ravijaua: Paxil withdrawal hell

[ravijaua]

Took Effexor 2004-2006 Switched to paxil to jitteriness and increased anxiety on Effexor On paxil 20 mg for 2006-June 2015. Had no problems on it, slept well, functioned well for ten years. Starting in Summer of 2015 starting having insomnia, increased anxiety. Exercised and took otc sleep aids but these had all kinds of side effects, dry mouth, etc.

 

Saw a psychiatrist in Nov 2015, was put on Zoloft low dose. took 2 mg of Zoloft in addition to paxil 20 mg for 3 months, did really well, sleep and anxiety normalized. Suddenly anxiety returned, sleep worsened. Increased Zoloft to 12.5 mg and then 25 mg while tapering paxil down to 15 mg slowly. Did well on this combination for 3-4 months and then suddenly anxiety returned, withdrawal worsened with light sensitivity, sensitivity to sounds, anxiety, etc. Hoping to start lamictal low dose now for glutamergic hyperactivity.

Edited August 29, 2016 by scallywag
tags added

[Altostrata]

Welcome, ravijaua.

 

Are you taking 15mg Paxil now? How much Zoloft?

 

It sounds like you have withdrawal symptoms from Paxil. Did you perhaps forget to take any doses? This can trigger symptoms.

 

If I were you, I'd add perhaps 2mg Paxil and see if that helps. I don't know if adding Lamictal to your cocktail will help. My experience with low-dose Lamictal is that it might help if you're off drugs altogether.

 

Are you planning to stay on some kind of antidepressant permanently?

[ravijaua]

I have no idea i cant seem to come off paxil

[ravijaua]

Im taking 15mg paxil and 12.5 zoloft. I tried taking 17 mg paxil but it had pretty bad side effects.

[ravijaua]

Btw my doctor gave me a rx for lamictal 25 said to take half a pill for a week then a whole pill after that. I plan on spliiting the pill into like small pieces and taking a small amount but i was wondering what is good to start and how to taper up. What were the doses people took with dr prey???

[ravijaua]

I am considering a Prozac bridge seriously since the Zoloft bridge didn't work for me. Currently I am on 15 mg of paxil. I have stopped Zoloft, was taking 25 mg and then 12.5 for about 3 months and 2 months respectively. Should I just take Prozac 10 mg with 15 mg of paxil for 2 weeks and then go down to 10 mg paxil and 5 mg paxil and stop or just stop the paxil abruptly after 2 weeks. Please help

[ravijaua]

could i stabilize on proazac n paxil for two weeks then taper off paxil ten percent every 4 weeks

[scallywag]

Why do you say the "Zoloft bridge" didn't work for you?  What are your symptoms and how have they changes since you started the zoloft/paxil combination?

[ravijaua]

Well i started zoloft 12.5 mg with 20 mg paxil then i tapered slowly to 15 mg paxil while increasing zoloft to 25 mg. this worked for three months then zoloft stopped working for my anxiety and i had horrible anxiety

[ravijaua]

To be more specific i pooped out on 20 mg paxil after takinng it for 9 years at that dose. So for a while i added loke 2 mg of zoloft and this helped me with anxiety and withdrawal but stopped working after 4 months so i increased zoloft to 12.5 and then 25 while tapering paxil down to 15

[ravijaua]

I started Prozac 10 mg and I feel like it is very powerful and not sure if I should take it along with paxil as well or if I should just stop taking paxil? So I am unsure what to do and would like some advice.

[ravijaua]

Sometimes , I wonder why my stupid doctor put me on Paxil in the first place. I could have easily managed without ADs as I was not suicidal, I just had some concentration and mild anxiety issues.

[scallywag]

ARe you still taking Zoloft?  Please update your signature so that we can quickly see your current drugs, doses and start dates (at that dose).

[scallywag]

ravi
 
I just found these other posts where you listed information about your drugs and doses.

 

It's a good idea to post this kind of information here in your introduction thread. This thread, your introduction topic is the best place to ask questions about your situation.

