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Paxil Withdrawal
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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MedHelp Member's Question

Paxil Withdrawal

by Robin Mick, Dec 01, 1999 12:00AM
I am writing on behalf of my husband, who has been taking 20 mg of Paxil daily for a little over a year.  He has been reducing his daily dosage in an effort to discontinue taking the medication.  For the first week, he took 10 mg, then halfed those pills, then moved on to every other day, and so on.  He is now in his 4th day with no Paxil whatsoever, and he is really suffering.  He is very sensitive to light and sound, and both worsen the debilitating headhache he is suffering.  He has contacted his doctor, who prescribed a migraine medication to lessen the pain.  He is unable to function in his daily routine with this pain.  



I've read a lot via the internet about this medication and such withdrawal symptoms.  I've also read that some people have only mild reactions.  Please, any suggestions that can be offered to alleviate his discomfort would be welcome.  And how long can we expect this to go on?  



Thank you in advance for your response.
Doctor's Answer

by HFHS-M.D.-HG, Dec 03, 1999 12:00AM
Dear Mrs. Mick,



The abrupt discontinuation of an SSRI ( Serotonin Specific Reuptake Inhibitor)  especially, one with a short half- life such as Paxil is associated with a syndrome that include somatic and psychological symptoms. The somatic symptoms may include dizziness, vertigo,  nausea/vomiting, fatigue, paresthesias, insomnia, migraine like auras etc. The psychological symptoms may include anxiety, irritability, poor concentration, memory problems and vivid dreams. Paxil should be discontinued under close supervision by a physician by lowering the dose to 10mg each week until 10mg a day is reached, then take 5mg a day  for a week before stopping. Prozac,which is another SSRI with a long halfl-life has been used in some cases to treat the discontinuation syndrome. Symptoms usually resolve after 2 to 3 weeks of treatment. If the symptoms are disabling, I would recommend that you discuss with your Physician. I hope this information is helpful to you.

Member Comments (27)

by jacklyn, Dec 01, 1999 12:00AM
HELLO THERE I MYSELF AM ON 20 MG.PAXIL AND I WENT A WEEK WITHOUT IT AND I HAD EXTREMLEY BAD HEADACHES AND I WAS SO DIZZEY AND SICK I COULDN'T GET OFF THE COUCH I WAS TOO SENSITIVE TO LIGHT AND SOUND I WENT TO THE DOCTOR AND HE THOUGHT IT WAS A INNER EAR INFECTION BUT HE GAVE ME ANOTHER REFILL OF PAXIL AND I TOOK ONE AND ABOUT 1 HOUR LATER I WAS FINE. MY DOCTOR TOLD ME THEY WERE NOT ADDICTIVE BUT I GUESS THEY ARE . I WISH I COULD HELP AND I WOULD LOVE TO GET OFF THE PILLS MYSELF.







                                     JACKLYN

                                         ***@****

by stephanie, Dec 13, 1999 12:00AM
I am experiencing the same problems.  I've been on Paxil for two years now and I am trying to come off of it also.  Around this time last year, I forgot to take it for a few days and became very ill (just like you Jacklyn & Mr. Mick).  For about a week, I thought I had the flew, my doctors office never asked if I was taking my medication, they just kept writing more prescriptions for the symptoms I was experiancing.  At the end of the week, I called the nurse line of my insurance company and they asked about my medication right away.  I took it and felt better by evening.  I should have known right then that I would have a problem comig off the Paxil.  I am so tired of feeling sick from this.  I am also extreamly angry at the doctor who prescribed this for me, he never said I'd have to go through this in order to stop taking it.  With these symptoms, we are defanitly addicted to it.  I am married and have three children, my poor husband has had to do everything since I've been in bed so much.  I hope everything works out for Mr. Mick and Jacklyn, this is a horable thing to go through.

by caldine, Mar 22, 2000 12:00AM
I was on 20 mg of paxil for 2 months.  When I told my doc I wanted to stop taking the drug, she told me to take 10 mg for 7 days and then stop.  The next day my head was vibrating, I have a swooshing noise in my ears which makes me neauseus,  my eyes movement feels as though it is a few seconds behind my head turning (which is a very weird sensation), I am  crying, unable to concentrate, have a headache and in general have never felt this bad in my life - including before I ever started taking paxil.  After about a week - I feel a slight improvment - but I'm still not functioning fully.  I am absolutely furious about not being told of these withdrawl symtoms.  My doctor still insists it's a "flu-bug" and paxil does not have withdrawl symtoms.  I have only gotten relief from reading these other messages from paxil withdrawl sufferers and realizing it is real - I am not alone- and it will pass.  Now we just need to get the word out............

