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Dragonfly55-introduction/withdrawal questions.


Dragonfly55

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Introduction :
Hi there, I am new to this website.
I have been on 20 mgs Paxil since I was 20-21 and stayed on until I was 31 where I weaned myself down to 10 mgs. Been on 10 mgs for the last 2 years. My goal is to wean down now from the 10mgs.

In November I was feeling anxious and my daughter was 4 months old...I told my doctor and he said I should go back to 20 mgs...so I did but after 5 weeks I was getting severe headaches and nausea. Told my doctor and he said cut ur pill in half and go back to 10 mgs. I said do u think I will have withdrawal....he said no u were only on 20 mgs for 5 weeks. So felt nothing after splitting the pill in half....exactly 5 weeks later I got hit with headaches, nausea, not really feeling myself....

So what I'm asking can this seriously be withdrawal after only being on 20 mgs for 5 weeks?? And I have been feeling like this for 11 days now!!! It's awful...just looking for advice or if this will eventually get better??? Don't know what to do??

Thanks

Edited by scallywag
tags

2004 Sept- 20 mgs of Paxil for Panic Disorder

2013-August to 2015-February tapered from 20mgs to 0 mgs

(20-17.5-15-12.5-10-7.5-5-2.5-0)-stayed at each dose from 2-3 months

2015-March panic disorder came back re-instated 10 mgs of Paxil

2016-Oct was increased to 20 mgs of Paxil

2016-Nov was decreased to 10 mgs of Paxil bc of side effects on the 20mg dose

2017-Jan 8.75mgs

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Dragonfly55 -- Welcome to Surviving Antidepressants (SA)

 

A request: Would you summarize your history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-18 months particularly?

  • Please use actual dates or approximate dates (mid-June, Late October) rather than relative time frames (last week, 3 months ago)
  • Please spell out the months ("Jan." or "August"); the date 1/9 can be interpreted as January 9 or September 1.
  • Any drugs prior to 18 months ago can just be listed with start and stop years.
  • You don't need to include symptoms or diagnoses other than the initial condition that led to prescribing the first drug.
  • We ask for this information in your signature so that we can see it at a glance. A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs.
  • For instructions:
To answer your question about whether you could be experiencing withdrawal after only 5 weeks at 20 mg, in one word, YES.

Your CNS (central nervous system) can become adapted to a medication in as little as 2 weeks. It's possible that is what happened with your increase from 10 mg Paxil to 20 mg.

What is withdrawal syndrome

Glenmullen’s withdrawal symptom list

 

 

You returned to 10 mg 5 weeks ago, around the start of December. The symptoms will likely settle down on their own but nobody can predict how long that will take. You have at least these two choices:

  • stay at 10 mg and wait for the symptoms to weaken and stabilize

    -- or --

  • updose, and stabilize at that dose. , and
For option 2, you could try taking ¾ of the 20 mg tablet to get 15 mg instead the ½ tablet (10 mg) you're taking now.  You'll know quickly if that's a bad idea.  It takes longer to see positive results, at least 4 days for the new dose to reach steady state and then at least another week for your CNS to adapt to the new dose and start shutting down the symptoms.

 

Either way, the stabilization is important. Then after a couple of months with stable symptoms or no symptoms, you could taper down.

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

Tips for tapering off Paxil (paroxetine)

 

Whatever you decide, you may find it helpful to supplement with Omega 3 fatty acids and/or magnesium. Many people find benefit in them. Start with one at a low amount and work your way up to the full recommended dose on the bottle.

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil)

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker

 

I hope you'll find the information in the SA forums helpful for your situation. I'm sorry that you are in the position that you need the information, but am glad that you found us.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

Link to comment

Amazing!!! Will do my signature right now!! Thanks

2004 Sept- 20 mgs of Paxil for Panic Disorder

2013-August to 2015-February tapered from 20mgs to 0 mgs

(20-17.5-15-12.5-10-7.5-5-2.5-0)-stayed at each dose from 2-3 months

2015-March panic disorder came back re-instated 10 mgs of Paxil

2016-Oct was increased to 20 mgs of Paxil

2016-Nov was decreased to 10 mgs of Paxil bc of side effects on the 20mg dose

2017-Jan 8.75mgs

Link to comment

Welcome Shalisa

In addition to that amazing post by SW you might also find the book 'Anatomy of an epidemic' by R Whitaker very informative.

