I want to stop taking my medication paxil and xanax

[nessa8]

I'm 24 years old. I have a 2 year old daughter. I always had this anxiety problem, the doctor always had me on paxil 10 mg. than when I tured 18 he gave me xanax. I was taking paxil 25mg at that time, i was good. just get nervous around people or crowded places sometimes. I 've been taking 10 mg paxil and 0.25 xanax, everyday for two years in the morning at 1040 and 540 then paxil 10 mg at night. If i stop taking the xanax i feel wierd. i read the withdrawl am so scared. I rather take paxil than xanax. I want to at least get off xanax but don't want withdrawls. what should I do? I think am addicted to them.

[Taybey]

I too am on paxil the generic and have found that is the only AD that works for me.  I have put on some weight but thats because Im not as nervous as I used to be.  I also take ativan.  I take 1 mg tablet in the morning and two at night.  I have added melatonin and a unisom before sleep because I have a real  hard time sleeping.  I have been sleeping real good lately.

Taybey

[mifegr]

I'm sorry for all the mistakes.  I'm trying to type very fast because I have to go to work now and I'm late.  I just want to make this one thing clear about the supplements.  You need to take 3 things.
1. A multiple vitamin/mineral (caps, powder, or liquid)
2. Fish oil capsules (2 per day)
3. A supplement that has these three things in 1 capsule - calcium/magnesim/vitaminD3
(make sure it's vitD3, not another kind of vitamin D)
And if after 6 months of doing the 3 things I recommended you find that you can't get off of your meds, that you still need them, don't worry about it.  You will look and feel your best after 6 months as a result of doing those things.  Anyone would : )  

[mifegr]

Hi, I am a nutritionist.  Not a nurse.  However, many, many, of the patients I have had over the years are on antidepressants.  I myself am on Paxil.  PLEASE don't get off the Paxil.  It is a safe drug and you need it.  If your pancreas did not put out enough insulin, you would need to take insulin every day. (You'd be a diabetic).  If your brain does not put out enough serotonin, you need to take it in pill form.  That's the paxil.  There is no reason in the world why you should get off of your xanax either.  You are taking very little xanax and not that much Paxil either.  If these drugs are keeping the anxiety away, and helping you to be calm, thank God and keep taking them.  I have many patients that have mental problems that are on MUCH more medication than you.  You are not taking that much.  I can only assume that you want to get off of them because of the stigma attached to taking meds such as these for mental problems.  People who judge you for taking such meds are ignorant.  And I don't mean stupid.  I mean ignorant.  They don't know the facts.  If that is what your worried about, tell them that your off of them and then just keep taking them.  Or, perhaps your not having the kind of orgasams you used to have.  Would you rather have multiple orgasms or would you rather be emotionally calm and mentally sound???  Your daugher needs a mother who is emotionally calm and mentally sound.  This is NOT the time for you to be getting off of your meds.  Not with a 2 year old.  However, let me tell you something else that I learned in college.  There are 3 things that you can do that MIGHT help you one day lower your meds, and MAYBE even get off of them.  I have patients who have come to me and told me they are depressed and don't want to take meds.  They are not severely depressed.  And they are not suicidal.  If they were, I would insist they see a dr. and get on the meds.  But they are depressed every day.  I tell them that if they do these 3 things and they feel better in 6 months, they won't need the meds.  Many times it works.  After you do these 3 things for 6 months straight, THEN go to your dr and ask him to help ween you off the meds.  DON'T do it without his supervision. And if you get even a little anxiety or a little nervous while being weened or after being weened, it's not time to get off the meds.  Keep taking them.  O.k?  #1. Do 30 minutes of brisk walking (or jogging) a day. 5 to 6 days a week.  First,stretch out for 5 minutes and then slowly increase your speed from a slow walk to walking as fast as you can.  It should take 5 mintues to build up this speed.  Once your walking as fast as you can, stay at that pace for 30 mintues.  Then slowly bring your speed down over 5 minutes until your walking slowly.  Then stretch out another 5 minutes. #2.  Take these supplements every single day.  Fish oil capsules (2 a day) a multiple vitamin/mineral supplement (capsules or liquid or powder, no tablets) and another supplement which has in it these three things.. calcium/magnesium/vit D3. (Find a supplement with all three in one capsule.  Again, no tablets).  Take those three supplements each day.  You should be anyway.  The fish oil is going to help you the most.  #3.See a therapist.  Yep, find yourself a woman therapist and go every week and talk to her about your anxiety.  You may not think this is important, but it is.  All 3 of these things are important.  After doing all three of these things for 6 months, THEN go to your dr and tell him you want to try weening off of your meds with his supervision.  But please don't do without his supervision.  And please don't get off of them if any anxiety or nervousness returns.  There was a time just a few decades ago that beautiful women had to live in special homes for the mentally ill just because they didn't have the medications that you are on right now.  If they had, they women wouldn't have been taken away from there children.  Many killed themselves because it broke their hearts to not be able to live with their husbands and/or children.  So be very grateful for the medication your on.  And don't be in such a hurry to get of it.  Good luck!

[amanda__nichole]

you  have to talk to your doctor about getting off. they have ways of tapering you off the meds without getting withdrawals but it will take awhile ( a few months).  unless he just decided to switch your medication completely. then you dont really have to taper off cause you'll have other meds in you that will help your through withdrawals of the other.
I was on paxil Cr 15. mg and it was perfect for me. I only stopped cause i was gaining a lot of weight and i am mad that i stopped cause i havent been able to find anything that worked for my panic the way paxil did. I wish you luck!!

[jakegorzen]

2 years is WAY to long to be on Xanax.
\Now Benzodiazapines and A.Ds are totaly different meds, they both have side effect, and withdraws.
Paxil is considered the worse of A.Ds and Xanax is considered the worse for Benzos.

I suggest talking to your Doc to do a proper switchover to Valium of Klonopin.
it will take about 2 weeks, then you will have a steady dose in your system.
In my oppinion Paxil is ****, so Id taper off that first.
Give it a few months, and try not to updose on the Valium or Klonopin.
The benzo will help you through the Withdraww of Paxil, but the Paxil wont help you through the withdraw of Benzos, so there you have it.
when you feel like you are getting better "dont let ANYONE rush you" you can start a SLOW TAPER from your benzo.
It will take some time, so be patient, and everything will work out, and be fine, just take it slow