Sydsab41: 7 weeks into Paxil taper

[Shep]

10 hours ago, Sydsab41 said:

took 6mg Melatonin 

 

Please be careful with melatonin at this kind of high dose. Melatonin can be very helpful for some people going through withdrawal, but it's best to take a small dose.  Please see:

 

Melatonin for sleep

 

From the first post:  Large doses of melatonin do NOT aid sleep -- they might cause your oversensitive brain to wake up, instead.

 

Some helpful sleep tips:

 

Tips to help sleep - so many of us have that awful withdrawal insomnia

 

10 hours ago, Sydsab41 said:

6:00 Ate 2 eggs and took 18 mg Prozac, fish oil, magnesium, multivitamin

 

Multivitamins can be stimulating and many people going through withdrawal find them activating, especially the B vitamins that they contain. Please see:

 

Multivitamin tips

 

Hypersensitive to B vitamins or B vitamin Complex

 

Supplements - what helps, what doesn't?

 

 

 

10 hours ago, Sydsab41 said:

I have 20 mg capsules so it is hard to know the exact dosage.  I always try to cut on the same line but it does not work.  Is it better to just stay at the 20 so I know exactly what I am doing or buy a scale and measure exactly? 

 

Yes, please definitely look into either using a scale or using liquid to taper. 

 

• Using a digital scale to measure doses
• Making a liquid from a tablet or capsules

Per the Tips for tapering off prozac thread, Prozac does come in a liquid, so that may be an option, as well. 

 

Please post if you have questions about either method. 

[Sydsab41]

4/12

5:25 woke - dread

6:00 20mg Prozac, 20mg Propanolol, Magnesium and Fish oil - Egg sandwich

7:30 School start - strong dread/ some panic/ feel like I need to run away

9:00  Strong panicky feeling - stayed calm

9;30  Used change of channel....back to teaching

10:30 more calm

11:00 Lunch and meditation - 

12-2:30  Anxiety is there but functioning

3;00 Drive home was pleasant

4-9 best night I have had is a while

9  Seroquel and 3 mg Melatonin

Slept 7.5 hours - pretty good 

 

I did 20mg Prozac because I was not confident that my cut was going to be at 18 and I did not have the supplies to do it correctly.  Looking back at my notes I have been at 20mg all but like 3 days over the past 2 weeks.  

 

Does anyone have a specific suggestion on what my dosage should be?  

[Shep]

As I mentioned in an earlier post, your 2 mg decrease sounded wise, so you were already on the right path. However, now that you are feeling better, you may want to hold and give yourself some time to stabilize. It's best to make a decision and then stick to it long term, as the constant moving around can destabilize your nervous system. Since you also added in melatonin at the same time, it's hard to say what is causing what.

 

Please only make one change at a time. 

 

 

11 minutes ago, Sydsab41 said:

4-9 best night I have had is a while

 

Please see my post here with the info on using a scale and doing liquid. I would go ahead and get the supplies you need. If you decide to hold, you could use your hold time to explore the different tapering techniques and perhaps get a prescription for liquid Prozac from your doctor and be in a really good place before you re-start your taper. 

 

What do you think?

 

I do want to mention that I'm still concerned about your dose of melatonin, which is still really high. Please read my earlier post with information about taking melatonin during withdrawal. I would keep it at .25 - .50 mg and see if that's enough. When you take the Seroquel by itself, does it make you sleepy? 

 

 

 

 

[Sydsab41]

13 minutes ago, Shep said:

As I mentioned in an earlier post, your 2 mg decrease sounded wise, so you were already on the right path. However, now that you are feeling better, you may want to hold and give yourself some time to stabilize. It's best to make a decision and then stick to it long term, as the constant moving around can destabilize your nervous system. Since you also added in melatonin at the same time, it's hard to say what is causing what.

Ok I will stay at 20 because that has been the most consistent.  

14 minutes ago, Shep said:

I do want to mention that I'm still concerned about your dose of melatonin, which is still really high. Please read my earlier post with information about taking melatonin during withdrawal. I would keep it at .25 - .50 mg and see if that's enough. When you take the Seroquel by itself, does it make you sleepy? 

I thought that Melatonin was a non issue.  I have been taking it off and on for a while, but can just stop taking it if you think it has a possibility of messing with things.

 

 

[Sydsab41]

The seroquel does make me somewhat sleepy.

[Altostrata]

Does your anxiety or whatever get better or worse after you take the 20mg Prozac in the morning?