 

I am currently doing 15 mg paxil and 10 mg of Prozac. So far I am good but I seem overstimulated, maybe too much serotonin. I judge this my when I work out, I sweat profusely, feel hot, sometimes even when it's nice out I feel hot and sweaty. I'm not sure if I should wait 2-4 weeks to stabilize and then start weaning paxil at the brassmonkey method or 10% methods? any suggestions?

altostrata suggested per Dr. Pry that you shouldn't stay on paxil/Prozac together for more than 2 weeks and that seems valid. I am thinking to stay on both for two weeks at 10 mg Prozac and 15 mg paxil and then taper paxil with the brassmonkey method but i'm not sure since I'm on Prozac too if that's too slow and maybe 10% is better so as to not get serotonin overload.

[ravijaua]

I am currently on paxil 15 mg. I just started Prozac 10 mg a few days ago. I feel a little overstimulated with both and I am wondering if I can start tapering paxil right away like 5 mg pill weight per day until I feel less stimulated. This works out to like 1% per day.

[ravijaua]

ok will do in future. Thanks. Since Prozac 10 mg is so overstimulating, I'm not sure what to do. I tried 5 mg of the generic fluoxetine but it was with some slight GI effects and not as stimulating as Prozac brand name capsule. Not sure if maybe it's better to take the tablet generic or capsule brand name. I wish they had a 5 mg brand name capsule but they don't.

[ravijaua]

Is there some way to open up the Prozac capsule and take half of it. ???

[ChessieCat]

Hi ravijaua,

 

From Post #1:  Tips for tapering off Prozac (fluoxetine)

 

Dividing contents of capsules into empty gelatin capsules
One way of tapering is to split up the powder in a capsule into smaller dosages. Go to a health food store and get empty gelatin capsules, the biggest they've got.

When you open up a Prozac capsule, you can carefully pour a fraction of the powder into empty gelatin capsules.

You won't have 5mg per capsule exactly, because it's difficult to eyeball the amounts.

If you want to be more precise, carefully pour the powder onto a piece of black paper and divide it into quarters with a knife, then scoop each 1/4 into an empty gelatin capsule.

See more about this technique at http://survivinganti..._3033#entry3033

If you are very sensitive to variations in dosage, this method will not be precise enough for you to control your taper.

[ravijaua]

Im using size 3 capsules the same as the ten mg capsule a scale gemini scale and spatula scoop

[ravijaua]

Someone said to use size 0 caps but those are so big

[ChessieCat]

The size of the capsule doesn't matter.  It's the dose consistency that is important.

[ravijaua]

How about Now foods Veg caps, i'm not a big fan of animal gelatin, are these ok?

[ChessieCat]

Yes, veg caps will be okay to use.

[ravijaua]

Lots of anxiety today and yesterday. Prozac 5 mg is making me very anxious. Not sure If I should ride it out or not. I don't understand why Zoloft worked so well for 3-4 months and then stopped working for my anxiety.

[ravijaua]

Please help updosed to 17 mg seemed to help but only was anxiety free 4 hrs and then withdrawal again actually back in march this same thing happened i was on 20 mg but would get anxiety relief only 4 hr so i added 12.5 mg zoloft am and in pm. This worked for about 16 hr and i used like quarter lunesta of 3 mg or .75 mg and this covered my sleep and othwr 8 hr i was balanced for 4 mo like this until the zoloft stopped working for anxiety any idea why a full dose of paxil would only work for 4 hr??? This is why i added zoloft and tapered paxil

[ravijaua]

To resummarize in june 2015 i started having insomnia and anxiety after veinng stable on paxil for 9 years. Until late october i managed sleep and anxiety with half a pill of doxylamine on top of my 20 mg paxil but it was a struggle and i had to exercis 3 hrs a day to stay calm. Finally in november i got frustrated and saw a doctor who added buspirone which didnt work and then zoloft liquid which worked at 2 mg i was anxiety free and insomnia free for 3 months then in march started having anxiety and insomnia and paxil was working for 4 hr for anxiety and then zoloft 2 mg didnt work. I increased zoloft to 12.5 mg in the am and pm and this worked great but i was getting a bit overstimulated so i started slowly tapering paxil i was stable for 4 mo and then zoloft stopped working i thought i could increase zoloft but i got severe gi gerd etc and have now dced zoloft and updosed paxil

[SkyBlue]

Hi Ravi,

 

I'm trying to understand what is happening -- you've got a lot going on. It sounds like you are making a lot of changes, which can be very tricky. 

