bhasski Posted April 24, 2018 Share Posted April 24, 2018 serrj, Paxil is very difficult to withdraw from. I know from my end how severe it could be.. You need to be patient and observe your reinstatement pattern. Write the pros and cons here and ask experienced people here. Cold turkey is not an answer. Trust me as a fellow Paxil sufferer and not get into decision of the time you are off - which I got caught into and many others ? It has taken a lot of time and I am still suffering. Skip my rant and reread the first para. I just want to convey that more. Bhasski 08/13 - 01/14Olanzapine, petril MD (Clonazepam ), Dicorate ER (divalproex). Soza 10 (Zolpidem) 02/14 - 05/14Flunil 20mg , Divaa OD 250 mg(divalproex), Amisulpride 50mg (1-0-2), zolfresh 5 mg , Quetiapine05/14 - 08/14 Venlafaxine 75 xr ( 1-0-1), zapiz 0.2510/14 Zaptra 12.5mg , Oxetol xr 150mg (0-0-1)11/14 - 08/15Paris CR 25 (paroxetine) , Oxetol xr 600 mg (0-0-1), nitrest 5mg , Quetiapine for a month.09/15-11 Venlafaxine XR 75 ( 1-0-1), Mirtazipine 15, Respiredal 0.5, Lamitor 25, zillion 10.12/15-02/16 Off Meds (C.T) 03/16-Mid April Sertraline, Aripropazole, Quetiapine, Etizolam. After that : CT and on OTC supplements (Roadback), now on Ayurveda Link to comment
Miko789 Posted April 27, 2018 Share Posted April 27, 2018 Serrj, paxil is the most a/d to withdraw, it took me 3 years to taper from 10mg to 0mg and you tapered it in 7 months, its too fast. You need to have patience and my best advice I can give you is to find a quiet place to taper Miko 2011 protracted withdrawal symptoms from Effexor, managed to come off 2013-2015 risperidone consta 50 mg, started tapering from March 2015 to 1,66mg/day and from 02/2015 started seroxat 10mg/day 01/17 Seroxat 2,0mg,olanzapine 5mg,risperidone consta 25mg/every 15days 05/17 Seroxat 1mg,olanzapine 5mg,risp.consta 25mg/every 15days 06/17 Seroxat 2drops,olanzapine 5mg,liquid risperidone2mg 07/17 Seroxat 1 drop,olanzapine 5mg,Risperidone 0mg, 10/17 Seroxat 0mg,olanzapine,5mg,Risperidone 0mg, 12/17 Seroxat 1/2 drop, olanzapine 5mg, 04/18 Olanzapine 1,25mg, 04/18 xanax 0,5mg 24/06/2019 doc said to take 10mg olanzapine for 13days and down to 5mg been taking 10mg for 14 days, 5mg for 8 days and tapered to 3/4quart. 5mg for 14 days, 1/2 for 14 days, 01/08/19 2,5mg 08/2021 5mg olanzapine Supplements Omega 3, Turmeric, Bacopa monneri, Mucuna Pruriens Link to comment
serrj Posted April 30, 2018 Author Share Posted April 30, 2018 Small update on my situation: Insomnia is not so severe as it was, but it gives no relief. I sleep 2-3 hours, then I wake. Then again 2-3 hours of sleep. And I have a feeling that I'm not entering deep sleep at all, only REM. Dreams mostly are ok, nothing special. But some nights I have nightmares. I tried Seroquel 25mg some nights. It make me sleep better, but I don't like feeling it gives me next morning. I try to avoid it. Strange pain in whole body (mostly limbs), which is hard to describe. I had it in the past, as a part of situational anxiety. For example when I'm in airplane (I have aerophobia), or when I'm worrying too much about something. Now I have this pain mostly 24/7, even is there is no reason to worry. I've not found anything yet, that will give me relief from this pain. I don't even know if there is a name for this pain. Emotional numbness. I feel nothing. Cannot cry. Cannot feel positive emotions to my parents, my wife and two beautiful parrots. Anhedonia. This is self-explanatory. I hear music that I used to love and can't enjoy it. I feel no interest to activities I used to like. I don't enjoy my 205HP Ford Fiesta ST anymore. My collection of drones collecting dust on a shelf. Most activities I do daily (morning routine, drive, work, cook, clean, bath) are "robotic"/zombie-like. I do them because I know how to do