Paxil Withdrawel Issues

[ckel2632]

Thank GOD I found this site!  It has been a blessing to see that I am not crazy and the withdrawel effects I am having are common!  I am a 38 year old Male....The withdrawal effects I am having are "Shock type feelings", "Severe Dizzyness", "Episodes of disorientation", "Muscle aches"........

My question is, HOW LONG WILL IT LAST? and IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO to eliviate this?

Case:
I have been on Paxil for 10 years, doses ranging from 10-40mg per day.  
Went to doctor due to side effects on Paxil (Sexual disfunction, weight gain, listlessness, etc)
My doctor switched me over to Wellbutrin (300mg) per day and told me to ween off the Paxil
I have been taking 10mg per day and will soon be down to 5mg per day, and then every other day...

Should I just quit the Paxil cold turkey?  these withdrawel symptoms are not any better in the weening process... HELP!

[Hermes Trismegistus]

NZ girl has it right

I'm not a doctor, but I spend 3-5 hours a day at work researching stuff like this, and have a success story. Using 5-HTP makes withdrawing from Paroxetine and other SSRIs much easier... just be careful not to over-do it because 5-HTP will increase serotonin levels making SSRIs more potent (and possibly leading to Serotonin Syndrome). As you start taking less Paxil, take more 5-HTP. You shouldn't take several hundred mgs of 5-HTP like some sources suggest.

My girlfriend and her mother were on Zoloft (sertraline, an SSRI like Paxil). I talked my g/f into getting off the drug with the help of 5-HTP (mother is too stubborn though)... Girlfriend took 50mg/day of 5-HTP the first week then 100mg the next few weeks... for the past 4 months she has been taking one 50mg pill a day with dinner. She still had some withdrawal symptoms (like dizziness, aches, etc), but she said it was nowhere near the withdrawel symptoms she had when she tried to wean off of zoloft last summer without the 5-HTP. She's a new girl now!

Ask your doctor about 5-HTP... just keep in mind that doctors are not trained to sell natural remedies. Most online sites describing 5-HTP say the same thing... "more studies are needed"... but I'm convinced it works. A month supply of 5-HTP can be found in a health store for $10-$25... worth a shot, yeah?

Do your RESEARCH:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paroxetine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5-htp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin_syndrome

and there are many other success stories on the net... I have also heard that 5-HTP is actually prescribed in Europe by doctors, but have not verified this (do a web search of: "5-HTP is prescribed in Europe"). 5-HTP could also help you lose those extra pounds the Paxil put on.

Remember to be careful when using 5-HTP with SSRIs! And if you know anyone considering anti-depressants, refer them to 5-HTP first. Some people have reported to be allergic to 5-HTP, and they say serotonin(5-htp) decreases libido, but I can't imagine the g/f being any more interested in sex than she already is! Of course she never took more than 100mg/day :)

I'm glad the drug companies are starting to be exposed like they should.

[Zenda]

This is my first post to this site, and I will say, I am glad to know I'm not the only one who has not been able to get off of this medication.  It helped me, initially, 13 years ago . . . now I find myself never finding the right time in my life to be able to get off of the medication.  Just before the holidays, I followed my doctor's advice, and tried switching to a low dosage of Wellbutrin and cutting the Paxil in half.  I felt so dizzy, confused, couldn't sleep, and to top it off, the Wellbutrin had negative side effects.  This whole thing basically ended up ruining my holidays . . . and I ended up off of the Wellbutrin and back up to 3/4 of what I was taking on the Paxil.  I feel like I am a drug addict because of this medication.  If I miss it in the morning, I feel it.  If I went out of town and didn't take the medication with me, my vacation would be ruined.  I think doctors should not put patients on medications that they can become addicted to, like Paxil.  I would actually say that I would consider a ban on it.

