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Cheeky: on Paxil for 23 years needing advice


Cheeky

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I'm really finding this difficult today and not sure if this is part of withdrawal. I've been really jittery today and feel like I have nervous energy running through my body, even my gums in my mouth feel funny. I've had a couple of intense flashes that makes me feel panicky and loseing my mind, I breath through it and talk myself out of it but am just worried if this is going to be

a permanent thing. I'm just wondering if all this tapering of drugs is catching up on me and that the CT of cigarette's has made it worse.

1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg until 2014

-2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg Seraquel

-2015 tried tapering again and crashed

 

Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 6% per month doing daily micro-taper 

Guided by Mark Horowitz

24/09/23  14.47mg Seroquel.  16.19mg Paxil 

27/11/23.  12.13mg. Seroquel.   13.85mg Paxil

 

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  • Mentor

Yes Cheeky,  all withdrawals, you are not losing your mind.    I have heard paxil is horrible to taper.   So was effexor, for me.....        And seroquel is horrid too.........

 

And to CT cigarettes, well done!              

 

Nothing is permanent, seems that way at the time though!   

1992 Dothiepin 375mg 8 weeks, exhaustion/depression.  Serotonin syndrome, oh yes!  seizures . Fell pregnant, 3rd baby, Nitrous Oxide, 3 weeks mental hospital pp psychosis. zoloft tegretol.

Feb 1996 ct tegretol, tapered Zoloft 8 weeks. as (unexpectedly)  pregnant. Steven died after 3 days.(Zolft HLHS baby).  98 had run in with Paxil, 2 tablets, 3 weeks taper, survived.
2005..menopause? exhausted again. Zyprexa, mad in three days, fallout....  Seroquel, Effexor, tegretol,   and 8 years of self destruction. Failed taper.
Damn 1/4 valium... nuts again! .fallout, zoloft 100mg  seroquol 400mg mirtazapine 45 mg  tegretol 400mg.  Mid 14 3 month taper. Nov 14 CRASH.
Mid 15 ....   75mg  seroquel,  3 x 1800mg SJW  2 week window end of December followed by 6 week wave
5/2 68mg seroquel, 2.5 x 1800mg SJW::::20/2 61mg seroquel, 2.5 x  SJW::: 26/2 54mg seroquel, 2 x SJW::::21/3 43mg seroquel, 1 x 2700SJW :::: 23/4 36mg seroquel 1 x 1800 SJW
15/5 33mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::   28/5 30mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::;  18/6 25mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::::, 11/7 21mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::, 26/7 18mg seroquel 1/2 SJW:::, 9/8 12mg seroquel :::, 16/8 6mg seroquel ;;;;, 12/9 0 jump.

23/9  3mg.....,  27/9 0mg.  Reinstated, 6mg, then 12mg.............  LIGHTBULB MOMENT,  I have  MTHFR 2x mutations.  CFS and issues with MOULD in my home. So I left home, and working 150km away during week, loving it.

Oh was hard, panic attacks first week, gone now, along with the mould issues.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Cheeky,

 

I moved your post from Australian members to you Intro topic, because it is about your own situation and will keep your history in one place.  I also moved ang's response.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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In my opinion, this has more to do with quitting cigarettes CT than drops catching up to you. Nicotine is no joke, I remember reading in a biopsychology textbook that it's actually more addictive than heroin. Now tapering has probably made your nervous system more sensitive in general so the nicotine withdrawal is hitting you harder than it would someone who isn't tapering meds, but you will get through it and be ok! As long as you just let it run it's course and don't make any changes to your actual meds then things will eventually settle down. Hang in there! This too shall pass.

a.k.a JMarie

Paxil since Mar.1998

2006-2007:40-20mg
2009: 20mg to 14mg 2010: 14mg to 10.5mg 2011: 10.5 to 7.6mg  2012: 7.5 to 6.8mg

