boyfriend

[ErinforabetterJonah]

Hi I am new here, I heard about this site through my boyfriend who is currently trying to come off of paxil. His doctor took him down to half for a couple of weeks and then nothing and he was having such a horrible time. I know he is suffering so much and I just feel helpless or something. I don't know what to do for him. I went with him to a different doctor and he is starting the paxil again and slowly coming off of it. I also got him an appointment with a therapist. I wonder is therapy will help. I hope so because I love him so intensely and I want him to be happy and healthy.

Well thanks for reading


Erin

[rdjanis]

Welcome, and you have come to the right website to get the information needed to come off safely with less severe symptoms.

Read the faq page here, based on thousands of others experiences coming off paxil. The safe way to go is very slowly, good luck. Great that he has someone to support him through this!

[Katesmom]

The fact that your boyfriend has found this place as a source of information is a good start for him in empowering himself to manage his own care responsibly. The fact that he not only directed you to visit, but that you followed through with it is a powerful symbol of the informed support that you will be willing to give him. He seems to be making a really good plan for quiting paxil. It is scary, I know, but you must take it as it comes. You'll both get through it.

[ErinforabetterJonah]

Thanks, we have been together for 5 years and have lived together for 5 years so I have been with him for many ups and downs. I just don't understand how a doctor could give this kind of medication and before he was on paxil it was prozac. Why didn't they try therapy first? I mean most of his problems started as trauma from childhood, so it seems to me that you would first try to talk it out. On the paxil he isn't mean but more snappy and he says it doesn't help anyway and I saw that he was still just as depressed except now he is 70lbs bigger. I am glad that there is a place that he can see that other people are going through the same things!!

Ok well see ya

[pantala]

Hi Erin!
I helped my bf wean off Zoloft (very much like Paxil), so come here or PM me if you need advice or support. I don't know why drs dont make people try therapy first except that they really believe drugs will help and it's easier and cheaper for everyone. Except medication just covers up the problem and causes bigger problems down the road.
Best of luck,
Kathryn

[kittyariel]

.

Why didn't they try therapy first? I mean most of his problems started as trauma from childhood, so it seems to me that you would first try to talk it out.

You hit the nail ont the head, because in hindsight for me personally it was kind of like trying to put a bandaid on a bullet wound. This is a really great group of people here, and its a great source of support and information. God bless both of you.

[LCrawford67]

Welcome, Erin! Weaning very slowly is the only way. Be patient. When I first came to this site, a very wise person told me "it's not a race, it's a journey." I weaned too fast also and had to go back up. The most important thing is your support. The support and love of our family and friends is what helps get you through this rough time. Good luck and God bless!

[summer bee]

Hi Erin! Keep in touch and let us know what's most difficult for you in this process. I'm tapering off Paxil now (just started), and I want to "feed-forward" as much as possible to anticipate how my boyfriend will react to my withdrawal symptoms. I'd love to know what the hardest parts for you are, so I can prep my boyfriend before I hit my peak.

[Scott]

This is the usual schedule that i recommend.

"when you're ready"
go to 25 if you can handle that.. then try and get the regular
(such a high drop because anything over 20 is fairly numbing anyhow so you shouldn't have as many bad symptoms.)

you may get down to 25 or even 20 without much trouble because anything up to and over that is a fairly numbing dose.

25mg - 20mg
(wait at least 2 weeks for symptoms to even appear)
then when your body is ready, emotionally also
20mg - 15mg
(same as above)
15mg - 10mg
(same)
10mg- 7.5mg
(same)
7.5mg - 5mg
(same)
5mg- 2.5mg
(same)
2.5mg-0

this is the absolute fastest you can expect to taper.
though you have to listen to your body, it's impossible for anyone to tell you how much to cut at any given stage in this.. it's up to you. Make cuts smaller if you have a hard time with those drops.. what i posted is the absolute fastest anyone should ween. The time limit is based on the individual.

[Buxy`s Back]

i totally agree with scott on that one

[Homerbcool]

Some post above mentioned and aid on bullet wound...that is exactly why therapy is requried, unless he is of particular sound mind and thinker and can do it himself...I have the same problem, although I have been on paxhell for so long i forget what caused my panic and anxiety...