Nowwhat: Paxil / paroxetine

[Nowwhat]

After reinstating Paxil 20mg for two weeks most symptoms are except anxiety and light headache. Can I expect to completely stabilize or can I start a much slower taper?

[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.  I'm glad you found us - you have come to the right place.  

 

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: 

 

 Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

What is Happening in Your Brain

 

 

Tapering is best done extremely slowly, and we generally taper by 10% of the current dose no more than once every 4 weeks, so that the taper becomes exponentially smaller.  From reading your profile, I see that you were doing the suggested 10%, but were only waiting for 2 weeks to taper again.  

 

 Why Taper by 10% of my Dosage  

 

Because Paxil is an especially hard drug to taper off of, and your had several recent taper attempts, you may do even better with a gentler taper, such as this one: 

 

Brass Monkey Slide Method of Micro Tapering

 

I would suggest using the liquid Paxil, so that you can easily measure the small dosage increments needed for such a taper.  The following link will go into the various ways to measure your dose and taper. 

 

Tips for Tapering Paxil

 

 

Also, as we are recovering, we suggest keeping things slow, simple, and stable. This is extremely important. 

 

Keep it Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

 

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

 

So you reinstated Paxil 2 weeks ago at 20 mg.  I would suggest you stay on this dose for a couple of months or even longer, and give your system a chance to fully settle down, and find homeostasis.  Then you can resume your taper once you feel stabilized. 

 

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. 

Edited September 2, 2021 by getofflex

[Nowwhat]

Nowwhat

 

Is it possible after last reinstatement my Cns is somewhat destabilized? Every time I have reinstated I have always returned to my normal baseline. This time it seems different. I can’t tell if my mood changes anxiety/ sadness are due to med or my fear of withdrawal 

 

Edited September 26, 2021 by ChessieCat
added topic title before merging with intro topic

[Go2zero]

Hi Nowwhat,

 

Welcome to this support site.  Good that you came here. There is a lot of knowledge to be found and shared here. Also the members can support each other here.

 

Before we can answer your questions, 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.  

 

Right now you show how much mgpw you dropped every time. Could you please convert this to the actual magi (active ingredient) you were taking after every drop? Right now it is unclear for me to see what dosages you took/take.

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/18343-please-summarize-your-withdrawal-history-in-your-signature/

 

Here is some information which may me useful:

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/6632-the-rule-of-3kis-keep-it-simple-keep-it-slow-keep-it-stable/?tab=comments#comment-525233

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/405-tips-for-tapering-off-paxil-paroxetine/

 

[Nowwhat]

Nowwhat

 

Is a metalic taste or a tingling sensation in the tongue a withdrawal symptom

 

Edited September 26, 2021 by ChessieCat
added topic title before merging with intro topic

[Nowwhat]

Nowwhat: What is the best course of action to take when kindling?

 

What is the best coarse of action to take when kindling? Is it best to sit at current dose and wait or try and adjust up or down?

 

Edited September 26, 2021 by ChessieCat
added topic title before merging with intro topic

[Nowwhat]

Hi everyone I was wondering if anyone knows if once you reinstate even only after 2 10% cuts and some withdrawal symptoms do you generally find relief or do the symptoms remain until you finish taper?

[arbor]

Hello @Nowwhat,

 

To get you started and to give you pertinent information, could you summarize your medication history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements in a vertical list format.  

 

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

Kindling is a dangerous condition.  If it's caused by serotonin syndrome, or by too fast a taper can make a difference as to how you proceed.  Could you give us more information about your situation and the symptoms you're having?

 

You may find these links useful: 

Serotonin Syndrome or Serotonin Toxicity - Symptoms

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?  (The general philosophy of gradual tapering)

 

This is your Introduction site where you can ask questions, record your experience, and connect with other members.  When you have finished your signature, I can share your questions with the other moderators.

My best to you.  I've been in the kindling state, and know how terrible it can be.

Arbor

 

[Altostrata]

Welcome, @Nowwhat

 

We do need more information from you. Paxil can be extraordinarily difficult to taper. It looks like you've tried to reduce from 20mg but found 10% reductions to be too much? Did you get withdrawal symptoms from your first 10% reduction on July 3? You've been reducing by 10% every 2 weeks?

 

How has your withdrawal symptom pattern changed since you went back to 20mg on August 20?

[Nowwhat]

Things seemed to get a little better but recently I have been dealing with insomnia and high anxiety. Also a metallic taste in my mouth. I guess I’m not sure if these are still withdrawl symptoms or just me over reacting to the fear of withdrawal 

[Nowwhat]

I didn’t get any symptoms from my first cut. Yes I had read 2 weeks minimum somewhere,I think it was the harm reduction manual (possibly)

[arbor]

Hi @NowwhatThanks for updating.  I encourage you to share your symptoms and questions with your doctor.  The doctors need to begin understanding the medications they're prescribing, and help you during w/d.  Here are links that can help with this:

 

How to talk to a doctor about tapering and withdrawal?

