Bottom line - How long???

Stephen · 04-04-2007, 11:31 PM

Friends
I have been on 20mg paxil for 18 months now and three weeks ago starting to cut down my dose (using a knife to chip away at the tablet). Today I am down to exactly half a pill (or 10mgs).

Bottom line: How long should I allow myself to wean off these horrible drugs altogether?

Cheers
Stephen

mscece · 04-04-2007, 11:34 PM

Hi Stephen and welcome a 50% drop in three weeks is a lot. Slow down a little its not a race. Your body will let you know how fast or slow your going. I would wait at least three to four weeks between each drop.

Stephen · 04-04-2007, 11:46 PM

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I'm actually feeling okay...a little foggy in the head and not much energy. I have a set of weights under the house that I can't even imagine lifting at the moment!

Tcg · 04-05-2007, 08:57 AM

A couple things to consider Stephen, first not everybody has a great deal of trouble getting off these meds, but many do. Also it may take awhile for you to feel the full effects of withdrawal. The taper recommended here is to cut by 10 percent and stay there for 3 - 4 weeks and then drop another 10%. Also you can get a pill cutter at your local pharmacy which makes cutting accurate dosages much easier. Good Luck to you!

LCrawford67 · 04-05-2007, 12:29 PM

Be very careful here, Stephen. You're tapering very fast and just because you're not feeling horrible right now, it may very well catch up to you.

You should be dropping 10% of your current dose every 3-4 weeks. See if you can get a script of liquid Paxil, which will make your tapering much easier.

Katesmom · 04-05-2007, 01:57 PM

It's likely that you are just beginning to feel the effects of your initial tapering over the last few days. I got hit hardest three weeks out from a 50% taper. Stick at 10mg solid for another couple of weeks and see what happens. Also, keep in mind that you need to think of drops in terms of a % of current dose. Even if this first 10mg didn't seem so bad, that doesn't mean that you can drop the next 10mg as easily. The first drop is a 50% drop, the second would be 100%. That's a massive difference!!!!

safarigal · 04-05-2007, 04:04 PM

Some people have an easy time getting off Paxil while others have a difficult time.

Listen to your body and symptoms. If you feel pretty good and don't have too many side effects of withdrawal then continue chipping at the pills as it works for you.

You can check our withdrawal FAQ for more info on withdrawal and tapering.

My withdrawal experience wasn't too bad considering how others suffered. I cut 2.5mg every 2-3 weeks and was off within 3 months.

Stephen · 04-05-2007, 04:48 PM

Thanks everone, I really appreciate your feedback. Those hives of mine which I told you all about a couple of weeks ago are still not 100% cleared up. Matter of fact I have about three or four really itchy ones right now...gotta go scratch.
Cheers
Stephen
Sunny Sydney, Australia.

04-04-2007, 11:31 PM	#1
Stephen Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Pearl Beach Australia Posts: 40	Bottom line - How long??? Friends I have been on 20mg paxil for 18 months now and three weeks ago starting to cut down my dose (using a knife to chip away at the tablet). Today I am down to exactly half a pill (or 10mgs). Bottom line: How long should I allow myself to wean off these horrible drugs altogether? Cheers Stephen

04-04-2007, 11:34 PM	#2
mscece Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: antioch ca Posts: 299	Re: Bottom line - How long??? Hi Stephen and welcome a 50% drop in three weeks is a lot. Slow down a little its not a race. Your body will let you know how fast or slow your going. I would wait at least three to four weeks between each drop.

04-04-2007, 11:46 PM	#3
Stephen Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Pearl Beach Australia Posts: 40	Re: Bottom line - How long??? Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I'm actually feeling okay...a little foggy in the head and not much energy. I have a set of weights under the house that I can't even imagine lifting at the moment!

04-05-2007, 08:57 AM	#4
Tcg Join Date: May 2006 Location: South Jersey Posts: 608	Re: Bottom line - How long??? A couple things to consider Stephen, first not everybody has a great deal of trouble getting off these meds, but many do. Also it may take awhile for you to feel the full effects of withdrawal. The taper recommended here is to cut by 10 percent and stay there for 3 - 4 weeks and then drop another 10%. Also you can get a pill cutter at your local pharmacy which makes cutting accurate dosages much easier. Good Luck to you! __________________ Trent Paxil 20 mg - 10 years Paxil free Dec. '05 Remeron 15mg - 7 years 10/12/09 0 mg. Remreon Free at Last after +2 1/2 year taper! "I could afford to shop at Wal-Mart, but my standards are too high!"

04-05-2007, 12:29 PM	#5
LCrawford67 Moderator "Everybody poops" Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 26,493	Re: Bottom line - How long??? Be very careful here, Stephen. You're tapering very fast and just because you're not feeling horrible right now, it may very well catch up to you. You should be dropping 10% of your current dose every 3-4 weeks. See if you can get a script of liquid Paxil, which will make your tapering much easier. __________________ 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

04-05-2007, 01:57 PM	#6
Katesmom Moderator Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 13,706	Re: Bottom line - How long??? It's likely that you are just beginning to feel the effects of your initial tapering over the last few days. I got hit hardest three weeks out from a 50% taper. Stick at 10mg solid for another couple of weeks and see what happens. Also, keep in mind that you need to think of drops in terms of a % of current dose. Even if this first 10mg didn't seem so bad, that doesn't mean that you can drop the next 10mg as easily. The first drop is a 50% drop, the second would be 100%. That's a massive difference!!!! __________________ 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

04-05-2007, 04:04 PM	#7
safarigal Moderator Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 4,891	Re: Bottom line - How long??? Some people have an easy time getting off Paxil while others have a difficult time. Listen to your body and symptoms. If you feel pretty good and don't have too many side effects of withdrawal then continue chipping at the pills as it works for you. You can check our withdrawal FAQ for more info on withdrawal and tapering. My withdrawal experience wasn't too bad considering how others suffered. I cut 2.5mg every 2-3 weeks and was off within 3 months. __________________ Julie Paxil free since Nov 2002! Forum Rules Withdrawal FAQ

04-05-2007, 04:48 PM	#8
Stephen Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Pearl Beach Australia Posts: 40	Re: Bottom line - How long??? Thanks everone, I really appreciate your feedback. Those hives of mine which I told you all about a couple of weeks ago are still not 100% cleared up. Matter of fact I have about three or four really itchy ones right now...gotta go scratch. Cheers Stephen Sunny Sydney, Australia.

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