Paxil Withdrawl

[Michelle]

I was put on Paxil 5 months ago for postpartem depression. It worked great! I've been weaning off it for about a month and a half now and having a terrible time. Like the others in this forum, I'm experiencing dizziness, nausia, headaches (all day, every day), but what I haven't heard from anyone is numbing.

I've been experiencing occassional numbing in my hands and feet. Is this a possible symptom of withdrawl from this drug?

I've talked to both the prescribing doctor (my gynocologist) and my medical doctor, and both say that none of these symptoms are a result of Paxil. My research via the internet has told me something just the opposite.

I'm currently cutting my doses into 4ths and taking just 5 mg. a day. I'm still experiencing these miserable effects. It's pretty difficult to deal with when I work full time and take care of two young children (2 1/2 yrs. and 5 months).

Could the numbing be from Paxil? And, is there anything I can do to reduce these terrible side effects? How long do the side effects usually last? I've already asked both of my doctors and they both deny that Paxil is the cause, but have no other answers as to what the problems are from.

[Gladwyn]

I too had experienced the numbling sensation and been told the
same as you, i just resently switched to zoloft been about a week
and hope to ween of that for beter result.
good luck to you keep reading and reserching thats how i found out the fisrt time my doctor told me to stop taking the paxil'
it took me a month of suffering and seeing differn't doctors until one understood it was withdrawl symtoms.

[Deb]

Paxil withdrawal is a nightmare.  Sorry to say this, but you might expect to have some withdrawal side-effects for two months.   I have withdrawn from Paxil twice.  The second time I stepped down to a different SSRI (selexa) before withdrawing entirely.  I too had the numbness, as well as emotional outbursts (which actually might feel good after going so long without emotion!!!!) and a real dizzy/vertigo thing, associated with eye movement.  I also origianally went on for post-partum (post-paertum panic dissorder.) Hopefully I'll never need to go on again.



Good luck.  You will get through this.  I did.

[Saul]

Hi there !!!
I'm trying to stop taking Paxil and this is my 4 th. day without it. But let me tell you I feel drunk all the time plus emotions are starting to show up. I want to cry pretty much everytime that I heard a sad story.
What the hell is going on with this medication....?
Daze and confused !!!
Not really very Daze and confused !!!
I'll appreciate any input.
Thanks.
Saul

[Saul]

Hi there !!!
I'm trying to stop taking Paxil and this is my 4 th. day without it. But let me tell you I feel drunk all the time plus emotions are starting to show up. I want to cry pretty much everytime that I heard a sad story.
What the hell is going on with this medication....?
Daze and confused !!!
Not really very Daze and confused !!!
I'll appreciate any input.
Thanks.
Saul

[annie]

I too have stopped taking Paxil a number of times and each time I have had the same side-effects - dizziness, headaches, nausea, etc.  I have taken Paxil for approximately 2 years and each time before, when I tried to stop, I couldn't handle it.  This is my 3rd time trying to stop.  Please don't tell me that the side-effects will continue for 1-2 months.  I'm only in my 6th day!  Is there anything, other than taking another SSRI, that will help?  My brother had taken a different SSRI in the past and when he stopped, he had no side-effects.  Why is Paxil so different and how long can I expect to feel this way?  Help!!!

[Bonnie]

I have tried many times to get off of Paxil and have yet to do it.  I am determined to do it this time but am having a terrible time at it.  I just started to research this subject and am totally shocked at what I am finding! Site after site of people who are having the same problems that I am. Is there and end to this?  I have experienced great weight gain with Paxil and do not intend to take it anymore!!!  What can I do?

[bernice]

I am on 30mg of Paxil a day.  This weekend I went away and forgot my prescription.  I only missed two doses, I feel like I have been run over by a truck.  I want to know is there any detoxification methods that might work for getting this horrendous drug out of my system?  I have had all the withdrawl symptoms in only two days.  The two worst being the "brain shocks" and nausia. HELP

[Rhonda]

Well, what can I say.  I have been on paxil only for several months and am trying to quit.  This is my second time trying and I just can't handle the withdrawl symptoms.  I thought I was the only one out there going through this so I am taking comfort knowing there is nothing wrong with me.  The last few days I have felt like I'm going to die!  To the person who has had the numbing with their withdrawl....to let you know I am also experiencing the numbing as well.  I wish the doctor would have told me about these effect before hand but he reasurred me that this was a safe, non-habit forming drug.  How can it be nonhabit forming with withdrawl symptoms like this?  The withdrawl symptoms alone make me want to stay on so I don't have to deal with all these awful headaches, nausea, etc.

