Paxil Withdrawl

innocentjoy · Nov 02, 2013, 12:27 AM

Hey guys,

Just wondering if anyone else has had to deal with coming off of paxil? I feel like I'm going absolutely insane. I can't stop crying, my sleep is completely messed up, I feel paranoid, I've had a migraine for 3 weeks now, I feel like when I hear loud sounds it's like someone is rushing at me and i get freaked, and I keep getting so upset over such little things. It's been a few weeks of this (slowly tapering off, and then taking an emergency top up when it gets too much to handle). My dr says it is all expected effects, and that it will end, but it's been very difficult. Sigh. Anyone else relate???
My dr also told me this is one of the worst meds to withdrawl from...

jrsone · Nov 05, 2013, 12:08 PM

I withdrew, without tapering, after taking it for over a year. It was a nightmare and I wouldn't advise anyone to do it, but I thought I was stronger than the medicine.

It is pretty strong stuff but it will eventually go away. Unfortunately, it will throw you in all different directions. I had the worst panic attack that I ever had, almost had to be hospitalized because of it. My eyes felt like they were "shocked" every time I looked right or left. I spent the day being on the verge of crying, just teary eyed, but it went away. Paxil is a *****. Stay strong, It's good that you are tapering, trust your doctor and hold on. Good luck.

innocentjoy · Nov 05, 2013, 12:19 PM

Thanks, that helps! I am now telling everyone that if they're given an option between paxil and something else, try the something else first. I hate that I took it exactly as prescribed, and yet I'm having such a hard time coming off of it. And NO ONE told me when they started me on it, how bad it is to come off of. Sigh.
Anyways, it's nice to know I'm not alone. I've been off of it for a couple weeks now, still noticing effects, but haven't taken any. I get the stubbornness of not wanting to take any more of it!
IJ

jrsone · Nov 05, 2013, 12:51 PM

Now when I took Paxil I wasn't exaxtly where I wanted to be, or at least where I thought I wanted to be but I didn't realize until I was off of it that I was much better on it than I was off. It wasn't perfect, I needed dosage adjustment, maybe something to accompany it, but being on it wasn't my issue it, it was taking myself off. I had no insurance at the time, I didn't have money at the time to pay for more and it was groceries or medicine, so I said, I'll be fine, I don't think it's working anyway. Big mistake. I was only going to a quick "express doctor", one of those, sore throat, here ya go! Headahce, here ya go! Not one that got to the root of my problem. I wish I would have had better access at the time, I would be in better shape now. Good luck though, hope all goes well.

sewerrats · Nov 05, 2013, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by innocentjoy

Thanks, that helps! I am now telling everyone that if they're given an option between paxil and something else, try the something else first. I hate that I took it exactly as prescribed, and yet I'm having such a hard time coming off of it. And NO ONE told me when they started me on it, how bad it is to come off of. Sigh.
Anyways, it's nice to know I'm not alone. I've been off of it for a couple weeks now, still noticing effects, but haven't taken any. I get the stubbornness of not wanting to take any more of it!
IJ

Giving in to top ups only make it worse, your putting it on a low burner. Are you going on another med. if your are you could have swapped overnight to another SSRI and saved all the crap withdrawal

innocentjoy · Nov 05, 2013, 03:20 PM

No, that was the last official med to come off of. We're going to try and go med free now, with intensive psychotherapy. Right now I'm taking a 5 HTP supplement, to help give me serotonin, but will eventually be off of that too. Other than that, I'm still giving into sleep meds once or twice a week, but will eventually be off of those too. So there's nothing to put me on. I've been on SSRIs for almost a decade, so I'm sure that is adding to the imbalance. I know what you mean about the top ups. I did that for the first week or so because I didn't know if I could deal, but was so frustrated because as soon as I took another top up it was like starting the timer again for the withdrawl effects.

liveforfish · Nov 30, 2013, 08:49 PM

My psychiatrist stated prozac is used to withdraw from paxil. I left paxil for prozac and had zero withdrawal reactions.

sewerrats · Dec 01, 2013, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by liveforfish

My psychiatrist stated prozac is used to withdraw from paxil. I left paxil for prozac and had zero withdrawal reactions.

Are you still on Prozac , then this is what I said all along, switching ssri,s overnight you get no withdrawal , but only if you want to switch meds. This does not work if you intend to stop the second ssri. Its only to save withdrawal and start up some docs put you through for no reason. If you are on good terms with your doc do has he tells you, but just ask if it can be done, some are still old school, and put you throught weeks of withdrawal and start up through ignorance .

