Obstacle1: Paxil/seroxat since 2001, side effects becoming intolerable

[Obstacle1]

I don't know how common my story is. I was put on seroxat initially at the age of 14 for social anxiety. To be honest it seems like it worked for a few years. But I was left on with little care or attention from doctors and I think things have gradually become more and more difficult for me over the years. In late August last year I think I had a negative SSRI reaction, probably prompted by overcharging my nervous system with cigarettes and alcohol. Since then I've been going through a very slow process of recovery. Some days better than others, some days I feel almost normal. Different symptoms seem to come and go and it makes me wonder if I'll ever stabilize? At the moment, I seem to be suffering with nausea and dizziness, and I have the feeling that whenever I eat meat my stomach reacts badly to this. I'm terrified that I might end up vomiting...or even worse vomiting up directly after taking a dose.

Overall, going through this phase has made me realise that I might as well be tapering off. If I'm going to suffer this much whilst keeping the dose the same then I might as well be reducing it? My more conservative, perhaps wiser self reckons it's better to wait for things to stabilise before I try any tapering though. I just wish it would hurry up, I just want to be off this crap and live like a normal person

[tanit]

same med was prescribed for me for a headache  but it destroyed my life .I have the  same intestine inflammation and it worries me a lot but what can I do ?

Slow taper because this medication is NASTY.It left me with bad side effects (it causes scary panic attacks so go slowly .

I wish you a lot of luck and I think you will be soon much better

[coldturkmama]

Sounds like you've hit tolerance or *poop out* since you've been on it sooo long.  That happened to me back in (I think) 2012...I was on the same 20mg's and still suffering worse than ever before, so I went to the Dr. and they put me on 40 mg's and that seemed to help for a little while, but not long- then I went cold turkey (do not recommend)...tapering off of it will be so much better, I had no idea or help when I went off of it back then.  

A moderator should be around and they can offer better advice. 

[mammaP]

Hi Obstacle1, welcome to SA.  I'm glad that you found us before starting to taper, most of us anded up 

here after a taper that was too fast or cold turkey and suffering withdrawal. I started to have a reaction

to effexor after 5 years and struggled on for the next 5 years not knowing it was the drug, but when I

started tapering the effects became milder. (until I stopped too soon and had withdrawal!) 

 

We recommend tapering 10% of the current dose every 4 weeks, or longer if there are any uncomfortable

symptoms following a cut. 

Here are some links for you to read up on tapering, if you haven't seen them already. 

 

Tapering seroxat.....(paxil)  http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/405-tips-for-tapering-off-paxil-paroxetine/

 

Why taper 10%  http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1024-why-taper-by-10-of-my-dosage/

 

The 3 KIS..http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/6632-the-rule-of-3kis-keep-it-simple-keep-it-slow-keep-it-stable/

 

It would help us if you can put your drug history in your signature strip, list all meds including over the counter and supplements.

Here is how to do that http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/893-please-put-your-withdrawal-history-in-your-signature/ 

 

Many people find that magnesium and omega 3 fish oil help when tapering. 

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1300-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/

[coldturkmama]

Hi Obstacle1, welcome to SA.  I'm glad that you found us before starting to taper, most of us anded up 

here after a taper that was too fast or cold turkey and suffering withdrawal. I started to have a reaction

to effexor after 5 years and struggled on for the next 5 years not knowing it was the drug, but when I

started tapering the effects became milder. (until I stopped too soon and had withdrawal!) 

 

We recommend tapering 10% of the current dose every 4 weeks, or longer if there are any uncomfortable

symptoms following a cut. 

Here are some links for you to read up on tapering, if you haven't seen them already. 

 

Tapering seroxat.....(paxil)  http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/405-tips-for-tapering-off-paxil-paroxetine/

 

Why taper 10%  http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1024-why-taper-by-10-of-my-dosage/

 

The 3 KIS..http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/6632-the-rule-of-3kis-keep-it-simple-keep-it-slow-keep-it-stable/

 

It would help us if you can put your drug history in your signature strip, list all meds including over the counter and supplements.

Here is how to do that http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/893-please-put-your-withdrawal-history-in-your-signature/ 

 

Many people find that magnesium and omega 3 fish oil help when tapering. 

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1300-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/

 

 

Question: What brand of magnesium would be most beneficial? 

[mammaP]

CTM, look at the topic on magnesium in the link. Everyone is different but I find glycinate is best for me.

[Obstacle1]

Hi all, thanks for the replies. I should add my story is a bit more complex than I wrote at first!

