When does withdrawal kick in?

panicattackssuck · 01-20-2007, 08:13 AM

I started cutting a 1/4 off my pills yesterday meaning I dropped 5 mgs from 20 to 15. This is day 2 and I feel nothing yet. My doctor did give me some ativan if I need it , I hav'nt yet. I've had the mild zaps already when I was taking a full dose but nothing other than that. When does it get bad?
Thanks
Nancy

Bern · 01-20-2007, 08:22 AM

It is different for everyone. It took me a few days for Paxil withdrawal to kick in. For some people, it takes a day. Everyone is different. And.....there is a possiblitity that you may not get Paxil withdrawal, because Paxil withdrawal doesn't happen to everyone, but it does affect the majority of the peole.

panicattackssuck · 01-20-2007, 08:29 AM

Thanks, Hope I am lucky!
Nancy

Katesmom · 01-20-2007, 08:34 AM

Usually comes on day three, but could be longer. For me, on my first cut (which was massive), I had mania for a week that I didn't recognize. Then, with my next cut, three days into it I started with dizziness, then zaps. It took another week to feel all of the bad stuff. BUT, I was tapering too fast and all wrong.

Delynbetter · 01-20-2007, 09:05 AM

It's true. It just doesn't happen to everyone. Don't wait for it to happen, just be educated so you can recognize it IF it does happen. Best of luck to you!

Shakespeer · 01-20-2007, 10:33 AM

im on day 10 i think or something around there and besides a little bit of a headache i have felt ok.
I was really worrying after reading a lot on this site that i would have a worse time but so far so good. Im still going to go slowly but im happy to say that its just not too bad so far.

I think i had one zap the other day but i tried to not pay too much attention to it.

jenS · 01-20-2007, 01:33 PM

Mine hit me hard about day 7.

panicattackssuck · 01-20-2007, 01:37 PM

I do have an annoying little headache and a bit sleepy even though I slept 8 hours last night. Alittle impatient with the kids too. Nothing major.

Kitsyl · 01-20-2007, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panicattackssuck

I started cutting a 1/4 off my pills yesterday meaning I dropped 5 mgs from 20 to 15. This is day 2 and I feel nothing yet. My doctor did give me some ativan if I need it , I hav'nt yet. I've had the mild zaps already when I was taking a full dose but nothing other than that. When does it get bad?
Thanks
Nancy

I found that when I was occasionally forced into stopping taking it all together, day three or four. During my early taper around week three.

You're taking pretty huge drops there...

Light · 01-20-2007, 03:56 PM

Usually, 3-4 days but it could be as long as a week or two. Some people have milder symptoms but then get walloped at the one or two month mark. And then of course some people have very mild withdrawal (or none at all).

Iksfreundin · 01-20-2007, 08:54 PM

At the beginning of my taper, from 40 mgs, it hit me within hours. No kidding. Now, at 4 mgs, the drops take around 4 - 7 days to hit me, and then stay hard-to-deal-with until about day 11.

But this IS different for everyone! I read so much about how difficult and painful it was under 10 - but that wasn't going to stop me! All of my drops under 10 have been far easier and more manageable than any of the drops before. Everyone is different; don't expect the worst, but be ready for it.

scotty · 01-20-2007, 09:31 PM

Ryan found the lower doses easier too. There is no way to predict..we've seen every possible reaction.

LCrawford67 · 01-20-2007, 09:43 PM

Don't wait for the other shoe to drop. You may have no trouble at all and I hope that's the case. Just take one day at a time and see what happens. But, I will say this, from this point on, I wouldn't take another 5 mg drop. For some, it gets a little tricky at this point and it's better to be safe than sorry. Go 10% drops from here on out.

