Crowman88: cold turkeyed Paxil, but was only 2 days use

[Crowman88]

Admin note: link to benzo forum thread - Crowman's benzo taper journey

 

Hey everyone,

I cold turkeyed Paxil after using it for only 2 days. Only problem is, I was using it to try and "come off" from Valium but never realised the harmful interactions between the two drugs, until I searched up on Drugs.com and was horrified. I did read from here that you taper or get off the SSRI first. I also heard that Paxil withdrawals are beyond terrible (how people are deluded enough to think long-term use of these harmful SSRI's are fine is beyond me) so I jumped. I was only taking it for two days, 10mg, and by God. Hallucinations, light sensitivity, left arm tremors, uncontrollable arm spasms, a feeling like you're actually going to die. I had to updose my Valium by 2.5mg to compensate the ugly Paxil withdrawals. Was I alright to CT the Paxil? I do feel better 3 days out from Paxil CT. I also heard that SSRI withdrawals can last up to three weeks. Any advice? Cheers! 

Edited June 24, 2019 by Shep
added link to benzo forum thread

[ChessieCat]

Hi Crowman and welcome to SA,

 

Yes, stopping Paxil after 2 days of use in your situation is the right thing to do.  It sounds like you may have had an adverse reaction.

 

Please see this topic:  are-we-there-yet-how-long-is-withdrawal-going-to-take

 

I'll ask the other mods for their assistance with the valium.

 

To get you started, please create your drug signature using the following format.   Keep it simple.  NO diagnoses or symptoms please - thank you.

• details for last 2 years - dates, ALL drugs, doses
• summary for older than 2 years - just years and drug/s

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature

 

 

This is your own introductions topic where your can ask questions about your own situation and journal your progress.

 

[ChessieCat]

Q:  Are you taking Valium PRN (as needed) or daily?

[Crowman88]

29 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

Q:  Are you taking Valium PRN (as needed) or daily?

Daily. Like between 2.5 to 5mg.

Need help to try and get off the stuff.

What infuriates me is, at the four week mark, I asked my doctor to taper me down and he did NOTHING about it. My pharmacist told me to "be careful" while taking the tabs, but I thought by following the docs instructions on the vial, I was being careful, didn't quite understand what "as needed" meant, and not ONE person told me it should have been used for 2-4 weeks.

[ChessieCat]

Thank you for completing your drug signature.

 

Please add dates to your drug signature.  In a few months' time 2 days ago and 5 months ago won't mean anything.  Thanks.

[Crowman88]

3 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

Thank you for completing your drug signature.

 

Please add dates to your drug signature.  In a few months' time 2 days ago and 5 months ago won't mean anything.  Thanks.

Oh sorry, I'll add some dates now.

[ChessieCat]

Thanks.  But put the year as 2019, not this year, because next year that won't make sense. 😉

[Crowman88]

25 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

Thanks.  But put the year as 2019, not this year, because next year that won't make sense. 😉

Okay will do.

[Altostrata]

Welcome, Crowman.

 

It sounds like you had an adverse reaction to Paxil. It may be that your system was sensitized by the benzo taper. You're right to simply quit it after a couple of days.

 

12 hours ago, Crowman88 said:

I had to updose my Valium by 2.5mg to compensate the ugly Paxil withdrawals. Was I alright to CT the Paxil? I do feel better 3 days out from Paxil CT. I also heard that SSRI withdrawals can last up to three weeks.

 

How has the Valium helped?

 

When you have an adverse reaction to a psychiatric drug, the after-effects can be exactly like withdrawal symptoms. They both mean your nervous system has been hurt. You need to let it settle down.

 

The benzo may help, but you'll need to keep notes of your daily benzo use, because you can get side effects from Valium, too. It probably would be best if you took it more regularly. Attention @Shep

[Crowman88]

4 hours ago, Altostrata said:

Welcome, Crowman.

 

It sounds like you had an adverse reaction to Paxil. It may be that your system was sensitized by the benzo taper. You're right to simply quit it after a couple of days.

 

 

How has the Valium helped?

 

When you have an adverse reaction to a psychiatric drug, the after-effects can be exactly like withdrawal symptoms. They both mean your nervous system has been hurt. You need to let it settle down.

 

The benzo may help, but you'll need to keep notes of your daily benzo use, because you can get side effects from Valium, too. It probably would be best if you took it more regularly. Attention @Shep

For me, Valium takes the edge off the after-effects of the Paxil. You say "it probably would be best if you took it more regularly", what do you mean by that? Continue taking 2 2.5mg Valiums a day and taper down from there? I take one half in the afternoon and one half at night.

