Withdrawing from Paxil

[Karen]

Is there anything that can be done to relieve the symptoms of Paxil withdrawl?   I am about to reach my third week without Paxil and I am hardly better than I was on day 2.  I was well supervised while I was taking 20 mg of Paxil for panic attacks.  I took it for almost 5 years, well before the evidence was in that it is a ***** to stop taking.  I definitely wouldn't do it again.  But in any case, I went from 20mg to 10mg for 3 months and then to 5mg for another few weeks.  I heard that the longer it took a person to become used to it at the beginning the longer it takes to withdraw.  Is this true?  If so, I am looking at another 5 weeks, at least.   I am experiencing the kind of symptoms that I have always learned to be true of heroine withdrawl, but at least they get methodone.   I am dizzy and nauseaus.  I have thrown up at least every other day.  I am completely emotional, which is very uncharacteristic.  I will begin hysterically crying and can't stop.  I am totally irritable and snap at people for no reason. I will be freezing one minute and profusely sweating the next.  I am light, sound, and odor sensitive.  Every single muscle in my body hurts.  I am in constant pain.   I can't sleep, but I never feel really awake either.  I am basically an unfunctioning person right now.  I am very fortunate that I have a job in which I can set my own hours and don't need to punch a clock.  If I was at a time structured job, I would have had to quit, which would have made this whole thing even worse.  We called the pharm. company and they are well aware that Paxil is not the drug they thought it was, but that sure doesn't help me.  What can I do?

[John]

Paxil has got to be the most difficult thing that I have ever had to deal with in my life.  The constant feeling of irritability and nervousness is unbearable.  Now, I've been experiencing the worst nightmares that the human mind could ever manifest.  What is going on?

[JG]

To all the dr's,pharms,and smithkline & beecham sales reps, I hope you all burn in hell for ignoring the torcher of paxil withdrawl. When I was presciribed paxil I wasn't told of the extreme withdrawl symptoms. Word of the withdrawl problem had long been heard of at the time of my dr. prescibing paxil. I'd rather go back to the panic attacks than deal with the nausea, diziness, headaches, nervousness, and the added anxiety of not knowing how long this nightmare will last. I've seen some postings about a class action lawsuit being implemented. Well, count me in. E-mail me if you know of any info regarding any treatments for the withdrawls or the lawsuit against smithkline & Beecham. e-mail (***@****)

[John Adams]

I suffer from occassional panic attacks. I have always been a fairly anxious person. I began taking 10 mg.'s of Paxil and it was helping me but not that well. When I started taking 20 mg. it worked much better. I felt much more stable emotionally and capable of handling those situations that used to cause me anxiety. Well, I went in to get a refill a few days ago and they said that I didn't have any refills available. So, I have been without paxil for about 3 days now, while waiting for approval to continue taking the medication.

While I have been okay for the most part, I have been having a couple of withdrawal symptoms. The two symptoms I have been experiencing the most are electric shocks and tiredness. The electric shocks were kind of scared me, but I read that in these posts that other people experience them while withdrawing from the medication. So, knowing that others suffer the same symptom was comforting. My energy level has gone down considerably. I have had to take at least one nap each day for the past three days.

These "electric shocks" occur on my head. It kind of makes sense, because the medication affects the neural synapses. So, it is easy to understand that withdrawls would upset my bodies neural functioning, which is most noticeable in my mind. Since the brain is a huge organism of neurons.

I am quite upset that they discontinued my refills. Must have been an oversite. It is a little discomforting to know that if I ever decide to quit paxil for good that I will experience the withdrawl symptoms again.

For me paxil is a very good alternative to anxiousness, so I will continue use after the weekend.

There read a couple of posts that are helpful but a bit more pessimistic about the use of paxil. It is acceptable to me that the discontinued use of a drug would cause some withdrawls. You have to expect these things.

I hope my experience helps others whom experience similar symptoms.

[Eva]

