Albert: preparing to get off Paxil / paroxetine for good

[Albert]

UPDATE:  YESTERDAY:   Paroxetine 7:00 AM  11:45 AM

 

Woke at 4:00  AM with some panic and fear, as morning went on, I started to notice signs of improvement.  Still lots of symptoms but they seemed to be less intense.  My focus started to show small signs of returning, my strength in legs and balance started to return at moments, my nausea started to show some minor signs of improvement as well.  Vision still blurry but I did experience a few signs of it clearing up.  Muscles seemed to be slightly more relaxed and less moments of burning skin.   Overall, saw improvement for sure.  Planning on Taking the Paroxetine today at 7:00 and at 12:00 and then holding for some time to let system balance a little.   Hoping that spreading out the dose might be working.  

[Albert]

UPDATE:   Now currently have Paxil split apart by 6 hrs.  7:00 AM and 1:00 PM   It has been somewhat of a rollercoaster of symptoms.  Still all the same symptoms, but they come and go quicker and revolve quicker.  Not quite as intense ( AWESOME ).  I have noticed some of my cognitive ability to start to return.   I have also cleaned up my eating.  Eating lots of oranges, apples, veggies, and nuts.  Trying to stay all organic.  Still some insomnia that wakes me by 5:00 AM every morning but I am getting a good 6 hours sleep.  Thanks for all the help, Colonial and Chelsie Cat were onto something around the inner dose withdrawal keeping my CNS in shambles.  I am far from out of the woods and I am aware of that.  However, this slight trend in the right direction really gives me hope.  Trying to do lots of relaxing in the evenings and keeping life as simple as I possibly can.  My plane is to stay here at 6 hours apart for a few days.  Should I considering going on ahead and spreading further apart as time goes on ?  THANKS !!!!!!  

[Colonial]

On 3/6/2021 at 10:01 AM, Colonial said:

As for the paxil, it's a 19 hour med, so you are going to have two 2.5 hour "lulls" when you only have 50% of your daily dose in your system regardless of when you choose to take them.  When those lulls happen is based on the 2 times a day you take the med.  To me, common sense say you do eventually want to get to every 12 hours, since that separates the two drops as far apart as possible to give the brain time to remain as stable as possible. 

 

Other wise if you forever continue to take the second dose close to the first your going to continue to have 2 drops in concentration very close together during the night and it's still a yo yo effect that can only be problematic for your sleeping pattern.  You don't have to rush to get there, however, but I do think in the long run its best that you don't take forever either.  If you want to continue to move it a half an hour forward every 2 or 3 days, I don't think that's rushing it, but will eventually get you there soon enough.

 

Please review your thread for answers to questions already given,

 

As of now, you will have 2.5 hours of your brain only having 50% med, then it will raise up to 20mgs for only a few hours, then drop to 50% for another 2.5 hours, than rise again to full amount for about 16 hours.

 

I still think that is too close and can continue to give Interdose WD issues to some extent.  I would continue to spread those two "dips" in brain chemistry further apart.

 

If you think the "lull" you have from 4:30am to 7am is affecting your cortisol and sleep, you can always adjust your schedule to taking it to 9am and 9pm, but that is "fine tuning" you can do later once you have stabilized on getting your dosages further apart. 

 

In a perfect world, you want to have those 2 lulls at the 2 times of day your usually better and have shown to be less problematic. The morning cortisol rush would be a time you may not want to be having a "lull". 

 

Edited March 16, 2021 by Colonial

[Albert]

Thanks again !!!!   I will continue press forward and attempt to spread them to 12 hrs apart over time.  Once I have them 12 hours apart, I will look at adjusting to 9:00 AM if my morning seems to be problematic.  Thanks again !!!!   I really can't thank you enough.   Today I had a HUGE window !!!!   1st one in months.  I am not going to slip back to old habits.   Thanks again Colonial !!!   

[Colonial]

On 3/16/2021 at 12:37 PM, Albert said:

Thanks for all the help, Colonial and Chelsie Cat were onto something around the inner dose withdrawal keeping my CNS in shambles. 

