Nevergiveup: Persistence with slow Paxil withdrawal

[Nevergiveup]

Hi there ,

I am new to this forum . A bit about me . I have had social/performance anxiety which comes and goes . About 18 years ago , my gp prescribed Paxil 20mg . He told me at the time it was non addictive and I don’t recall a very long conversation re the pros and cons ... I started on Paxil and felt so much better and it really worked for me . As time went on I realised that the side effects were loss of libido, inability to cry, weight gain etc .. so , I learnt that I had to slowly decrease . I managed to get down to half and stay on 10mg for about 8 years .. then with life stressors , I wasn’t sleeping etc , so my go recommended last year that I go back up to 20mg ... again , it worked and helped with sleep and got me back on track . Then in January this year I started with a 10 percent drop again every 2 months . So very slowly, I’m hoping to be back on half a Paxil by the end of the year !!  Then take it from there .. if I had known how hard it would be to get off Paxil, I never would have taken that first tablet , despite the fact that it did help me ...

[Gridley]

Welcome to SA, Nevergiveup.  I'm very glad you're tapering so slowly.  We recommend tapering no more than 10% of your current dose every four weeks, but spreading it out to every two months is fine.  Keep in mind that each reduction is 10% of your current dose, not 10% of the original  20mg dose.  Your estimate that you should be at 10mg in a year at your current rate of reduction is correct.

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

This link is specifically bout tapering Paxil, including how to get the non-standard doses you'll need for your taper.

 

Tips for tapering off Paxil (paroxetine)

 

We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system. 

 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

Add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems.

 

This is your Introduction topic, where you can ask questions and connect with other members. We're glad you found your way here.

 

 

 

 

[Nevergiveup]

Hi Gridley , thank you so much for reaching out with your very helpful advice . I will slowly introduce those supplements that you recommended. I will keep assessing how I feel after each 10 percent drop from last dose every 2 months . Slowly but surely ! Take care 

[Cocopuffz17]

Hello! You can do it! I know exactly how you feel. It made me feel better for awhile and long term destroyed my body. I lost the feelings of being a human.... almost every single one of them. I am glad I am off of paxil. The slower the better. I followed my doctors advice and had a fast taper and DO NOT recommend it. I feel way better now and am almost 15 months drug free!!!!!!!!!!!  Remember everyday that passes is one day closer to being healed   

[Nevergiveup]

Ohhhh , thank you so much for reaching out and giving me hope !! Well done you !!! You have and are doing so well !! I will persevere.. also , I’m very interested to read that healthy nutrition/plant based helped you ! Thank you again 

[Cocopuffz17]

1 hour ago, Nevergiveup said:

Ohhhh , thank you so much for reaching out and giving me hope !! Well done you !!! You have and are doing so well !! I will persevere.. also , I’m very interested to read that healthy nutrition/plant based helped you ! Thank you again 

I demand that you read it! The best $15 I ever spent. I had tried 3 times before to get off of Paxil and did not succeed or come even close before. This time was challenging but I am off and 100% know nutrition played a massive factor. A huge amount of your serotonin in your body is created in your gut. The foods you eat directly influence its creation. If you have any questions ask away! 

[Nevergiveup]

I will purchase the book straight away !! I too am such a believer that brain/gut health is inter- linked . Did you give up coffee, as I love coffee !!!!

[Cocopuffz17]

18 minutes ago, Nevergiveup said:

I will purchase the book straight away !! I too am such a believer that brain/gut health is inter- linked . Did you give up coffee, as I love coffee !!!!

Yes! I never believed it until I changed my nutrition and watched my life change for the better. Dr.G is a beast! 
 

I never drank coffee before withdrawals. I drank it as fatigue was so crushing. But recently I have stopped drinking caffeinated coffee as it gives me rowdy headaches. So I just drink decaf now. 

[Nevergiveup]

Thank you again .. very helpful again . Was the extreme fatigue due to difficulty sleeping? 

[Cocopuffz17]

20 hours ago, Nevergiveup said:

Thank you again .. very helpful again . Was the extreme fatigue due to difficulty sleeping? 

Abit from that. Mainly just withdrawal though. It was so debilitating. 

