Moderator brassmonkey Posted May 19, 2015 Moderator Share Posted May 19, 2015 That's the problem with waves, they spoil a perfectly good window. With luck it should pass fairly quickly. Just keep thinking about your trip and the wave won't stand a chance. 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 Link to comment
aberdeen Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 Hi Chantingjo. I was sorry to read about your crappy circumstances lately. Nice to see you here though! I just caught up and wanted to reassure you that Im pretty sure this is just a wave. You have encouraged me with your experience trying to RI 1mg and having issues. I find my taper (I am now at 1.1mg) has had some rough patches lately and sometimes im tempted to jump off thinking that anything below 1.5mg is hardly worth concern at all. But I have seen otherwise here on SA and you have proven it. These drugs are really potent at low doses. As NZ1 said Im sure they prescribe 20mg as overkill for profit. My physician told me he often puts patients on just 5mg and they do wonderfully (he is very conservative with medication, not a common trait in Dr's). I think you made the right choice abandoning the RI. Im glad you had the window and Im positive this is just a wave. I bet you'll be feeling better again soon. Even though its been rough, congrats on being off this rotten drug! 2 Timothy 1-7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Effexor 75mg to 262.5mg 2005-2010 for post partum depression Started having poop out mid 2010, also switched generic brands, then crashed in Dec 2010 (anxiety/ "terror", intense DR, anhedonia, suicidal ideation, chills, insomnia, horrible intrusive thoughts, disorientation, ect)Rapid "tapered" from 262.5mg Effexor in 3 months Tried Celexa,Cipralex, then Paxil to deal with wd(this switching made things worse and added akathesia) Found online support and started tapering Paxil 7 months after quitting Effexor (at this point was having small windows). Paxil taper: dropped 10% every 4-8 weeks Year 1 October 2011 to Nov 2012 20mg to 10mg Year 2 March 2013 to Feb 2014 10mg to 4mg Year 3 April 2014 to May 2015 4mg to 1.1mg Year 4 June 2015 1.1mg , dropping by 10% until .5mg, after then dropped by 0.1mg every 5 weeks until 0.1mg. Finished! Official last dose of 0.1mg on June 15/16 Link to comment
Chantingjo Posted May 20, 2015 Author Share Posted May 20, 2015 Thanks all???? your words really help. Pentunia thanks for the link! I never realised environmental factors could affect things! Even the weather! Two years ago i had a holiday in a very hot spain and ended up with the worst wave ever! I feel a bit better but still highly agitated but i am trying to accept how i feel. Aberdeen you are doing well. I jumped off at 2.6mg and have had a couple of unpleasant waves but then i had waves while tapering! The feelings that hit me are unbelievable! But i am managing to handle them and am encouraged to know that i have just had a long window and that healing is taking place ???? Was on Paxil from about 2001 to 2011. Then started a three year taper of 10% every 4 weeks. Went down to 5% drops between 7mg and 5mg as it got tough. Then back to 10% drops and few withdrawal effects below 5mg. At 2.8mg went to 2mg for 2 weeks with no side effects, then 1mg for 2 weeks with no side effects and then off. Last date was 29 December 2014. Reinstated 1mg on 13th march Link to comment
Chantingjo Posted May 28, 2015 Author Share Posted May 28, 2015 Still feeling awful. So anxious and so many negative thoughts. Keep thinking its cos of things in my life that need fixing but then when i feel ok these things dont bother me. Utterly confused and overwhelmed ???? Was on Paxil from about 2001 to 2011. Then started a three year taper of 10% every 4 weeks. Went down to 5% drops between 7mg and 5mg as it got tough. Then back to 10% drops and few withdrawal effects below 5mg. At 2.8mg went to 2mg for 2 weeks with no side effects, then 1mg for 2 weeks with no side effects and then off. Last date was 29 December 2014. Reinstated 1mg on 13th march Link to comment
Chantingjo Posted May 28, 2015 Author Share Posted May 28, 2015 Ps i cant talk to anyone in my life as i dont think anyone believes this is still withdrawal. Any encouraging words would be appreciated! Was on Paxil from about 2001 to 2011. Then started a three year taper of 10% every 4 weeks. Went down to 5% drops between 7mg and 5mg as it got tough. Then back to 10% drops and few withdrawal effects below 5mg. At 2.8mg went to 2mg for 2 weeks with no side effects, then 1mg for 2 weeks with no side effects and then off. Last date was 29 December 2014. Reinstated 1mg on 13th march Link to comment
