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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
I am so sorry you are having such a bad time. I am no doctor, but how about if you went back to the lowest dose and taper very, very slowly from that, and see how you go.
Remember I am no expert, but I think that is what I would do if I felt as bad as you.
Remember I am no expert, but I think that is what I would do if I felt as bad as you.
Firstly, thank you all for your support. It really means a lot that you all don't know me and are rooting for me.
Today was a bad day. It is my second day Paxil free and boy do I want to grab my pill bottle and take a full pill. The worst headaches I have ever had in my life. Lightheadedness with these weird brain zaps. Ugh!!!
Emailed the psychiatrist today, she told me to hang in there. But honestly, I don't know how much more I can take!!!
Today was a bad day. It is my second day Paxil free and boy do I want to grab my pill bottle and take a full pill. The worst headaches I have ever had in my life. Lightheadedness with these weird brain zaps. Ugh!!!
Emailed the psychiatrist today, she told me to hang in there. But honestly, I don't know how much more I can take!!!
I am withdrawing from Effexor XR but doing it very slowly, unlike you. I have been six weeks on the first regime. This week I will start the second faze, and it will take at least six weeks, if not more on that. No hurry, just a slow taper until my body adjusts. You dropped very quickly, and didn't give your body a chance to adjust to the lower dosage.
Your psychiatrist, I presume knows what she is doing, but I am surprised she did not ask you to taper slowly.
Your psychiatrist, I presume knows what she is doing, but I am surprised she did not ask you to taper slowly.
They are normal, but as I said, your taper is awfully fast. I would ask to slow it down...that will help a little anyway.
Also, I forgot to mention that yes, I am doing this out of advice from a Psychiatrist who I've been in contact with throughout this whole ordeal. She has told me that my symptoms are "normal"
I just wanted to state my experience and to state that what I read about Paxil. I am NO means an expert or even a doctor. But just wanted people to be aware of my experience should they decide to take Paxil. I wish I was told about the withdrawal before I started, and might have chosen something different. I am sorry if I came across differently.
Today is my first day of being Paxil in 12 years. I still have a terrible headache and lightheadedness, but the feeling of wanting to cry has subsided, and my crazy dreams at night(mostly nightmares) have subsided too.
Thank you all for reading. :-)
Today is my first day of being Paxil in 12 years. I still have a terrible headache and lightheadedness, but the feeling of wanting to cry has subsided, and my crazy dreams at night(mostly nightmares) have subsided too.
Thank you all for reading. :-)
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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!