Update on Withdrawals

[BizVsNuge31]

So I guess I kinda just wanted to give an update so if anyone is at the same stage that I am, that have someone to kind of bounce off of.

2 years ago I started 25mg of Paxil CR (equivalent to 20mg of regular Paxil). About a month ago, I started weaning. I am currently down to 5mg, been here for about a week (one day I had to take 10mg because I thought I might kill myself).

So, today my zaps and dizziness are pretty bad. I felt sick/nauseaus all last week, but that went away amazingly over the weekend, only to appear again today. Headaches are coming on... but I am also a migraineur so that may not be a withdrawal thang. I am extremely manic, which is making my studying very difficult. I'll read about 1 page in my book, then decide to do a load of laundry. REad another page and decide I want to rearrange the spare bedroom. I am talking 32498572843954378325 miles per hour. I actually had my first violent dream last night (I got shot in my back at close range, interesting), but I dont know if thats withdrawal, or me just reading too much about people having violent dreams, right before I went to bed.

I dont know if I am doing good or doing bad.. I have read such horror stories on here, and while my withdrawals really freaking suck, I have a feeling they could be much worse, and it scares me that I may not be there yet :-/

I hope to be down to 0mg within the next 2 weeks. I will probably give it another few days on 5mg, feel myself out, then go down to 2.5 mg. I'll take it from there.

I hope everyone is doing well Take care.
Kristen

[Meri_Ashke]

*raises hand* Looks like we're going to be dropping down to zero at the same time. I'm also having trouble concentrating, but it's more that I can't focus on anything, rather than bouncing around. But yeah, I think I'm near the same stage you are. *hugs*

[BizVsNuge31]

Originally Posted by Meri_Ashke

*raises hand* Looks like we're going to be dropping down to zero at the same time. I'm also having trouble concentrating, but it's more that I can't focus on anything, rather than bouncing around. But yeah, I think I'm near the same stage you are. *hugs*

I am having trouble focusing my thoughts, and getting motivated as well. Are you having any other physical symptoms yet? My Dr. also told me that I could go straight from 25mg, to 10mg, to 0mg. lol. What an idiot.

[Meri_Ashke]

Originally Posted by BizVsNuge31

I am having trouble focusing my thoughts, and getting motivated as well. Are you having any other physical symptoms yet? My Dr. also told me that I could go straight from 25mg, to 10mg, to 0mg. lol. What an idiot.

Mostly I'm just tired, but a little dizzy and overheated, and with the occassional headache.
lol, yeah that doesn't sound too bright- for me, it's more trouble to get off the 10 than to go lower from the higher dosage.

[Believer]

Welcome Kristin - You've found a great place for support. My one word of advice is to not get yourself set on a rigid tapering schedule. I had my plan all set out for me and have had to be disappointed several times when I wasn't physically or emotionally able to taper when I wanted to. I have to really go with what my body tells me to do. I'm finding out that slower is better.

[ZREAL]

I agree the slower the better I have been off for over one month. I recomend you stay on a dose for one month until you decided to go down again. a week wont cut it, you will feel the difference, one month is a fair enouph time for you poor brain to readjust.

[Meri_Ashke]

Originally Posted by ZREAL

I agree the slower the better I have been off for over one month. I recomend you stay on a dose for one month until you decided to go down again. a week wont cut it, you will feel the difference, one month is a fair enouph time for you poor brain to readjust.

It seems like we all agree that the slower is better- so why won't the doctors notice that? (Well, mine, anyway)

[Freedom]

Hello Everyone,

Is anyone working while withdrawal?, the way I geel, Day Ten with nothing, i couldn't do it. I'm having a big problem with doing my online school and interviews, I feel really bad!

[feelin'_wiggy]

Hi Darlene,
I left a reply for you on the other thread.

[Meri_Ashke]

Originally Posted by Darlene Upton

Hello Everyone,

Is anyone working while withdrawal?, the way I geel, Day Ten with nothing, i couldn't do it. I'm having a big problem with doing my online school and interviews, I feel really bad!

I haven't found a job yet since I graduated, for which I am really thankful. The way I feel now, there's no way I could go back to working at the mall. I'd end up attacking one of the customers!

[nicole55]

I'm almost at the same place as you. Take it slow, small drops are better, I've found. Especially if you are having bad symptoms, zaps etc, and from what I've heard the last 5 to 10 mg can be really hard for some.

