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!

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

the final stage is 2.5 mg every third day for one week, then quit...you want to avoid the possibility of seizures.

[Aruba417]

I'm no doctor, but I did take Paxil, and I would NOT quit cold turkey. Maybe you need to wean off at a slower pace. I can't remember what mg I was on, but my doctor helped me wean off by taking half of that dose for a few weeks, then half of THAT dose for a few weeks. I had no problems this way. Good luck!

[ckel2632]

UPDATE:
I have went back to the slow ween.. I am still having SOME vertigo an some of the surges I mentioned before.  I am down to around 5mg per day.  I am assuming my body will need to adjust to that dose of Paxil before I should take the next step of reducing it to 2.5mg? and then wait again for the body to adjust and so on.. Is this the correct way to do this?

Keeping in mind, I was on the Paxil for 10 years, I am assuming its going to take a while for my body to adjust to being without it..

[nesschoc]

hi there all, i cant belive i have finally found a site like this.
I have been taking paxil for just under ten years and have tried to give them up many many times but to no affect.

The side affects are so strong and frightening for me that i just give in and start them again.
I have spoken to many doctors about this but i just get the same thing form them time and time again, "just take them, you can be on them forever, there fine". This i have a problem with because when i first started them i was having huge panic attacks and even stayed indoors for 2 years, thankfuly i met my husband and he helped me get through them to the point that i was able to go see phc, and began the paxil, which helped me so much i was able to return to my normal life. The problem now is that during the years i have been taking my paxil 20mg per day i also have been going to classes and self help groups and havent had a panic attack in over 3 years! i feel so strong now that i know i dont need to be on paxil anymore, but with these awelful affects i really think i will have to stay on them forever.

[bigbaz]

Hi...I'm so glad I found this site maybe I can get some answers to so many questions...I have taken paxil for 12 years and then I was switched to lexapro for another 2 years....well to make a long story short...I have weaned myself off the ssri meds and I have been riding on an emotional rollercoaster for almost 13 weeks....I am 39 years old and I have these terrible mood swings...I have terrible crying spells..feeling down/etc. I have extreme highs and lows....tons of anxiety.....lots of obsessing....at times I feel like I'm losing control......I know that these are all psychological withdrawal symptoms of ssri medications...but what can you do to overcome some of these terrible side effects....only someone who knows what it's like can feel the pain that I'm going through....I walked an hour each day.....eating good foods...drinking tons of green tea/chamomile tea....lots of foods that help to increase your serotonin levels...etc... anyway, all my doctor can say is that I'm going through serotonin withdrawal.....I need answers....I need to know how long this lasts....I keep telling myself that I need to go back on meds, but with therapy/etc. it's not necessary...had I know way back when what it's like to withdraw, I would never had taken this poison.....my life is so unstable coming off of these ..no one even understands.....I am so sick of withdrawal after withdrawal....etc...will I ever get my life back??? I so look forward to any help/etc. I have searched the internet for people who have been on anti depressants for a long time and have been unsuccessful at trying to find any long term withdrawal effects/etc... Please help......Thanks, bigbaz

[NZgirl]

Some natural remedies to help with elevating your mood include a 5HTP supplement - which will help you sleep if you take it at night. Also fish oil is supposed to be very helpful.
I dont know what the answer is - but I think doctors are far too keen to prescribe these drugs. I had a helluva time getting of Effexor and I want nothing more to do with these drugs ever again. Good luck

[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

[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.

[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.

[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!

[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.

[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.

[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

[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?

[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?

[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]

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!

[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.

[Want2befree]

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

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

[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

[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

[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?

[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.