Withdrawal Advice?

[onpaxil4sixyears]

Hello - I'm in the middle of a tapering regimen in which I started at 40mg and have spent a week on 30mg, followed by a week on 20mg. I'm doing pretty well - only had one nightmare earlier this week (on 20mg) and average a couple of 'zaps' a day - not really increasing in frequency over the last week. Other side-effects I've read about haven't been an issue yet.

The question I have for anyone - has anyone done a withdrawal regimen like this already? - Could I start 10mg in a couple days - follow that up with 0mg the next week - and expect to be 'fine' shortly (within a week or two) after that? I've experimented with Cold Turkey in the past several times and know what it is like to have 'zaps' everytime I look at something, and terrible nightmares - I'm not anywhere close to feeling like that - I actually feel better than I have in a long time emotionally.

Should I start tapering smaller doses (other than the 10mg a week that has worked so far) for the last stretch to minimize an increase of side effects - or to minimize a potential relapse to a higher dose (which I really can't see happening at this point)?

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Andy "onpaxil4sixyears"

[Homerbcool]

andy

welcome to the site..as you ahve probably all ready seen, tons of real good advice and support here..

As far as a tapering regiment..everyone is different...but as far as my two cents...sow down when you get to 10...as long as the other drops do not have serious side affects..

From what I have read here, the lower you go the more side affects you MIGHT experience...and after 10 mg...the last 5 may be the hardest...but agin everyone is differnet

[Buxy`s Back]

hi there i had no problems to mention going down from 20 to 10 and think i speak for most guys on here seems to get ya about the half way stage,but can only speak for myself as we are all so individual .My advice would be to slow right down now maybe a few mgs then stabilise where you feel ok then a bit more and so on.I was given wrong advice on tapering ie every other day ect and that was hell.My way of thinking was theres no rush to get to 0 as slower does seem to work better and doesnt matter how long it takes to get off this stuff as long as its kinder to yourself with a greater chance of staying off,stikk around there will be lots of good advice from peeps with more to offer than me but would like to wish you well and jst say plz done run b4 you can walk x

[mdladie]

That is great that you have gotten so far so fast, but it scares me a little. A slower drop might be the way to go at this point just to avoid the heartache of experiencing symptons that you have escaped so far. I KNOW how much you want to be done with it all, but a few extra weeks will not make a huge differnce in the overall scheme of things and might help ease you to the coveted 0. Good luck!

[scotty]

Wow, that's a fast wean! While I'm hoping that it goes easy for you, you need to be aware that it can take 4-10 days for the initial withdrawal symptoms to show up. So what you are feeling now may be from the initial drop for 40-30. I would slow down considerably. One week making such large drops is way to fast, in my opinion. A minimum of 2 weeks should be used between withdrawals.

[RR]

Originally Posted by mdladie

the coveted 0.

On my last and successful attempt I had "zero milligram fever." So I can totally relate to the concept of "coveted" insofar as P withdrawal is concerned.

[onpaxil4sixyears]

Thanks for the prompt replies homerbcool and joanne. I think I will go to 10mg as I originally planned and as you suggested - as long as things keep going well this week - then I will slow down to 5mg or stay on 10mg for a couple weeks before going to 5mg for a couple weeks. It is a marathon process I guess - I have a hard time making myself go slowly when I want to get rid of this thing in my system once and for all (pitfall of instant results society we have).

I will continue to visit this site - seems to have a good support group if things get bad.

Thanks, Andy

[scotty]

Andy, we have proven with experiences here that paxil withdrawal has it's own timeline, regardless of how fast you "get it out of the system". Take it slow, you'll get there.

[Homerbcool]

andy..please pay heed to what Laurie added..make sure you are ready to go to the next drop in dosage each time...no sense in running to fast that you miss the right turn to the finish line...and this site does a lot more then just add support when thngs get bad...we talk about everything that you want to..free advice don't come cheap though...well i guees it does...D'OH

[scotty]

"no sense in running to fast that you miss the right turn to the finish line"

Quote for the week!!

[onpaxil4sixyears]

Laurie - I will think about how you indicated that it usually takes 4-10 days for withdrawal symptoms to materialize. I have only been withdrawing for 12 days so far - if I go to 10mg in couple days and feel bad - i will go back to 20mg for a week - then try again. If I can stand to be on 10mg by this time next week - I will stay on 10 for at least one addtn'l week.

Thanks-andy

[scotty]

That's it. If the symptoms get so bad that you can't handle it, you've gone to fast. There's no harm in going back up in dose if the symptoms gets to bad. I'd stay at 10mg(or whereever your are right now) for at least a couple of weeks and stabilize. If it gets bad you can bump up to 20mg and stay there until it stabilizes again. We've learned alot through experience here.

Was your original weaning schedule recommended by a doctor or one you set up yourself?

[onpaxil4sixyears]

Laurie - my original weaning schedule I set up upon the advice of a pharmacist that I asked. I have read the 'Paxil Withdrawal Guide' that is posted on this site as well - I know it recommends more time during each withdrawal step. I thought I'd try to take the faster route at first (the pharmacist told me people have had success with a weekly dosage reduction of 10mg / or splitting the dosage in half every week if it is 10mg and down. I'm fairly determined with this whole process - I think I can make things work even if they are harsh - but I won't do that if going slower is wiser - patience is a virtue after all.

Andy

[Homerbcool]

paience is also one of my favorite songs...Guns'N'Roses

My wife and I stopped into the local pharmacy for, uhm ladies things...and I asked the pharmascist if they have any documentation or suggestions on Paxil withdrawl....the look on her face was one of terror, seriously...she suggested I half the dosage I am on for 2 weeks, then half it again for two weeks...but it took her a while to come up with any idea...

personally Adny, I have dropped once from 20 to 10 and have stayed there for 5 months or so...then 5 mg, see how that goes, I will stay there for at least 5 months and the 1mg drop via liquid paxil until I can safely finalize the curse!!

Been on it for 11 years so no rush to get off it, want to do it right....and again, everyone is different

[RR]

Originally Posted by scotty

....paxil withdrawal has it's own timeline....

That's a very good observation. Paxil withdrawal can be an endurance contest; one that'll be over when it's over and not a moment sooner. As well, tapering off fast with idea that you can get it over with faster seems to make sense -- unfortunately it just doesn't pan out that way with Paxil. Plenty of people posting to P.P. recently that have tried that and paid the price.

Paxil's prescribing leaflet reads as follows:

A gradual reduction in the dose rather than abrupt cessation is recommended whenever possible. If intolerable symptoms occur following a decrease in the dose or upon discontinuation of treatment, then resuming the previously prescribed dose may be considered. Subsequently, the physician may continue decreasing the dose but at a more gradual rate.

[elisa]

onpaxil - hi and welcome.

It is estimated that 60-70% of antidepressant "consumers" will experience withdrawl side-effects ranging from mild to severe.

You might be in the lucky minority to experience "mild" withdrawl.

It takes at least 12 months for the brain and body to heal, some still have problems close to the 2 year mark.

Like scotty said, it doesn't matter if you taper fast or not, it will take as long as your body needs to recoup itself. The difference between a slow and fast taper are the severity of side-effects experienced with a fast one.

Antidepressants are endocrine (hormone) disruptors and the endocrine system will take (needs) its timeto rebalance itself.

Good luck with whatever decision you'll take.