Scott · 01-20-2007, 09:48 PM

i dropped from 25 to 12.5 in about a month and it took that long for the bad symptoms to appear

lysergia · 01-21-2007, 07:15 AM

I'm thinking that I'm going to be weaning off Paxil for a very long time.Currently on 80 , yes 80mg. of Paxil. Dr. said that he added Wellbutrin to my drug schedule to make getting off Paxil a bit easier. Half the time I'm comatose anyway as I'm also taking 2.5 mg of Xanax.

panicattackssuck · 01-21-2007, 07:31 AM

Day 3 still feeling good, felt alittle weird right before I got up out of bed, like a bit of a cold or something coming on? Got up took the 15 mg and multivitiamin and cup of coffee, just feel a bit tired. I have been taking 3 super omega fish oil capsules, calicium, milk thistle and multi vitamin everyday, maybe that is helping. I need to get magnisum and try that yet. Pain in the butt taking all of those pills , but hey if it helps, it helps.
Nancy

efexorsam · 01-21-2007, 07:47 AM

You're doing well. Throw the Ativan away though, that stuff is as addictive if not more so than the a/d because of its almost immediate effect

mapleleafgirl25 · 01-21-2007, 12:49 PM

I agree on the Ativan..that is what caused me to go back on paxil again last year..i took ativan for 10 days..then stopped..i got sever withdrawal from it for 6 weeks..i had to go back on othe paxil to help that!!..I only felt paxil withdrawal when i hit .5mgs ..the first time i went off..and now this second time..it is different for everyone!!

michele

nicemom · 01-21-2007, 01:04 PM

Pretty much same here. The larger doses were not bad and the symptoms got worse the lower I went. Everyone is different and tapering sure makes the symptoms easier. Please keep us posted on how you are doing. Good luck.

altostrata · 01-21-2007, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lysergia

I'm thinking that I'm going to be weaning off Paxil for a very long time.Currently on 80 , yes 80mg. of Paxil. Dr. said that he added Wellbutrin to my drug schedule to make getting off Paxil a bit easier. Half the time I'm comatose anyway as I'm also taking 2.5 mg of Xanax.

lys, are you still seeing the same doctor?

This sounds like WAY TOO MUCH pharmacology. Xanax, as you know, is addictive and 2.5mg is a high dose to start with. You're going to have to withdraw from Xanax after you withdraw from Paxil.

All this medication is putting a huge stress on your nervous system. Wellbutrin tends to raise blood pressure. In my opinion, Wellbutrin is the wrong drug to ease discontinuation; I was treated with it and I didn't start to recover until I stopped taking it. It is noradrenergic -- if a person is having "panic" attacks or surges of anxiety, you don't need more noradrenaline. It also messes with dopamine receptors, which in my opinion are the most fragile link in the system.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get a second opinion from another doctor. You must have an extraordinarily strong constitution even to be operational with all the drugs you're taking.

See my post in your other topic.

01-20-2007, 08:13 AM	#1
panicattackssuck Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: PA Posts: 35	When does withdrawal kick in? I started cutting a 1/4 off my pills yesterday meaning I dropped 5 mgs from 20 to 15. This is day 2 and I feel nothing yet. My doctor did give me some ativan if I need it , I hav'nt yet. I've had the mild zaps already when I was taking a full dose but nothing other than that. When does it get bad? Thanks Nancy

01-20-2007, 08:22 AM	#2
Bern Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 3,316	Re: When does with drawl kick in? It is different for everyone. It took me a few days for Paxil withdrawal to kick in. For some people, it takes a day. Everyone is different. And.....there is a possiblitity that you may not get Paxil withdrawal, because Paxil withdrawal doesn't happen to everyone, but it does affect the majority of the peole. __________________ PAXIL FREE SINCE 8/16/09!!! Spent a total of 11 years on Paxil. I have been taking Anafranil since 2005. Alcohol free since 12/31/07----Seroquel Free since 7/30/08

01-20-2007, 08:29 AM	#3
panicattackssuck Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: PA Posts: 35	Re: When does with drawl kick in? Thanks, Hope I am lucky! Nancy

01-20-2007, 08:34 AM	#4
Katesmom Moderator Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 13,706	Re: When does with drawl kick in? Usually comes on day three, but could be longer. For me, on my first cut (which was massive), I had mania for a week that I didn't recognize. Then, with my next cut, three days into it I started with dizziness, then zaps. It took another week to feel all of the bad stuff. BUT, I was tapering too fast and all wrong. __________________ 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