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

 

 

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I am currently on 10 mgs of Paxil from 20 mgs. Been on 10 mgs for almost 2 months and still have headaches, and not feeling well. I am contemplating going up to 15 mgs but don't want to give in also. So frustrating just don't feel like myself :(

 

The reason I went down from 20 mgs is because I was having horrible nauseau and headaches and doctor said side effects or tolerance bc I have been on for 12 years.

2004 Sept- 20 mgs of Paxil for Panic Disorder

2013-August to 2015-February tapered from 20mgs to 0 mgs

(20-17.5-15-12.5-10-7.5-5-2.5-0)-stayed at each dose from 2-3 months

2015-March panic disorder came back re-instated 10 mgs of Paxil

2016-Oct was increased to 20 mgs of Paxil

2016-Nov was decreased to 10 mgs of Paxil bc of side effects on the 20mg dose

2017-Jan 8.75mgs

Link to comment

Welcome.  I wonder if you could just go up a little, to 11 or 12 mg.  Sometimes just a small updose can make a huge difference.  You would have to have a jewelry scale and measure the whole pill and then do the calculation from there.  I have been using a jewelry scale to make my reductions for quite a while now.   

zoloft 2004-08 tapered too fast(2 weeks)
Luvox 5/08 100 mg 07/10 40mg via small reductions, 08/10 39mg, 09/10 38mg, 10/10 37mg, 11/10 36mg,2/11 35mg, 5/11 34mg, 8/11 33mg, 11/11 32mg, 01/12 31mg, 03/12 30mg, 4/12 29mg, 5/12 28 mg, 8/12 27 mg, 11/12 26 mg, 1/13 25 mg, 3/13 24 mg, 4/13 23 mg,6/13 22 mg, 7/13 21 mg, 8/13 20mg, 10/13 19 mg, 11/13 18 mg, 12/13 17 mg, 1/14 16 mg, 3/14 13 mg, 9/14 10.9 mg,  1/15 10 mg, 3/15  9 mg,  5/15 8 mg. 11/15 7.12 mg.  4/16  5 mg, 6/16   4.5 mg,  9/16 4.2 mg, 1/17 3.48 mg, 2/17  3.2 mg,  4/17 2.2 mg, 5/17 2.0 mg, 6/17  1.74 mg, 7/17 1.58 mg, 9/17 1.27 mg, 11/17 1.0 mg,  1/18 0.79 mg

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Thank you for the advice!! I was on 10 mgs for almost 2 years doing fine then as soon as my doctor increased my dose to 20 mgs I didn't like it so after 5 weeks reduced back to 10 mgs. Had horrible withdrawal but worked through it and now almost 2 months later feel awful still :(

 

Just don't know what I should do next. So crappy

2004 Sept- 20 mgs of Paxil for Panic Disorder

2013-August to 2015-February tapered from 20mgs to 0 mgs

(20-17.5-15-12.5-10-7.5-5-2.5-0)-stayed at each dose from 2-3 months

2015-March panic disorder came back re-instated 10 mgs of Paxil

2016-Oct was increased to 20 mgs of Paxil

2016-Nov was decreased to 10 mgs of Paxil bc of side effects on the 20mg dose

2017-Jan 8.75mgs

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

You've been at 10 mg for 2 months, jumping up to 15 may be further destabilizing; mustangwoman's suggestion of trying 11 or 12 mg is a good one.

 

If you're dealing with the convenience factor of splitting pills, 12.5 mg would be a 10 mg tablet + ¼ of a 10 mg tablet.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

Link to comment

Thank u!!! So do u think the headaches are still from

The withdrawal and lowering the dose so drastically.

2004 Sept- 20 mgs of Paxil for Panic Disorder

2013-August to 2015-February tapered from 20mgs to 0 mgs

(20-17.5-15-12.5-10-7.5-5-2.5-0)-stayed at each dose from 2-3 months

2015-March panic disorder came back re-instated 10 mgs of Paxil

2016-Oct was increased to 20 mgs of Paxil

2016-Nov was decreased to 10 mgs of Paxil bc of side effects on the 20mg dose

2017-Jan 8.75mgs

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Headaches can be a symptom of withdrawal and withdrawal symptoms can last for weeks and months.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

Link to comment

Welcome dragonfly!

