg 1994-2005
Tried to quit twice, finally did it on my 3rd attempt in 2005.

I went from 20mg to zero in about four months, believing at the time that it was a reasonable taper.  It wasn't.  I suffered mostly emotional symptoms: frequent episodes of "anxious depression" lasting for about 17 months before it got noticeably better.

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I've been of Paxil for 3 months today babs so reinstatement I don't think I cdn do . I just need to know

How long this Withdrawel will be and how csn I manage it.

  • 1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg 2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg of Seroquel

  • Through the years made many mistakes tapering

  • Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 7.5% per month Paxil 9% Seroquel doing daily micro-taper 

  • Guided by Mark Horowitz

  • 31/3/24 Paxil 10.31mg

  • 31/3/24 Seroquel 9.9mg

  • current  11/4/24 

  • 10mg Paxil

  • 7.5mg Seroquel 

 

Link to comment

Three months actually isn't that far out, if you wanted to reinstate.  Depending on circumstances I've recommended reinstatement as late as six months or more.  But, it's always a gamble and there's no guarantee it would work.  I just think doing a virtual cold turkey after nearly 20 years on a med is really hard on the brain, and maybe it's worth a try.

 

 If you can't or choose not to reinstate, then as others have said your best bet is to stay where you are for a while and try to stabilize on the Zoloft.  It's impossible to answer the question "how long will this last?"  It could be quite a while. 

Paxil 20mg 1994-2005
Tried to quit twice, finally did it on my 3rd attempt in 2005.

I went from 20mg to zero in about four months, believing at the time that it was a reasonable taper.  It wasn't.  I suffered mostly emotional symptoms: frequent episodes of "anxious depression" lasting for about 17 months before it got noticeably better.

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i dont want to risk it, I will try to stablize on zoloft and when i feel better then to start to taper of zoloft. i just have to keep strong for my kids, i just feel so mentally weak.

  • 1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg 2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg of Seroquel

  • Through the years made many mistakes tapering

  • Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 7.5% per month Paxil 9% Seroquel doing daily micro-taper 

  • Guided by Mark Horowitz

  • 31/3/24 Paxil 10.31mg

  • 31/3/24 Seroquel 9.9mg

  • current  11/4/24 

  • 10mg Paxil

  • 7.5mg Seroquel 

 

Link to comment

I'm going to ask the doctor to go back on Paxil, because my body obviously needs it.

But I'm not sure how to do it.

  • 1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg 2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg of Seroquel

  • Through the years made many mistakes tapering

  • Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 7.5% per month Paxil 9% Seroquel doing daily micro-taper 

  • Guided by Mark Horowitz

  • 31/3/24 Paxil 10.31mg

  • 31/3/24 Seroquel 9.9mg

  • current  11/4/24 

  • 10mg Paxil

  • 7.5mg Seroquel 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Cheeky, if you keep jumping around between different drugs and different doses, your nervous system is not going to be able to stabilize.  You need to pick a dose and stick with it.  Take the same amount at the same time every day.  Keep notes on paper of your symptoms, rate them so that you can see if they are decreasing.  Give it at least a month, before deciding if its helping.  You may need several months before being stable enough to start tapering again.

 

If you switch back to Paxil, there's no guarantee that you will feel any better than you do now, it will be yet another change that your nervous system will have to adjust to.  If you were not already trying to stabilize on Zoloft, I might recommend trying to reinstate a small amount paxil, but continually making changes causes more and more chaos to an already struggling nervous system.

 

Please read through this:

 

The rule of 3KIS: Keep it simple. Keep it slow. Keep it stable.

I'm not a doctor.  My comments are not medical advise. These are my opinions based on my own experience and what I've learned. Please discuss your situation with a medical practitioner who has knowledge of tapering and withdrawal...if you are lucky enough to find one.