I have cut down my intake of paxil from 20mg to 10 mg (breaking the tabs in half) because I have not money up front to get more (my medical plan reimburses but only after i send in receipts).......I know that it is not recommended to stop Paxil cold turkey so instead of thinking "i know better" i am following the instructions of the doc......i read some posts and saw some people doing what they were recommended not to do.....using alcohol (of course it makes you feel sick) with paxil and then wondering why it's a bummer or stopping cold turkey, when it is not recommended and then wondering why they have bad side effects.  However, the feeling of "muscle twitching" is an uncomfortable side effect of reducing intake of this drug, so i am not about to say that i don't feel side effect.  However, the side effect of USING paxil is very positive for me, as for the first time IN MY LIFE i feel what I think could be normal, (not dark, depressed, inert, oily, poor sleep, poor body functions and so on), so maybe, like insulin for the diabetic, it is something else that bothers people.  I guess that's why the answeres here always stronlgly suggest that "withdrawal symptoms" be checked out not to be some other cause.  So, anyway, the "twitching", that i can confirm.....now that seems to have subsided.....however, I feel a kind of feeling like my neck and arms are "going to sleep" in waves....not exactly like that but as close as I can describe.  However, before I start getting into a froth that it is "withdrawal from paxil", I am going to wait a bit, because it is definitely not unbearable, just uncomfortable, and look into if it is not caused by occupational distress, that is, I sit at a computer terminal all day, for the past ten years, so could well be related to that also.  we shall wait and see.  as to increased irritablity, I would say, that sounds familiar but I look at it this way:  the things that irritate me, I think I am justified in being irritated, like the constant ringing of the phone for my popular teenages sons, their THUMPING stereos playing rap music, the snack messes in the kitchen, etc.  Maybey paxil is just a little TOO good on this front of glossing over irritation and it's about time THEY did something about bringing the socializing and music and eating down to a dull roar.  As to decreased libido, I found that paxil cured me of that.  Although I find I could care less if I have sex, when I do have it it is GREAT, and it is much easier for me to enjoy it (you know, orgasmic sex, sorry to be so candid).  So I think for me anyway, paxil does not have the side effect of decreasing libido, unless "libido" means "worrying about sex", in which case my worry about it has gone.  Perhaps that is a side effect of getting older and "wiser".....who knows.  AS a fellow paxil taker, I would suggest not talking oneself into a panic over the idea of "withdrawal"....I think that addiction is highly overrated...that is, there is so much folklore about how bad, terrible and awful "withdrawal" is from anything, people might be inclined to get into a panic at the prospect.  Better to listen to one's own experience.  As to the weight gain thing, I did put on weight after I started paxil but am now gradually losing it by changing my eating habits.....no more late night snacks, chocolate bars, popcorn and so on and take smaller helpings don't go back for seconds.  The weigh gain was mainly in my breasts and upper torso so could have been related to life change too (i'm 53).  So far the gradual weight loss thing is working , not back to a size twelve but working on it.

[Eva]

I have cut down my intake of paxil from 20mg to 10 mg (breaking the tabs in half) because I have not money up front to get more (my medical plan reimburses but only after i send in receipts).......I know that it is not recommended to stop Paxil cold turkey so instead of thinking "i know better" i am following the instructions of the doc......i read some posts and saw some people doing what they were recommended not to do.....using alcohol (of course it makes you feel sick) with paxil and then wondering why it's a bummer or stopping cold turkey, when it is not recommended and then wondering why they have bad side effects.  However, the feeling of "muscle twitching" is an uncomfortable side effect of reducing intake of this drug, so i am not about to say that i don't feel side effect.  However, the side effect of USING paxil is very positive for me, as for the first time IN MY LIFE i feel what I think could be normal, (not dark, depressed, inert, oily, poor sleep, poor body functions and so on), so maybe, like insulin for the diabetic, it is something else that bothers people.  I guess that's why the answeres here always stronlgly suggest that "withdrawal symptoms" be checked out not to be some other cause.  So, anyway, the "twitching", that i can confirm.....now that seems to have subsided.....however, I feel a kind of feeling like my neck and arms are "going to sleep" in waves....not exactly like that but as close as I can describe.  However, before I start getting into a froth that it is "withdrawal from paxil", I am going to wait a bit, because it is definitely not unbearable, just uncomfortable, and look into if it is not caused by occupational distress, that is, I sit at a computer terminal all day, for the past ten years, so could well be related to that also.  we shall wait and see.  as to increased irritablity, I would say, that sounds familiar but I look at it this way:  the things that irritate me, I think I am justified in being irritated, like the constant ringing of the phone for my popular teenages sons, their THUMPING stereos playing rap music, the snack messes in the kitchen, etc.  Maybey paxil is just a little TOO good on this front of glossing over irritation and it's about time THEY did something about bringing the socializing and music and eating down to a dull roar.  As to decreased libido, I found that paxil cured me of that.  Although I find I could care less if I have sex, when I do have it it is GREAT, and it is much easier for me to enjoy it (you know, orgasmic sex, sorry to be so candid).  So I think for me anyway, paxil does not have the side effect of decreasing libido, unless "libido" means "worrying about sex", in which case my worry about it has gone.  Perhaps that is a side effect of getting older and "wiser".....who knows.  AS a fellow paxil taker, I would suggest not talking oneself into a panic over the idea of "withdrawal"....I think that addiction is highly overrated...that is, there is so much folklore about how bad, terrible and awful "withdrawal" is from anything, people might be inclined to get into a panic at the prospect.  Better to listen to one's own experience.  As to the weight gain thing, I did put on weight after I started paxil but am now gradually losing it by changing my eating habits.....no more late night snacks, chocolate bars, popcorn and so on and take smaller helpings don't go back for seconds.  The weigh gain was mainly in my breasts and upper torso so could have been related to life change too (i'm 53).  So far the gradual weight loss thing is working , not back to a size twelve but working on it.