 

What do you mean you felt nothing after splitting the20 fm pill?

 

Assuming you meant ok, with headache and nausea gone, below is my guess.

 

It sounds to me it's side effects as you started having headache and nausea when you updosed to 20, which were gone when you dropped to 10 mg, then back after 5 weeks. The initial side effects was relieved from dropping dose, but reappeared after the dropping effects are stopped when you are holding at 10.

Drug free Sep. 23 2017

2009 Mar.: lexapro 10mg for headache for 2 weeks.

2009-2012: on and off 1/4 to 1/3 of 10mg

2012 June--2013 Jan,: 1/4-1/3 of 10mg generic, bad jaw pain

2013 Jan-Mar: 10 mg generic. severe jaw and head pain;

2013 Mar--Aug. started tapering (liquid ever since) from 10 to 5 (one step) then gradually down to 2.25 mg by July. first ever panic attack, severe head/jaw pain

2013 Aug.: back to 2.75 mg; Nov: back to Brand Lex. 2.75mg -- 3mg,

2014 June: stopped PPI, head pressure/numbness. up-dosed 4.5mg, severe reaction mental symptoms added on

2014 Aug--2015 Aug: Micro taper down to 3.2mg, .025mg (<1%) cut holding 2-3 weeks.

2015 Aug 15th, Accidental one dose of 4.2mg. worsening brain non-functional, swollen head, body, coma like, DR

2016 Feb., started dosing 10am through 11 pm everyday 2/13--3.2mg, 3/15-- 2.9mg, 4/19-- 2.6mg, 6/26--2.2mg, 7/22 --1.9mg, 8/16--1.8mg,8/31--1.7m g, 9/13--1.6mg, 9/27--1.5mg, 10/8--1.4mg, 10/14--1.3mg, 11/1--1.2mg, 11/29--1.1mg, 12/12--1mg, 12/22--0.9mg

2017: 1/7--0.8mg, 1/15--0.7mg, 1/17--0.6mg, 1/20--0.52, 1/21--0.4mg, 1/22--0.26, 1/23--0.2, 2/13--0.13mg, 2/20--0.06mg, 3/18--0.13mg, 6/1--0.12mg, 7/6--0.1mg, 7/14--0.08mg, 8/17--0.04mg, 8/20--0.03mg, 8/28--0.02mg, 9/6--0.0205mg, 9/8--0.02mg, 9/17--0.015mg, 9/20--0.01mg, 9/21--0.0048mg, 9/22--0.0001mg,

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Welcome DF

Just wanted to say i agree with sw, that dependancy could be established in as little time as 2 weeks.

Authority figures say its at about a month but imo it could well be similar to benzo timeframes.

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

Thanks for reply

2004 Sept- 20 mgs of Paxil for Panic Disorder

2013-August to 2015-February tapered from 20mgs to 0 mgs

(20-17.5-15-12.5-10-7.5-5-2.5-0)-stayed at each dose from 2-3 months

2015-March panic disorder came back re-instated 10 mgs of Paxil

2016-Oct was increased to 20 mgs of Paxil

2016-Nov was decreased to 10 mgs of Paxil bc of side effects on the 20mg dose

2017-Jan 8.75mgs

Link to comment

When I went from 20mgs to 10mgs the first 4 weeks I had no side effects and then the 4th week on this dose of 10 mgs was hit with nauseau, headaches, dizziness, vomitting. Still have headaches and a bit of nausea and dizziness...

 

That's what I was wondering too...when the dose was increased to 20mgs (4-5 weeks later suffered severe headaches) that's why doctor decreased me back to 10 mgs said it was side effects. But now that I am on 10 mgs (4 weeks later) hit with the above symptoms.

 

so frustrating. Don't know what to do...