My Introduction Thread

Full Drug and Withdrawal History

Brief Summary

Several SSRIs for 13 years starting 1997 (for mild to moderate partly situational anxiety) Xanax PRN ~ Various other drugs over the years for side effects

2 month 'taper' off Lexapro 2010

Short acute withdrawal, followed by 2 -3 months of improvement then delayed protracted withdrawal

DX ADHD followed by several years of stimulants and other drugs trying to manage increasing symptoms

Failed reinstatement of Lexapro and trial of Prozac (became suicidal)

May 2013 Found SA, learned about withdrawal, stopped taking drugs...healing begins.

Protracted withdrawal, with a very sensitized nervous system, slowly recovering as time passes

Supplements which have helped: Vitamin C, Magnesium, Taurine

Bad reactions: Many supplements but mostly fish oil and Vitamin D

June 2016 - Started daily juicing, mostly vegetables and lots of greens.

Aug 2016 - Oct 2016 Best window ever, felt almost completely recovered

Oct 2016 -Symptoms returned - bad days and less bad days.

April 2018 - No windows, but significant improvement, it feels like permanent full recovery is close.

VIDEO: Where did the chemical imbalance theory come from?



VIDEO: How are psychiatric diagnoses made?



VIDEO: Why do psychiatric drugs have withdrawal syndromes?



VIDEO: Can psychiatric drugs cause long-lasting negative effects?

VIDEO: Dr. Claire Weekes

 

 

 

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I understand what you are saying But I can't live like this , I'm at a very dark place and I know when I was on Paxil and Seraquel I was alright. This Zoloft had been 6 weeks and I'm getting worse. I feel I should go to hospital but I dont

Want them to put me on anything else.

  • 1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg 2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg of Seroquel

  • Through the years made many mistakes tapering

  • Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 7.5% per month Paxil 9% Seroquel doing daily micro-taper 

  • Guided by Mark Horowitz

  • 31/3/24 Paxil 10.31mg

  • 31/3/24 Seroquel 9.9mg

  • current  11/4/24 

  • 10mg Paxil

  • 7.5mg Seroquel 

 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

You may have been taking Zoloft for 6 weeks, but you haven't been on a consistent dose for 6 weeks. You started at 50mg then 4 days later changed to 75mg.  Then went up to 100mg and a few days ago went up again to 125mg.

 

When did you begin to feel worse? Did you feel better on 50mg?

I'm not a doctor.  My comments are not medical advise. These are my opinions based on my own experience and what I've learned. Please discuss your situation with a medical practitioner who has knowledge of tapering and withdrawal...if you are lucky enough to find one.

My Introduction Thread

Full Drug and Withdrawal History

Brief Summary

Several SSRIs for 13 years starting 1997 (for mild to moderate partly situational anxiety) Xanax PRN ~ Various other drugs over the years for side effects

2 month 'taper' off Lexapro 2010

Short acute withdrawal, followed by 2 -3 months of improvement then delayed protracted withdrawal

DX ADHD followed by several years of stimulants and other drugs trying to manage increasing symptoms

Failed reinstatement of Lexapro and trial of Prozac (became suicidal)

May 2013 Found SA, learned about withdrawal, stopped taking drugs...healing begins.

Protracted withdrawal, with a very sensitized nervous system, slowly recovering as time passes

Supplements which have helped: Vitamin C, Magnesium, Taurine

Bad reactions: Many supplements but mostly fish oil and Vitamin D

June 2016 - Started daily juicing, mostly vegetables and lots of greens.

Aug 2016 - Oct 2016 Best window ever, felt almost completely recovered

Oct 2016 -Symptoms returned - bad days and less bad days.

April 2018 - No windows, but significant improvement, it feels like permanent full recovery is close.

VIDEO: Where did the chemical imbalance theory come from?



VIDEO: How are psychiatric diagnoses made?



VIDEO: Why do psychiatric drugs have withdrawal syndromes?



VIDEO: Can psychiatric drugs cause long-lasting negative effects?

VIDEO: Dr. Claire Weekes

 

 

 

Link to comment

I felt better 2 weeks ago being on 100mg and 50 mg of Seraquel . I started not feeling good since I took half of the Seraquel .

Its been 3 days since I increaed the Seraquel to 50mg and went up to 125mg of Zoloft .

