Tips for 'less feeling like a dream'? - Page 2

Norma · 11-08-2011, 09:37 AM

After 15 years on paxil, I strongly suspect that the bigger part of your problems is paxil withdrawal. I can't guarantee it, of course. If it is, there is a strong possibility that your problems will get worse before getting better. Cold turkey withdrawal can take 2 years or more in some cases.

No one can say for sure exactly what you will experience if you go back to paxil. I have tried to switch drugs twice (prozac and lexapro). Both times I went back to paxil and was better fairly quickly. With the prozac I was off paxil for about 2 1/2 months. I am now tapering very slowly from paxil.

Again, I can't guarantee exact results... but from my experiences, I believe going back to the same dose of paxil is the best choice. I would stay at that dose for a couple of months and then start a very slow taper. Take good care of yourself - eat healthy, moderate excercise, and some CBT. In time you can be healthy and drug free.

Good luck!
Norma

texgirl · 11-08-2011, 09:44 AM

Bilo, what is your goal? If it's to be med-free, then you've gotten some good advice already. If it's to switch from Paxil to Lexapro but "speed up" Lexapro start-up symptoms while minimizing Paxil w/d, then I'm not sure this site can help you. We aren't trying to be rude; it's just that we haven't seen any evidence that switching works, and for that reason advise against it. Simultaneous start-up and w/d side effects are common when switching, and there's no way to know for sure which one is causing the trouble. You can ride it out to see if they go away, or you can stop the Lex and go back to Paxil.

If Paxil worked perfectly for you, why did you stop taking it?

Bilo76 · 11-08-2011, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texgirl

If Paxil worked perfectly for you, why did you stop taking it?

I had anxiety again and they psychiatrist thought it was best to switch medication. I was an idiot and didnt think it through.

The anxiety could have come from:

- i was tapering with paxil for a year already and perhaps it was withdrawal
- perhaps the doses was to low for my anxiety disorder
- perhaps the doses was to low cause i was hitting tolerance
- perhaps paxil was not working anymore at all and i needed something else.

I followed the psychiatrist in option 4. In retrospect i should have choosen option 1 or 3

Anyways my questions are answered. Thank you all

Quote:

Originally Posted by texgirl

If it's to switch from Paxil to Lexapro but "speed up" Lexapro start-up symptoms while minimizing Paxil w/d, then I'm not sure this site can help you

I was getting to that conlusion also

Lucy · 11-08-2011, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bilo76

I was an idiot and didnt think it through.

No need to feel like "an idiot" about it. Most of us have been there, taken our doctor's advice, later wished we had chosen a different option.

11-08-2011, 09:37 AM	#26
Norma Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 421	Re: Tips for 'less feeling like a dream'? After 15 years on paxil, I strongly suspect that the bigger part of your problems is paxil withdrawal. I can't guarantee it, of course. If it is, there is a strong possibility that your problems will get worse before getting better. Cold turkey withdrawal can take 2 years or more in some cases. No one can say for sure exactly what you will experience if you go back to paxil. I have tried to switch drugs twice (prozac and lexapro). Both times I went back to paxil and was better fairly quickly. With the prozac I was off paxil for about 2 1/2 months. I am now tapering very slowly from paxil. Again, I can't guarantee exact results... but from my experiences, I believe going back to the same dose of paxil is the best choice. I would stay at that dose for a couple of months and then start a very slow taper. Take good care of yourself - eat healthy, moderate excercise, and some CBT. In time you can be healthy and drug free. Good luck! Norma __________________ Summer 1999 – stress overload, declining health December 1999 – Doctor diagnoses depression & anxiety, 20mg paxil. January 2000 to May 2009 – Paxil dosage rises to 40mg. Numerous failed attempts to quit. June to July 2009 – too fast taper, wind up in ER. Read paxilprogress and decide to stabilize at 30mg. Sept '09 through summer '11 slowly tapered to 9mg. Aug '11 Updosed to 14mg Continue taper at 5% each month As of June 2012 10mg.

11-08-2011, 09:44 AM	#27
texgirl Regina Benzodictius Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,092	Re: Tips for 'less feeling like a dream'? Bilo, what is your goal? If it's to be med-free, then you've gotten some good advice already. If it's to switch from Paxil to Lexapro but "speed up" Lexapro start-up symptoms while minimizing Paxil w/d, then I'm not sure this site can help you. We aren't trying to be rude; it's just that we haven't seen any evidence that switching works, and for that reason advise against it. Simultaneous start-up and w/d side effects are common when switching, and there's no way to know for sure which one is causing the trouble. You can ride it out to see if they go away, or you can stop the Lex and go back to Paxil. If Paxil worked perfectly for you, why did you stop taking it? __________________ Adverse reaction to Lexapro led to Paxil, 10 months use, 2005. One month taper. Benzos (Xanax, then Klonopin), 2-1/2 years use, 2005-2007. 8 month taper. Completely free from psychiatry since 8/5/07 Face. Accept. Float. Let Time Pass. — Dr. Claire Weekes *We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same.* — Carlos Castañeda

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