them. I learned in past. Hypochondria and self-diagnosing: oh yes, I have all possible mental illness, including but not limited to: treatment resistant depression, borderline personality , schizoaffective and bipolar disorders. All of them simultaneously. Is it a life? I wish I'd better had cancer, seriously. I see pdoc every week. She insist I should up my Paxil to 30mg/day. I don't want to. Current Meds: Paxil: 6.7 mg/day (yes, I upped dosage by 1.7mg to see if there any difference. No difference so far.) Seroquel: 25 mg/2-3 times a week before sleep Oxazepam: 5mg PRN (mostly at night to return to sleep) Suppliments: none Any advice highly appreciated. Link to comment
serrj Posted May 2, 2018 Author Share Posted May 2, 2018 What are the most common signs of bad reaction on reinstatement? I made a mistake and reinstated on higher dosage Paxil after being 2 weeks off. I did not had immediate bad/adverse reaction but my situation is very far from stable. Most physical symptoms are gone (heart rate and appetite normalized). But my head is total mess: daily mix of pretty nasty emotions, anxious flashbacks from the past, poor concentration and memory issues. Also anxiety that comes and go in waves every few hours. And of course insomnia. Is it wise for me now to taper a little bit back and see how it will go? I'm on 6.7 mg now. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus SkyBlue Posted May 3, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted May 3, 2018 On 5/2/2018 at 8:31 AM, serrj said: I made a mistake and reinstated on higher dosage Paxil after being 2 weeks off. Is it wise for me now to taper a little bit back and see how it will go? I'm on 6.7 mg now. Hi serjj, Had you gone to 0mg Paxil for two weeks, then accidentally updosed? Or had you been taking 5mg and accidentally took 6.7mg? 2020: After 18+ years (entire adult life) on Paxil, a dangerous doctor-led "taper" in 2015, and four years tapering off the last 1 mg thanks to SA and the Brassmonkey slide, I AM COMPLETELY FREE OF PAXIL! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Forever. 2021: Began conservative, proper, CNS-respecting taper of Zoloft, led by the only expert on me -- me. Making own liquid. 5-10% plus holds. 2022: Holding on Zoloft for now. Current dose 47 mg. Hanging in, hanging on. Severe protracted PAWS, windows and waves. While I may not be doing "a lot" by outside standards, things are graaaaadually getting better. Yoga (gentle to medium); walks; daily breath practice; nutrition, fruits/veg; nature; water; EastEnders (lol); practicing self-compassion, self-care; boundaries; connection; allowing feelings; t r u s t ing that I, too, will heal. (--> may need to be reminded of this.) "You are not alone, and this is not the end of your story." - Baylissa Link to comment
serrj Posted May 4, 2018 Author Share Posted May 4, 2018 12 hours ago, SkyBlue said: Hi serjj, Had you gone to 0mg Paxil for two weeks, then accidentally updosed? Or had you been taking 5mg and accidentally took 6.7mg? Hi @SkyBlue, both statements are wrong. I've been on 2.5mg last few months, then stopped taking it for 12 days. After 12 days I reinstated on 5mg/day, due to intense withdraws (insomnia, panic, depression,...). I updosed to 6.7mg few days ago. I'm on 5th week of reinstatement and things don't go well so far . Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus apace41 Posted May 4, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted May 4, 2018 Hi, Serrj. I have not been following your thread until now but wanted to chime in with some thoughts. As you already know, your original taper was not really much of a taper and your second effort wasn't all that much better. Not your fault but just stating the facts. It is not a surprise, therefore, that you brain is, in your words, a "wreck". I think that reinstatement was the right approach but now the burden is on you to try to sit tight and let the reinstatement take hold. After all these fluctuations it is unreasonable to think you will stabilize in short order. It is most likely going to take some time for your body to adjust to the new level and find homeostasis at that level. That means you are likely to continue to have symptoms and be uncomfortable. Thus, you will be tempted to shift your dose up and down as you have. The problem is that serves only to confuse an already battered and bruised brain and nervous system. You need to simply stay where you are for the foreseeable future and do your best to practice self-soothing techniques to try to get by, day by day, as your brain adjusts. Whether you choose 5mg or 6.7mg at this point is probably not a huge issue, rather, the important part is committing to staying at whatever level you choose for an extended period of time in the hopes that you stabilize at that level. Also, please add the updose to 6.7mg to your signature. Best of luck and keep us posted. Best, Andy Sertraline 50mg and Clonazapam .375mg from 2000 -- symptoms of dizziness Spring 2012 increased to .5 Clonazapam and 100mg Sertraline -- no improvement Benzo microtaper from November 2012 to November 2014 (followed benzo sites "taper benzo first") Started Sertraline taper in December 2014 cut by 25mg to 75mg; 62.5mg 1/1/15 and 50mg on 2/1/15 Held at 50mg through April 5 to use liquid Reduced dosage in 10% or less drops from 50mg to 25mg -- at single tablet of 25mg on 10/5/15 Transitioned to all liquid for accuracy while tapering -- Horrible insomnia -- back to 25mg liquid and held until October 1, 2016 10/16 -- 11/18 tapered very slowly to 10.6mg. No real improvement and never really stable so updosed to 12.5mg (1/2 a pill) for convenience and long hold. After 8+ months of holding with no noticeable improvement decided to add .4ml of liquid Prozac (about 1.5mg) to see if that improves the situation Supplements, Magnesium, D3, Omega 3, curcumin, Valerian, 81mg Aspirin, L-Theanine, Vit. C, Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Songbird Posted May 5, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted May 5, 2018 Hi Serrj, I agree with Andy (Apace41), please just hold at your current dose for a good while to let your system have some time to sort things out. Andy is right that when you're feeling bad, you feel the need to "do something" to fix it, but in this situation you need to resist the temptation to change something. Please try your best to be patient. I know it's hard, but it sounds like you do get some windows at some points during the day. I don't believe you have bi-polar, the mood swings, "waves" and "windows" are very common in SSRI withdrawal. During the bad parts of the day, try to remember that the good windows can come again. It does sound like you have had some significant improvements since your reinstatement, so that is a very good sign. Regarding the emotional blunting - please remember that the real you is still in you. I think of it like the sun - when there are clouds covering the sky, the sun has not gone away, it is still there, you just can't see it at that moment. Later, the clouds disperse and you see the sun again. The love you have for your family is still there, even if you are not able to feel it just now. You are getting some sleep, which is also a good sign, even if it isn't perfect and you wake during the night or don't feel it is deep enough. Getting 2-3 hours then another 2-3 hours sounds like a significant improvement since your earlier reports of sleep issues, when you were getting only 1-2 hours per night using temazepam. If you do resort to using Seroquel for sleep, please take the minimum effective dose. If you are feeling hungover from 25mg, then try cutting it in half and take 12.5mg. Of course, it's better if you don't have to use it. Please keep us updated. 