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withdrawal from Paxil

Hello! I have been taking Paxil for almost a year now. I was taking 20mg daily. For the last month I have been taking Paxil CR. I decided I wanted to stop and contacted my doctor and she said to start taking it every other day for one week and every 2 days for the second week and so on till I am down to 1 pill then stop. I got through the first wek great. Actually I have never felt better! The first part of the second week went well but about 1/2 way through I started getting slight light headedness. I usually get it on the second day of not taking it. It is not  bad and I can still function normally but sometimes I get a little sick to my stomach feeling with it. Sort of like motion sickness. But it is just on and off. I just go on with my day as normal and try to ignore it. Do you think I should stay at the every 2 days for a week longer instead of going to the 3 days since I am having slight withdrawal? And is there anything I can take for the dizziness. That is non prescription. I also take Xanax which I am weaning myself off of. I am now down to .75 mg a day from 1.5 a day. Strangely enough since cutting back the Paxil I do not feel the craving for the Xanax like I did before.  Thanks for any advice! DAnielle
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Avatar universal
I am 26 and have been on paxil cr for 2 years.  I am tring to get off the paxil.  My doctor said to cut my pill in half for a week and then try half a pill every other day.  I ddid not take one yesterday and I heve been very light headed.  It feels very wierd.  Actually a little scary.  I did not know if this was normal.  I have not been able to do anything for two days, and for a 26 year old girl who likes to go out that is wierd!!!!
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Avatar universal
Anyone who can answer this question it would be greatly appriciated. I am prscibed to paxil 20 mg per day, but have not been taking it for five days. After first three days of not taking med I started to feel withdrawl symptoms. Dizziness, poor mood, wierd dreams odd sleeping patterns and confusion. Now on the fith day withdrawl symptoms are not as bad. I wondering  how much longer I should expect to feel this way.  And if there are any long term consequenses physically or mentally from stoping the drug abruptly.
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Good morning to you Jim. I'm working part time at the moment, so some days I have more time to spend on the computer than others. Sounds like you had to get up and out early today (at least it caused you to get out of the house!)...smile.  So you're one of those guys responsible for the big ass trucks I cuss everyday on the interstate...ha.  I hate driving interstate in the winter; some of those humongous trucks just roar by you, slinging slush. You're S.O.L. if you run out of windshield washer solution (which of course has happened to me)...smile.  What do your trucks deliver?  You mentioned a bad winter - what state do you live in?  I live in West Virginia and we've had the worse winter here than I can remember in years. I think it snowed everyday in February, so you can believe it that I'm ready for spring.  So you're blessed with a teenage terror also?...smile. I have a son who is also turning 16 in a few months - May 8. He's in a band, and they practice in the basement of my house several evenings a week (no wonder I've abused drugs, right?)---heh  Actually, I invested in a good pair of earplugs (best 5 bucks I ever spent)... :) Hope you're feeling well today...have fun car shopping (of course, you KNOW any car you suggest isn't going to suit her - she's gonna go for the sharpest, and costliest one on the lot!) Be a good daddy and get your baby girl what she wants. It will save a lot of tears, anger & begging (and I'm talking about from you!)....heh-heh  Love, Lisabet
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Avatar universal
Hows it going? Hope your day is off to a good start.. How are you making out with your struggle? Its a pissy looking morning here today. I just went out to check the tarps on my trailers and fire up the trucks so they will be ready to roll out when my drivers get in. We had like thirty something inches of snow over the past few weeks and now this morning it's pouring down rain and gloomy looking. Are you ready for summer to come back yet? I sure am..lol I have to deliver some freight this morning up in Philly because one of my driver has traffic court in Delaware. I don't feel like it!! wha wha wha, stop whining right...lmao It's not like its a hard job, the worst part of the job is covering the freight with tarps, other than that ya just ride around jamming on tunes all day. Do you work right now? I think you told me you do but I can't remember, I'm burnt...lol I have to take my daughter out looking at cars this evening when I get home. It will be her 16th birthday in 3 months so needless to say she has caught the car bug. I really didn't want to buy her a brand new car because she will probably tear it up anyway but I can't just go buy her some piece of **** thats gonna leave her stranded somewhere either. So I guess she gets a new one. She actually expects a new car, like I have an obligation to buy her one. **** my mother didn't buy me a car. I had to buy my own. Well I'm rambling on again so I will let ya go. Take care and try to stay out of trouble. Bye
Jim
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Hey friend...thanks so much for your words of encourgagement..but as for your assertion that your are "done" and "finished" -- I'm sorry, but I don't buy that!  As for your statement that you feel you'll always be a junkie---well, won't we all????  Granted, I've never been to jail or busted (...for the grace of God...), but I'm every bit a junkie as you are. Just the effort it took to come into this forum - I think you're looking for a way out.  Look how far you've come, from shooting "junk" to being on a meth mainteance program. You've already shown your dismay at driving past your old joints, and not wanting to be the "old man" in line.  Whether you know it or not, you're moving past that.  You're progressing in leaps and bounds, You need to realize that.  Your sweet heart shines through in your posts --- you're moving forward, not backward, please don't underestimate yourself. Take it JUST one day at a time....and please keep posting, you're an inspiration to myself and many others. Please e-mail me at anytime @ ***@****.  As with Thomas, who someone described as our "beloved resident opiate junkie", your wisdom is greatly appreciated.  It takes one whose "been there" and "done that" whom people really benefit from - no sugarcoated **** - just plain - life experience.  Love ya, you big ole' tatooed biker-dude....smile   Lisabet
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Avatar universal
The following is a message I posted in a different thread on this site, but I just read Ob Bob's post and wanted to make sure he read this....


