Longroadhome: think I may be tapering Seroxat / Paxil too fast

[Hanna72]

Oh man...look at you go my friend @Longroadhome 😃

I just had the biggest smile reading your update, you are on a roll. I am so happy for you and so proud of your accomplishments, 3.2 mg WOW 💪 There is no doubt in my mind that I will be reading your success story 

Your update made my day❤️
Big hug sent your way, you got this👏👏

[Erell]

Hello dear @Longroadhome,

 

Moving can definitely be a huge stressor, it sounds like you're handling well 💪

 

I'm so glad to read you've been able to notice a pattern in your symptoms, makes it easier to ride the waves.

 

And wow, look at you, the road to home looks smaller and smaller !

 

Big hugs !

[Longroadhome]

Thank you @Hanna72and @Erell

its not an easy ride and symptoms fluctuate  in intensity. 
Over the last week I have developed pain in my shoulder and cracking and pain  in all my bones. very loud too! 
but I’m sure this will pass in time. 
Im hopeful the lower I go that symptoms will ease up. 
 

on a good note I have had 3 days completely free of hives. This is great . It’s been 20 months since the hives started. 
for the first 6 months it rated a 10 it was so bad. 
then slowly slowly over many months it started getting better window wave pattern . And for quite a few months it has been about a 3 and sometimes a 1. But it feels so good to have 3 days of no hive symptoms at all. 
 

it’s the same with my  eyes . Two years ago they started to get very dry red and irritated.  this was one of my first symptoms and was very bad and I stopped wearing makeup . They were constantly blood shot throughout the day and stingy.   
they were very bad for months then ever so  slowly they started to get better . Again window snd wave pattern. Now I have many days with no eye symptoms at all. 
 

Many people get windows and waves where all symptoms fluctuate up and down together . Although I also get this I do seem to have single symptoms that have this pattern of windows and waves on their own if that makes sense? 
wonder if anyone else does ? 
 

anyway onward snd upward and thank you for  your kind words of encouragement x  

[Erell]

33 minutes ago, Longroadhome said:

Many people get windows and waves where all symptoms fluctuate up and down together . Although I also get this I do seem to have single symptoms that have this pattern of windows and waves on their own if that makes sense? 
wonder if anyone else does ? 

Oh I think many folks have their symptoms following their own pattern 😉

I know it is not easy as it never offers "clear" windows, but at least it does show that things do change.

 

You make sense and I think a lot of people will recognise themselves in your post  ☺

 

It's also my case : for example, I have weird cramps in my knees. They can be very intense during weeks, then suddenly disappear for weeks and come back without a reason.

Guess it is typical in WD, our bodies are doing their work with their own logic ☺

 

Take care

[Longroadhome]

That’s true @Erell

 

Our bodies heal in their own time and in their own way. 
 

"I tap into the infinite supply of strength within me to stay the course when doubts arise, to maintain endurance when I’m physically and mentally exhausted, and to withstand the persistence of symptoms when I struggle to cope.

Baylissa.com

 

[mstimc]

2 hours ago, Longroadhome said:

Although I also get this I do seem to have single symptoms that have this pattern of windows and waves on their own if that makes sense? 
wonder if anyone else does ? 

I experienced the same weird symptom pattern in WD.  I can think of at least a half-dozen physical ailments that came and went.  Looking back, the one common denominator was a consistent level of background anxiety and fear; I think it just manifested in different ways.  I have a totally unscientific theory that anxiety and stress will find a weak spot, be it physical or mental, and exploit it.  Once I was able to see it that way, the symptoms became a lot less frightening and less intense over time.

[Longroadhome]

That makes  so much sense @mstimc

i too have a consistent level of background anxiety. 
and the anxiety ramps up  the other symptoms . Just a momentary thought intensifies  the anxiety which then has a knock on effect with other symptoms. 
The good thing is I’m learning how to manage this. 
The best tool in my box is acceptance and distraction.  

[Longroadhome]

Update:

As of 2 weeks ago I’m on 2.9mg Paxil and this is where I’m going to hold for a few months. Reason being I want to let things settle down after a few months of tapering and  I’m also moving house hopefully next month. AND I have two grandchildren on the way. I have a beautiful granddaughter of 21 months another to be born in June and another later in the year.   So it’s a very busy time ahead.  
 

[Erell]

Hello dear @Longroadhome

 

How are you doing these days?

 

Moving house, wow, that's a big and exciting project !

