liver/kidney probs and paxil?

[upsidedown90]

Hi all-
After being (mostly) on 20-30 mg of Paxil for 8 years, my liver /kidneys started to hurt on the right side of my body about seven months ago.

I also developed psorasis on my right arm 3 years ago.

Since tapering to 10 mg, the liver problems have vanished, at least sensation wise.
The psorasis has cleared up.

Right when I started my taper, I developed horrible staph on my right arm. (since cleared up.)

Mind you, I'm 27, an avid yogini, healthy eater, and mostly non drinker/non smoker.
COINCEDENCE???
I don't think so.

"discuss amongst yourselves."

Anyone know of any correlation between paxil and liver/kidney damage, or paxil and skin and GI issues?

Thanks
Jess

[zappelina]

Paxil and all other SSRIs have caused both liver diseases such as hepatitis and kidney failure and severe skin conditions. Skin problems of all kinds, hives, rashes, ulcers, other eruptions are also common while tapering and during prolonged withdrawal syndrome.

[Bern]

Originally Posted by zappelina

Paxil and all other SSRIs have caused both liver diseases such as hepatitis and kidney failure and severe skin conditions. Skin problems of all kinds, hives, rashes, ulcers, other eruptions are also common while tapering and during prolonged withdrawal syndrome.

Hi Zappelina I was just wondering....where did you get the information that Paxil does all of this? I'm just curious.

[-Ell]

not pro any of these drugs but taking asprin can do the same thing to your liver after a time. Add to that advil, motrin, tylenol, any of that stuff.

we are taking a chance with anything we put in our mouths anymore!

[Bern]

Originally Posted by -Ell

not pro any of these drugs but taking asprin can do the same thing to your liver after a time. Add to that advil, motrin, tylenol, any of that stuff.

we are taking a chance with anything we put in our mouths anymore!

I'm sorry, but I didn't know about any of this. It's not in the Darcy's withdrawal guide, and I can't find information that paxil causes liver and kidney problems.

[zappelina]

This is cut from the Rx list, Paxil side effects. It lists the side effects reported by doctors after Paxil had been released and is just a fraction of all side effects. Suggest you google for "paxil side effects" to see all the other potential side effects.


Postmarketing Reports

Voluntary reports of adverse events in patients taking PAXIL that have been received since market introduction and not listed above that may have no causal relationship with the drug include acute pancreatitis , elevated liver function tests (the most severe cases were deaths due to liver necrosis, and grossly elevated transaminases associated with severe liver dysfunction), Guillain-Barré syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, priapism, syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion, symptoms suggestive of prolactinemia and galactorrhea, neuroleptic malignant syndrome–like events; extrapyramidal symptoms which have included akathisia, bradykinesia, cogwheel rigidity, dystonia, hypertonia, oculogyric crisis which has been associated with concomitant use of pimozide; tremor and trismus; serotonin syndrome, associated in some cases with concomitant use of serotonergic drugs and with drugs which may have impaired metabolism of PAXIL (symptoms have included agitation, confusion, diaphoresis, hallucinations, hyperreflexia, myoclonus, shivering, tachycardia, and tremor), status epilepticus, acute renal failure, pulmonary hypertension, allergic alveolitis, anaphylaxis, eclampsia, laryngismus, optic neuritis, porphyria, ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia (including torsade de pointes), thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, events related to impaired hematopoiesis (including aplastic anemia, pancytopenia, bone marrow aplasia, and agranulocytosis), and vasculitic syndromes (such as Henoch-Schönlein purpura). There has been a case report of an elevated phenytoin level after 4 weeks of PAXIL and phenytoin coadministration. There has been a case report of severe hypotension when PAXIL was added to chronic metoprolol treatment.

[MizzT]

paxil is metabolized by the Cytochrome p-450 enzyme group. particularly 1A2 and 2D6 enzymes. the catch 22 is that it also inhibits the cyt p450, 2D6....causing problems in the phase 2 liver metabolization functions. So your body can not convert the paxil metabolites into watersoluable metabolites.....so they can pass from the body. the fat soluable metabolites left over from phase 1...store in fat cells....or come out thru the skin causing hives and rashes....or thru the lungs...causing respiratory problems....and some of the funky stuff Zappelina has had.

yes....paxil causes liver damage.
I too have had the right side of the body liver pain for i dont know....probably 18 months now. much less so when i take supplements to aide in phase 2 detox processes. much more when i dont take supps and/or eat fatty foods.