01-20-2007, 09:05 AM	#5
Delynbetter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 10,518	Re: When does with drawl kick in? It's true. It just doesn't happen to everyone. Don't wait for it to happen, just be educated so you can recognize it IF it does happen. Best of luck to you! __________________ Diagnosed anxiety/panic disorder without agoraphobia 1989. Talk/music therapy. Major anxiety and mild depression in 2004 from situational stressors. Began Paxil CR 25mg, 10/04. Quit cold-turkey 5/5/05 as demanded by doctor. Found paxilprogress 5/17/05. Began Paxil CR 12.5mg 5/17/05. Weaned 4 1/2 months. During taper - anx/panic/depression, manic episodes, agoraphobia, suicidal ideation, many other physical symptoms. Paxil-free 10/2/05.

01-20-2007, 10:33 AM	#6
Shakespeer Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 30	Re: When does withdrawal kick in? im on day 10 i think or something around there and besides a little bit of a headache i have felt ok. I was really worrying after reading a lot on this site that i would have a worse time but so far so good. Im still going to go slowly but im happy to say that its just not too bad so far. I think i had one zap the other day but i tried to not pay too much attention to it.

01-20-2007, 01:33 PM	#7
jenS Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 618	Re: When does withdrawal kick in? Mine hit me hard about day 7. __________________ Summer 1997: Started Paxil 10mg. (size 6) Spring 2001: Tried to quit cold turkey, failed Spring 2002: Increased Paxil CR 25 mg. Spring 2005: Switched to generic Paxil 20mg. Summer 2005: Tapered to 10mg. January 11, 2006: Tapered to 5mg. Januray 26, 2006: Down to 2.5mg. (size 14) February 4, 2006: PAXIL FREE (after 9 years) February 2007: Lost all my Paxil weight (30 lbs.) Kill fatigue with B Complex.

01-20-2007, 01:37 PM	#8
panicattackssuck Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: PA Posts: 35	Re: When does withdrawal kick in? I do have an annoying little headache and a bit sleepy even though I slept 8 hours last night. Alittle impatient with the kids too. Nothing major.

01-20-2007, 03:56 PM	#10
Light Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 2,271	Re: When does withdrawal kick in? Usually, 3-4 days but it could be as long as a week or two. Some people have milder symptoms but then get walloped at the one or two month mark. And then of course some people have very mild withdrawal (or none at all). __________________ Drug-free since 4/9/05 If you ever teach a yodeling class, probably the hardest thing is to keep the students from just trying to yodel right off the bat. You see, "we build to that. " — Jack Handey

01-20-2007, 08:54 PM	#11
Iksfreundin "Dancing Queen" Join Date: May 2006 Location: USA Posts: 3,572	Re: When does withdrawal kick in? At the beginning of my taper, from 40 mgs, it hit me within hours. No kidding. Now, at 4 mgs, the drops take around 4 - 7 days to hit me, and then stay hard-to-deal-with until about day 11. But this IS different for everyone! I read so much about how difficult and painful it was under 10 - but that wasn't going to stop me! All of my drops under 10 have been far easier and more manageable than any of the drops before. Everyone is different; don't expect the worst, but be ready for it. __________________ 95' - started paxil, 20 mgs; up to 30. two ct's, then 60 mgs for years. 40 mgs in '02, poop-out in '05 start taper= 5/8/06 at 20 = 6/17/06 at 15 = 8/8/06 at 10 = 10/15/06 at 5 = 12/14/06 Paxil free as of 3/8/08 (drops were done gradually - not from 20 to 15 and so on) Smoke-free as of 2/27/08 Still doing well, no smoking yet and I haven't been hospitalized - 10/2/09 "You, however, smear me with lies; you are worthless physicians, all of you!" Job 13:4, KJV Bible

