Erell: struggling with paroxetine

[sunnysideup69]

1 minute ago, Erell said:

 

You are kind Melissa. But if one day you read my thread, you'll see that I've not always been strong  

All this process forces me to learn new skills (mindfullness, acceptance, patience...) and I'm still learning everyday !

And it worth it

 

 

 

So, quick update : 

 

Felt better today with 1mg Paroxetine : less electricity and less dizziness. A bit more anxiety, but tolerable.

This Paroxetine really sticks like glue !

 

And one very good news : I've negociate with my bosses and can work from home until June !

 

Take care ❤️

 

 

 

 

This is very good news.....that little bit of Paroxetine has done the trick and it shows you were correct, the electricity and dizziness were from Paroxetine WD. I'm so glad you can work from home until June, that's amazing! It's all heading in the right direction ❤️ 

[Hanna72]

2 hours ago, Erell said:

Felt better today with 1mg Paroxetine : less electricity and less dizziness. A bit more anxiety, but tolerable.

This Paroxetine really sticks like glue !

 

And one very good news : I've negociate with my bosses and can work from home until June !

So happy that you are doing a little bit better Erell😃 So glad that the small amount of Paxil is helping. Focus on your journey, and make it your own🙏
Hugs from Reykjavík 

[sunnysideup69]

Hello dear @Erell , sending you a big hug from London xxx you're in my thoughts and prayers.

[Erell]

Hello !

 

Quick update on my Prozac-bridge adventure !

 

On Tuesday 5th May, I added 1mg Paroxetine to my 6mg Fluoxetine : after one day, strong electricity/dizziness disappeared !

Paroxetine won't leave me easily

 

Now my only symptoms is middle chemical anxiety with some spikes. Very unpleasant, but since last August, I've learned this is my typical sign for a destabilised CNS. 

And I've made a lot of changes lately, so no doubt my CNS is quite destabilised. Let's say this anxiety will slowly fade with months

 

My plan now would be to hold 1mg Paroxetine + 6mg Fluoxetine for months, then do a slow tapper of my Paroxetine dose.

Problem is, Paxil is out of stock in France since several months and may not come back, so I won't be able to do a very slow taper.

 

My idea would be : 

 

-hold 1mg Paroxetine + 6mg Fluoxetine for 2-3 weeks.

- then taper 1mg Paroxetine : 0.1mg every 2 weeks.

 

@Altostrata : what do you think?

 

Take care ❤️

 

 

[Altostrata]

3 hours ago, Erell said:

-hold 1mg Paroxetine + 6mg Fluoxetine for 2-3 weeks.

- then taper 1mg Paroxetine : 0.1mg every 2 weeks.

 

Sounds good to me.

 

Please note that every fluoxetine change takes weeks to even out. Some of your instability might be fluoxetine changes.

 

But your experiment shows adding in a little paroxetine at this point will make the transition smoother. 0.5mg paroxetine might be sufficient, are you up to another change?

[Erell]

1 minute ago, Altostrata said:

But your experiment shows adding in a little paroxetine at this point will make the transition smoother. 0.5mg paroxetine might be sufficient, are you up to another change?

 

I'm sorry, I don't understand  :

 

- do you suggest that I add 0,5mg, which means I would take 1.5mg Paroxetine?

 

- or do you suggest that instead of taking 1mg Paroxetine every morning,  I would take only 0.5mg ?

 

thank you ❤

[Altostrata]

1 minute ago, Erell said:

instead of taking 1mg Paroxetine every morning,  I would take only 0.5mg ?

 

Yes, I might have tried this before going up to 1mg paroxetine.

[Erell]

.

8 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

0.5mg paroxetine might be sufficient, are you up to another change?

 

I wanna do the best to be Paroxetine free and stabilise on Fluoxetine.  So yes, I'm up to another change.

 

So, from tomorrow morning I'll take 0.5mg Paroxetine + 6mg Fluoxetine.

 

Thank you  !

[Erell]

Update on the Prozac bridge adventure 

 

I must admit, I dove into emotionnal spirals last few days ! Like if I had forgot all my great coping skills.

The more I was reading the story of people who successfully did a Prozac bridge, the more I was asking myself : what did I do wrong ? Why isn't it working for me ? etc.