 

 

I'm glad you finally accepted the suggestion, we had been discussing it for so long now:

 

Colonial Replied: December 18, 2020

 

"You could start delaying 50%, that would help start covering any gap.  You can then start delaying the 2nd dose by just another hour a day every few days until your taking it every 12 hours or so.  Right now all of it is flooding all at once and then you have nothing for 5- 6 hours.  This will change it so it dips 2 times, but only to 50% and only for a few hours each time until your at full strength again. If that helps, than you can have the doctor prescribe the 10 mg pill for 2 times a day for ease of dosing so you don't have to keep butchering and weighing pills."

 

While sometimes it is true, that we are in a wave due to an error, and this was likely part of the problem of You getting worse recently, as you were concerned the yawning at 7am 2 hours after starting a sleep aid at 5 am was a sign of WD or inter dose WD when it was most likely just that, a sleep aid at 5am, and went back to the coffee you must keep in mind that "waves" will happen even if we are doing everything right.

 

Symptoms are a sign of the brain making repairs.  If you panic and want to make a med adjustment at that time, you may destabilize and make Yourself worse. You need to keep in mind you have had a lot of medication and anesthesia in what, in the WD world, is in reality the very recent past.  I continue to have very specific symptoms every Autumn from the Wellbutrin that I have been off almost 3 years now.  But because I know that healing takes a long time, I know to expect them and make adjustments to my schedule.

 

I'm glad spreading the Paxil "seems" to be working. My concern is why it took so long for You to be willing to try it.  My biggest overall observation based on Our PM's, is you tend to have trouble coming to a decision, panic and assume the wave You are in must be a sign of something that just went wrong recently, or a sign that Your meds need adjusting. It's coming from what I perceive is a lack of self confidence

 

You tend to "double guess" yourself and need a lot of emotional reassurance which plays out by continually asking the same questions in slightly different ways. As peer support, that is something we really aren't trained in providing. If you still have a counselor that would be a great thing to work on, since the stress of that self doubt can only make your anxiety and cortisol issues worse. 

 

The more confidence You have with Yourself, the easier it will be to deal with the symptoms as they arise. I think if You can become stronger in that area You will see that a lot of the questions and panic You have really aren't about the process or the symptoms per se, but about feeling secure in Yourself and not panicking. 

 

Edited March 19, 2021 by Colonial

[Albert]

Yes, I know.   I should have taken that advise much sooner.  I would probably be a lot further along than I am now.  However, I am planning on taking the advise of this website moving forward and my doctor is also on board with that as well. He is being very supportive and that is a good thing.  How long should I stay put and try to get stronger before I taper ?  I am still having some symptoms but they are far less intense.  I can function at least.  Starting to notice a little  of my strength to come back as well.  The symptoms are much less intense but all still reminding me that I am not out of the woods just yet.  Thanks AJ 

[Colonial]

It took me 6 months to stabilize.

See how you feel 4th of July and reevaluate.

 

[Colonial]

 

When putting in for the time off from work and the disability, make sure your doctor is using the correct code. You would be the 2nd, "Subsequent encounter".

 

Print out the entire article for Him. As long as doctor's feel they have "scientific backup", they don't mind using a DSM provided them, since they aren't risking ridicule for proposing something unproven or questionable.

 

What I have learnt from helping thousands of people taper off antidepressants and other psychotropic medications - ****** Framer, 2021 (sagepub.com)

 

Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome 995.29 (T43.205A)

Initial encounter 995.29 (T43.205A)

Subsequent encounter 995.29 (T43.205D)

Sequelae 995.29 (T43.205S)
 

Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome is a set of symptoms that can occur after an abrupt cessation (or marked reduction in dose) of an antidepressant medication that was taken continuously for at least 1 month. Symptoms generally begin within 2-4 days and typically include specific sensory, somatic, and cognitive-emotional manifestations. Frequently reported sensory and somatic symptoms include flashes of lights, "electric shock" sensations, nausea, and hyperresponsivity to noises or lights. Nonspecific anxiety and feelings of dread may also be reported. Symptoms are alleviated by restarting the same medication or starting a different medication that has a similar mechanism of action - for example, discontinuation symptoms after withdrawal from a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor may be alleviated by starting a tricyclic antidepressant. To qualify as antidepressant discontinuation syndrome, the symptoms should not have been present before the antidepressant dosage was reduced and are not better explained by another mental disorder (e.g., manic or hypomanic episode, substance intoxication, substance withdrawal, somatic symptom disorder).