2013: 6.7-6.3mg 2014: 6.2mg-5.8mg 2015: 5.7 to 5.15mg 2016: 5.1-4.6mg

1/19/17: 4.5mg 3/17/17: 4.4mg

6/15/17: 4.35mg 8/10/17: 4.3mg

1/29/18: 4.1mg 5/07/18: 4.0mg

7/31/18: 3.9mg

 

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Thankyou ladybug

1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg until 2014

-2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg Seraquel

-2015 tried tapering again and crashed

 

Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 6% per month doing daily micro-taper 

Guided by Mark Horowitz

24/09/23  14.47mg Seroquel.  16.19mg Paxil 

27/11/23.  12.13mg. Seroquel.   13.85mg Paxil

 

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I really have to vent but what I hate most about this withdrawal is the feeling of being okay then your mind drifts off in a negative way which brings on panic, that leads to feeling your loosing your mind and then your back to normal again . I just hate this. How long does people's withdrawal last until they feel stable again ?

1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg until 2014

-2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg Seraquel

-2015 tried tapering again and crashed

 

Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 6% per month doing daily micro-taper 

Guided by Mark Horowitz

24/09/23  14.47mg Seroquel.  16.19mg Paxil 

27/11/23.  12.13mg. Seroquel.   13.85mg Paxil

 

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  • Moderator

Hi Cheeky-- Shep, AliG and I were just discussing this over on my intro thread;

 

Another time that these techniques are very helpful is stopping panic attacks. Some of the panic we deal with is of the neuro variety and there isn't much we can do about it but ride it out.  However, the vast majority is self induced or self perpetuated. A lot of peoples first reaction to a palpitation or sudden sinking feeling in the chest or stomach is " oh no, I getting a panic attack!!!!!". That momentary acknowledgement is enough to set off a Panic Spiral that can self perpetuate for days. All from a momentary sensation that would have been over in under a minute.  Learning to recognize the sensations and quickly accept them for what they are and go so far as to D.A.R.E them will quickly derail the situation and stop the panic attack in its tracks.

 

Right this moment I have a bit of tightness in my chest. It is giving small hot flashes and causing me to notice I'm having trouble breathing. It's a very normal sensation I get a few times a day caused by dust in the air triggering the chronic bronchitis I've had since I was a kid combined with situational stress..  It also feels exactly like the start of a panic situation.  This is something I have learned to recognize and a few deep breaths, relaxing my chest and shoulders and the Panic Spiral is averted.  But it could very easily go the other way all due to the reaction it's given. After a while, with practice it ll becomes second nature.

 

Hope that gives some insight and help.

20 years on Paxil starting at 20mg and working up to 40mg. Sept 2011 started 10% every 6 weeks taper (2.5% every week for 4 weeks then hold for 2 additional weeks), currently at 7.9mg. Oct 2011 CTed 15oz vodka a night, to only drinking 2 beers most nights, totally sober Feb 2013.

Since I wrote this I have continued to decrease my dose by 10% every 6 weeks (2.5% every week for 4 weeks and then hold for an additional 2 weeks). I added in an extra 6 week hold when I hit 10mg to let things settle out even more. When I hit 3mgpw it became hard to split the drop into 4 parts so I switched to dropping 1mgpw (pill weight) every week for 3 weeks and then holding for another 3 weeks.  The 3 + 3 schedule turned out to be too harsh so I cut back to dropping 1mgpw every 4 weeks which is working better.

Final Dose 0.016mg.     Current dose 0.000mg 04-15-2017

 

"It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can loose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general."  Stephen Hawking

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Thanks Brassmonkey, what worries me the most is the thoughts and negative thinking. I'm finding it difficult and just hopes it passes. How long does this go on for I really want it to pass

1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg until 2014

-2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg Seraquel

-2015 tried tapering again and crashed

 

Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 6% per month doing daily micro-taper 

Guided by Mark Horowitz

24/09/23  14.47mg Seroquel.  16.19mg Paxil 

27/11/23.  12.13mg. Seroquel.   13.85mg Paxil

 

Link to comment

Hi everyone,

I'm feeling really disheartened. I wish I never started this Paxil tapper . I was feeling so good and now I feel riddled with aniexty and worry. I have two children to look after and work full time and I'm scared I'm going to be like this permanently. I've only just turned 40 and have so much life in head of me and sometimes I think that if I stay on Paxil then mayby in 10 years time they will have something to help us come off it. I really Just don't know. I know so many people that have been on Paxil for as long as I have and they are having a great life. Is this a wave I'm going through ?