2001–2002 paroxetine 2003 citalopram 2004-2008 paroxetine (various failed tapers) 2008 paroxetine slow taper down to 2016 Aug off paroxetine2016 citalopram May 20mg Oct 15mg … slow taper down2018 citalopram 13 Feb 4.6mg 15 Mar 4.4mg 29 Apr 4.2mg 6 Jul 4.1mg 17 Aug 4.0mg 18 Nov 3.8mg 2019 15 Mar 3.6mg 21 May 3.4mg 26 Dec 3.2mg 2020 19 Feb 3.0mg 19 Jul 2.9mg 16 Sep 2.8mg 25 Oct 2.7mg 23 Oct 2.6mg 24 Dec 2.5mg 2021 29 Aug 2.4mg 15 Nov 2.3mg Link to comment
Madeleine Posted May 5, 2018 Share Posted May 5, 2018 Yes, as the others said just stay at one rise and stabilize. It’s important to stay positive. Try not to worry. Have faith that you will get better. With very best wishes, 200 Zoloft; 10 mg Zyprexa; 4 mg valium as of May 2021; Valium taper: July 16: 3.5 valium; July 30: 3 mg (paused valium taper); Aug. 23: 2.5 mg Zyprexa: July 26: 8.75 mg; Aug. 9: 7.5 mg; Aug. 30: 7.1 mg ------- Dec 1, 2016. 10 mg zyprexa for 1.5 month. Started taper mid-Jan. 2017. Cut 1.25 mg every 2 weeks; smaller cuts 2.5 mg down. Stopped at .6 mg. May 7, 2017: zyprexa free. Zoloft: Dec1, 2016, 200 mg. Started taper: Jun12, 2017: 197.5 mg; Jun19,:195 mg; July 2:185mg; July 9,:180 mg; July16,: 175; July 23: 170; July 30: 165; Aug6: 160; Aug13: 155; Aug. 20: 150; Aug.27: 146 mg; Sept3: 145 mg; Sept10:143 mg; Sept17:140 mg....Nov5: 122 mg...Dec3:112.5 mg; Jan14, 2018: 95 mg...Jan28: 90 mg; Feb21:80 mg; Mar11: 75 mg; May2:70 mg; May15: 68 mg; May28: 65 mg; Jun9: 62 mg;Jun25: 60 mg:July22: 55 mg; Aug25: 45 mg. Aug28: 50 mg...Oct 28: 38 mg; Dec.4: 30 mg; Jan8,2019: 25mg; Feb6: 23.5 mg; Apr1:17.5mg; May1:1 mg; May 5: 18; May 18:15mg; June 16:12.5mg; Sept 10:11 mg; Sept.16:10 mg; Oct. 1: 9mg; Nov. 27: 8mg; Dec.5: 7mg; Jan.1,2020, 6 mg; Feb1: 5 mg; May 1: 2.5 mg; Jn 1: 2 mg; Jy 1: 1.5 mg Link to comment
jolena Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 Hi Serrj, I hope you feel better soon, and your symptoms will lessen a bit. I can not give you advice, because I have no idea what is best. It seems that Paxil does not work the same way it does for me. I can only give you my own experience, which is not the same as yours. For me, Paxil is not a bad medication, because it normalized my severe depressive states. When I am severely depressed I loose 2 pound of weight a day. I cry and my whole body shivers and shakes and zooms weird. I look scared the whole day. I cannot work, just do things to get through the day. I try to keep my schedule, sleep, eating at set times. I can eat only small portions. Take one hour walk every day, or two times a day. This is when paxil saved me. Going outside, keeping the normal sleep and eat times, and getting lots of hugs from my husband. Then after two weeks I would normalize a bit and gain the weight back. Take care, and I hope you feel better soon. You are not alone, even if your story is different than mine. Kind Greetings, Jolena 1999 _ 2004 20-40 mg paxil 2005 - 2016 from 40 up to 50 mg and then to 60mg jan 2018 down to 50 mg march 2018 down to 40mg april 8 2018 up to 50mg April 9 2018 adjust to 42mg Link to comment
serrj Posted May 28, 2018 Author Share Posted May 28, 2018 I think it's time for a small update. I'm doing better now. Ups and downs here and there but much more stable then at the beginning. No more agitation and suicidal thoughts. I'm functioning again. My sleep pattern is improved, not perfect, but I'm satisfied with it. But now I have long road ahead tapering from 2 medications instead of one. I'm currently on 7.5mg Paxil and 25mg Seroquel daily. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted May 28, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted May 28, 2018 Could you please update your signature to show your current medications? Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature. Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of April 1: 6.8mg Taper is 91% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment
Madeleine Posted May 29, 2018 Share Posted May 29, 2018 On 5/28/2018 at 9:19 AM, serrj said: I think it's time for a small update. I'm doing better now. Ups and downs here and there but much more stable then at the beginning. No more agitation and suicidal thoughts. I'm functioning again. My sleep pattern is improved, not perfect, but I'm satisfied with it. But now I have long road ahead tapering from 2 medications instead of one. I'm currently on 7.5mg Paxil and 25mg Seroquel daily. Thank you for the update. Yeah, I am so glad to hear you are doing better! !! I had thought of you -- and even prayed for you 🙂 Don't worry that you are on two medications. Now that you have armed yourself with all the information here, when you are at some point ready to taper off them in the future, you know how to get off them safely and how to minimize withdrawals. Slow and steady wins the race. And, don't give sleep too much thought. It's good to sleep well, of course, -- but nobody has perfect sleep -- everyone has some periods with ups and downs in their sleep pattern in their life, so just take things as they come and have faith! With very best wishes, M. 200 Zoloft; 10 mg Zyprexa; 4 mg valium as of May 2021; Valium taper: July 16: 3.5 valium; July 30: 3 mg (paused valium taper); Aug. 23: 2.5 mg Zyprexa: July 26: 8.75 mg; Aug. 9: 7.5 mg; Aug. 30: 7.1 mg ------- Dec 1, 2016. 10 mg zyprexa for 1.5 month. Started taper mid-Jan. 2017. Cut 1.25 mg every 2 weeks; smaller cuts 2.5 mg down. Stopped at .6 mg. May 7, 2017: zyprexa free. Zoloft: Dec1, 2016, 200 mg. Started taper: Jun12, 2017: 197.5 mg; Jun19,:195 mg; July 2:185mg; July 9,:180 mg; July16,: 175; July 23: 170; July 30: 165; Aug6: 160; Aug13: 155; Aug. 20: 150; Aug.27: 146 mg; Sept3: 145 mg; Sept10:143 mg; Sept17:140 mg....Nov5: 122 mg...Dec3:112.5 mg; Jan14, 2018: 95 mg...Jan28: 90 mg; Feb21:80 mg; Mar11: 75 mg; May2:70 mg; May15: 68 mg; May28: 65 mg; Jun9: 62 mg;Jun25: 60 mg:July22: 55 mg; Aug25: 45 mg. Aug28: 50 mg...Oct 28: 38 mg; Dec.4: 30 mg; Jan8,2019: 25mg; Feb6: 23.5 mg; Apr1:17.5mg; May1:1 mg; May 5: 18; May 18:15mg; June 16:12.5mg; Sept 10:11 mg; Sept.16:10 mg; Oct. 1: 9mg; Nov. 27: 8mg; Dec.5: 7mg; Jan.1,2020, 6 mg; Feb1: 5 mg; May 1: 2.5 mg; Jn 1: 2 mg; Jy 1: 1.5 mg Link to comment
serrj Posted June 6, 2018 Author Share Posted June 6, 2018 Debilitating depression returned :( Dark doomed thoughts, food is tasteless, everything around seems grey and colorless.. Link to comment
CloudyToday Posted August 22, 2022 Share Posted August 22, 2022 Hi serrj, I know this is a very old post but just wondering how you are doing. 2017 - 2018 Lexapro (CT, no withdrawals) 2018 - 2019 Zoloft (CT, no withdrawals) 2/15/21 - paxil 20mg 5/1/22 - started fast tapter, 10mg 3 weeks, 5mg 3 weeks, 0mg 2 days. 7/1/22 - start of withdrawals, dizziness, nausea, loss of appetite, shaky. Reinstated 10mg 8/1/22 - 9mg - anxiety, panic attacks, sleep disorders (4-6 hours) 9/1/22 - 8mg - anxiety, panic attacks are gone. Sleep back to normal. Still struggling with appetite. Sporadic abdominal cramps 10/10/22 - 7.2 mg 11/10/22 - 6.6 mg - Tinnitus started after 2 weeks. Nausea is gone and appetite is slowly returning. 12/12/22 - 6 mg 1/11/23- 5.4 mg 1/13/23- 6 mg (up dosed) nausea is back in full force 5/9/23 - changed to home made liquid (dissolves 20mg in 20ml) - 5.9ml supplements: magnesium 300mg, taurine 2g, fish oil, vitamin E, probiotics, bioactive milk peptides, L-theanine Link to comment
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