 

Diagnostic Features

Discontinuation symptoms may occur following treatment with tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., imipramine, amitriptyline, desipramine), serotonin reuptake inhibitors (e.g., fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline), and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (e.g., phenelzine, selegiline, pargyline)(Blier and Tremblay 2006; Delgado 2006; Demyttenaere and Haddad 2000; Fava 2006; Haddad 2001; Haddad and Qureshi 2000; Kaymaz et al. 2008; Mavissakalian and Perel 1999; Schatzberg et al. 2006; Shelton 2006; Warner et al. 2006). The incidence of this syndrome depends on the dosage and half-life of the medication being taken, as well as the rate at which the medication is tapered. Short-acting medications that are stopped abruptly rather than tapered gradually may pose the greatest risk. The short-acting selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) paroxetine is the agent most commonly associated with discontinuation symptoms, but such symptoms occur for all types of antidepressants(Fava 2006; Haddad 2001; Warner et al. 2006).

 

 

[Albert]

Update:   I have been holding steady.  I have continued forward with splitting my Paroxetine.  I am currently at 10mg at 7:00 am and then 10mg at 2:30pm.   Planning on spreading out by another 15 minutes today. Still symptomatic but they are still less intense than before.  Some mild twitching, some mild eye pain, mild blurry vision, moderate weakness, moderate insomnia.  Most significant symptom currently is my cramping and stinging in my legs.  It will come and go at least.  Also still have significant bowel dysfunction but my nausea has tamed down.   Overall still improved and thankful.   Thanks again 

[Albert]

Update:   I have been making more improvement.  I now have my Paroxetine split apart by almost 12 hours.  It seems to be helping a lot.  Following are my symptoms.  Still get head pressure, ears ringing, nausea, brain fog.  These symptoms seem to be shortening in length and intensity.  Noticed some leg strength returning.  Ice cold feet is only happening between about 9:00 and 11:00 am.  Still have bladder and bowel dysfunction.  While I am still far from healed.  I am sooooo greatful for the improvement that I am experiencing and hoping that it is not just temporary and more of a sign of continued improvement to come 

[Colonial]

That's great news.

As long as your taking the evening dose late enough it should help with any difficulty sleeping.

 

When you get a moment update your signature line with both the date you started to separate the dosages and the day you finished it so it's easier to refer back to when you get to the point of discussing tapering, etc.

[Albert]

4 minutes ago, Colonial said:

That's great news.

As long as your taking the evening dose late enough it should help with any difficulty sleeping.

 

When you get a moment update your signature line with both the date you started to separate the dosages and the day you finished it so it's easier to refer back to when you get to the point of discussing tapering, etc.

I will do that as soon as I get to a computer.  Thanks for the reply!!  It is good to hear from you.  I hope you are improving.  Hopefully you will start to stabilize when you drop.  You are soooo close.  

[Sebas]

On 3/5/2021 at 11:22 PM, Albert said:

The Ingredients in the supplement are Milk Protein decapeptide 150mg, gelatin, microcystaline, cellulose.  I tried to check for interactions but did  not see any, but I am also not sure I am checking correctly.  Sorry to hear that you did not sleep well last night either.  Hope yours clears up soon.  My son has final basketball game of his senior year this evening.  As bad as I do not want to make my condition worse, I just do not think that I can miss it.   I will stay calm.  He has worked for this since he has been 6 years old.   I have spread the dose out 3 hrs for 3 days.  Is it ok to go ahead and move it further apart starting tomorrow?  How far apart should I keep it from my other medicine?  Thanks 

 

Good thing you stopped, in case of doubt mostly the best decision. Some protein drinks/tablets may contain amino acids such as L-Tryptofaan. This is a bad connection with SSRI such as paxil. Indeed only recommended supplements are omega 3 fish oil and magnesium preferably citrate or (bi)glycinate. In fact anything that works around in the same area (intestines) may cause issues; also depending from one person to another you might want to avoid painkillers, caffein holding products, grapefruit, alcohol, spices and chocolate during tapering. 

