Protracted withdrawal at 5mg?

grant · 08-27-2006, 01:55 AM

Hello,

I have been on aropax (paxil) for about 6 years. Last Christmas I tried to come off this drug for the 3rd time. I cut down 2.5mg every couple of weeks (when withdrawal symptoms subsided). I stopped cutting down at 5mg because the university semester was begining. I have been on 5mg now for 5 or 6 months.

I tried cutting back 1.25mg about 7 or 8 weeks ago but I couldn't handle it. About 4 weeks ago I had a pretty bad episode that left me in tears, since then things have been pretty rough. It feels as though my anxiety and OCD are back (I had pretty bad anxiety and OCD before meds), but I am also experiencing other symptoms.

Could this be protracted withdrawal even though I am still taking 5mg? Is it safe to stay on the 5mg? Has anyone else suffered protracted withdrawal while still taking the medication. If so, what did you do?

Thanks,

Grant.

Katesmom · 08-27-2006, 02:55 AM

Grant-

It sounds like you are experiencing poop out. This is when you feel w/d even while you are taking the drug. You could potentially improve it by going up in dose, but since the goal is weaning, then that is certainly no real solution. The only way out is down! Unfortunately, after poop out occurs, stabilizing at a dose becomes much less likely. You just have to basically taper, stay at a dose for about three weeks, then go ahead and taper again. The good news is that when you get off of the drug completely, you will likely feel some relief pretty quickly. I would, however, recommend that you still taper.

LCrawford67 · 08-27-2006, 08:03 AM

Welcome to PP, Grant! How high was your original dose?

grant · 08-27-2006, 06:36 PM

Thank-you for your replies. My highest dose was 50mg, but I was only this for a few weeks. I felt really out of it on 50mg. I was on 40mg for a few years and cut back to 20mg. I have spent the last couple of years trying to get off 20mg. 5mg is the lowest dose I have been on.

I went to a doctor a couple of weeks ago who told me, "You could just stop taking it." If cutting back 1.25mg is difficult, why would I even attempt stopping altogether? It is wonderful to know there is a site like this where people actually know and understand what you are going through.

Also, has anyone ever used electronic pocket scales to cut and weigh their pills? I have asked everywhere for liquid paxil but I don't think we can get it here in Australia, I was thinking pocket scales might be the next best thing. I have a pill cutter but getting anything smaller than 1.25mg is nearly impossible.

Thanks again,

Grant

silence4now · 08-27-2006, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grant

Could this be protracted withdrawal even though I am still taking 5mg? Is it safe to stay on the 5mg? Has anyone else suffered protracted withdrawal while still taking the medication. If so, what did you do?

Thanks,

Grant.

What are you taking - a 1/4 of a 20 or liquid? Are you sure you are getting 5 mg? When you halve a half, you can never be sure what dose you're getting. It's good idea to swtich to liquid at this point, becuase it's more accurate.

altostrata · 08-27-2006, 08:39 PM

grant -- Is it possible to order liquid Paxil online from an Australian site?

Maybe http://www.onlinepharmacy.com.au/
http://www.homepharmacy.com.au/
http://www.epharmacy.com.au/

etc

Katesmom · 08-27-2006, 09:43 PM

I think I had heard that there was no liquid in australia. You might call around and see if you can find a compounding pharmacy. They could make you some liquid.

grant · 08-27-2006, 09:44 PM

silence4now--I am taking 1/4 of 20mg tablet. I don't think we can get the liquid here in Australia.

altostrata--Thanks for the links. I couldn't find liquid paxil on any of those sites, only the 20mg tablets. I rang GSK to see if it is available in Australia but the guy told me it is not. He gave me the name of a company (Idis World Medicines) and suggested I could try importing it.

Incidently, the guy I spoke to told me I am having an 'adverse' reaction to the medication. How many people need to have 'adverse' reactions before they admit that it is not us having an 'adverse' reaction but it is in fact a 'dangerous' drug.

Grant

scotty · 08-27-2006, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grant

Incidently, the guy I spoke to told me I am having an 'adverse' reaction to the medication. How many people need to have 'adverse' reactions before they admit that it is not us having an 'adverse' reaction but it is in fact a 'dangerous' drug.

Wow, he actually admitted it?? That's a first!

grant · 08-27-2006, 10:04 PM

Yes, he did admit it. However, he made it seem as though I was the one with the problem and not a problem with the drug.

altostrata · 08-28-2006, 10:36 AM

They like to pretend adverse reactions are very, very rare. Inexplicable, in fact.

08-27-2006, 01:55 AM	#1
grant Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 10	Protracted withdrawal at 5mg? Hello, I have been on aropax (paxil) for about 6 years. Last Christmas I tried to come off this drug for the 3rd time. I cut down 2.5mg every couple of weeks (when withdrawal symptoms subsided). I stopped cutting down at 5mg because the university semester was begining. I have been on 5mg now for 5 or 6 months. I tried cutting back 1.25mg about 7 or 8 weeks ago but I couldn't handle it. About 4 weeks ago I had a pretty bad episode that left me in tears, since then things have been pretty rough. It feels as though my anxiety and OCD are back (I had pretty bad anxiety and OCD before meds), but I am also experiencing other symptoms. Could this be protracted withdrawal even though I am still taking 5mg? Is it safe to stay on the 5mg? Has anyone else suffered protracted withdrawal while still taking the medication. If so, what did you do? Thanks, Grant.

