Aropax (Paxil) Reduction

Ina H · 11-10-2011, 09:33 PM

I've come down from 60mgs - 3mgs of Paxil over a two year period. (Was on it for 9 yrs) It's required a lot of patience but my previous attempt (though I thought it was slow) was way to fast.
I'm reading through some of the reduction rates and feeling concern for those who are coming down over a period of a few months (which is also what the medico's recommend ) and hoping that these people have support. I don't know how long it will take when I come right off this but it taken me a month to 6 weeks to feel confidently stable.
I know this is only my experience but I'd like to take the opportunity to share it. I've also been doing a lot of work on myself in a support group called GROW which has been really essential as part of getting to this point.

"There is no substitute for cultivating patience when stabilising change is the goal"

Ina H · 03-20-2012, 08:29 PM

Am not sure if I'm doing this right have been trying to add another strand to my Journal thread and what I wrote seems to have gone missing. Or I did it wrong.

Ina H · 03-20-2012, 08:33 PM

Okay I did it wrong. I'm now on 2mgs as of the 18th of March and feeling pretty good about it. Selective amnesia still persists. More aware of anxiety but I've found mindfulness techniques and acceptance takes the sting and panic out of it. It's great to be clearer. Have found using paxilprogress and other computer sites a bit of a problem because of problem with holding information in my head. Like how to do things. Got to write everything down or do it regularly. Once I stop I forget rather quickly.

Songbird · 03-21-2012, 12:38 AM

Well done for getting all the way down to 2mg!

lotusflower · 03-21-2012, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ina H

"There is no substitute for cultivating patience when stabilising change is the goal"

Hi Ina,
Welcome to PP! And many congratulations for your success. I love this quote. Thanks for reminding me about the power of patience and also mindful thinking. Is your support group, GROW, specifically for ssri taperers? Never heard of it and just wondering.
best to you, joanne

RobInSydney · 03-21-2012, 04:30 PM

Hi Ina; I too am in recovery in AA (21 yrs)...from drugs, alcohol and Ativan... and was feeling very proud of myself till I understood that I was again addicted.. to an even more complex substance.

And after an aborted attempt at too rapid taper before Christmas... and having found the Boards...I am waiting to stabilise after updosing.. and also waiting for a pain procedure to settle down.. before embarking on a slow, slow, slow taper with patience, patience, patience.

You seem to be alluding to a knowledge of DBT with your comments about mindfulness and acceptance...do you know anything about that (as a more evolved version of CBT??).

BTW... just this morning spoke to a man in recovery at the local cafe...who was introduced to ADs during his initial withdrawal from D&A... now sober in AA for 2.5 years... and thought he would reduce by half over three-four months...and predictably went mad...A few weeks ago, I encouraged him to educate himself through the Boards... and he has now decided to updose and stabilise... before deciding what to do...

We are truly responsible for ourselves...when even the (12 step) recovery community is so ignorant of the affects of the drugs.

Congrats on working out a way for yourself.
Rob

RobInSydney · 03-21-2012, 04:39 PM

BTW, Ina; I lost a lot of weight over two years ago...(20-25 kgs)using the Cohen Diet..and it has stayed off..because I believe, in the process, I broke an unknowing addiction to sugar...now you can put an Easter egg in front of me and its just an object..absolutely now desire to consume..no white knuckling or effort.

In the process of doing the diet, my tastes actually changed... and now I look forward to a beautiful salad... and even imagine new ways of creating one.

I also believe my much improved nutrition and weight will hold me in god stead as I proceed into a slow taper..

11-10-2011, 09:33 PM	#1
Ina H Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 27	Aropax (Paxil) Reduction I've come down from 60mgs - 3mgs of Paxil over a two year period. (Was on it for 9 yrs) It's required a lot of patience but my previous attempt (though I thought it was slow) was way to fast. I'm reading through some of the reduction rates and feeling concern for those who are coming down over a period of a few months (which is also what the medico's recommend ) and hoping that these people have support. I don't know how long it will take when I come right off this but it taken me a month to 6 weeks to feel confidently stable. I know this is only my experience but I'd like to take the opportunity to share it. I've also been doing a lot of work on myself in a support group called GROW which has been really essential as part of getting to this point. "There is no substitute for cultivating patience when stabilising change is the goal" __________________ 2005 came off 40mgs aropax (paxil) over 6mths. Off for 2 months. Too fast; too mad 4/12/07 -6/5/08 60mgs-40mgs in 5mg lots Stopped at 40mgs 2/09/09 - 14/11/07 40mgs - 35mgs aropax by 8 ,12,16 scrapings with vegie peeler. 27/11/09 alt between 35 and 32.5mgs for 8days. 7/12/09 32.5mgs. Cont on till [color="Magenta"][SIZE="1"] 2/01/10 31mgs 1/1/12 3mgs [/SIZE] 2.5mgs 15/2/12 18/03/12 2mgs