 

Furthermore i hope your CNS will gradually find rest in the next weeks or months. Nausea, blurry vision, insomnia, muscle issues, anxiety are all known withdrawal issues and as many of us know can be very dramatically and intense. Take enough rest (afternoon naps), avoid stress, have faith, keep a positive mindset. Watch some basketball matches on television  Positivity and faith kills anxiety. Windows are a good sign that CNS is carefully healing. After full recovery from this WD, first take a couple of weeks of rest, let CNS heal, then plan further action taking into account the advice of experienced forum members. Don't rush things, one thing at a time.

Coming down from 20 mg of paxil will take years and rushing things will eventually only cause delay. 

 

Cheers Sebas 

[Albert]

Thank you Sebas!!!   I am continuing to improve:  My plan is to hopefully get stable at 20 mg and then go VERY slow.  I will probably wait at least a year, that will put my youngest son out of High School.   I am still showing some signs of improvement.  The progress is just slow but it is there and that is awesome.   

[Albert]

Current Update:   Thanks to everyone who has helped me and is praying for me.  I am praying for everyone on this site daily!!  

 

The Nausea is all but gone:  I have very small episodes but mainly gone. 

The Head Pressure Headache is nearly gone as well.  Very small episodes. 

Leg strength and balance:  Much improved.  Still somewhat wobbly legs at times, but I have also had some moments during the past couple of weeks where I have noticed that my legs feel really strong !!   

Balance:  Improved but still there

Urgent and Frequent Urination:   This is still a problem:  However, I can say for the 1st time in a year that it may be starting to slowly improve. 

Inconsistent Bowel Function:  Still regular problem

Dizzy / Vertigo:   I only had this for a few days out of the last 2-3 weeks.  This is much improved 

Twitching:  I still get this pretty regularly but the twitching is not as intense 

Ice Cold Feet:  Instead of this lasting for 3-4 hrs per day, I have noticed that it will leave after a couple of hours and it is not quite as intense but still there. 

Temperature regulation:  Still having periods during the day when I get really cold and shiver.  I have noticed lately that I have been going a day or two w/out this happening.  Tells me that it may be improving. 

Cognitive Impairment:   This is drastically improved.  I still have small periods during the day where I forget what I was doing and have to real myself back in.  However, I can function and get through a day at work and that is AWESOME 

Blurry Vision:  Still a problem but 50% improved 

Locked up muscles in legs and back of neck:  This is still there but coming and going. 

Insomnia:  Sleeping pretty good all the way till about 4:00 AM then sleep is broken till about 6:00 AM.   What I have noticed is that I have not been waking with these massive waves of fear and doom.  While I am still awake, my thoughts are just regular thinking.  

Tinnitus:  90% gone

Light sensitivity:  Drastically improved

Heart Palpitations:   Have not noticed any

[Albert]

Update, I am still in withdrawal but still seeing slight improvements.  I am still micro tapering.  Question is around Antibiotics.  I have came down with what I think might be a really bad sinus infection.  I am going to see the Dr and just wanted to make sure I knew what meds to typically cause symptoms or trouble.  Also, is there anything recommended for severe head pressure and congestion when in with withdrawal?  Thanks AJ 

[Colonial]

The Fluoroquinolone family of antibiotics is one to stay away from, but many people are ok with a generic run of the mill Penicillin based, if your not allergic, like Amoxicillin.

Everyone is different.

 

We do have a thread here: " Cipro, Levaquin, Azithromycin (Z-Pack), and other antibiotics"

[Colonial]

On 6/9/2021 at 2:32 PM, Albert said:

Update, I am still in withdrawal but still seeing slight improvements.  I am still micro tapering. 

 

Just checking in to see how You are.