2004 Sept- 20 mgs of Paxil for Panic Disorder

2013-August to 2015-February tapered from 20mgs to 0 mgs

(20-17.5-15-12.5-10-7.5-5-2.5-0)-stayed at each dose from 2-3 months

2015-March panic disorder came back re-instated 10 mgs of Paxil

2016-Oct was increased to 20 mgs of Paxil

2016-Nov was decreased to 10 mgs of Paxil bc of side effects on the 20mg dose

2017-Jan 8.75mgs

Link to comment

If it's side effects...what should I do?? Continue with the 10% taper or do more to get off?!

 

I have been on this medication for 10 years and never had side effects like this before....

 

Been feeling crappy now for almost 3 weeks!! So hard

To know what it is...side effects/withdrawal??

2004 Sept- 20 mgs of Paxil for Panic Disorder

2013-August to 2015-February tapered from 20mgs to 0 mgs

(20-17.5-15-12.5-10-7.5-5-2.5-0)-stayed at each dose from 2-3 months

2015-March panic disorder came back re-instated 10 mgs of Paxil

2016-Oct was increased to 20 mgs of Paxil

2016-Nov was decreased to 10 mgs of Paxil bc of side effects on the 20mg dose

2017-Jan 8.75mgs

Link to comment

I believe these are not side effects they are wdl symptoms.

You have upset the apple-cart and now you are trying to put it back together again.

Just out of interest when you jumped back up to 20 did the symptoms recede within a day or so? or did the symptoms stay the same for the whole time like brain foggy and headachy vomiting nausea ?

 

When I went from 20mgs to 10mgs the first 4 weeks I had no side effects and then the 4th week on this dose of 10 mgs was hit

Nothing surprising here side effects withdrawal symptoms can be delayed for several weeks uncannily two months is very common.

 

I would not panic and start tapering fast to get off imo if you do that you will end up suffering unimaginably.

The best thing now is to pick a dose and stick to it and SW's advice and logic for 12.5mg is a good one.

 

Still have headaches and a bit of nausea and dizziness..

So do you think things are improving then?

This is not too bad as symptoms go believe me things could be a lot worse.

 

If you think you can hold this on 10 until symptoms decrease then thats your decision.

It may take several months for things to settle down maybe more maybe less.

The last thing you want to do now is start playing yo-yoing with doses.

 

You will just have to be patient.

Spend some time reading the links and getting informed so that in the months ahead when you stabilize and decide to taper you can do it safely and in an informed manner and will not be pushed in wrong unsafe directions by misinformed doctors who refuse to try some of there own medicine. YOU will be in control of the process. And YOU will recognize deep nonsense when you hear  it.

Can you get the book Anatomy of an epidemic by Whitaker A 2010 award winning piece. Its a must read it may even join some dots for you.

 

Been feeling crappy now for almost 3 weeks

As i say you will just have to be patient.

Hang in there. Try not to panic it will pass.

in this game dont think in weeks think in months some of us are thinking in years. These are not candies or aspirins we been swallowing. They are highly addictive brain altering unsafe chemicals see the McLAren quote in my drug sig.

 

I have been on this medication for 10 years and never had side effects like this before....

You may have but you just called it something else like in 2015 it appears you called it 'panic disorder relapse'. I believe it should have been called ssri withdrawal from a too fast taper its an iatrogenic illness not acknowledged by doctors

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

Thank u so much!!!!! ???????? Amazing advice :) I will keep u updated!!!

2004 Sept- 20 mgs of Paxil for Panic Disorder

2013-August to 2015-February tapered from 20mgs to 0 mgs

(20-17.5-15-12.5-10-7.5-5-2.5-0)-stayed at each dose from 2-3 months

2015-March panic disorder came back re-instated 10 mgs of Paxil

2016-Oct was increased to 20 mgs of Paxil

2016-Nov was decreased to 10 mgs of Paxil bc of side effects on the 20mg dose

2017-Jan 8.75mgs

Link to comment

I think I'm going to stay on the 10 and keep riding it out as I have gone this far and then when feel somewhat better start decreasing!!!

