Paxil Withdrawal

[Dana1981]

I've tried to get off Paxil recently and had the WORST problems. After researching and talking to people who have gotten off (or tried to get off) of the drug I am horrified that Paxil is still being prescribed. I am also AMAZED that a DOCTOR would actually say that this isn't dangerous, or that it isn't the PAXIL!?!? Are you kidding? How much were you paid to say that? Paxil DID help with my panic attacks. Did not cure or stop them, but helped. Then getting off of it, or trying to was ABSOLUTE HELL! I can't walk because I'm so dizzy I can't keep my balance. My head feels foggy and cloudy. My head also hurts and it feels like someone keeps hammering a nail into my eyes. I cannot read a book or focus on the computer screen. I get confused and do not understand even the simplest of things. I am 27, smart, in shape and fast- paced. When trying to slowly wean off of this drug - I become slow and confused. Also, I become nauseous, the lights around become extremely bright. I cannot stand the lights even in my house. I have to squint and then even cover my eyes. I become emotional -- overly ovely emotional. I become paranoid and scared and start to panic because I see shadows out of the corners of my eyes. Then I try to go to work and I can't correctly hear or understand what people are saying to me. I feel like I'm watching a movie or it is a dream. I start to wonder if I'm losing my mind. I start sweating in my own house (that I always keep at 60 degrees) and have to go outside in the 30 degree weather with a tank top on. That is if I don't fall down the steps from the dizziness or the shocks in my head. I became extremely angry and irratated. So angry that family members suggested that I go to anger management classes. That was before they knew that it was the Paxil. These are just some of the MAIN things I am feeling while slowly slowly weaning off of this drug that was supposed to help me. My doctor that put me on Paxil told me to only stay on it for 1 year. So one year later, this is what's going on. It is happening to everyone trying to wean off of Paxil. If you don't have one symptom, you have the other. And lucky me, I have most of them. I have NO time to take off of work and I worked like this every day until I couldn't take it anymore and went back on Paxil. I read one doctor say that this was a safe drug and there are no withdrawal symptoms and I had to laugh out loud. Please "doctor" try out Paxil for yourself for a year or 2 and then stop taking it. My husband was on Paxil in the army and stopped taking it and got what they call the "Paxil Flu". This is a dangerous drug that has many side effects and many MANY more withdrawal symptoms. You might as well be on heroin and try to get off. If I could go back, I would have never gotten on Paxil. It helped with panic attacks but gave me about 30 other problems. So to sum up.... when on Paxil you get to look forward to gaining weight, making bad decisions and choices that will affect the rest of your life and coming close to death while trying to get off of this drug from HELL!!
P.S. There are documents stating that GSK (the makers of Paxil) knew that there were horrible withdrawal symptoms and hid this fact. So either the doctor's don't know about it or they're lying to us. Either way, this is happening.. it's real and extremely dangerous.

[mo117]

Hey Paxiled, im sorry to hear that you experience symptoms till this day as a result of paxil. I've just recently been through hell after a cold turkey w/d attempt (recommended by my doctor) after i passed out due to too quick a taper, after being on paxil for 3 years. Im back on 10mg/day and stabilising.

What are the symptoms that have persisted since you've stopped paxil? How long were you on and what for? Are you on any meds at the moment?
I was prescribed paxil for chronic pain

Regards,
Mo

[Paxiled]

I'm not Sue, and because this is a really old thread you might not get any answers.  Might want to start a new one.  I will say that doing this with a GP wasn't your best idea ever -- they don't have much experience with this.  Most psychiatrists are clueless as well, but there are some good ones who do know how to do this carefully.  Your tapering down was probably much too quick for this drug, but hopefully what you have is all you get.  It's often called the Paxil flu.  But if it turns much worse, or gets to emotional stuff, see a good psychiatrist and taper off more slowly.  How long it lasts is different for everyone -- some swim through, some don't.  I'd be careful with the Advil, though, if you have stomach issues  -- it might not be a problem for you, but it causes stomach problems in a lot of people.  Ginger tea might help with the nausea.  People have reported good results from taking healthy amounts of fish oil.  Hopefully this will pass soon, but again, if it worsens or lasts a while it might be worth your while to see someone better versed in this difficult drug and see about tapering off it much more slowly -- after ten years, I'd think an experienced psychiatrist, which means not your average clown that most of us see, would take months to taper you off this drug.  But as I say, so far you're actually doing quite well and hopefully this will be all you suffer.