 

I started on 20mg but at some point probably when I had only been on it a couple years, I tapered off a little. Probably reached a stable dose of around 7ml (14mg). Then a few years later I tapered down (way too fast) as far as 4ml (8mg). I was going in 1ml drops and ended up with horrible anxiety and depression that took me a good year to get out of. I think this was in 2007/8 and I then stabilised on what is still my current dose of 6.6ml (13.2mg). In 2010 I also had a horrible reaction (again caused by too much alcohol I think) which took me a while to recover from. I feel pretty foolish knowing I went and did a similar thing again 4 years later but I guess when you feel ok you end up thinking you're invincible. I guess I've learnt that that really isn't the case and I need to go super easy on my body now.

 

I remember taking magnesium for a little while when I first had problems, fish oil seemed to cause me problems. Does anyone know if the magnesium helps with the nausea??

 

Anyway, I guess I'll update my signature to show my complicated full story! Thanks for the replies, it really helps to know some people can actually relate to the things I'm going through. It's almost impossible I think to find anyone in my day to day life who would actually understand this - even my parents who know I am having difficulty with the meds I don't think can comprehend just how bad it is

[ang]

Hi Obstacle 1.  Welcome.   I am appalled they put you on this stuff at 14.  Hope you can sue them one day....   All the references are on this website..  

 

Anyhow glad you are here!   Tell your parents to get over their guilt and help...........apologies, so upset they put you on this at 14... but no oone knew...

[direstraits]

thisis so disturbing -giving this awful drug to a 14 yr. old!

 

what is wrong w/ these drs.?!

 

so sorry for you

[Frustrated]

Sorry you are going through this.  My son was put on seroquel at 11 and now at 14 we are trying to taper him to get him down to half his dose and see how he does.  It is a crime that these are being giving out to children.  Had I known then what I know now my son would not have been put on at all.  Hope you feel better soon.

[Obstacle1]

Hi Obstacle 1.  Welcome.   I am appalled they put you on this stuff at 14.  Hope you can sue them one day....   All the references are on this website..  

 

Anyhow glad you are here!   Tell your parents to get over their guilt and help...........apologies, so upset they put you on this at 14... but no oone knew...

 

I don't know about you but the idea of asking someone to help seems kinda difficult...I don't really know what another person could do to help alleviate the symptoms I go through so I guess I end up keeping 90% of it to myself.

[Obstacle1]

Anyone know how I can go about taking legal action? I've heard of class action suits being taken against GSK but don't know what the outcome was or whether an individual can really do anything

[nz11]

Your post caught my eye because i was put on this drug in 2001 as well just disgraceful what it does to us. You were wiser than me you have got liquid and got yourself down to 6ml well done Yeah i had similar stuff never thought it was due to me just thought it was diet or getting old or something...imo why wait to taper i would make a start following the 10% or slower method here. Just imo

Anyway you have come to the right place. Im sure you will be drug free soon ...taper slow though dont rush it!

[Altostrata]

Welcome, Obstacle.

 

What is your daily symptom pattern relative to when you take Paxil? Are you taking any other drugs?

 

Ginger can help with nausea, see What to do for dizziness, queasiness, nausea

[Obstacle1]

*Post moved from symptoms section

What's the difference between poop out and a negative reaction?

And how do I know which one I'm going through? I've been feeling like crap for about 6 months now, with some slow progress. Problems that seem to come and go are:

anxiety/panic

depression

nausea

stomach pains

hot flushes

cold

akathisia/restlessness

dizziness

and probably a few others which I've forgotten for now

 

I initially thought it was a bad reaction as it all started after a night of drinking alcohol, but I've been on seroxat so long I wonder if I'm experiencing poop out instead/as well?

Edited March 12, 2015 by Petunia
added note and topic title

[Altostrata]

Poop-out is usually when someone has been fine with the drug for a good while and then finds it stops "working." Symptoms are usually something like emotional anesthesia or "depression," but can also be withdrawal symptoms.

 

What is your daily symptom pattern relative to when you take the drug? This can help determine their source.

[Obstacle1]

I'm not entirely sure, some things tend to come and go. More nausea/stomach problems in the morning in the few hours after taking the drug. This seems to calm down generally by the afternoon. Also have had a lot of dizziness in the day time lately, which usually calms down by night. Other things seem to come and go, e.g. anxiety some days, irritability/anger on other days.

[Altostrata]

You're taking about 14mg now?

 

Occasionally people find if they can split the dose, they can better tolerate the drug and tapering. If I were you, I might consider taking 10mg in the morning and 4mg some time later, perhaps moving it gradually to 6 p.m. Or, you could move 1mg at a time later in the day.

[Obstacle1]

You're taking about 14mg now?

 

Occasionally people find if they can split the dose, they can better tolerate the drug and tapering. If I were you, I might consider taking 10mg in the morning and 4mg some time later, perhaps moving it gradually to 6 p.m. Or, you could move 1mg at a time later in the day.

