25yearsonP: Intro - long term paxil and a serving of colitis on the side

[25yearsonP]

Hi everyone I have read a lot on this site.  And very happy to introduce myself.

 

Just over 20 years ago I had a panic attack at work. And my doctor recommended 20 mg of paxil. 

About a decade ago, I started weaning off as per my doctor's guidance and noticed intestinal bleeding increased every time I lowered the dose. Psychologically, it was not hard to taper down but the colitis got so bad I was hospitalized.   I had to go back on the full 20 mg of paxil to try to stop the flare-up but the colitis never went into remission.  I suspect that fluctuations to the serotonin in the gut could have been  connected to this.  Anyways I had gone on paxil all over again ever since. 

 

Now it's been about ten years and I tried to lower the paxil again. 

 

I got down to 10 mg without much trouble. A month ago I reduced it to 7.5 mg and it's been a month of agitation from the moment I wake up till the time I go to sleep.    The worst of it was about 2 weeks ago but it's still not fun now.   The doctor recommended wellbutrin to ease the withdrawal, which I tried, and I had the most despairing sad nights that I never want to try that protocol again. Had to stop that within 48 hrs.  Now I'm just staying the course at 7.5 mg hoping things get better. 

 

The next drop won't happen for several months at least to give time to the nervous system to repair and I'll try to follow your protocol of titration of 10%/m at that time.

 

What I'm curious about now is how long will these feelings of agitation and irritability continue? I acknowledge the last dosage drop was 25% and will not do that again.  But will this be the case(severe bad moods)  every time I do a 10% drop?  it's scary to think how bad the next few years of tapering could feel.

 

My work is quite hard, we have a small business facing real stresses due to covid, and barely any staff so the days are long and hard trying to keep it all together.  It's not an ideal calming lifestyle but there's not much I can do about that because we need to survive financially.    I sleep well, however, am on a good consistent sleep cycle and get regular exercise. I eat well.  That being said, life would be so much better if there were not these constant agitation feelings with me through the entire day.

 

The bright side of all this is that it's good training for listening to feelings but not listening too much(over identifying with them) because I know they are amplifying things well beyond reality. 

 

 

[25yearsonP]

Just wanted to add that I don't know if it's a coincidental or not to the intro post I just left here a few hours ago but this is the first time in my life where I've woken up twice in one night with, for lack of a better description, a deep and unhinged despair feeling. The thought of going back to sleep and waking to that again is terrifying. I don't think it's depression because I don't feel depressed nor does it seem to be a panic attack because my heart rate is normal.. its just an extreme primordial sadness.   I am by no means suicidal but I worry this might be the feeling that suddenly drives people to want escape it all i.e. that suicidal feeling they warn about on those labels.  Will cuddle my dog, maybe distract myself in some work to distract from this awful feeling.  Sorry for all this description I really don't know how to handle this and without being able to name it better I can't tackle it much better.

[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 sorry you are dealing with this anxiety and uneasiness, and also the despair at night.  This sounds like classic symptoms of withdrawal from tapering the Paxil by too high of a percentage.  You did a 50% drop, then a 25% drop, and that can be harsh on the nervous system.  About what day in September did you drop to 7.5 mg?  

 

Thank you for giving us your drug history in your drug 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

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

 

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.

 

 Why Taper by 10% of my Dosage  

 

Tips for Tapering Paxil

 

An even gentler method of tapering is the Brass Monkey Slide Method: 

 

Brassmonkey Slide Micro Tapering Method

 

 

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

 

Keep it Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

Considerations About Stability - Stop Jumping Around

 

 

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. 

[25yearsonP]

Thank you for your thoughtful response, the content on this website is top-notch and all your care makes a big difference. 

 

I will carefully go through everything you sent, but first I'll answer the question you posted.

 

In March I dropped the dose from 20 to 15 with some alternative days of 17.5.

 

Did a similar thing around May, dropping from 15 to 10 with some 12.5 mg days. 

 

No *noticeable* problem really from either tapering.

 

The next switch was on about Aug 28 from 10 to 7.5mg and boy did that not go well.   It's been about a month of agitation so far. Which brought me to this site!  

