Paxil Withdrawal - Day 7 help!

[hpnotiq]

Hey everybody. I've popped in here a few times, and today I thought that I should finally register! Well here's my story.

I'm currently 19 years old and I was put on Paxil back at the beginning of April 2005 for severe panic attacks, and severe anxiety. I was also on Paxil over a year ago only for about 1-2 months at a doseage of 20mg/day for anxiety, which it seemed to work better than and had less of a withdrawal syndrome.

Anyway this second time when I was put on Paxil in April 2005 because my Panic and Anxiety came back full force, and I was dealing with some major problems back then as well. Well, I didn't even have that great of a trip to my anxiety being so high when I went to Mexico a week after I started on Paxil. The stuff finally took over a month before it kicked in the second time to provide some anxiety/panic relief, but in the same way it turned me into a complete lazy basketcase, and a maniac! I lost friends, I lost my girlfriend who I loved a lot, because of me always wanting to go and get drunk while on this Paxil crap. Anyway, I said enough is enough, and the paxil was turning me into a zombified maniac. So, I went to my doctor and told him I wanted off the stuff. I asked him about other Antidepressants, and all he says is that Paxil usually works the best, but he gave me samples of Remeron which I still haven't used yet, I don't think I'm going to use anymore chemicals, and just stick to straight natural alternatives like 5HTP if I ever get through this withdrawal. Anyway, I started doing a taper, but before that I had gone up to 30mg for just a week, one week only, then back down to 20mg with no problems. Then after that I started doing a taper, going 20 1 day, 10 the next, 20 one day, etc. For about 3-4 days, and then I went straight down to 10mg, which was hard at first until my body got adjusted to it and it worked out fine after about 3 weeks I was stabilized, so I decided to go down to 5mg, and I only stayed on 5mg for about a week and a half and then last Tuesday (August 16th) was my last 5mg dose of Paxil. At first it wasn't that bad, but since Friday, the withdrawals have been hitting me harder and harder each day. I feel like a complete wreck. I can't concentrate on anything, I feel foggyheaded. I'm having those electrical shocks *brain zaps* about every 5-10 seconds today like crazy. I have NO appetite. I have increased anxiety, chills and hot/cold flushing, sometimes when I run up the stairs I'm out of breath now?? This never used to happen. I could go on and on. Anyway, I was only Paxil the second time for about 5 months altogether. and the first time I was only it for 1-2 months. How much longer do you think these brain zaps and major withdrawal symptoms will last? Today is day 7 of being Paxhell free and I feel like complete crap. And no, I will not go back on Paxil and reduce my dose gradually. I'm already at Day 7, I'm not going back. I can't stand the crap, I don't know why I EVER went back on it in the 1st place. I will do everything in my power to get this crap taken off the market in Canada and the USA. It is complete garbage, and will ruin your life more if you take the damn SSRI, then help it. This is the worst withdrawal I've ever felt in my life.

I am so thankful I found this board, because all forum boards I goto are claiming Paxil is non-addictive.. when that is complete B.S.! If Paxil was non-addictive, I wouldn't be feeling the physical withdrawal symptoms like the brain zaps, foggy headedness, no appetite, increased anxiety... etc. Paxil IS ADDICTIVE. I would be so happy to see this brain alterting chemical removed from the markets.

Anyway - can anyone help me out as to how much longer I have to suffer with these zaps/dizziness and withdrawal symptoms? I've been taking B-Complex Vitamins daily, Vitamin E, L-Theanine, even some Benzo's off and on (Ativan 0.5mg), even though I know benzo's are physically addicting as well. I went to my doctor about two weeks ago and he wouldn't give me a benzo to help with the withdrawals but he gave me zopilclone or Immovane or Lunesta in the USA i think its called to help me sleep. Zopiclone does take away the zaps a fair bit and does help me sleep well, but then I worry about dependence an addiction with zopiclone even though he only gave me 24 tablets and no refills which is a good thing.

Any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Once again, I am so glad I found this board! Finally people who understand the HELL of this evil drug Paxil.

Hey and welcome

I think you may have tapered too fast to be honest , i went cold turkey so im not an expert on tapering , but loads of people here are , stick around and i am sure you will recieve more replies . All the best

[Delynbetter]

Five to zero is a big jump. Is there anyway you can get those tablets to 2.5mg to stabilize for a shorter jump to zero? The liquid is good for the final stages if it is an option for you to get a prescription from your doc.