1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg until 2014

-2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg Seraquel

-2015 tried tapering again and crashed

 

Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 6% per month doing daily micro-taper 

Guided by Mark Horowitz

24/09/23  14.47mg Seroquel.  16.19mg Paxil 

27/11/23.  12.13mg. Seroquel.   13.85mg Paxil

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

"mayby in 10 years time they will have something to help us come off it"

 

I think that is wishful thinking.  After some of the things I've read and listened to, I don't believe that the pharmaceutical companies want us off drugs, otherwise they won't make money.

 

These are both by Gwen Olsen:

 

Interview:  Confessions of an Rx Drug Pusher (51 minutes Gwen Olsen - ex pharmaceutical representative)

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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Today has been an emotional day, I woke up with aniexty and then the worrying started. I had ringing in my ears a couple of times and felt a tingling sensation in my arms, have cried and am only feeling better now it's at night. I just won't this to be over .

1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg until 2014

-2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg Seraquel

-2015 tried tapering again and crashed

 

Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 6% per month doing daily micro-taper 

Guided by Mark Horowitz

24/09/23  14.47mg Seroquel.  16.19mg Paxil 

27/11/23.  12.13mg. Seroquel.   13.85mg Paxil

 

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Hi everyone,

Today was okay and then now tonight

I feel really bad, I don't know if this is normal but I can't eat and have no appetite, I have pins and needles in my hands and emotional . I feel like this comes and goes.

I've done everything right with my tapering , I think I just don't know what went wrong. Will I stabilize ?, I feel like quitting this tapper and going back to full dose . I'm scared this is gonna be me permanently .

1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg until 2014

-2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg Seraquel

-2015 tried tapering again and crashed

 

Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 6% per month doing daily micro-taper 

Guided by Mark Horowitz

24/09/23  14.47mg Seroquel.  16.19mg Paxil 

27/11/23.  12.13mg. Seroquel.   13.85mg Paxil

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Updosing is always an option.

 

Please take notes on paper of your doses and your symptoms and then let us know what your symptom pattern is. Here's a post that talks about notes that will provide the most helpful information:
Take notes of doses and symptoms

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

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If I was to updose, which one should I updose on Paxil or the Seraquel, I

Really do not know what to do? I have gone down Paxil by only 5mg and the Seraquel by 37.5mg. How much of an updose ? Please I

need your help

1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg until 2014

-2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg Seraquel

-2015 tried tapering again and crashed

 

Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 6% per month doing daily micro-taper 

Guided by Mark Horowitz

24/09/23  14.47mg Seroquel.  16.19mg Paxil 

27/11/23.  12.13mg. Seroquel.   13.85mg Paxil

 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

I'm not going to make any suggestions about an updose until after seeing and understanding your symptoms, for better or worse.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

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I also have to add that I changed the brand of my Paxil and am not using liquid any more just the tablet cut into quarters, before I was using 30mg tablet and the rest in liquid , I started doing this 2 weeks ago, if that makes any difference.

1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg until 2014

-2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg Seraquel

-2015 tried tapering again and crashed

 

Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 6% per month doing daily micro-taper 

Guided by Mark Horowitz

24/09/23  14.47mg Seroquel.  16.19mg Paxil 

27/11/23.  12.13mg. Seroquel.   13.85mg Paxil

 

Link to comment

Can someone help Please

 

I couldn't handle the feelings I was getting and was really scared so

I went to the doctors out of desperation he told me to go onto 1 50mg of Seraquel and 40mg of Paxil.

