Shylo: Been on Paxil almost 20 years.

[Shylo]

Sigh...where do I start.

 

I had my last child at 29 years old in 1989 and got postpartum quite badly. I refused antidepressants for almost a year, when although I was slowly getting better, I decided to try. I felt wonderful in two weeks, but that deception was the start of what has ruined my life.

 

I think it was 1994 0r 1995 that I started paxil. After a unsuccessful cold turkey in 1996, where I had a severe anxiety attack it took Drs. 30 mins trying diff. meds to stop it. I have been scared of trying again....other than little tapers. Then back up again after a stressfull event in case I relapsed. Silly I know.

 

In 2009 I lost my business, home and my financial security and found myself on government assistance.

Then in 2010 at 49 I was diagnosed with MS.

 

I changed my diet drastically for the good and have gone down a bit in my Paxil from 35mg to 22.5mg in this three years since MS, my last drop was in April and I still don't feel ready to drop again.

 

I have to get off of Paxil because I am not doing as good as I should with all I am doing for my MS. Plus it is POISON!

Having sensitivities because of both MS and withdrawal, it is going to be a difficult challenge.

 

Ok, that was difficult guys....lol.

 

Cheers,

Lynne

Edited October 25, 2013 by tezza
Added member name to title

[tezza]

Hi Lynne,

 

Welcome to SA! I'm sorry you've been through this but I'm glad you've found your way here. There's so much valuable information on this forum.

 

You'll get lots of friendly support and good advice!

 

Please add your drug history in signature:

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/893-please-put-your-withdrawal-history-in-your-signature/

 

Thanks and, once again, welcome!

[Petunia]

Hi Lynne,

 

Welcome to our community, thank you for posting an introduction.  I'm sorry you have been through such a difficult time.

 

I changed my diet drastically for the good and have gone down a bit in my Paxil from 35mg to 22.5mg in this three years since MS, my last drop was in April and I still don't feel ready to drop again. 

 

It sounds like you have been tapering slowly, and that's a good thing.  We generally recommend a reduction of 10% every 4 - 6 weeks, but you can go faster or slower based on how your body and symptoms react.  Here is a link to tips for tapering off Paxil:

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/405-tips-for-tapering-off-paxil-paroxetine/?hl=%2Btips+%2Bfor+%2Btapering+%2Boff+%2Bpaxil

 

When you say you don't feel ready to drop again, do you mean you are still having some withdrawal symptoms?

 

Petu.

[lexicon]

Welcome Lynne,

I am saddened that you have endured so much ..You are courageous,

and I admire your resolve. You will be in my prayers.

This is a wonderful forum, with caring and knowledgeable people.

Someone will come along shortly to help you.

Please take care of you.

Sending you love and blessings, Lexicon

[Shylo]

Thanks all for the Welcome and kind words.

 

Petu said:  "When you say you don't feel ready to drop again, do you mean you are still having some withdrawal symptoms?"

 

2 months ago I was in the hospital and they gave me a strong antibiotic thru IV for a bladder infection.  It didn't agree with me and my lab numbers were all over the place, mostly liver and I felt ill.  I felt messed up for awhile in my head.  So I want to wait a few more months.  

 

Thanks for asking.

 

Lynne

[tezza]

You are tapering slowly and that is very wise. There's no need to rush the process, a slow taper leads to success! You can do this!

[Altostrata]

Welcome, Shylo.

 

Paxil comes in a liquid, enabling very small decreases. When you are ready to make another decrease, if you use the liquid, you can measure a precise amount.

 

Given your long history on Paxil, prior difficulty coming off, and health problems, you may wish to take micro-taper, see http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/2878-micro-taper-instead-of-10-or-5-decreases/

[Shylo]

Welcome, Shylo.Paxil comes in a liquid, enabling very small decreases. When you are ready to make another decrease, if you use the liquid, you can measure a precise amount.Given your long history on Paxil, prior difficulty coming off, and health problems, you may wish to take micro-taper, see http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/2878-micro-taper-instead-of-10-or-5-decreases/

 

Thanks for the Welcome Altostrata.  

