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Thread: Paxil Withdrawal

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    Default Paxil Withdrawal

    This past week I decided to stop taking my 20mg dosage of Paxil (paroxetine, not controlled release) and now I'm going through some withdrawal symptoms. I want some people to give me an idea of what to expect and maybe some suggestions.

    Right now, I can't stop crying. I'm very dizzy and sleepy. My OB/GYN offered to prescribe this medication to me but her nurse's assistant said I should be in therapy so I feel uncomfortable calling them (I'd do it if I could talk to the doctor but I can't be in therapy ... major issues ... )

    Anyone gone through this? Should I just start taking my medication again and take sleeping pills to counteract the PTSD nightmares?

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    God/dess Elvia's Avatar
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    Default Re: Paxil Withdrawal

    You cannot just go off your anti-depressants. You HAVE to taper.

    I went off prozac and I'm not sure how similar it is, but I've heard others who went of paxil say they experienced similar things. It made me VERY moody and irritable. I also felt like I was craving something constantly, and was always eating food to try to figure out what it was, but never could. It made me dizzy and weak and gave me fainting spells.

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    Default Re: Paxil Withdrawal

    I agree you have to taper. But I too quit Paxil once without tappering. I have PTSD and actually you aren't supposed to be scripted an SSRI. But that's another story. I felt like that for a few weeks. I had brain zaps too and I would get incredibly dizzy. Xanax and Ambien did the trick to at least allow me to not panic and sleep. It helped with the night terrors. A dr just told me about a blood pressure med that they are now scripting people with night terrors that's supposed to work and it's as cheap as xanax with no nasty side effects either.
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    Default Re: Paxil Withdrawal

    So I should try to cut the meds in half or something and go back on 10mg??

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    Default Re: Paxil Withdrawal

    i went cold tukrey off of paxil but i was only on it for 3 months. i was dizzy for 3 weeks the first two were the worst. very weepy and depressed. but on the plus side my night terrors went away, and i started on my way back to feeling normal.

    good luck hun.

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    Default Re: Paxil Withdrawal

    Go from 20 mgs to 15 mgs for a week, then 10mgs for a week..then 5mgs. to nothing. You are supposed to taper off by 5mgs a week. It's less of a jolt. You can get a pill spliter at walgreens.
    as damp as a cellar. . . all mildewy I'm as damp as a cellar. . . all mildewy

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    God/dess TheTempest's Avatar
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    Default Re: Paxil Withdrawal

    Quote Originally Posted by i.breathe.in View Post
    i went cold tukrey off of paxil but i was only on it for 3 months. i was dizzy for 3 weeks the first two were the worst. very weepy and depressed. but on the plus side my night terrors went away, and i started on my way back to feeling normal.

    good luck hun.
    Yeah, I got the depressed/weepy/dizzy thing. But the dizzy is pretty bad so I might have to go try to up the dosage to 10mg and THEN stop because I've been on it a while. I feel like I'm gonna pass out!

    Did you lose weight after you went off it too, btw? I've found it's IMPOSSIBLE to take anything off since I've been on it (over a year). The nightmares are what are making me stop taking it though, I could live with the pudge.

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    Default Re: Paxil Withdrawal

    im tapering off klonopin and just recently did a cut so im in withdrawal with yuo hun, if you need to talk pm me.

    yes i did lose weight but it took a few months to get it off. i gained 6 lbs in 3 months on it.

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    Default Re: Paxil Withdrawal

    Quote Originally Posted by i.breathe.in View Post
    im tapering off klonopin and just recently did a cut so im in withdrawal with yuo hun, if you need to talk pm me.

    yes i did lose weight but it took a few months to get it off. i gained 6 lbs in 3 months on it.
    I went on it around the time I stopped doing drugs, I think so I gained like 15 lbs.

    Thanks. These drugs suck. Seriously. I'm scared I'm gonna be depressed once I stop taking them though!

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    Chicagoeditor
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    Default Re: Paxil Withdrawal

    Quote Originally Posted by TheTempest View Post
    Thanks. These drugs suck. Seriously. I'm scared I'm gonna be depressed once I stop taking them though!
    Why again are you stopping? It took me literally years to find the right med (and then find the right amount) that made me a happy camper without unpleasant side effects. Net-net, I'm much better off than I would be otherwise (yes, I've tested this theory).

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    Default Re: Paxil Withdrawal

    Quote Originally Posted by TheTempest View Post
    Thanks. These drugs suck. Seriously. I'm scared I'm gonna be depressed once I stop taking them though!
    Just stopping meds out of no where freaks out your brain making it do all kinds of crazy things. Do you decide this or your doctor? You can become depressed all over again and many other things. Take the other posters advice to taper off. You'll have a much easier time getting off them that way.
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    Default Re: Paxil Withdrawal

    Don't try to taper yourself. Ask a doctor. They can tell you exactly how to do it. You don't want to try to taper off too fast.