Tapering · Dec 01, 2013, 10:45 AM

I had a terrible withdrawl from Paxil. I would get high anxiety from going off of it even at a very slow rate. I got diarrhea and vomiting from going off. I tried 3x to get off Paxil. The previous 2x I went back on the meds I finally made it, but not without losing my voice from vomiting so much. On the 3 rd try I had to go to the hospital for an IV for severe dehydration. The whole reason I was getting off of it was because it stopped working for my depression. All I was getting from it a that time was side effects. I wish you the best. I am so glad that I got off of it and made it through all that hell.

vans1974 · Dec 01, 2013, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by innocentjoy

Hey guys,

Just wondering if anyone else has had to deal with coming off of paxil? I feel like I'm going absolutely insane. I can't stop crying, my sleep is completely messed up, I feel paranoid, I've had a migraine for 3 weeks now, I feel like when I hear loud sounds it's like someone is rushing at me and i get freaked, and I keep getting so upset over such little things. It's been a few weeks of this (slowly tapering off, and then taking an emergency top up when it gets too much to handle). My dr says it is all expected effects, and that it will end, but it's been very difficult. Sigh. Anyone else relate???
My dr also told me this is one of the worst meds to withdrawl from...

Typically if I get off of an AD, it's a slow taper so I don't feel many withdrawal effects. I'd double ck with a pharmacist since you're slowly tapering and still feeling horrible! Best of luck and hope it gets better!!

sewerrats · Dec 01, 2013, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vans1974

Typically if I get off of an AD, it's a slow taper so I don't feel many withdrawal effects. I'd double ck with a pharmacist since you're slowly tapering and still feeling horrible! Best of luck and hope it gets better!!

VANS, you seem clued up on meds, do you taper from ssri to ssri or withdraw even from them on a slow taper , there make up is much the same serotonin boost .So your saying you taper longer than a doc says to ease the withdrawal, leaving you un medicated for long periods with no med help in withdrawal and start up., When you could with ssris just change overnight with minimum or no effects, the last I did was sertraline to Lexapro and improved my focus the very next day. If you don't what are your reasons I am curious.

vans1974 · Dec 01, 2013, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sewerrats

VANS, you seem clued up on meds, do you taper from ssri to ssri or withdraw even from them on a slow taper , there make up is much the same serotonin boost .So your saying you taper longer than a doc says to ease the withdrawal, leaving you un medicated for long periods with no med help in withdrawal and start up., When you could with ssris just change overnight with minimum or no effects, the last I did was sertraline to Lexapro and improved my focus the very next day. If you don't what are your reasons I am curious.

Hey sewerrats-thanks! Generally, if I start a new psychotropic med, while I start it, I'm getting off of the other at the same time! Typically, I transfer meds in two weeks since I usually need the maximum dose. For instance, I got off Abilify 30mg to 0 in two weeks, at the same time, I added Latuda from zero to 120mg in two weeks. I can do it a lot shorter and have, but when I do so, I tend to get real dizzy and light headed. Especially on AAP's and the SNRIs. Hope that makes sense and helps!!

innocentjoy · Dec 01, 2013, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sewerrats

Are you still on Prozac , then this is what I said all along, switching ssri,s overnight you get no withdrawal , but only if you want to switch meds. This does not work if you intend to stop the second ssri. Its only to save withdrawal and start up some docs put you through for no reason. If you are on good terms with your doc do has he tells you, but just ask if it can be done, some are still old school, and put you throught weeks of withdrawal and start up through ignorance .

I agree with sewerrats, it only helps to switch meds if you still want to be on meds. I'm going completely off of them, so switching to another would only prolong the issues.

I am now successfully off of the paxil, and take a seretonin supplement (natural, not a med) and once my body has rebalanced itself, I should be off of that one too.

I'm of the 'crazy' believe that meds just mask the symptoms, they don't actually fix the issue, so I'm letting myself feel the symptoms while I work through the issues that cause my issues. I'm feeling amazingly better, being off of them, than when I was on them. I didn't enjoy the side effects at all, and am happy to be myself again. Mind you, I have a plan and support system in place while I go off them.

Not saying this would work for everyone, just me. And I am happy with my decision.

IJ

sewerrats · Dec 02, 2013, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vans1974

Hey sewerrats-thanks! Generally, if I start a new psychotropic med, while I start it, I'm getting off of the other at the same time! Typically, I transfer meds in two weeks since I usually need the maximum dose. For instance, I got off Abilify 30mg to 0 in two weeks, at the same time, I added Latuda from zero to 120mg in two weeks. I can do it a lot shorter and have, but when I do so, I tend to get real dizzy and light headed. Especially on AAP's and the SNRIs. Hope that makes sense and helps!!

I see my friend you are on a cocktail at times , and psychotropic meds need a withdrawl. I was talking SSRIs really and someone on 1 med , the hole range then is inter changeable over night if swapping from I to another. But not let me stress change like socks

you still have to do a full trail on the 1 you swap to. Also will not matter if with a benzo they stay the same. My DYSLEXIA makes me write how it wants not how I would like .

CrackFox · Dec 05, 2013, 01:23 PM

Good luck with getting off!

I went through paxil withdrawal twice (cold turkey) and it was really a living hell. the first time I was 17 and it lasted 3 months.

my symptoms were:

dizziness
nausia
lightheadedness
sensitivity to all my senses
hallucinations (day and night)
weakness
cold sweats
loss of appitite

it got so bad I made a suicide note and was close to just ending it. but I somehow got through it alone.

Paxil is one of the hardest to get off of. It's extremely difficult but it's possible!

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