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

[feedthebirds]

I had a very hard time weaning off of Paxil also after ppd. I actually found that taking magnesium citrate and omega 3's helped me some. I have to agree that the zaps and whoosh are the worst part. My weaning went something like this(this is what my doctor suggested for me, make sure you talk to your doctor about what is best for you):
Week 1 3/4 tablet
Week 2 1/2 tablet
Week 3 to 3 1/2 used pill cutter to cut pill between 1/2 and 1/4 mark. This was after going down to 1/4 was too much for me
Week 3 1/2 to Week 4 1/4 tablet
Week 4 to Week 4 1/2 1/2 of 1/4th of tablet (1/8)
Week 4 1/2 ish Done

Still had occasional withdrawl symptoms for 2 weeks after, though nothing like the weaning process itself. The paxil withdrawl websites were of great help to me too. Weaning off of Paxil was hard, but I did it, and am proud of that!!!

 

[RNMOM]

When I weaned off it my doctor had me do it over 4 weeks. Half doses, quarter doses, every other day, etc. I didn't have any trouble.

 

[BCV513]

I was on Paxil for five years at 40 mg before I tried to come off it the first time. I was on it for generalized anxiety and social anxiety. I made it down to 10 mg and it was awful. I had "rice krispie" brain. I would be talking to someone and in the middle of a sentence, I would completely forget what I was saying or I wouldn't be able to think of a word. I started having random panic attacks for no apparent reason. I had never had panic attacks before. My doctor put me back up to 20mg and everything went away.

Last year I tried to come off again. Paxil works extremely well for me. I just don't like the weight gain side effect. This time, I slowly came off Paxil while adding another drug at the same time. I forget the name. That lasted about three months. I had no withdrawal symptoms this time, but the new medicine did nothing for my anxiety.

 

[KerriSue]

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.

This is me--I have been taking paxil for years and years and if for whatever reason I miss one I get super dizzy, I vomit, headaches. It is awful. Paxil itself really works for me. I just pray I never have to stop taking it. I think I would die

 

[dcentity2000]

Paroxetine is a bummer of a medication to come off; that's why it's rarely a first choice medication.

Just take things slowly, don't feel compelled to rush things and everything will be alright

Try my archives, here. The entry for Paroxetine is about half way down.



Rich::

 

[Nette]

You definitely want to get off Paxil before conceiving. It can cause some pretty severe birth defects.

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.

DON'T open your pills. My Psychiatrist said this is actually very dangerous because it removes the "XR" part of the pill.

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*.

Effexor is the worst thing I've ever come off. And I didn't even realize all the side effects it had until I was off it.

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!!

Shrink also told me that Cymbalta is basically another form of Effexor. No way in hell will I take it.

I've never actually taken Paxil, but when I was weaning off Effexor, I read about a lot of people coming off Paxil with very similar side effects. You can read about my experience coming off Effexor and going onto Wellbutrin: http://jmday.com/?p=52

Good luck to you. I wouldn't wish those symptoms on my worst enemy. I'll keep you in my thoughts...

 

[Maggimus]

Wow everyone has been so supportive. Im glad im not alone.

I feel like I am coming off of street drugs or something (although i have never taken them and just assume this is what it would feel like).

Im also glad im not pregnant this month like we were initially hoping. I would have had all of that in my system. And we all know the first few weeks are the most critical when you conceive.

My mom called this morning to check on me and I was still asleep (10am). Sometimes i think its better to sleep than to wake up, ya know? So i told her I would call her when I got going. Immediately... zaps and the whoosh. I was trying to tell her about it and i lost my train of thought completely. Good thing on the internet i can read what i was writing before..lol so i know where i was going with it.

Today I plan on checking out a lot of these sites that have been mentioned. Thanks!

 

[dcentity2000]

Effexor is the worst thing I've ever come off. And I didn't even realize all the side effects it had until I was off it.

Venlafaxine (Effexor) is FAMOUS for being terrible to come off. It's powerful, that's for sure, but over-prescribed - safer medications are in plentiful supply.



Rich::

 

[Nette]

Venlafaxine (Effexor) is FAMOUS for being terrible to come off. It's powerful, that's for sure, but over-prescribed - safer medications are in plentiful supply.



Rich::

I knew it was hard to come off of when I started it, the side effects I was talking about was the ones I was experiencing (but not really noticing) while ON the drug. Inability to lose weight, drinking too much (it will actually make you crave alcohol), loss of taste, no libido, the list goes on and on.

That stuff is just awful. I mean, if it is the ONLY thing that will help someone, then go for it... but try other stuff first. please.