The reason people get such bad WD sometimes....and soemtimes not....depends on how well the cytp450, 2d6, 1a2 levels are to begin with. if you are deficient in this liver function.....WD can be severe.
P450 is responsible for metabolizing like 25% of the drugs on the market as well as many foods, vits etc.

[Bern]

Thanks for the useful information It seems complicated, but now I understand.

Originally Posted by zappelina

Suggest you google for "paxil side effects" to see all the other potential side effects.

I was putting in long term affects of paxil. No wonder why it didn't work for me!

[MizzT]

yanks...you might google for "paxil liver enzymes" too. i do that for any drug i research now that i know the terminology. it usually will tell you exactly how something is metabolized.
complicated...but quite interesting!

[nicole55]

I don't know but I've been having these terrible bladder symptoms, I'm going through all the tests and stuff right now, so far they haven't found any infection or cysts or tumors or anything in my whole pelvic area. But I've been off the paxil for two months now and it's just so weird, it started like a month ago, when I was only one month off.

I know this could be totally non withdrawel related? But the whole timing makes you wonder?

[upsidedown90]

hey guys

thanks for the info!!! Anyone know of anything one can do (diet wise, herbal supplement wise) to get this stuuff out of my liver and heal my liver/skin?
mahalo--
jess

[MizzT]

first....finish the taper. i think trying to push any kind of detox now might be hazardous. if you are itchy...or to clean out the skin....epsom salt baths! a cup or cup and a half of epsom salts in a hot bath. remember to rinse off well when you are done.

vits B6 and B3 will help with liver metabolization as well as cruciferous veggies such as brocolli and cauliflower and cabbage. sulfur is the key. and magnesium for metabolization too.

once off the paxil...you can consider doing juice cleanses and fasting which can really help. then it gets into yuckier stuff like flushing the bowel out. fiber and keeping things moving is very important in all this too as the liver releases bile...and toxins into the bowel and if not properly expelled can cause you to reabsorb the toxins....and feel the WD effects of them.

as you get farther from the drug the liver will regain normal function over time but helping it with good nutrition is a big help.

[feelin'_wiggy]

I've had occasional bloating and liver pain for over a year, but consistently since I started tapering in May. One month ago, I started a liver friendly diet, lots of whole grains, almonds, eggs, beans and tons of fresh organic produce, especially the cruciferous type Bev mentioned. I've cut way back on meat, dairy, and sugar. In Addition I take a liver supplement with L-cysteine and alpha lipoic acid. I also make an LSA powder with 3cups linseeds (flaxseeds), 2 cups sunflower seeds, and 1 cup whole almonds. Blend them all in a food processor and sprinkle a teaspoon on your food three times a day. I use The Liver Cleansing Diet by Dr. Sandra Cabot as a guide. The bloating and liver pain have been alleviated. Now I'm working up to a more radical detox

It might not be a good time for you to do a detox, but dietary changes are a safe way to start eliminating the toxins.

[upsidedown90]

Hi Wiggy!!!
Thank you!!! and bev, too....I went from 10 mg to 7.5 mg yesterday and think that may be a bit much (naseous today)...so I'll try 9 mg tonight and see how tommorow goes.

As for liver/diet, the supplements sound great...tried them last time and still felt insane, but that was a much faster "taper" (7 weeks for 30 to 0---now at month 2.5 and at 9mg or so from 20).
THANK YOU for the info, guys. (you sound like scientists....)

Dietarally, i do a lot of veggies/fish/grains/nuts already, but had no idea that brocolli and cauliflower were esp beneficial. I've been craving them actually.

