willnorthwest: what is the best manufacturer of paroxetine?

[willnorthwest]

I have been on paxil since 2002. Originally, I was using GSK name brand Paxil, and throughout the years I have used Teva brand, Apotex, and currently Zydus brand. I take 25mg each night, so I take a 20mg pill along with a split 10mg pill. I have been on this current brand (Zydus) for awhile now as well as my current dosage. I have just started to notice, however, that ive been feeling a little more down lately than usual, with a good bit of anxiety as well. My question is; Is it possible that I have recieved a bad batch of paxil from my most recent prescription? I haven't changed a thing from my normal protocal, yet I am experiencing old symptoms. Also, is it still possible to get GlaxoSmithKline brand paxil? I'm starting to wonder about the effectiveness of the generics compared to the name brand

[ChessieCat]

Hi Will and welcome to SA,

 

Believe or not, Your Drug May Be Your Problem.  I suggest you read this book by Dr Peter Breggin.  Click on the book title link, right click on GREEN download button (top right) and save as.  See especially from P.52.  I think you will be surprised.

 

Here's a link generic-vs-brand-versions-of-antidepressants/

 

Please note that SA's aim is NOT to force people to go off their ADs, but to provide the support and information to be able to do so as safely as possible.  This site recommends a 10% taper of the previous dose followed by a 4-6 week hold to allow the brain to adapt to not getting as much of the drug.

 

Introduction to AD Withdrawal Syndrome

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Tips for tapering off Paxil (paroxetine)

 

You might also be interested in this:

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Antidepressants and the Placebo Effect by Irving Kirsch (link to full article)

Abstract:

Antidepressants are supposed to work by fixing a chemical imbalance, specifically, a lack of serotonin in the brain.  Indeed, their supposed effectiveness is the primary evidence for the chemical imbalance theory.  But analyses of the published data and the unpublished data that were hidden by drug companies reveals that most (if not all) of the benefits are due to the placebo effect.  Some antidepressants increase serotonin levels, some decrease it, and some have no effect at all on serotonin.  Nevertheless, they all show the same therapeutic benefit.  Even the small statistical difference between antidepressants and placebos may be an enhanced placebo effect, due to the fact that most patients and doctors in clinical trials successfully break blind.  The serotonin theory is as close as any theory in the history of science to having been proved wrong.  Instead of curing depression, popular antidepressants may induce a biological vulnerability making people more likely to become depressed in the future.

Excerpt:

How Did These Drugs Get Approved?
....
The FDA requires two adequately conducted clinical trials showing a significant difference between drug and placebo.  But there is a loophole:  there is no limit to the number of trials that can be conducted in search of these two significant trials.  Trials showing negative results simply do not count.  Furthermore, the clinical significance of the findings is not considered.  All that matters is that the results are statistically significant.

....
(NB:  emphasis in abstract and excerpt are mine)

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I suggest you Please put your Withdrawal History in Signature OR Complete your Signature from Phone or Tablet  Include ALL drugs your are taking with drug, date, dose and how you decreased/increased.  Having this information will help the staff to offer suggestions based on your individual situation if you decide you want to taper.

 

You are welcome to ask questions here in your Intro/Update topic.  Click FOLLOW (top right) and you will be notified when someone responds.

[willnorthwest]

Thank you for warm welcome.

[SquirrellyGirl]

H WillNW, 

 

So, I don't have an answer about brands, etc., though it is possible the manufacturer made a change with the filler used, but what I am wondering is how long have you been at this dose? Have you done any tapering?

 

If you have been on the same dose for a long time, it is possible you are experiencing "poop-out."  Basically you begin to experience withdrawal symptoms, often anxiety and depression, despite being on the same amount of drug for a long period of time. It is a sign that the drug is no longer "working."  Most patients see their doctor at this time and he increases the dosage to overcome the poop-out, but that usually only lasts for awhile before poop-out happens again, but now you are on an even higher dose to come off of, which is really the only solution.  The next step is that the doctor will prescribe another AD, usually doing a direct swtich with no cross taper, and that will run the now highly sensitized patient into all kinds of trouble!  Now you've got cold-turkey withdrawal from the old drug compounded by start-up symptoms of the new drug which may actual include adverse reactions since the nervous system is so sensitized that it can't tolerate new drugs.   It's a dangerous game to get into.  We've seen people come here with such scenarios over and over here on SA.

 

So, it would be really helpful if you could fill in your signature block with drug history, any and all drugs you are on or had been on with dates to the best of your ability.  This allows everyone who visits your Intro to see your history at a glance.  You can use your Intro thread as a place to ask questions and give updates.  Bookmark your intro so you can access it easily.  By clicking "Follow" above, you will be notified anytime someone responds on your thread.  Here are the instructions for filling out your signature:

 

Please put your Withdrawal History in Signature

 

SG

[ChessieCat]

Information:  Antidepressant Tolerance Withdrawal or "Poop Out" While Tapering