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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Paxil CR Withdrawal
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
Paxil CR Withdrawal
by Feline321, Oct 10, 2007 10:14AM
I have been taking Paxil CR 37.5mg for about 7 months. I ran out of refills on the past Friday of the long weekend. I decided I was going to try and stop the medication as my doctor told me when she prescribed Paxil CR that it wasn't meant to be a 'forever drug', not to mention it is very expensive for a college student to take (even with the drug plan). It is now Tuesday at lunch and I am very dizzy and keep having to go to the washroom every time after I eat. I can not go to school feeling this way but do not want to keep having to take Paxil CR forever either. Maybe I shouldn't have stopped 'cold turkey' but I stopped smoking 'cold turkey' and never experienced this. How much longer will this go on for and why didn't the doctor say that this would happen when you stopped taking Paxil CR? ANy suggestions or helpful hints would be appreciated.
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Oct 11, 2007 02:44PM
, Oct 11, 2007 02:44PMTo: Feline321
You should wean off paxil gradually over a three week period, and the best way to deal with your current symptoms is to go back on briefly, and start the weaning process. The first week, lower dose to lowest possible but cutting the pills. Second week, lowest dose every other day. Third week, lowest dose every third day, then stop.
Member Comments (2)
by lonewolf740, Oct 11, 2007 06:07PM
To: Feline321
I have been on 12.5 mg of Paxil CR for one year and in that time period I have tried to discontinue use twice. Both times my withdrawal symptoms had nothing to do with dizziness as I've been reading so much about- in fact I have never experienced dizziness as a side effect. Instead- I have noticed that I've become much less 'social" and more angry- and I have no idea why- other than it is related to me trying to stop my daily dose. I am currently trying to ween myself again, but this time I have been doing it by cutting the dose in half- a pill every other day until I run out of my current stock of about 40 pills.