[VampiressXia]

Hello everyone.
I am 43 y/o female who has lived in New Orleans all my life. I survived Katrina with minimal damage but did lose my job and have not returned to work yet. I went to the doctor for lack of motivation and possibly depression all though I rarely cried. He prescribed Paxil 20 mgs daily and told me that we sometimes "run out of Serotonin" and this was happening to so many people affected by the storm. I took the Paxil as prescribed for almost two weeks. The first 6 days were the worst. My eyes were terribly dry. I kept "zoning" out. My appetite decreased. I tried to sleep around the clock because in my mind I was trying to get back to a normal schedule. On the 7th day I felt fine. Like the old me. I was energetic and wanted to get out of the house. I would get these moments of "thrill" you know, like squealing with joy for no apparent reason. But I could NOT have an orgasm and this is one of the reasons I stopped taking the Paxil. I would rather be "depressed" and I just had a gut feeling that this medicine was not good for me. Now the question...
Is it possible to have withdrawals after only 2 weeks of Paxil? I have nausea, abdominal pains, and a weird "pause" in my brain. I don't know how to explain that last one it's not a zap like electricity, just a pause. I have been having crazy dreams every night. Not good ones, not really nightmares, but tiresome dreams that keep me from sleeping soundly. Anyone else have withdrawals after such a short time? Thanks.

[ULTRASHOCK2112]

Hi,

Like most of you have said, it helps to read the experiences of others.  I quit cold turkey on March 8th/06, and I'm HOPING that the symptoms I'm experiencing right now don't get any worse.  This isn't the first time I've quit Paxil.  The first time I did the tapering method, it took me about 4 months, gradually cutting the pills into smaller and smaller pieces to get off completely.  All it did was lessen the withdrawal symptoms by spreading them out over 4 months.  I don't even want to get into why after the first time I would go back on Paxil, but I'm sure many of you that suffer from depression would understand; it SEEMED like it was the only thing that worked and I wanted to do anything to feel better.

I am dedicated to getting off this **** sooner than later.  I will beat the hold this drug has on me once and for all I'm not giving it another 4 months of my life to ween off it.  

  I'm not going to bore you by listing all my symptoms but I'm experiencing almost every single one.  What I started doing as soon as the symptoms started getting bad was I created a spreadsheet with all the symptoms on one side and the severity of each one per day in columns next to it.  I think this helps because you can look back and see whether the symptoms are going away (your progress).

The fact that no one answers the "How long does it take question" - even in their own experience - tells me that the symptoms must not go on for that long.  All I can say is if you ween you may be going through it for 4+ months.  When my symptoms go away from quitting cold turkey I will let you all know exactly how long it took for me.  I urge others to do the same.

I also wanted to suggest to everyone who doesn't know about it already to research treatment resistant depression caused by Magnesium deficiency (way more common than you think).  I have been taking 300mg of Magnesium Citrate every day for about a month before quitting Paxil and I REALLY believe it helped.  Before I started the Magnesium I didn't feel I could handle quitting, and going through the withdrawal etc, but it made me feel like I was ready to kick the Paxil addiction.

Anyways, I hope someone finds this helpful... I'm not normally this long winded, it is yet another manifestation of withdrawal.

[Lucylove]

Hi. So happy to have found this site.
I have been w/drawling from Paxil for 6 wks now. My main symptoms and so similar to the reason I went on the evil drug that I thought "this must be my baseline". THe "brain shocks", I've had the mood swings, major depression and uncontrollable crying. I, also, have called into work 3 times and need to be very careful of that.
I am so relieved and encouraged to read your blogs. I really thought I would have to kill myself. The suicide ideations are so severe I didn't even want to tell my Dr about it for fear she would put me back on it. Don't worry- reading these has me much more encouraged. I just want this all to stop soon.

I was taking 20mg for 2 yrs. Went to 10 for a week then 5. Realizing this was too fast a titration I have been taking 5 for 10 days. The symptoms have not gotten any better but now I know to hang in there.

Thank you, thank you.

[Koela]

Dear all thanks for the website and the input

I used to be on Paxil, but went of it for so many reasons, it was so long ago, but I know the withdrawel was terrible

The Dr changed it to Luvox, I have been on Luvox for 2 years, but because my medical aid do not pay for lovox anymore, the Dr have put me on Wellbutrin, I have been a month of Luvox and it feel like I am dying, This weekend I thought I was going to have a stroke, or that I have a brain tumor.
Everytime I move my eyes it feels like my brain have shortwired. Lots of weird sensation in my head.

