Babs Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 Hi everybody, I'm Babs. Been a very inactive member here under the name "Maddie" but I have come out of the closet and will be hanging around more often. I was very active at PP. I've been off Paxil for almost ten years now and am here to share my advice with others. I tapered too quickly, from 20mg to zero in about four months, because I didn't know any better, and had a very rough withdrawal because of it. I had mostly psychological symptoms with a lot of depression and anxiety for about a year and a half before it let up. After that I felt mostly recovered except for a chronic hypersensitivity that really never went away completely. I'm here to tell you you CAN recover from this and get your life back, though you will probably never be exactly the person you were before. And that's okay. Paxil 20mg 1994-2005Tried to quit twice, finally did it on my 3rd attempt in 2005. I went from 20mg to zero in about four months, believing at the time that it was a reasonable taper. It wasn't. I suffered mostly emotional symptoms: frequent episodes of "anxious depression" lasting for about 17 months before it got noticeably better. Link to comment
mattage Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 HI Babs. Glad you're 'out of the closet' now. CT at 10mg. After 3 months RI at 5mg. Taper at 10% per month down to 1mg. Taper the last milligram a little too quickly. After ceasing meds, hit WD. Currently 2 months 3 weeks drug free. Hit protracted withdrawal 3.5 months after coming off Paxil (after 17 years use). I tried to reinstate just 0.5mg of Paxil but my body would no longer accept it. Tried a number of different drugs during a hospital spell. I eventually found one that eased my symptoms a bit. Currently, 10 months (15/05/16) off Paxil in the middle of a bad wave. I'm taking 150mg Clomipramine. Link to comment
mustangwoman Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 Hi Babs! So glad we are here, so hope the others come!! zoloft 2004-08 tapered too fast(2 weeks) Luvox 5/08 100 mg 07/10 40mg via small reductions, 08/10 39mg, 09/10 38mg, 10/10 37mg, 11/10 36mg,2/11 35mg, 5/11 34mg, 8/11 33mg, 11/11 32mg, 01/12 31mg, 03/12 30mg, 4/12 29mg, 5/12 28 mg, 8/12 27 mg, 11/12 26 mg, 1/13 25 mg, 3/13 24 mg, 4/13 23 mg,6/13 22 mg, 7/13 21 mg, 8/13 20mg, 10/13 19 mg, 11/13 18 mg, 12/13 17 mg, 1/14 16 mg, 3/14 13 mg, 9/14 10.9 mg, 1/15 10 mg, 3/15 9 mg, 5/15 8 mg. 11/15 7.12 mg. 4/16 5 mg, 6/16 4.5 mg, 9/16 4.2 mg, 1/17 3.48 mg, 2/17 3.2 mg, 4/17 2.2 mg, 5/17 2.0 mg, 6/17 1.74 mg, 7/17 1.58 mg, 9/17 1.27 mg, 11/17 1.0 mg, 1/18 0.79 mg Link to comment
Ever Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 Heya Babs! Good to see you. xxx Put on Prothiaden for severe depression in 1989. Recovered. Prescribed Paxil for another bout of depression around 2000. Have been trying to taper ever since but always crash about 2 months after getting to zero. Because of the crashes, for years I thought that there was something wrong with me. Then found that the crashes were simply withdrawal. Now following a maximum of a 10% reduction every month or so and ready to slow down any time I feel any symptoms whatsoever. Feeling good:). 7th Jan 15 - 3.6mg 28th Jan 15 - 3.2mg Link to comment
Lexy Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 I'm glad you are here. We need more people like who have recovered to give hope to the rest of us. THANKS Started Effexor August 2012 Sept'12-150mg=extreme anxiety Oct'12 cut half-75mg severe wds Feb 2013 68.5mg. Mar'13- 65mg. Apr'13-59mg. May'13-57mg. June '13-52mg Aug'13 49.75mg. Sep'13-48.75. Nov'13-47mg Dec'13-45..5mg May 2014 42mg. Jun'14 40mg (depressive mood started). Aug'14 -40mg/ started brintellix 2.5mg Oct '14 -39 Nov'14 36.89 Dec'14 34.45 Jan 2015- 31 Feb'15 29mg. Mar'15 26.72. Apr'15 24.48. May'15 22.31mg. Jun'15 20.30mg Aug'15-18.89. Oct'15 16.96. Nov/16- 16.10. Dec/15- 15mg Jan 2016-14.22. May'16 11.45. Aug'16-9.60. Sep/16- 8.88mg. Oct/16- 8.39mg. Nov/16- 8.13. Dec/16- 7.89 Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Petunia Posted December 19, 2014 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted December 19, 2014 Hi Babs, Welcome from me too. Its great to have you here, to continue helping others get off these drugs, I've read some of your posts on PP. If you don't mind me asking, why were you put on Paxil originally? After that I felt mostly recovered except for a chronic hypersensitivity that really never went away completely. ...but is it decreasing as time goes on? I've been off all drugs for just over 18 months now and have been hypersensitive since quitting lexapro in 2010, but it seems to be getting less, at times anyway. I'm not a doctor. My comments are not medical advise. These are my opinions based on my own experience and what I've learned. Please discuss your situation with a medical practitioner who has knowledge of tapering and withdrawal...if you are lucky enough to find