Information on quitting paxil and switching to something else

biannchi · 03-14-2006, 07:00 PM

Could I pls get some information from people who have managed to quit paxil by switching to another medication and then stopping the second medication? What did you switch to, how well did it work, any suggestions for someone else?

mach3939 · 03-14-2006, 11:11 PM

Some here have switched to Prozac hopefully some of them will chime in. Dr tried to switch me from Paxil to Welburtin, then Paxil to Lexapro I couldnt switch to either one. After I had started weaning he offered me Prozac but I didn't take it.

Where are you in withdrawal? Or are you just making up your mind about when and how to do it?

Debbie

scotty · 03-14-2006, 11:16 PM

Why are you coming off the paxil? The changes that ssri's make in the brain are across the board. So basically if you switch to another ssri you maintain the imbalance that paxil has created, BUT risk adverse effects from the new drug. It's like trying to quit cocaine by taking crack. The best way to get off of paxil is to slow wean.

biannchi · 03-15-2006, 06:07 PM

In response to your questions (and thanks, by the way), I'm coming off the paxil because I've been on it for 7 years, and have basically had enough. I sometimes get the zaps and wooshes and a loss of balance, and I also figure that I've been on it long enough, and the problems that put me on it (post traumatic stress disorder) are gone.
I have tried weaning three times, but without much success. One of those times I was trying to switch to Welbutrin, but couldn't do it. So, I'm ready to try again, and just doing a lot of research about how other people have made this work. I noticed a few comments here about people switching, so I just wanted to get more information on that possibility. I'm totally convinced that weaning very slowly is the best way to go though.

Brannigan · 03-15-2006, 07:11 PM

Hi Biannchi,

When I first came here I wanted off **NOW**. After I calmed down a bit and listened to the great advice offered, I somewhat reluctantly talked myself into going through a very slow weaning process. It took me 5 months (see schedule below) but, once it was over, it honestly seemed like no time at all.

I learned:
* Your body, and only YOUR body can set the pace so never feel like you're "behind" anyone else.
* Wait a month between decreases
* If a decrease turns out to be "too much", go back to the previous dosage and try a smaller decrease after a couple weeks of recuperation.
* Do your best to make the weaning process a LOW PRIORITY so you're not always thinking about being "done."

That's how I succeeded! I wish you the same success!

scotty · 03-15-2006, 07:14 PM

Brannigan, that is some AWESOME advice!!!

unique · 03-16-2006, 08:48 AM

My pdoc put me on Prozac to help with weaning from Paxil. It Didn't Work!! I went back on Paxil (20mg) and am doing a slow wean. Recently went down to 10mg from 12.5. I guess it was too much of a drop - per Scott's (Moderator) suggestion, I went back up to 11mg today. Wean SLOWLY would be my suggestion!!!

mkmullan · 03-16-2006, 12:32 PM

I think we all want to get to it and get it over with once we truly decide that we're getting off the SSRI merry go round. But as was stressed earlier in this thread going too fast and having too strong expectations can put all your efforts at risk. I'll think you'll find its getting the taper schedule right not switching SSRIs that counts the most.

I-H8-Paxil · 03-16-2006, 01:50 PM

I switched to Prozac and it worked for me. I know it made things worse for others. It says on pages 75-76 of "Prozac Backlash:"

Quote:

Yet another strategy that some psychiatrists advocate is switching patients at the end of treatment from Paxil, Luvox or Effexor to Prozac. Because these drugs all have similar mechanisms of action, the brain has what is called cross-tolerance, which allows one to switch from one drug to the other without discomfort. Switching to Prozac and then stopping the drug gives the patient the benefit of Prozac's built-in slow taper, which masks the dismantling of the brain's adaptations and usually protects the patient from noticing withdrawal.

Right away (my addition).

I slowly introduced Prozac as I reduced Paxil. I got as high as 20mg of Prozac, then dropped to 10 and then off. All in about forty days. I started having some emotional withdrawal problems about two months later. I never had zaps or wooshes.

If I could do it over again I may not have gone that route. I got off ADs like removing a bandaid - one rip RIGHT OFF. Not always wise. I don't recommend it to anyone or recommend not to, I just tell my story as it happened to me.

03-14-2006, 07:00 PM	#1
biannchi Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 6	Information on quitting paxil and switching to something else Could I pls get some information from people who have managed to quit paxil by switching to another medication and then stopping the second medication? What did you switch to, how well did it work, any suggestions for someone else?

