Coming off of Paxil or Paroxetine...- WITHDRAWALS!!

[Maggimus]

DH and I are currently trying to conceive. My Ob/Gyn told me I needed to come off of my meds since we were trying to have a baby. She told me I should be fully off of my 20mg dose of Paxil in 2 weeks.

Today is officially two weeks and im just about off of it. Let me tell you I am suffering from the worst withdrawal symptoms I would have ever imagined.

Has anyone else come off of Paxil? I take it for my anxiety, but I think I would have rather dealt with the anxiety than have to go through this!!

This meaning:
feeling of being hungover
headaches
nausea
dizziness
inability to focus
high sensitivity to smells
night sweats with cold chills
"zaps"
etc, etc, etc...

Ive never taken illegal drugs or even prescribed medicine before. Apparently these withdrawals are very common and some consider checking themselves into rehab over Paxil.

I found this website... www.quitpaxil.org . Its been really interesting and has made me understand that all of these symptoms aren't in my head.

Has anyone come off of Paxil? Have any comments? Suggestions??

I think I would have rather dealt with the anxiety for the last year than go through this!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Hubby would agree with you, that he would have preferred to never take it at all than go through coming off of Paxil. He came off of it b/c it was making certain things worse, and he was getting MORE depressed b/c of the "side" effects.

He went cold turkey though, he wanted it OUT of his system and refused to go off slowly. So his symptoms were probably over a shorter duration, but I assume they were worse. His doctor didn't think he should go off of them so he wouldn't tell hubby (I didn't know him at the time) how to come off. That's another reason for the cold turkey.

Good luck!

 

[Mean Queen]

My DD was on Paxil for severe anxiety. It was horrible getting her off of it. We took it very, very slow. We cut it back week by week by a 1/4 teaspoon. We also started her on a new med (can't remember) to help the side effects. She's now on another med that isn't so immediate.

 

[CathrynRose]

UGH! The zaps.

OKay - I read a lonnnnng time ago that 2 weeks isnt enough time. I remember reading about someone opening up his Prozac capsules and pouring them into a glass of Orange Juice and taking a sip everyday for at least a month.

I wish I had great advice, but I dont. It's a really sucky withdrawal that the Dr's dont tell you about nor do they own up to it.

Lemme see if I can find that site.

 

[CathrynRose]

Here, this is it: http://www.prozactruth.com/taper.htm

 

[Maggimus]

Thanks everyone.

The zaps are the worst part. As i sit here I get them literally once every 5 minutes, maybe sooner!! I get so dizzy right afterward too!! Paxil does have really crappy side effects, especially the sexual side effects.

I wonder how long it takes most to come completely off of it... because Im feeling like crap and I have a feeling im only in the beginning stages of this.

 

[RadioNate]

It was horrid. I took it 6 years ago after being dx with PPD. I still remember the withdrawl.

 

[Maggimus]

Here, this is it: http://www.prozactruth.com/taper.htm

Thanks, I'll give it a look!

 

[Gagirl69]

I was put on paxil after my son was born (postpartum really bad). I felt fine as long as I was on it but If I missed a dose, oh my gosh, I felt awful. I finally decided enough was enough. I had to taper off of it gradually. I will never take paxil again just because of the awful withdrawl symptoms. Even tapering off isn't easy.

 

[lsyorke]

www.paxilprogress.org

You are NOT alone! And yes, that rapid a wean is a nightmare.

 

[DebbieB]

Did a psychiatrist prescribe it to start with? I would discuss it with him/her.

 

[Maggimus]

No, my primary care doctor did.

I suffer from anxiety (inherited from my dad, who also suffers). I discussed this with my PCD and he put me on Effexor XR. I suffered terrible symptoms while on it because I don't respond well to noripenephrine. He then switched me to a serotonin drug (Paxil). Going on it made me very sleepy at first... I adapted though and was fine while on it. Its the coming off part that's a *you know what*.

Ive learned just by doing this little bit of research that it happens to everyone who comes off of it. UGH... I just hope it doesn't last a long time.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

I was on Paxil when I was in college for about a year and I didn't have any side effects or issues coming off (lucky duck I know)

I'm on Cymbalta now for fibro and it sucks!! I want to come off but a day without it sends my body into that crazy withdrawl mode and I can't take it. Like you said, the zaps are the worst!! And Cymbalta gives me the zaps but if I don't take the drug the zaps are crazy bad, like I can't function bad. I have no advise but good luck!!

 

[SplshMtn99]

What the heck are zaps?

I take Lexapro for anxiety & have for at least the past 5 yrs.

 

[lsyorke]

What the heck are zaps?

I take Lexapro for anxiety & have for at least the past 5 yrs.

It's described as an "electrical shock" going through your head...very common in ssri withdrawal. Another symptom is the "whoosh effect", when you brain is running slower than your eyes resulting in a split second delay in processing what you're seeing...causes vertigo in alot of people.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Here, this is it: http://www.prozactruth.com/taper.htm

That list is funny. I had more of that stuff BEFORE Lexapro. Now its gone.

 

[Maggimus]

That list is funny. I had more of that stuff BEFORE Lexapro. Now its gone.

Its not being on the drug that seems to bother people. It's coming off. When i was on Paxil I was doing great, the anxiety went away. But most can't take that stuff forever.

 

[minkydog]

I was on Paxil when I was in college for about a year and I didn't have any side effects or issues coming off (lucky duck I know)

I'm on Cymbalta now for fibro and it sucks!! I want to come off but a day without it sends my body into that crazy withdrawl mode and I can't take it. Like you said, the zaps are the worst!! And Cymbalta gives me the zaps but if I don't take the drug the zaps are crazy bad, like I can't function bad. I have no advise but good luck!!

I have the same experience on pretty much every SSRI I have tried. I've been on Effexor XR now for a couple years and it got me really wound up--i wasn't sleeping at all! And in my light-sleep dream state I was having the most horrible dreams! I had to get off this stuff, but I knew what I was in for.

So I begged my doctor for some Prozac to help me withdraw. Prozac has a very long half-life. It takes several weeks to build up and several weeks to wean completely out of your system. I have found that I can wean off Effexor relatively easily as long as I take the Prozac for about a week while I'm dropping the Effexor dose by no more than 37.5mg. I still get the headaches and a little icky feeling, but nothing like the brain zaps and vertigo I would get if I tried to wean off by myself.

 

[Goobergal99]

I also have severe anxiety and I have been taking ativan for a couple years.... it is a bit better then the paxil

 

[rie'smom]

Maggimus, I hope you feel better soon!

I must be very lucky. In 1989, I was hospitalized for depression and my doc put me on Prozac. For 10 years, I took a pill everyday. Then I decided to quit taking it. I never had 1 problem or the least bit of withdrawal.