 

What I have learnt from helping thousands of ... - PubMed

 

[Nowwhat]

possibly to feel withdrawal while still on meds

 

I talked t a dr. about symptoms and all they did was raise paxil from 20-30. I'm still experiencing lots of anxiety, insomnia. is it possibly I'm experiencing withdrawal symptoms even though I didn't drop all that far in my taper?

 

 

Edited September 26, 2021 by ChessieCat
added topic title before merging with intro topic

[ChessieCat]

Hello Nowwhat and welcome to SA,

 

I have merged all of your topics into 1 Introduction topic.  You had created 3 Introduction topics.

 

SA works differently to many other forums.  Each member has only 1 Introduction topic.  This is the best place to ask questions about your own situation and where you can journal your progress.  It also keeps your history in one place.

 

There are many discussion topics in other areas of SA where members can post be it is better to ask questions specific to your own situation here in your Introduction.  The staff regularly check new posts in the Introduction forum.  However because they are very busy assisting the many members here they have limited time so that posts made in other areas of the site may not be seen by the staff.

 

Please do not make any more Introduction topics.  Thank you.

[ChessieCat]

9 hours ago, Nowwhat said:

I talked t a dr. about symptoms and all they did was raise paxil from 20-30. I'm still experiencing lots of anxiety, insomnia. is it possibly I'm experiencing withdrawal symptoms even though I didn't drop all that far in my taper?

 

I will ask the other mods who are more familiar with your situation to respond to your questions.

[Altostrata]

13 hours ago, Nowwhat said:

....

I talked t a dr. about symptoms and all they did was raise paxil from 20-30. I'm still experiencing lots of anxiety, insomnia. is it possibly I'm experiencing withdrawal symptoms even though I didn't drop all that far in my taper?

 

Paxil is a very difficult drug to go off. A reinstatement may not cause a bounce back to earlier baseline. You might have had to stay at 20mg longer to see more improvement.

 

Are you feeling better or worse since your increase to 30mg Paxil? When did that happen? How has your symptom pattern changed?

[Nowwhat]

It’s somewhat better. I just know that anytime I had made a drop in the past and returned to previous level everything worked out fine. I am fully willing to admit that I could be creating the issue seeing as all the symptoms seem to be anxiety related. 

[Nowwhat]

Symptom pattern is waking 3-4  hours after bedtime with panic attacks. Seems to last most of the day. Very jittery most of day. Experiencing what seems to be de realization things tend to lessen more towards evening. I take Paxil at night before bed by the way 

[Altostrata]

You may be taking TOO MUCH Paxil, it hits peak plasma in 2-4 hours after you take it.

[Nowwhat]

I’m sorry alto I didn’t make it clear. I have basically been having these same symptoms since I started getting symptoms just before I updosed and they have continued maybe getting slightly better. My point is that anytime in the past if I raised med it would always work. This time some improvement but not a return to normal as of yet. The anxiety I feel is very physical doesn’t feel like normal anxiety 

[Nowwhat]

Doctor switched from Paxil to Zoloft

 

I’ve been caught up in psychiatric hell for the past two months. I ended up being hospitalized after being suicidal from withdrawal. While in the hospital the doctor decided to switch me from Paxil to Zoloft over the course of a week. Some of the symptoms have gotten a little better but am still experiencing some dizziness and anxiety. Would it be advisable to try a tiny amount of Paxil to see if it helps with some of the symptoms. I’ve been off Paxil since 6th of October. Any advice appreciated 

 

Edited November 16, 2021 by ChessieCat
added topic title before merging with intro topic

[Nowwhat]

Post moved from:   "stabilizing-what-does-that-mean-how-long-does-it-take-after-reinstating-or-updosing"

 

I have a question on reinstatement of the original drug(Paxil) after being switched to another ssri (Zoloft) would it be advisable to try and reinstate partial of original.5 mg for instance or just try and stabilize on the new drug? 

 

Edited December 29, 2021 by ChessieCat
added original topic title from whence this post was moved

[ChessieCat]

Please ask questions about your own situation here in your Introduction topic.  If you post in other topics, they might not get seen.

 

Mods regularly check the new posts made by members in their Introduction topic.  Posting in your Introduction topic keeps your history in one place and means you do not have to repeat your story.

 

In the future do not post questions about your own situation elsewhere.  Thank you.

[ChessieCat]

Q:  What current symptoms are you experiencing that you think are due to stopping the Paxil?

 

Q:  What improvements have you noticed since you were switched to Zoloft?