[marc]

I wasn't even on Paxil that long (40mg for a month or so, then down to 20mg for the last week, then I stopped cold turkey).  The first day or two after I stopped taking it weren't bad, but about the 3rd day up until now (about a week after stopping) the dizziness has become apparent and is INCREASING each day.  It seems only to be associated with eye movement and turning my head, especially when I'm standing up.  If I'm standing and turn my head to walk a different direction it feels as though my eyes and my head are shooting up while my body feels like my legs are giving out and are going down.  Some times during the day it doesn't affect me as much, but it seems to be worse in the evening, sometimes to the point where I wouldn't dare try driving.  That's all I'd need right now - make a turn, get dizzy, and drive into oncoming traffic.

I don't check this page so if anybody has had the same effects please e-mail me (***@****) - and tell me how long this 'floating head' feeling is likely to continue!

[Stephen White]

I am currently going through the withdrawal symptoms of Paxil. As a result, I have collated as much information I can about this drug, including side affects and withdrawal symptoms and posted them on my new Web site 'Withdrawing from Paxil - An Experience'. I hope you find it useful.

The URL is: http://www.swhite.cwc.net/paxil/index.html

Steve White

[Beth]

I was taking 20 mg of Paxil a day for three years to help with panic attacks.  I felt great while taking it but experienced great weight gain and now have been off of it for 3 days.  I am experiencing the same nausea and dizziness that all of you are.  I am determined to stop taking this drug.  I cannot beleive a little pink pill can cause this much discomfort!!!
Hang in there...we'll get through this!!

[Stephani]

Oh it is a comfort to know I am not the only one who is going through all these horrific withdrawl symptoms.  Not that I'm glad you all have them, but more comforting that I'm not alone.  Does anyone agree with me that doctors and the FDA should be doing ALOT more research on SSRI's.  No one knows the long term effects of these meds.  I guess you just have to weigh your risk to benefit ratio.  I, however, needed it badly.  But after 8 years I thought that's enough.  I'm happy for what it did for me but I only wish the doctors could have warned me about getting off of this drug.

[Mark]

I was put on Paxil four months ago when I went to my MD complaining of stomach problems.  Since then, I have gained 45 pounds.  My doctor claims that this is not a side effect of Paxil.  I know that it is.  I am on 20 mg and began to break my dose in half two weeks ago.  During the day I feel pretty normal, however at about 6:00 PM I begin to have strange sensations in my head.  I can't say that it is dizziness, but almost a tickle in my head when I move my eyes.  It is driving me crazy and I have even turned to alcohol to alleviate the sensation.  I know this is not good either, because I don't need that crutch in my life any more than I needed Paxil.  Anyway, does anyone know what I am speaking about?  I do not lose my balance, but almost feel as though my brain is on a roller coaster.  My MD told me that this drug was non-addictive.  How can they get away with this lie?

Bugged,
Mark

[Brian to Sick and Scared § ALL you guys]

Interesting your doctor prescribed Paxil for "stomach problems."  I assume your doctor felt that your stomach problems were a symptom of anxiety and/or depression.  Although Paxil is not usually associated with weight gain, there is some anecdotal evidence in some patients that it can cause weight gain.  My guess is that your weight gain is associated with the Paxil, but not in the way you think.  If your stomach was bothering you for some time, you may have lost weight or not gained weight because you did not want to eat as much food.  If the Paxil was useful in treating the stomach problems (i.e. reducing the anxiety and/or depression causing the stomach problems) it would explain your weight gain.  In any event, it is too much of a coincidence for it not to be somehow causally related.  You may want to try a different antidepressant.  With respect to the "tingling" sensation, since it started after you decided to divide your dosage, why not try taking the entire dosage before bedtime.  As I'm sure you're aware, Paxil tends to be somewhat sedating so it is often prescribed to be taken at bedtime.  This should reduce the problem.  Finally, Paxil isn't addictive in most senses, (you won't find a market for Paxil on the street) but it, along with many other drugs, can cause side effects if withdrawn too quickly.  Unfortunately, Paxil seems to be hard to withdraw, even with a slow taper.  For this reason Paxil should not, IMHO, be a "front-line" antidepressant.  Good luck.  Brian

