Getting off Paxil, using Klonnopin

[DawnieDo]

HI all! New here...but I have been reading the posts for a long time.
I need some advice. I had been on Paxil for 6 years, and almost got off of it (wanted to have another baby). Had some family stress and decided to go back up on it and it no longer worked. In fact, the higher the dose, the worse I got. I have been tapering off of it now after reaching 40mgs (nightmare) and am down to 10mgs. I have been through all the W/D stuff--mostly the horrible emotional stuff. At 10mgs I am barely functioning, the anxiety is horrible. My new shrink wants me to start Lexapro while coming off Paxil, and using Klonopin as well.

I am terrified to start the Lexapro. When I was dropping doses on Paxil I had awful depression and suicidal thoughts (never in my life!) and don't ever want to go through another W/D from a SSRI.

I am thinking of using the Klonopin for now to get off this Paxil and then perhaps just using Kpin for my anxiety.
The reason I started Paxil in the first place was I had a new baby (3 weeks old) and my mom died AND we were moving. Too much stress at once and I ended up in the ER. I have always been an anxious person my whole like, suffering through anxiety but nothing like what I am going through now.

Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.

Dawn (38, mother of 2)

[john248]

I take klonopin, and have for a year and a half. I had had a bad panic attack and felt there was something wrong with my heart. After several test all was negative. My doctor (who is very good) sat me down and asked a lot of questions. He told me to quit one of my three jobs, exercise, avoid stress and take my little yellow pill.... I have had a very few side effects , but the good it does it worth it!  Sometimes in this crazy world you need a little help.

[DawnieDo]

Thanks for your reply! I was thinking the same, just take the Klonopin and get off Paxil...then see where I am at. But Paxil worked so well for me before that I wonder if another SSRI would help. I worry about getting hooked on a benzo too...


worry worry worry!

I am scared to switch to Lexapro, scared to take the Klonopin, and this fear is paralyzing.

Dawn

[Rkk71]

I take a benzo, Ativan (same class as klonpin just shorter acting) .5mg-1mg max daily and this has ended my depression. Maybe try the klonopin alone at first, you can always ad an AD later if needed. I truly believe depression for most people is stress driven. For me, depressive symptoms were just a bi product of severe anxiety which cleared up after taking that ativan. For about the last 6 months I have only taken .5mg a day. I've been thru terrible alcohol withdrawal and was very concerned about dependence issues at first with this drug. But I have been on it for a year at (at one point taking 2mg a day for awhile) and have no problem just going down slowly. Klonopin is a better choice for long term use since it has a much longer half life. Benzo's have given me a chance to get my life back. I plan on being off my .5mg within the next few months since I'm feeling good. But if I ever need it again I won't hesitate to take it! Also, for me personally the SSRI class of meds (paxil, lexapro, zoloft, etc.) made my anxiety much much worse....and I have tried nearly all of them for a couple months!!!