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RuthMc 3rd time lucky from Aropax perhaps?


RuthMc

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HI all

My name is Ruth and Im from a town in NSW Australia called Dubbo.

A brief history for me is that for 7 years I was on and off Zoloft from 50mg through to 200mgs. When I hit 200mgs, my doctor at the time took me off Zoloft and prescribed Aropax 20mg (AKA - Paxil, Paroxetine etc...). That was 9 years ago. I have had 2 unsuccessful attempts to come off this horrid drug, but failed as the withdrawal symptoms were severe. Now that I look back on it, yes I was informed, but no where near as informed as I am now. Where has this info come from???.. certainly not my doctor. She is very casual about the whole thing with my suggestion to come off it (not the doctor that prescribed it originally). I have done a lot of research recently and have come across this site a few times and today I joined as some of your advice is just awesome and it obviously works.

I have a Cruise coming up soon so my withdrawal from this drug will be after that as I don't want to suffer any unnecessary side effects while trying to enjoy myself in the South Pacific, or not have my rock of a husband around me when I start.

I know now that slowly is the key. My 2nd attempt was slow... but obviously just not slow enough.

I hope that I can get to know some of you and get some of your valuable insight. :)

7 years on Zoloft ranging from 50mgs - 200mgs then  onto 20mgs of Aropax/Paxil for the past 9 years

2 unsuccessful attempts to withdraw from Aropax :(

3rd attempt is GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL as I am now more informed and aware  ;):DB)

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Welcome from Sydney Ruth.    

You'll find this site is a gold-mine of support , information and suggestions about all things withdrawal related.

 

The site recommends tapering by no more than 10% at a time , and sitting at each level for 4 to 6 weeks.   Because

you've been on ad's for many years it's safer to go slower rather than quickly.

 

See the Tapering section , "Why Taper by 10%"  and  "Tips for Tapering off Paxil".  

Also "What is Withdrawal"  in Symptoms and Self Care.

 

Good idea to start after the cruise , just in case you have unpleasant symptoms.

 

Best wishes ,  Fresh

1987-1997 pertofran , prothiaden , Prozac 1997-2002 Zoloft 2002-2004 effexor 2004-2010 Lexapro 40mg

2010-2012Cymbalta 120mg

Sept. 2012 -decreased 90mg in 6months. Care taken over by Dr Lucire in March 2013 , decreased last 30mg at 2mg per week over 3 months. July 21 , 2013- last dose of Cymbalta

Protracted withdrawal syndrome kicked in badly Jan.2014 Unrelenting akathisia until May 2014. Voluntary hosp. admission. Cocktail of Seroquel, Ativan and mirtazapine and I was well enough to go home after 14 days. Stopped all hosp. meds in next few months.

July 2014 felt v.depressed - couldn't stop crying. Started pristiq 50mg. Felt improvement within days and continued to improve, so stayed on 50mg for 8 months.

Began taper 28 Feb. 2015. Pristiq 50mg down to 45mg. Had one month of w/d symptoms. Started CES therapy in March. No w/d symptoms down to 30mg.

October 2015 , taking 25mg Pristiq. Capsules compounded with slow-release additive.

March 2016 , 21mg

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi there Ruth!

I am on the sunny sunshine coast - but today is very very wet!

 

I have had many attempts to get off my drug - even slow wasn't slow enough for me - i am now on my 4th attempt!

Started in 2000 - On 150mg most of the time, (but up to 225mg at highest dose for 6 months in the beginning)
Reduced off easily first time - but got depressed (not too much anxiety) 6 months later
Back on effexor for another 9 months.
Reduced off again with no immediate w/d - suddenly got depressed and anxious ++ again 3 or 4 months later.
Back on effexor - this time for 3 years
Reduced off over a month - 6 weeks later terrible anxiety - back on.
Rinse and repeat 4 more times - each time the period before the anxiety comes back got shorter and shorter
Jan - July 2012 75mg down to 37.5mg;, 8/3/12 - 35mg. 8/25/12 - 32mg. 9/11- 28mg, 10/2 - 25mg, 10/29 - 22mg, 11/19 - 19.8mg; 12/11 - 17m,
1/1- 15.5mg; 1/22 -14mg, 2/7 14.9mg, 2/18 - 17.8mg - crashed big time: back to 75mg where i sat for 2 years....

4th  March 2015 - 67.5mg;   31st March - 60mg;  24th April - 53mg; 13th May - 48mg; 26th May - 45mg;  9th June - 41mg; 1 July- 37.5mg; 20 July - 34mg; 11 August - 31mg; 1st Sept - 28mg;  1st Dec - 25.8mg;  28th Dec - 23.2mg; 23rd Jan-21.9mg; Feb 7th- 21mg; March 1st - 20.1mg, March 30th - 18mg

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So nice to have others in Aus!! I really hope that my 3rd attempt will be successful. I am determined that I want this drug out of my system for good. When I first started researching this a few years ago I was horrified at what I was reading. I tried tapering etc... thinking I aas fine but nup. The second time I was doing well, had taken 2 months to get from 20mg to 10mg...a few brain zaps and a bit giddy but nothing too serious...then thinking I was ok, tried cutting down further but too quickly. Also had family issues to contend with so crashed and burned. It wasnt until about 6 weeks ago I accidentally missed a tablet and omg did I know about it by the next day. I was a blubbering angry mess and it took 2 days to get myself back on track. It was after this I became angry...angry that my doctor had even prescribed this drug to me in the first place, angry that I was obviously "addicted" so to speak and angry to discover that there is now even a syndrome called SSRI withdrawal syndrome that relates to coming off aropax! It was then that I made the decision to make a third attempt to come off it.

After my cruise as you say because I dont want any unwanted side effects and im sure my friends dont need to be worried about me at that time either.

What are your experiences with coming off or trying to come off aropax?

7 years on Zoloft ranging from 50mgs - 200mgs then  onto 20mgs of Aropax/Paxil for the past 9 years

2 unsuccessful attempts to withdraw from Aropax :(

3rd attempt is GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL as I am now more informed and aware  ;):DB)

 

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Ruth, so glad you found this site.  There is really good, knowledgeable counsel here and I'm sure that, as you follow what is suggested by the mods, that you will find a much easier road off of the SSRI.  Hope that your cruise will be a good time for you and your husband. 

1971-81  Valium 5mg c/t PAWS     1992- through now Zoloft 25mg    2003-05 Valium 12mg Slow Taper Off

2013 Afrin Exposure to CNS    2013 O/D Val 230mg    2013 Doxepin 50mg Clonidine 2mg Zoloft 25mg

3/15/16  Doxepin 49mg Micro Tapering  Zoloft 24.3mg Holding taper

3/15/16 Clonidine mg 0.1 1/2 -    Decreasing incrementally.  DISCONTINUED

10/9/16  Doxepin 48.9  Zoloft 24.3  Clonidine  01.10  Continuing micro taper on Doxepin.

11/16/16 Doxepin 48mg  Zoloft 24.3mg  Clonidine 1.30mg

5/4/17  Doxepin 45mg  Zoloft 24mg  Clonidine 1.20mg   Micro taper of Doxepin  , Clonidine

01/13/19  Doxepin 45mg   Zoloft 21mg   Will start Micro taper of Doxepin 2/19

12/21/21  Doxepin 20 mg ?  Reducing using water micro taper--Pulling 24ml from 75ml

12/2121   Zoloft .060 grams by weight--HOLDING (info from post added by CC: On 12/21/21 my dosage was .060grams by weight or 20mg. )

26 Apr 2022 - Zoloft at -0-

 

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