2004 Sept- 20 mgs of Paxil for Panic Disorder

2013-August to 2015-February tapered from 20mgs to 0 mgs

(20-17.5-15-12.5-10-7.5-5-2.5-0)-stayed at each dose from 2-3 months

2015-March panic disorder came back re-instated 10 mgs of Paxil

2016-Oct was increased to 20 mgs of Paxil

2016-Nov was decreased to 10 mgs of Paxil bc of side effects on the 20mg dose

2017-Jan 8.75mgs

Link to comment

Also when I was on 10 mgs after the birth of my daughter started feeling anxious...doctor increased my meds to 20mgs. Had no headaches/nausea. Around the 5 week mark started to get headaches...doctor said must be from the increase so what do u want to do? I said what are my options...he said work thru the headaches or decrease back to 10mgs. The headaches were horrible and for about a week straight so I said I will go back down. I asked will I get any type of withdrawal...he said NO you have only been on for 5 weeks....so believed him. Felt a little off the first week very minor minor symptoms like hot flashes and very little zaps. Was only a couple days. Day 33 to be exact from dosage change was hit with vomiting, headaches, nausea,crying because I was so sick this lasted a good week and then everything has eased up except headaches and nausea with a little bit of not feeling myself...like depersonalization.

 

I don't want to tell my doctor bc I know he will say either go back up to 20 or go down to 5 then off. He doesn't get it.

2004 Sept- 20 mgs of Paxil for Panic Disorder

2013-August to 2015-February tapered from 20mgs to 0 mgs

(20-17.5-15-12.5-10-7.5-5-2.5-0)-stayed at each dose from 2-3 months

2015-March panic disorder came back re-instated 10 mgs of Paxil

2016-Oct was increased to 20 mgs of Paxil

2016-Nov was decreased to 10 mgs of Paxil bc of side effects on the 20mg dose

2017-Jan 8.75mgs

Link to comment

Felt a little off the first week very minor minor symptoms like hot flashes and very little zaps. Was only a couple days. Day 33 to be exact from dosage change was hit with vomiting, headaches, nausea,crying because I was so sick this lasted a good week and then everything has eased up except headaches and nausea with a little bit of not feeling myself...like depersonalization.

 

I don't want to tell my doctor bc I know he will say either go back up to 20 or go down to 5 then off. He doesn't get it.

Day 33 your symptoms were classic wdl symptoms

Keep in mind to that wdl can have good and bad days. The bad days will pass. Many people  panic and go the doctor asking for answers. It can a dangerous action because you will be blamed and not the drug.

He doesnt get it

Many of us have doctors like this.

 

Print out the Glenmullen checklist from above link given to you by SW and you will see crying spells coming in at number one on the list.

Glenmullen got people to do the checklist daily in order to monitor and keep track or changes improvements etc

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

NZ11 is right, the docs don't get.  No one does unless they go through it, or someone they care about goes through it.  Hope you are feeling better today.

zoloft 2004-08 tapered too fast(2 weeks)
Luvox 5/08 100 mg 07/10 40mg via small reductions, 08/10 39mg, 09/10 38mg, 10/10 37mg, 11/10 36mg,2/11 35mg, 5/11 34mg, 8/11 33mg, 11/11 32mg, 01/12 31mg, 03/12 30mg, 4/12 29mg, 5/12 28 mg, 8/12 27 mg, 11/12 26 mg, 1/13 25 mg, 3/13 24 mg, 4/13 23 mg,6/13 22 mg, 7/13 21 mg, 8/13 20mg, 10/13 19 mg, 11/13 18 mg, 12/13 17 mg, 1/14 16 mg, 3/14 13 mg, 9/14 10.9 mg,  1/15 10 mg, 3/15  9 mg,  5/15 8 mg. 11/15 7.12 mg.  4/16  5 mg, 6/16   4.5 mg,  9/16 4.2 mg, 1/17 3.48 mg, 2/17  3.2 mg,  4/17 2.2 mg, 5/17 2.0 mg, 6/17  1.74 mg, 7/17 1.58 mg, 9/17 1.27 mg, 11/17 1.0 mg,  1/18 0.79 mg

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I just want to say thank you so much for ur advice and reply's. The last couple days I have finally been feeling like myself and better. Went and talked to the doctor today and he said absolutely withdrawal can last this long and that he has patients say it can last up to 6 weeks when doing dosage changes. So happy to have this support and going to wait a bit before I decrease anymore as the 10 mg drop did a lot to my mind and body. I will get off this medication and can't wait to document my journey.