nz11 Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Boy i totally understand the fact no one believes this is wdl ....i have exactly the same issue with my family too. We cant blame them i am sure if the roles were reversed i would be the same. I hope you stabilize soon. Thought for the day: Lets stand up, and let’s speak out , together. G Olsen We have until the 14th. Feb 2018. URGENT REQUEST Please consider submitting for the petition on Prescribed Drug Dependence and Withdrawal currently awaiting its third consideration at the Scottish Parliament. You don't even have to be from Scotland. By clicking on the link below you can read some of the previous submissions but be warned many of them are quite harrowing. http://www.parliament.scot/GettingInvolved/Petitions/PE01651 Please tell them about your problems taking and withdrawing from antidepressants and/or benzos. Send by email to petitions@parliament.scot and quote PE01651 in the subject heading. Keep to a maximum of 3 sides of A4 and you can't name for legal reasons any doctor you have consulted. Tell them if you wish to remain anonymous. We need the numbers to help convince the committee members we are not isolated cases. You have until mid February. Thank you Recovering paxil addict None of the published articles shed light on what ssri's ... actually do or what their hazards might be. Healy 2013. This is so true, with anything you get on these drugs, dependance, tapering, withdrawal symptoms, side effects, just silent. And if there is something mentioned then their is a serious disconnect between what is said and reality! "Every time I read of a multi-person shooting, I always presume that person had just started a SSRI or had just stopped." Dr Mosher. Me too! Over two decades later, the number of antidepressant prescriptions a year is slightly more than the number of people in the Western world. Most (nine out of 10) prescriptions are for patients who faced difficulties on stopping, equating to about a tenth of the population. These patients are often advised to continue treatment because their difficulties indicate they need ongoing treatment, just as a person with diabetes needs insulin. Healy 2015 I believe the ssri era will soon stand as one of the most shameful in the history of medicine. Healy 2015 Let people help people ... in a natural, kind, non-addictive (and non-big pharma) way. J Broadley 2017 Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Fresh Posted May 28, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted May 28, 2015 Hi jo , have you been on 1mg paxil since March 13 (your sig.)? I'm wondering if this wave has anything to do with a decrease. Hope it passes soon. Remind yourself that it's only temporary. Fresh 1987-1997 pertofran , prothiaden , Prozac 1997-2002 Zoloft 2002-2004 effexor 2004-2010 Lexapro 40mg 2010-2012Cymbalta 120mg Sept. 2012 -decreased 90mg in 6months. Care taken over by Dr Lucire in March 2013 , decreased last 30mg at 2mg per week over 3 months. July 21 , 2013- last dose of Cymbalta Protracted withdrawal syndrome kicked in badly Jan.2014 Unrelenting akathisia until May 2014. Voluntary hosp. admission. Cocktail of Seroquel, Ativan and mirtazapine and I was well enough to go home after 14 days. Stopped all hosp. meds in next few months. July 2014 felt v.depressed - couldn't stop crying. Started pristiq 50mg. Felt improvement within days and continued to improve, so stayed on 50mg for 8 months. Began taper 28 Feb. 2015. Pristiq 50mg down to 45mg. Had one month of w/d symptoms. Started CES therapy in March. No w/d symptoms down to 30mg. October 2015 , taking 25mg Pristiq. Capsules compounded with slow-release additive. March 2016 , 21mg Link to comment
Chantingjo Posted May 28, 2015 Author Share Posted May 28, 2015 No i came off at 2.6mg at end of december. I tried to reinstate at start of march to 1mg but it made me much worse. I had two very good months up until about a week and a half ago and now feel awful ???? Was on Paxil from about 2001 to 2011. Then started a three year taper of 10% every 4 weeks. Went down to 5% drops between 7mg and 5mg as it got tough. Then back to 10% drops and few withdrawal effects below 5mg. At 2.8mg went to 2mg for 2 weeks with no side effects, then 1mg for 2 weeks with no side effects and then off. Last date was 29 December 2014. Reinstated 1mg on 13th march Link to comment
Chantingjo Posted May 28, 2015 Author Share Posted May 28, 2015 Ps so i am on nothing now Was on Paxil from about 2001 to 2011. Then started a three year taper of 10% every 4 weeks. Went down to 5% drops between 7mg and 5mg as it got tough. Then back to 10% drops and few withdrawal effects below 5mg. At 2.8mg went to 2mg for 2 weeks with no side effects, then 1mg for 2 weeks with no side effects and then off. Last date was 29 December 2014. Reinstated 1mg on 13th march Link to comment