03-14-2006, 11:11 PM	#2
mach3939 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Romulus, Michigan Posts: 1,088	Re: Information on quitting paxil and switching to something else Some here have switched to Prozac hopefully some of them will chime in. Dr tried to switch me from Paxil to Welburtin, then Paxil to Lexapro I couldnt switch to either one. After I had started weaning he offered me Prozac but I didn't take it. Where are you in withdrawal? Or are you just making up your mind about when and how to do it? Debbie __________________ Antidepressants since 1997 Zoloft, Serzone, Paxil for 7 years, Effexor for 9 months of that Welburtin & Lexapro mixed in too. Paxil 30mgs July 8 till Aug 6th, 15mgs Aug 7 till Sept 14, 10mgs sept 15 till Nov 14, 5mgs (Oct sinus infection 10 days antibiotics), Nov 15 thru Now, 2.5mgs (Dec sinsus infection 20 days antibiotics) Last Paxil 1/10/06 (Feb Bronchitis & URI 7 days antibiotics and Inhalers) (March Severe Sinus infection 5 weeks antibiotics & diflucan)

03-14-2006, 11:16 PM	#3
scotty Administrator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 46,985	Re: Information on quitting paxil and switching to something else Why are you coming off the paxil? The changes that ssri's make in the brain are across the board. So basically if you switch to another ssri you maintain the imbalance that paxil has created, BUT risk adverse effects from the new drug. It's like trying to quit cocaine by taking crack. The best way to get off of paxil is to slow wean. __________________ AKA Laurie "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." MLK

03-15-2006, 06:07 PM	#4
biannchi Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 6	Re: Information on quitting paxil and switching to something else In response to your questions (and thanks, by the way), I'm coming off the paxil because I've been on it for 7 years, and have basically had enough. I sometimes get the zaps and wooshes and a loss of balance, and I also figure that I've been on it long enough, and the problems that put me on it (post traumatic stress disorder) are gone. I have tried weaning three times, but without much success. One of those times I was trying to switch to Welbutrin, but couldn't do it. So, I'm ready to try again, and just doing a lot of research about how other people have made this work. I noticed a few comments here about people switching, so I just wanted to get more information on that possibility. I'm totally convinced that weaning very slowly is the best way to go though.

03-15-2006, 07:11 PM	#5
Brannigan Join Date: May 2005 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 846	Re: Information on quitting paxil and switching to something else Hi Biannchi, When I first came here I wanted off NOW. After I calmed down a bit and listened to the great advice offered, I somewhat reluctantly talked myself into going through a very slow weaning process. It took me 5 months (see schedule below) but, once it was over, it honestly seemed like no time at all. I learned: * Your body, and only YOUR body can set the pace so never feel like you're "behind" anyone else. * Wait a month between decreases * If a decrease turns out to be "too much", go back to the previous dosage and try a smaller decrease after a couple weeks of recuperation. * Do your best to make the weaning process a LOW PRIORITY so you're not always thinking about being "done." That's how I succeeded! I wish you the same success! __________________ Early 2002: Became a Paxil Junkie April 2005: Went from 25CR to 20 regular due to the shortage May 9 2005: Began tapering 15mg May 18: Tapered to 10mg May 25: Tapered to 5mg ... May 27 TILT! - too fast - back to 10mg June 18: Tapered to 7.5mg July 19: Tapered to 5mg October 1: Tapered to 2.5mg October 29: ZERO! No w/d symptoms since October '05. Is it really over?

03-15-2006, 07:14 PM	#6
scotty Administrator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 46,985	Re: Information on quitting paxil and switching to something else Brannigan, that is some AWESOME advice!!! __________________ AKA Laurie "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." MLK

03-16-2006, 08:48 AM	#7
unique Guest Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 469	Re: Information on quitting paxil and switching to something else My pdoc put me on Prozac to help with weaning from Paxil. It Didn't Work!! I went back on Paxil (20mg) and am doing a slow wean. Recently went down to 10mg from 12.5. I guess it was too much of a drop - per Scott's (Moderator) suggestion, I went back up to 11mg today. Wean SLOWLY would be my suggestion!!!

03-16-2006, 12:32 PM	#8
mkmullan Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 105	Re: Information on quitting paxil and switching to something else I think we all want to get to it and get it over with once we truly decide that we're getting off the SSRI merry go round. But as was stressed earlier in this thread going too fast and having too strong expectations can put all your efforts at risk. I'll think you'll find its getting the taper schedule right not switching SSRIs that counts the most.

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