I went home and increased my Paxil only to 40mg. I kept my Seraquel to the same. The next day I woke up

And felt 70% better. I now feel bad I up-dosed and want to know is when I was feeling bad is that a wave and is it too late to go back to 35mg after a few days on 40mg. I'm soooooo confused

1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg until 2014

-2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg Seraquel

-2015 tried tapering again and crashed

 

Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 6% per month doing daily micro-taper 

Guided by Mark Horowitz

24/09/23  14.47mg Seroquel.  16.19mg Paxil 

27/11/23.  12.13mg. Seroquel.   13.85mg Paxil

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

I'm not going to make any suggestions about an updose until after seeing and understanding your symptoms, for better or worse.

 

You haven't responded to Scallywag's request.  If we don't have symptom information all we would be doing is guessing.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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Okay the systems were slight ringing in ears, diarrhea, aniexty, a feeling of tingling in arms face , resteless, hard to lye down and relax, feeling panic, dizziness feeling of being confused, tearyer and it come and goes, I was better at night than during the day. Constant worrying thoughts of if I'm good crazy. A very scared feeling.

Does that help

1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg until 2014

-2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg Seraquel

-2015 tried tapering again and crashed

 

Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 6% per month doing daily micro-taper 

Guided by Mark Horowitz

24/09/23  14.47mg Seroquel.  16.19mg Paxil 

27/11/23.  12.13mg. Seroquel.   13.85mg Paxil

 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Are you going to continue with the increased Paxil dose prescribed by your doctor?

 

Here's post that provides details about the kind of notes that are most helpful in troubleshooting:

Take notes of doses and symptoms

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

Link to comment

Yes I think I will just continue on 40mg, yesterday and as great and today I feel very anxious. I'm really confused and don't know if I was going through a wave before and increased becouse I was scared of the feeling. I have never had aniexty before I started paxil

1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg until 2014

-2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg Seraquel

-2015 tried tapering again and crashed

 

Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 6% per month doing daily micro-taper 

Guided by Mark Horowitz

24/09/23  14.47mg Seroquel.  16.19mg Paxil 

27/11/23.  12.13mg. Seroquel.   13.85mg Paxil

 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Please remember to update your signature so we can see your history at a glance.  Thank you.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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I have just updated it and hope this helps.

1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg until 2014

-2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg Seraquel

-2015 tried tapering again and crashed

 

Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 6% per month doing daily micro-taper 

Guided by Mark Horowitz

24/09/23  14.47mg Seroquel.  16.19mg Paxil 

27/11/23.  12.13mg. Seroquel.   13.85mg Paxil

 

Link to comment

Everyone please help, I'm not sure what to do, I'm full of aniexty today when yesterday

I was normal, is the 40mg going to work or do I have to

Increase my Seraquel.

1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg until 2014

-2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg Seraquel

-2015 tried tapering again and crashed

 

Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 6% per month doing daily micro-taper 

Guided by Mark Horowitz

24/09/23  14.47mg Seroquel.  16.19mg Paxil 

27/11/23.  12.13mg. Seroquel.   13.85mg Paxil

 

Link to comment

Please guys a need a little help

1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg until 2014

-2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg Seraquel

-2015 tried tapering again and crashed

 

Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 6% per month doing daily micro-taper 

Guided by Mark Horowitz

24/09/23  14.47mg Seroquel.  16.19mg Paxil 

27/11/23.  12.13mg. Seroquel.   13.85mg Paxil

 

Link to comment

I know this is so hard for you to hear right now but my opinion for what it is worth is to stop any and all dosage changes and hold for what could be a long time. I know it is hard when you are looking for relief but all the changes just prolongs the agony if you ask me. The mods would know better but I would say just stop and stay where you are. Stop overthinking what the next change should be to get relief and just focus on getting though this and riding out the bad things and the symptoms until your brain can stabilize. It has taken me months previously at a single dose to notice the symptoms subsiding.

 

I wish there was a better answer for you but I think the only thing you can do now is change nothing medication wise and stay strong till this wave passes. There is no time frame despite what the doctors say that will tell you when that will be. There will be ups and downs as you heal. Everyone is different so every time frame is different. I do believe that the constant dose changes is just prolonging the suffering at this point. 