I have just started Revia after throwing in the towel by trying to do it myself, on will power alone.  

I believe it to be the silliest and stupidest thing to NOT do after an Ultra Rapid Opiate Detox.  Only now, since I started Revia TODAY, have I learned what it in fact is and the chemical effects and counter-effects on the brain after long-term opiate use.  I underwent Ultra Rapid Opiate Detox on 4/20/02, but began to struggle with relapse approximately 6-7 months later.  Prior to detox, I was at approximately 600 mg/day of Oxycontin, prescribed by my Doctor and paid for by Workers Compensation Insurance.  My spine had some minor injuries that were horrifically magnified because I began to self-administer Opium by smoking it to reduce my pain levels.  At the age of 25, my ignorance prevented me from seeing the slippery slope I had just embarked on, and the cost was not an obstacle. (Ironically, the cost was not a problem because I had been working so hard, which is why my spine was injured...The Irony of Life)

The chemical manipulation ones brain undergoes while under heavy opiate use is quite significant.  For Revia to be able to rapidly return the brain to its original "pre-addicted" stage is VERY important for the individual that has no physical craving for the drug at all to KNOW.  In this case, it is purely physiological.  

To throw the term "psychological" around without really thinking about the manipulation ones brain undergoes after being administered 400-600 mg/day of Oxycontin as a substitute for the self-administer of Opiate analgesia resulting from trauma to the spine, creates a sense of naivety about the treatment course and education required for those that are physically dependant due to injury, and not psychologically dependant due to drug abuse.  There is an important distinction to make, if only because the former may believe himself to have a strong will and believes, ignorantly, that they can prevent a relapse on their own.  

Until the chemistry in the brain is changed back to the way it was, the physically dependant will struggle with possible relapse as does the psychological addict, but they are not one and the same in structure, but surely both are just as important.  Unfortunately, the psychological addict will have a longer struggle.  

But it is the duty of the medical profession to make this distinction and educate their patients when appropriate, for this tiny bit of logical education about the effects naltrexone has on reducing the number of opiate receptors in the brain, can be the difference between life and death for many.

I Thank God for granting me the wisdom to see the ignorance in my ways, and allowing me to return to my true path in life.  Not just once, but whenever I have asked.  

PH (28)