Thanks again!!!!!!!! Finally feeling better and no headaches woohoo!!!!

2004 Sept- 20 mgs of Paxil for Panic Disorder

2013-August to 2015-February tapered from 20mgs to 0 mgs

(20-17.5-15-12.5-10-7.5-5-2.5-0)-stayed at each dose from 2-3 months

2015-March panic disorder came back re-instated 10 mgs of Paxil

2016-Oct was increased to 20 mgs of Paxil

2016-Nov was decreased to 10 mgs of Paxil bc of side effects on the 20mg dose

2017-Jan 8.75mgs

Link to comment

Dragonfly. I'm so glad you're feeling better .

 

 I would take it very slow from hereon in.

The slowness of slow tapers

 

Tips for tapering off Paxil (paroxetine)

 

Read the links and take your time stabilizing.

Many SSRI's and SSNRI's over 20 years. Zoloft for 7 years followed by Effexor, Lexapro, Prozac, Cymbalta, Celexa, Pristiq, Valdoxan, Mianserin and more - on and off. No tapering. Cold turkey off Valdoxan - end of May 2014

 

                                                  Psych Drug - free since May 2014
.
         

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Thank you!!! And read both links :)

2004 Sept- 20 mgs of Paxil for Panic Disorder

2013-August to 2015-February tapered from 20mgs to 0 mgs

(20-17.5-15-12.5-10-7.5-5-2.5-0)-stayed at each dose from 2-3 months

2015-March panic disorder came back re-instated 10 mgs of Paxil

2016-Oct was increased to 20 mgs of Paxil

2016-Nov was decreased to 10 mgs of Paxil bc of side effects on the 20mg dose

2017-Jan 8.75mgs

Link to comment

I was just wondering if anyone has any links or advice for when panic starts to set back in. I was on Paxil for Panic Disorder as I had one panic attack when I was in my 20's and then feared places/situations bc I was scared I would have another. As I am now on 10 mgs I feel I am starting to think about them again and just wondering if anyone has advice or email links on how to control this?!

2004 Sept- 20 mgs of Paxil for Panic Disorder

2013-August to 2015-February tapered from 20mgs to 0 mgs

(20-17.5-15-12.5-10-7.5-5-2.5-0)-stayed at each dose from 2-3 months

2015-March panic disorder came back re-instated 10 mgs of Paxil

2016-Oct was increased to 20 mgs of Paxil

2016-Nov was decreased to 10 mgs of Paxil bc of side effects on the 20mg dose

2017-Jan 8.75mgs

Link to comment

I am now down to 8.75mgs!!!! Woohoo slow and steady wins the race!!!

2004 Sept- 20 mgs of Paxil for Panic Disorder

2013-August to 2015-February tapered from 20mgs to 0 mgs

(20-17.5-15-12.5-10-7.5-5-2.5-0)-stayed at each dose from 2-3 months

2015-March panic disorder came back re-instated 10 mgs of Paxil

2016-Oct was increased to 20 mgs of Paxil

2016-Nov was decreased to 10 mgs of Paxil bc of side effects on the 20mg dose

2017-Jan 8.75mgs

Link to comment

 I would take it very slow from hereon in.

The slowness of slow tapers

 

Tips for tapering off Paxil (paroxetine)

 

Read the links and take your time stabilizing.

I agree with AliG,

 

Just out of interest what taper % are you intending to use? Or for that matter what taper method are you using?

What voices are you listening to ...the doctors?

 

What happened to the 'i am going to wait a bit before i decrease anymore'.

 

For dealing with panic you might like to check out the Claire weeks thread, just been looking for it but cant see it buts its here somewhere.

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

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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I have been on 10 mgs for 2 months which I think is a good time. Hence why I have started my taper. I am tapering 1.25 mgs every 6 weeks until I get to 5 mgs and will stay at 5 for a couple months. I live in Canada and can only cut the pills. The best way so the cuts are more accurate are to decrease by 1.25mg. This is with my doctor and therapist by my side and if at any time it gets too hard I will stay at a certain dose longer than 6 weeks.

 

10-8.75-7.5-6.25-5 is what my taper schedule is going to look like until I get to 5.