    Please do ask a doctor- Paxil is one of the hardest anti-depressants to get off of.

    For me, a prescription for Ativan really helped me to get off my anti depressants too.

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    Default Re: Paxil Withdrawal

    Good luck. A good friend of mine tried shaving flakes off her paxil and still had withdrawal symptoms. She never managed to get off of it. Hope you have better luck!

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    Default Re: Paxil Withdrawal

    Quote Originally Posted by Chicagoeditor View Post
    Why again are you stopping? It took me literally years to find the right med (and then find the right amount) that made me a happy camper without unpleasant side effects. Net-net, I'm much better off than I would be otherwise (yes, I've tested this theory).
    PTSD nightmares. I stayed awake for 2 days straight because I was afraid to sleep.

    Quote Originally Posted by TigersMilk View Post
    Just stopping meds out of no where freaks out your brain making it do all kinds of crazy things. Do you decide this or your doctor? You can become depressed all over again and many other things. Take the other posters advice to taper off. You'll have a much easier time getting off them that way.
    I did not discuss this with my doctor because I can't contact the doctor directly, I only get a nurse's assistant and she repeatedly told me to get therapy and not have the doctor (who offered to give me medication in the first place) deal with my anti-depressants. I am no longer comfortable dealing with them.

    Quote Originally Posted by Elvia View Post
    Don't try to taper yourself. Ask a doctor. They can tell you exactly how to do it. You don't want to try to taper off too fast.

    Please do ask a doctor- Paxil is one of the hardest anti-depressants to get off of.

    For me, a prescription for Ativan really helped me to get off my anti depressants too.
    I do not want to ask the doctor, please see above.

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    Default Re: Paxil Withdrawal

    Quote Originally Posted by TheTempest View Post
    I did not discuss this with my doctor because I can't contact the doctor directly, I only get a nurse's assistant and she repeatedly told me to get therapy and not have the doctor (who offered to give me medication in the first place) deal with my anti-depressants. I am no longer comfortable dealing with them.
    I'm sorry your doctor sucks. At least find a new doctor you are comfortable with sharing this with. I don't want you to have to go through shitty withdrawal symptoms. Going off then with a little overseeing of a doctor is going to much easier and smarter than doing it alone.
    you live like an ivy vine
    you can only survive by clinging onto trees
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    Default Re: Paxil Withdrawal

    Just to toss in my two cents. Family DR's shouldn't be scripting out Anti Depressents. But they do anyways. I can't tell you how many samples etc I have here that were given to me from Family dr's. I cannot take SSRI's it triggers my PTSD so bad that I'm incapable of doing much of anything. I have unrealistic fear while on them.

    If you feel you need medical help honestly I suggest a walk in clinic. I have found that they spend far more time with the patient, give sound advice (usually they are students so they know more up to date info) and have tons of resources to help you.

    I went to a walk in clinic last week because a family DR I finally found that would take self pay put me on Cymbalta and lowered my dose (without warning) of xanax from 2mgs to .25!! I was obviously withdrawling and having other issues. I went through that script of Xanax in 2 weeks flat. I went to a walk in clinic. They weren't comfortable in giving me 2mgs but gave me 1mg a day (20 pills) and ref. to DR's that deal with PTSD and take self pay (no waiting lists) they literally gave me pages upon pages. They also told me to NOT take any SSRI's.

    I truly was given more solid info from them than the DR I went to. IMO a lot of times DR"s have an abundance of samples from drug companies and if you come in complaining of basic GAD or Depression they unload their bounty on you. paxil, effexor and Cymbalta are meds that are given hand over fist to a lot of family Dr's.

    Which is a bonus to anyone out there reading this that can't afford those meds and runs out. Just go to a walk in clinic, tell them you've been on it but can't afford it and they WILL give you samples at least enough to get you by for awhile.
    as damp as a cellar. . . all mildewy I'm as damp as a cellar. . . all mildewy

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    God/dess TheTempest's Avatar
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    Default Re: Paxil Withdrawal

    Quote Originally Posted by TigersMilk View Post
    I'm sorry your doctor sucks. At least find a new doctor you are comfortable with sharing this with. I don't want you to have to go through shitty withdrawal symptoms. Going off then with a little overseeing of a doctor is going to much easier and smarter than doing it alone.
    Yeah, that's not going to happen. Thanks though.