03-20-2012, 08:29 PM	#2
Ina H Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 27	Re: Aropax (Paxil) Reduction Am not sure if I'm doing this right have been trying to add another strand to my Journal thread and what I wrote seems to have gone missing. Or I did it wrong. __________________ 2005 came off 40mgs aropax (paxil) over 6mths. Off for 2 months. Too fast; too mad 4/12/07 -6/5/08 60mgs-40mgs in 5mg lots Stopped at 40mgs 2/09/09 - 14/11/07 40mgs - 35mgs aropax by 8 ,12,16 scrapings with vegie peeler. 27/11/09 alt between 35 and 32.5mgs for 8days. 7/12/09 32.5mgs. Cont on till [color="Magenta"][SIZE="1"] 2/01/10 31mgs 1/1/12 3mgs [/SIZE] 2.5mgs 15/2/12 18/03/12 2mgs

03-20-2012, 08:33 PM	#3
Ina H Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 27	Re: Aropax (Paxil) Reduction Okay I did it wrong. I'm now on 2mgs as of the 18th of March and feeling pretty good about it. Selective amnesia still persists. More aware of anxiety but I've found mindfulness techniques and acceptance takes the sting and panic out of it. It's great to be clearer. Have found using paxilprogress and other computer sites a bit of a problem because of problem with holding information in my head. Like how to do things. Got to write everything down or do it regularly. Once I stop I forget rather quickly. __________________ 2005 came off 40mgs aropax (paxil) over 6mths. Off for 2 months. Too fast; too mad 4/12/07 -6/5/08 60mgs-40mgs in 5mg lots Stopped at 40mgs 2/09/09 - 14/11/07 40mgs - 35mgs aropax by 8 ,12,16 scrapings with vegie peeler. 27/11/09 alt between 35 and 32.5mgs for 8days. 7/12/09 32.5mgs. Cont on till [color="Magenta"][SIZE="1"] 2/01/10 31mgs 1/1/12 3mgs [/SIZE] 2.5mgs 15/2/12 18/03/12 2mgs

03-21-2012, 12:38 AM	#4
Songbird Queen of the appendage vocabulary Join Date: May 2007 Location: New Zealand Posts: 11,316	Re: Aropax (Paxil) Reduction Well done for getting all the way down to 2mg! __________________ Jul 01-Feb 02 Aropax Feb-Dec 03 Citalopram Jul 04 Aropax Jan 07-Feb 08 20mg > 5mg Apr 4.5mg 5mg Jun 10mg Jul 20mg Oct Loxamine Dec 17.5mg 15mg 2009 24 Jan 12.5mg 16 Feb 10mg 10 May 9mg 30 May 8mg 5 July 7.5mg 2 Aug 7.25mg 1 Sep 7mg 9 Oct 6.75mg 8 Nov 6.5mg 18 Dec 6.3mg 2010 30 Aug 6.15mg 28 Nov 6 mg 2011 20 Feb 5.9mg 11 Apr 5.8mg 29 May 5.7mg 24 Jun 5.6mg 17 Sep 5.5mg 2 Nov 5.4mg 26 Dec 5.3mg 2012 19 Feb 5.2mg 14 Oct 5.1mg 6 Dec 5mg 25 Jan 4.9mg

03-21-2012, 04:30 PM	#6
RobInSydney Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Australia Posts: 109	Re: Aropax (Paxil) Reduction Hi Ina; I too am in recovery in AA (21 yrs)...from drugs, alcohol and Ativan... and was feeling very proud of myself till I understood that I was again addicted.. to an even more complex substance. And after an aborted attempt at too rapid taper before Christmas... and having found the Boards...I am waiting to stabilise after updosing.. and also waiting for a pain procedure to settle down.. before embarking on a slow, slow, slow taper with patience, patience, patience. You seem to be alluding to a knowledge of DBT with your comments about mindfulness and acceptance...do you know anything about that (as a more evolved version of CBT??). BTW... just this morning spoke to a man in recovery at the local cafe...who was introduced to ADs during his initial withdrawal from D&A... now sober in AA for 2.5 years... and thought he would reduce by half over three-four months...and predictably went mad...A few weeks ago, I encouraged him to educate himself through the Boards... and he has now decided to updose and stabilise... before deciding what to do... We are truly responsible for ourselves...when even the (12 step) recovery community is so ignorant of the affects of the drugs. Congrats on working out a way for yourself. Rob __________________ Chronic pain (cervical headache). 30 years (fairly resolved, 2010) Medicated with: 1996-99:Paxil (rapid reduction) 1999-2001: Luvox (CT) 2002-2012: Effexor 300mg Dec 2011: 25% drop in two weeks (reinstated)

03-21-2012, 04:39 PM	#7
RobInSydney Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Australia Posts: 109	Re: Aropax (Paxil) Reduction BTW, Ina; I lost a lot of weight over two years ago...(20-25 kgs)using the Cohen Diet..and it has stayed off..because I believe, in the process, I broke an unknowing addiction to sugar...now you can put an Easter egg in front of me and its just an object..absolutely now desire to consume..no white knuckling or effort. In the process of doing the diet, my tastes actually changed... and now I look forward to a beautiful salad... and even imagine new ways of creating one. I also believe my much improved nutrition and weight will hold me in god stead as I proceed into a slow taper.. __________________ Chronic pain (cervical headache). 30 years (fairly resolved, 2010) Medicated with: 1996-99:Paxil (rapid reduction) 1999-2001: Luvox (CT) 2002-2012: Effexor 300mg Dec 2011: 25% drop in two weeks (reinstated)

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)