There's an intense tea I've seen and tried called "liver cleanse" I took it when I had staph and my liver pain disappeared within hours. Wonder if its safe to do it now...?

thanks more,
jess

[MizzT]

I think a liver cleanse tea would be ok....just be aware that now especially...you are ridding the body of some really nasty stuff. You MUST get it OUT of the gut. FIBER!!! and magnesium. fiber helps bind stuff up....and magnesium will keep it moving.
enemas are great if you can tolerate it too! that will relieve symptoms quickly!!

another really icky (sort of) thing i recently heard of is LITE potato chips that are made with olestra. *you know...the fake fat that causes anal leakage*
seriously......google olestra and detox and see what you find. because its indigestible...it passes from the body...but not before binding to bile bound toxins expelled from the liver! how fun is THAT?!?!?! it can even remove dioxins!!!
its a protocol that im discussing with my naturopath if i end up taking chelating agents to get rid of heavy metal toxins and dont want to do colonics.

So there are lots of methods....just be really careful while withdrawing because it can make symptoms severe.

[rdjanis]

Originally Posted by nicole55

I don't know but I've been having these terrible bladder symptoms, I'm going through all the tests and stuff right now, so far they haven't found any infection or cysts or tumors or anything in my whole pelvic area.

My daughter had this, sometimes the bladder would just let go, it does go away.

[rdjanis]

Originally Posted by -Ell

not pro any of these drugs but taking asprin can do the same thing to your liver after a time. Add to that advil, motrin, tylenol, any of that stuff.

we are taking a chance with anything we put in our mouths anymore!

True however not to the same extent. How many cases have you heard tylenol or that line of drug has caused tics, psychotic symptoms, withdrawal?

[Freedom]

When I was on Paxil I used to itch all over, especially on my legs and butt. I'd scatch so much I would cause sores that hung around forever. I stopped taking paxil towards the end of May, no itching hardly at all! Before, I thought it was some sort of bugs, we terminated, it continued, then I thought it was the detergents, tried several, same thing. All this, and other stuff. Stopped taking Paxil, no itching!

[feelin'_wiggy]

I had that problem with Prozac. I'd scratch my legs all night long. I also developed erythema nodosum on Prozac. Inflamed fat cells that turn into painful red nodules under the skin. Very painful. Had to take steroids to treat it. The doctor said it was caused by the stress I was under at the time. Knowing what I know now, it was the Prozac.

[Freedom]

Hey wiggy,
It was terrible. I looked back now and while I was on paxil and the amount of sick days I had on my past job, wow. Coincidence or paxil? I was just telling my son earlier this week that I felt like maybe I could go back to work part time. Well, yesterday, bad day, en and out of bed all day and night. Today, I can't stay out of the bathroom! Coincidence or Paxil?

[upsidedown90]

Hey---
Thanks for the stories and discussion!

Liver pain has subsided as I continued the ten mgs and is gone now on 7.5 mgs...yay!!! Skin slowly healing too, probiotic supplements, no sugar/wheat/dairy/fried (ok i break it for ice cream sometimes!!!) helping a lot.

Heard your thoughts, bev, thanks so much. got the magnesium and fish oil today....liver tea may wait...lotsa veggies always, fruit less (aggravates candida/skin stuff).

7.5mg for 2 days now...tired and naseous...but completely bearable. That excites me. (such an optimist/dork.)

side question, will probably start a seperate thread for this--any of you guys ashtanga practioners going through w/drawal?
Jess

[MizzT]

optimists arent dorks, jess!
somebody's gotta keep their chin up! *and we're just the girls to do it*

beets are really good for the liver.
my juice cleanse consisted of apple, celery, carrot and beet juice. yummy!!

[-Ell]

Ok wait...I'm back on those chips with olestra....so are you saying those can actually detox?? Cuz I love those things! I'll sit on the toilet to eat them! BUT...is olestra a cancer causing agent?

[Freedom]

I know everyone knows we should all drink lots of water, that'll flush the poison out, right? I make sure I do that more then I've ever done before! Also, drinking alcoholic beverages and withdrawal DIFFINITELY do not mix!

[Bern]

Originally Posted by Darlene Upton

I know everyone knows we should all drink lots of water, that'll flush the poison out, right? I make sure I do that more then I've ever done before! Also, drinking alcoholic beverages and withdrawal DIFFINITELY do not mix!

I've noticed that when I drink a lot of water, it makes me more hungry. It's like the water was flushed out my energy, telling my body to eat more.

And yes....drinking while withdrawing can be dangerous. I drank the same amount on Paxil and during withdrawal, and I got more drunk during withdrawal than when I was on Paxil.