[Kath]

I am on day 4 of Paxil withdrawl.  I have been taking 20 mg for a little over a year for depression which was related to extreme turmoil in my work environment.  This has now cleared up and I don't like the idea of taking drugs I don't need, so I went back to my doctor, who said I could quit.  But she
didn't say anything about weaning myself off.  Since Day 2, I get these little twinges all the time, kind of like a mild electrical shock, though less intense.  I thought I was going nuts (or had a serious neurological disorder of some kind) until I discovered via the web others seem to be having similar problems when they stop taking Paxil.

I went back to the doctor and she suggested I go back on to 10 mg for a few days, then cut back.  But I'm torn.  Am I just postponing the inevitable?  Like am I going to have to go through this eventually anyway?  Am I through the worst, and would I be stupid to go back on now?  Do I look as crazy as I sometimes feel?  Like, I have to teach a class for 4 days next week -- am I going to look like a bozo???

Has anyone else had these electrical twinges?  How long did they last?  Were you able to keep working and retain your credibility?

[Kath]

I am on day 4 of Paxil withdrawl.  I have been taking 20 mg for a little over a year for depression which was related to extreme turmoil in my work environment.  This has now cleared up and I don't like the idea of taking drugs I don't need, so I went back to my doctor, who said I could quit.  But she
didn't say anything about weaning myself off.  Since Day 2, I get these little twinges all the time, kind of like a mild electrical shock, though less intense.  I thought I was going nuts (or had a serious neurological disorder of some kind) until I discovered via the web others seem to be having similar problems when they stop taking Paxil.

I went back to the doctor and she suggested I go back on to 10 mg for a few days, then cut back.  But I'm torn.  Am I just postponing the inevitable?  Like am I going to have to go through this eventually anyway?  Am I through the worst, and would I be stupid to go back on now?  Do I look as crazy as I sometimes feel?  Like, I have to teach a class for 4 days next week -- am I going to look like a bozo???

Has anyone else had these electrical twinges?  How long did they last?  Were you able to keep working and retain your credibility?

[chris]

I am trying to come off of Paxil and am living in hell right now, I have every symptom mentioned, ANY advice on how to ease the discomfort. My children dont understand, and my husband things I am more of nut than I was when I was originally put on paxil. How much longer, I am on day six. please email me,***@****

[Emily]

I am on Paxil and just saw the 20/20 segment on Paxil withdrawl.  I am wondering if anyone else has experienced emotional outbursts while ON Paxil?  I am fine most of the time but have bursts of anger and some mild paranoia that I most definitely did not have before going on the medication.

[Kristi]

I have been on the withdrawl train from clonapin, wich sucked and now Paxil. The Psyciatrist and MD told me that neither drug had any withdrawl symptoms. As an RN I have learned that Doc's are not well trained in the real effects of this drug. The info they get is from the drug companies.  I have been having a terrible time with coming off Paxil, nausea, drunk feeling, dizziness and difficulty thinking.

I have sought out the help of an acupuncturist. The treatments seem to help. My advice to anyone going through withdrawl is to seek out aternative medicine practioner. They know the effects of medications.  They actually listen and  believe thier patients.

[Jasminegirl]

I started Paxil about 6 months ago.  I got on it due to social anxiety.  I love the way I feel, I no longer am nervous all the time.  It had been a blessing up until about 2 months ago when I noticed the scale.  I have put on 15 pounds already.  Not good.  I am a short chick too so 15 pounds can feel like 50.  I have went from 25mg to 5 mg over the past month.  Sometimes I get dizzy and nauseas but for the most part 5mg is ok.  I am hoping to go off of it completely so that way I can get back to my normal size.  I am the largest I have ever been in my whole life.  Anyway, that is my Paxil story and I wish all of you luck.