[scotty]

I think you realize now that you came off too fast, but if your totally convinced to not go back on, hold on tight for the ride. Make sure that someone close to you knows that you are in withdrawal. Withdrawal can last for a year or longer. Not to say that it's horrible the whole time. Magnesium and Fish oil can help considerably. (see the supplements section here). Post often, you're not alone in your discovery of the problems with paxil.

[MizzT]

if you are intent on staying off.....just do it. its going to be rough for another couple weeks probably. I was REALLY sick for like 3 weeks. then semi-really sick for another 3 weeks. after that things leveled out for a while....like 6 or 7 months. then i got sick again for a while. I think the fish oil and magnesium might help make those periods of being sick...down the line....a little more bearable.

you did taper really really fast tho....so hang on for the ride. it can be horrific as im sure you have figured out. drink tons of water. continuously flush the body out. epsom salt baths can be helpful too. rinse off well afterwards.
avoid alcohol, aspartame, caffeine, MSG, grapefruit.

[hpnotiq]

Thanks for the support everybody. I really appreciate it. Finally a forum board where people understand.

[hpnotiq]

bump

[deeeelle]

It sounds like you went too fast. Don't take the Remeron unless you want to gain a lot of weight. It is much more sedating than Paxil but packs on the pounds and makes your cholesterol and triglycerides get high. I'm withdrawing from Remeron now and having a lot of the same problems I see the Paxil users here experience.

[elisa]

Welcom hpnotiq,

All of what you are going through is withdrawl related!! Since you are determined not to up the dose a bit to lessen the side-effects, it's going to be some ride. I hope that you're well prepared for it, it seems that you are already in the thick of it.

Zopiclone (Imovane) is a hypnotic and works wonderfully for sleeplessness. However, taper from it slowly and only take it when absolutely needed. I had the "fortune" of being on it for over 6 years and tapered from it in the first 3-4 months of last year. My sleep cycle still hasn't recovered. :shock: Ofcourse, tapering from Effexor XR can also play a role in this. Also tapered from 10 years of benzo use last year. It's a b*tch.

Take care of yourself and avoid any sensory overstimulation.

Here's a link that will explain it better than I can.
http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/reaction.htm

Hope it helps by knowing what CAN happen.

[feelin'_wiggy]

Welcome to the club you never wanted to join. I went from 5 to 0 rather quickly, though not straight away like you did. By day 7 at zero, I had stabilized. It varies with different people. Definitely start the fish oil and magnesium. Do NOT take the Remeron. I used it briefly and my legs swelled up with fluid, and I would fall asleep anywhere, anytime. Keep posting here. You'll get lots of support and good information. As much as you can, go with the flow. Remember that it will pass.

[hpnotiq]

Today is Day 9, I had the worst sleep ever, followed by really weird deep dreams that I can't really explain. Woke up several times because I hated the dreams I was having. It's 6:46am, I only got about 4 hours sleep last night .. Having some bad brain zaps, and increased anxiety. I wonder how much longer this crap lasts...

Thanks again for all the support everyone.

- Does anyone know when it would be safe for me to start supplementing with 5HTP?

[MizzT]

it is NOT safe to use 5htp or anything like that while going thru this process. it can put you into serotonin syndrome which can be fatal.
the hard part of this will last probably around 3 weeks. another 3 weeks will get you on your feet again.

No need to explain the dreams. many many of us have had them. it was THE reason i quit paxil. the dreams were WAY too intense and things that i should not have in my head.

I know you feel like absolute ****e today....but if you are going CT...you have to hang in and ride it out. but this is exactly why we suggest you dont do it this way. its radical. you can always go back on and stabilize and wean off slowly. you dont HAVE to do it this way.

sleep when you can. take a benedryl to help you sleep if you must. but rest.

[rdjanis]

I suggest you go back and withdrawal slowly, it is the safest way to withdrawal and the most successful as well.

[hpnotiq]

I didn't go CT though, I did wean and still got withdrawals. I think if you wean or not it doesn't matter, you are going to get withdrawals either way.

[rdjanis]

I agree, but when you wean the withdrawal is not so severe. Some people that have gone cold turkey or weaned to fast have ended up in the hospital or worse.

[hpnotiq]

What do they do for them in the hospital? Like what do they give them?

[scotty]

Hp, in the hospital they add more meds. That is why slow weaning is so important. Yes, you will still have withdrawal symptoms, but they won't push you completely over the edge like fast wean or cold turkey. My son ended up in the hospital after a wean from 50mg-37.5(before I knew what I know now) and was psychotic and attempted suicide. Once he was back on the higher dose of paxil he was OK. I took him out of the hospital to prevent additional medications being added.