Sottana: Paxil withdrawal - questions and concerns

[Carmie]

16 hours ago, Adili13 said:

@Carmie

 

Yes, it’s been absolutely brutal. I’m so happy you don’t have to deal with the severe akathisia anymore. It is truly horrific. I have lots of other symptoms but it is easily the worst one. 

 

Wow, that sounds so scary and terrible. I’m so sorry you’re dealing with that and have been for so long! Is there anything you can do or do you just have to wait for the flare to die out? I’d love to learn more. I hope you can find some relief today. Hugs 

 

Anthony 

Hi Anthony, 

 

No, there’s nothing much I can do that will get rid of the flare, puffers don’t work. It’s awful, but time is the only thing that will help it settle. If it settles in a few months time it will only flare up again when I get the booster shot. I’m in a no win situation. It’s just so awful struggling to breathe, but my heart really goes out to you too, that you’re struggling so much with Akathisia.

 

Autoimmune illnesses are permanent, but they can go into remission. Things can still flare them up though. Going to the dentist caused the last flare and it lasted for nine months. I did have some days when it wasn’t too bad in that period of time. 
 

All I’m doing at the moment is trying to distract myself. Some days I cope okay, but other days I end up in tears. One day at a time does it, though it seems pretty much an hour at a time lately.

 

Take care🧡

[Sottana]

@Carmie I’m so sorry you have to deal with that. My mother had colitis and tried literally everything to heal herself and still had to get her colon removed. It seems like these autoimmune conditions are relentless, doesn’t it? I really hope your flare ends soon and you can get some relief. I will be thinking of you, my friend. Distraction is the name of the game. All I do all day long is try to find effective ways to distract. It’s grueling.

 

♥️

[Sottana]

So frustrated by my akathisia. Does anyone have any stories of where someone with bad akathisia held their dose and their akathisia drastically improved? Feeling so low 

[Longroadhome]

11 minutes ago, Adili13 said:

So frustrated by my akathisia. Does anyone have any stories of where someone with bad akathisia held their dose and their akathisia drastically improved? Feeling so low 

Hi Adili 

It’s a difficult one because some people improve with holding while others  don’t.

so it’s  your call. Maybe give yourself a time limit with holding and if there’s no improvement continue on with your taper.
 It is frustrating but you will get there and one day this will all be behind you and you’ll never have to think about WD again. 

[Carmie]

On 12/3/2021 at 1:35 PM, Adili13 said:

@Carmie I’m so sorry you have to deal with that. My mother had colitis and tried literally everything to heal herself and still had to get her colon removed. It seems like these autoimmune conditions are relentless, doesn’t it? I really hope your flare ends soon and you can get some relief. I will be thinking of you, my friend. Distraction is the name of the game. All I do all day long is try to find effective ways to distract. It’s grueling.

 

♥️

Thanks so much for your kind words Andrew, 

 

I’m really sorry to hear about your mum. Do you know what things your mother tried? You can go into remission with autoimmune diseases, but things can flare them up. The vaccines caused this flare.

 

I hope you were able to find enough distractions to help with your Akathisia today🧡

[Sottana]

@Longroadhomeyeah, it’s all so unpredictable, isn’t it? I guess I’ll give it a bit more time. I appreciate your input, friend. 
 

@CarmieIt’s Anthony . My mom tried a lot of dietary stuff and nothing seemed to work. I can’t speak to everything she tried, I’d have to speak with her. She was in remission for about 7 years until she had a very severe flare seemingly out of nowhere. 
 

Akathisia is absolutely horrendous today. I appreciate your words. 

[Longroadhome]

It is unpredictable because it isn’t like an illness that has stages through  to recovery.  
Sorry to hear the Akathisia is so bad. I have that and find it helps to tap my foot continuously.  It calms down of an evening usually. 
Try and distract as much as you can. 
Keep going my friend. 
 

[sunnysideup69]

Hey @Sottana,

How are you doing? Have been reading your thread, well done on getting down to 10mg. That's amazing! 

I'm so sorry to read about akisthisia, it's misery making for sure. Glad you are able to do some work and some socialising, too. Even if you don't feel it, this will be pushing you further towards complete recovery.

Sending big hugs xxx

[Sottana]

@Longroadhome Thanks for the suggestion. I really hope it dies down soon. I’m struggling quite a bit.

