Ambs9- Paroxetine withdrawal

[Ambs9]

Hi All!

I have been a “lurky loo” for the past few months and decided it’s time for me to create my intro.  I saw Brassmonkeys comment on another post about today being winter solstice so it prompted me to release all of this and hopefully welcome some new support buddies as I think I’m going to be on this ride for a while  🙂
 

My story sounds very similar to quite a few folks here.  I have been on Paroxetine off and on a couple of times starting in 2003. I was having really bad headaches and I didn’t know why. My mom went to the doctor with me and said I looked like i was depressed and that is all they needed to hear. Now it did work wonders but I realize now that it was just a bandaid.
 

I CT twice (at the doctors recommendation- ha!) between 2003 and 2016.  I have been on it consistently since 2016.  between 2016 and 2018 I was able to work my dose down to 5mg and that is where I was at until August 2022 when I think I hit poop out.
 

For the first time in years I had a really really bad panic attack. Thought nothing of it but then I had another 4 days later. Called my primary care doc and asked if I could up dose (my logic was in the past I would just go back on from 0 and all was well).  Boy was that the wrong move! He agreed and I upped to 10mg from 5mg and he scheduled an appointment for the following week. When I tell you that was horrible, it was horrible. Panic attacks almost every day multiple times a day. When I went for the office visit (had a panic attack there) he immediately told me the med was no longer working for me and I needed to get off ASAP.  So back down to 5mg for a week. Then he had me go down to 2.5 but he said he didn’t know how long I should stay there “maybe 1-3 weeks”. At that point I knew that I needed to do my own research and you all.

 

I found SA and read through what I could and realized that I was going too fast and needed to slow down. The next Dr appt he asked me if I was ready to go off and I told him about the 10% and also asked about switching to liquid (he said he initially checked and didn’t see one). So we switched me to liquid and he basically told me to go at my own pace.
 

I always was treated by my Primary care doc for the anxiety so I thought it would be a good idea to engage a psychiatrist 

and to start some CBT to get to the root cause of my issues. Therapy has definitely helped but I’m still on the fence with the psych doc (she said she thought I would be fine just stopping at 2.5). I explained to her the 10% or less approach and not wanting to take anything else and she was fine with that. 
 

 

So this is where I’m at now.   Initially I misunderstood the Brassmonkey slide and thought I was supposed to decrease by 10% each week (oops) but I quickly figured that out.  Over the past 4 months I have experienced quite a few withdrawal effects (some have come and gone and returned like the nasty boogers do) and this site helped me to determine them.  I’m pretty sure Im experiencing a nasty wave right now so I plan to hold my current dose (2.0mg) until things smooth out. 
 

If anyone can help me with diluting the liquid paroxetine it would be much appreciated!!

 

Nice to meet you all!!

 

 

 

 

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a volunteer-run community of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  I'm very glad you have found our site, and are tapering slowly, instead of a fast taper as your doctor recommended.  Let me give you some basic info, which you already may know, then some suggestions at the end.  

 

Here is some important information about how these drugs actually work.  This explains why we get symptoms from going off of these medications, and why it's so important to taper slowly and carefully, and be very cautious about changing our doses: 

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

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 reduction becomes exponentially smaller.

 

 Why Taper by 10% of my Dosage  

 

Tips for Tapering Paxil/paroxetine

 

And, as you know, there is the Brass Monkey Slide Method of Microtapering: 

 

Brass Monkey Slide Method of Micro Tapering

 

Here is a link with checklists of common WD symptoms: 

 

Dr Joseph Glenmullen Withdrawal Symptom Checklists

 

 

Here are some techniques to cope with symptoms: 

 

Non Drug Ways to Cope with Withdrawal Symptoms

 

Stability is really important when we are tapering off psych meds.  Please read the link about stability:

 

Keep It Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

 

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

 

It's a good thing that you plan to hold at 2 mg until things level out.  You are on the right track.  This may take several months.  It will be well worth the wait.  I did a couple of long holds (5 months, and 9 months) during my taper, and I'm very glad I did.  Slow and steady wins the race.  Please keep us posted, and let us know how you are doing. 

[Ambs9]

Thank you very much for the links and suggestions.  I will be sure to read through them and provide updates.

 

[Hanna72]

Hi @Ambs9 

Nice to meet you and welcome from me too,  to this community.