 

What I learned reading your comment is that the previous taperings I did in March and May might have also been too fast (despite not feeling any thing bad at the time) and the tapering in late August was just too much for my nervous system to handle.  

 

 

 

[getofflex]

19 hours ago, 25yearsonP said:

n March I dropped the dose from 20 to 15 with some alternative days of 17.5.

 

Did a similar thing around May, dropping from 15 to 10 with some 12.5 mg days.

We strongly suggest you do not vary or alternate your doses. This causes uneven amounts of the drug in your bloodstream from day to day, and is likely to destabilize your nervous system, and worsen your symptoms.   Please see Never Skip or Alternate Doses

 

You could try a small updose.  If you want, you can try updosing to 8.5 mg, and see if that doesn't help take the edge off the withdrawal symptoms.  Then, stay on that for a while, until your symptoms become tolerable to absent, before you do another taper.  Then, I would taper by no more than 10%.  

 

19 hours ago, 25yearsonP said:

The next switch was on about Aug 28 from 10 to 7.5mg and boy did that not go well.   

Please note the date above in your drug sig so it is included with each post - thank you.  It makes a big difference whether you tapered a month ago, versus a few days ago.  

 

19 hours ago, 25yearsonP said:

What I learned reading your comment is that the previous taperings I did in March and May might have also been too fast (despite not feeling any thing bad at the time) and the tapering in late August was just too much for my nervous system to handle.

Yes, I agree.  Even though you didn't feel it at the time, these things have a way of catching up to us eventually.  If it were me, I would hold on my current dose for several months, just to give my system time to catch up, and become more stable, before I attempted another taper.  Please read 

 

Stability

[25yearsonP]

Great to hear your advice!

Ok I updated the Sig. 

 

2 questions.  

1) you discussed dosage.  With a pill cutter I find inconsistency in the accuracy of the cut. my guess is +- 3 percent per day.   Do you use a scale to increase the accuracy? I read on this site that some people create a solution with water, what do you prefer?  (A liquid solution would be really gross)

 

2) re your idea to try adding 10% on top to ease the symptoms of the withdrawal is fascinating and, OMG would I love to feel good for a day rather than constantly endure the feelings and still try to be kind to everybody. Not easy at all!  Anyways, my question: is the idea to try around 8.5mg and if the withdrawal symptoms abate, stick with that number for the next 4 weeks or so? 

 

(Ps I saw you use melatonin, I used it a lot to sleep, but didn't realize that it affects other hormones so I've cut it out, I know it's a total off topic comment.  Huberman lab podcast talks about melatonin and other alternatives and shed a lot of light)

[getofflex]

11 hours ago, 25yearsonP said:

With a pill cutter I find inconsistency in the accuracy of the cut. my guess is +- 3 percent per day.   Do you use a scale to increase the accuracy? I read on this site that some people create a solution with water, what do you prefer?  (A liquid solution would be really gross)

The link I gave you in my first post: Why Taper by 10% of my Dosage will answer these questions.  You can grind the pill into a powder and weigh that with a scale, or make or buy a liquid Paxil.  By gross, you mean the taste?  A few seconds of a bad taste is better than withdrawal symptoms, in my opinion.  You want to get as precise and consistent a dose as you can.  You could always add the liquid dose to fruit juice.  

 

11 hours ago, 25yearsonP said:

is the idea to try around 8.5mg and if the withdrawal symptoms abate, stick with that number for the next 4 weeks or so? 

Yes, that's the idea.  I would stick with the 8.5 mg for 4 weeks, or very possibly even longer, maybe 2 or 3 months, to get really stabilized, especially since you did steep drops in your dose in the past.  Go with how your body feels, not just by the calendar.  The sooner you do this the better.  The longer the time between your dose reduction and your updose, the less likely it is to work.  Please read About Reinstating and Stabilizing to Reduce Withdrawal Symptoms

 

I didn't know about melatonin affecting other hormones.  I've been using it for years, and my sleep is overall much better than it was in early WD.  

Edited September 26, 2021 by getofflex

[25yearsonP]

Okay will do! In an odd way I'm looking forward to all this. 

 

[25yearsonP]

 

But why?

