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Paxil Withdrawal my story
Hi All,
Just wanted to chime in here and share my story, if you are considering and antidepressant or SSRI, choose Zoloft or Prozac, because from what I read, getting off of them is much easier on the body because it leaves your system slower then with Paxil.
I've been taking Paxil 20mg for 12 years and felt that it was time to go off. So a month ago I went down to 10mg and I am now down to 5mg. Even tapering slow, I have had TERRIBLE withdrawal. I have had severe headaches and lightheadedness, and have felt very depressed, like I can just cry all day. My dreams have been crazy at night, I have been having a lot of nightmares that I wake up from. It has been awful and if I didn't exercise like I do, working out 6 days a week, I really feel like I'd be suicidal.
Tomorrow I take my last 5mg. It is so terrible I have been tempted to go back to 20mg. But I am determined to get this evil crap out of my body.
I just want everyone to know that they aren't alone and wanted to share my story. I am hoping to make it through this. I am told it might be 2 months of symptoms. UGH!!!!
Just wanted to chime in here and share my story, if you are considering and antidepressant or SSRI, choose Zoloft or Prozac, because from what I read, getting off of them is much easier on the body because it leaves your system slower then with Paxil.
I've been taking Paxil 20mg for 12 years and felt that it was time to go off. So a month ago I went down to 10mg and I am now down to 5mg. Even tapering slow, I have had TERRIBLE withdrawal. I have had severe headaches and lightheadedness, and have felt very depressed, like I can just cry all day. My dreams have been crazy at night, I have been having a lot of nightmares that I wake up from. It has been awful and if I didn't exercise like I do, working out 6 days a week, I really feel like I'd be suicidal.
Tomorrow I take my last 5mg. It is so terrible I have been tempted to go back to 20mg. But I am determined to get this evil crap out of my body.
I just want everyone to know that they aren't alone and wanted to share my story. I am hoping to make it through this. I am told it might be 2 months of symptoms. UGH!!!!
Best Answer
Hi All,
I am now on day 9 of being Paxil free. I have been suffering through withdrawals and a head cold that I got last weekend. I really feel that the withdrawal caused my body to shut down. I rarely get sick. Even though I still have the brain zaps, withdrawal headache on top of sinus pressure that I have, I am now feeling optimistic. I don't feel the need to cry everyday, however I still feel a bit on edge. I am really nervous because I am getting close to that time of the month, and don't know what kind of PMS will be in store for me. In fact, I planned my taper schedule around my period.
I will keep you all posted. Thanks again for the support.
I am now on day 9 of being Paxil free. I have been suffering through withdrawals and a head cold that I got last weekend. I really feel that the withdrawal caused my body to shut down. I rarely get sick. Even though I still have the brain zaps, withdrawal headache on top of sinus pressure that I have, I am now feeling optimistic. I don't feel the need to cry everyday, however I still feel a bit on edge. I am really nervous because I am getting close to that time of the month, and don't know what kind of PMS will be in store for me. In fact, I planned my taper schedule around my period.
I will keep you all posted. Thanks again for the support.
Oh we care so much about each other. I am so glad you feel that in some small way we have helped you through a difficult time. If we could all do this, just give a few supportive words to each other, we would all feel there is someone rooting for us, and caring what happens to us.
Yes please keep us posted. When we try to help someone, and then no longer hear from them, it is a shame. We like to know how people get on.
Glad you are feeling a little better. Perhaps when the cold has gone, you will feel a lot better. I hope so.
Take care
Yes please keep us posted. When we try to help someone, and then no longer hear from them, it is a shame. We like to know how people get on.
Glad you are feeling a little better. Perhaps when the cold has gone, you will feel a lot better. I hope so.
Take care
Thank you all SOOOOO VERY much for all of your help and advice. I seriously couldn't have gone through this without your support. You all are very generous with your caring. :-)
Will keep you all posted, but I think I am just going to keep going. Even with this crappy head cold, I'm feeling a little bit better today.
Will keep you all posted, but I think I am just going to keep going. Even with this crappy head cold, I'm feeling a little bit better today.
Yes, if you can laugg at yourself...boy that goes a long long way! Sometimes, if I'm having a bad day, I just try to find the humor in some of the things that are bothering me. Getting a good laugh about it makes me feel SO much better! It's such an emotional release!
I have not see a psychiatrist for a long time. It is my own doctor who is helping me withdraw.
Strange, but only this week I put a question about SAMe on this site, as I had read it helps with withdrawals. Do you think it is helping you?
Well at least you still have a sense of humour, although I doubt very much if you feel like laughing at the moment!
Is your medication in the form of tablets? If so, you could cut in half, quarter, etc and wean that way. My medication is in capsules. I have read here about people taking out the contents of the capsules, and slowly weaning that way. I can go to 35mg in capsules.
Keep in touch, and let us know what you have decided to do.
Strange, but only this week I put a question about SAMe on this site, as I had read it helps with withdrawals. Do you think it is helping you?
Well at least you still have a sense of humour, although I doubt very much if you feel like laughing at the moment!
Is your medication in the form of tablets? If so, you could cut in half, quarter, etc and wean that way. My medication is in capsules. I have read here about people taking out the contents of the capsules, and slowly weaning that way. I can go to 35mg in capsules.
Keep in touch, and let us know what you have decided to do.
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As for your taper...it's NOT slow at all! In fact, it's very VERY fast, with some significant cuts in doses. Cutting a dose in half, then 2 weeks later, cutting it in half again will absolutely cause some nasty symptoms. Also, there isn't enough of a stabilization period in between dosage reductions. Are you tapering under the guidance of a doctor?
If so, I highly recommend you asking for a much slower and more deliberate taper. Paxil is a med that, the slower the weaning process, the better. If you are trying to do this yourself, PLEASE seek the help of a doctor who knows his way around these meds. The right taper can make the difference between a hellish taper, or a bearable one.
"But I am determined to get this evil crap out of my body."
I understand that you feel that way, but there is no race here. You're tapering entirely too fast. A proper Paxil taper can take many months, to be done right...and will make a world of difference in your symptoms.
Keep us updated...let us know how you're doing!