In Paxil Withdrawal, New Here, Need Help

[aconite]

Hi, I'm new here and am absolutely speechless at all this. My research into seroxat (i believe paxil is the name for it in the states) has come from amazement at my struggles in the past week or so.
I'll begin at the beginning. I started on antidepressants when I was about 15; over the years I have been prescribed increases in them and then ultimately changing to new ones. I might mention here some have worked better than others, but in general no problems starting, being on, or coming off them other than what you would expect. The latest antidepressant to have been prescribed is of course Seroxat, roughly 3 years ago. I was put up to 40mg and stayed there for a good long time. I became unexpectedly pregnant, and reduced as much as possible (where the benefits of being on outweighed the risks). When I had my baby, he suffered jerking, which anyone may have mistaken for fits had they not known. He spent a few days in NICU due to withdrawals from my medication.
A few years on and I'm planning my next baby - this time to come off Seroxat, and change over to Prozac first, since apparently it is a 'safer' drug, and I had no problems with it in the past. Only to discover - well - all this. I managed to get from 40mg down to 10mg daily and that's when I started suffering from hot flushes, nausea, dizziness and even being sick. I'm due to have my coil removed at the end of the week (partly because of wanting to try for baby soonish, partly because I've been having serious issues with it).
What is also concerning me is how similar the withdrawal symptoms are to how I was in my early stages of pregnancy last time. In fact even the pharmacist I spoke to today asked if I was. I have taken a test, which showed negative. My head is all over the place, not just because of coming off these meds!! I guess I just need to let all this out somewhere; all my feelings mirroring those others have mentioned in their posts. I'll stop rambling now.

[englishannie]

For aconite
Hello, and welcome. You'll get help here, be assured.
For now, just tell us a bit more about your history with ADs. What was the last one you had before Seroxat, and for how long?
I know it's easy to think 'I must be pregnant', but I don't think these are pregnancy symptoms - sounds like withdrawal to me.
Get that coil removed, and then folks here can help you with the rest of it.
Sounds like you're in the UK, right?
englishannie

[aconite]

Hi englishannie, yeah im from the southwest had my coil out, no problems there thankfully. spoke to my doctor when i was in there and we have decided to go back up to 20mg a day and go from there (have also 10mg tablets now ready too). She was thinking about a few weeks and then going down to 10mg again and possibly taking prozac at the same time - however im more thinking about going to 15mg first. i feel a LOT better now im back up to 20mg, and can think much more clearly too! The medication before seroxat? wow, have to think now! I started on Sertraline which i didn't get on with - probably on that about a year. Then I went to Venlafaxine/Effexor and that was okay, a few years. Then Prozac - the one that seemed to work best for me, again a few years. Then the Seroxat, again a few years.

[scotty]

If the goal is to get off Seroxat, then wean Seroxat. I don't get the "prozac is easier/safer" mentality. The only difference is that Prozac didn't do a study that showed the problems with pregnancy so they can deny it. Most find it isn't easier or safer and has it's own set of start up problems. Please don't get pregnant while on these drugs, it's just not worth the risk.