 

@sunnysideup69 So good to hear from you. I’m struggling lot but I’m hoping a nice long hold makes a lot of my symptoms more manageable. I really need to get back to at least part-time work. How are you?? 

[Sottana]

Akathisia has been growing every week since I started my hold. I’m feeling so hopeless and disabled. I just want a little relief 

[ThatOneGirlStitch]

@Sottana
I’m sorry you have akathisia. I wish I had something helpful to say. I am not a mod so I don’t know much. I looked around the site for relief from severe akathisia and found two things which I hope will bring you relief. I’m sure you know about epson salt baths.   One member said 5 cups of salt in the water. Get the water as hot as you can bear without burning yourself. She said it gave her relief in the moment. Something else I found was weighted blankets can bring some relief. I believe it was @Frogie that mentioned that it worked for their severe aka, but it might have been another member. I know they sell on Amazon and weight recommendations are given by body weight. I personally wish I ordered up a weight. I’m sorry if this is not of use to you or not applicable.

 

I hope the aka is not constant in severity. Please continue to post on your status. 

[Frogie]

I'm sorry you have akathisia so badly. I did find a weighted blanket helped me, taking magnesium and epsom salt baths did give relief. Like Thatonegirlstitch said you might look on Amazon. I have a weighted throw I now use in my knees/calves that I purchased on Amazon that doesn't feel as restrictive as a weighted blanket.

 

Here is a thread about it that might help:

I hope you can find some relief.

Edited December 18, 2021 by Frogie

[Cheeky]

Hi  @Sottana,

I though id pop in to say hi and that this journey is so cruel and your definitely not alone in this journey. These drugs are a beast but with support we will all go in the right direction. I know the feeling too well wanting to feel better ❤️‍🩹 we will get there .

Cheeky

[Sottana]

@ThatOneGirlStitchi appreciate your advice. I do have a weighted blanket that I use sometimes. I hope you’re doing ok.

 

@Frogie @Cheeky thanks guys. I just feel so hopeless and stuck. It’s so brutal 

[Longroadhome]

On 12/18/2021 at 2:13 AM, Adili13 said:

just feel so hopeless and stuck. It’s so brutal . 
 

I think maybe what happens is the cuts catch up with us down the line and it could  be what your feeling now is an accumulation of those. It will settle Adili. remember at the start of your journey you were very symptomatic and I bet you never dreamt that you would be able to taper down to half the amount of Paxil you were on,  but you have. And you have been able to do this because severity of symptoms tends to vary. 
Your symptoms will decrease so keep occupied and try to distract as best as you can . 

[Cheeky]

@Sottana, @Longroadhome is right, this has happened to me and unfortunately there’s not much we can do except acceptance (easy said then done) my tapering has been smooth sailing since my last drop and at the moment I’m stuck in this awful wave. I know it’s so hard and scary. Just take every day as it comes.

[sunnysideup69]

Hey @Sottana, hang in there, this too shall pass. You will feel better. Akasthisia is the absolute pits, but you will get through it, you already are. I agree with Longroad, it's probably an accumulation of cuts catching up with you.

Meanwhile, I'm still at same dosage of Venlafaxine. I'm doing much, much better, thank you for asking. Very rarely have a wave now, even recently I was expecting one as I have crashed off sugar ( again) but ....so far, so good.

I'm going to just enjoy feeling well for a while.

Sending big hugs dude, you've got this, you'll settle again xxxxxx

[Sottana]

@Longroadhome @Cheeky @sunnysideup69 I appreciate you guys very much. It’s been an absolute ass-kicking lately. I haven’t taken a true break from tapering for a very long time. I’m hoping this is finally the answer and that I start to level off. Sunny and Cheeky, your huge progress definitely gives me a glimmer of hope. Thank you so much for sharing 

[Longroadhome]

You’re  welcome @Sottana

Hope you have a peaceful Christmas with your family. 
May 2022 bring you further to recovery.
Take care keep going.  

[Sottana]

@Longroadhome Thank you and happy holidays. I hope you’re doing ok.

 

I’m having a horrific night. My symptoms just seem to keep ramping up to more and more intense levels. I’ve also got this distinct feeling that life is passing me by. It’s so hard to not feel like all of this is in vain when you’re really in the thick of it. If anyone is out there and willing to share some warmth and hope, I am in desperate need. Happy holidays to all of my injured warriors out there ❤️

[Sottana]

I’m so sensitized that every time I eat it revs up symptoms. Is there anyone else that can relate to this? 

[Sebas]

On 7/20/2021 at 6:54 PM, Adili13 said:

Anyone ever heard of essential oils throwing someone into a massive wave? 

Check. Tea tree. Never again.

[Sebas]

On 1/2/2022 at 8:28 PM, Adili13 said:

I’m so sensitized that every time I eat it revs up symptoms. Is there anyone else that can relate to this? 

And check again 😉. Have made quite drastic changes to my diet. I've been forced to eliminate all herbs (but salt), caffein, chocolate, several aroma/flavors such as turmeric. Sauces like mayonaise cause they all made of herbs. Most candy. These type of products and ingredients seem to frustrate absorption of paxil in the intestines (or at least they conflict). So perhaps you could try a more clean, sober diet like me, at least for a while. It helps create a tuned figure 🙈 together with regular exercise.

 

By the way hope it will fade away one day. Time is on our side.

 

Hope i could be of any help.

Bye, hang in there, Sebas 👋👊🍀

[Sebas]

On 8/19/2021 at 1:01 AM, Adili13 said:

This wave from physical exertion isn’t letting up at all. It’s been 5 days and still massively sensitized and activated. Have others bad this experience? 

During WD, exercise only at a lower heart rate. Like walking, swimming, hometrainer, basic ground exercises, nothing that gets heartrate up above 150. Cause heartrate is already up during WD.

[Sottana]

@Sebas I appreciate your advice. It’s very kind of you to put in the effort that you did. I’ve tried many things but nothing seems to dampen my akathisia at all, it’s made me very miserable 

[Sottana]

Anyone else regress very badly in the beginning of their hold? I was doing so much better a couple months ago while tapering. I think all the cuts caught up to me. It has been agony 

[dream]

@Sottana

Hello, but haven't you seen any improvement since May 2021? I alternate good cheeses with other bad ones ... I can't find a logic or something that can explain it .. i'm so sorry for your situation, i'm better .. i'm like you .. insomnia drives me crazy ..

[Sottana]

@dream I’m pretty confused by your comment. Why are you asking about May? What are you saying about cheese? All the best 

[dream]

@Sottana sorry it's the translator's fault .. I'm talking about May 2021 because from your signature I realized that you stopped with the reduction from that month because you had withdrawal symptoms .. did I understand wrong? in the message then I wanted to say that I alternate good days with other bad ones ...

[Sottana]

@dream the last reduction I made was in November of 2021. It’s good that you’re at least getting some good days and not all bad. Lately, every day has been bad for me 

[Sebas]

If CNS is destabilised or oversensitized (mostly this happens by tapering too fast of too much, but also conflicts between drugs and/or other drugs and/or supplements) it will take more than a few weeks to become stabile again. Some waves can last pretty long before a first (small) window occurs.

 

For best advice you may want to update your signature with all recent and relevant drug and supplement activities. How did you feel before reduction of november and how exactly did you reduce?

 

I read that akathsia has started to develop in 2019. Have you constantly experienced it since then, or off and on?

[dream]

@Sottana hello, My day has worsened catastrophically, I feel terrible ... I was better days ago, I don't understand ... Can you sleep? 

 

[Sottana]

@SebasHi, and thanks for the reply. My signature is updated. The only supplement I take is fish oil and have been taking that for years now. Prior to my last reduction in November, I had been consistently reducing. I felt terrible, but the reductions seemed to keep the akathisia at bay. I reduced by .2 or .1 semi regularly for a long time. I did a hold of 9 months before and got to a point where I felt I wasn’t making any more progress. 

[Sebas]

You did a good job reaching 10 mg 👍. You may want to consider introducing holds during microtaper. This enables CNS to adjust to new situations, without new (small) adjustments adding up on eachother. Best of luck, Sebas

[Sottana]

Someone told me recently that psych drugs can have huge variability from pill to pill when it comes to their active ingredient concentration. Is there any validity to this at all or is this basically a wd forum spiral topic. I know a small amount of variability is possible, but she was saying like ten percent differences from pill to pill are common. Seems unlikely to me but it got me pretty afraid

[Longroadhome]

I’ve never heard of that @Sottana. 
you may want to consider changing to

liquid Paxil  if you are worried. It may be something you’ll have to do as you get lower in dose anyway.  
 

how are you?