Did you find the split dosing to continue to help stabilize more after Your April post?

 

Have you starting micro tapering the Paxil since then?

I don't see anything in your signature but I wasn't sure if that's the drug you meant.

 

For head pressure I found alternating ice and heat helped me somewhat.

[Albert]

On 7/18/2021 at 7:35 PM, Colonial said:

 

Just checking in to see how You are.

Did you find the split dosing to continue to help stabilize more after Your April post?

 

Have you starting micro tapering the Paxil since then?

I don't see anything in your signature but I wasn't sure if that's the drug you meant.

 

For head pressure I found alternating ice and heat helped me somewhat.

I am still dealing with symptoms of withdrawal.  The splitting of the dose did wind up helping me.  I stayed put for several months at 10mg twice per day ( 20mg daily ) and I split the Hydrocodone 4 times per day as you had recommended ( .5mg ea / 2mg total ).  I actually got pretty stable and then started to taper the Hydrocodone.  Every time that I drop dose of the Hydro, I get a vicious cycle of symptoms that include everything from head pressure, brain fog, chills, hot flashes, nausea, twitching, tight muscles, wrestles feeling, insomnia, itching / prickling, weakness, and anxiety.    I have noticed that it seems to peak about a week after I cut and then if I don't get scared and up-dose and just push through I will slowly come out of it and clear up over the following week or two.    THE GOOD: I have been able to manage.  I am all the way down to .1mg of Hydrocodone 4 times per day for a total of .4mg daily.  ( I updated my signature ).  I have still been able to walk and do mild exercise.  I am actually getting ready for another cut here in a week or so.  If all goes well, I should be completely off of the Hydrocodone by the end of October.  I am hoping that I will really be able to stabilize the Paxil ( Paroxetine ) once I am completely off.  Then I plan to re-join the site for support with tapering the SSRI.   

[Colonial]

That's great getting the Paxil split helped enough to give some stabilization.

When the body is in wd, it seems all of the meds have to be stable and then some healing can occur to begin tapering them down one drug at a time.

 

I had the same problem, once I was super unstable dropping one could sometimes produce symptoms of the other if I hadn't been stable on the drug long enough to be dropping anything.

 

It's been less that 5 months so take all the time you need, I waited 9 months at once point before I thought I was stable enough to try again.  Thanks for checking in!

 

[Rusty1]

1 hour ago, Albert said:

I am still dealing with symptoms of withdrawal.  The splitting of the dose did wind up helping me.  I stayed put for several months at 10mg twice per day ( 20mg daily ) and I split the Hydrocodone 4 times per day as you had recommended ( .5mg ea / 2mg total ).  I actually got pretty stable and then started to taper the Hydrocodone.  Every time that I drop dose of the Hydro, I get a vicious cycle of symptoms that include everything from head pressure, brain fog, chills, hot flashes, nausea, twitching, tight muscles, wrestles feeling, insomnia, itching / prickling, weakness, and anxiety.    I have noticed that it seems to peak about a week after I cut and then if I don't get scared and up-dose and just push through I will slowly come out of it and clear up over the following week or two.    THE GOOD: I have been able to manage.  I am all the way down to .1mg of Hydrocodone 4 times per day for a total of .4mg daily.  ( I updated my signature ).  I have still been able to walk and do mild exercise.  I am actually getting ready for another cut here in a week or so.  If all goes well, I should be completely off of the Hydrocodone by the end of October.  I am hoping that I will really be able to stabilize the Paxil ( Paroxetine ) once I am completely off.  Then I plan to re-join the site for support with tapering the SSRI.   

Great news! I bet you will regain a lot of stability when you finally are able to get through the hydrocodone taper process. Keep going, sounds like you are doing a good job!

[Albert]

On 9/3/2021 at 9:24 AM, Colonial said:

That's great getting the Paxil split helped enough to give some stabilization.

When the body is in wd, it seems all of the meds have to be stable and then some healing can occur to begin tapering them down one drug at a time.

 

I had the same problem, once I was super unstable dropping one could sometimes produce symptoms of the other if I hadn't been stable on the drug long enough to be dropping anything.