 

I'm now at 0.5mg Paroxetine and 6mg Fluoxetine.

My symptom is chemical anxiety : cortisol spikes in the morning are back since last week, and I have constant mild anxiety with some spikes of strong anxiety coming from nowhere during the day.

 

I re-read the Prozac bridge topic, and found this in the first post (don't know how I could miss it before) : 

 

 

"Smoothing out a transition to Prozac

Even with a cross-taper, your system might feel a jolt after you finally drop the initial antidepressant, particularly if it is an SNRI, such as Effexor, Pristiq, or Cymbalta, or other drug that is not an SSRI like Prozac. (Other SSRIs include Paxil, Zoloft, Luvox, Celexa, Lexapro).

 

If you go through a rough patch after the transition, patients find they can take a tiny chip of the original drug (or a bead or two, if it's a capsule containing beads) for a week or two to smooth out the transition. Eventually, you'd take a chip as needed only when you feel a wave of withdrawal from the original drug, and then finally leave the original drug entirely behind."

 

 

 

So I'll keep taking my 0,5mg Paroxetine for a week or two, and then leave it behind, hoping my CNS can stabilise on 6mg Fluoxetine

 

Take care ❤️

 

ps :  I'm sorry, I'm a bit lost. And probably need some friendly reassurance on the fact that my Prozac bridge could still work.

 

Edited May 13, 2020 by Erell
Correcting my English

[sunnysideup69]

Sending hugs and good wishes from London @Erell. Your CNS will settle again, it's bound to be a bit glitchy at first, after tapering off the Paxil and whilst the Prozac ramps up.

 

That danged anxiety is always the first thing to come back for me, too, it'll fade again, and you've got great coping tools.

Sending lots of love xxx

[Hanna72]

@Erell I am thinking of you during this process
This is exactly what also happened to me. The first 2 weeks were really hard, after I took Paxil all out. I have a journal that I just reread about those days of mine, and I had to skip few days of work during this switch.I could not function.  But then the extreme anxiety and panic, decreased little by little. Slowly everyday got a little bit better. Push on through💪 You can do it, like sunny said you have the coping skills and the mindset to get out of it. 
It doesn’t feel like it will get better when we have to endure this suffering, but it will🙏
You’ve got this🥰

[Erell]

@Hanna72 and @sunnysideup69 : how wonderful people you are ! ❤️

 

THANK YOU ❤️

 

I needed some nice and friendly support from people who understand the process while going through awfull anxiety, and that's excatly what you gave me.

Edited May 14, 2020 by Erell

[sunnysideup69]

1 minute ago, Erell said:

@Hanna72 and @sunnysideup69 : how wonderful people you are ! ❤️

 

THANK YOU ❤️

 

I needed some nice and friendly support from people who understand the process while going through awfull anxiety, and that's excatly what you gave me.

 

You're welcome @Erell. You;re dealing with WD,bridging, and this strange world situation all at once. Bound to create waves, which will settle xxx

[Erell]

Bim ! Periods came yesterday evening.

Ten days earlier than usual, that's why I didn't think about PMS while I was diving into Emotionnal Spiral (previous post).

 

How powerfull our hormones are ! 

Everytime I am trapped into Emotionnal Spiral I was in PMS. And everytime I got unable to use my coping skills.

 

Now periods are there, I still have chemical anxiety (but a bit lower) and intrusive thoughts,  but I'm able again to change the Channel more often.

 

What a journey  !

 

Prozac Bridge : still on 6mg Fluoxetine and 0.5mg Paroxetine, letting my CNS adapt few more days.

Then I'll drop Paroxetine.

 

 

Take care ❤

 

Edited May 16, 2020 by Erell

[MissyE]

Erell you are doing amazing!  You've got through this before and you shall again.  I need to channel your strength.

Love Missy x

[mustafa]

On 5/16/2020 at 4:44 PM, Erell said:

 

Prozac Bridge : still on 6mg Fluoxetine and 0.5mg Paroxetine, letting my CNS adapt few more days.

Then I'll drop Paroxetine.

You are really doing an amazing thing erell. Your courage and patience are too inspiring.

Please take care of yourself ❤️.

[Longroadhome]

@Erell

 

howz the switch going ? 