[Nevergiveup]

Oh wowwww ... I admire your strength very much . Hopefully if I keep reducing slowly it won’t be quite as debilitating, the lower I go ?? I’m reading The Plant Paradox , and although my diets pretty healthy , this book makes so much sense . The fact that you swear by it , is enough motivation for me !!

[mstimc]

Hi Never

 

I too tapered off Paxil, after about nine years taking it.  You're on the right path--a nice slow taper with a chance to stabilize after each reduction.  In total, it took me about three years to successfully taper, deal with the withdrawal symptoms and to learn CBT-based coping skills.  Three years may seem like a long time, but it was nothing compared to how great it felt to be free of that drug.

[Nevergiveup]

Hi MS, 

 

Thank you so much for your comment, it is very encouraging. Well done to you . 
I’m interested to know what ‘Paxil progress’ is ?

I think slow and steady taper will be my only way , and more than likely over 3 years . I will also look into cbt therapy as well . Did you focus on nutrition as well ?

thanks again 

[mstimc]

Hi

 

Paxilprogress.org was a website very much like this one, which supported people coming off antidepressants and similar medications.  Several members here, including the Admin. Altostrata, were members.  It stopped functioning in 2014.

 

I didn't make a lot of nutritional changes when I was tapering because we've always tried to eat healthy, but I did cut way back on caffeine, which for me was a big deal, since I love a good cup of coffee, especially in the mornings!

[Nevergiveup]

Hi MS ,

 

Thank you so much for that . So very helpful. The support on this site from people like you who have gone through it and come out the other end smiling is so encouraging!!

I also eat healthily, but will try The Plant Paradox , to further help me along this journey !!

Similarly , I am a big coffee drinker in the mornings, but will slowly try and cut back .

Thank you again for your inspiration 

[Nevergiveup]

Hi MS ,

 

Thank you so much for that . So very helpful. The support on this site from people like you who have gone through it and come out the other end smiling is so encouraging!!

I also eat healthily, but will try The Plant Paradox , to further help me along this journey !!

Similarly , I am a big coffee drinker in the mornings, but will slowly try and cut back .

Thank you again for your inspiration 

ps , by taking it really slowly over 3 years , were the withdrawals still incredibly debilitating as you decreased to low doses ?

[Nevergiveup]

Hi Cocopuffz,

im still studying The Plant Paradox and will start following it this week . My diet is pretty healthy , but I certainly have room for improvement. Did you follow it 100 percent? 
thanks again

[Cocopuffz17]

32 minutes ago, Nevergiveup said:

Hi Cocopuffz,

im still studying The Plant Paradox and will start following it this week . My diet is pretty healthy , but I certainly have room for improvement. Did you follow it 100 percent? 
thanks again

I have followed it I would say 99% and every time I do not I get smashed with withdrawals. For example I started putting abit more sugar and did not eat blanched almonds and my headaches have returned with muscle spasms. I know they will subside soon as I went back 100%. 

[Nevergiveup]

Oh thank you so much for that .. that’s enough inspiration to stick to it isn’t it . Wow , it’s interesting how much of a difference a slight deviation makes ... so blanched almonds and not raw almonds ?

Also , is there a bread we can eat ? In the book it says Barley Bread , but I’m struggling to find it here in SA ?

[Cocopuffz17]

16 minutes ago, Nevergiveup said:

Oh thank you so much for that .. that’s enough inspiration to stick to it isn’t it . Wow , it’s interesting how much of a difference a slight deviation makes ... so blanched almonds and not raw almonds ?

Also , is there a bread we can eat ? In the book it says Barley Bread , but I’m struggling to find it here in SA ?

Yea, was a small mistake on my part. Forgot that they need to be blanched. I have not ate bread. But I’m sure you could find some millet or sorghum bread ! 

[Nevergiveup]

Thank you again , I’ll try and just go bread free too !! 

[Nevergiveup]

Hi MS ,

 

re your slow taper over 3 years ... do you remember how much you reduced each time , and how often would you reduce ? Would you recommend every 2 months a small reduction!

many thanks 

[mstimc]

5 minutes ago, Nevergiveup said:

Hi MS ,

 

re your slow taper over 3 years ... do you remember how much you reduced each time , and how often would you reduce ? Would you recommend every 2 months a small reduction!

many thanks 

Good morning from Portugal!