 

I write this after maintaining a steady paxil dose for 5 months, but managing to stress my system again enough to trigger another withdrawal symptom.  I had a quarter cup of coffee 14 hrs ago and literally three drops of CBD oil. 

 

I've read a lot about and can see how it's a slow process to heal the nervous system but can't understand why it's orders of magnitude different for some people. What is it in our genetics or environment that is causing it to take three to four orders of magnitude longer to heal?  Why are we the outliers? Other than not creating triggers is there something in our environment that is controllable that we're missing?  Blaming it all on genetics May well be accurate but it's not exactly hope inducing. 

 

As for me I am a sensitive person in general and see threat in a lot of places.  I also run several businesses and likely have more than normal levels of exogenous stress.   

 

 

Edited January 12, 2022 by ChessieCat
added topic title before merging with intro topic

[ChessieCat]

When I was discussing tapering with my general practitioner (which I have been seeing for nearly 40 years) I made the comment that "I realise that most people can probably get off their drug with no issues".  He shook his head and quietly said "no many".

 

After my own experience with a cold turkey of citalopram with delayed onset of withdrawal symptoms, which was prior to my 50% reduction of Pristiq when I immediately experienced withdrawal symptoms, I think that there would be people who do experience withdrawal symptoms but do not realise that it is because of them reducing or stopping the drug too quickly.  It was only after I found SA (after my Pristiq withdrawal symptoms) that I realised that my citalopram experience was withdrawal related.  I felt great for about 2 months and then became bedridden for 2.5 weeks and lost 8kgs because I couldn't eat.  It felt like the flu but I knew it wasn't.  Of course at the time I didn't know what it was.

 

For a few days after I reduced my Pristiq from 100mg to 50mg I had a bit of an upset tummy.  I automatically thought that it was either something I ate or that I had a bug.  It wasn't until later when I found out about the wide variety of withdrawal symptoms that can be experienced that I realised that it was probably withdrawal.

[25yearsonP]

While I'm asking probably unanswerable questions about why some of us have 10x,  100x or 1,000 times more difficulty getting off these drugs than others do I also add this question.     I wonder if it's possible to titrate the stressors to achieve some sort of adaptation.    I mean can we help this along by training it a little bit with more and more stress on purpose.  At some level I think a little bit of stress should be a good thing as we adapt more and more so that when we have unforeseen circumstances we don't suffer as much. 

 

A big fear I have right now is getting into some sort of accident, being hospitalized and before my wife can say anything to a doctor about my withdrawal sensitivities, they put me on some drug (morphine?) that creates this underbelly of despair again. Life won't always be predictable so maybe I can improve the odds a bit that my system is more robust. 

[Blossom71]

1 hour ago, 25yearsonP said:

I wonder if it's possible to titrate the stressors to achieve some sort of adaptation.    I mean can we help this along by training it a little bit with more and more stress on purpose.  At some level I think a little bit of stress should be a good thing as we adapt more and more so that when we have unforeseen circumstances we don't suffer as much. 

 

Ive been thinking a lot about what you said here.

 

I think for me as I’ve come down on my meds, I’ve ‘felt’ the stresses slightly more as I have less ‘numbing’, so I think we’re probably all adapting without realising.  And as we feel more  we have to learn alternative non-drug ways of coping when things get tough. For me it was probably the lack of these that got me landed on the drugs in the first place.   I feel that I will absolutely be more emotionally resilient when this is all over.

 

I won’t be adding any stressors on purpose though!! 😄

[25yearsonP]

Yes this is a good point: when we're still tapering there's more than enough stress to go around.

I was mostly thinking about those on a dosage hold,  not actively tapering.

At this time I'm thinking that I won't go out of my way to add stressors but will  not to shy away from survivable stressors either.

[25yearsonP]

On 1/12/2022 at 3:34 AM, ChessieCat said:

When I was discussing tapering with my general practitioner (which I have been seeing for nearly 40 years) I made the comment that "I realise that most people can probably get off their drug with no issues".  He shook his head and quietly said "no many".