one. My Introduction Thread Full Drug and Withdrawal History Brief Summary Several SSRIs for 13 years starting 1997 (for mild to moderate partly situational anxiety) Xanax PRN ~ Various other drugs over the years for side effects 2 month 'taper' off Lexapro 2010 Short acute withdrawal, followed by 2 -3 months of improvement then delayed protracted withdrawal DX ADHD followed by several years of stimulants and other drugs trying to manage increasing symptoms Failed reinstatement of Lexapro and trial of Prozac (became suicidal) May 2013 Found SA, learned about withdrawal, stopped taking drugs...healing begins. Protracted withdrawal, with a very sensitized nervous system, slowly recovering as time passes Supplements which have helped: Vitamin C, Magnesium, Taurine Bad reactions: Many supplements but mostly fish oil and Vitamin D June 2016 - Started daily juicing, mostly vegetables and lots of greens. Aug 2016 - Oct 2016 Best window ever, felt almost completely recovered Oct 2016 -Symptoms returned - bad days and less bad days. April 2018 - No windows, but significant improvement, it feels like permanent full recovery is close. VIDEO: Where did the chemical imbalance theory come from? VIDEO: How are psychiatric diagnoses made? VIDEO: Why do psychiatric drugs have withdrawal syndromes? VIDEO: Can psychiatric drugs cause long-lasting negative effects? VIDEO: Dr. Claire Weekes Link to comment
Junior Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 So glad you made the trek over Babs. Your advice is usually wise, patient and kind. I have no doubt many who don't yet know you will be glad you came out of the closet. Personal history of GAD and 4 melancholic depressive episodes - two treated with Amityptline Family history of Bipolar Disorder - goes back at least 3 generations Adult son with autism, ADHD, intellectual disability and Bipolar II Put on Aropax / Paxil in July 1997 for anther episode. Decision to stay on it - worst decision of my life. Began to poop out in late 2008. Switched to Lexapro March 2009. Made me suicidal. Tried Cymbalta for 19 days. Horrible w/d. Found PP and RI'd Aropax at about the same time - August 2009. Began slow taper in 2010. Crashed in 13-11mg range in mid 2013. Switched to Citalopram 21 Oct 2013 in an attempt to stabilise. There are things that are known, and things that are unknown; in between are doors - Anonymous https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/longing-for-life/id958423649 My book about my unsuccessful journey through IVF Link to comment
Greg70 Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Dare to suck big, Babs! First panic attack 2/94. On Prozac for 6 months with no relief. Then switched to imipramine for 6 months. Started on 30mg Paxil in 12/97 for panic attacks and anxiety. Worked fine until 2/13. Dose increased to 40mg and anxiety and panic got worse. Started tapering from 40mg in 11/13. Currently at 10.9mg and feeling better. Intermittent Xanax use throughout. Link to comment
Babs Posted December 19, 2014 Author Share Posted December 19, 2014 Hi Babs, Welcome from me too. Its great to have you here, to continue helping others get off these drugs, I've read some of your posts on PP. If you don't mind me asking, why were you put on Paxil originally? After that I felt mostly recovered except for a chronic hypersensitivity that really never went away completely. ...but is it decreasing as time goes on? I've been off all drugs for just over 18 months now and have been hypersensitive since quitting lexapro in 2010, but it seems to be getting less, at times anyway. A lot of people are hypersensitive in withdrawal; it seems really common. It's not that bad, I just feel somewhat more sensitive than I used to be. I can't have as much caffeine, can't have more than 1 or 2 drinks, etc. and am less tolerant to stress. But it doesn't impair my daily living at all and I've just gotten used to it. I originally was put on Paxil for some situational depression/anxiety but have never had a formal diagnosis. I actually asked for a med! <doh!> As a "recovered" person I probably should know better than to even mention the sensitivity because people read that and start worrying that they won't recover 100%. I'm just one person ... everyone's mileage varies. Thanks to all who have welcomed me! Paxil 20mg 1994-2005Tried to quit twice, finally did it on my 3rd attempt in 2005. I went from 20mg to zero in about four months, believing at the time that it was a reasonable taper. It wasn't. I suffered mostly emotional symptoms: frequent episodes of "anxious depression" lasting for about 17 months before it got noticeably better. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Songbird Posted December 19, 2014 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted December 19, 2014 Yay, Babs is here too! I'm impressed with the way you keep paying it forward even after ten years off. I'm sure your wisdom will be very helpful here too. 2001–2002 paroxetine 2003 citalopram 2004-2008 paroxetine (various failed tapers) 2008 paroxetine slow taper down to 2016 Aug off paroxetine2016 citalopram May 20mg Oct 15mg … slow taper down2018 citalopram 13 Feb 4.6mg 15 Mar 4.4mg 29 Apr 4.2mg 6 Jul 4.1mg 17 Aug 4.0mg 18 Nov 3.8mg 2019 15 Mar 3.6mg 21 May 3.4mg 26 Dec 3.2mg 2020 19 Feb 3.0mg 19 Jul 2.9mg 16 Sep 2.8mg 25 Oct 2.7mg 23 Oct 2.6mg 24 Dec 2.5mg 2021 29 Aug 2.4mg 15 Nov 2.3mg Link to comment