A new chapter of your life, that's always a beautiful symbolic ☀️

 

Please take extracare of yourself as change can sometimes be stressfull ❤

 

I hope your hold will help your body to settle down a bit : even people who started their taper while in poop-out like Brassmonkey mention some longer holds to give time to the CNS to catch the previous drops.

 

Sending big hugs!

[Longroadhome]

8 hours ago, Erell said:

Hello dear @Longroadhome

 

How are you doing these days?

 

Moving house, wow, that's a big and exciting project !

A new chapter of your life, that's always a beautiful symbolic ☀️

 

Please take extracare of yourself as change can sometimes be stressfull ❤

 

I hope your hold will help your body to settle down a bit : even people who started their taper while in poop-out like Brassmonkey mention some longer holds to give time to the CNS to catch the previous drops.

 

Sending big hugs!

Hi Erell 

Thank  you for your message.

I’m doing ok and managing . Symptoms are there always but have been from the beginning and for me it’s learning how to manage the fluctuations. Worst symptom is the dizzy floaty boat feeling as it’s 24/7 and at times severe. 
as I’m getting to the lower doses I think this is going to be how I am whilst tapering and until I am completely off. 
Still waiting to move house. Everything chaotic here as we have reductions in stamp duty and so many people have taken advantage of that which has caused a back log. There is problems with the house I am buying too. I’ll get there eventually !!! 

 

Regarding Paxil my pattern  is every 5th drop I know I need to hold for a while longer because of the intensification of symptoms.

Awful how the body craves the drug.  I will be so glad to see the back of it!!!! 
Poop out is a difficult one as we are in WD from day one and I feel this is why I’m never without the cycle of symptoms and the intensity .
Im hoping now as I go lower my body will start to show me signs of healing.   

Its a long extremely difficult journey but one I’m determined to see through to recovery. 
 

Thinking of you Erell.   You are very strong keep going. Time patience and a strong will to succeed is what is needed to get through this. 
 

Bjg hugs right back at you (((((( friend )))))))) xx
 

 
 

[Longroadhome]

@brassmonkey

Hi there hope you are well and Monica too. 
Hoping you can help me with a question Brass. 
After tapering on and off I’m now holding at 2.9mg Paxil. I want to hold for a while to stabilise as I’ve had symptoms throughout my taper. 
I started this journey in poop out but do you think I will have worked my way out of poop out at 2.9mg and can now wait for stability from my taper before continuing ? 
Thank  you 

[brassmonkey]

There shouldn't be a problem with that. While you were tapering you should have noticed at some point that the symptoms were starting to resolve and improve. It would have been pretty subtle but it would have started a steady improvement in your WDnormal baseline. It can be hard to tell with paxil as it will usually cause some problems all the way down. At that point you would have moved out of poopout. Your body is now use to the tapering and is in control, not the drug.

 

The last 3mg of a paxil taper can be frustrating with the symptoms flaring up unexpectedly when everything seems to be going well. Get stable and then take it slow and easy and "listen to your body", and you should be fine.

[Longroadhome]

1 hour ago, brassmonkey said:

There shouldn't be a problem with that. While you were tapering you should have noticed at some point that the symptoms were starting to resolve and improve. It would have been pretty subtle but it would have started a steady improvement in your WDnormal baseline. It can be hard to tell with paxil as it will usually cause some problems all the way down. At that point you would have moved out of poopout. Your body is now use to the tapering and is in control, not the drug.

 

The last 3mg of a paxil taper can be frustrating with the symptoms flaring up unexpectedly when everything seems to be going well. Get stable and then take it slow and easy and "listen to your body", and you should be fine.

Thank you so much I really appreciate your help. 
take care 

[Erell]

Hello @Longroadhome

 

How are you doing these days  ?

 

Thinking of you ❤

[Longroadhome]

Hi @Erell

Thank you for asking and lovely to hear from you. Hoping you have had a positive week and sending you a pick me up ((((((( Erell ))))))

 

Time for an update : And yes it’s a little long ... 😊

 

I joined this site Feb 2019 and will always be eternally grateful to all moderators and especially Alto for the knowledge it has given me along with the tremendous support. I truly don’t know what would have happened to me without it.

Currently  I am holding on: 

2.9mg Paxil

14mg Pregabalin 
Once  I commence tapering again hopefully within the next 2 months it will be Pregabalin. I want to give my system a good long rest with the Paxil tapering for now.

 Being on Pregabalin has always been a bug bear to me as I was put on it to reduce the WD effects of Paxil. Instead I gave myself another problem. It certainly has no affect on Paxil WD.  But hey what’s done is done.