[lv1965]

Thank you Sue!!!  I have been on Paxil (generic, 20 mg/day) for 10 yrs.  I have decided to get off of it b/c of the side effects (sexual, weight gain, tiredness, etc).  My doctor (GP who does not really approve of or understand antidepressants, etc) suggested taking 1/2 a pill for 10 days & then 1/2 a pill every other day for 10 days.  Today marks my very last day taking any Paxil @ all.  What I have experienced has really come on within the past 5 days or so & it has all been physical.  I am generally nauseated several times a day and have a mild but "sick" headache.  I generally take n Advil or 2 about 2-3 times a day & lie down quite a bit, napping.  I feel like a have a hangover everyday and the motion sickness description is so accurate!  I am glad to know that this is all normal but am wondering if anybody has an idea as to how long this will go on?  It is a mixed blessing that I am unemployed right now b/c I don't think I could work through a whole day w/out resting, making bathroom trips, etc.  Good luck to all!!

[Paxiled]

Don't do this with this doctor.  He's a quack.  Everybody knows about Paxil by now, after all the lawsuits and publicity going back over a decade.  You need to taper off with someone who isn't a fool.

[Kym58]

I have been on Paxil, or Aropax as it is called in Australia, for 10 years, prescribed for anxiety. Going on was hell, I had all the symptoms above but the doctor told me it was my anxiety not the drug. He suggested increasing the dosage from 20mg to 40mg, which I did. It was terrifying and I constantly thought of killing myself.
After a year and another failed relationship, putting on 20 kilo's in weight and with no libido I decided to taper off. The experience was horrifying but I persisted, I took a month of work and after about three months I felt a little more normal. But the panic attacks returned worse than ever, I was dizzy all the time, suffered from rashes and terrible terrible headaches. I went to the doctor and suprise suprise I found myself back on Paxil. So 10 years down the track, my employer is ready to sack me, me children disown me and my friends are sick of me. I've decided to taper off again. I am going to go camping away from all the pressures and try to get off this horror of a drug.

My doctor says there are no withdrawal symptoms, it's just my 'condition' returning, but I know that isn't the truth.

[Ajbakes]

I am having all of the same problems. I have been taking Paxil now for 5 yrs.  I have tried so many times to go off but cannot because the side effects are so BAD.   The swimming head and nausea feeling.  It is pure hell.

[HatePaxil49]

Yes, the side effects are bad. But you have to take your time reducing the dose. I tried to get off Paxil to quickly and was getting the electric zaps, dizziness and general anxiety. I have been on Paxil for over 16 years. I started on 10 mg, went to 20 mg and then 30 mg. A friend who is a nurse told me Paxil can be nasty with side effects while taking it and getting off it. I also take Clonazipam .5 mg twice a day which helped with some of the side effects and is helping while I am trying to get off Paxil. I started by cutting the 30 mg tablet in half and then cutting one of the halves in half. That took it to about 22.5 mg. I did this for about 2 1/2 months. About three days into this, I noticed the zaps and dizziness, but it went away in a couple of days. When I went to my doctor for a check up, I asked him to lower the dose to 20 mg. He is very supportive in what I am trying to do.  I felt no side effects, though it was a very minor change.  I will be lowering my dose to 15 mg next week. We’ll see what happens. I’ll try that for 2 or 3 months and see how I feel. I don’t care if it takes another year to get off Paxil. I am determined to do it. I think being positive while doing this is extremely important. I will keep reporting and hope that anyone who reads this can be successful getting off Paxil.