I think you have been so brave and I know it’s going to work for you 

paxil is pure torture to get off and it’s not going to let you off lightly ! It’s going out with a bang!! 
but hold your ground stay calm and focused 

it may take a little longer than expected to settle 

but the end result will be 

PAXIL FREE  
i may not know you but I’m proud of you 

LRH 

[Erell]

@MissyE, @mustafa and @Longroadhome : thank you dears, your kind words give me lot of strength ! You're so nice ❤️ 

 

 

2 hours ago, Longroadhome said:

howz the switch going ? 

 

Well, it's now been 2 weeks with 6mg Fluoxetine, and 1 week since I reinstated 0.5 mg Paroxetine.

I'm feeling so-so : chemical anxiety and strong dizziness oscillates, but are way better since periods came !

I'm planning to wait a few more days, then drop Paroxetine out. 

 

For sure, it has been and still is a rocky switch ! I'll probably have some symptoms when I'll stop taking Paroxetine, but I also have to end the bridge one day

 

However, even if chemical anxiety is sometimes hard, I believe my switch is working : slowly my CNS gets use to Fluoxetine, and one day I'll feel stable on it  💪

 

It just takes way more time than we wish

 

Take care ❤️

 

[sunnysideup69]

2 hours ago, Erell said:

However, even if chemical anxiety is sometimes hard, I believe my switch is working : slowly my CNS gets use to Fluoxetine, and one day I'll feel stable on it  💪

 

It just takes way more time than we wish  

 

 

Your switch will work, is already working. Yes, switching can be tricky, I recognise your symptoms with the dizziness and strong anxiety from my own switch last summer. All completely 'normal.'

I'm so glad for you!

Hugs xxx

[Erell]

Because good news have to be shared too : since two days I have very low chemical anxiety and dizziness, yay !!!

And my mood is very good 😃

 

Sounds like Fluoxetine is slowly ramping up and doing her job

 

Still with 0.5 mg Paroxetine : plan to take it all out in a few days, following this advice : (Prozac bridge topic)

 

"Smoothing out a transition to Prozac

Even with a cross-taper, your system might feel a jolt after you finally drop the initial antidepressant, particularly if it is an SNRI, such as Effexor, Pristiq, or Cymbalta, or other drug that is not an SSRI like Prozac. (Other SSRIs include Paxil, Zoloft, Luvox, Celexa, Lexapro).

 

If you go through a rough patch after the transition, patients find they can take a tiny chip of the original drug (or a bead or two, if it's a capsule containing beads) for a week or two to smooth out the transition. Eventually, you'd take a chip as needed only when you feel a wave of withdrawal from the original drug, and then finally leave the original drug entirely behind."

 

 

Take care ❤️

 

[sunnysideup69]

Wonderful news, @Erell! You're doing really well. Cheering you on with hugs xxx

[Hanna72]

3 hours ago, Erell said:

Because good news have to be shared too : since two days I have very low chemical anxiety and dizziness, yay !!!

And my mood is very good 😃

YES👍 So happy to hear those good news🙏

[brassmonkey]

I'm very pleased that the bridge is going so well for your Erell. I hope the last reduction goes smoothly.

[Erell]

Thank you dears ❤ Your support is much appreciate 💪

 

Today I'm exhaaaauusted : worked all morning in my garden, obviously too much !

 

It reminds me of a post I read once on SA, wonder if it was written by Chessiecat : don't overdo things while you're feeling better, your CNS still needs rest 😉

So true!

 

Lesson learned, going to bed now ! 😄

 

Take care ❤

Edited May 21, 2020 by Erell

[Erell]

Update on my Prozac Bridge journey : 

 

After a few days feeling relatively ok, I stopped taking my 0.5mg Paroxetine on Friday 22nd May.

 

Days before jumping : sweet nigths of sleep / low dizziness / low chemical anxiety / easily tired-exausted. Felt almost "normal".

 

After jumpin : 

 

Day 1 : same symptoms. Disturbed sleep (hot, sweaty, woke up a lot)

Day 2 : legs feel like wood / back very painfull / mild dizziness / mild anxiety / disturbed sleep

Day 3 : some dizziness and anxiety on morning / afternoon : feeling almost symptom free ! / evening : anxiety ramps up / very disturbed sleep

Day 4 : legs feel like wood / strong dizziness / strong brain fog and spatial disorientation / weak, body feels heavy / mild anxiety / painfull body (mostly arms and legs)

 

Not so smooth this last reduction

 

My 2 options now  :

 

- reinstate 0.1 mg Paroxetine 

- wait patiently for stabilisation on 6mg Fluoxetine

 

My plan is to wait and see how I feel in the next few days. 