2004 Sept- 20 mgs of Paxil for Panic Disorder

2013-August to 2015-February tapered from 20mgs to 0 mgs

(20-17.5-15-12.5-10-7.5-5-2.5-0)-stayed at each dose from 2-3 months

2015-March panic disorder came back re-instated 10 mgs of Paxil

2016-Oct was increased to 20 mgs of Paxil

2016-Nov was decreased to 10 mgs of Paxil bc of side effects on the 20mg dose

2017-Jan 8.75mgs

Link to comment

Thanks for the Claire Weeks I have really enjoyed her stuff. And been working really hard with my therapist and finally got these panic attacks under control which is an amazing feeling!!!

2004 Sept- 20 mgs of Paxil for Panic Disorder

2013-August to 2015-February tapered from 20mgs to 0 mgs

(20-17.5-15-12.5-10-7.5-5-2.5-0)-stayed at each dose from 2-3 months

2015-March panic disorder came back re-instated 10 mgs of Paxil

2016-Oct was increased to 20 mgs of Paxil

2016-Nov was decreased to 10 mgs of Paxil bc of side effects on the 20mg dose

2017-Jan 8.75mgs

Link to comment

Thanks cc for finding the CW link cc.

 

DF what you are calling panic attacks are probably wdl symptoms does the doctor and therapist acknowledge that.

 

What do you think about weighing the drug to be more accurate.

You can buy some scales online and they post it to you.(Gemini 20) 

imo it would be much better option to do it this way.

 

Your method is at odds with the tapering advice that is rec here and which has shown to give the best chance of success. ie every consecutive drop gets smaller.

 

I notice this current tapering endeavour is based on the same method as your previous one which didnt end well and resulted in a ri.

Was the last tapering method your doctors idea? Is this current plan your doctors idea? What will the doctor do if ssri wdl is triggered? and you cant hold? The wdl symptoms can be delayed and are accumulative.

 

I know paxil wdl well and you dont want to trigger wdl and put yourself in a place where 'its too hard' (you have mother responsibilities) with the view that  'oh i'll just use a long hold as a safety net' if it gets too much. 

I also am of the opinion that every time you ri the prison bars thicken ie it will not be so easy to get off the next time. This is how it was at least for me  perhaps you are different and will have no problems.

 

Wishing you the well for your taper im just saying if you get scales you can get more accuracy with the dosages and better approx the sert diagrams with your taper trajectory.

Have you read about the SERT study . Would you consider putting aside 30 mins to read this link. It could be 30 mins well spent.

nz11

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

Where do u buy a scale like that??

2004 Sept- 20 mgs of Paxil for Panic Disorder

2013-August to 2015-February tapered from 20mgs to 0 mgs

(20-17.5-15-12.5-10-7.5-5-2.5-0)-stayed at each dose from 2-3 months

2015-March panic disorder came back re-instated 10 mgs of Paxil

2016-Oct was increased to 20 mgs of Paxil

2016-Nov was decreased to 10 mgs of Paxil bc of side effects on the 20mg dose

2017-Jan 8.75mgs

Link to comment

I know what withdrawal feels like and the panic attacks I have are the same ones the reason I went on this medication. As I have been on so long I think I reached a tolerance. I have been dealing with panic attacks on my own for the last 2 years (while being on medication) with me finally getting a therapist a couple months back which has helped me tremendously!!

 

If u read my signature my drops were 10-7.5-5-2.5-0.

These drops didn't effect me at all really. I had to return back to work from being off for a year and had horrible anxiety about leaving my child for the first time and she was my first born.

 

This time I am doing 10-8.75-7.5-6.25-5.

 

Once on 5 I would stay on for awhil like months to a year and then go from there. From 5 down I will prolly only do .25 drops.

 

I know and have read what is recommended but like I said I live in Canada and their is no liquid and this is also what the pharmacist said would be best as when u cut the pills too many times u loose a little bit here and there.

 

It's a different doctor helping me this time. He really understands everything and is very supportive. He actually doesn't prescribe Paxil bc he knows how hard it is to come off of. He says he has over 2500 patients and I am the only one on Paxil bc I came to him already on it. His advice is to cross taper with Prozac, but I said no as I don't want to be on any other medication.

 

Thanks for the advice tho and I did read that link.