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Avatar universal
Hey Lisabet,
Thanks for the kind words. I am a lost cause when it comes to this game but you sound like you really do want to get it together and I gotta respect ya for that. I gave up a long time ago. I just pop in here and read some of these young folks postings and it bothers me. Alot of these kids are getting way out there real young and I just hope they can get it right while they still remember what it feels like to live. I can't remember a time when I was clean and just a "normal" dude doing normal things. Being a junky becomes a full time job after a while. If you ain't out hustleing to get shot money then you are in the projects playing cat and mouse with the cops. The dealer opens shop and hits off maybe ten people then the law rolls up and everyone has to move a block down the street... It really never ends and I don't think that alot of people realize how much effort it takes to be a junky. When they start using, it seems like an easy thing because they can go cop a couple bags of dope and they are set for the day and they stay high all day. After it gets its claws in ya you are constantly chasing money and dope just to stay well, forget about getting high. I was happy just to not be sick. I have come to realize that this will pretty much be my ****** up life for good. It's kinda like I'm just sitting here waiting to die. But you keep fighting the good fight and remember I am pulling for you and by the amount of friends you seem to have here I think you have more than enough support. If there is something that I might be able to help you with or share some of my f**ked up story with you I will be more than happy to do it. I hate to see people that are really having a tough time getting clean when they really want it. And I think the sooner they kick the **** the easier it will be. I am pretty sure when ya have been a f**k up for as many years as I have without ever getting clean, then I guess I deserve to be in the position I am in now. Nobdy really cares about an old junky so don't become one people!! Take care my friend and I'm glad you decided to say hi. I don't know anyone in this room as I just found it on the 26th of Feb. so it was nice to see you remembered me from the other posting.
Love Ya,  Jim  P.S. sorry to all about my long winded postings
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Avatar universal
DO MOST PEOPLE COME INTO THIS ROOM AND POST SOMETHING EVERYDAY OR SHOULD I NOT BE POSTING SO MANY???  i HAVEN'T NOTICED ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WRITING ON A DAILY BASIS. i DON'T WANT TO BE TAKING UP SOMEONES SPACE THAT MAY HAVE SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO SAY. pLEASE LET ME KNOW, ANYONE?? THANX....JIM
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Avatar universal
Your not taking up space with your posts!Were just here trying to help anyone we can!Some are using some are thinking,some areclean,some are related to someone using!We're all in different stages and your input is just as helpful as the next guys,Sometimes even more so!Like you said you've been on this road all your life so we can get your views of how it ruiened your life,But in my oppinion there is hope for everyone know matter how long they've been using!How did your court go anyway??Hope it went well.Take care my friend.        Jerri
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Avatar universal
Go to www.dispace.com. If noone can helpe you there go to the Celexa board. I found that board a couple of years ago when I started Celex. There is a guy there by the name of Silk/Silkenrune he is VERY helpful and is very educated with SSRI's. Hope this helps.
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Avatar universal
How are you doing my friend?Hope your doing better!Dont forget we care about you here!And like talking to you.Hows your depression?Hope its getting better!I'm still fighting the fight to get clean seems like I keep relapsing lately!But I know I have to keep picking myself up and dust off and go forward!!Hope your doing good..Take care my friend..          Jerri
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Avatar universal
Hey buddy - how you doing?  You keep hanging in there and keep posting - your "life experiences" can benefit everybody. Your posts just may be the turning point in someones life. I wish you well with your meth maintaince --- it may not be pleasant, but I'm sure it's a notch up from shooting heroin...smile.  Just try to get out of that house every day, even for a few minutes.  It'll help you more than you know.  Love/Peace, Lisabet  PS: As for your Xanax use - FYI - benzos such as that, valium, etc. WILL cause depression with everyday use.
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Avatar universal
Hey gg, Same **** different day. Ithanks for thinkin of me though. Don't get me wrong,  I am not depressed to the point of going nuts or anything like that! I was just telling that dude how much that **** has changed my life, ya know? I've been a junky for alot of years, I was even able to keep a heroin habit thru 11 years of prison thanks to all of my "friends" that would visit regularly with balloons. I used to be out and about every night making my rounds and having a good time. Now I don't wanna do **** anymore except sit around, drink my methadone and eat the occasional handful of Xanax. Those two drugs together more so than any others I have taken together are like throwing a match in a gas can.But yet my doctor insists on writing scriots for the Xanax and being the junky I am, I'm not gonna throw them away...lol I'm glad to hear you are hanging in there, it ain't gonna happen the first try as you well know. If you are really resigned to getting clean all you can do is keep trying. There is hope, my father (the wonderful man that turned me on to heroin) has been clean for about 12 years now. Just stopped. Flipped me out!! Now he ******* at me whenever I see him how I have to clean up my act. **** him!! He shouldn't have been shooting dope with a 14 year old kid and maybe, just maybe I wouldn't be so bad.Sorry for being so long winded and rambling, I have to get ready to go to court this afternoon. You take care and good luck to ya. Thanks again for writing.
Jim
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Avatar universal
Hang in there bro. Don't try to kick all of your vices at once. If ya try to quit smoking now I suggest you get a set of boxing gloves for you and your ol lady...lol  Seriously, if you have gone this far, the physical symptoms should be about over. But, your mind is another thing. It's gonna f**k with ya for some time. After all your brain loves this ****! I really hope you can pull it off bro. If you are 36 you have already lived to be an old man in this game. Sad but true! When I ride by all the old "holes" where I used to cop my dope it is nothing but youngsters in the dope line. Ya don't want to be that one "old" man standing there in line wrestling for a tester every mornin. Keep up your fight, and your wife....
Later
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Avatar universal
Bob,

I was wondering how you were faring.  Glad to hear you & your wife are still hanging in there. I don't have any experience with heroin withdrawal but I think we've all heard how difficult it is & I really think you 2 should be very proud of yourselves.

Bob!  I agree with Thomas here about dealing with 1 addiction at a time.  I do have some experience with nicotine as I am the quintessential on again/off again smoker.  I'll smoke like a chimney for a month or so & then quit for 6 & then start again.  My doc thinks I do it to relieve stress.  Whatever the case, when I quit codeine on Jan 20 I had only been smoking again since New Years.(You can tell I like to be a non-conformist ;-)  After a few wks. off codeine I was feeling very "pure" et al & decided to quit again using the patch which I've found to be very helpful in the past.