After reading all the comments I feel much better, specialy because I do not feel alone anymore.

[LittleButterfly]

Hi everyone! I've been on Paxil (20mg a day) for a year now. In two weeks I'll have finished discontinue the medication. However, I've been feeling the withdrawal effects:  flu-like symptoms, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, and sleep disturbances (insomnia, vivid dreams or nightmares). It's very hard to go through this transition. To make things easier what I do is to talk about this mental health problem the way I talk about  some other disease we may have. I don't hide it. I try to make people understand that with the right treatment we can have a better quality of life. I know that the first thing many doctors may want to do is to medicate and then we are left alone dealing with the side effects. A treatment with a psychologist can help a lot. Unfortunately, I'm seeing a General Physician and I don't have the right follow up. I live in Montreal and the medical system is very slow and private treatments are quite expensive. However, seeing my problem as something that should not be hiden, or something that I should not be ashamed of, has helped me a lot.  Anxiety has been a "normal" part of my life for many years (I'm 31 now). We are not going to die while having a panick attack episode. It's good to talk about what's happening to us. Our families and friends if they really love us should undertand in the end what we are going through. It's difficult. But when we can make them know what this mental health is about, what treatments are there available to us, and above all, when we don't feel ashamed, we could be understood.
A lot of effort is needed to feel better; most often too much, I'd say, but as long as we start dealing with our problem as something that can be verbalized, our lives could be a bit happier.
This is our daily extremely difficult challenge!
Take care. :)

[JennCat]

How long will these frightening symptoms last? I feel dizzy and stomach remains nasues.I remain in a nonstop SCARY panic attack.
I let my meds run out because I was tired of the sexual side effects.I went from to 20mg (for 3 years) to 10mg for the past 2 weeks.

[nopxl]

I just wanted to add my two cents, as a former pharmaceutical rep who sold Paxil and now an attorney defending pharm companies.  I have been in the worst physical and mental condition since 12/05, when I abruptly stopped Paxil.  I started it in lat Nov/05 because I was having such bad w/d symptoms from an earlier attempt at quitting.  However, I developed tachycardia one night while taking it and just quit - thinking that i might be messing up my heart on the drug.  That was stupid on my part.  Since then, I have experienced severe neck and back pain, constant GI upset, heartburn, diarrhea, chest pains, rapid hb, (even PVCs - irregular hbs).  The worst part is that this is constant during the day.  It is so difficult for me to think that I have not really hurt myself fatally.  Ocassionally, I will take an Ativan and it helps for a while, but I cannot continue to take those.  At this point, I cannot say how long the symptoms will last - who knows.  I have read that it can take as long as 18 months - if you stop cold turkey like me.  My poor brain!  I have been told that this is not w/d, that this is your anxiety and to go back on the Paxil, that it is physical manifestations of a rough childhood (psychologist).  All tests have been normal so far.  I have lost weight, stopped using tobacco (stimulant) and drinking coffee.  I am actually very healthy, other than the effects of this poison pill.  I hope all of you are doing better.  God has a peculiar sense of humor/irony.  One of my clients is a very large Phara company, who is being sued by people who claim to have become addicted and are suffering terrible w/d.  My job is to defend this company.  How bizzare is that?

[2rescuedmutts]

Many people have asked the question "how long will these terrible withdrawal symptoms last!??"

I can share my story.  I was not on paxil (luckily) but was on  on 25mg of zoloft (the second worst SSRI behind Paxil for withdrawl syptoms) for about a year and half for post traumatic stress from a really bad accident.  It helped a little but I gained about 15 lbs. in 6-8 months.  I

[ossa]