 

Q:  What worsening have you noticed since you were switched to Zoloft?

 

Please add the date that you started Zoloft to your drug signature.

 

You brain is currently trying to adapt to not getting the Paxil as well as adapting to the Zoloft.  It can take a lot of time for your brain to sort things out after a major change like this.  If the drug switch was made at the start of October then it has only been 3 months, which considering what has happened, then that is not very long, although it probably seems longer to you.  It could possibly take up to or longer than 6 months for your brain to make all the adjustments that it needs to make as it tries to regain homeostasis, which it is always trying to do.

 

The other thing that you need to take into consideration is that since March this year you have made a lot of up and down dose changes with the Paxil, so your system might still be reacting to that.  The brain likes consistency and the effect of psychiatric drug changes/yoyoing doses is cumulative.

 

Personally I think it would be better to be patient and give you brain the time it needs to adapt to the massive changes that it is trying to cope with.

 

And it is better to compare how you are feeling now to how you were feeling at your worst, not how you were feeling at your best or how you want to feel.

[Gingersdoitbetter]

Nowwhat 

Im in the same boat. I tried coming right off Paxil, then went back on, did a couple of decreases and then switched to Zoloft. Switched in May. I’m on 75mg Zoloft and still waiting to stabilize until I taper again. I had a lot of horrible symtoms and I still have some bad ones namely the same as you, anxiety and low mood, but the really hellish ones have gone and now just some lingering ones mainly just lack of motivation and anhedonia/apathy. Definatly improving though

[Nowwhat]

Ok thanks chessie. Some of the symptoms are anxiety which has been up and down. I have this weird numb feeling in the tip of my tongue, some head pressure which has all been up and down since getting off Paxil. Improvements would be in sleeping better and I’m much more active slowly since starting Zoloft. I’m not sure the anxiety is worse or I’m just tired of it. I understand your points about the changes. I guess I’m feeling weary 

[ChessieCat]

Yes, we can become battle weary.

 

That is really good that you are sleeping better.  That is a huge thing as loss of sleep makes it harder to cope with other symptoms.

 

From what you wrote it does sound like things are improving.

 

The only supplements which SA recommends are magnesium (which might help with the anxiety) and omega3 fish oil.  If you do introduce them, start one at a time and only try a small dose first.  And make no other changes at the same time.

 

Magnesium

Omega-3 Fish Oil

 

You might find it helpful to incorporate relaxation sessions throughout the day.  After a few weeks it becomes more natural and you can notice if you are feeling a bit tense or stressed and you have the tools to calm yourself.

 

Non-drug techniques

[Nowwhat]

Thank you for the response it is helpful knowing there are people who get it

[Nowwhat]

I have been waking up in the morning with what I can only describe as intense anxiety and some trembling. This has been there to some degree since I first started tapering Paxil. It seems to pass usually by afternoon. Would this be considered Akathisia? 

[ChessieCat]

It sounds like it might be cortisol:

 

early-morning-waking-managing-the-morning-cortisol-spike

 

[Nowwhat]

I’m having less anxiety in the morning. But have noticed within an hour or so after taking Zoloft 100 mg I’m getting a dizzy disconnected feeling. I’m not sure if this withdrawal or Zoloft causing this. Would it be advisable to test a small drop in Zoloft or continue to wait?

[Gingersdoitbetter]

For me I just tested a 5% decrease and it was too much for my system still and I had to go back up. I haven’t made a change in 6 months and felt I was improving quite a bit but doing that drop made me realize my body just isn’t ready yet. I may possibly try a smaller drop next time or micro taper but I think I’m going to hold for a while again. I was getting flu like symtoms and feeling very low mood wise. I also have a 2 year old and I just can’t be feeling like that on a regular basis! 

[Altostrata]

 

@Nowwhat, what times o'clock do you take your drugs, with their dosages? Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you taken Klonopin or other benzo?

 

Edited January 25, 2022 by ChessieCat
removed comment referring to deleted content: Chill, everybody.

[Frogie]

@Nowwhat

 

How long have you been taking the Klonopin?

 

Are you taking 2 mg a day, every day? And what time are you taking each dose?

 

You can become dependent on in as little as 2 weeks.

 

You could also be having paradoxical affects from the Klonopin.

[Nowwhat]

Nowwhat

 

I’m sorry if I’m not doing this correctly I’m not very literate when it comes to forums. I haven’t taken klonapin since October. It was only as needed. I take Zoloft in the morning around 8 am

 

Edited January 24, 2022 by ChessieCat
added Intro topic title before merging with intro topic

[Nowwhat]

Sorry about the disruption guys this whole thing with group discussion is new to me. I’m still trying to figure this format out. All apologies. I just realized you guys responded to me. I hopefully responded correctly in the introduction’s forum