Paxil withdrawal

[mooradley]

I have been on Paxil CR for 2 years now, and my highest dosage was 37.5 mg about 5 or 6 months ago. Over the past 6 months I have SLOWLY been reducing my dosage as I feel Paxil CR has not been the right drug for me. I would reduce the dosage about every month and a half. About 1.5 months ago, I reduced my dosage from 12.5 mg to 6 mg. Around this time, I started having EXTREME fatigue and chronic, unbearable nausea. I have had a colonoscopy and endoscopy but both were completely normal. I've had bloodwork done and was not anemic and my thyroid was normal. I even saw an allergist but none of my allergies were things I eat regularly. I went to a gynocologist to investigate painful menstrual periods but there were no cysts or abnormalities in my ultrasound and pelvic exam. Basically, on paper I am completely healthy. However, I am beginning to wonder if my Paxil withdrawal is causing this? I REALLY don't want to up my dosage anymore because I hate this drug and I've come so far already but I am at the end of rope. Daily functioning is impossible and I have to return to college in four weeks.
Could this be a Paxil-related problem? Would I still be feeling this bad after 1.5 months of being on my 6 mg dosage?

[nursegirl6572]

Hello and welcome!

I couldn't agree with Lydia more, and I'm going to second her scolding!  Despite us thinking we "know" enough to handle these situations, there is a reason doctors go to 8+ years of schooling!  ;0)  Ok, you get the point...no more scolding!!  

The rule of thumb with discontinuation of these kinds of meds is the slower the better.  The more gradual the step down process, the more mild any side effects will be.  And, Paxil, unfortunately is one of the meds that is a bit more problematic when it comes with withdrawal symptoms.

I agree that you need to get with your doc, explain where you are and move forward with a new plan, guided by your doctor.  You will feel better eventually, and probably quicker after you get on a reasonable taper plan.  The sooner you do this, the better, so you're feeling a little bit better upon returning to the University.

I, too, wish you well at college, what an exciting time!  What are you be studying?

[RubyWitch]

First of all, I have to scold you a little bit. You should NEVER have tried to wean yourself off this medication. But I am also going to put a great deal of this on your doctor who should have made it abundantly clear that when you decided you wanted to stop, you needed to consult him for a taper plan.
Even when you say you went slowly, your last cut from 12.5mg to 6mg was VERY drastic! Actually it was a VERY scary cut. It was at this point that you began to have a great many physical and emotional symptoms. Are you sensing a connection?
I'm not a doctor and therfore cannot say with any authority that this is a "Paxil related" problem, but if you asked me to guess if it could be, I'd answer with a resounding YES.
You ask if you would STILL be feeling lousy 6 weeks after dropping over 6mg of Paxil cold turkey, and that would also be a very definite YES.
I would very, very strongly urge you to see the doctor who prescribed the Paxil for you and begin working with him/her to straighten this out.
It may take some time, but you will eventually feel "normal" again. You've learned a good lesson about these types of meds the hard way.
I wish you the best of luck and have a great year at college!
Peace
Greenlydia