Paxil Withdrawal - can I get temporary disability???

[Jan13]

I have been taking paxil for almost 10 years and 40 mg per day for the last 5 years.  One of my doctors and I decided to take me off the Paxil and try Wellbutrin.  My family doctor advised against it so know I am being weaned off the Paxil with "one of its sister drugs".  I am having severe withdrawal:  depression, sleepliss nights, headaches that mimic migraines, blurred vision, dizziness, irritable bowel, etc.  The bowel problems alone make adhering to a specific schedule virtually impossible.  My boss, who is unaware of my problems, is not happy with me to say the least.  He complains because I am often 20-30 mins. late for work.  Today I can hardly concentrate because of a headache, blurred vision, and abdominal pains.  I'm thinking of quiting my job so I can concentrate on getting better, in the privacy of my home.  Since I have no other means of support, quitting my job is very scary.  Does anyone know if I could be eligible for short term disability or perhaps some sort of leave under the  provision of the American with Disabilities Act?  I need help!

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

I don't know the answer to the disability question, but I can advise you re your symptoms.  If you have stopped the Paxil code, you can get rid of the symptoms by going back to a smaller dose and then weaning yourself on a three week schedule...starting the first week by lowering the dose as low as possible; taking that low dose every other day for the second week; then every third day for the third week...you should not have any withdrawal symptoms on that schedule.

[abby10]

I am having severe migranes and legs pains from xanax withdraw. 12mg for 7 years and many regrets. Slow withdraw has been a year now and still 1/8mg of valium. I hope the pain is not permanent. The leg pain sometimes feel "electrical" with needles and pins. My neurologist gave me Lyrica. It helps very little. I have heard something about Quinine for the legs. Do you know anything about it and is it by prescription?
thank you

[MomRoxs]

My doctor told me to stop Paxil cold turkey and start Wellbutrin SR 150mg twic a day.  I have been on Paxil for 11 months at 40 mg.  When I tried his strategy, I became very ill.  I feel tired, withdrawn, brain zaps, dizziness, nausea.  Can I take a small dose of Paxil with Wellbutrin SR?  If so, how do I do this, what part of day?

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Yes, you can take small doses of paxil with Wellbutrin....any time of the day, go back to when you took it before...for some people it keeps them awake, for some it makes them sleepy, so take it according to its effect on you.