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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
weaning off Paxil 'CR'
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
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weaning off Paxil 'CR'
by putters, Dec 21, 2002 12:00AM
I was put on Paxil CR about 5 months ago for panic attacks. I decided I want to stop taking it because it makes me feel extremely unmotivated, tired and lazy. I have an 18 month old baby - and need all of my energy for him. My doctor told me to just stop taking it... I listened, and have been feeling very lightheaded, also, my head feels like it's sort of pulsating - it doesn't hurt - it's more of a strange sensation. Assuming these feelings were from the withdrawl, I just started taking it again. Could this be from going off the Paxil CR? I cannot find any information on weaning from Paxil CR, only regular Paxil. I'm only on 12.5 milligrams, and from what I understand, with Paxil CR, you cannot "cut" the pill in half because it is a controlled released substance? Please let me know if this sounds right to you - or what I should do. Thanks for your help!
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Dec 23, 2002 12:00AM
, Dec 23, 2002 12:00AM
Paxil is usually difficult to stop, but much easier with the CR package. The symptoms you have are considered quite mild compared to what it could be, so you might just want to wait it out, they should be getting better each day and probably gone altogether in about a week.
The other choice is lowest dose of regular paxil, cut in half, used every 2-3 days for a week, and then stop.
These are the kind of things to discuss with your doctor.
The other choice is lowest dose of regular paxil, cut in half, used every 2-3 days for a week, and then stop.
These are the kind of things to discuss with your doctor.
Extract:
"....These reactions are unexpected to the victims and even their physicians because SKB has deliberately or recklessly failed to properly warn of these. Some of the common complaints and side effects of Paxil included jolting electric zaps, dizziness, motor instability, extreme nausea, vomiting, high fever, abdominal discomfort, flu-like symptoms, agitation, anxiety, insomnia, aggression, nightmares, suicidal ideation, akathisia, tremor, *****seizures,***** and confusion."......
"....The first area in which the issue lies in within the area of fraud and deceit. The judge openly recognized that hands down SKB *****knowingly mischaracterized, and miscoded withdrawal syndromes occurring during clinical trials, and failed to alert the medical community that a significant number of individuals experienced.***** That SKB knowingly and continues to misrepresent and actively updated both patients, physicians, and the medical community abroad the side effects associated with Paxil...."
I'm concerned about sending her to school,especially since at this time she is hating everything including school and school work. Not to mention in less than a week she'll be at 5 mg 3 days off one day on for about two more 1/2 pills. Wow, what to do, I need to decide now if I'm going to stick with it or give in to it. I don't know how to help my own child. It hurts to see her suffer a pain I have never felt or can begin to imagine.
any suggestions? please help i'm desperate for relief.
My advice to you is to wait it out. There is also a great website called quitpaxi.org you can check it out, there is a plethora of information about withdrawl and how to make it easier on there.
Other than that, please get a NEW doctor. It's absolutely criminal how these people hand this stuff out like candy, and fail to tell the whole story. You are not alone.
God bless.
Not only is your doctor irresponsible (for suggesting to just stop taking them like he did---you should sue his *** for that) But he is also just one of the probably thousands of "professionals" who prescribe this poison only to get a pitch from the big companies that produce them. Yes, medication does help SOME people...but nobody can deny how discustingly overprescribed this stuff is.
Next thing, your doctor is probably going to tell you to take some other strange drug, to combat your withdrawl symptoms...and then the cycle will probably repeat itself again. Get a NEW doctor, because this one is no good. And, try alternative routes other than meds, which only offer a temporary solution. And if meds is what is right for you, then PLEASE research what they are trying to give you. Go to websites where people actually talk about their experiences on these psych drugs. It could make the difference between a good life and a life in living hell.
Blessings.
AFTER NUMEROUS DOCTOR VISITS AND ER TRIPS (ADVICE FROM THEM-SEE A COO-COO DOCTOR AND INCREASE MY EVIL PILL DOSAGE)I WENT TO A WELL BALANCED LIVING DOCTOR.SHE IS GOING TO HELP ME W/WITHDRAW.
FIRST WE ARE GOING TO CLEANSE MY BODY W/NATURAL HEALTHY MEDS,THEN GO THRU THE PROCESS.SHE SAYS GET RID OF THE MUD PUDDLE IN MY BODY.YOU MIGHT WANT TO TRY THIS.GOOD LUCK & GOD BLESS.
IF YOU WANT TO E-MAIL ME FEEL FREE.
***@****
MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU
AFTER NUMEROUS DOCTOR VISITS AND ER TRIPS (ADVICE FROM THEM-SEE A COO-COO DOCTOR AND INCREASE MY EVIL PILL DOSAGE)I WENT TO A WELL BALANCED LIVING DOCTOR.SHE IS GOING TO HELP ME W/WITHDRAW.
FIRST WE ARE GOING TO CLEANSE MY BODY W/NATURAL HEALTHY MEDS,THEN GO THRU THE PROCESS.SHE SAYS GET RID OF THE MUD PUDDLE IN MY BODY.YOU MIGHT WANT TO TRY THIS.GOOD LUCK & GOD BLESS.
IF YOU WANT TO E-MAIL ME FEEL FREE.
***@****
MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU