quitpaxil2015 Posted November 16, 2015 Author Share Posted November 16, 2015 Thank you, Star. So important to have people like you support me!! Username: quitpaxil2015 - Started antidepressants sometime in 1990. Misdiagnosed with Bipolar, but later with thyroid disease in1998 (8 years of being on several different psychiatric meds with several psychiatric hospitalizations). Total thyroidectomy in 1999. At the time, was on 85 mg of Paxil. In 2001, tried to get off Paxil and had car crash due to vertigo and w/d symptoms. Given more psychiatric meds including Prozac and Trazodone to treat SEVERE w/d from Paxil - which is the only reason I still take Paxil. Tried to taper off Paxil again in 2004 - from 25 mg to 20 mg (5 mg cuts) - had to go back on 25 mg on the 10th day of the taper due to inability to function (dizziness, vertigo, motion sickness, crying spells, depersonalization, etc). Currently on Paxil 25 mg and Trazodone 100 mg. Trying to quit Paxil in 2015. April 22, 2015 - Paxil 22.5 mg. May 13, 2015 Paxil 20 mg. June 3, 2015 - Paxil 17.5 mg. June 24, 2015 - Paxil 15 mg. Don't remember - 12.5 mg. August 5, 2015 - Paxil 10 mg. September 16, 2015 - 7.5 mg (considering going back up - severe anxiety/panic) September 28, 2015 - back up to 10 mg. October 6, 2015 - back up to 15 mg. Link to comment
PapaBear Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Hi QP, I just checked the forum after my move and read your posts. I am very sorry about what you are going through right now but I am sure you have the strength to master it. Feel free to send a PM anytime. KR, PB - Paroxetine since more than 10years - 20mg for the first five year, then 10mg since - Several attempts to withdraw cold turkey following doctor's advise - Last attempt in spring 2015 to reduce 10 -> 5 -> 2.5 -> 0mg within 2 months -> Extreme wd problems - Reinstated with 10mg then down to 5mg again 04/01 5mg (tingling and muscle problems) 07/20 5mg (less problems) 08/20 4.95mg (muscle tightness, no more tingling sensations) 12/28 3.27mg (muscle tightness, numb feeling in feet and hands, light tingling sensations Link to comment
quitpaxil2015 Posted November 20, 2015 Author Share Posted November 20, 2015 PapaBear, thank you for your kindness. Things have gone from bad to worse. I don't even know what to think. I hope you are doing okay. Username: quitpaxil2015 - Started antidepressants sometime in 1990. Misdiagnosed with Bipolar, but later with thyroid disease in1998 (8 years of being on several different psychiatric meds with several psychiatric hospitalizations). Total thyroidectomy in 1999. At the time, was on 85 mg of Paxil. In 2001, tried to get off Paxil and had car crash due to vertigo and w/d symptoms. Given more psychiatric meds including Prozac and Trazodone to treat SEVERE w/d from Paxil - which is the only reason I still take Paxil. Tried to taper off Paxil again in 2004 - from 25 mg to 20 mg (5 mg cuts) - had to go back on 25 mg on the 10th day of the taper due to inability to function (dizziness, vertigo, motion sickness, crying spells, depersonalization, etc). Currently on Paxil 25 mg and Trazodone 100 mg. Trying to quit Paxil in 2015. April 22, 2015 - Paxil 22.5 mg. May 13, 2015 Paxil 20 mg. June 3, 2015 - Paxil 17.5 mg. June 24, 2015 - Paxil 15 mg. Don't remember - 12.5 mg. August 5, 2015 - Paxil 10 mg. September 16, 2015 - 7.5 mg (considering going back up - severe anxiety/panic) September 28, 2015 - back up to 10 mg. October 6, 2015 - back up to 15 mg. Link to comment
Jlynn Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 Just checking in to see how you are holding up? Been thinking of you and sending good thoughts and prayers your way! 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..... Link to comment
quitpaxil2015 Posted January 4, 2016 Author Share Posted January 4, 2016 Just checking in to see how you are holding up? Been thinking of you and sending good thoughts and prayers your way! Hi JLynn, how have you been? Thank you so much for checking on me. I am managing, I guess. My relationship with my husband will need work. We reconciled after I basically told him he should leave if he was not going to give up the apt he got as I was released from the hospital. He is starting therapy for his own childhood abuse issues, and we are looking at going to couples' therapy as well. As far as my physical health, I continue to be in a period of adjustment. My thyroid is still slightly high and the endocrinologist (the only physician who seems to understand me) has lowered by Synthroid dose. I am off metformin since I continue to have diarrhea off and on (mostly on - I believe it is still due to adjustment from