I am a Paxil user too for many years, and this drug is vicious to get off. 
I want to congratulate you on reaching to 2.0 mg, well done.

With that said, if I were you I would stay put on this dosage for a while. I can see you dropped fast from 10 mg, so just please be careful with the last amount of your tapering. 
I know well that we want to get off of these drugs, but slow and steady will win this race. I for sure have had too fall hard because of impatience.
The hardest taper is below 10 mg, so even though we think it’s a small amount, it still is very potent and strong for us, who have been on it for a long time. 
I see you reached out to @Longroadhomeand if you check out her tapering she did a slow steady taper. With a great success. 

Again welcome and I wish you success in your taper🙏
Happy holidays 🎄

[Ambs9]

58 minutes ago, Hanna72 said:

Hi @Ambs9 

Nice to meet you and welcome from me too,  to this community.

I am a Paxil user too for many years, and this drug is vicious to get off. 
I want to congratulate you on reaching to 2.0 mg, well done.

With that said, if I were you I would stay put on this dosage for a while. I can see you dropped fast from 10 mg, so just please be careful with the last amount of your tapering. 
I know well that we want to get off of these drugs, but slow and steady will win this race. I for sure have had too fall hard because of impatience.
The hardest taper is below 10 mg, so even though we think it’s a small amount, it still is very potent and strong for us, who have been on it for a long time. 
I see you reached out to @Longroadhomeand if you check out her tapering she did a slow steady taper. With a great success. 

Again welcome and I wish you success in your taper🙏
Happy holidays 🎄

@Hanna72 thank you so much for your welcome and words of advice!  The last 2 drops were really bumpy so I definitely plan on staying put for a long while. I wanted so badly to get to 2.0 I don’t think I was actively listening to my body.  2.0 hasn’t been as rough as 2.04 but 2.0 has brought on some new to me withdrawal effects (dizziness, food intolerances, increased

worry, emotional breakdown) but I am coping.  
 

When I first came to SA and even after reading Brassmonkeys slide plan I was thinking “oh I can be off this last bit in about  6 months” (ha!) - But after I started reviewing the success stories it was clear to me that the majority of the people went a heck of a lot slower than what I had planned. . I definitely had the mindset of I need to hurry up and get off but I now realize that I just need to take it slowly and I am ok with that.

 

 @Longroadhometaper schedule was one of things that let me know slow was okay as long as I’m steady.  
 

When I’m ready to drop again I’m thinking only 1 drop a month and it will definitely be small!! 

[Ambs9]

This afternoon around 230

i took 1/4 of a centrum adult multi vitamin- this was my first time taking once since starting withdrawal.   This eve I took my dose of paroxetine (1ml- 2mg) at my normal time of 8:15.  About an hour later I started feeling really jittery and rapid heart beating. Has been going on for a while and I’m just trying to calm myself.  But does anyone think the vitamins could have caused this?  I have made no other changes. 

[Hanna72]

Hi @Ambs9

 

Found this on this site;

People who have withdrawal hypersensitivity can get odd reactions to supplements that a normal person would be able to take with no noticeable side effects.

 

We recommend that people with withdrawal hypersensitivity not take mixed supplements, because you won't know which of the ingredients you're reacting to.

 

Shaky, nervous, and heart palpitations arefrequent hypersensitive reactions.

[Ambs9]

@Hanna72 thank you! No more centrum for me!!! Hopefully all this evens out at some point today. 

[getofflex]

13 hours ago, Ambs9 said:

his eve I took my dose of paroxetine (1ml- 2mg) at my normal time of 8:15.

As paroxetine is activating, you might consider gradually shifting the time you take it to morning.  To do this, take it one hour earlier each day.  

 

I agree with what Hanna said about supplements.  

[Ambs9]

17 minutes ago, getofflex said:

As paroxetine is activating, you might consider gradually shifting the time you take it to morning.  To do this, take it one hour earlier each day.  

 

I agree with what Hanna said about supplements.  

I used to take it in the morning but switched to eve early in withdrawal Because I was trying to sleep through the side effects.  The switch in time early on worked but I noticed recently not so much. I just wasn’t for sure how to go about changing the time.  So I really appreciate you adding in those extra details to your response!!

 

I’m done with the multi vitamins for a long while. Still holding at the 2.0 as you both suggested on my first post!
 