[WendyMiddleton]

I have not seen any comments on the very vivid dreams that are enough to chase me back to Paxil over and over.  After running out and being financially unable to pick up my refil for 5 days, I have decided to quit.  I am doing a 50% dose reduction every few days.  I have many other health problems and did not realize that all of my weird symptoms were from the Paxil withdrawl.  Thank you all for sharing!!!

[Joeyem]

I have been on Paxil 20 Mil for 6 years, felt very good, no aniety, panic problems.  Now I'm tapering to 10 Mil  then hopefully off.  It is extremely hard, getting hot feelings and nausous feelings.  Headaches and dull feeling in my head, less concentration.  How long will this last, and when should I lower dose to 5 mil?  Also gained 25 pounds over the course of 6 years.  
Thanks!  

[sassycass]

I am beening tampered off paxil after being on it for almost 4 yrs. at 60mg. I have had the worst headaches almost to the point i thought of going to the hospital. I have felt so bad since my dose has been reduced.  Right now the headaches is the worst of all because nomatter what i take it does not go away.
                          In misry

[MaryDD]

I am the same, I have been on Paxil 10mg for about a year, but was taking 20mg for 8 years.  I am going to get off this because I too want to stop the medication.  Was given to me 9 years ago in the Dr. office when he asked how I was and I started crying because me and my fiancee' broke up.  I have been on ever since because I always had relationship problems, so I thought what the heck, now 9 years have passed so quickly.  I decided to stop this medication.  Today I have missed my 10mg dose and I am thinking I should go home today after work and start the 5mg for a while since I have read all these horror stories.  Just missing the one dose today has me fuzzy headed and a headache.  So I am going to try cutting the 10mg in half for about a month, then taper from there like maybe 5mg ever other day for a week and then the next week, every 3 days, then the next week, 1 a week.  What does anyone think about that?  Please reply!!

[froggie74]

try this ............   http://www.quitpaxil.info/index.htm
***@****

[Tracey1982]

wow i feel like a nutcase LOL.  i was put on 40mg from day one.  it isn't working out for me and it's been almost 3 months i think.  this is the most AWFUL thing I have ever had to do.  My doctor just told me to stop taking it.  That's it.  I was smart enough to wean and break the pills in half each night, and I did it for a week.  I didn't know Paxil was such a monster.  The constant ZAPS in my head that make my legs and feet twitch while I am walking in a store.  I saw the lights on a cop car and a firetruck and it sent the zaps crazy, which sent my heart crazy and I thought I was going to DIE.  I have a 5 and 1 year old, and they see mommy as an angry weirdo right now.  My fingers and toes started going numb today when the zapping happens.  Paxil never should have been put on the market.  This was their way of making sure they had customers.  Keep the crazies coming and their pockets lined...  The government should force them to make a drug to get rid of the withdrawal symptoms that is covered by insurance companies just as the Paxil is.  We shouldn't have to feel this way for MONTHS to get our lives back.

[smrags]

My father is going through extreme Paxil withdrawal. He has been off it for one month and his symptoms are getting more severe. He now is experiencing vertigo. He is 63 years old. His MD has him on Wellbutrin, dramamine and an anti-nausea med. We're all terribly concerned. How long should this take to get out of his system?

[p_od]

For more than 12 years have have taken benzos to help me sleep.  Xanax .5mg at bedtime for many years, which was very effective for me. I never had to increase dose, nor did I have a problem when I had periodical breaks. Then my md thought I should try this "safer" medication, I agreed. The name of the medication was clonazepam. Within a short time I had to increase my bedtime dose to 2mg to get to sleep. After 4+ yrs I decided to get off them as they lost there effectiveness. I was prescribed ambien cr. After 3 days a started having feelings of overwhelming anxiety, like a constant panic attack. Day 12 was just as bad as  the first, if not worse. I thought I was having a reaction to the ambien and stopped and went back on the clonazepam. After my next md appt, I stopped taken clonazepam again, with a sm. dose of xanax for sleep. I thought at last I get to sleep. Again at day 3, those feelings came back. I'm like what the hell is going on. The best way I can explain it is like all of my brain neurons  are on overdrive, horrible. I never imagined I would have a phyical addiction to this "safer medication".I'm on day 10 and miserable. Even the sm amount of xanax was of little help.   This medication has been out of my system for several days, why do I still feel like this? How long will it last?