messing with my Paxil dosage). I also seem to have acquired permanent tinnitus - it is always there since I started tapering the Paxil. I am currently on 15 mg of Paxil. I believe I had severe WD when I went from 10 mg to 7.5 mg at the end of September, and then, after the increase to 15 mg, also acquired side effects! I think I had both WD and side effects from the decrease/reinstatement at the same time - I hope this does not sound crazy, but it is truly what I have come to believe. Can anyone else relate to chronic diarrhea and tinnitus? What helped? Nothing seems to help me! (Please know that I am immensely grateful that I no longer have insomnia - I can deal with just about anything other than that!) As a matter of fact, the way my endocrinologist put it, I had no REM sleep for approximally 5 to 6 weeks which caused the unresponsive chronic insomnia (due to the Paxil WD), then after I lost approximately 15 lbs from not being able to eat (and feeling so bad from not sleeping that I had to go on disability), my Synthroid dose was too high (I have no thyroid or parathyroids as they were removed in 1999). I became hyperthryroid, and could not compensate. Once he lowered my Synthroid and I increased by Paxil back to 15 mg, I begun to be able to sleep and stabilized (except for a few symptoms - diarrhea and tinnitus). Anyway, I have been back at work since 11/23. I don't feel 100%, but am much better. I am able to think and work. Unfortunately, I turned my ankle last Monday and am now in a boot and can't put weight on my foot (I am using crutches and a knee roller)...but I will take that over Paxil WD/side effects ANY DAY! I am, however, very angry that I need to continue to pay for and take the Paxil poison. Given that I am still re-adjusting and continue to have WD/side effects from the changes I had made, I wonder if I should give it time before attempting to taper again. To be truthful, I am TERRIFIED of any decrease in dosage - even a 5% taper in the future. At the same time, I cannot accept that I will always take this poison, especially with the amount of ignorance in the medical community and my fear that, at some point in the future, should I be hospitalized and unable to speak for myself, some ignorant physician may take me off the Paxil cold turkey. I have noticed that I start having WD within 3 to 4 hours of missing a dose. Anyway, I want to thank all the brave souls who have found time to support me even as you go through this yourselves! Username: quitpaxil2015 - Started antidepressants sometime in 1990. Misdiagnosed with Bipolar, but later with thyroid disease in1998 (8 years of being on several different psychiatric meds with several psychiatric hospitalizations). Total thyroidectomy in 1999. At the time, was on 85 mg of Paxil. In 2001, tried to get off Paxil and had car crash due to vertigo and w/d symptoms. Given more psychiatric meds including Prozac and Trazodone to treat SEVERE w/d from Paxil - which is the only reason I still take Paxil. Tried to taper off Paxil again in 2004 - from 25 mg to 20 mg (5 mg cuts) - had to go back on 25 mg on the 10th day of the taper due to inability to function (dizziness, vertigo, motion sickness, crying spells, depersonalization, etc). Currently on Paxil 25 mg and Trazodone 100 mg. Trying to quit Paxil in 2015. April 22, 2015 - Paxil 22.5 mg. May 13, 2015 Paxil 20 mg. June 3, 2015 - Paxil 17.5 mg. June 24, 2015 - Paxil 15 mg. Don't remember - 12.5 mg. August 5, 2015 - Paxil 10 mg. September 16, 2015 - 7.5 mg (considering going back up - severe anxiety/panic) September 28, 2015 - back up to 10 mg. October 6, 2015 - back up to 15 mg. Link to comment
PapaBear Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 Hi QP, Good to hear from you! I wish you a happy new year and all the best for 2016, especially with regard to your wd issues and health. I am glad that your situation improved and that you are back at work. I can relate to your tinnitus as since I started tapering px I also have problems with it. It is somehow chronic but not that severe. I mainly contribute it to clenching my teeth and jaw but I am not 100% sure. In any case I never had problems before tapering. Regarding your taper maybe you can wait until your situation becomes more stable and you feel more secure to try to wd. You could even try steps smaller than 5% just to be on the safe side. KR, PB - Paroxetine since more than 10years - 20mg for the first five year, then 10mg since - Several attempts to withdraw cold turkey following doctor's advise - Last attempt in spring 2015 to reduce 10 -> 5 -> 2.5 -> 0mg within 2 months -> Extreme wd problems - Reinstated with 10mg then down to 5mg again 04/01 5mg (tingling and muscle problems) 07/20 5mg (less problems) 08/20 4.95mg (muscle tightness, no more tingling sensations) 12/28 3.27mg (muscle tightness, numb feeling in feet and hands, light tingling sensations Link to comment
