Paxil Withdrawal - Is this a withdrawal symptom I have? Please help

[brady]

Could you please help me with this question?

I had been on Paxil for about 2 months. I stopped a little over 2 weeks ago because I didn't like its effect on me (I had muscle weakness/shakiness, lack of energy and a general "blah" feeling). I did very little tapering off it (I guess I basically stopped cold turkey).

Anyhow, I have been getting these very irritating muscle twitches all over my body since I stopped taking Paxil (all over my body.... not constant but semi-regularly. I get them in my face, legs, feet, arms... pretty much everywhere at one time or another) and I don't know if this is a normal withdrawl reaction or if it is something else.

I have tried looking around and I see things like "tremor/shaking" as potential withdrawl symptoms but I don't know if that includes muscle twitching too. Is this is a "normal" withdrawl reaction to Paxil? Is it a matter of just being patient and they will eventually go away? Or should I go back on Paxil using a lower dose and slowly taper off?

What can I do to get rid of this? Please help.....

Is this muscle twitching a typical Paxil withdrawal symptom?

Thank you for any response.

[Robin Brinkley]

I forgot to get my prescription of paxil filled and therefore had two days without it.  I have had dizziness and lightheadedness.  In addition to this I have had excessive sweating, especially at night, while being cold.  Could this have anything to do with not taking the med for two days. Thanks for your response, it is puzzling to me.

[chris]

I was on zoloft for a month, then paxil for a month. I just got off both of them last week. I didn't have the side effects of the tremors you describe. However, the problems I have had since going off these drugs are irritability, and being more obsessed that things are perfect. It seems like lately everything my husband does irritates me. I hate both of these drugs and will never go on either of them again!
I think exercise, a good diet... are much better for anxiety.

Chris

[chris]

I was on zoloft for a month, then paxil for a month. I just got off both of them last week. I didn't have the side effects of the tremors you describe. However, the problems I have had since going off these drugs are irritability, and being more obsessed that things are perfect. It seems like lately everything my husband does irritates me. I hate both of these drugs and will never go on either of them again!
I think exercise, a good diet... are much better for anxiety.

Chris

[HFHS MD-JM]

Brady,

      This issue has been discussed several times in this forum and I suggest that you search the Archives using paxil withdrawal as a keyword.  What you describe is not atypical of sudden cessation of Paxil if at a high dose.  It would be helpful to restart paxil at a slightly lower dose than what you stopped and taper over 1-2 weeks time.  Please consult your personal physician to discuss this issue further.

Sincerely,

HFHS MD-JM

Keywords:  Paxil, SSRI withdrawal syndrome

[Jessie]

yes, i was on paxil for about a month.  i tapered off slowly, but i, too, had a lot of mucscle twitching.  about drove me nuts, but, yes, it wears off,  but it takes awile, about a month. i wouldn't go back on the paxil, you've made it this far.  good luck.