paxil withdrawal

[Debra Thrasher]

why is withdrawal from paxil so intense.i'm on 20mg. a day, i,ve tried cutting back to 10mg  was on that for a month, then i tried to take 10mg every other day,the second day istarted having withdrawals,tremers,heart racing,weak,ihave never felt so bad in my life.so i always goback to taking the 20mg aday.

[Lorraine H.]

I was on Paxil 20 mg for about six months and decided that since the cause of my anxiety was gone, so should the Paxil.  In consultation with my doctor, I reduced the dosage to 10 mg. by breaking the pills in half and used up the prescription - about ten days.  Just before I started to reduce the dosage, I checked the web and got a real eye-opener.  The weight I'd gained was not because I'd been eating too much (just the opposite in fact), and the loss of sexual sensation in spite of having a mind that wanted to play, was also something I'd experienced and yet did not attribute them to the Paxil.  After reading of others' experiences, I was more convinced that ever to get OFF this drug.  I cut the dosage down to 10 mg for about 10 days and within two days was experiencing many of the things others have experienced:  vertigo, lightheadedness, eyes sensitive to light, hot and cold feelings at the same time.  I am still having these sensations after a week and they may last another week or so.

When the anxiety was not a life-long kind of problem, just episodic, I feel now that my doctor should have suggested something like kava kava or St. John's Wort.  Certainly, the side effects of discontinuing them (if indeed there are any) are nothing like coming off paxil.  And the suggestion to go back on Paxil to alleviate the symptoms is, to me, just getting back on the merry-go-round and delaying the inevitable or forestalling it forever by staying on the drug.  The drug manufacturer (Smithkline Beecham) assures us that Paxil is not addictive but if you feel so bad coming off, isn't that almost the same?  Thanks anyway, I think I'll take the Kava Kava and go fishing the next time I feel anxious or depressed.  There is nothing so uplifting as the sounds (or lack thereof) and the beauty of a lake at sunset.  And if that's not enough, the prospect of an orgasm again is positively euphoric!!!  I'm looking forward to feeling like a healthy, normal female again.  Hooray!!!

[[email protected]]

concerning the lawsuit suggested by michael shwartz, he left no
address.i am interested in pursuing this matter further. if
anyone has his e-mail address,please post it on this site.if
anyone has succesfully gotten off of the drug paxil please
explain exactly how you did it!! i am desperate!!!!!!!!!




                                       wendyelks

[Tammy]

I am so angry about this whole paxil withdrawl.  Why wasn't I told by my DR that the complications would be so severe.  I am a 34 year old mother of 3 small children, and I can hardly cope with the nasea, dizziness, hot flashes, and headaches while carring for my children.  I've never been this sick in my life, and yes I am sick DRs.  When I went on paxile I was extremely dizzy and tired.  I informed my doctor of this a couple of times along with my pharmasist.  They both told me it was normal and to keep taking it.  From now on if my intuition tells me something is not right with the situation at hand I will listen.  As for most DRs and pharmasists I'm sorry to say you have been desensitized in your line of work by ailing patients, and if thats the case you need a career change.

Tammy

[joey, a paxil addict]

i am so thankful i found you folks. i thought i was going crazy. both doctor and pharmacist said i would not have a problem coming off. i have tapered from 20 to 10 to 0 but after reading your comments i am going to go back to 5 for a week or so. i have had the dizzyness, hightened sensitivity in my lips and teeth and a numbness in my hands and feet. i hope the symptoms will go away with a week or so of 5mgs. would like to hear from someone who has had these same problems who is now totally symptom free. of course there probably arent too many of you hanging around this sight. what a reeif to know i am not about to die.

[Dawn Reilly]

Hello Everyone:

I have been on Paxil for 4 years.  I started taking this after my 6 year old daughter was killed in a car accident.  It seemed to work well.  My thought was anything that could dull the incredible pain I was experiencing was welcomed into my life.  I am trying to get off of Paxil now.  I have been able to wean myself from 40mg to 30mg to 20mg to 15mg.  I hate the side effects.  What has made me decide to go off the paxil are the vivid nightmares eveynight, night sweats, dizziness and a complete feeling of being numb with no emotions.

I do have a chemical imbalance and do need to be on some type of antidepressant.  I might mention that I also take serzone.

If anyone has any recommendations, please write.

Thanks.
Dawn

[Cheryl]

I've was given Paxil last fall (30mg) and it worked great.  I feel stronger now and am trying to get off it, got down to 20's, then 15's (cutting pills) and then 10's but can't stop entirely. I have the electrical impulse feeling in my head as well as not being able to focus clearly.  My doctor recommended just getting off it cold turkey but I couldn't.  I called her after watching a 20/20 episode about paxil withdrawal and realized that I wasn't crazy and that there are withdrawal symptoms.