01-20-2007, 09:31 PM	#12
scotty Administrator & Advocate Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 38,589	Re: When does withdrawal kick in? Ryan found the lower doses easier too. There is no way to predict..we've seen every possible reaction. __________________ AKA Laurie "If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere." ~Frank A. Clark

01-20-2007, 09:43 PM	#13
LCrawford67 Moderator "Everybody poops" Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 26,493	Re: When does withdrawal kick in? Don't wait for the other shoe to drop. You may have no trouble at all and I hope that's the case. Just take one day at a time and see what happens. But, I will say this, from this point on, I wouldn't take another 5 mg drop. For some, it gets a little tricky at this point and it's better to be safe than sorry. Go 10% drops from here on out. __________________ 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

01-20-2007, 09:48 PM	#14
Scott Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: somewhere in between Posts: 11,616	Re: When does withdrawal kick in? i dropped from 25 to 12.5 in about a month and it took that long for the bad symptoms to appear __________________ Scott aka Scott What has happened to it all? Crazy, some are saying Where is the life that I recognize? Gone away But I won't cry for yesterday There's an ordinary world Somehow I have to find And as I try to make my way To the ordinary world I will learn to survive surviving an ssri reaction alternative anxiety treatments

01-21-2007, 07:15 AM	#15
lysergia Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 20	Re: When does withdrawal kick in? I'm thinking that I'm going to be weaning off Paxil for a very long time.Currently on 80 , yes 80mg. of Paxil. Dr. said that he added Wellbutrin to my drug schedule to make getting off Paxil a bit easier. Half the time I'm comatose anyway as I'm also taking 2.5 mg of Xanax.

01-21-2007, 07:31 AM	#16
panicattackssuck Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: PA Posts: 35	Re: When does withdrawal kick in? Day 3 still feeling good, felt alittle weird right before I got up out of bed, like a bit of a cold or something coming on? Got up took the 15 mg and multivitiamin and cup of coffee, just feel a bit tired. I have been taking 3 super omega fish oil capsules, calicium, milk thistle and multi vitamin everyday, maybe that is helping. I need to get magnisum and try that yet. Pain in the butt taking all of those pills , but hey if it helps, it helps. Nancy __________________ Panic attack 7-24-2006 BIG ONE Hospital got all the heart workup they say i'm fine Give me paxil, ativan and send me on my way 20 mg paxil 7-26-06 checked out this website about a week after Lurked a lot posted a few questions Starting my taper 1-17-2007 Nancy

01-21-2007, 07:47 AM	#17
efexorsam Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: England Posts: 330	Re: When does withdrawal kick in? You're doing well. Throw the Ativan away though, that stuff is as addictive if not more so than the a/d because of its almost immediate effect __________________ Various ssri's since March 2001. Switched to prozac March 2007, and began taper. Currently 1.2mg (since 19th October)

01-21-2007, 12:49 PM	#18
mapleleafgirl25 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 2,132	Re: When does withdrawal kick in? I agree on the Ativan..that is what caused me to go back on paxil again last year..i took ativan for 10 days..then stopped..i got sever withdrawal from it for 6 weeks..i had to go back on othe paxil to help that!!..I only felt paxil withdrawal when i hit .5mgs ..the first time i went off..and now this second time..it is different for everyone!! michele __________________ aka MICHELE My history with paxil is too long to write here..lol..but you can look at my old posts to see!

01-21-2007, 01:04 PM	#19
nicemom Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 3,183	Re: When does withdrawal kick in? Pretty much same here. The larger doses were not bad and the symptoms got worse the lower I went. Everyone is different and tapering sure makes the symptoms easier. Please keep us posted on how you are doing. Good luck. __________________ Diane On Paxil for 5+ years Weaned from 40mg to 15 over a 1 1/2 year period. From 15mg-0 May/June 06 (before finding PP) Protracted w/d from c/t. First 10 mths up and down but tolerable. Akathesia hit at 11 months. Many months of terrible mental and physical torture. 3/09 started Prozac but too stimulating. Currently on 15mg Lexapro and feeling so much better. Not all who waunder are lost.

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