Moderator brassmonkey Posted May 28, 2015 Moderator Share Posted May 28, 2015 Hi Jo-- It sounds like a wave to me. Seeing as how you jumped off so high I can see it happening. It is a bit early for the ten month wave to be hitting, but I have heard many cases of getting them in the 6-8 month range. If I remember rightly Timinjapan had one just about this point, lasted a few weeks and then didn't bother him any more. As for the life problems you've already identified them as being the drugs talking, so don't listen. You're healing nicely, and don't need to do anything to change the process. It's something that never got talked about back at Prior Place, but after WD there is a period of recovery that still has to be gotten through before we finally fully stabilize. And like WD it is very unpredictable. Hang in there and use your tools. ((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))))))) 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 Link to comment
aberdeen Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 Sorry to hear you still feel crappy Jo. My take is that 2.6mg was too high to jump from and its put you into a wd situation with waves and windows. 1mg just wasnt enough to help. Either reinstating the last dose like 2.6mg may have helped, or just ride this out knowing its 'just wd'...bc it really just sounds like it is. Hang in there! 2 Timothy 1-7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Effexor 75mg to 262.5mg 2005-2010 for post partum depression Started having poop out mid 2010, also switched generic brands, then crashed in Dec 2010 (anxiety/ "terror", intense DR, anhedonia, suicidal ideation, chills, insomnia, horrible intrusive thoughts, disorientation, ect)Rapid "tapered" from 262.5mg Effexor in 3 months Tried Celexa,Cipralex, then Paxil to deal with wd(this switching made things worse and added akathesia) Found online support and started tapering Paxil 7 months after quitting Effexor (at this point was having small windows). Paxil taper: dropped 10% every 4-8 weeks Year 1 October 2011 to Nov 2012 20mg to 10mg Year 2 March 2013 to Feb 2014 10mg to 4mg Year 3 April 2014 to May 2015 4mg to 1.1mg Year 4 June 2015 1.1mg , dropping by 10% until .5mg, after then dropped by 0.1mg every 5 weeks until 0.1mg. Finished! Official last dose of 0.1mg on June 15/16 Link to comment
Chantingjo Posted May 30, 2015 Author Share Posted May 30, 2015 Thank you both for responding. Tom you are an absolute treasure. You help me so much. Thank you! I agree Aberdeen that I dropped too high. The 1mg reinstatement was awful. Couldn't sleep a wink and felt highly agitated. Can't believe how potent these drugs are! I couldn't have gone higher if I had that reaction to 1mg so I stopped after several days. I think my body won't accept the drug anymore. So anyway I feel a lot better now. More back to normal so I will just have a nice quiet weekend and look after myself Hope you are both doing ok? Was on Paxil from about 2001 to 2011. Then started a three year taper of 10% every 4 weeks. Went down to 5% drops between 7mg and 5mg as it got tough. Then back to 10% drops and few withdrawal effects below 5mg. At 2.8mg went to 2mg for 2 weeks with no side effects, then 1mg for 2 weeks with no side effects and then off. Last date was 29 December 2014. Reinstated 1mg on 13th march Link to comment
nz11 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 Hi Chantingjo, hang in there it will get better i am sure, hey you are drug free now !! Hooray !!..better days are yet to come! Thought for the day: Lets stand up, and let’s speak out , together. G Olsen We have until the 14th. Feb 2018. URGENT REQUEST Please consider submitting for the petition on Prescribed Drug Dependence and Withdrawal currently awaiting its third consideration at the Scottish Parliament. You don't even have to be from Scotland. By clicking on the link below you can read some of the previous submissions but be warned many of them are quite harrowing. http://www.parliament.scot/GettingInvolved/Petitions/PE01651 Please tell them about your problems taking and withdrawing from antidepressants and/or benzos. Send by email to petitions@parliament.scot and quote PE01651 in the subject heading. Keep to a maximum of 3 sides of A4 and you can't name for legal reasons any doctor you have consulted. Tell them if you wish to remain anonymous. We need the numbers to help convince the committee members we are not isolated cases. You have until mid February. Thank you Recovering paxil addict None of the published articles shed light on what ssri's ... actually do or what their hazards might be. Healy 2013. This is so true, with anything you get on these drugs, dependance, tapering, withdrawal symptoms, side effects, just silent. And if there is something mentioned then their is a serious disconnect between what is said and reality! "Every time I read of a multi-person shooting, I always presume