I would like to share my experience with quiting Paxil cold turkey. I can't find spell check, and i don't spell very well, so you will have to excuse my spelling ( and no that isn't a side effect from the med)
I was on Paxil for little over a year. I had lost some weight ( about 35lbs) on a diet prior to my paxil expereince. I started to gain my weight back, with in three months time i was 20lbs heavier. I was very upset. I made an appointment to talk with my doctor about getting offof it. He suggested a weening plan that consited of three more months. I said "ok" and went on my way. I got home and threw it away. I thought what could happen. I would start to maintain my weight , things would be great. for the next three or four months i experienced all of these symptoms. I felt like a heroine addict detoxing.
nausea
body "Zaps"
disorientaion
Clumbsiness
Dizzeness
migraines
flu-like symptoms
balance problems
body/leg aches
sweats
chills
vivid dreams
night mares
exhuastion
severe depression
suicide thoughts ( i never wanted to hurt my self but i would have thoughts of if my life ended i would be better.)
could barley walk/talk/work for four months
uncontrolable sobbing fits (I wore sun glasses for months)
I will tell you that, even though it seemed it would never end. It did. for me at least. I drank LOTS of Water. and took over the counter antihystamines ( spelling)This helped with the flu-like symptoms and nausea. I slept a lot and when i worked i drank tea and kept a journal. Writing down each and everything you are going through and reading others experiences, helps you to know you are not alone! Try the water and take the antihystamines, you will feel an improvement.For now, i say hang in there, and try NOT to go cold TURKEY.It was the hardest thing i have experienced in my life to date.
Best Wishes,
Ossa

[Want2befree]

I found this website that may help answer some of our questions about withdrawel.

http://www.paxilprogress.org/forums/showthread.php?t=8666

[Want2befree]

When will I feel normal again?  I guess that is the question and though it is a bit disheartening to see no one(Including the doctors) really knows.  I am currently on 5 mgs of Paxil every other day.  I'm afraid of how long these side effects will last.  I had a coworker fired because of her mental disorder and the fact that it was hard for her to get it under control.  She had just been diagnosed after experiencing her first mental break.  
Mine was six years ago.  No one tells you about side effects or how getting off the meds is pure hell. You actually feel crazier than you did when you first got on them.  At least that's what it was like for me. One thing I've learned through experiance is DO NOT get off cold turkey.  I ran out of meds the week of Christmas two years ago and I literally felt out of my mind.  I did things I wouldn't normally do, ruined my family's Christmas and might have killed myself had it not been for my best friend(the coworker mentioned above).
I am struggling right now.  I have sensitivity to light and sound.  My entire head is in a vice and my brain wants to crawl out of my skull.  It's torture and it's one day at a time.  My only suggestion is to find an outlet. I write in my journal and it helps put things into perspective.  This will not last forever.  I want to be myself again, not this borderline crazy shadow of myself.
I'm glad I found this place.  Maybe it would help if we talk about how each day goes and be a support to eachother, because NO ONE trully understands what it's like in our heads.  Let's help eachother.

[detoxing]

It's me again.... I stopped by my psychiatrist office today. I didn't have an official appointment to see him, but was there to see my counselor. I dropped off the literature about "SSRI Discontinuing Syndrome" http://bipolar.about.com/cs/antidep/a/0207_ssridisc1_p.htm
that I printed from the computer and explained the discontinuation and withdrawal symptoms to him, he phoned me when he had a free moment.
I have 95% of the withdrawal symptoms. (Minus suicidal thoughts) First statement from him was to return to the Paxil CR 25mg for a wk and 2 pills the 2nd wk. I advised him that after research, I don't know that I truly want to continue taking Paxil CR. He advised me to continue taking all of my medications except the Paxil CR until I see him next month. My purpose for using Paxil CR is that I suffer from Panic attacks and depression. I have noticed that I do have more panic attacks since I discontinued the Paxil CR, but I have xanax to temporarily help with that. I know that xanax is an addictive medication as well. But I take it extremely sparingly. I am fortunate that I have no addiction to it and I am very careful about taking it. I look at it as the better of the two evils. Xanax goes out of my system within hours and Paxil CR is extremely addictive and difficult to discontinue -- (I can only speak for myself about Xanax) My main goal is to treat my problem of panic attacks and depression and not mask the problem with medications. Sleeping my life away on the medication is not a quality of life. (among other side effects)
Gosh, I can't wait to be free of Paxil in my system. I have no regrets of stopping this medication. I just need to get through the hell it's putting me through. I will keep you updated, when I finally feel free of the withdrawal symptoms. Even though each person is different, we all need some type of hope that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  Many blessings!