nz11 Posted December 20, 2014 Share Posted December 20, 2014 Finally found your welcome post so now I can say, Greetings babs, so glad you are here ...now I know for sure i'm in a safe place! I'm sure SA already know how lucky they are to have you onboard. Now I need to find the 'General Discussion' thread ....i'm having trouble finding that one too. Thought for the day: Lets stand up, and let’s speak out , together. G Olsen We have until the 14th. Feb 2018. URGENT REQUEST Please consider submitting for the petition on Prescribed Drug Dependence and Withdrawal currently awaiting its third consideration at the Scottish Parliament. You don't even have to be from Scotland. By clicking on the link below you can read some of the previous submissions but be warned many of them are quite harrowing. http://www.parliament.scot/GettingInvolved/Petitions/PE01651 Please tell them about your problems taking and withdrawing from antidepressants and/or benzos. Send by email to petitions@parliament.scot and quote PE01651 in the subject heading. Keep to a maximum of 3 sides of A4 and you can't name for legal reasons any doctor you have consulted. Tell them if you wish to remain anonymous. We need the numbers to help convince the committee members we are not isolated cases. You have until mid February. Thank you Recovering paxil addict None of the published articles shed light on what ssri's ... actually do or what their hazards might be. Healy 2013. This is so true, with anything you get on these drugs, dependance, tapering, withdrawal symptoms, side effects, just silent. And if there is something mentioned then their is a serious disconnect between what is said and reality! "Every time I read of a multi-person shooting, I always presume that person had just started a SSRI or had just stopped." Dr Mosher. Me too! Over two decades later, the number of antidepressant prescriptions a year is slightly more than the number of people in the Western world. Most (nine out of 10) prescriptions are for patients who faced difficulties on stopping, equating to about a tenth of the population. These patients are often advised to continue treatment because their difficulties indicate they need ongoing treatment, just as a person with diabetes needs insulin. Healy 2015 I believe the ssri era will soon stand as one of the most shameful in the history of medicine. Healy 2015 Let people help people ... in a natural, kind, non-addictive (and non-big pharma) way. J Broadley 2017 Link to comment
Babs Posted December 20, 2014 Author Share Posted December 20, 2014 Yay, Babs is here too! I'm impressed with the way you keep paying it forward even after ten years off. I'm sure your wisdom will be very helpful here too. Thanks Songbird! I'm glad you're here too. Finally found your welcome post so now I can say, Greetings babs, so glad you are here ...now I know for sure i'm in a safe place! I'm sure SA already know how lucky they are to have you onboard. Now I need to find the 'General Discussion' thread ....i'm having trouble finding that one too. Glad to see you here, Mark! The set up here is a little different. There's no General Discussion like at PP, and everyone's intro thread is sort of their own ongoing saga. Specific questions can be asked under the various categories listed, as well. There is so much good info here! I will probably be using the off topic section a lot, just as I hung out in the Lounge a lot at PP. [mods, correct me if I'm wrong!] I suggest playing around and checking out the various sections and reading the "read me"s. Paxil 20mg 1994-2005Tried to quit twice, finally did it on my 3rd attempt in 2005. I went from 20mg to zero in about four months, believing at the time that it was a reasonable taper. It wasn't. I suffered mostly emotional symptoms: frequent episodes of "anxious depression" lasting for about 17 months before it got noticeably better. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted December 21, 2014 Administrator Share Posted December 21, 2014 You got it, Babs. Hang out in Off-Topic as much as you like! This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted March 10, 2015 Administrator Share Posted March 10, 2015 Babs, I added our cheerful "here comes the sun" symbol☼to the title of your Intro topic, to show you're recovering.Please continue to let us know how you're doing. I hope you will add your story to our Recovery Success Stories eventually! This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
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