Is There Anything I Can Do (Just in Case)?

I'm probably going to be fine, but I have a situation I can't correct, and I was hoping to get some advice in case I experience withdrawal or something.

My boyfriend went away Friday for his Thanksgiving vacation, for about 10 days. I live with him, and he's my only transportation, so I'll be taking care of the apartment and his bird until he gets back. There are no buses in my area (and even if there were, my OCD can't handle it, PLUS I've given up on public transportation due to many bad experiences that include having the bus doors shut on me, being sexually and religiously harassed, sitting in baby pee, and having a guy I met at the bus station show up at my apartment), and I can't ride in others' cars (again, because of my OCD), which I don't have anyone who can give me a ride, anyway.

So, here's what happened: Thursday night, my boyfriend went to get my prescriptions filled. One was fine, but the pharmacist only had 6 pills left of my Paxil CR. I'm supposed to take three a day (all at once). I don't know if my bf could have gotten more pills at another of the same pharmacy, but he didn't have time to go to others. So, now I'm trying to only take one a day until he gets back.

If I have any withdrawal symptoms, is there anything I can do? I'm ok right now, not feeling anything unusual, but I just want to know ahead of time, so I can be prepared. Anyone got any advice?

Is there a pharmacy anywhere that delivers? Maybe your doc or the other pharmacy could call in a prescription to cover you, and you could have that delivered.

I've heard that there are some withdrawal symptoms with Paxil, but I don't know about Paxil CR. If you're familiar with Psychobabble, there is a board there just for Withdrawal issues, and some quite knowledgeable posters. You might also consider posting there if needed.

Good luck.

gg

Even at one pill a day, you don't have enough to last until he gets back. You need to get the rest of the drug delivered to you. Call the pharmacy. Make it their problem. If you must, get it sent over by taxi. See if a friend will pick it up for you.

It is not a good idea to have your dose suddenly drop like that. Dizziness, nausea, nervousness, emotional lability, headache, agitation, electric shock sensations, fatigue, and sleep disturbances are possible. Maybe even likely.

I'd start with the pharmacy. They owe you the drug.

Good luck.

Lar

Where I live, a taxi will do deliveries such as this for the regular fare plus $15. If you are in the US and on Medicaid you can also try to get them to pay for the delivery. They have a service called Medical Transportation, and this may fall into that category. I dunno. Your prescribing doc would have to authorize it.

emmy

There are regular delivery services that may deliver your meds. They are cheaper than a taxi depending how far out you are. We have used them at work and they deliver paint etc. I would call your pharmacist and ask them if you could authorize them to pick them up. They could even give you the name of the driver so it would be a bit more secure. Good luck and I would look into these options as it is not a good idea to drop so drastically on your meds like that. Good luck.

I don't have any money, even if the pharmacy can do deliveries (I don't think they do, but I'm not sure). And, speaking specifically about the pharmacy at the same location, I don't know if they'd have more yet. I give almost every bit of my SS to my boyfriend for rent and bills, and money I owe him, and I'm left with very little, which has to cover (but doesn't) my monthly needs. I'm out of cash.

I'm not on Medicaid.

Public transportation is a problem for me (even having my meds or anything delivered in them), but it doesn't matter, because I can't afford a taxi.

Call your poc and see if he can't give you some samples. That should get you through until your boyfriend gets back. He could even send them overnight if he knowshow desperate you are. It is worth a chance.

I couldn't do that...the office where I go for treatment is "dirty" to me (OCD dirty, not dirty in the traditional sense), and I couldn't touch the pills.

But what I was really talking about was, is there something I can do/take that might be around my apartment that would counteract the withdrawal effects? It probably won't happen, and I'm fine now, but that's what I meant.

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But what I was really talking about was, is there something I can do/take that might be around my apartment that would counteract the withdrawal effects? It probably won't happen, and I'm fine now, but that's what I meant.

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No. You're talking about a substantial decrease in dose of a drug with one of the worst reputations for withdrawal side effects. It is possible that Benedryl (diphenhydramine) might help, and you can treat any symptom as you might normally do so (e.g. take tylenol for headache).....but the only good thing you can do is figure out a way to get some Paxil. I'd express some to you, if I had it to send.

Lar

Thought so. Thanks, anyway.

I'm sorry...but your BF left you without a car AND without money.Lucky 4 u that I'm not your MOM. I'd have a fit. Keep us posted on how you are doing.

Do you have enough to take one every other day?