quitpaxil2015 Posted January 4, 2016 Author Share Posted January 4, 2016 Thank you, PB! I agree with you that the more conservative I am should I taper in the future, the better. I wear a night guard for my teeth at night. I had to have a crown on my back tooth a few years ago (before the taper begun) due to clenching. You might want to consider one too to protect your teeth! Take care and thank you for your input! Camila Username: quitpaxil2015 - Started antidepressants sometime in 1990. Misdiagnosed with Bipolar, but later with thyroid disease in1998 (8 years of being on several different psychiatric meds with several psychiatric hospitalizations). Total thyroidectomy in 1999. At the time, was on 85 mg of Paxil. In 2001, tried to get off Paxil and had car crash due to vertigo and w/d symptoms. Given more psychiatric meds including Prozac and Trazodone to treat SEVERE w/d from Paxil - which is the only reason I still take Paxil. Tried to taper off Paxil again in 2004 - from 25 mg to 20 mg (5 mg cuts) - had to go back on 25 mg on the 10th day of the taper due to inability to function (dizziness, vertigo, motion sickness, crying spells, depersonalization, etc). Currently on Paxil 25 mg and Trazodone 100 mg. Trying to quit Paxil in 2015. April 22, 2015 - Paxil 22.5 mg. May 13, 2015 Paxil 20 mg. June 3, 2015 - Paxil 17.5 mg. June 24, 2015 - Paxil 15 mg. Don't remember - 12.5 mg. August 5, 2015 - Paxil 10 mg. September 16, 2015 - 7.5 mg (considering going back up - severe anxiety/panic) September 28, 2015 - back up to 10 mg. October 6, 2015 - back up to 15 mg. Link to comment
quitpaxil2015 Posted January 4, 2016 Author Share Posted January 4, 2016 Thank you, PB! I agree with you that the more conservative I am should I taper in the future, the better. I wear a night guard for my teeth at night. I had to have a crown on my back tooth a few years ago (before the taper begun) due to clenching. You might want to consider one too to protect your teeth! Take care and thank you for your input! Camila Username: quitpaxil2015 - Started antidepressants sometime in 1990. Misdiagnosed with Bipolar, but later with thyroid disease in1998 (8 years of being on several different psychiatric meds with several psychiatric hospitalizations). Total thyroidectomy in 1999. At the time, was on 85 mg of Paxil. In 2001, tried to get off Paxil and had car crash due to vertigo and w/d symptoms. Given more psychiatric meds including Prozac and Trazodone to treat SEVERE w/d from Paxil - which is the only reason I still take Paxil. Tried to taper off Paxil again in 2004 - from 25 mg to 20 mg (5 mg cuts) - had to go back on 25 mg on the 10th day of the taper due to inability to function (dizziness, vertigo, motion sickness, crying spells, depersonalization, etc). Currently on Paxil 25 mg and Trazodone 100 mg. Trying to quit Paxil in 2015. April 22, 2015 - Paxil 22.5 mg. May 13, 2015 Paxil 20 mg. June 3, 2015 - Paxil 17.5 mg. June 24, 2015 - Paxil 15 mg. Don't remember - 12.5 mg. August 5, 2015 - Paxil 10 mg. September 16, 2015 - 7.5 mg (considering going back up - severe anxiety/panic) September 28, 2015 - back up to 10 mg. October 6, 2015 - back up to 15 mg. Link to comment
Christian Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 Quitpaxil2015....what's the latest ? Did you end up quitting ? Lexapro: started in 2002 at 10 mgs. Ambien: started as a as needed sleep aid in 2010. Quit Lexapro cold turkey in June 20015 due to contributing to low sodium issues. Restarted Lexapro in late November for a week (only 5 mgs) but quit due to dizziness side effects. Side effects worsened for 3 weeks until 12/24/15: Protracted WD hit, experienced extreme anxiety, insomnia lack of full concentration and social challenges. Reinstated Lexapro on 1/1/16 at 5 mgs. Increased per Dr to 7.5 MG. Tapered off Lexapro in March 2016. Started 50MG of Seroquel in late January 2016 for bedtime to help in eliminate Ambien. Tapered off both Seroquel and Ambien in March 2016. 2/14/16: Prescribed both Remeron (15 MG) and Temazapam (15 MG) for sleep. Also use Klonopin and Ambien again in place of Temazapam to avoid addiction. However I did take Temazapam 60 straight days 6/15/16: Stopped use of all benzo's and now use Belsomra 1-2 times a week. Still on 15 MG of Remeron 10/11/16: Off all psych medications After kindling, trying to regain my strength suffering from severe mental and physical fatigue. Link to comment