08-27-2006, 02:55 AM	#2
Katesmom Moderator Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 13,706	Re: Protracted withdrawal at 5mg? Grant- It sounds like you are experiencing poop out. This is when you feel w/d even while you are taking the drug. You could potentially improve it by going up in dose, but since the goal is weaning, then that is certainly no real solution. The only way out is down! Unfortunately, after poop out occurs, stabilizing at a dose becomes much less likely. You just have to basically taper, stay at a dose for about three weeks, then go ahead and taper again. The good news is that when you get off of the drug completely, you will likely feel some relief pretty quickly. I would, however, recommend that you still taper. __________________ Katesmom aka Kim started Paxil Oct. 2003 for PIH Paxil free since 19 Jul 2005 ". . .the cruelest lies are often told without a word. . .the kindest truths are often spoken, never heard." -- Ben Folds

08-27-2006, 08:03 AM	#3
LCrawford67 Moderator "Everybody poops" Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 26,493	Re: Protracted withdrawal at 5mg? Welcome to PP, Grant! How high was your original dose? __________________ aka LC aka Laurie C. Paxil, 20 mg since 1997, for IBS Two unsuccessful attempts to quit. Started tapering 11/27/06 PAXIL FREE 12/29/07 If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice. ~Meister Eckhart Thanksgiving, man. Not a good day to be my pants. ~Kevin James

08-27-2006, 06:36 PM	#4
grant Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 10	Re: Protracted withdrawal at 5mg? Thank-you for your replies. My highest dose was 50mg, but I was only this for a few weeks. I felt really out of it on 50mg. I was on 40mg for a few years and cut back to 20mg. I have spent the last couple of years trying to get off 20mg. 5mg is the lowest dose I have been on. I went to a doctor a couple of weeks ago who told me, "You could just stop taking it." If cutting back 1.25mg is difficult, why would I even attempt stopping altogether? It is wonderful to know there is a site like this where people actually know and understand what you are going through. Also, has anyone ever used electronic pocket scales to cut and weigh their pills? I have asked everywhere for liquid paxil but I don't think we can get it here in Australia, I was thinking pocket scales might be the next best thing. I have a pill cutter but getting anything smaller than 1.25mg is nearly impossible. Thanks again, Grant

08-27-2006, 08:39 PM	#6
altostrata Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 4,652	Re: Protracted withdrawal at 5mg? grant -- Is it possible to order liquid Paxil online from an Australian site? Maybe http://www.onlinepharmacy.com.au/ http://www.homepharmacy.com.au/ http://www.epharmacy.com.au/ etc __________________ '97-'99 Prozac 10mg, tapered, no problem '02-'04 Paxil 10mg, tapered 1mg/wk Oct '04 10/04-12/04 Hypomania, sweating, brain zaps 12/04-7/05 Insomnia, weepy, pseudo-anxiety, anorgasmia 1/05-1/06 Wellbutrin 100-250mg 9/05-4/06 Disabled -- fatigue 1/06-5/07 Vits C, D3, E, mag, zinc, fish oil, acupuncture, whey protein isolate, melatonin help 1/08-1/09 Disabled -- severe insomnia Recovering with aid of an extraordinary MD. See http://www.paxilprogress.org/forums/...?p=582889#post

08-27-2006, 09:43 PM	#7
Katesmom Moderator Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 13,706	Re: Protracted withdrawal at 5mg? I think I had heard that there was no liquid in australia. You might call around and see if you can find a compounding pharmacy. They could make you some liquid. __________________ Katesmom aka Kim started Paxil Oct. 2003 for PIH Paxil free since 19 Jul 2005 ". . .the cruelest lies are often told without a word. . .the kindest truths are often spoken, never heard." -- Ben Folds

08-27-2006, 09:44 PM	#8
grant Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 10	Re: Protracted withdrawal at 5mg? silence4now--I am taking 1/4 of 20mg tablet. I don't think we can get the liquid here in Australia. altostrata--Thanks for the links. I couldn't find liquid paxil on any of those sites, only the 20mg tablets. I rang GSK to see if it is available in Australia but the guy told me it is not. He gave me the name of a company (Idis World Medicines) and suggested I could try importing it. Incidently, the guy I spoke to told me I am having an 'adverse' reaction to the medication. How many people need to have 'adverse' reactions before they admit that it is not us having an 'adverse' reaction but it is in fact a 'dangerous' drug. Grant

08-27-2006, 10:04 PM	#10
grant Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 10	Re: Protracted withdrawal at 5mg? Yes, he did admit it. However, he made it seem as though I was the one with the problem and not a problem with the drug.

08-28-2006, 10:36 AM	#11
altostrata Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 4,652	Re: Protracted withdrawal at 5mg? They like to pretend adverse reactions are very, very rare. Inexplicable, in fact. __________________ '97-'99 Prozac 10mg, tapered, no problem '02-'04 Paxil 10mg, tapered 1mg/wk Oct '04 10/04-12/04 Hypomania, sweating, brain zaps 12/04-7/05 Insomnia, weepy, pseudo-anxiety, anorgasmia 1/05-1/06 Wellbutrin 100-250mg 9/05-4/06 Disabled -- fatigue 1/06-5/07 Vits C, D3, E, mag, zinc, fish oil, acupuncture, whey protein isolate, melatonin help 1/08-1/09 Disabled -- severe insomnia Recovering with aid of an extraordinary MD. See http://www.paxilprogress.org/forums/...?p=582889#post

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