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    Default Re: Paxil Withdrawal

    Quote Originally Posted by Sophia_Ashley View Post
    Just to toss in my two cents. Family DR's shouldn't be scripting out Anti Depressents. But they do anyways. I can't tell you how many samples etc I have here that were given to me from Family dr's. I cannot take SSRI's it triggers my PTSD so bad that I'm incapable of doing much of anything. I have unrealistic fear while on them.

    If you feel you need medical help honestly I suggest a walk in clinic. I have found that they spend far more time with the patient, give sound advice (usually they are students so they know more up to date info) and have tons of resources to help you.

    I went to a walk in clinic last week because a family DR I finally found that would take self pay put me on Cymbalta and lowered my dose (without warning) of xanax from 2mgs to .25!! I was obviously withdrawling and having other issues. I went through that script of Xanax in 2 weeks flat. I went to a walk in clinic. They weren't comfortable in giving me 2mgs but gave me 1mg a day (20 pills) and ref. to DR's that deal with PTSD and take self pay (no waiting lists) they literally gave me pages upon pages. They also told me to NOT take any SSRI's.

    I truly was given more solid info from them than the DR I went to. IMO a lot of times DR"s have an abundance of samples from drug companies and if you come in complaining of basic GAD or Depression they unload their bounty on you. paxil, effexor and Cymbalta are meds that are given hand over fist to a lot of family Dr's.

    Which is a bonus to anyone out there reading this that can't afford those meds and runs out. Just go to a walk in clinic, tell them you've been on it but can't afford it and they WILL give you samples at least enough to get you by for awhile.
    Thanks again, but the walk-in place I've gone to in the past are pretty much 1000 times worse than a regular doctor because they're so busy. This is really the only medication that worked on my depression (I've been on prozac, wellbutrin, effexor and zoloft with ZERO effect) and no doctor knows I have PTSD. I do not discuss these things with Drs.

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    Default Re: Paxil Withdrawal

    god i know all about the walk in places. when in doubt taper slower then you want.

    klonopin is different then paxil but ive been cutting around ever 3 weeks. some say its too fast some say too slow, but i just know when im in a good place to do the next cut.

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    Default Re: Paxil Withdrawal

    Found something that might help you.
    http://www.paxilprogress.org/pdf/Pax...Guide-2005.pdf
    Since its a PDF. Open the pages tab on the left. Click to page 93 of those pages. Kinda tells you what to expect and tells you how to decrease.
    Good luck with it all. Hope that helps.
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    Default Re: Paxil Withdrawal

    Quote Originally Posted by TigersMilk View Post
    Found something that might help you.
    http://www.paxilprogress.org/pdf/Pax...Guide-2005.pdf
    Since its a PDF. Open the pages tab on the left. Click to page 93 of those pages. Kinda tells you what to expect and tells you how to decrease.
    Good luck with it all. Hope that helps.
    Thanks so much TM! I found something online but it was some cheesy looking website without much information. I did take a 20mg tablet today (because I was freaking out) and now I will be more careful about decreasing the dosage.

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    Default Re: Paxil Withdrawal

    You can't go off that shit cold turkey. I was up to 60 mg and my doctor slowly weined me off 10mg at a time along with klonopin to help relieve my anxiety.

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    Default Re: Paxil Withdrawal

    Wow. Paxil withdrawals can be really intense. I know this. I was on paxil for 9 years of my life and it caused me liver and gallbladder issues and much much more. I was lucky. I coincidently started taking yoga lessons at a place that had an amazing health practitioner who helped me to taper off paxil slowly, using helpful herbs and supplements to make the transition much more tolerable and gentle.

    I would suggest seeing a professional. Paxil is a very serious drug and it can cause lasting complications on the body, almost destroying the body's capability to function without it. Without the herbs and the guidance of a trusted health practitioner, I don't know if I could have gotten off it successfully. After 9 years, it had done a lot of damage on my body. It took years of working with holistic medicine to undo the damage. But it was well worth it! I'm a totally different person now than I was then.

    What part of the country are you? Maybe I can help you locate a quality health practitioner. I worked with an ayurvedic practitioner and loved the results.

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    Default Re: Paxil Withdrawal

    Thanks to everyone for their comments.

    I am going to adjust my dosage and come off it slowly. It was foolish to try and quit cold turkey.

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    Default Re: Paxil Withdrawal

    Quote Originally Posted by TheTempest View Post
    I did not discuss this with my doctor because I can't contact the doctor directly, I only get a nurse's assistant and she repeatedly told me to get therapy and not have the doctor (who offered to give me medication in the first place) deal with my anti-depressants. I am no longer comfortable dealing with them.
    Why can't you make an appointment? If you are getting the run around on the phone, go in. My experience has been meds and therapy combined are more effective than just meds. Most communities have providers with a sliding scale, if money is an issue. Those major issues aren't going to go away.
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