[Caroline]

I took Paxil for three weeks.
I am not a regular user of anti-depressants
although I have had major depressive "episodes" in my life,
one during which I was hospitalized.

I took paxil once (three years ago) but never
got to the third of my prescription because
of nightmares and zombie feeling.

Recently, I took Paxil for 3 weeks, not from
a prescription but from someone else's
prescription (my dad who's not taking
it as he should - or maybe he's doing the
right thing not taking this drug.)

I was ok quite quickly (although I
first woke up at 5h00 every morning
and had weird dreams - it didn't matter
cause it made me feel better altogether.
Placebo? Umm... I don't think so.)

After 3 weeks, I ran out of what
I had taken from my father's
and did not feel like getting
a prescription of my own because
I felt STRONG and better, able
to be happy without meds.

So I went cold-turkey
from an alternative dosage
(from beginning of the 3 weeks
I had taken the drug) of 10 than
20 than back to 10 than 20 and so on
all through my taking the drug.

First 3 days = just fine.

Than.......
On the 4rth day, horrific nightmares.
Mood swings (I snap when I can't get to
swim one day, cry for an hour, my
face muscles ache form the sobbering....)
Feel nauseatous but mostly
DIZZY
First I felt dizzy when standing up and moving
my eyes or head.
It has gotten worst and worst...
no longer crying of nauseatous
but MORE AND MORE DIZZY.
It has been more than a week
and now I am afraid to walk outside,
I have the feeling I a swimming in zig-zag.
(Swimming has helped me a lot
though, it makes me feeeel GOOOOOOD
mood-wise).
I am paraplegic and use a chair once in
a while and the rest of the time -almost always-
use braces and crutches.
Well nowadays, I use my wheel chair most of the time.
Waking up in the morning is very difficult
because it's like my ear-equilibrium is
not functioning.
It's hard to sit in my bed.
I am afraid to fall from the toilet....
If that's not an addictive drug,
what is ?
If you get severe withdrawal
symptoms from discontinuation of a drug,
then that's addictive, no?
Excuse my english.
I am French.

[barbara to pain and lortab]

I released myself from a mental ward just yesterday after four days of voluntary entrance for severe depression, alcohol and Klonopin withdrawal. The people there were so incompetant that they sat and watched television laughing at the comedy playing while I sat there having two seizures back to back. During the second seizure one of the staff stood next to me and said "oh I'll watch the CODE ZERO. He was being sarcastic obviously. After the end of the seizures each lasting nearly 15 minutes, only the main nurse asked if I was alright. The others just stood around eating and laughing and making jokes. One even suggested I was faking it. I asked the fool that made the code zero comment what he meant and he said they only have code one and two and then asked me while quite surprised, "OH YOU HEARD ME SAY THAT? I said yes, my seizures are partial status and I do not completely lose consciousness.

I asked them to call my doctor and they said they could not for a few hours. I was in DT's, went into a screaming rage and had to be physically dragged to a restraining room. While placed in the restraining room I demanded they call my doctor as DT's is considered a medical emergency and all they did was go back to eating, laughing and joking. I banged on the small plexiglass window in an attempt to break it out while screaming for them to call my doctor. They got sick of the banging after about 20 minutes and finally called her. She had them give me anti-seizure medication and Klonopin and said she would be in later to see me. The staff then let me out of the room since I had camed down. I then called my Doctor and demanded an immediate release. She gave it to me but told me out-patient treatment is too dangerous. I said it sure wasn't any less dangerous than being in that hell-hole so I said release me anyway and I'LL detox myself. She was actually angry with me for not taking her advice to stay the 30 days she had initially suggested. She had me on work passes and figured I should have stuck it out. She was ready to dump me as a patient saying she would not treat me on an out-patient basis. I had to practially beg her to continue treating me as an out-patient and she requested I fill out a form releasing her of any responsibility if I should die or whatever.

So the point I am making here Stephen White is I know all about withdrawal and losing my temper and uncaring, incompetant human beings with no compassion.