Not a good plan!  I was very agitated, couldn't sleep, etc. & I honestly think it made my drug detox worse.  I didn't know which was which.  Don't forget when you cut out the butts, you *do* experience withdrawal - agitation, anxiety, insomnia, cravings, etc.  I'm sure you are still going through detox from the big H.  About 2-3 wks. after I was off codeine I told my doc I was still getting sweats & chills & he told me I had to give it at least 2 mos.  And I was taking about 10 tylenol 3's a day.

Why put yourself through double detox?  You are doing SO well, why not wait?  I found the codeine w/d was virtually gone after about a month & so I quit the butts last Sun. & this time it's going fine.  Of course, with me, it's one day at a time!

They say quitting smoking is harder than quitting heroin & soon you'll be able to tell us if this is true.  However, for now  I'd urge you to cut yourself a little slack.  Keep that desire to quit cigs in the back of your mind until you feel most of the H w/d is behind you.  Whenever I found myself getting impatient I just told myself, Rome wasn't built in a day ...(whatever works!)

Cigs do relieve stress, so 'd light up & enjoy.  Meantime, set a goal date to quit & relax in the meantime.  You're already a trooper, Bob!

Best,

Dancing in the Dark
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Avatar universal
Tackle addictions one at a time. Stopping the nicotine would just increase your anxiety. You're coming off King Heroin, after all, so it might take longer to feel normal than with other opiates. I have no experience with Heroin. Perhaps someone on the forum who has stopped heroin could give you an idea of how long your WD will last. I'm sure it varies. If you're still coping with anxiety, don't take the L-Tyroisine. L-Tyrosine is useful as a pickmeup when you're in the post-WD malaise. It doesn't sound like you are at this point. The oral GABA is pretty much useless because it doesn't make it into the brain as GABA. Hang in there, Bob!

Thomas
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Avatar universal
Here we are officially 8 days into detox and 13 days since our DOC. Still getting chills, sweats, and bumpies. Normal? Tried to go without cigs today and it didnt take. Too soon? Maybe I should just ride this out first. Alot of mental anxiety still. Normal? Is the damn stuff out of my system yet?  Im waiting for some closure. It was only 5 months on and off with 2 phyisical dependancy occurances. I want to feel better. Tyrosine and or GABA, seems to have no effect. Drinking is getting back to abnormal. (normal for my prior opiate bout) I really want to quit cigs. I picked it up after our first detox 3 months ago.  They just fill a oral fixation but we get super anxiety when we try to go without(cigs). Almost to the point of caving in. Switching poisons I suppose. All I know is that drinking, and smoking seems to me as the lessor evil compared to the illegal alternative. I never ever drink and drive. I have been able to stick to that since 21. (36 now) I know those habits need to be addressed as well, but in due time. I dont feel I can lick everything at once. Suggestions? Flames? Past experiences? Watching the stupedest movie ever made right now "Kung Pow" Wow! It has me ROTHFLMAO.


Peace love
Ob Bob and company.
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Avatar universal
Hi - from my own personal experience, when I went off of Paxil, I had all kinds of weird symptoms.  Only in hindsight, did I realize I was experiencing withdrawal symptoms from it. I am now, recently, back on Prozac - I've had a better experience with it throughout the years. Personally, I'll never use Paxil again.  Just my 2 cents.  Lisabet.
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several people have replied to you at the bottom of this page. Post here in the top thread from now on to make it easier for people to find you.

Thomas
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Avatar universal
I was taking paxil for 3 years at 20mg a day. When I started on  buprenorphine I just stopped. The usual antidepressants never really helped me anyway. I have had no related symptoms or "discontinuation syndrome".  Keep in mind that I may be completely different biochemically than others.  I believe that I suffer from endorphin depletion syndrome. The buprenorphine has made a huge improvement in my sleeping patterns, mood, pain and level of motivation. Someday the medical community will recognize endorphin depletion as a major cause of depression. For now I am just a good for nothing junkie with all the medical and social stigma that goes along with it.
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Avatar universal
I think you might have better luck by decreasing your dose rather than the frequency you take it. I'd switch back to the non-CR pills, decrease your dose to 10mg/day for a week, then 5mg/day for a week. I have found SSRI after-effects often don't appear for several days subsequent to stopping. Xanax use/reduction may be augmenting your symptoms. Take care of one and then the other. I wouldn't stop/taper both the Paxil and Xanax at the same time.
Good Luck,
James (now 7 days without painkillers, but hopelessly controlled by cannabis)
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