that person had just started a SSRI or had just stopped." Dr Mosher. Me too! Over two decades later, the number of antidepressant prescriptions a year is slightly more than the number of people in the Western world. Most (nine out of 10) prescriptions are for patients who faced difficulties on stopping, equating to about a tenth of the population. These patients are often advised to continue treatment because their difficulties indicate they need ongoing treatment, just as a person with diabetes needs insulin. Healy 2015 I believe the ssri era will soon stand as one of the most shameful in the history of medicine. Healy 2015 Let people help people ... in a natural, kind, non-addictive (and non-big pharma) way. J Broadley 2017 Link to comment
aberdeen Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 Good to hear Jo! Yes, these meds are potent. Just when I doubt that my symptoms are real because afterall Im only on 1.1mg, I realize that its during this last few mg's that the most work is being done. Glad you feel good! 2 Timothy 1-7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Effexor 75mg to 262.5mg 2005-2010 for post partum depression Started having poop out mid 2010, also switched generic brands, then crashed in Dec 2010 (anxiety/ "terror", intense DR, anhedonia, suicidal ideation, chills, insomnia, horrible intrusive thoughts, disorientation, ect)Rapid "tapered" from 262.5mg Effexor in 3 months Tried Celexa,Cipralex, then Paxil to deal with wd(this switching made things worse and added akathesia) Found online support and started tapering Paxil 7 months after quitting Effexor (at this point was having small windows). Paxil taper: dropped 10% every 4-8 weeks Year 1 October 2011 to Nov 2012 20mg to 10mg Year 2 March 2013 to Feb 2014 10mg to 4mg Year 3 April 2014 to May 2015 4mg to 1.1mg Year 4 June 2015 1.1mg , dropping by 10% until .5mg, after then dropped by 0.1mg every 5 weeks until 0.1mg. Finished! Official last dose of 0.1mg on June 15/16 Link to comment
Moderator brassmonkey Posted May 30, 2015 Moderator Share Posted May 30, 2015 Good morning (here) Jo-- I'm so glad things have calmed down and you're feeling better again. Hope you have a good weekend and enjoy some of that wonderful Scottish springtime. 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 Link to comment
Chantingjo Posted August 26, 2015 Author Share Posted August 26, 2015 Dear All Some of you will remember me. Have posted a few times this year. Well last few months since I posted things have been ‘OK’. I wouldn’t say I have felt amazing but not too bad. I have flet some anxiety but been eating and sleeping fine and being able to socialise and enjoy spending time with people. Anyway last few days I have again started to feel absolutely awful. Terrified of everything, constant negative racing thoughts, not eating or sleeping. It is nearly 8 months since I CT’d off paxil. Can it still be that? Although looking at my journal I notice that I felt like this earlier in the year and I distinctly remember my waves during paxil withdrawal (while still on the drugs) feeling like this. It is just so hard and I don’t think anyone believes this is still withdrawal! If I felt like this all the time I would be tempted to try medication but I feel absolutely awful and then it suddenly disappears (this is what also makes me think it is still withdrawal). I feel that my husband is at the end of his tether with this. It has been 4 years on and off after all. Anyone have any supportive words? I could do with them right now! JO Dear All Some of you will remember me. Have posted a few times this year. Well last few months since I posted things have been ‘OK’. I wouldn’t say I have felt amazing but not too bad. I have flet some anxiety but been eating and sleeping fine and being able to socialise and enjoy spending time with people. Anyway last few days I have again started to feel absolutely awful. Terrified of everything, constant negative racing thoughts, not eating or sleeping. It is nearly 8 months since I CT’d off paxil. Can it still be that? Although looking at my journal I notice that I felt like this earlier in the year and I distinctly remember my waves during paxil withdrawal (while still on the drugs) feeling like this. It is just so hard and I don’t think anyone believes this is still withdrawal! If I felt like this all the time I would be tempted to try medication but I feel absolutely awful and then it suddenly disappears (this is what also makes me think it is still withdrawal). I feel that my husband is at the end of his tether with this. It has been 4 years on and off after all. Anyone have any supportive words? I could do with them right now! JO Was on Paxil from about 2001 to 2011. Then started a three year taper of 10% every 4 weeks. Went down to 5% drops between 7mg and 5mg as it got tough. Then back to 10% drops and few withdrawal effects below 5mg. At 2.8mg went to 2mg for 2 weeks with no side effects, then 1mg for 2 weeks with no side effects and then off. Last date was 29 December 2014. Reinstated 1mg on 13th march Link to comment