[PACK-IT-ON-PAXIL]

I quit cold turkey after reading alot of forums about Paxil and weight gain.

I have gain 60 POUNDS!!!!!!! since starting to take the medication, and what is so amazing is, I was put on the medication to assist with an eating disorder!!!

I would recommed that someone consult with their physician before quitting.  I am told it can result in seizures.  I was so upset that I just quit.  The main symptom I am having is aggression.  I literally want to fight most people I see.  Night sweats are another big problem.  I usually change night clothes a few times a night (if I sleep at all).  This is just a horrible horrible horrible drug and I would tell everyone to avoid it like the plague!!!!

[detoxing]

I am glad to find this site. Thanks to everyone that is sharing!

I have been on Paxil CR for 3 years. At the time I started, I had many obvious reasons for depression. Stressful career, Finances, I was a care taker for my ill father, later executor of his estate -- dealing with greedy family members, panic attacks, major depression, chronic back pain since 1989 from an auto accident. (pain & depression go together) My detoxing started when I was ill & forgot about taking my meds on a reg. basis about 3 + weeks ago. It made me consider stopping the meds for good to see if I "really" needed to be on them. After all, I have had a turn around in the last year and I feel that it is time for me to see if I still need to be on all of these meds... including wellbutrin, xanax, vicodin, IB Profen, etc. It has been over 3 wks (cold turkey) & I know I needed to wean off, but went with the flow since I had started.  I thought I have been going CRAZY with the sea sickness, motion sickness, sensitive to smells -- visuals -- sounds -- touch -- taste, shock sensations, extreme muscle pains, flu symptoms & stomach nausea, etc. I have been thinking of going back on Paxil to stop these symptoms. However, after reading this site ... it doesn't sound like it would help. I am glad to see I am not going CRAZY! I got on line to see how long this will continue?? NO ONE ANSWERS THIS QUESTION?!
I do remember watching a documentary a few months back about getting off "PAXIL." The show indicated that the doctors lead us to believe that it takes weeks and the manufacture has known for a long time that it can take up to 4 months. I was hopeful to find something here that would prove otherwise. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANSWERS TO THIS? I know I can't last that long. These symptoms are controlling my quality of life, but I don't want to drag it out by restarting Paxil. Three plus weeks is too much time to turn back on.

I also had a close friend that had cancer removed in the brain & limited life expectancy. Shortly after he went to an Amish doctor & was told to change what he ate -- adding herbs and he would beat this. 90% of physical illnesses can be corrected with diet. I can't speak for depression. This is what made me want to change what I put into my body. I want ot rid myself of unnecessary poisonous medications and toxins.

LOOKING FOR TESTIMONIES ON HOW LONG THESE SYMPTOMS WILL CONTINUE?

[ih8Paxil]

Hello all!  I'm so glad to hear that it is the Paxil that is making me sick.  I have been on it for 3 years or so and about 2 months ago I started to decrease the dosage with my doctor.  Then I started taking a little less than that and now I have been getting sick (nausea, vommiting) for about a month.  I thought I couldn't shake the flu, or I just drank too much the night before! Oh then my friends kept teasing me that I was pregnant and it was just morning sickness, well I'm not pregnant!  So now I'm wondering just how long it will take to get off of this devil drug.  I will admit at first it really helped me to control my anxiety, but I feel that  (with all medications really) the drugs just mask the problem, not fix it.  Now I'm addicted to the stuff, I can't go one day without it or my brain gets electrical shocks, and I'm really out of it.  Why do drugs do this to us.  I hate drugs I never wanted to go on it in the first place, there must be a holistic way.  When I find it I will shout it off the roof tops and stop this madness. Does anyone know how long in general (we all matabolize differently) it will take to get off the drugs, and how long to these side effects last?