 

I read the micro-taper link.  Yes, that sounds like a good idea. I have a question though.  My withdrawal symptoms seem to take awhile to show up.  Could I be a slow metabolizer, if there is such a thing?  

 

Another question - A leader of a mailing list group who seems to know what she is doing, told me she believes I don't have MS at all, that it is damage from the AD long term.  Any comments would be appreciated.

[Altostrata]

I don't know anything about how MS is diagnosed, or if you were diagnosed adequately.

 

Medicine doesn't understand anything about the adverse effects of psychiatric drugs. I suppose it's possible your symptoms are related to the drugs. It's also possible you have both an adverse reaction and MS.

 

What kind of treatment are you getting for MS?

[Jemima]

Hello, Shylo~

 

Many of our members have gone through setbacks following treatment with antibiotics, so don't worry about this being something peculiar to you.

 

We do have one member, Aria, who was diagnosed with an MS-like disease after taking psychiatric drugs for a number of years.  Her Intro is here:

 

Aria: My Psych Journey

 

Taking your taper as slow as necessary and even being willing to updose a bit is good. So many people are in a rush to get off the drugs, thinking that will get rid of all the symptoms, and they end up worse off with an even longer taper ahead of them.  This is because antidepressants make physical changes to the brain, killing off some neurons and growing some new ones, and taking the drugs away quickly leaves the brain in an unbalanced state, struggling to get back to normal. Better to take tiny steps and not have the withdrawal symptoms.

 

Welcome to the forum.

[Shylo]

Hello, Shylo~

 

Many of our members have gone through setbacks following treatment with antibiotics, so don't worry about this being something peculiar to you.

 

We do have one member, Aria, who was diagnosed with an MS-like disease after taking psychiatric drugs for a number of years.  Her Intro is here:

 

Aria: My Psych Journey

 

Taking your taper as slow as necessary and even being willing to updose a bit is good. So many people are in a rush to get off the drugs, thinking that will get rid of all the symptoms, and they end up worse off with an even longer taper ahead of them.  This is because antidepressants make physical changes to the brain, killing off some neurons and growing some new ones, and taking the drugs away quickly leaves the brain in an unbalanced state, struggling to get back to normal. Better to take tiny steps and not have the withdrawal symptoms.

 

Welcome to the forum.

 

Thanks for the welcome Jemima.  I had a look at Aria's Journey....wow she has come a long way.  Some of my MS symptoms do seem like real MS symptoms but others who knows.  Both MS and AD's can cause fatigue for example and mine is very bad, my worse symptom.  I can't even work because of it.

[Shylo]

I don't know anything about how MS is diagnosed, or if you were diagnosed adequately.Medicine doesn't understand anything about the adverse effects of psychiatric drugs. I suppose it's possible your symptoms are related to the drugs. It's also possible you have both an adverse reaction and MS.What kind of treatment are you getting for MS?

 

Altostrata, I was diagnosed properly.  I wanted to hear what you had to say about it.  I also think I have both symptoms of MS and adverse reaction or long term use affects.  Problem is both disorders have symptoms that overlap.

 

I don't use any MS meds.  Won't go there, the meds are nasty and don't work, but that took a lot of research to find out.  I follow a Paleo diet started by a MD with MS herself and was able to get out of a wheelchair with a paleo diet and supplements.  I need to get on some more of the supplements but I worry I can't take them.  One is Acetyl-L-carnitine and coenzyme q-10.  Do you know if I can take them?

 

I should be doing better than I am with my MS symptoms considering my diet change.  Others are, many many others.  I gotta get off this med, I am sure that is the prob.  But, having said that I am going to be patient.

 

Oh....I did quit smoking last March!  Started smoking just after started AD use.  I didn't think I could ever quit!