TGC

If you are open to it, I have a TON of Paxil CR 25mg tablets that were dispensed to me by a free clinic. I will be more than happy to overnight them to you so you can stay on your proper dosage. You DO NOT want to go through Paxil withdrawal; it truly is the pits (I've been there). I have at least a couple month's supply left over since being taken off of it, and have been looking for someone who could use it.

PM me if you are truly interested in me overnighting them to you. I can send them out Friday. They are in a pharmacy bottle, just no pharmacy label since it was a free clinic pharmacy that dispensed them to me. I would hate to hear of you going through withdrawals senselessly.

Dolfin

Kisses to you, Dolfin.

Lar

wow - what a lovely thing to do, Dolfin.

bigups chick.

It's no big deal to me Lar & DSF. I was switched off the Paxil, and can't find anyone local to me that needs it. My former shrink told me to stop it cold turkey, a few weeks after I'd already used my voucher at the free clinic for my 3 month supply.

I'd rather it go to someone in dire need than go to waste. What goes around, comes around; I truly believe that and I hope you will take me up on my offer, Myzen. That way you will always have enough meds on hand should you find yourself in this situation again with your pharmacy.

Please let me know. Like I said, I'll get them to you as fast as I can.

Dolfin

It may not be a big deal but I think it is very kind.

I hope that karma comes and gives you a nice pat on teh botty very soon

DSF,

I remember how it felt worrying where I was going to get the money to get my meds, before I got my new job with benefits. It adds to the stress of dealing with a mental condition, making life in general harder to cope with.

I'm still waiting to hear from Myzen, but I have no problem helping out someone in need. Like I said before, I don't want the meds to go to waste if someone can use them. And from the sounds of things, she definitely can.

I'm a true believer in karma, but that is also how I was raised. "Help those you can, when you can" is what my Gramma always used to say. I've offered the help. Now all I can do is wait and hope to hear back.

Dolfin

Dottie, he can't help the car. He has a car, I don't. He told me on the phone he was going to leave me money, but forgot. (Not the first time.)

I'm hoping he won't be too tired when he comes home Sunday to take me out to eat, and to go to the bookstore, because I have a few things I want to get (of course, if he'll pay for them).

Dolfin, I really appreciate the thought, but I couldn't accept if I wanted to. I can't take stuff from another person's house. Plus, it's illegal to give your medications to someone else. I have one pill left, and then I'll be able to get more on Sunday.

LOL at people who consider such things 'illegal'.

The system has obviously %#@&#! you so why not %#@&#! the systerm?

OMG your man sounds like a loser. If someone did that to me I'd boot their azz.

It's better to have no man than no support or self respect IMO.

What can I say, I tried. I'm with DSF on the legality of receiving meds that aren't prescribed to you. You have been prescribed Paxil, and as long as the script is on file with ur doctor, how can they EVER find out that you received them as a charity? I guess I'll just have to continue looking for someone local to me to donate the meds to. I just don't want them to go to waste, and was hoping to help you stay on your proper dosage.

Also Maven, I apologize for mistakenly calling you Myzen in a prior post.

I wish you luck with your boyfriend and your hopes to go do some things YOU want to do.

Dolfin

"Illegal" isn't an opinion. It's a fact. Why not screw the system? Because I don't want to get caught and go to jail or have a poor record.

Sometimes my bf is insensitive, and other times he's very supportive. Like I said (somewhere else on this forum), when I have the money to leave, I'll leave. But I don't have that now.

It's not about having a man. It's about not having anywhere else to go. And, as I said (again, somewhere else in this forum), I'm better off here, because I have access to a computer (even if not full-time), rent and bills get paid, and most things I need are covered.

I won't deny having self-esteem issues, but I'm not at the bottom. I speak my mind and I like a lot of things about myself. I read a lot, can speak on a lot of issues, and stand up for people I care about.

Just because I don't want to break the law, doesn't mean I don't care about myself.

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What can I say, I tried. I'm with DSF on the legality of receiving meds that aren't prescribed to you. You have been prescribed Paxil, and as long as the script is on file with ur doctor, how can they EVER find out that you received them as a charity?

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I don't know if they can or not. But, like I said, I can't have stuff from someone else's home. I can't make those thoughts go away. I've been on high dosages of medications, and it didn't stop them. Behavior therapy doesn't always work for me, especially for the "big thoughts." I spent five days once fighting thoughts and not washing my hands, and I got worse, not better.

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I just don't want them to go to waste, and was hoping to help you stay on your proper dosage.

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And I appreciate that. I'll be getting my meds tonight, though. I don't make the laws.