 

After my own experience with a cold turkey of citalopram with delayed onset of withdrawal symptoms, which was prior to my 50% reduction of Pristiq when I immediately experienced withdrawal symptoms, I think that there would be people who do experience withdrawal symptoms but do not realise that it is because of them reducing or stopping the drug too quickly.  It was only after I found SA (after my Pristiq withdrawal symptoms) that I realised that my citalopram experience was withdrawal related.  I felt great for about 2 months and then became bedridden for 2.5 weeks and lost 8kgs because I couldn't eat.  It felt like the flu but I knew it wasn't.  Of course at the time I didn't know what it was.

 

For a few days after I reduced my Pristiq from 100mg to 50mg I had a bit of an upset tummy.  I automatically thought that it was either something I ate or that I had a bug.  It wasn't until later when I found out about the wide variety of withdrawal symptoms that can be experienced that I realised that it was probably withdrawal.

This is a fascinating, scary possibility.

[25yearsonP]

Paroxetine suspension

 

My pharmacist said not to try to make my own paxil liquid because she was concerned about stability. 

 

Hers was an off the cuff remark, and she did not verify anything before making it.  

 

I'm wondering if anybody has successfully tapered down making their own paroxetine suspension. I guess my concern is if it stays in the fridge for 3 or 4 days would it break down?

 

Edited January 19, 2022 by ChessieCat
added Intro topic title before merging with intro topic

[ChessieCat]

Paxil prescription liquid is available in some places and only has a used by date, not a use within x time after opening.  See this post:  paxil-paroxetine

 

Post #1 of the following topic explains how to get non standard doses, including a link to making your own liquid.

 

When making liquid from a tablet it is generally okay to keep for 3-4 days covered and refrigerated.

 

tips-for-tapering-off-paxil-paroxetine

 

And yes there would be members making their own liquid from paroxetine tablets.  But I cannot think of any particular members.  You might find them in the Tips for tapering paxil topic above.

 

Here are the links to the search results for Paxil/paroxetine in the How to make your own liquid topic

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/search/?q=paxil&quick=1&type=forums_topic&item=2693

 

 

The pharmacist is possibly "covering their own butt" which is understandable.  Pristiq documentation says that the tablet (which contains a special glue to make it cover 24 hours) cannot be cut (and they also say not to stop the drug abruptly! - go figure).  I had my tablets compounded and at the end of my taper I was using the contents of a compounded capsule to make my own liquid.  And I managed to get off successfully.

[ChessieCat]

You could also check out the members who have successfully got off Paxil / paroxetine:

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/search/?q=paxil&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=28

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/search/?q=paroxetine&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=28

[25yearsonP]

Paxil tapering alternate doses

 

Hi, does it create more chaos in the system to taper paxil with a different dose on alternate days? for example if I'm going from 10 mg to 9mg to do 9mg on odd days and 10mg on even days until the side effects subside?  And then once stable enough, stick with the 9 mg?  Or would you go straight to 9 mg on the premise that it's not an up and down dose from day to day, I'm not sure how the half-life factors into all this on paxil. 

 

Edited February 7, 2022 by ChessieCat
added topic title before merging with intro topic

[ChessieCat]

The brain likes consistency and alternating days is not consistent.  Alternating doses is almost as bad as skipping doses.

 

NEVER SKIP DOSES TO TAPER

 

And there is no need to taper by alternating doses.  See Post #1 of this topic which explains how to get non standard doses of the drug.  It is possible to make your own liquid from Paxil tablets.  However Brassmonkey managed to successfully get off Paxil by weighing his doses with a Gemini-20 scale; there are other similar ones available.

 

Tips for tapering off paroxetine (Paxil, Seroxat)

 

Using a scale to weigh and measure doses
Digital scales can measure less than 1mg by weight

 

It would be better to go from 10mg to 9mg, which is a 10% reduction, or you could do a 5% reduction and go to 9.5mg.

 

Please note that the next reduction is calculated on the current dose, so if you reduced to 9mg, the next reduction is 9mg x 0.9 = 8.1mg.  If you wish to round for easier measuring it is better to round up, not down, so the reduction remains at or under 10%.

 

If you do decide to round your dose up, the next reduction is calculated the dose you took, not the original amount.

[25yearsonP]

Hi!

I was just hoping that due to some half life math, alternating a 10% drop with a 0 % drop  would feel closer to a 5% drop but I’m hearing that that’s not the case.   Thank you for letting me know that the dose alternating itself is causing a problem.  (A special shout out to my GP who once again has  little idea, in this area, it seems. )
 

[25yearsonP]

These tapers are scary as the withdrawal symptoms are harsh.