  • 1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg 2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg of Seroquel

  • Through the years made many mistakes tapering

  • Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 7.5% per month Paxil 9% Seroquel doing daily micro-taper 

  • Guided by Mark Horowitz

  • 31/3/24 Paxil 10.31mg

  • 31/3/24 Seroquel 9.9mg

  • current  11/4/24 

  • 10mg Paxil

  • 7.5mg Seroquel 

 

Link to comment

I would start with 10mg of Paxil to see if that gives you any relief.  I disagree that because you are now on Zoloft, that is the drug you must now stabilize on.   You have been on it for such a short time, and you were on Paxil for such a long time, that to me it makes more sense to go back to Paxil even if that involves another, potentially unsettling, change.  I think in the long run that will work out better.  However I wouldn't spend any more time deciding; the longer you are on zoloft the more you are adapting to that drug.  You are going to survive this no matter which route you choose, you just might have a bumpy road for a while.

Paxil 20mg 1994-2005
Tried to quit twice, finally did it on my 3rd attempt in 2005.

I went from 20mg to zero in about four months, believing at the time that it was a reasonable taper.  It wasn't.  I suffered mostly emotional symptoms: frequent episodes of "anxious depression" lasting for about 17 months before it got noticeably better.

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I reinstated 2 times with paxil and i was off both times for almost a year...you need to get back on and then stabilize....as paxil withdrawal is a nightmare..so like babs said since you were on paxil for such a long time it makes snese to go back on that...stablilize and then at some point do a slow taper..

Michele aka MapleLeafGirl

Paxil Free Since June 1st 2014

Was on Paxil for 8.5 years on and off from 2001

Did a 4 year successful taper off 20mgs of Paxil

My Successful Tapering Story: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/7812-mapleleafgirl-successfully-tapered-off-paxil/

Tapering Schedule:

3rd attempt at withdrawal going slow..compounded pills
05/27/2010 - 03/12/12: Tapered From 20mgs - 6.2 (2nd year into Taper)
04/11/2012 - 6.0 - 3.4 - 05/05/2013 (Third year into Taper)
06/04/2013 - 3.2 - 1.0 - 05/31/2014 (Fouth and Final Year of Taper)

February 9th 2016 month 20 off paxil and four year taper..experiencing a horrible wave bad bad bad

May 2016 Made the decision to go back on an SSRI  - Currently on Escitalopram 10mgs but planning to taper at some point in the near future

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  • Moderator Emeritus

I felt better 2 weeks ago being on 100mg and 50 mg of Seraquel . I started not feeling good since I took half of the Seraquel .

Its been 3 days since I increaed the Seraquel to 50mg and went up to 125mg of Zoloft .

It would have been better to just go back to the 50mg of seroquel  instead of upping the zoloft too.  I agree with Petu that 

you need to stabilise and you were already showing signs of stabilisation before cutting the seroquel.  It may have been

only weeks since starting them but that is long enough for the brain to get used to it. All the changes are not good for your

the nervous system, which needs stability. I am sorry but We at SA do not agree that going back on paxil now is the answer

when things are so volatile, it is another change that could slow down your recovery. 

 

Edited to add that I feel it was not a good move for a doctor to switch to cymbalta, then zoloft. I wish doctors would start

to acknowledge withdrawal so all this could be avoided. 

**I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge.

 

 

Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem)

1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat

2002  effexor. 

Tapered  March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads.

Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg  

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. 

 

My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33

 

Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible

 

 

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Just be careful, there are a lot of scams out there and I'd hate to see you caught in one. From what I have seen any place making claims like this can't live up to them, but that's just my experience.

Agreed. Those nutrition things are scams. There is a person here (he was Bruno on PP, not sure if that is his name here) who paid thousands of dollars to a "clinic" who promised the same thing and he still went through a long WD. He is doing better now I think. If there was a quick fix to withdrawal we would know about it. Time is the only healer.