 

[Ambs9]

Question about missed dose-

 

I’m still holding at 2.0 and yesterday eve I missed my dose (normally take around 630pm).  Should I take the missed dose this morning and none this eve or should I just wait until this eve and resume things as normal?  Thanks!!

[Altostrata]

By now you would have experienced withdrawal symptoms from the missed dose. Please take your evening dose on schedule.

 

It may take some number of days for your nervous system to settle down from this mishap. Please let us know how you're doing.

[littlebird]

Welcome! Glad you made an account and are jumping in. I was on Paxil many years ago, and it was a stinker to get off of. Hope you’re taking good care of yourself through this!

[Ambs9]

1 hour ago, Altostrata said:

By now you would have experienced withdrawal symptoms from the missed dose. Please take your evening dose on schedule.

 

It may take some number of days for your nervous system to settle down from this mishap. Please let us know how you're doing.

Thanks Alto. I held off the majority of the day and waited and took the dose at 4:30 (2 hours early).  Around that time I started to feel a little anxious and I didn’t want to press my luck any further.  So far nothing rocky.  I will be sure to post in a few days to give an update.

[Ambs9]

@littlebird thanks for the welcome!!! I have been trying my best and I think the hold is helping. Definitely have no plans to drop again anytime soon.  I’m trying to let my body heal some and for some of the withdrawal issues to balance out. 

[getofflex]

You may want to hold a bit longer to let your system settle from this missed dose.  Perhaps you could put a reminder on your phone every day to take your dose.  This will help.  

[Ambs9]

21 minutes ago, getofflex said:

You may want to hold a bit longer to let your system settle from this missed dose.  Perhaps you could put a reminder on your phone every day to take your dose.  This will help.  

Oh I have no plans to drop anytime soon!!  since I took yesterdays dose at 430 instead of 630 do you think should I continue at the new time or go back to 630?  

[Hanna72]

Hi @Ambs9

1 hour ago, Ambs9 said:

go back to 630?  

Yes I think it’s ok to go back to your usual schedule. Paxil has a short half life, that’s why they recommended a little earlier because of the missing dosages. 
I agree with getofflex, I would hold for a while now, as I see you plan to do.

 

Best wishes 🙏

[getofflex]

Go back to your previous dosing schedule of 6:30.  

[Ambs9]

Thanks!

[Ambs9]

I have spent the past few hours searching the board for instructions (that made sense to me) on how to dilute the commercial liquid paroxetine.  I came across this post that @brassmonkey put on someone else’s intro that kind of simplified it for me.  

Now I’m wondering if one of the mods can double check my math so I can make sure I’m understanding things correctly.

 

-My commercial liquid is the Paroxetine HCL 10mg/5ml

-The dose I am currently takinf is 2mg/1ml

-If I mixed 3ml of the paroxetine to 3ml water that would give me 6ml of diluted medication

-The dose I would now take daily would be 2ml

 

Did I do that correctly?? 

 

[brassmonkey]

The formula you are following will give a dilution of 1mg per 1mL.

 

To get a dose strength of 2mg you would have to take a dose volume of 2mL.

 

So, yes you are correct.

[Ambs9]

34 minutes ago, brassmonkey said:

The formula you are following will give a dilution of 1mg per 1mL.

 

To get a dose strength of 2mg you would have to take a dose volume of 2mL.

 

So, yes you are correct.

@brassmonkey thank you very much!!!! I have been trying to figure this out for WEEKS 🙂

[Ambs9]

32 minutes ago, Ambs9 said:

@brassmonkey thank you very much!!!! I have been trying to figure this out for WEEKS 🙂

@brassmonkey one other question- does this need to be made with distilled water?

[LostInCanada]

On 2/15/2023 at 12:34 PM, brassmonkey said:

No. Distilled/deionized water actually is not good for making liquids. The distilling process removes the Ions that are necessary for the chemical reactions required to make the solution. Purified water or bottled water are the best choices.

 

Glad I could help with the calculations.

@Altostrata this is the post about not using distilled water 

[Altostrata]

With all due respect, that post is erroneous. Distilled water is fine for making homemade liquids. Distillation is a common method of water purification, such as in bottled water. Deionized water has the mineral salts removed for industrial purposes and is not appropriate for human consumption.