I'm surprised to be on day 3 and actually woke up today feeling good and energetic.  Certainly other days and times will be more rocky.

 

In case it helps anybody, I wanted to share some of the practices that likely make a difference.  In summary, I've made a goal to be self compassionate for the week of the drop. And if needed I'll continue to do this week after week. 

 

My strategy for the week is:

1.  Telling people close to me that I'll be on edge so that there's one less thing for me to worry about. 

2.Timebox the amount of time I do work and am in stressful situations.  And when there's resistance to this and I "should" achieve more, I am gentle and accept I won't perform so much this week. 

3. Making a point of getting extra exercise earlier in the day and more sunlight.

4. Trying to eat well and watch the blood sugar and ensure adequate magnesium intake. 

5. Perhaps most importantly, continuing  self-soothing practices from mindful self compassion and trying to help the parts that are scared (IFS) with compassion.  Mindfulness with loving intent is key. 

 

Again I don't know how much these contributed but I'm certain they don't have any downside and frankly these will be my new foundation once the drug is gone.  

[25yearsonP]

I was doing the brass monkey method of about 2.5 percent drops every 7 to 10 days, with occasional holds for a few weeks.

  Went from 7 to just over 6 mg w this protocol.  Worked well at first but now  side effects have gotten worse with each little drop.  The colitis side effects can get me in the hospital if I am not careful. 

 

I will slow it down further with less than 10% per month and way more holds.  Maybe 5 % drop per month. 

 

I miss the progress of regular weekly 2.5% drops /10 % a month and hope that with some longer rest can get back to that. 

 

Does it ever get recommended that we should do a long, multi month hold period?   I wonder if our nervous systems and intestinal tract need even more rest.

 

  Otherwise is it just going to end up where drops are 5% a month or less, and the hyperbolic curve just keeps getting extended?  From my symptoms I could imagine there will even be a time when 5% a month is too much!   I hope this is just a temporary delay. 

 

[25yearsonP]

ashwagandha supplement wd

 

Hi, I had last lowered my paxil dose about 2.5 percent, four months ago.  And tried taking the herbal ashwagandha (600mg/day) to reduce some of the withdrawal symptoms. 

 

Nothing else has changed since then other than about 10 days ago I stopped taking the ashwagandha cold turkey. 

 

I think that alone caused a big withdrawal crash.  Actually I feel like I've sent back to one of the worst withdrawals I've had since starting the process.  It's scary and upsetting because I feel that my system is always on eggshells. Even though I haven't changed my paxil dose in 4 months now. 

 

 If I could go back in time I would taper this herbal as well over a one month period as our systems are just so sensitive. 

 

Wanted to share this in case it is of any consolation if one day somebody is searching for why they suddenly are having withdrawal symptoms not even directly related to an SSRI.

 

Edited September 10, 2022 by ChessieCat
added topic title before merging with existing topic

[ChessieCat]

I moved your post to your Intro topic to maintain your history.  You could post about your experience in SA's topic here:

 

ashwagandha-herb-for-anxiety-stress-and-toxic-overload

 

[ChessieCat]

Do an internet search for ashwagandha withdrawal.  It brought up quite a few hits.

[25yearsonP]

I last dropped my paxil by two and a half percent back in May 2022, it's now been 10 months and I tried to do another drop of two and a half percent to 5.85mg.

 

I've stayed away from coffee, gotten sleep, kept exercise but find that even with a two and a half percent drop I feel wretched (anger and depression) for 2 weeks and can't imagine how I'll ever get off this drug at this rate. Pretty much lost hope of ever completely moving on from this drug. 

 

I didn't bother updating my e-signature with the last two and a half percent drop that I did this 2 weeks ago. 

 

I feel that when I didn't have a chemical imbalance before, I have one now and I will be stuck for life. 

 

[Onmyway]

Dear @25yearsonP, 

I am so sorry that you have been so sensitive to even small drops. There are many people who can't manage a 10% drop. I am one of them and I understand your frustration. 