 

I hadn't heard of people doing that before. I kinda feel like I'd be playing with fire though, as soon as I took a lower dose one morning I'd expect to feel pretty awful. Not sure if that's the right way forward. I haven't started tapering at all yet...I'm still trying to work out if I'm suffering a reaction or am in poop out, as I've heard people in poop out can sometimes start to feel a little better if they start tapering

[Altostrata]

To split the dose, you might take 10mg in the morning and move 4mg an hour later each day until you're taking it in the evening. Most likely, you won't feel the difference of a hour.

 

This is to reduce the adverse reaction you're getting to your morning dose.

 

I don't know where you heard that advice about poop-out. Your choice about what you want to do. When did you last make a dosage change?

[Obstacle1]

To split the dose, you might take 10mg in the morning and move 4mg an hour later each day until you're taking it in the evening. Most likely, you won't feel the difference of a hour.

 

This is to reduce the adverse reaction you're getting to your morning dose.

 

I don't know where you heard that advice about poop-out. Your choice about what you want to do. When did you last make a dosage change?

 

Sorry for the delayed response - haven't been on here for a while. Several years ago. Probably 2008 to be honest. Same dosage since then but seem to have gone through 2 extended periods of 'reactions' or something like withdrawal symptoms since then, one was in 2010/2011 and the latest one started about a year ago and still seems to be continuing now...I haven't changed the dose because frankly I don't know what to do. I was hoping with time things would gradually get better but now I'm starting to have second thoughts

[Altostrata]

Is it possible sometimes you forget to take the seroxat?

 

It sounds like you are having adverse effects, if you sometimes forget your dose or take it at an odd time, this might cause intermittent symptoms as you've described.

 

What is your current symptom pattern relative to when you take your drug?

[Obstacle1]

Is it possible sometimes you forget to take the seroxat?

 

It sounds like you are having adverse effects, if you sometimes forget your dose or take it at an odd time, this might cause intermittent symptoms as you've described.

 

What is your current symptom pattern relative to when you take your drug?

 

No. It's absolutely impossible that I forget to take the drug. And I also take it at pretty much the same time every day - probably within a 15 minute window. I don't understand what you mean by 'symptom pattern relative to when you take the drug'. My symptoms come and go and are pretty erratic. Sometimes I'll have several days where I feel nauseous. Sometimes I'll have a day where I'm especially anxious or sensitive to light. It's not like it's a daily thing that repeats itself every day, and from what I've read of other people who've taken this drug it's not a daily pattern for them either.

 

Probably the only daily pattern that I can identify is that I'm more anxious in the mornings and my nerves settle later in the day...

[Obstacle1]

How to deal with medication shortage? Taking liquid Seroxat/Paxil

 

Hi all,

I'm based in the UK and have been taking liquid Seroxat (paxil) for many years. I'm currently panicking because there is a shortage from the supplier and I only have about 2 weeks of the drug left. I'm not sure what I should do if I can't get hold of it? Can anyone recommend the best alternative? I've heard you can crush up pills in water to measure out a dose or there may be off-licence versions you can get. I'll make an appointment with a GP but I wanted to be as informed as possible beforehand. To be honest I'm terrified of taking anything slightly different to what I'm so used to

 

 

Edited June 9, 2022 by ChessieCat
added Intro topic title before merging with intro topic

[ChessieCat]

Yes it is possible to my your own liquid using tablets.  When changing brand/form of a drug (in this case prescription liquid to DIY liquid) it is better to do a cross over which is gentler on your system.

 

cross-over-changing-form-eg-tablet-to-liquid-of-drug-or-changing-brand-of-same-drug

 

Tips for tapering off paroxetine (Paxil, Seroxat)

 

From the above topic:

 

On 5/27/2011 at 10:52 AM, Altostrata said:

Make your own liquid
You can make your own liquid with water. See How to make a liquid from tablets or capsules

 

[Obstacle1]

On 6/9/2022 at 9:56 AM, ChessieCat said:

Yes it is possible to my your own liquid using tablets.  When changing brand/form of a drug (in this case prescription liquid to DIY liquid) it is better to do a cross over which is gentler on your system.

 

cross-over-changing-form-eg-tablet-to-liquid-of-drug-or-changing-brand-of-same-drug

 

Tips for tapering off paroxetine (Paxil, Seroxat)

 

From the above topic:

 

 

 

Thanks for that. I wasn't aware of the cross-over technique before so I'll definitely do that.

 

My pharmacist thought that mixing the tablets in water meant the drug wouldn't be distributed evenly so I think it might be better to crush the pills, weigh them with some very precise scales and put in a capsule. Can you see any problems with that?