[Maca44]

I wouldn't be taking more Valium than absolutely necessary its one of the most highly additive drugs out there. I would say half am and half pm is working for you at the moment but I wouldn't be upping that.

Coming off Benzo's is going to take some planning and very slow reduction. All its doing is masking any anxieties you are experiencing. 

[Crowman88]

26 minutes ago, Maca44 said:

I wouldn't be taking more Valium than absolutely necessary its one of the most highly additive drugs out there. I would say half am and half pm is working for you at the moment but I wouldn't be upping that.

Coming off Benzo's is going to take some planning and very slow reduction. All its doing is masking any anxieties you are experiencing. 

My doc has actually spaced out my doses to be taken every six hours when required, so he is sort of tapering in a way. I don't take any more than 5mg/day. I used to take 7.5mg, but that was far too much and I knew it. I asked my doctor to taper me down, so he spaced out my half doses. I've never upped the dose from that since. Most days I take 2.5mg, other times I can go without any at all, but it's really difficult for me to just stop. The longest I went without taking a Valium was 12 days. I am seeking professional help to get me to quit Valium altogether. There is a specialist in Adelaide who can help me, so I'll see whether she can help as well.

[Maca44]

Sounds like your taking sensible steps to reduce by seeking professional help so that's a good starting point.

[Altostrata]

Hi, Maca, I've asked @Shep to look at Crowman's Valium schedule. Shep will help Crowman taper in our Benzo forum -- you should take a look there.

 

Sometimes people do have to take a benzo regularly to get over severe withdrawal syndrome or in preparation for tapering the benzo. Unfortunately, they can become dependent on the benzo but we help them taper that.

 

This site exists because people cannot find doctors who are knowledgeable in tapering benzodiazepines and other psychiatric drugs. Of course everyone would rather see a doctor than get advice from an Internet forum. If they were able to do that, I would be happy to close this site.

 

Rather than telling people to talk to their doctors, please be specific -- give contact information for nearby doctors who are knowledgeable about tapering drugs.

 

Otherwise, your suggestions to talk to a doctor are merely annoying.

[Crowman88]

9 hours ago, Altostrata said:

Hi, Maca, I've asked @Shep to look at Crowman's Valium schedule. Shep will help Crowman taper in our Benzo forum -- you should take a look there.

 

Sometimes people do have to take a benzo regularly to get over severe withdrawal syndrome or in preparation for tapering the benzo. Unfortunately, they can become dependent on the benzo but we help them taper that.

 

This site exists because people cannot find doctors who are knowledgeable in tapering benzodiazepines and other psychiatric drugs. Of course everyone would rather see a doctor than get advice from an Internet forum. If they were able to do that, I would be happy to close this site.

 

Rather than telling people to talk to their doctors, please be specific -- give contact information for nearby doctors who are knowledgeable about tapering drugs.

 

Otherwise, your suggestions to talk to a doctor are merely annoying.

Hey Altostrata, where is your Benzo forum? By the way, the professional in question is a psychologist trained in benzo dependence/addiction, and is not a doctor.

[Crowman88]

By the way guys, what's the likelihood of me suffering from a life-threatening withdrawal seizure here?

 

I am terrified with the thought, and I believe this is what's driving me to take V.

 

I've always had a fear of having a seizure and heart attack - this is why the doc got me on V to begin with.

 

I've been told/shown that hallucinations/seizures are extremely rare, and only occur at high-dose (like >50mg a day) and only if you CT from this, is that right (According to the SA Health website)? Of course, I'm not silly enough to do 50mg Valium per day and then CT!

 

Can you still get seizure from CTing a low dose? Does more V lower seizure threshold the more you try and withdraw from it? 

Thanks.

[AlexRussia]

2 hours ago, Crowman88 said:

By the way guys, what's the likelihood of me suffering from a life-threatening withdrawal seizure here?

 

I am terrified with the thought, and I believe this is what's driving me to take V.

 

I've always had a fear of having a seizure and heart attack - this is why the doc got me on V to begin with.

 

I've been told/shown that hallucinations/seizures are extremely rare, and only occur at high-dose (like >50mg a day) and only if you CT from this, is that right (According to the SA Health website)? Of course, I'm not silly enough to do 50mg Valium per day and then CT!

 

Can you still get seizure from CTing a low dose? Does more V lower seizure threshold the more you try and withdraw from it? 

Thanks.