 

Remember, however, that due to the drop in ashwagandha, your system might be a bit more sensitive now. How did you get to 7mg from 20mg of paxil in Nov 22 (should it say Nov 21 in your signature?). Ashwaganda is suspected to affect GABA receptors similar to benzos and getting off of it is no small injury to the nervous system so I suspect that things will get better as you distance yourself from that. 

 

A few things to say here - 

1. Be gentle to yourself, keep practicing self-compassion

2. Remember that this will get better. It may be helpful to not make any drops for a while - 2-3 months? 

3. Unless you have adverse effects from the drugs, you can take your time - it is better to function close to normal and go slow than to disrupt your life completely.

 

Things do get better and you too will recover from this in due time. Be sure of that. 

 

PS. I have moved your post from the Symptoms forum to here because we like to keep your info in one place and moderators don't check that area as often. Pls post about your history here - I will be following your thread from now on. 

 

OMW

 

 

 

 

[Sebas]

Combining paxil during withdrawal with anti inflammatory herb supplements like ashwaganda is not something i would recommend. There may also be other relevant additives within. These supplements will interact one way or the other like paxil would with most nsaid. Especially during WD when CNS is extra sensitive and adjusting. Try to stay as clean as possible from herbs, supplements, other medicine, chemicals etc. 

 

Take care Sebas 👋

 

 

 

[25yearsonP]

Hi

there’s been a lot of focus here on the ashwagandha and unfortunately I think it’s missing the real issue because that situation has not changed since September.  That chemical  has had many months to settle.  

The constant variable now has been the Paxil.  It seems impossible to drop it any further without enduring a horrible withdrawal crash.  
 

eg If I do a 2% drop, just once every six months, the room will be spinning.  At that rate, I’ll never get off of it and I’m afraid to raise the dose now to get normalcy back.  Lost hope.   

[LostInCanada]

@25yearsonP been reading your intro and history. Maybe you could try the brass monkey slide but instead of 1O% over the 4 weeks try 5% over 4 weeks or 8 weeks? Do you think 1.25% every 2weeks is worth a try? Then hold for 2weeks or more. I am trying to stabilize ATM and tapering scares me but staying on the drug scares me worse tbh. It is not easy, you have done amazing so far.👍

[25yearsonP]

Hi

I have one thing that’s unique that most people here won’t, I have a J pouch , due to severe ulcerative colitis- they took out my entire small intestine. And we know that much serotonin is created in the gut. 

 

Which means I may not be able to create as much serotonin. If my hypothesis is correct, that might be what’s causing the issue and I should actually go back up on the paxil a little bit.  I’ve learned enough not to rush into things, will keep researching and wait for my doctor to weigh in.  

[Gridley]

1 hour ago, 25yearsonP said:

I have a J pouch

I have a J-pouch and haven't had any serotonin issues.   If I had to guess, I'd say your issues are more with Paxil, which can be extremely difficult to taper at low doses.  @LostInCanada had a good suggestion about slowing your taper and switching to the Brassmonkey taper.  

 

Are you sure you meant they took out your small intestine, not your large intestine?  Ulcerative colitis affects only the large intestine.   There's a good site, J-pouch.org, that you might want to check out.

Edited April 1 by Gridley

[25yearsonP]

Sorry meant large intestine. 
I can’t really taper any slower than 2.5% every six months, it’s basically just a hold now for a long time.   

[LostInCanada]

@25yearsonP you know yourself best. It is definitely a process that can't be rushed. The website @Gridleymentioned has some interesting info about SSRIs and their effect on a j-pouch as well. 

[Onmyway]

@25yearsonP, you may be a candidate for the prozac bridge if you can't manage more than 2% every 6 months. In your signature I am missing what happened between when you were on 20mg paxil and then 7mg paxil. How and when did you get to 7mg? Did that drop happen at once or slowly? And is that in November 2021 or November 2022 (i.e. did you updose in November)? 

 

OMW

[25yearsonP]

I will fix my signature now. Feeling hopeless but by not updating it I am blocking any help.  
 

 moving forward, I wish there was a medical practitioner who could guide me, but good luck, finding someone who understands.  I don’t mind updosing because the symptoms are just not healing fast enough but if it’s just one thing I learned, change can make things worse.