quitpaxil2015 Posted January 11, 2016 Author Share Posted January 11, 2016 Quitpaxil2015....what's the latest ? Did you end up quitting ? How do you mean? I have not stabilized on 15 mg as I continue to have stomach issues and severe tinnitus, also working on thyroid medication stabiization. I will not rush things as I had before and intend to be on 15 mg as long as it takes to stabilize as will be evidenced by diminishing symptoms. I was on disability for nearly two months and am just getting back into the swing of things, so no, I am not going to drop further at this time. How have you been? Username: quitpaxil2015 - Started antidepressants sometime in 1990. Misdiagnosed with Bipolar, but later with thyroid disease in1998 (8 years of being on several different psychiatric meds with several psychiatric hospitalizations). Total thyroidectomy in 1999. At the time, was on 85 mg of Paxil. In 2001, tried to get off Paxil and had car crash due to vertigo and w/d symptoms. Given more psychiatric meds including Prozac and Trazodone to treat SEVERE w/d from Paxil - which is the only reason I still take Paxil. Tried to taper off Paxil again in 2004 - from 25 mg to 20 mg (5 mg cuts) - had to go back on 25 mg on the 10th day of the taper due to inability to function (dizziness, vertigo, motion sickness, crying spells, depersonalization, etc). Currently on Paxil 25 mg and Trazodone 100 mg. Trying to quit Paxil in 2015. April 22, 2015 - Paxil 22.5 mg. May 13, 2015 Paxil 20 mg. June 3, 2015 - Paxil 17.5 mg. June 24, 2015 - Paxil 15 mg. Don't remember - 12.5 mg. August 5, 2015 - Paxil 10 mg. September 16, 2015 - 7.5 mg (considering going back up - severe anxiety/panic) September 28, 2015 - back up to 10 mg. October 6, 2015 - back up to 15 mg. Link to comment
btdt Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 Paxil may have caused your thyroid problems there use to be a person here called norxforme think that was her name she had a lot of posts about ssris and thyroid.. think it was another site she was I can't recall but did find this... Paxil Side Effects in Detail - Drugs.com www.drugs.com/sfx/paxil-side-effects.html Learn about the potential side effects of Paxil (paroxetine). ... As well as its needed effects, paroxetine (the active ingredient contained in Paxil) may cause unwanted side effects that require medical .... Rare (less than 0.1%): Goiter, hyperthyroidism,hypothyroidism, thyroiditis .... These can be reported to the FDA here.Paxil - Paxil Drug Interactions - Paxil Dosage Guide WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG Had a car accident in 85 Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89 Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above. One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking. As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/ There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in Link to comment
quitpaxil2015 Posted March 27, 2016 Author Share Posted March 27, 2016 Hi Fingers, Thank you so much for this information! I think Paxil may have contributed to my genetic predisposition for the thyroid issue that my grandmother also had. Certainly aggravated it! I am still struggling with getting my thyroid levels back on track. Other issues such as hypercalcemiia and insulin resistance have made a come back as well. Thankfully, I have a great endocrinologist who is keeping a very code eye on me. Hope you are doing well! Username: quitpaxil2015 - Started antidepressants sometime in 1990. Misdiagnosed with Bipolar, but later with thyroid disease in1998 (8 years of being on several different psychiatric meds with several psychiatric hospitalizations). Total thyroidectomy in 1999. At the time, was on 85 mg of Paxil. In 2001, tried to get off Paxil and had car crash due to vertigo and w/d symptoms. Given more psychiatric meds including Prozac and Trazodone to treat SEVERE w/d from Paxil - which is the only reason I still take Paxil. Tried to taper off Paxil again in 2004 - from 25 mg to 20 mg (5 mg cuts) - had to go back on 25 mg on the 10th day of the taper due to inability to function (dizziness, vertigo, motion sickness, crying spells, depersonalization, etc). Currently on Paxil 25 mg and Trazodone 100 mg. Trying to quit Paxil in 2015. April 22, 2015 - Paxil 22.5 mg. May 13, 2015 Paxil 20 mg. June 3, 2015 - Paxil 17.5 mg. June 24, 2015 - Paxil 15 mg. Don't remember - 12.5 mg. August 5, 2015 - Paxil 10 mg. September 16, 2015 - 7.5 mg (considering going back up - severe anxiety/panic) September 28, 2015 - back up to 10 mg. October 6, 2015 - back up to 15 mg. Link to comment
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