40 years old and have been on 20 mg of Paxil for the last 19 years. Multiple unsuccessful attempts to quit over the years.01/2015 Was tapering using liquid Paxil. MD has prescribed 1 ml = 2mg taper every two weeks or once withdrawal symptoms at that dose subside. Reduced from 20 to 10 mg using this method and at 10 mg severe withdrawal set in. 1.5 months of pure hell. Found SA, learned what was happening, and reinstated to 20 mg. After a month of severe symptoms recovered with the reinstatement. Fish oil - Multi Vitamin - Pro-biotic, amino-acid/B Vitamin supplement every day. Magnesium as needed.08/09/15 - 18 mg - 09/08/15 - 16.4 mg - 10/10/15 - 15 mg - 01/02/16 - 13.6 mg 02/15/16 - 12.0 mg - Bad symptom flare up 40 days into drop - Dizziness, panic/anxiety, overheating (esp at night), low appetite, headache, insomnia with bizarre dreams, internal shaking. 04/16/16 - 11mg - 7/17/16 - 10 mg holding.....

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Thankyou for giving me some advice, it's so hard to deal with this, I would do anything fior relief. I'm better this evenings, but today I've had hot flushes with perspiration and it's not even hot. I'm only just turned 40 and have so much to look forward to. If I didn't have children to look after I wouldn't care. They need me and I need them. I' will get a diary and keep track of things . I just seem to panic and then all these worries come flooding in my head.

1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg until 2014

-2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg Seraquel

-2015 tried tapering again and crashed

 

Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 6% per month doing daily micro-taper 

Guided by Mark Horowitz

24/09/23  14.47mg Seroquel.  16.19mg Paxil 

27/11/23.  12.13mg. Seroquel.   13.85mg Paxil

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hey Cheeky - I'm so sorry you're struggling.

 

I don't know your story, but looking at your sig, this is likely resulting from the updose. I think you could've done without the updose, but it would have required you waiting and holding through some difficult emotional states.  These states are likely amplified by neuro-emotion - there is truth in the emotions, but they are way out of proportion to the problems at hand.

 

Jlynn is right, changes are difficult - so - unless you are having signs of toxicity you should stay on the same dose.  For a long, long time.

 

From WebMD, SSRI Toxicity signs include:

 

You will notice that many of these signs are signs of withdrawal, too - so it is a matter of magnitude - having multiple types of symptoms at a higher intensity.  The sweating and shivering in particular are ones we watch for here on SA, because they are not normal withdrawal symptoms.

 

I know it's hard, but you've made a choice to updose.  The best course of action is to hold, make as few changes as possible.

 

There is no "magic dose" that works for certain cases, certain people, and fiddling with the dose is destabilising.  I really, really wish that doctors understood this, but no, if 10 isn't working they give you 20, and if that's not working they will add other drugs before considering that maybe 5 was closer to what was needed.

 

But you have done this, and since it was only 2 days ago you have a choice:  

  1. If the 40 mg is too activating, go back down to your last dose and hold there and just prepare yourself for the withdrawals, and wait out the symptoms.  At least 1-3 months.  OR -
  2. If you think the 40 mg is what you need, stay on the higher dose and wait for around 3 months before starting to taper again.

 

Increasing your Seroquel will just cover things up.  Please, Cheeky, you've been here long enough to know that other drugs don't fix symptoms of drugs.

 

I'm sorry, I somehow doubt that is what you wanted to hear.

 

Please - I'm sure you've seen these links before - remind yourself about Neuro-emotion and seek out Non Drug Techniques for Coping with Emotional Symptoms.

 

I hope you can breathe, and find something in your toolkit to help you soon.

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

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Just haveing these messages makes me feel better understanding this. I'm going to stay put and not change anything . Thankyou so much for helping me through this.