I have lots going on in my life at the moment. I’ve just sold my house snd moving out at  the end of this month. The house I was buying fell through so I continue to house hunt and fortunate to be staying with a close family member as long as it takes. 
I’m due to be a nanny again to a baby granddaughter ( my second!!) to be born at the end of this month and I want to be stress free in order to help my son and my daughter in law with the new addition.  
My first grandchild, a precious  little girl will be 2years old next month. I see her every day and love her more than words can say. 
Regarding my symptoms. They range from manageable to some days quite severe and something I have slowly learnt to live with most of the time.

Symptoms that bother me the most is the 24/7 floaty boat dizziness, anxiety/akathisia, painful joints,  dry eyes (back after two years absence), awful hair with hair loss poor condition and breakage and tinnitus. 
I know once withdrawal is over these will disappear along with other symptoms i have not named.

 

I eat healthy with no caffeine and no alcohol.
I take vitamin D and Zinc for my hair.

 
I have had no reoccurrence of hives after being plagued with this symptom for 20 months.    

it was extremely uncomfortable. I took no medication for it and it very very slowly decreased in severity showing me just how capable my body is of healing amongst the chaos of WD. 

 

 

[Erell]

Hello @Longroadhome

 

Very glad to read that hives have disappeared. 

 

And oh yes, it looks like a lot is going on in your life ! Life keeps moving on ☺

 

Holding Paxil sounds good. You're so low now ! Congratulations for going so far.

 

And all my respect for learning to live with symptoms, thank you for being an inspiration 🤗

 

Hugs !

[Hanna72]

Dear @Longroadhome

Just wanted to drop by and send you hugs. 
Wow look at you go, 2.9 mg, it’s an amazing job you are doing. 

I love reading your posts in here they are filled with optimism and encouragement  and for sure have helped me so much, so thank you. 🥰

Keep up the good work, I just know I will be reading your success story one  day💕

[Longroadhome]

Hi @Hanna72 and @Erell

 

Thank you for your best wishes it means so much. 
 

There’s no right or wrong way regarding coming off SSRIs as each one of us reacts so differently to the drug while we are on it as well as coming off it. 
So many different stories from CT to tapering to holding and on to vitamins and supplements etc etc   No to this, no to that, some of this and not so much of that and before you know it you’re  completely screwed over with conflicting info. All this to consider when the CNS is lost in transition.. 
Yes it’s a scary journey . Rather like crossing a mine field blindfolded. 
Something we’re not qualified to do but here we are. We’re left to pick our way through the rubble. 
 

Today I’m cross. Why? 
On a routine phone call from the Doctor and asked if there was any support for coming off Paxil as it had been 2.5 years tapering with no support whatsoever from the practice. 
what kind of support was I looking for he asked? 
Em .. encouragement while tapering , time to talk through symptoms with you as they crop up ( today was about the dry eyes ) so I don’t keep having to pay private as WD has turned me into a hypochondriac and it’s an expensive pastime. 

Therapy groups or support groups maybe?… 

 

“I’m afraid not . Were very busy at the moment as I’m sure you can understand but I can give you the number of the mental health team who may be able to help you “.

  

He then went on to blame the big Pharma companies stating what a nasty drug Paxil is to taper off and that many just find it too hard to do because of WD symptoms. 
All this said but no idea whatsoever to the destruction Paxil leaves behind.

He mentioned other things that are too upsetting and triggering to repeat here. 
I came off the phone defeated.  
I don’t even know why I asked it was just off the cuff like I have done to other Doctors from the practice always hoping for a different answer. 
 

I’m  a bit demotivated today . But tomorrow is another day. So I’ll get up and put one foot in front of the other and move forward .. 

 

 

 

 

[Hanna72]

Dear @Longroadhome

44 minutes ago, Longroadhome said:

We’re left to pick our way through the rubble. 

Could not agree with you more.

Its overall a sad and frustrating fact, and doctors I believe do know about Paxil and it’s painful withdrawals. I can tell you that when I talked to my doctor in 2019 about getting off of Paxil, she was actually the one to tell me about the bridge with fluoxetine. She said: did you know that fluoxetine is used to help people get off of Paxil. Now this was before I found SA, so that tells me that there is a common knowledge with doctors about it. Just makes me mad, as they should take this drug off the market.

49 minutes ago, Longroadhome said:

So I’ll get up and put one foot in front of the other and move forward .. 

Yes that is all we can do. You are doing such a good job, don’t get discouraged, we will beat this. If anything it will get us more motivated and determined.