Shiloh also used one of those nutrition programs and still had protracted WD for years after. Id suggest not to take that kind of advice. Anyone who says you can get off these meds in 3 meds obviously has NO clue about the repercussions!!

13 years of Ssri's - celexa, Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft

2 fast tapers and 2 cold turkeys over the years

Psych med free since September 4th 2011 - fast tapered then CT'd 12.5 mg of Zoloft

 

 

“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”

― Mahatma Gandhi

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I would start with 10mg of Paxil to see if that gives you any relief. I disagree that because you are now on Zoloft, that is the drug you must now stabilize on. You have been on it for such a short time, and you were on Paxil for such a long time, that to me it makes more sense to go back to Paxil even if that involves another, potentially unsettling, change. I think in the long run that will work out better. However I wouldn't spend any more time deciding; the longer you are on zoloft the more you are adapting to that drug. You are going to survive this no matter which route you choose, you just might have a bumpy road for a while.

Cheeky, OMG. I'm so sorry this is happening to you. I can empathize with the fear and frustration of who to believe, who's advice to take and how horrible it is to feel like you cannot even rely on a doctor to properly help you with this.

Id like to add my opinion here as I am also someone who was on Ssri's for 13 years. Paxil being the longest and Zoloft being the last one. I began to poop out on PAXIL back in 2010. My doctor decided to straight switch me over to Zoloft and all hell broke loose for me. We began playing with my doses with Zoloft as I was getting worse and worse. NOTHING worked. They tried to also add seriquil into the mix for me but luckily I refused it. I was already in such a paranoid anxiety ridden horror show. I remember how hopeless it all felt and I was terrified Id never get out of the mess. my doc kept raising my Zoloft dose more the worse I felt. I finally made the call myself and told her she is wrong. The higher doses were making me more crazy. From there i resigned to a taper. I was not going to keep upping my dose. It does more and more harm that way. I felt like **** no matter what and knew I was in for the long haul no matter what. Unfortunately I didn't know of any of these support sites so I wasn't aware that a slow taper does the trick. I reduced from 75mg of Zoloft to 12.5 mg in one month. I then held the 12.5 mg for 4 months then dropped it. This was all wrong I should have tapered very slowly over time. I can tell you though I felt relief with each drop. This did come back to bite me because I didn't give my brain enough time to adjust to the lower doses. Cheeky, I suffered like you are now for an entire year before I came off the Zoloft. Staying on the new drug did not do the trick and it nearly killed me for a year. I truly believe that was because I ct'd the PAXIL I was on for YEARS. at the point you ct you've put your brain into such chaos that it may never adjust to another med. A couple of years before that I ct'd PAXIL and hit protracted WD 4 months later. I ri'd to PAXIL and it was still hell for 3 months but I stablized. It didn't work being in Zoloft. I wait a year. ( a whole year I could have used to switch back to PAXIL and taper)

If I could go back and do it over in my honest opinion and after my experience I would have RI'd the PAXIL and threw the other stuff away. It still would take months to stablize but you need to commit to the time it takes and give your brain the time to adjust and heal. Adding other drugs into the mix can truly make things worse. ( which is what your docs have now done) There is no quick fix at this time. You need to think about what the route of least resistance will be going forward. The longer you stay on Z and seriquil the more dependant your brain will now become to those and you'll still be I. PAXIL wd. You haven't been on those meds for that long. I don't agree that because you're on them now you need to stay on them. I know this site is different but I've seen people on PP go back to the original med and off the newly prescribed stuff and restablize.

Either way whichever route you choose for yourself my advice to you is to commit in your mind to the time it takes to stablize ( it could take a very long time) and not to up ANY dose of anything. Stay in the lowest amount possible. There is no quick fix. I'm terribly sorry you're in this predicament. Just know that many of us have been right there and here willing to help you get through this.

You're in my prayers Cheeky!!

13 years of Ssri's - celexa, Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft

2 fast tapers and 2 cold turkeys over the years

Psych med free since September 4th 2011 - fast tapered then CT'd 12.5 mg of Zoloft

 

 

“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”

― Mahatma Gandhi

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