Hello Everyone

ewak · 10-29-2007, 06:36 PM

I am a new member, but not as new to the site. The withdrawal symptom section helped me get through a really horrible two weeks a couple of months ago when I was trying to taper off the last of the Paxil- 2.5mg to 0mg. I wasn't successful at completely tapering off, needless to say I experienced very difficult withdrawal symptoms (I felt like I was dying), but I did get down to the 2.5mg and am now taking the liquid form, which seems to have been an easy transition. I am trying to build up the motivation to taper completely off, along with the right timing with work and life etc.

I promise I will never write a post this long ever again, but I have to say while reading this forum I feel a mixture of complete anger and frustration at the drug companies and my psychiatrist etc. and at the same time I feel empowered to see people speaking up about their experiences with Paxil, because I am used to feeling alone in the private struggle of coping with anxiety and depression like I'm sure so many people do.

After the Paxil withdrawal and several particularly horrible panic attacks on the train on the way to work, it has been really easy for me to slip into negative thinking and worry that there is actually something wrong with me - like maybe I'm just going crazy...rather than the logical thinking that maybe Paxil-tapering is just messing with my head. I'm really scared to start tapering again and go completely off-because of the panic attacks and mind tricks it all plays are so reality altering that I don't even want to go there again. The last panic attack I had on the train I felt like I was going to barf all over myself and faint, and had tunnel vision to the point where I could barely see anything- very scary horrible feeling. How do you function day to day with people who cant relate with that? at work, socially, etc. It makes me feel like I dont want to be around anyone who cant relate with that. How do you navigate the day to day stuff -time off work, talking with acquaintances etc. about this private issue?! Most people I know at work etc. have no idea about this part of my life! Should they? My life has taught me that most people dont understand anxiety and depression or mental illness...

MeganK · 10-29-2007, 06:42 PM

Welcome, Ewak.

Only a few close friends know about my being on Paxil and even less know I'm coming off it. I do happen to have an extremely supportive boyfriend and that helps a lot. That and I have PP. Some days this site is what keeps me going. I know that if I'm struggling I can almost always find someone on here to talk to.

I work 2 part time jobs and neither employer knows anything about my withdrawal or that I'm on meds. I also go to school part-time. One of my instructors knows, and that was so I could get tutoring help. I guess it all depends. But know that you will always have someone here to help you along.

scotty · 10-29-2007, 06:43 PM

First....now that you have liquid paxil the wean can be as tiny as you need it to be. You can do .5mg every few months if need be. Don't let the fear stop you. KNOW that it is in YOUR control!
Distraction can be a HUGE help in a panic situation. What do you do when you are on the train? Get an IPOD, play it loud and find some crazy, fun songs with great beats, look at fellow travelers and try to figure out what they do for a living...anything to distract that brain.

10-30-2007, 06:22 AM

how quickly did you go from 10 mg to the 2.5?

emmy

eileen · 10-30-2007, 06:31 AM

Welcome Ewak, you've come to the right place for support. I used to tell people all the time and I've given up on it. I think it's like all things, one has to experience or have somebody really close to them on Paxil to know the harm that it does. I've given up looking for understanding from anybody other than my immediate family. I get all the support that I need in here. Good Luck!
Eileen

Katesmom · 10-30-2007, 10:17 AM

Welcome! I echo what Laurie (scotty) said. I would add regarding a support system that the reason that I come here all the time is that I can vent, get info, get support and all that stuff from other people who require the same of me. It really takes the burden off of all of those people around me who cannot possibly identify because they haven't lived it.

leo79 · 10-30-2007, 10:31 AM

I started telling lots of people I knew when previously I had hid my mental health problems. Some of them don't get it of course but in a way I was so ill I was past caring. My immediate family are awesome and I had to give up work and move back to my parents. You just have to do whatever it takes to get well. Nothing is more important.

ewak · 10-30-2007, 11:57 AM

Thanks for all you responses and support.
To answer your question emmy- It took me a good 3 months to go from the 10mg to the 2.5mg.

10-30-2007, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ewak

Thanks for all you responses and support.
To answer your question emmy- It took me a good 3 months to go from the 10mg to the 2.5mg.

That's pretty fast for most people on here and is probably the reason why you have been feeling so rotten. Tapering no more than 10% of your previous dose every 4-6 weeks or as tolerated is what is recommended here. If you had used that method you would be taking around 7-ish mgs. I probably wouldn't touch it for awhile until your body adjusts some more, or consider going up a little bit if things get too bad.

Emmy

ewak · 10-30-2007, 02:22 PM

Thats funny you should say that emmy, my psychiatrist told me to cut the 10mg in 1/2 for a week and go off it. I only tapered b/c I had heard that Paxil was so difficult to go off of...and my psychologist suggested that I taper very slowly. I've been taking the 2.5mg for a couple of months now and dont plan to try to start tapering again until sometime in 2008.