Rachelina Posted August 26, 2015 Share Posted August 26, 2015 Hi Jo! Yes, this is absolutely a withdrawal wave. I still occasionally get bad waves like that while doing my super slow taper (0.1 mg drops every month). What you have done (which I know is not your fault, you had a reason) is basically CT off 2.8 mg. So of course you are going to get waves of feeling terrible. But you know from long experience that this NEVER lasts. You always go back to being OK again, and you will this time too. I know it's hard to remember that when you're in it. For me, recognizing it as definitely being a wave really helps me to accept it, ride it out, and not get down on myself about it. Hope this one passes soon for you. Sending you hugs and thoughts of healing! Trying to get off Paxil since 2007. Was tapering by 0.1 mg every 4-5 weeks. Had awful crash in November 2015 at .5 mg; updosed gradually to 2 mg. Doing better and tapering again, much slower this time. 2016: Dropped from 2 mg to 1.62 mg. 2017: 1.62 mg to 1.2 mg. 2018: 1.2 mg to .76 mg. 2019: .76 mg to .56 mg. 2020: .56 mg to .33 mg. 2021: .33 mg to .13 mg. 2022: .13 mg to .03 mg. 6/12/23 .002 mg. OFF PAXIL 9/4/23 Started Klonopin in November 2015 to deal with crash. 1/10/16 started milk titration taper from .5 mg. Finished taper 12/6/17. Still take Klonopin for agoraphobia 2 - 3 times a week. Link to comment
Moderator brassmonkey Posted August 26, 2015 Moderator Share Posted August 26, 2015 Hi Jo-- so sorry to hear that you've taken a nose dive, things have been going so well. If it is any conciliation you're getting hit with the famous 8-10 month wave. It usually hits fairly hard but frequently only lasts a few weeks. You may not remember but Timinjapan was doing great up until the 10 month mark then out of the blue it hit him, I think his lasted about a month, but he's been doing great ever since. Is DH actually getting upset, or is it just you're feeling that he is? Part of the wave will be those good old paranoid feelings about relationships that you know so well. Just remember your training and roll with it and it will be over in no time. (((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))))))))) 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 Link to comment
Chantingjo Posted August 26, 2015 Author Share Posted August 26, 2015 Thanks both for your support. Helps me sooo much. Paranoia tom, yes thats it exactly. Complete paranoia! Had a good chat with my mum re DH and realised it was totally in my head. Made me realise that this is hard for him too as he feels responsible for my happiness and cant handle it when i am down. I am going to be gentle with myself for a while. Hope you are both doing ok? What great tapers you are both doing. The patience this requires is incredible. Was on Paxil from about 2001 to 2011. Then started a three year taper of 10% every 4 weeks. Went down to 5% drops between 7mg and 5mg as it got tough. Then back to 10% drops and few withdrawal effects below 5mg. At 2.8mg went to 2mg for 2 weeks with no side effects, then 1mg for 2 weeks with no side effects and then off. Last date was 29 December 2014. Reinstated 1mg on 13th march Link to comment
Moderator brassmonkey Posted August 26, 2015 Moderator Share Posted August 26, 2015 Talking from HDs side of it, if he is like me, he is feeling totally powerless and frustrated because he wants so badly for you to feel better, but can't do a thing about it. Monica has been going through another spell of bad stomach pain and that is how it makes me feel. Makes me want to jump up and down and pound my fists on the wall 'cause there is nothing at all I can do but watch her suffer. It has cleared up greatly the past week so maybe this spell is ending. Just make sure to give him a big hug and thank him for all the ways he has been of support. Patience? more like pure fear of WD symptoms. lol Actually, all told, things are going pretty well with the taper. 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 Link to comment
Chantingjo Posted August 27, 2015 Author Share Posted August 27, 2015 Yeah frustrated was exactly the word he used! He just goes quiet though and i need someone who talks more and takes my mind off it agghhh! Feeling a bit better today. I slept great last night. Best in a long time. Just trying to be kind to myself and look after myself Really glad things are going well tom Was on Paxil from about 2001 to 2011. Then started a three year taper of 10% every 4 weeks. Went down to 5% drops between 7mg and 5mg as it got tough. Then back to 10% drops and few withdrawal effects below 5mg. At 2.8mg went to 2mg for 2 weeks with no side effects, then 1mg for 2 weeks with no side effects and then off. Last date was 29 December 2014. Reinstated 1mg on 13th march Link to comment