 

It's been less that 5 months so take all the time you need, I waited 9 months at once point before I thought I was stable enough to try again.  Thanks for checking in!

 

Thanks for the replies.   Your recommendations to split all of the doses up Hydro and Paxil is what I feel really started to set me on the right path.  I have been keeping up with your posts as well and hope you continue to keep improving !!!  Thank you for everything Colonial !!!  

[Albert]

As of Thursday October the 21st, I am officially completely off of Hydrocodone!!!!  Big thanks to all that helped me and prayed for me.  

[Colonial]

That's wonderful. Give yourself plenty of time to detox before you do anything else, since that process only fully begins once your completely off a med. Even tiny amounts delay the full detox process. Good to hear from you!.

[Albert]

On 10/27/2021 at 5:01 PM, Colonial said:

That's wonderful. Give yourself plenty of time to detox before you do anything else, since that process only fully begins once your completely off a med. Even tiny amounts delay the full detox process. Good to hear from you!.

Thanks Colonial!!!  Your support, direction, and understanding played a big part in getting off of the med.  I would also like to get a message to Alto!!  I was referred to Lucid Lane by Alto / Surviving Antidepressants.  I was initially skeptical.  Possibly because of the state that I was in.  However, after 5-6 appointments ( weekly ) with the withdrawal therapist ( Jen ), she really got me straightened out!!!    She recommended and supported the splitting and compounding of the medications and helped me get that all straightened out between the direction of Colonial and my Psychiatrist and then provided consistent support and symptom management as she was available 24 / 7 to help me with symptoms and navigate through life events.  She kept me on track, moving slow so I could balance out, and controlling symptoms.   After 2 + years of surgeries and Dr's perscribing me different meds to control the symptoms it was this group that ultimately understood my condition and helped me through.  I will take some time to detox and get balanced out.  This will give me time to enjoy the remainder of my son's senior year. Then I will evaluate how I feel and decide if and when I am going to start my Paxil Taper.   This time knowing I have the proper support.  

[Colonial]

That's great, we will tag Her to make sure she sees the message.

@Altostrata

[Altostrata]

That's good news, @Albert. As you know, we don't do tapering of opioids here. Please let us know when you want to taper Paxil.

[Albert]

Needing some advise please!!  

Over the past several months I have had some ups and downs but was showing signs of improvement.  Starting to sleep till 6:00 AM before being woke by cortisol spike, bowel and bladder function starting to return to normal, body temperature regulation starting to return to normal, started being able to walk further, noticing some increased energy, balance returned, and cognitive function started to come back.  

  However, starting about 2 weeks ago the following symptoms started to return and now I am back in near full withdrawal and I have not felt this bad in 2-3 months.  

• Severe cognitive dysfunction
• Shallow breathing
• Generalized weakness and balance dysfunction. 
• Major body aches and pains
• Nausea, stomach cramping
• Super tight muscles around the back of my neck and legs
• Burning sensations behind knees and in front of elbows
• Insomnia 
• Dizzy 

Was wondering if I need to change something or if I am doing something wrong?  The only medication that I am on is the 10mg Paroxetine twice daily ( 12 hrs apart - Total 20mg )  I currently have not been taking any supplements.  Thoughts would be much appreciated.  I felt I was making so much headway. 

 

[Sebas]

Besides supplements, two weeks ago did you take anything such as painkillers, covid vaxine, did you eat or drink anythin other than what you normally eat or drink. Did you take alcohol, caffein, chocolate or anything that may be overstimulating? 

[Albert]

I had some deserts and cheered on my eating some.  But I had been doing a little better adding some foods back to my diet.  Looking back, I also bought myself some 1/2 caffeine organic coffee pods and I have had a cup of that on occasion.   No other meds, supplements, or alcohol!! Do you think that would have thrown me back into this severe delayed wave ?  Thank you for reaching out. 

[Colonial]

On 10/27/2021 at 1:35 PM, Albert said:

As of Thursday October the 21st, I am officially completely off of Hydrocodone!!!!  Big thanks to all that helped me and prayed for me.  