1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg until 2014

-2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg Seraquel

-2015 tried tapering again and crashed

 

Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 6% per month doing daily micro-taper 

Guided by Mark Horowitz

24/09/23  14.47mg Seroquel.  16.19mg Paxil 

27/11/23.  12.13mg. Seroquel.   13.85mg Paxil

 

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Just a question, I've had times in the day I have felt normal and think the wave is over then an hour later my aniexty kicks in with all the negative thoughts flooding my brain come back . I feel like I'm on a yoyo, I think I'm better then I'm not ? Is this what you call waves and windows ?

1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg until 2014

-2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg Seraquel

-2015 tried tapering again and crashed

 

Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 6% per month doing daily micro-taper 

Guided by Mark Horowitz

24/09/23  14.47mg Seroquel.  16.19mg Paxil 

27/11/23.  12.13mg. Seroquel.   13.85mg Paxil

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Yes, that is the waves and windows in a daily pattern.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

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I'm still not stable after reinstating the 5mg. Will I ever be or mayby I

Have tolerance from Paxil and am going through withdrawal even though I'm still on it

1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg until 2014

-2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg Seraquel

-2015 tried tapering again and crashed

 

Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 6% per month doing daily micro-taper 

Guided by Mark Horowitz

24/09/23  14.47mg Seroquel.  16.19mg Paxil 

27/11/23.  12.13mg. Seroquel.   13.85mg Paxil

 

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I'm really not well today, I'm scared to what had happened to me. I have servers aniexty I am yawning tingling through body and I'm haveing really low thoughts . I don't know what to do I think that all this Seraquel taper and Paxil taper has caught up on me . I need to know what to do?

1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg until 2014

-2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg Seraquel

-2015 tried tapering again and crashed

 

Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 6% per month doing daily micro-taper 

Guided by Mark Horowitz

24/09/23  14.47mg Seroquel.  16.19mg Paxil 

27/11/23.  12.13mg. Seroquel.   13.85mg Paxil

 

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You mentioned on the 18th that you changed the brand of your Paxil and stopped using liquid. Are you saying that you changed the manufacturer of your pills? Some people find that they are very sensitive to changes in formulations and switching to another manufacturer or from brand to generic or vice versa can throw them into full blown WD. It happened to me.

a.k.a JMarie

Paxil since Mar.1998

2006-2007:40-20mg
2009: 20mg to 14mg 2010: 14mg to 10.5mg 2011: 10.5 to 7.6mg  2012: 7.5 to 6.8mg

2013: 6.7-6.3mg 2014: 6.2mg-5.8mg 2015: 5.7 to 5.15mg 2016: 5.1-4.6mg

1/19/17: 4.5mg 3/17/17: 4.4mg

6/15/17: 4.35mg 8/10/17: 4.3mg

1/29/18: 4.1mg 5/07/18: 4.0mg

7/31/18: 3.9mg

 

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Hey ladybug, I didn't really think of that mayby but I have always changed generic brands. I'm upping my Seraquel to 50mg again becouse I'm really not coping and am at my worst. I need to be okay for my kids and pray to god that this will help me and then once I'm stabilized I will taper again extremely slowly by 2% . I think I have gotten tolerance from Paxil and withdrawing from it. I don't even know that I'm just confused

1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg until 2014

-2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg Seraquel

-2015 tried tapering again and crashed

 

Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 6% per month doing daily micro-taper 

Guided by Mark Horowitz

24/09/23  14.47mg Seroquel.  16.19mg Paxil 

27/11/23.  12.13mg. Seroquel.   13.85mg Paxil

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Paxil really is a bear to get off of.  I appreciate that you feel like you need some help with it.

 

Whatever you do with the seroquel, you will have to taper off of it later.

 

Why 50?  Aren't you on 12.5?  Why not consider 15  or 25 mg (at the very very most!) of the Seroquel?

 

Seroquel is a funny animal, and more is not always better.  Sometimes, less is better with Seroquel, because it's more sedating at lower doses.

 

The big jumps are big changes, and every change has a flow on effect, often months later.  It's better to be cautious.

 

Please if you insist on updosing your Seroquel, please, consider a more conservative change?

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

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