 

I'm just surrounding myself with the gym, vitamins, and positive people ;)

2004 Sept- 20 mgs of Paxil for Panic Disorder

2013-August to 2015-February tapered from 20mgs to 0 mgs

(20-17.5-15-12.5-10-7.5-5-2.5-0)-stayed at each dose from 2-3 months

2015-March panic disorder came back re-instated 10 mgs of Paxil

2016-Oct was increased to 20 mgs of Paxil

2016-Nov was decreased to 10 mgs of Paxil bc of side effects on the 20mg dose

2017-Jan 8.75mgs

Link to comment

NZ11- also is their somewhere or a link that will tell u how to measure ur pills on a scale?? I would do this as I am in no rush...it was just my therapist, doctor and pharmacist idea as they said best way to be cutting pills as there is no liquid form.....and I thought this was closest to the 10%.

 

I have been on Paxil for 10+years and know the withdrawal all to well and would rather do smaller increments if I can...

 

Thanks in advance

2004 Sept- 20 mgs of Paxil for Panic Disorder

2013-August to 2015-February tapered from 20mgs to 0 mgs

(20-17.5-15-12.5-10-7.5-5-2.5-0)-stayed at each dose from 2-3 months

2015-March panic disorder came back re-instated 10 mgs of Paxil

2016-Oct was increased to 20 mgs of Paxil

2016-Nov was decreased to 10 mgs of Paxil bc of side effects on the 20mg dose

2017-Jan 8.75mgs

Link to comment

Hi DF

Yep i realise the first taper attempt you dropped by a constant 2.5 mg

Now you are doing the same method only now you are dropping by a constant 1.25mg.

What has been found more successful is to drop as a % of the previous dose so each subsequent drop gets smaller.

So it sounds like the new doctor has given you the same method just a different constant drop.

 

Doesnt your new doctors patients use liquid or scales? How are they tapering? Or do they have no problem with a pill cutter?

 

The link SW gave you above

ie Tips for tapering off Paxil (paroxetine)

can explain scales and liquid.

 

If you read down the page it says:

Precisely weighing tablet pieces or crushed tablets with an electronic digital scale
You may wish to precisely measure your dosage with an electronic scale that measures milligrams. These are available for under $30 US. See Using a digital scale to measure doses

 

I think you can buy scales on ebay or im sure a canadian equivalent.

I posted in the nz members thread details shared with me about a nz-er who bought some scales and had them sent from the states. By the way he was on paxil and went drug free dec 2016 after 8 (eight) years of tapering. I kid you not. He jumped of at about 0.3mg from memory.

 

Maybe your doctor doesnt prescribe paxil but prescribes prozac and lexapro and remeron and citalopram etc.

My new doctor said he doesnt prescribe paxil but later went on to say that he has many men on an ssri. Oh boy.

 

Anyway hey are you sure you cant get liquid ? did you try googling for it or ask you pharmacist were to obtain it.

Any Canadians out there can advise on where to order liquid?

What do you think about making your own liquid?

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

I totally get what ur saying (light bulb goes on) so instead of doing a constant drop like I was before of 2.5 and now 1.25 I need to calculate the last dosage because the amount will

get smaller each drop so therefore shouldn't do a same drop each time!!!!!! I totally get it and see what u mean!! I went to the pharmacist today about the liquid and she said they don't make it and then I asked if she could make my pills in 1mg's or weigh them for me and she said no! Liquid Paxil just seems so much easier then cutting pills. I just ordered that gemini20 online and watched some YouTube videos on how to weigh the pills out!!!

 

Thanks I will keep u posted!!

 

I am so not good at math, is there a link for a taper schedule of 10% coming off of 10mgs.....I prolly could look online too.

 

NZ11 thanks ????????????????

2004 Sept- 20 mgs of Paxil for Panic Disorder

2013-August to 2015-February tapered from 20mgs to 0 mgs

(20-17.5-15-12.5-10-7.5-5-2.5-0)-stayed at each dose from 2-3 months

2015-March panic disorder came back re-instated 10 mgs of Paxil

2016-Oct was increased to 20 mgs of Paxil

2016-Nov was decreased to 10 mgs of Paxil bc of side effects on the 20mg dose

2017-Jan 8.75mgs

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