51 minutes ago, Longroadhome said:

I’m  a bit demotivated today

Don’t be to hard on yourself, it’s ok to feel demotivated, we can’t power push everyday.

Tomorrow will be brighter🙏

 

[Longroadhome]

@brassmonkey

Hello there Brass hope all well with you. 
I know you go on vacation and enjoy your holidays even through your taper off Paxil so I wanted to ask you a question. 
I am going away in October flying from London to Miami then onto Memphis and lastly Vegas over 17 days then from Vegas back to London. 
With the difference in time  how should I take my medication? 
At the moment I take as follows; 

2.9mg Paxil at 8:30am

7mg Lyrica at 10am

7mg Lyrica at 4pm

 

is it likely to mess my system up with the different time zones ? 

thank you 

[brassmonkey]

Your body clock does not really understand time zones, it depends on the amount of time between doses. It is best to try and take the medications at the proper interval and not by time of day. That however is not always possible. Travel days can be the hardest because of all the rapid time changes, schedules for flights and the like.

 

I used my phone alarms to help with the timing, but often would miss a dose or be very late. I was lucky because the timing of my doses didn't really cause much trouble. I usually would end up on my "normal schedule" once I arrived at my destination. Luckily I only took one dose a day, in the morning, so it was easy to just keep up that schedule. With your taking several doses throughout the day it will probably be important to stick to the time of day schedule instead of the interval schedule, as you want the affects of the drug to happen at certain times while you are awake.

 

London to Los Vegas is 8 hours difference so your body will be reacting to that change. My theory is that keeping the drugs on the time of day schedule will help it adjust to the changes in time. A nice thing is that travel offers a lot of distraction so it is much easier to ignore ones symptoms if they come up.

 

It sounds like a great trip, concentrate on enjoying it and don't let the drugs get in the way. Have you booked the return trip from Los Vegas to London yet. If it is a night flight try to get a window seat on the left hand side as you face the front of the cabin. The Northern Lights are starting to be quite active and there is a good possibility that you would get a wonderful show as you cross Canada and Greenland.

[Longroadhome]

@apace41

and over to my thread!! 
Thank you for your reply.
Can i ask you what symptoms are you left with ? 
I know you had dizziness is this better? 
The reason I ask is that I have dizziness in the form of floaty boat feeling where I feel I am on a boat bobbing rocking swaying snd bobbing and at times this is intense . I have never had anything like it before WD. It came on during tapering almost a year ago and is with me 24/7. All medical tests normal. 
if you still have your dizziness does it fluctuate in intensity and any advice how to better tolerate this horrible symptom as it is my worst?  
 

thank you Andy 

[sunnysideup69]

Hey @Longroadhome, have just dropped by to wish you well and see how you're doing. That trip to America sounds fabulous! Can't wait to get on a plane and fly, probably not til next year for me, then hoping for a Greek Island Easter hol. Sun, sea and sand....yummy.

 

You're doing fantastically well xxx

[Longroadhome]

3 hours ago, sunnysideup69 said:

Hey @Longroadhome, have just dropped by to wish you well and see how you're doing. That trip to America sounds fabulous! Can't wait to get on a plane and fly, probably not til next year for me, then hoping for a Greek Island Easter hol. Sun, sea and sand....yummy.

 

You're doing fantastically well xxx

Hi Sunny 

Thank you for your kind message. 
yeah I’m looking forward to my trip in October. Keeping everything steady and holding with taper until my return most  likely. 
great that you have finally completely stabilised and able to think about life other than WD. So pleased for you. You held your nerve and got there!! 
Enjoy the break from school and take care xx 

[Longroadhome]

On 7/11/2021 at 7:30 PM, brassmonkey said:

Your body clock does not really understand time zones, it depends on the amount of time between doses. It is best to try and take the medications at the proper interval and not by time of day. That however is not always possible. Travel days can be the hardest because of all the rapid time changes, schedules for flights and the like.

 

I used my phone alarms to help with the timing, but often would miss a dose or be very late. I was lucky because the timing of my doses didn't really cause much trouble. I usually would end up on my "normal schedule" once I arrived at my destination. Luckily I only took one dose a day, in the morning, so it was easy to just keep up that schedule. With your taking several doses throughout the day it will probably be important to stick to the time of day schedule instead of the interval schedule, as you want the affects of the drug to happen at certain times while you are awake.

 

London to Los Vegas is 8 hours difference so your body will be reacting to that change. My theory is that keeping the drugs on the time of day schedule will help it adjust to the changes in time. A nice thing is that travel offers a lot of distraction so it is much easier to ignore ones symptoms if they come up.