 

@Altostrata : from the testimonies you might have seen : wich option sounds best?

I don't know if I have to force my CNS to et use to only functiun with Fluoxetine, or if it is best to support my CNS even if it means taking some Paroxetine.

 

(I'm sorry for asking, I don't find many testimonies  It seems that lot of people bridge relatively easily to Prozac )

 

Take care ❤️

 

 

[Hanna72]

Wow @Erell what a good job💪
I know how hard it is with stopping Paxil, but if I were you I would wait it out. My transition was also rocky, though I did not do it right like you are doing. But then again we are all different, but in my experience it took about 2 weeks, with my last dose of Paxil, and then it was like the Prozac kicked in. But the moderators known best, and what ever you decide, you have come along way, and should be so proud of yourself🙏
Hugs to you🥰

[Usha]

@Erill. Did you take paroxitine? So whole withdrawing it did you feel your subconscious mind is not sleeping while sleeping.I successfully left paroxitine 3 years ago and initially I was having exseesive dreaming but now I am feeling way better but still I feels my subconscious mind is always active.

[Altostrata]

Erell, has there been any change in symptom pattern over the 3 days you've been off paroxetine?

[Erell]

3 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

Erell, has there been any change in symptom pattern over the 3 days you've been off paroxetine?

 

 Since have been off Paroxetine, symptoms that changed :

 

- sleep is very disturbed, woke up with anxiety spikes, sweaty. (Before jumping, I had sweet nights of sleep)

- strong body aches appears

- strong brain fog appears

- dizziness and anxiety increased

 

I'm having more symptoms, and intensity is higher since I have been off Paroxetine.

 

[Altostrata]

7 hours ago, Erell said:

- reinstate 0.1 mg Paroxetine 

 

This seems reasonable.

[Erell]

Thank you for your answer.

 

Need to remember there is no shame in reinstating Paroxetine

[Altostrata]

Think of it as sneaking off.

[Erell]

50 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

Think of it as sneaking off.

 

Love it ! Thank you ! ❤

[sunnysideup69]

21 hours ago, Erell said:

Thank you for your answer.

 

Need to remember there is no shame in reinstating Paroxetine

 

None whatsoever! You're helping your body to get off, which is a very kind thing to do. I promise you, much better than crashing off and suffering from months of CT wobbles. Dropped in to give you hugs ❤️ 

[Erell]

1 hour ago, sunnysideup69 said:

 

None whatsoever! You're helping your body to get off, which is a very kind thing to do. I promise you, much better than crashing off and suffering from months of CT wobbles. Dropped in to give you hugs ❤️ 

 

Thank you for this kind hug

 

Yes this bridge is not as simple and gentle as I hoped or read in other testimonies 

I'm struggling : with symptoms, and with thoughts.

 

While moving in an unknown territory, it is very easy to get trapped by Emotionnal Spiral, I observe it : while I was doing really good in acceptance and patience during last few months waiting for Paroxetine stabilisation, this difficult bridge brings back a lot of questions and intrusive thoughts : 

 

- is there a point where I should consider Prozac bridge isn't working, Then what is this point ?

- if the bridge doesn't work, what are my options ?

- my CNS doesn't seem to be able to quit Paroxetine, will there be a dose at which it will be easier ?

- does these difficulties mean I should Updose Fluoxetine ? 

- if this bridge is so difficult, is it because I have done something wrong, or because it won't work?

 

 

For people doing a bridge with antoher SSRI, there is a balance to find between : 

 

- listen to your body to determine what you have to do to help your CNS

- try to not identify to the intrusive thoughts saying it's not working and urging you to do something

 

Not so easy

 

Main thing is to stay confident in the healing process, and remember the main goal : be drugfree one day ❤️

 

Take care ❤️

 

 

[Cocopuffz17]

Hey!! I just saw you are a mod! That is great to see! Great work! Hope you are doing well