[Sydsab41]

I do not notice any difference in my anxiety in the morning since I have been taking the 20mg Prozac.  The dread and anxiety in the morning has been the same for months.

[Shep]

23 hours ago, Sydsab41 said:

I thought that Melatonin was a non issue.  I have been taking it off and on for a while, but can just stop taking it if you think it has a possibility of messing with things.

 

12 hours ago, Sydsab41 said:

The seroquel does make me somewhat sleepy.

 

Syd, just to clarify, there's nothing wrong with taking melatonin. I was concerned about the high doses you've been on (6 mg and 3 mg). Please have a read of the first post in the Melatonin for sleep thread. Taking that high a dose can actually work against you - the more you dampen down the nervous system, the more likely it is to fight back. This is called a paradoxical reaction. During withdrawal, with a sensitized nervous system, less is more. 

 

Also, since the Seroquel is helping make you sleepy, you may not need to add anything else. And if you do, stick to .25 mg to .50 mg melatonin to start out. You may find that taking the Seroquel and having an epsom salt bath (as you mentioned already doing) and viewing a guided meditation may be all that's needed to lull you into sleep. 

 

Please keep posting updates. 

[Sydsab41]

Really hard day yesterday.  The depression was very strong as it is this morning.  After 2 days where I felt I had some control, I don’t feel I have as much now.  More shaky today.  I am at a loss.  I don’t feel like I can keep doing this.  I took a .25 Xanax at 3pm yesterday but it had little effect.  I don’t know what to do.  

[Shep]

Do you feel like you were feeling better at the lower Prozac dose?

 

If so, please go ahead and figure out how you wish to taper so you can get the supplies you need. 

 

I would stop the Xanax before you develop dependency. It also could be adding to your low mood - benzos are central nervous system depressants. Best not to get dependent on them. 

 

Try to take a 15 - 30 minute walk in the sun everyday, in nature if possible. The natural vitamin D and the gentle exercise will help. 

[Sydsab41]

Thanks.  I am putting my wife through hell with my emotional instability.  I will try and use some of the change the channel things but sometimes I lose hope and get afraid I might want to hurt myself.

[Sydsab41]

Let me qualify.  I do not want to hurt myself...I am just afraid I will lose control.

[Shep]

1 hour ago, Sydsab41 said:

 I am putting my wife through hell with my emotional instability.

 

Most of us find that "fake it until you make it" mentality to help, although it can be exhausting.

 

You may want to check out the Relationships section to find ways that others are using to get through this around family and friends. This thread is a good place to start:

 

Helping Family Understand

[Sydsab41]

I stayed away from Xanax and will try and continue.  The tremors have been a little stronger the past 2 days.  Less depression yesterday but some strong panic this morning.  Still taking 20mg Prozac, fish oil, magnesium, and I did take my amway vitamin.  

[Sydsab41]

I have been off the Paxil for a week and Prozac 20mg for 2 weeks and 2 days.  Still having some rough patches with the anxiety symptoms and more depression at times but not constant.  I know originally you guys said that the Prozac may be to high but also not to change anything.  I am not sure if I should stay or change.  

[Shep]

Hi, Synd. A lot of our concern earlier on was due to moving the Prozac and the Paxil doses at the same time and also, adding in Xanax. There was too much going on. But as I mentioned before, reducing the 2 mg as you did earlier sounded like a reasonable path forward.

 

Do you have the supplies you need to taper? 

[Sydsab41]

Yes.  I will also see my doctor about a liquid.

[Sydsab41]

What are your thoughts on cbd oil for recovery and anxiety?

[Sydsab41]

This morning has been really hard.  I have internal trembling, shaky hands, cold hands, and chills to go along with my increased anxiety.    

[Shep]

On 4/16/2018 at 9:46 AM, Sydsab41 said:

What are your thoughts on cbd oil for recovery and anxiety?

 

It's a hit or a miss:

 

Cannabis, marijuana, THC, or CBD to ease withdrawal symptoms

 

If you do try this it, only try a very small amount to see how you do. 

 

Fish oil and magnesium are calming for many people going through withdrawal. These are the only two supplements that SA recommends.  I'd try those first (one at a time and at a small dose).

 

On 4/16/2018 at 12:01 PM, Sydsab41 said:

This morning has been really hard.  I have internal trembling, shaky hands, cold hands, and chills to go along with my increased anxiety. 

 

How are you doing now, Syd? Did you start reducing?

 

I think that may be the best path through this right now.