[Cole17]

Hello Everyone,
I am a 26 year old healthy female.  I have been taking paxil 10 mg for almost 3 years now.  I was put on the drug for panic attacks at first, then stopped taking it( which I must say was a challange) when me and my husband stared trying for our second child.  I then was placed back on it for PPD; I have since been taking it.  I talked to my OBGYN and asked him when he though that I should start coming off of the drug.  He stated that he thought that with the current condition that I was in, it would be best to continue taking it until my latest child was a little older (like one year old).  Which I agreed was probably a good idea.  Well, it is coming up now that he is almost a year old, and I really want to stop the medication again.  I know it's gonna be difficult and dread it, but I really don't see taking it forever.  
     I guess the real reason that I wrote was to ask a quick question.  I have always had the stranges muscle spasms since I have been taking this drug.  I usually take it at night because it does cause me to feel somewhat sleepy.  So when I lay down at night; its almost like my body has a mind of its own.  There is no other real problems that I have WHILE taking it. I have read only a few things about paxil's side affects, but this one doesn't seem to come up alot.  Can some give me a little light on the subject..             Thanks

[Cin30]

Hi.. I just found this web site.  I was looking for help for a friend of mine who is trying to get off of Methadone.  I have been on Paxil 20mg for about 6 years now.  I have never heard of there being any problems with getting off of it.  I am scared to even begin to wean myself for the fear of feeling like I did before I started using it.  I stayed in the house almost always.  I couln't even drive my car.  I even found it very difficult to care for my new born daughter.  I thought I was going crazy because I had always been a people person and now all of the sudden I couln't be around many people at all.  Paxil has helped me sooo much!!! I am in college now but sometimes I still get a little anxious.  There are times I may be at a big department store and I feel like I have to get out of there.  Then once I get outside I'm fine.  I wonder if I need to take a  higher dose or maybe it's all in my head.

[snack]

I'm sorry that you are in the situation of "no insurance." Don't give up if you feel that Paxil helps you--don't be afraid to ask your Doctor for samples--ask your family Dr or your OBGYN. Also, try to contact the maker of Paxil (which I don't know off the top of my head), and ask them for assistance.
Good luck, and happy new year!

[snack]

Also, if you have a family Dr who has perscribed Paxil in the past for you, you shouldn't have to make an appt with them to get a prescription or samples. DON'T be afraid to ask!!! That's why they have samples!

[mom2mnm]

I have been on Paxil for a few years and I now don't have a prescription for it and I have no health insurance. I have been suffering for 3 weeks with awful withdrawal symptoms including headaches, pure exhaustion and dizziness. I feel very out of control and afraid. I cannot afford to buy it or go to the doctor without insurance. How long will these symptoms last? My life is totally on hold because I am always so sick. Please help. I don't know what to do or who to turn to.

[no2paxil]

i have tried to ween myself off paxil 5 times over the past year.  my dr. claims the withdrawal symptoms are not related to paxil withdrawal.  this, her professional observation even though the symptoms only occured at my attempts to get off paxil.

with no options in site, no insurance, and no dr. who actually listened; i decided to do a little experimenting.  paxil, being an SSRI i decided to try MDMA's and psilocybin.  the MDMA did nothing.  suprising, since extacy is such a potent drug.  the psilocybin worked and i think would have been a good way out via a controled dose through the weening process and continued for a shirt time after.  well, we all know psilocybin is illegal and with its possession welcomes a felony.  to be honest, a risk i am willing to take to get off this crippling paxil.  but the availability of psilocybin is quite dry.  finally, methadone.  since the physical and psychological side effects of paxil withdrawal are similar to those of heroin, i gave it a shot.  it works!  but you cant get treated at a clinic unless you have an opiate dependency, which i dont.  so to the street i go.  

welcome to america.

[nanpac3]

PLEASE ANSWER THE QUESTION SOMEONE PLEASE - I have been on paxil for 3 years - misc dosages - but last one was 40mg CR

I stopped cold turkey over 6 days ago - doing everything humanly possible

QUESTION - WHEN CAN I EXPECT THIS TO START GOING AWAY - these side effects - no one is answering the question  everyone is asking

I am taking happy camper, niacin, b12 and running 2 miles aday

these side effects are killing  me

please somone please tell me how long