Chantingjo Posted August 29, 2015 Author Share Posted August 29, 2015 Well i barely slept the last two nights. Every time i started to drop off i got the hypnic jerks. This scares me as i had these in my previous unsuccessful too fast tapers. I can cope with the anxiety but not sleeping makes it hard to function. Have had a very unproductive week at work. Sm going on a long walk in thr countryside today. Really hope this helps. Feeling scared ???? Was on Paxil from about 2001 to 2011. Then started a three year taper of 10% every 4 weeks. Went down to 5% drops between 7mg and 5mg as it got tough. Then back to 10% drops and few withdrawal effects below 5mg. At 2.8mg went to 2mg for 2 weeks with no side effects, then 1mg for 2 weeks with no side effects and then off. Last date was 29 December 2014. Reinstated 1mg on 13th march Link to comment
Moderator brassmonkey Posted August 29, 2015 Moderator Share Posted August 29, 2015 Nothing to be scared of, you've been through this all before and have come out fine. Uncomfortable, inconvenient, pain in the *** yes, but only temporarily. Enjoy your walk in the country. 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 Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Petunia Posted August 30, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted August 30, 2015 Hi Jo, I'm sorry to hear you are in a wave. Its not unusual for this to happen after someone is drug free, even if there had been a slow taper and a low drop off point. It seems that the NS can remain somewhat vulnerable for a while. Usually these waves don't last long. The really good thing is that you know its just a withdrawal wave and not the return of some 'previous illness" or 'new illness'. I'm sure what happens to many people after coming off their meds is they get these later episodes of withdrawal waves and end up being put back on drugs. What was the original full dose of Paxil that you were on? 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
Chantingjo Posted September 4, 2016 Author Share Posted September 4, 2016 Hi all I think i was on this site about a year ago, i separated from my husband a few days after my last oost and we are still apart. Realised we were just not right together. Anyway i am not capable of typing too much today. I feel really quite depressed, i havent felt like this for ages. The worst i have felt in a long time. Work has been stressful So dont know of its that. I cold turkeyed off 2.8mg of paxil about 19 months ago after a very very slow taper up until then. Well i have had a lot of anxiety since then but also moments of real peace especially lately. But the this has hit me. I feel now like i want to go back on anti depressants. My question is though, could this still be withdrawal?? Was on Paxil from about 2001 to 2011. Then started a three year taper of 10% every 4 weeks. Went down to 5% drops between 7mg and 5mg as it got tough. Then back to 10% drops and few withdrawal effects below 5mg. At 2.8mg went to 2mg for 2 weeks with no side effects, then 1mg for 2 weeks with no side effects and then off. Last date was 29 December 2014. Reinstated 1mg on 13th march Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus bubble Posted September 4, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted September 4, 2016 Hi Jo! I'm glad you remembered us here in time of need. What you are describing is very typical withdrawal. 19 months is not such a long time after jumping off a still pretty high dose. Especially given the stress of work and separation which is typically seen as one of the most stressful situations in life. Give yourself some more time and gentle care before you make a definite decision about going back on drugs. Depression is usually the way in which our body/soul/mind tell us they want more care from us. Have you tried any counselling or other non-drug ways of coping recently? Also when you say you are depressed how does that manifest? Keep in touch. You will get through this. Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2 2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013) Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg. 2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days afterreinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours 28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr 2015 1 mg, 25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64 Xanax 9 month hold 24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26 Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. Link to comment
