new member - shaky times until i found this site

[daytona]

wow!

i experienced the leg shakes 3 times since reducing my paxil dosage. man i thought i was going nuts until i found this site and your stories this morning. this site immediately made me feel better.

had leg tremors, teeth chattering and chills last night - moderate and much better than the first time a month and a half ago when i had to go to the emergency room, shivering, teeth chattering, legs clenching with the electrical feelings some describe. so cold!

found something that helps me out was a heating pad or electric blanket. it calmed my legs after a few minutes and i felt much better. this may help others.

i have been on paxil for several years - initially to help with quitting drinking - 6 yrs now and a success with that. last year i noticed that sometimes i would miss taking it for a few days and feel ok - better even - like coming out of a fog. so i started to reduce my dosage. i decided i don't want to be on this anymore!

Reduction so far.....
20 mg/day for 5 to 6 years
10 mg oct-nov 2006
5 mg december
2.5 mg january/Feb 2007
want to go completely off within the next 30 days

compound this with having my mail order prescription service change providers. they sent another type of generic paroxetine - a white pill G one side P/2 on the other side. this is when i really started to feel weird. i think this generic must be causing my levels to really taper - even though i thought i was taking the same amounts.

the depression, stomach/GI issues, lack of appetite, general blah feelings have been hitting me for the last few weeks due to the generic substitution and levels dropping off. i have never experienced things like this before and it was getting to me.

searched the internet this morning and found this site and that i am not alone with these issues and its helped me with the long term plan. i plan on being paxil free soon.

any suggestions? i will be checking back.

thanks,
Joe

[scotty]

Welcome Joe!! While your weaning schedule is a bit fast, it's not the worst we've seen. It's great that you've taken time in between the weans, that is critical. Don't be in a big hurry to get down to 0. Wait until the symptoms are minimal before doing that.

Fish oil and magnesium are the two supplements that most here have found beneficial. You can read more about these two in the supplements section.

Nope, you're not crazy..you're in withdrawal. Happy to have you aboard!!

[Homerbcool]

"Hey Joe ..where you going with that drug in your hand"...sorry had to, big hendrix fan...

Welcome to PP..great sight many many wonderful people with so much real life experience on, getting off and post paxhell...

you experienced the first thing we all did the first found this place...

VALIDATION

and that is so important as you fuond out....

Stick around help out others...maybe learn some new stuff..

[daytona]

thanks, i will not push it too hard and look to take it a little slower on the reduction schedule! -extending it but not losing my long term goal.

Joe...typical w/d symptoms. Heat worked well for my legs. Read everything you can on w/d, and know that you are not alone. Best advise in the workd on this website, and like Scotty said take it easy with the weaning down. My understand is that the last part can be the hardest.

Homer.........You are the George Carliln of Paxilprogress.....Love Ya.

[daytona]

thanks for the ideas and support, this site is really helping!

i'm going to use the time change for help. longer days, eating right and more activity will pull me up. the taper schedule file also puts it in perspective. i cant change overnight. now i see september 1 as a good goal.

i guess i lost sight of my progress - i am 75% there now! i also know my enemy better.


Joe

[scotty]

Good for you Daytona! It's all about listening to your body....not a race.