[MARUKA]

HI!! MY NAME IS MARY, I HAVE BEEN TAKING 20MG OF PAXIL FOR TWO YEAR AND A HALF FOR PANIC ATACKS AND DEPRESSION, TODAY IS MY SECOND DAY WITH 10 MG. AND I HAVEN'T FEEL ANY BAD SYMPTOM, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF STOPING TAKING THIS MEDICATION WILL HELP ME TO LOSE THIS 50 POUNDS THAT I GAIN WHEN I STARED TAKING PAXIL.

[doc1111]

I had been taking 30mg of paxil for 13 years. I went off paxil unintentionally. I only have veterans medical so I have have to go to a VA to get my meds. I was up north visiting family. I drove up from Tennessee. I ran out of paxil. A calamity happened in my family and I just never gave itt a thought. I knew nothing of the withdrawls or that there were any at all.What I went through I could never go through again. Started with sick-sick stomach, then total exhaustion. I had to crawl upstairs to go to the bathroom, sometimes I couldn't make it and had to go back to  the couch. When I finally realized that it might be from the paxil I started to go to the computer in the next room but could just walk halfway and back to the couch. It took me 2 days to finally get to it but was so exhausted could not lift my arms to use the keyboard. After 2 nights with no sleep or food I had a friend join me. Whenever I got up to walk a little person in a yellow raincoat with the hood up  ran in front of me and kept to the left of me continually waving. Then the serious stuff began. One time one of the chairs in the room turned into a donut and floated through the wall. By the time I arrived at the hospital in the ambulance I could not moved my arms and legs. I was never told about any of this.  Doc

[907baby]

I totally know what you mean. I currently take 80mgs of Paxil.  One time a new doctor would only prescribe me 60mg, and I thought it would be okay. Never again.  I was trying to drive and all of a sudden every song on the radio was so terribly sad that they ALL made me brake down.  Then at home, every tv show. I mean Oprah occasionally makes me cry, but come on! I have heard though that the CR is much much different, and a doctor told me that if I feel like coming off Paxil to try CR and THEN wean, and that it should be much better.  Something about it leaving your body more gradually.  Maybe you could mention it to you doc.

[sweetmomma_7]

I use to work at a Dr.s office awhile back. What I learned about Paxil is that it will cause wd symptoms and is really a nasty pill to take. We also learned that for some people it did work well and others said that it made them feel really bad. But all said they had wd's if they ran out or stoped taking it. As I'm sure you all know, you must lower your dose slowly and not just stop it. Now I have been on Prozac and Zoloft with both of those I was able to quit at any time and not have any problems with that. Right now I am on Prozac for migraines and depression I ran out of them yesterday and wont have them until tomorrow but am feeling fine. It takes Prozac and Zoloft a little bit of time before it is out of your system. I will never go on Paxil just because of everything I have learned about it.

Hope I could help,

sweetmomma

[kuteyes]

I have been taking paxil for aproximately 6 years.  After having these withdrawal symtoms control my life for all this time (frankly i now take them to avoid the symtoms rather than to cure depression) I have decided to take control and stop taking them.  Its my third day without any tablets.  I started by cutting my doses in half to every other day.  I then cut the tablet in half to half every other day and now i have decided that i am taking no more.  I am off work, i have nothing planned for the next month (other than to get off paxil). I really hope the symptoms will start fading by day 6

[HelpinUtah]

This is very interesting.  Years ago, I went to a doctor with some symptoms like, swollen lymph nodes, spots on my tongue, fatigue and pain in every joint.  He told me I was depressed and anxious without running any tests and put me on Paxil and Xanax.  I took it like I was told.  But, the symptoms never went away.  I went to my GYN who said, "WHAT!"  And, he sent me to another doctor, that doctor tested me for Lyme Disease and guess what?  That's what it was!  I was being treated for anxiety and depression for 2 years before I was diagnosed.  I was lucky I had a doctor experienced in Lyme Disease and she was able to help me and I'm 100% better today.  

However, I don't remember having withdrawals from Paxil or the Xanax at the time.  Maybe I did, but didn't realize it.  

Anyway, good luck to everyone who is experiencing this!  I'm so sorry!!!