 

It sounds like a great trip, concentrate on enjoying it and don't let the drugs get in the way. Have you booked the return trip from Los Vegas to London yet. If it is a night flight try to get a window seat on the left hand side as you face the front of the cabin. The Northern Lights are starting to be quite active and there is a good possibility that you would get a wonderful show as you cross Canada and Greenland.

Forgot I hadn’t thanked you @brassmonkey

as always I’m very grateful to you for all the help and support you give. You are still my hero 😊 

[brassmonkey]

No problem. Be sure to let us know how the trip goes.

[Erell]

Hello longroadhome,

 

What an amazing news, being able to plan a trip, I hope you're proud of yourself and all the hardwork you've done ❤

I know I am, and wish you a peaceful summer!

[Hanna72]

  Dear @LongroadhomeThinking of you, just dropping in to send you my best wishes and hope you are doing well💕

 

[Longroadhome]

@brassmonkey

hi Brass hope all ok with you.
quick question Can things get tricky tapering under 5mg dose of paxil because of it being an inhibitor of its own metabolism where decreasing  under 5mg may accelerate it’s processing leading to intense symptoms? 
Is there any way to avoid or lessen this ? 
how did you get on when decreasing under 5mg and how about others on this site ? 
thank you 😊 

[brassmonkey]

With Paxil things frequently can start to get tricky between 5 and 3mg and stays that way the rest of the way down. Often there will be s sweet spot around 2mg that is a nice relief and then again as you get below 1. There are a whole lot of factors involved that  no one really understands, but I've seen it happen on many people who are tapering paxil.

 

The only thing I seen that helps is to take it slow and easy and practice all your self care tricks, and believe that it will end. Which it does. The Endgame with Paxil is one of the hardest parts because it is so unpredictable. It is a very powerful drug and at the end very small changes in dose can make very large changes in SERT occupancy, so smaller reductions are often called for.

 

I was all over the place between 6 and 1.5. Then it broke and really settled down. I wasn't symptom free but they got milder the further I reduced.

[mstimc]

Hi Longroad

Just like Brassmonkey, I ran into some real challenges at low doses of Paxil.  Take it slow and practice self-care.  And remember you're one day closer to recovery.

[Longroadhome]

11 hours ago, brassmonkey said:

With Paxil things frequently can start to get tricky between 5 and 3mg and stays that way the rest of the way down. Often there will be s sweet spot around 2mg that is a nice relief and then again as you get below 1. There are a whole lot of factors involved that  no one really understands, but I've seen it happen on many people who are tapering paxil.

 

The only thing I seen that helps is to take it slow and easy and practice all your self care tricks, and believe that it will end. Which it does. The Endgame with Paxil is one of the hardest parts because it is so unpredictable. It is a very powerful drug and at the end very small changes in dose can make very large changes in SERT occupancy, so smaller reductions are often called for.

 

I was all over the place between 6 and 1.5. Then it broke and really settled down. I wasn't symptom free but they got milder the further I reduced.

Thank you Brass 

do you mean it’s best to do smaller reductions than the 10% Is this what you did? 
 

[Longroadhome]

11 hours ago, mstimc said:

Hi Longroad

Just like Brassmonkey, I ran into some real challenges at low doses of Paxil.  Take it slow and practice self-care.  And remember you're one day closer to recovery.

Hi there mstimc

Thank you for your reply. 
Did  you hold for longer periods of time than the 4-6 wks between drops when this happened and did you taper by 10% or less each time? 

 

[mstimc]

Hi Longroad 

I kept the dose the same with each reduction just because it was easier for me to monitor.  But I did lengthen the time between drops if I felt I wasn't ready right at four weeks.   For me, taking the last pill was challenging even though I was taking a miniscule dose.  After nine years taking Paxil,  giving it up entirely was a big step into the unknown.  But I did it and came out fine.  So will you!

[Longroadhome]

4 hours ago, mstimc said:

Hi Longroad 

I kept the dose the same with each reduction just because it was easier for me to monitor.  But I did lengthen the time between drops if I felt I wasn't ready right at four weeks.   For me, taking the last pill was challenging even though I was taking a miniscule dose.  After nine years taking Paxil,  giving it up entirely was a big step into the unknown.  But I did it and came out fine.  So will you!

Thank you !! I hope so !!! 

[brassmonkey]

Yes, it may be necessary to use smaller doses.

 

Are you doing a Brassmonkey Slide? I highly suggest it.