Changing from Paxil to Prozac

[Springrobin]

I recently tried to get off Paxil due to the huge weight gain. I have gained 35 pounds in the 2 years I have been on Paxil. I didn't manage to get off Paxil due to the awful withdrawal symptoms, but feel I would still like to get off it. How easy is it to get from Paxil to Prozac? I am on 45 mg Paxil per day.

[Hensley258]

I change meds about every two years because they only work for me for a couple years at a time.

I understand the withdrawl issues, but trust me you can switch. It can be done, it's just not easy.

It's MUCH more difficult to stop any SSRI medication without substituting it for another. In your case the goal is to swap it with another which isn't too bad, if you know the correct way to do it.

Here is the plan:
Taper off the paxil slow over the corse of 4 weeks. You can do this by breaking the tabs in half. For example you take 45Mgs a day right?

For the first week, taper to 30Mgs a day. Stay on 30Mgs a day for 6 days. Then on second week taper to 20Mgs a day for 6 more days. Then move down to 10 Mgs a day for 6 more days. Then after that, go to 5 Mgs a day for 6 days. (yes, you will feel like ****) after 6 days at 5mgs a day, then start the Prozac and stop the Paxil. Ramp up the prozac slow. If your doctor says 40Mgs a day of Prozac then start with 20Mgs a day for one week until your body adjusts, then ramp up to 40 a day of Prozac. (depends on what your doc prescribes dosage wise)

Get the program? It's a slow taper from the existing medication to wash out on the Paxil, before introducing the Prozac. It will be hard and you will feel sick, but trust me, when the other med (Prozac) kicks in you will feel much better.

You just have to tough it out thru the process.

The idea is to wash your system out on as much of the Paxil as possible before starting the Prozac. These two drugs don't play well together, which is why it's important to follow the wash out phaze I gave you before starting the new medication.

Understand?