10-29-2007, 06:36 PM	#1
ewak Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 13	Hello Everyone I am a new member, but not as new to the site. The withdrawal symptom section helped me get through a really horrible two weeks a couple of months ago when I was trying to taper off the last of the Paxil- 2.5mg to 0mg. I wasn't successful at completely tapering off, needless to say I experienced very difficult withdrawal symptoms (I felt like I was dying), but I did get down to the 2.5mg and am now taking the liquid form, which seems to have been an easy transition. I am trying to build up the motivation to taper completely off, along with the right timing with work and life etc. I promise I will never write a post this long ever again, but I have to say while reading this forum I feel a mixture of complete anger and frustration at the drug companies and my psychiatrist etc. and at the same time I feel empowered to see people speaking up about their experiences with Paxil, because I am used to feeling alone in the private struggle of coping with anxiety and depression like I'm sure so many people do. After the Paxil withdrawal and several particularly horrible panic attacks on the train on the way to work, it has been really easy for me to slip into negative thinking and worry that there is actually something wrong with me - like maybe I'm just going crazy...rather than the logical thinking that maybe Paxil-tapering is just messing with my head. I'm really scared to start tapering again and go completely off-because of the panic attacks and mind tricks it all plays are so reality altering that I don't even want to go there again. The last panic attack I had on the train I felt like I was going to barf all over myself and faint, and had tunnel vision to the point where I could barely see anything- very scary horrible feeling. How do you function day to day with people who cant relate with that? at work, socially, etc. It makes me feel like I dont want to be around anyone who cant relate with that. How do you navigate the day to day stuff -time off work, talking with acquaintances etc. about this private issue?! Most people I know at work etc. have no idea about this part of my life! Should they? My life has taught me that most people dont understand anxiety and depression or mental illness...

10-29-2007, 06:42 PM	#2
MeganK Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bismarck, ND Posts: 330	Re: Hello Everyone Welcome, Ewak. Only a few close friends know about my being on Paxil and even less know I'm coming off it. I do happen to have an extremely supportive boyfriend and that helps a lot. That and I have PP. Some days this site is what keeps me going. I know that if I'm struggling I can almost always find someone on here to talk to. I work 2 part time jobs and neither employer knows anything about my withdrawal or that I'm on meds. I also go to school part-time. One of my instructors knows, and that was so I could get tutoring help. I guess it all depends. But know that you will always have someone here to help you along. __________________ Megan Began SSRIs in 2001. Paxil - began at 20mg in 2001, 80 mg by 2005, down to 40 mg in 4 months in 2007 , back up to 60mg in Sept. 08, beginning my new taper Jan 09. Currently at 50mg. Klonopin - began 0.5 mg in 2007, have been taking it 3 times a day. Buspar - began 10mg in 2008, went up to 15 mg, went up to 20 mg in Jan 09 - 3 times a day Supplements: currently none "The mind is like a parachute.. it only functions when open."

10-29-2007, 06:43 PM	#3
scotty Administrator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 46,997	Re: Hello Everyone First....now that you have liquid paxil the wean can be as tiny as you need it to be. You can do .5mg every few months if need be. Don't let the fear stop you. KNOW that it is in YOUR control! Distraction can be a HUGE help in a panic situation. What do you do when you are on the train? Get an IPOD, play it loud and find some crazy, fun songs with great beats, look at fellow travelers and try to figure out what they do for a living...anything to distract that brain. __________________ AKA Laurie "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." MLK

10-30-2007, 06:22 AM	#4
emmy Posts: n/a	Re: Hello Everyone how quickly did you go from 10 mg to the 2.5? emmy

10-30-2007, 06:31 AM	#5
eileen Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 10,524	Re: Hello Everyone Welcome Ewak, you've come to the right place for support. I used to tell people all the time and I've given up on it. I think it's like all things, one has to experience or have somebody really close to them on Paxil to know the harm that it does. I've given up looking for understanding from anybody other than my immediate family. I get all the support that I need in here. Good Luck! Eileen __________________ June 13/07-reducing by .05mg. every four weeks to present. October 29/08-Paxil Free 2006-Cut Trazodone from 150mg to 100mg. Sept 07/09- Trazodone 75mg. 4/10 Weaning Benzo. 12/11 Benzo Free! Started this journey of horror with AD's in 1994, Put on Paxil 30 mg in Feb/1995 I will survive!

10-30-2007, 10:17 AM	#6
Katesmom Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 13,812	Re: Hello Everyone Welcome! I echo what Laurie (scotty) said. I would add regarding a support system that the reason that I come here all the time is that I can vent, get info, get support and all that stuff from other people who require the same of me. It really takes the burden off of all of those people around me who cannot possibly identify because they haven't lived it. __________________ Katesmom aka Kim started Paxil Oct. 2003 for PIH Paxil free since 19 Jul 2005 ". . .the cruelest lies are often told without a word. . .the kindest truths are often spoken, never heard." -- Ben Folds

10-30-2007, 10:31 AM	#7
leo79 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: UK Posts: 1,442	Re: Hello Everyone I started telling lots of people I knew when previously I had hid my mental health problems. Some of them don't get it of course but in a way I was so ill I was past caring. My immediate family are awesome and I had to give up work and move back to my parents. You just have to do whatever it takes to get well. Nothing is more important. __________________ Poisoned by SSRIs.

10-30-2007, 11:57 AM	#8
ewak Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 13	Re: Hello Everyone Thanks for all you responses and support. To answer your question emmy- It took me a good 3 months to go from the 10mg to the 2.5mg.

10-30-2007, 02:22 PM	#10
ewak Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 13	Re: Hello Everyone Thats funny you should say that emmy, my psychiatrist told me to cut the 10mg in 1/2 for a week and go off it. I only tapered b/c I had heard that Paxil was so difficult to go off of...and my psychologist suggested that I taper very slowly. I've been taking the 2.5mg for a couple of months now and dont plan to try to start tapering again until sometime in 2008.

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