PAXIL WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS MIMIC HEROIN WITHDRAWAL!

[Jaime]

I am suffering from Paxil withdrawals.  Below is more information that the doctors won't tell you!!!

Tell your Doctors, and perhaps they will make the connection! How hard has it been for you to wean yourself from Paxil? It's as agonizing as coming off of heroin..and shares most of the same symptoms and long term effects! While researching an answer to all of the awful symptoms I experienced during my Paxil withdrawal, I was unable to find any medical resources listing Paxil as a source of these particular symptoms we all experience. Guess where I kept finding my search results directing me to? Heroin withdrawal. The symptoms associated with heroin withdrawal that are similar to Paxil withdrawal are: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, restlessness, and leg movements, or jerking. While heroin produces muscle and bone pain, insomnia, and cold flashes with goose bumps ("cold turkey"), which are not identical to Paxil withdrawal, the Paxil symptoms of headache, "electric shocks", dizziness and hot flashes as well as psychotic mental state (violent anger/hopeless depression, unwanted suicidal/homicidal thinking) are similarly debilitating and certainly result in the return to the use of the drug (paxil) in the same way that heroin produces that result! Most experts agree that the major withdrawal symptoms peak between 24 and 48 hours after the last dose of heroin and subside after about a week. However, some people have shown persistent withdrawal signs for many months. I think that most of us (the "experts" on paxil withdrawal!) would agree that, even with careful and lengthy periods of weaning off the drug, at least some of these frightening effects occur and are problematic in our lives for longer than the average heroin withdrawal duration of about a week! Most of us have found that, by the time a week has passed,off Paxil, the terrible sickness we feel has become so great, we are desperate to return to taking the drug again to alleviate the symptoms. And many often do return this way, again and again...simply because we can't afford to lose three weeks or more of work, withdrawing from a medication that Doctors routinely dismiss as not being a cause of such sickness (we all have a really bad case of the flu), or because we are so frightened by the strange, indescribeable physical and mental feelings of disassociation and nervous system "zaps" that we go back to the drug to restore clear thinking, fearing that we are "crazy"...especially since our doctors seem to have no understanding of any of these symptoms as relating to anything they have seen before.   I hope everyone who is serious about finding the truth about the drug Paxil and it's horrible withdrawal symptoms will be sure to notify their health care providers of all of the symptoms experienced with this drug and insist that the details be documented and reported to the manufacturer, distributors, pharmacists and anyone in the medical field who can process this information officially and end the notion that these symptoms are "hearsay", simply because the drug company has not chosen to make them "fact"! And the next time you feel, or someone tells you that withdrawing from Paxil is "not that bad", remember that you are in the throes of a withdrawal so severe. that few others, except heroin addicts, have experienced, and YES, IT IS BAD! But it can be survived!

: Shawn Allen

[Joybird1979]

This is the worst experience of my life. I have been on paxil for 11 months and now have quit cold turkey because I found out I am pregnant. Long story short I was in the er yesterday because I could no longer function at work. I have severe dizziness and feelings of being on an elevator that drops quickly. These feelings are almost happening at a constant rate. Diarrhea, anger, crying and nausea are all occurring as well. I cannot explain how horrible I feel and to describe the vertigo feeling of falling is almost impossible. I cannot work or get behind the wheel of my car. I am having severe nightmares and night sweats. I am exhausted yet cannot fall asleep. I feel as though I will fall over everytime I try to get up and walk. I want in on the lawsuit against glaxo-smith- Kline. I would not wish this experience on anyone but the doctors who prescribe it then maybe it would stop being prescribed.

[charlene58]

I am currently off paxil for about 2.5 weeks now.  I was only on 5mg.  Started at 20 went down to 10 and have been on 5mg for a year.  My head zaps are no fun as all I can do is lie down.

Dr.  I agree with Jamie.  Why don't you try it and then tell us your professional opinion

[MeganK]

How much were you on to begin with? Sounds like you tapered too fast. You may need to go back up a bit. I do hope you check out paxilprogress. They are very helpful there and they do have some nurses who check the posts and get back to you. Good luck.

[Wishccr]

Me too, I am there with you.  I started tapering off two weeks ago and took my last 1/4 pill 4 days ago.  I guess it's really true that if you want to taper off, you will have to shave micrograms off over years to avoid what happens after you stop.  The nausea, ZAPS, and uncontrollable crying or urge to cry come and go, but when they come it seems like it will never end.  I even had to discuss with our HR director if I should take a medical leave of absence from work.  I may have no choice, I cannot see how I can run two departments in this condition.  If you will hang in there, so will I.  Maybe I'll see you over at paxilprogress

[MeganK]

Did you come off Pacil cold-turkey? I'm sorry you don't have any real support. You can always talk on here. I will try to stop by and check the forum every once in awhile. Try going to paxilprogress . org. They have great information and a lot of people to talk to.

[alabasterblue]

i want to go back someone help me  i am over whelmed  i cannot stop crying my head hurts zaps dizzy. just when u think you might be getting better YOU NOT!!!!! by the way  anybody know that paxil and asprin can cause bleeding?gee ive been taking 81 mg a day for two years and having periods that were so bad clots the size of regulation baseballs were coming out and sometimes i would sit on the toilet and it would sound like i was pissing but it was blood!! i talked to a doctor about it more than once and was told to go on iron pills, WELL WELL   its my first period since i went off paxil and isnt it funny(not really) that i am having my first normal period in about two years!!!oh and by the way since starting paxil i gained 70 pounds...and gee isnt it funny(not really again)that i have already lost 9 pounds since going off it and believe me i have not done anything to warrent it because i am still too sick!!!!! theres so much more but i am just so sick of writing now i just want to crawl in bed and fade away.   i went on paxil for panic attacks,i would have rather found another way to deal than paxil if i was givin all the facts. i feel worse right now than i did when i went on it
scr_w the drug companies...its all about money!!!!