 

On 11/29/2021 at 2:49 AM, Albert said:

However, starting about 2 weeks ago the following symptoms started to return and now I am back in near full withdrawal and I have not felt this bad in 2-3 months.  

 

 

Oct 21st-Nov. 14th= 24 days

 

People sometimes feel an uptick in symptoms after finally taking their last dose of a drug their tapering. Your now "detoxing" * the last of the drug and not just withdrawing.

 

I would take the caffeine back out again and watch the diet so your not taking too many stimulating sugars and carbs. It may be awhile to re stabilize. One person had a wave for about a month after their last dose that started about 3 weeks after they finished.  Hopefully it won't be too long!

 

* MOD NOTE:  Colonial is referring to Hydrocodone and not a psychiatric drug.  See this post which provides further explanation for the use of this term.

 

Also:

 

 

 

Edited November 30, 2021 by ChessieCat
added mod note

[ChessieCat]

On 11/29/2021 at 9:17 AM, Colonial said:

Your now "detoxing" the last of the drug and not just withdrawing.

 

@Colonial

 

Would you please explain what you mean by "detoxing" in this context.  Thank you.

[Colonial]

5 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

 

@Colonial

 

Would you please explain what you mean by "detoxing" in this context.  Thank you.

 

Sure!

It's a reference to the type of drug he was taking.

While tapering, as long as there is some left in the system, the brain-body does not really evacuate the trace amounts out.

 

Day 9 begins the process of evacuating the drug in earnest from the brain.

I had a decent article on that somewhere but I haven't been able to relocate.

 

Brain fog, as He is describing tends to roll in then and this link shows test results on cognitive functioning to day 16:

Cognitive function during early abstinence from opioid dependence: a comparison to age, gender, and verbal intelligence matched controls | BMC Psychiatry | Full Text (biomedcentral.com)

 

Ad the brain begins to remodel itself, it is not unusual for people to notice a worsening in their physical symptoms that had begun to resolve, if even temporarily.

 

There was a Ted Talk once where the gentlemen said His hardest week of withdrawal was day 23-30, and then He began to improve significantly.  So, for someone also dealing with AD WD, It's not surprising He is having some difficulty with any or all symptoms from either drug..

 

 

[ChessieCat]

@Colonial Thank you for explaining that.  I have added a mod note to your post which mentions "detox" and linked your explanation post.

[Altostrata]

Thanks for very generously providing that information, @Colonial

 

Please note that we do not provide support for opioid tapering or withdrawal here, as we don't know anything about it and there is a huge industry in that already.

 

Ordinarily, we do not address addiction medicine concepts such as "detox" which, from what I've seen, means the period of withdrawal symptoms after discontinuation when the addicted person may be most tempted to go back on the drugs. 

 

@Albert, as ever, we do not provide support for opioid withdrawal here.

[Albert]

While I was on an opioid medication, I was also on multiple other medications that included an as needed benzo, amitriptyline, gabapentin, paroxetine, and Cymbalta.  I was having symptoms as result of all of these medications and the straw that broke the camel's back was the attempted bridge from Paroxetine to Cymbalta.  Since then I have tried my best to follow every direction of this site.  I am all the way down to 20mg of Paroxetine alone and I have come a long way.  Please remember, that I was not a long time opioid addict, I went through a series of surgeries and this was just one of the medications that was thrown into my mix.  I am now 100 percent off of the OPIOID and thank god for that.    I realize that I have not been off of that one for a long time, but I really think my condition is result of a combination of all of those medications that I have been trying to get off of over the past 2 years.    I am still experiencing significant up and down moments and even some chronic waves like I am currently in.  I was really hoping that once I was completely off of the Opioid that I would be able to come back to this site and get some help and guidance.  I no longer need help tapering an Opioid - I obtained help with that through Lucid Lane who I was referred to by Alto.   I am now just left wondering if I am suffering from Paroxetine poop out, should I be doing something different, or is my best bet just staying put where I am at and trying to stabilize.  I have had some windows throughout my journey.    Thanks