 

I tapered about 10 percent each time.  (I say "about" because I used a pill cutter and eyeballed the dose, which wasn't the best way).  yes, I'd wait about eight weeks between reductions, but I also went by how I felt and if I was ready.  Especially early in my taper I would wait till I felt confident I could handle the symptoms and then reduce.  To keep track, I taped a calendar on the inside of my medicine cabinet so I wouldn't reduce too soon--it also helped me set tapering goals and encouraged me to practice coping strategies to handle each reduction.

[Nevergiveup]

Oh thank you so much from down here in Aust this evening!!

Again , good advice, and that’s pretty much how I’m trying to tackle the taper too ! By gauging how I’m feeling each couple of months ! I’m also getting a compound pharmacist to decrease by 10 percent for me as I’m not so good with the pill cutter !

thanks again 

[TonyW]

Hi NGU. I'm stopping by to wish good luck in your journey. I stepped in the wrong direction by withdrawing Paxil cold turkey, now I'm having to reinstate. I am following your story closely in order to learn from it.

[Nevergiveup]

Hi Tony , sorry , I only just saw your message. Yes , cold turkey is not the way to go ! I’m hoping slow and steady is ! I’m literally reducing by 10 percent every 6-8 weeks! Hang in there , and take care 

[Nevergiveup]

Hello again ,

im just wondering if you guys have any tips for helping with sleep. The lower I reduce , my sleep can be affected? I’d love any advice?

many thanks

N G U

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[ChessieCat]

6 minutes ago, Nevergiveup said:

any tips for helping with sleep. The lower I reduce , my sleep can be affected?

 

It is not a given that your sleep will be affected as you lower your dose.  The aim when tapering is to taper at a rate that keeps withdrawal symptoms to a minimum.

 

tips-to-help-sleep-so-many-of-us-have-that-awful-withdrawal-insomnia

 

 

 

Edited July 20, 2020 by ChessieCat

[Nevergiveup]

Thank you CC, overall my sleep is pretty good as I taper slowly... you’re right ! (Last week wasn’t great , but I’ve been much better again this week).So , slow and steady wins the race !

[Nevergiveup]

Hi there , just wanted to give an update on progress . I’ve been doing a slow taper all year from 20 mg , and currently on 11.6 mg , and about to drop to 10.5 mg . My goal was 10 mg by the end of the year , so I’m nearly there . I plan to stay on 10 mg for a while , and see how I go . I’m wondering if others that have tapered off Paxil successfully could tell me if it’s a lot harder going from 10 mg down to 0 mg , compared with 20 mg , down to 10 mg !! I’m taking it really slowly. I’m loving yoga , and trying to practice “allowing, floating, let time pass”, if I’m feeling anxious! I don’t care how long this taper takes ... slow and steady !

[mstimc]

6 hours ago, Nevergiveup said:

I’m wondering if others that have tapered off Paxil successfully could tell me if it’s a lot harder going from 10 mg down to 0 mg , compared with 20 mg , down to 10 mg !!

Hi Nvergiveup

 

I found as I tapered to lower dosages it actually got easier as my body adjusted to having lower levels of the drug in my system and I became more confident in my use of coping skills to manage my anxiety.  As I got really close to zero, I did feel some anxiety, but that was more from just wanting to be done with it than from WD.  Slow and steady really is the way to go!

[Nevergiveup]

Hey Tim 

Thankyou so much for your message. That makes me feel so much better about my next stage of tapering!

Thank you again , and I’ll continue with slow and steady !

[Nevergiveup]

Hi ,

I was wondering if anyone can tell me if Paxil is similar to Cipramil? It’s just that a friend has successfully tapered off Cipramil?

Many thanks 

[Nevergiveup]

I just thought id report in that I’m now down to half a tablet , (10mg) daily , after decreasing from 20mg over 12 months ago . Over the years I have stayed on 10 mg for quite a while , but my pattern has been to yo yo between 10-15 mg mainly . Since starting on aropax 18 years ago , I’ve never gone lower than 10 mg . I am worried about increased side effects, but will try a 10 percent drop , and not reduce again , until I feel stable . I don’t care how long it takes !

[Altostrata]

Good to hear, @Nevergiveup

 

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