Chantingjo Posted September 4, 2016 Author Share Posted September 4, 2016 Thanks for replying bubbles, i really appreciate it. Well it was mainly anxiety until now but it is just constant negative thoughts, lack of energy, brain fog, feeling like a failure, lonely but not wanting to talk to people. Insomnia and low sex drive. I had got a new job in HR at xmas and was very excited to start something new. Then in july the role was made redundant and i had to go back to my old team. I have been in this team 9 years! Just feel like a failur really but my mood stops me changing things. I think the idea of self care is a good one. I have been going to a therapist two years. I wonder whether something is wrong with my brain and i need anti depressants but i have had good times too. Although the last five years have been a total stuggle. My family say i seem a lot happier the last year and some days i really do and then these awful moods hit. It just feels so unfair! ( sorry for the pity party!) Was on Paxil from about 2001 to 2011. Then started a three year taper of 10% every 4 weeks. Went down to 5% drops between 7mg and 5mg as it got tough. Then back to 10% drops and few withdrawal effects below 5mg. At 2.8mg went to 2mg for 2 weeks with no side effects, then 1mg for 2 weeks with no side effects and then off. Last date was 29 December 2014. Reinstated 1mg on 13th march Link to comment
Chantingjo Posted September 4, 2016 Author Share Posted September 4, 2016 Ps i have not felt this bad for over a year Was on Paxil from about 2001 to 2011. Then started a three year taper of 10% every 4 weeks. Went down to 5% drops between 7mg and 5mg as it got tough. Then back to 10% drops and few withdrawal effects below 5mg. At 2.8mg went to 2mg for 2 weeks with no side effects, then 1mg for 2 weeks with no side effects and then off. Last date was 29 December 2014. Reinstated 1mg on 13th march Link to comment
Moderator brassmonkey Posted September 4, 2016 Moderator Share Posted September 4, 2016 Hi Jo-- it's so nice to see you, I've miss having our around. There are frequently two bad waves that hit after too high a jump. One at about 10 months and another at about 18 months. You posted just about a year ago about some symptoms that just showed up out of the blue and here we are at 19 months and things are kicking up again. It should pass in a few weeks and you'll be back to those great walks in the country. It sounds like it's been a fairly stressful year with several big life changes that aren't helping the situation either. I know you have all the necessary tools to make it through this, so break them out and "chant those blues away". I've seen some really positive improvements in you over the past year (yes, I stalk you on FB and really enjoy seeing your posts) and don't think that there is anything that going back on ADs would help. In fact they would probably cause you a lot of trouble. Weather this little storm, keep faith in yourself, use your tools and everything will be fine. ((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))) Brass 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 Link to comment
AmyK Posted September 4, 2016 Share Posted September 4, 2016 Jo, so nice to see you here. I echo what Tom says. You have been doing so well. Dont go back to Ssri's. They are so horrible. This is surely a short wave. Sorry about your job, I know you liked your new position so much. Could it be that your job situation put you in this state of depression? That you kind of feel that you are going backwards? I can understand if that's the case, but remember we are always going forward, but maybe not in the way we predicted. When we are stressed it effects the CNS and hence wd (I know too much about it lately.) Maybe you can have as a goal to look for other HR jobs somewhere else? You have such an experience now. This is a bump in the road and you will manage. Use all your tools. Do you do yoga still? Thinking of you and sending lots of hugs! (Thankyou for the note on my thread. I will reply!) Current dose: 0! Free! Quit June 2017. 2017: Last dose zoloft: 17 June 0,00065 mg 18 May 0, 001 mg 14 May 0,002 mg 9 May 0,003 mg 28 April 0,006 mg 19 April 0,009 mg 8 April 0,013 mg 25 March 0,019 mg 22 March 0,039 mg 18 March 0,052 mg 16 March 0,079 mg 4 March 0,086 1 March 0,099 mg 22 February 0,11 mg 15 February 0,13 mg 6 February 0,145 mg 24 January 0,15 mg 19 January 0,19 mg 10 January 0,20 mg 3 January 2016: 0,98 to 0,22 mg; 2015: 2,35 to 1,01 mg; 2014: 4,9 to 2,5 mg; 2013: 9,1 to 5,1 mg; 2012: 15,7 to 9,7 mg; 2011: Started on 25 mg - then 50 mg- dropped to 25- to 12.5 mg - back to 25 mg - after 18.75 mg started tiny tapering to 16.6 mg Started on 25 mg Zoloft in March 2011 due to stressrelated tinnitus that gave me panicattacks. Had a terrible reaction to Zoloft from start, but was told to "hold on". After four months I was stuck. Therefore the long taper. Crazy, I know... Super sensitive to drops and have dropped by 4-6 % from the previous dose. Link to comment