[tezza]

Hi Shylo,

 

I'm a far cry from Alto but I don't think anyone can predict whether or not you may be able to take certain supplements.

 

We do suggest that any time you take something new to take a very small amount until you know how your body will react. If you find you need or can tolerate more you can go up. That's better than taking the full dose and having a worse reaction if it doesn't agree with you.

[Shylo]

Hi Shylo,

 

I'm a far cry from Alto but I don't think anyone can predict whether or not you may be able to take certain supplements.

 

We do suggest that any time you take something new to take a very small amount until you know how your body will react. If you find you need or can tolerate more you can go up. That's better than taking the full dose and having a worse reaction if it doesn't agree with you.

 

Thanks for your reply Tezza.  Yes I do understand that all we can do is try supplements, however I am most concerned about the Acetyl-L-carnitine because it passes the BBB and is used as a brain function supplement.  http://www.naturalnews.com/015553_mental_health_Alzheimers.html

[Altostrata]

I looked into Acetyl-L-carnitine and it seems there are risks with it. I believe it's best to get that particular amino from eating meat.

[Shylo]

I looked into Acetyl-L-carnitine and it seems there are risks with it. I believe it's best to get that particular amino from eating meat.

 

Altostrata, risks using with AD's?  

[tezza]

I'm cautious of anything that crosses the BBB, too. I didn't even notice that was one of the supplements in question, my bad!

 

Alto is so knowledgeable about the meds and supplements. I never regret following her advice.

[Barbarannamated]

Shylo,

 

Your case is very interesting and inspiring. I also have demyelination occurring in my brain that "is similar to MS but not in same pattern (lesions)" per one doctor. The lesions appear to have begun long ago so I also suspect some correlation to SSRIs (began 1993). No two docs have called it the same thing, but I've been offered (and refused) treatments such as high dose steroids, chemo agents, and an antimalarial, all aimed at autoimmune diseases (Addison's, CNS lupus, CNS Sjogrens..). I don't know if I'm doing the right thing, but wanted to share. I have tremendous respect for your decision against MS treatment.

 

There is some evidence that drugs, including serotonergics, can trigger autoimmune responses.

 

I wish you the best in your taper. You're in good hands here (I found this site too late).

[Shylo]

Thanks Tezza.  I will note to be careful of anything that crosses the BBB.

 

Barbara, thanks for sharing your experiences.  It wasn't a hard choice to make to refuse the drugs after all I have been thru with Paxil.

 

Yesterday I met a person with MS who is ten years older than me, on immune suppressants and other drugs for fatigue and he is doing so much better than me.

It really made me wonder.  The fatigue is really bad but how on earth could I take a drug that helps that...would prob give me serious anxiety.

[Barbarannamated]

My fatigue is debilitating right now, but I'm not certain of the cause. As you said, so many symptoms overlap. I wonder also..

[Shylo]

My fatigue is debilitating right now, but I'm not certain of the cause. As you said, so many symptoms overlap. I wonder also..

 

Oh Barbara, I am sooooo glad to have met you!   I can't work because of the fatigue being so bad, all I manage is to make my meals.  Mine is really bad right now too, I think it may be the change in weather.  I have very bad cold intolerance as well.

[btdt]

Hi Shylo 

I did a search on this site for MS and found your post.  I am hoping you have had some improvement and would love to read an update from you if your up to it. 

After years of being drugged I was tested for MS as I had a head drop and foot drag and numerous other lesser neurological symptoms... I was told to get off Effexor.  All a long story I am sure everyone is as tired of hear as I am telling.  

Here I am 7 years later and wondering if some currant things going on with me are MS again yes I have an apt to see.. months away.  I am not sure how they tell exactly but the last MRI said I did not have MS ... still I am 7 years out now and wonder why these things keep coming back on me.  I am curious as to how you are doing. 

Please update. 

I wish you peace