So if you are disappointed in me, that is your right! I am disappointed in most of the human race and life in general so I guess we have disappointment in common! I really don't give a **** if I live or die to be completely honest with you! I have been fighting alcohol withdrawal for six months now first as an out-patient and then as a very temporary in-patient. I have had over 65 seizures and DT's more times then I care to count. I am worn down to barely being able to function at work.

So now, a little note to you Clay who thinks I am a heartless *****. Now you know my mental problems, severe depression, alcohol depedancy, sleep disorder and OCD. It's nice to hear you have a bachelors degree, now all you have to do is find the right meds for yourself to get over your problems. I didn't mean to be picking on you, sorry if you took it that way. I tell myself to get a grip all the time! I sure had to yesterday! I have an IQ OF 146 but it doesn't seem to do much good when I drink it down to 100 and can't function mentally in life.

[Stephen White]

Well Barbara, I'm deeply disappointed in you. I remember being in a psychiatric ward when I was really going through my depression and anxiety and someone saying to me the same thing you have just said. The effect was devastating.

I can understand if you were put out by the previous posters somewhat offensive language, but to make such an outdated comment smacks of ignorance.

If anyone needs help with Paxil withdrawl, you can visit my site at:

http://www.swhite.cwc.net/paxil/index.html

I hope you find it useful. If you want to discuss these symptoms of withdrawal contact me at ***@****. I know what you're going through believe me.

Stephen White

[Bitch to Clay]

Like I said, you sound like you have an anger problem and panic problem. Get a grip!

[Clay to Bitch]

hey barbara, shut the hell up.  You annoying *****.  Keep picking on me if you want. So what's your psychological disorder?  By the way, don't lie, I have a bachelor in psychology, which isn't much but it's more than most.  I just speak in certain vocabulary because I feel the world is good, yet people are so artificial and selfish.

clay

[barbara to Clay]

Sounds like you are having a panic attack. Get a grip!

[Claudia Abbott]

I have noticed that if I miss a couple of days of taking Paxil I get dizzy.  If I turn to the side quickly I am dizzy.  Also, the 20mg that worked at first aren't doing what they used to.

[clay]

Jesus Christ!!.  I just started taking Paxil a week ago.  I can already feel my mind wandering more,, is this normal.  Also, I can tell I don't get angry as quick.  But, my panic attacks have increased and my social anxiety disorder has definitely worsened.  Is that not completely ******?  **** doctors, excuse me, **** psychiatrists.  Excuse my language but the deceit is overwhelming.

[firenze]

Oh, this is encouraging news. I just started last night to wean myself off of the paxil. I guess my husband has something to really look forward to. I have been on the paxil since Nov 99. I cant take it anymore, paxil and klonopin. I feel like I'm becoming addicted to these drugs.  I dont even know who I am anymore, neither does my husband for that matter. We were just talking about this very thing this morning.
please e mail me if anyone has anything encouraging to say or just on your experiences with both of these drugs. It seems that I am having more panic attacks then I did before I started taking these meds. Whats up with that?
firenze
***@****

[markk]

I totally agree that coming off Paxil is major, serious clinical stuff.
I sit here typing weening off Paxil after nearly six years of steadily increasing dosages for depression. I was up to 40 mgs a day, in the morning. My psychiatrist cut me back to 30 mgs over a two-month period, and now to 20 mgs for about a month. I sit here, again, WITHDRAWING!!
Can we say, heroin?
Over the years, I have had psychiatrists all but LAUGH at me when I told them Paxil is ADDICTIVE. Now, NOW, they're saying, oh, jeez, well maybe you SHOULD wean off it.
It's unbelievable that a major anti-depressant has such little support. It is a wonderful drug, but more must be known about its effects, one of which, by the way, is super decreased libido.
Just ask my wife.
Thanks for listening.

[HFHS.MD-AJ]

It is unfortunate that you are experiencing the symptoms that you describe, which are not uncommonly associated with abrupt discontinuation of Paxil. However, discontinuation of Paxil is generally well tolerated when tapered appropriately as in your case. Symptoms of the "Discontinuation Syndrome" are usually self-limiting within two to three weeks. Hopefully, you will begin to feel better soon. Please discuss your concerns further with your treating physician/psychiatrist.

[Karen]

Please, Drs., don't tell me that there is no evidence that Paxil causes this horrible withdrawl.  I am 110% sure that this is what I am suffering from...AND Smith/Beechum readily admits that reports of adverse side effects are way way worse than they originally thought.  

If anyone has any other ideas please email me. I saw the note about trying to snack, but since I am throwing everything up, that is kind of hard to do.  Lots of saltines I guess.

Thanks,

***@****