by caldine, Mar 22, 2000 12:00AM
I was on 20 mg of paxil for 2 months.  When I told my doc I wanted to stop taking the drug, she told me to take 10 mg for 7 days and then stop.  The next day my head was vibrating, I have a swooshing noise in my ears which makes me neauseus,  my eyes movement feels as though it is a few seconds behind my head turning (which is a very weird sensation), I am  crying, unable to concentrate, have a headache and in general have never felt this bad in my life - including before I ever started taking paxil.  After about a week - I feel a slight improvment - but I'm still not functioning fully.  I am absolutely furious about not being told of these withdrawl symtoms.  My doctor still insists it's a "flu-bug" and paxil does not have withdrawl symtoms.  I have only gotten relief from reading these other messages from paxil withdrawl sufferers and realizing it is real - I am not alone- and it will pass.  Now we just need to get the word out............

by gold, Apr 08, 2000 12:00AM
you responded to my posting on suffering from paxil withdrawal and I just wanted to thank you for taking the time.  Unfortunately - my DOCTor did not bother - and the reason I did not do in the first place what you logically suggested (slowly withdraw by alternating half doses) was because I was not told  by my doctor that I should.  I was not told that there is such a thing as paxil withdrawal or that a slow reduced dosage would greatly curtail the misery.  When I called my doc to describe my symptoms - she said I  definitely has an inner-ear infection.  Since I've never had an ear infection before, I thought it too coincidental that it just happened to be when I was withdrawing and I decided to investigate via the internet.  And that's when I found out - from people like you - that I had paxil withdrawal.  

I am absolutely fine now - week four - symptom free.  I'm not sure why I went on the paxil in the first place.  This experience was an eye opener for me.  I will not just blindly follow doctors orders again without asking questions - and I will never - ever take paxil again.  Thank you again for helping me. gold

by Rachelle, Apr 19, 2000 12:00AM
I was diagosed with clinical depression 4 years ago and have been on Zoloft and Luvox.  I started taking Paxil about 2.5 years ago and have recently decided to stop.  Paxil allowed me to function but only at a very base level.  I was just scraping by.  I no longer wanted to be pill dependent.  I wanted to deal with my depression head on.  



I am coming off Paxil under my doctor's supervision and it has been absolute hell.  I have been taking it for over 2 years at 30mg.  I am constantly nauseous, dizzy, tired, irritable and extremely weepy.  I also feel as if I have a ball in the base in my throat that is very painful. I thought it was caused by my constant crying but I've just realized it could be some sort of indigestion.  My movements are slow, it takes an extreme amount of willpower to get out of bed in the morning and control my emotions at work.  And it has only been 1.5 weeks since I finished my last dose.  In order to push down my feelings of nausea I have tried to eat everything in sight and have gained weight as a result.  I am especially prone to starch cravings.  I was vaguely aware of withdrawal symptons associated with Paxil but if I knew then what I know now I would never have considered Paxil.



Right now, I'm rock bottom in my life.  I am experiencing  intense depression and constant thoughts of self doubt.  I hurt so much and I'm finding it harder and harder to live like this.  I feel that I should isolate myself from my family and friends so they don't have to see me this way.  They also have a very limited knowledge of this kind of disease (some don't even think it is an actual disease) so I feel that I have limited support.  This is the hardest thing I have ever experienced in my life.  I know these symptons have to eventually subside, but the question is when?  



I hope that anyone considering taking Paxil has access to the information provided in these sites.

by dave, May 04, 2000 12:00AM
>Quote from Caldine:

>my eyes movement feels as though it is a few seconds behind my head turning (which is a very

>weird sensation)



Yes! I know what you mean. I've been on Paxil for 3 years now and never enjoyed being "chained" to a med., yet have had too good of an experience to stop. If I have missed a pill for a day or so, I get the above symptom (starting withdrawls). If your eyes move, your brain tells you that they moved, but the visual signal to your brain is a split second off. My Psych. had never heard of it and few have, but the symptom is 100% Paxil. It is the only drug I'm on and have never experienced anything like that before taking it.

by Randy Willis, Jul 02, 2000 12:00AM
I have been on 40 mg of Paxil and it has helped me with anxiety.

However, it had intolerable side effects.



I've been cut back to 20 mg.  Next it will be 10.  Then 5.  Then

I'll be on something else.



SIDE EFFECTS OF GETTING OFF OF PAXIL FOR ME:

1)a Panic Attack in church this morning (2 July 2000).

2)a headache over my right eye.

3)nervousness

4)slight trembling in my hands.



Will these go away?????????????????????????

by alaina, Jul 29, 2000 12:00AM
Boy - this information has been very comforting - at least as I sit and read it.  I have been taking Paxil for about 18 months for depression