AndyParox: Paroxetine

[AndyParox]

Is it possible that my paroxetine hasn't worked for years, I've been told doctors should do regular checkups but since being on 30mg for 12 years 6 of them seem to have become a blur, I was taking it almost everyday but with these memory issues someday a week forgot to take it I think, don't know if that has a effect on my thought process or the way they work? recently been moved upto 40mg as I realised I had a OCD addiction for 4-5 years while on this poison which seems to stop emotions, feelings and memory, recently had moments of severe depression and almost psychotic episodes, tried the cold turkey but fell very ill.

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a peer owned and run forum of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  Sometimes these drugs stop working.  We call this tachyphylaxis or "poop out".  

 

Tachyphylaxis or Poop Out

 

On 5/5/2021 at 9:49 PM, AndyParox said:

with these memory issues someday a week forgot to take it I think, don't know if that has a effect on my thought process or the way they work? 

This can definitely cause problems.  When we skip or miss doses, the level of the drug in the bloodstream changes, and this throws our nervous system off and confuses it.  Could you possibly set a reminder on your cell phone everyday to make sure you take it consistently?  

 

On 5/5/2021 at 9:49 PM, AndyParox said:

this poison which seems to stop emotions, feelings and memory, recently had moments of severe depression and almost psychotic episodes

Yes, most of us on here feel these drugs are poisons as well.  They can do all the things above, which is why we are getting or have gotten off of them.  

 

Can you please give us specific information about your drug history for all drugs you are on and have been on, especially for the past 18-24 months?  It would be especially helpful to have the details of your drugs in a concise list (no symptoms), only drug names, specific dates (as best you can say for example early March if you don't recall the day) and dosages of each medication decrease or increase.  Please read the link below for instructions.  This will allow us to give you the best guidance.  

 

How to List Drug History in Signature

 

Here is some information about how these drugs actually work.  

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

What is Withdrawal Syndrome?

 

 

On 5/5/2021 at 9:49 PM, AndyParox said:

tried the cold turkey but fell very ill.

Cold turkey is a pretty harsh way to stop taking psych meds.  We suggest a very careful, gradual taper.  Tapering is best done extremely slowly, and we taper by 10% of the current dose, so that the taper becomes exponentially smaller.  

 

 Why Taper by 10% of my Dosage  

 

Paxil is notorious for being hard to get off of.  You could possibly bridge over to Prozac, which is easier to taper off of because it has a longer half life.  

 

Switching from Paxil to Prozac

 

 

As we are recovering, we suggest keeping things slow, simple, and stable. 

 

Keep it Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

 

When we recover, there are times of feeling OK mixed in with times of feeling bad.  This is called windows and waves.

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

Here are some techniques to cope with symptoms: 

 

Non Drug Ways to Cope with Withdrawal Symptoms

 

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but 2 that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. It is suggested to add one at a time, and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

 

Magnesium

 

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

I've given you quite a bit of information here.  Please read through it, and mull it over, and we will take it from there. In the meantime, take care of yourself, and take heart.  We in this forum have been through this, and we understand first hand the pain and discomfort you are going through.  Please know that the brain is amazing in it's healing abilities.  It takes time, but healing can and will happen.