Hello crowman88 . Sry for my English, its not my native language. Your story have some similarity with mine. I took benzo when needed and started getting  some sort of withdrawal between doses. But i didnt know that is withdrawal so i went to doctor and finally got prescribed antidepressants  It was worst decision in my life except taking benzos as needed in the beginning. Its good that u stopped paroxetine..I tried paroxetine (paxil) many years ago , took it for a week, withdrawal was mild lasting few weeks, so i hope u will be fine after just two days of use. I hope shep will help u with valium taper. CT is not a good idea. Trying beat dependency by using antidepressants, neuroleptics and another dangerous stuff  is the worst idea ever.   And about your fears .Seizures from benzo wd are rare, u have to take benzos higy doses for years and then ct  to get them.   And pls stop worry about your health so much it makes things worse. benzo part of forum https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/forum/29-benzo-tapering-and-recovery/  

 

[Shep]

7 hours ago, Crowman88 said:

By the way guys, what's the likelihood of me suffering from a life-threatening withdrawal seizure here?

 

I am terrified with the thought, and I believe this is what's driving me to take V.

 

I've always had a fear of having a seizure and heart attack - this is why the doc got me on V to begin with.

 

I've been told/shown that hallucinations/seizures are extremely rare, and only occur at high-dose (like >50mg a day) and only if you CT from this, is that right (According to the SA Health website)? Of course, I'm not silly enough to do 50mg Valium per day and then CT!

 

Can you still get seizure from CTing a low dose? Does more V lower seizure threshold the more you try and withdraw from it? 

Thanks.

 

 

 

Please start a thread for yourself in the benzo forum located here:

 

Benzo Tapering and Recovery

 

The first thing you'll want to do is set up a set schedule where you take Valium at the same time(s) of the day every day. After you start your benzo thread, we can help you set up a schedule for taking it every day. Once you stabilize, then you'll want to set up a safe and careful taper plan. 

 

Please don't worry about seizures. As AlexRussia mentioned, that's much more likely with a cold turkey. With a careful taper, you'll be fine. 

[Crowman88]

4 minutes ago, Shep said:

 

 

 

Please start a thread for yourself in the benzo forum located here:

 

Benzo Tapering and Recovery

 

The first thing you'll want to do is set up a set schedule where you take Valium at the same time(s) of the day every day. After you start your benzo thread, we can help you set up a schedule for taking it every day. Once you stabilize, then you'll want to set up a safe and careful taper plan. 

 

Please don't worry about seizures. As AlexRussia mentioned, that's much more likely with a cold turkey. With a careful taper, you'll be fine. 

Oh my God, thank you so much Shep!

[Altostrata]

15 hours ago, Crowman88 said:

By the way, the professional in question is a psychologist trained in benzo dependence/addiction, and is not a doctor.

 

Hi, Crowman. What has this person told you about your current benzo use and symptom pattern?

[Crowman88]

AltoStrata I haven't seen her just yet, there's a waiting list to see her.

[Maca44]

On 6/24/2019 at 3:38 AM, Crowman88 said:

Hey Altostrata, where is your Benzo forum? By the way, the professional in question is a psychologist trained in benzo dependence/addiction, and is not a doctor.

Glad that's cleared up, I didn't suggest you see a doctor. Hope your appointment goes well and is worth the wait, normally a wait it a good thing, it suggests they are good so hope you get some good advice.

[Maca44]

Just wondered how long you have to wait for the appointment ?. Have things settled for you ?.

[Crowman88]

Hey guys,

Yesterday marked 4 months free of Paxil!!! 

Even though I only used Paxil for 2 days at 10mg, I suffered severe Serotonin Syndrome. The second night, I was sure I was going to go to the ER.

But I survived. I didn't go to hospital.

I knew what was the offending medication.

I had a taste in my mouth which resembled rotten blueberries. So I knew that was Paxil.

The metallic/blood taste was from Valium.

I decided to Cold Turkey the Paxil.

No, it wasn't an easy decision.

Yes, I suffered the full gamut of withdrawal symptoms, including very strong rebound depression. Some mild hallucinations. Dry heaving. Disorientation. Sweats. Weight gain. You name it, I had it. Everything except seizures.

I still take Valium, but I am down to 3.75mg a day from 7.5mg! Withdrawal has not been a smooth ride, but I'm remaining very strong.

I am getting help in reducing this from the good friends at Benzo Buddies and a psychologist/doctor 

I am so very tired out.

I must push through this Pharma crap and be drug free. 

I'm taking my time with the Valium though. No rush to come off.

I can shop, cook, clean and push heavy weights.

I do still battle cog-fog, dizziness, headaches, some mild spasms and insomnia. But I know that this will pass someday.

Dave. 😎

[Cocopuffz17]

That is great. I hope all the best in your future. 

[maricar]

congratulation i hope will continue your healing crowman88, i hope someday me too...

[Altostrata]

That's great news, crowman. We look forward to your success story when you're off the Valium as well!