Chantingjo Posted September 6, 2016 Author Share Posted September 6, 2016 Thanks so much both of you. It is lovely to hear from you. Tom you are my guardian angel and amy (using online names!) you are a lovely person! Your posts really helped me. Thanks tom for the reminder. Things have been tough over the last 5 years since i started withdrawing but they are starting to get easier and i am having moments of peace and when i feel me again so its great really. Just those waves are unpleasant. I hadnt had one like that for a long time but had them frequently when dropping the dose. Yes am sure the job situation didnt help. I just need to be patient and kind to myself. I am not always good at that. Thanks again jo xx Ps this site is funny as you so quickly move down the pages. I do miss the other site. oops perhaps i shouldnt say that! Although the people here seem kind and the atmosphere better, the other site felt more like a community possibly? Was on Paxil from about 2001 to 2011. Then started a three year taper of 10% every 4 weeks. Went down to 5% drops between 7mg and 5mg as it got tough. Then back to 10% drops and few withdrawal effects below 5mg. At 2.8mg went to 2mg for 2 weeks with no side effects, then 1mg for 2 weeks with no side effects and then off. Last date was 29 December 2014. Reinstated 1mg on 13th march Link to comment
Moderator brassmonkey Posted September 6, 2016 Moderator Share Posted September 6, 2016 (((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))) 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 Link to comment
nz11 Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 Hi CJ your drug sig says ri 1 mg are you currently med free or on 1mg ? Sorry you are still finding it difficult know this is totally wdl . Not sure that therapists understand wdl . The fact you are holding down a job is awesome. go well Thought for the day: Lets stand up, and let’s speak out , together. G Olsen We have until the 14th. Feb 2018. URGENT REQUEST Please consider submitting for the petition on Prescribed Drug Dependence and Withdrawal currently awaiting its third consideration at the Scottish Parliament. You don't even have to be from Scotland. By clicking on the link below you can read some of the previous submissions but be warned many of them are quite harrowing. http://www.parliament.scot/GettingInvolved/Petitions/PE01651 Please tell them about your problems taking and withdrawing from antidepressants and/or benzos. Send by email to petitions@parliament.scot and quote PE01651 in the subject heading. Keep to a maximum of 3 sides of A4 and you can't name for legal reasons any doctor you have consulted. Tell them if you wish to remain anonymous. We need the numbers to help convince the committee members we are not isolated cases. You have until mid February. Thank you Recovering paxil addict None of the published articles shed light on what ssri's ... actually do or what their hazards might be. Healy 2013. This is so true, with anything you get on these drugs, dependance, tapering, withdrawal symptoms, side effects, just silent. And if there is something mentioned then their is a serious disconnect between what is said and reality! "Every time I read of a multi-person shooting, I always presume that person had just started a SSRI or had just stopped." Dr Mosher. Me too! Over two decades later, the number of antidepressant prescriptions a year is slightly more than the number of people in the Western world. Most (nine out of 10) prescriptions are for patients who faced difficulties on stopping, equating to about a tenth of the population. These patients are often advised to continue treatment because their difficulties indicate they need ongoing treatment, just as a person with diabetes needs insulin. Healy 2015 I believe the ssri era will soon stand as one of the most shameful in the history of medicine. Healy 2015 Let people help people ... in a natural, kind, non-addictive (and non-big pharma) way. J Broadley 2017 Link to comment
Chantingjo Posted September 11, 2016 Author Share Posted September 11, 2016 I am off the drug nz. Have been since 31/12/14 to be precise. Think i tried 1mg for a few days but made me worse. Need to update my sig! Hope all good with you Was on Paxil from about 2001 to 2011. Then started a three year taper of 10% every 4 weeks. Went down to 5% drops between 7mg and 5mg as it got tough. Then back to 10% drops and few withdrawal effects below 5mg. At 2.8mg went to 2mg for 2 weeks with no side effects, then 1mg for 2 weeks with no side effects and then off. Last date was 29 December 2014. Reinstated 1mg on 13th march Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now