 

So you have up dosed Paxil and added Prozac? 

 

I am sure a mod with more experience and wisdom than I will be along soon. 

[ChessieCat]

I've asked the other mods for some assistance with this one.

 

If you are able to list your drugs in a post like this it might be easier for us to see your drugs doses and symptoms:

 

Date From & To     Drug Name     Dose     Symptom/s

Date From & To     Drug Name     Dose     Symptom/s

Date From & To     Drug Name     Dose     Symptom/s

 

So as an example:

 

10 December 2015 to 25 January 2016     Prozac     20 mg     Became anxious

1 March to 5 May 2016                            Zoloft       10 mg     Problems sleeping

[JanCarol]

Hey RaviJaua - you've been here less than a month and changed your drugs a half dozen or more times.

 

This is setting you up for a whammy 4-6 months from now, as there is a Delayed Onset of Withdrawal Symptoms

 

Often doctors call it "relapse," but it's really withdrawal symptoms.

 

Please, if you want to get better, stop making daily, weekly changes to your drug.  This is more damaging than "wrong dose."

 

Stop making changes for at least a month - and after what you are doing, I would suggest 3 months.

 

Then, see if you feel better, and you can decide what to taper then.

 

I know you think the symptoms are bad now, but with these drugs - the largest in vivo lab experiment conducted ever - there always seems to be a worse place it can go. 

 

Changing your drugs will only make things worse.  Stop. Be still.  

 

When the symptoms get bad, consider Non Drug Techniques for Coping with Emotional Symptoms

 

Then, in 1-3 months time, you should be feeling better.  It won't be perfect (it never is) but it should be better than you are now - if you can stop making these frequent changes to your drugs.

[Altostrata]

Ravi, please stop jumping around in drugs and dosages, this is making your situation very complicated.

 

Read these carefully:

Tips for tapering off Paxil (paroxetine)

 

The Prozac switch or "bridging" with Prozac

 

Tips for tapering off Prozac (fluoxetine)

 

Perhaps you should see Dr. Stuart Shipko in Pasadena.

 

Exactly how much Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, and Lunesta are you taking now?

 

Once the nervous system is upset, it doesn't react to psychiatric drugs the way it used to. You need to go very gently.

[ravijaua]

I am taking only paxil 17 mg but feeling like hell thinking about going back down to 15 mg. i did try prozac and couldnt tolerate and took zoloft for 4 months

[Altostrata]

Exactly how much Prozac did you take, when, and when did the reactions to it start?

 

Please read those topics.

 

It might be best for you to stop making any changes right now and let your nervous system settle down. Dumping more drugs on it may not make it feel better, and further cuts can be further destabilizing.

 

Please look into contacting Dr. Shipko. He is tough but fair.

[ravijaua]

I took 10 mg prozac for only 5 days with 15 mg paxil. This was a week ago. I just increased the dose to 17 mg two days ago but having quite a sh*tty time. I could tolerate 15mg paxil but had lots of anxiety which is why i wanted to increase.

[Altostrata]

ravi, you need to understand this: Antidepressants are NOT anti-anxiety drugs. They tend to be stimulating. You are making your problem worse. More is not better.

 

If I were you, I would go back to 15mg Paxil for 5 days. You will have to manage your symptoms. We can't suggest anything that would make it better instantly; a doctor can only guess at that.

 

Many people do better with fish oil and magnesium supplements, see
http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/
http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1300-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/

A lot of people find them helpful. Try a little bit of one at a time to see how it affects you.

 

The magnesium in particular can help with anxiety, taken a little bit throughout the day.

[ravijaua]

I ordered Magnesium Glycinate From Amazon. Will try it out at 25 mg to see if it helps. Am having waves and waves of anxiety. I think all the changing caused this. Should have not changed so much.

[ravijaua]

Thx for the input all i substituted a bob big boy brownie sundae for an ativan and it worked great except for the guilt about needing to work out to make up for it but i think the neuro effects are much less right???