[BizVsNuge31]

Originally Posted by Darlene Upton

Hello Everyone,

Is anyone working while withdrawal?, the way I geel, Day Ten with nothing, i couldn't do it. I'm having a big problem with doing my online school and interviews, I feel really bad!

I work full time AND go to school part time. Its hell. Im having a bad day today.. HOT, dizzy, ZAPS are awful.. ugh.. just freaking ready for this to be over. Still have SO much to go through, because Im still on 5mg. Im sad

[batey]

Hi everyone

This is my first post on this site - am sooo pleased to have found it! I have also been doing a lot of reading before posting, and I have to echo previous comments that I seem to be luckier than most at the moment. Hope this might help those of you who are a few weeks behind me on the road to recovery!

I started on 20mg of Seroxat (UK equiv of paxil) last sept, following fairly long term but manageable depression. Husband had been off work for 18mths and was on high dose of effexor which turned him into a zombie (neither of us realised the impact of the drug at the time which is a bugger). Had made some stupid choices in personal life over previous year which had caught up with me, so GP prescribed seroxat to help me to cope with working and simply surviving. Ha!!

Upped dose to 30mg after 2 mths cos nothing helping. Split up with husband cos couldnt feel anything for him any more and didnt see a future. Now realise after reading posts on here that that was likely to have been the seroxat rather than my marriage - but as my divorce is already through I had better not dwell on that one.

Reduced dose to 20mg by about Feb of this year cos thought I should be able to wean off and cope without it. That was OK but 20-10mg was tried too quick and had major W/D so got liquid seroxat to help go slower than cutting up tablets.

was doing good, down to less than 5mg a day and had been on that dose for 2 weeks, gradual down from 10. I also took an extra 5mg on days when I felt the 'zaps' come back, as that seems to be my first sign of W/D.

Then last friday had a few too many drinks, let the anger out, rowed with boyfriend, and drank the remains of my liquid seroxat with a tumbler of Vodka!! Not big, not clever. Drove (I know, I am sooo cross with myself) the 2 miles to now ex-husband's house, let myself in and slept there. Woke up, came home, spent all day throwing up and feeling sorry for myself, and here we are, 5 days on and I am really starting to struggle. Am determined not to get any more Seroxat - I am thinking that as I had nearly weaned off anyway there is not much to be gained. But am feeling teary, have awful zaps and wobbly legs, nausea and gas . I think the worst bit today has been the feeling of being so close to losing it, shouting at people and venting! Am still in work but finding it tough. Dont want to admit defeat!!

Anyway, sorry for over-long rant. Good luck to those reducing dosage - gradual is good, I didnt seem to need as long as some to stabilise, only a week or so on each 2.5mg drop, but then maybe I am not a good example to follow!

There are so many of us out here, we have all the strength we need to find ourselves again.

Batey xx

[blueskeyes]

i am new to the site - have been reading and gaining lots of strength and info from everyone's experiences.. a huge thank you to everyone who gets the courage up to get off paxil and get on here! i just started my own wean program - i was only on 10mg/day and have cut to 7.5mg. this seems real slow, i know, but the phsyical stuff that has happened before (twice i tried cold turkey) i just can't deal with. so... here i am, day 4 and actually feeling pretty damn good physically. mentally, though i feel sort of cloudy and like i can't concentrate or "jump in" to a task. it's funny because throughout the day i get these bursts of unbelievable clarity and focus - hopefully that will last longer as the wean progresses. anyway.. just a few first ramblings.. even though it's a small start, i'm so excited and proud to start my road to being free.

katelly

[Delynbetter]

Keep up the good work. Small steps are MUCH better as we have most learned. I went down kind of fast, but I know that it's going to be decreases of drops rather than whole milligrams from here on out. I know there are going to be days that I take a few extra drops, but will still be on the way down.

[elisa]

From my own experience sofar in tapering....... the slower the better.......

Have some side-effects but nothing to speak of compared with quite a few members who cut by 2.5 mg. Especially when going below 10 mg it seems to be important to take it real slow. I am learning from other members on the board.

Have been taking a month in between each taper. My plan is to drop by 1 mg a month. I can adjust that plan anytime. It's a journey, not a RUSH.

BTW, tapering off Effexor, so the mgs I described are converted for all to compare it with Paxil.