What's the deal with Paxil CR and tapering?

ppd · 05-24-2007, 09:49 AM

Margaret told me that it's easier to taper from regular paxil instead of Paxil Controlled Release. Does anyone know why this may be? I am contemplating a withdrawl plan and want to know everything I can before I even THINK of tapering even 2.5 mg!!!!!!!!

LCrawford67 · 05-24-2007, 10:02 AM

Because it's "controlled release" it releases over time, so it's formulated completely different from regular Paxil.

20mg is basically equivalent to Paxil CR 25mg. Paxil or paroxetine 10mg is basically equivalent to 12. 5mg.

Johnnny off Paxil · 05-24-2007, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LCrawford67

Because it's "controlled release" it releases over time, so it's formulated completely different from regular Paxil.

20mg is basically equivalent to Paxil CR 25mg. Paxil or paroxetine 10mg is basically equivalent to 12. 5mg.

and imagine that..I did my so called 3 week taper by cutting 20mg Paxil CR tablets into chunks ...oh well ..I didn't know.

Regards, Johnny

LCrawford67 · 05-24-2007, 10:10 AM

A lot of people don't know. Laurie's son, Ryan, tapered from CR too.

rdjanis · 05-24-2007, 10:18 AM

People have tapered with the cr, but being time released could make it tricky in the lower doses.

Katesmom · 05-24-2007, 02:02 PM

CR is NOT time released, in other words, it does not release OVER TIME. CR has a thick, hard coating that DELAYS the release of the med by three hours. The actual medicine inside this shell is IDENTICAL to regular paxil. That is why switching back and forth does not create problems for the vast majority of people.

The reason that CR is not ideal for tapering is due to this thick, hard shell. It makes the pill quit difficult to cut beyond half. So, the tapers would have to be big and the lowest you could go would be 6.25 (5 regular equivalent) before you would go to zero. That's a pretty big drop when you get that low.

Because the medicine inside the pills is chemically identical, but the regular pills can be cut, quartered, or even shaved more readily, making the switch to regular is preferable.

ppd · 05-25-2007, 09:59 AM

wow katesmom. You know your stuff!! i'm in the right place!

LCrawford67 · 05-25-2007, 10:00 AM

She's just one of the "geniuses" we have here!

scotty · 05-25-2007, 10:01 AM

yup, what Katesmom said. I was forced to use CR when weaning Ryan. NOT a good choice! It forces larger weaning doses, which we now know are a big problem.

ppd · 05-25-2007, 10:31 AM

So the first thing I would need to do is go from "coated" paxil to "uncoated" paxil and I assume 20mg reg. paxil would match 25mg paxil CR?

scotty · 05-25-2007, 10:43 AM

Exactly!! With regular paxil you can get down to weaning by 2.5 mg(cutting into quarters), with CR you can only get down to half of whatever the dose of that specific pill is.

12.5 mg CR = 10mg regular
25mg CR = 20mg regular
37.5mg CR = 30mg regular

ppd · 05-25-2007, 12:23 PM

There's so much to know. Thanks for knowing and sharing it!

05-24-2007, 09:49 AM	#1
ppd Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 94	What's the deal with Paxil CR and tapering? Margaret told me that it's easier to taper from regular paxil instead of Paxil Controlled Release. Does anyone know why this may be? I am contemplating a withdrawl plan and want to know everything I can before I even THINK of tapering even 2.5 mg!!!!!!!! __________________ My Journey: 2002-First child at 36, severe PPD-Paxil 20mg for a year 2003-Tapered off and free for 3 months -Severe anxiety and depression, put on Remeron -Severe reaction to Remeron June 2004-Nov. 2007-Paxil CR 25 mg+10mg liquid multivitamin supplement + 500mg evening primrose oil Nov 16 07--switched to 20mg reg Paxil Feb.1/08--down to 17.5mg March 28/08--15mg August 08--12.5 mg Sept 08--10mg Jan 31/09--8mg Liquid Paxil March 09--5 mg reg. Paxil Sept 18,09--on the paxil-

05-24-2007, 10:02 AM	#2
LCrawford67 Moderator "Everybody poops" Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 26,493	Re: What's the deal with Paxil CR and tapering? Because it's "controlled release" it releases over time, so it's formulated completely different from regular Paxil. 20mg is basically equivalent to Paxil CR 25mg. Paxil or paroxetine 10mg is basically equivalent to 12. 5mg. __________________ 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

05-24-2007, 10:10 AM	#4
LCrawford67 Moderator "Everybody poops" Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 26,493	Re: What's the deal with Paxil CR and tapering? A lot of people don't know. Laurie's son, Ryan, tapered from CR too. __________________ 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

05-24-2007, 10:18 AM	#5
rdjanis "has a lavender scented keyboard" Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ontario Posts: 22,238	Re: What's the deal with Paxil CR and tapering? People have tapered with the cr, but being time released could make it tricky in the lower doses. __________________ Rita

05-24-2007, 02:02 PM	#6
Katesmom Moderator Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 13,706	Re: What's the deal with Paxil CR and tapering? CR is NOT time released, in other words, it does not release OVER TIME. CR has a thick, hard coating that DELAYS the release of the med by three hours. The actual medicine inside this shell is IDENTICAL to regular paxil. That is why switching back and forth does not create problems for the vast majority of people. The reason that CR is not ideal for tapering is due to this thick, hard shell. It makes the pill quit difficult to cut beyond half. So, the tapers would have to be big and the lowest you could go would be 6.25 (5 regular equivalent) before you would go to zero. That's a pretty big drop when you get that low. Because the medicine inside the pills is chemically identical, but the regular pills can be cut, quartered, or even shaved more readily, making the switch to regular is preferable. __________________ 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

05-25-2007, 09:59 AM	#7
ppd Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 94	Re: What's the deal with Paxil CR and tapering? wow katesmom. You know your stuff!! i'm in the right place! __________________ My Journey: 2002-First child at 36, severe PPD-Paxil 20mg for a year 2003-Tapered off and free for 3 months -Severe anxiety and depression, put on Remeron -Severe reaction to Remeron June 2004-Nov. 2007-Paxil CR 25 mg+10mg liquid multivitamin supplement + 500mg evening primrose oil Nov 16 07--switched to 20mg reg Paxil Feb.1/08--down to 17.5mg March 28/08--15mg August 08--12.5 mg Sept 08--10mg Jan 31/09--8mg Liquid Paxil March 09--5 mg reg. Paxil Sept 18,09--on the paxil-

05-25-2007, 10:00 AM	#8
LCrawford67 Moderator "Everybody poops" Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 26,493	Re: What's the deal with Paxil CR and tapering? She's just one of the "geniuses" we have here! __________________ 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

05-25-2007, 10:01 AM	#9
scotty Administrator & Advocate Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 38,590	Re: What's the deal with Paxil CR and tapering? yup, what Katesmom said. I was forced to use CR when weaning Ryan. NOT a good choice! It forces larger weaning doses, which we now know are a big problem. __________________ AKA Laurie "If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere." ~Frank A. Clark

05-25-2007, 10:31 AM	#10
ppd Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 94	Re: What's the deal with Paxil CR and tapering? So the first thing I would need to do is go from "coated" paxil to "uncoated" paxil and I assume 20mg reg. paxil would match 25mg paxil CR? __________________ My Journey: 2002-First child at 36, severe PPD-Paxil 20mg for a year 2003-Tapered off and free for 3 months -Severe anxiety and depression, put on Remeron -Severe reaction to Remeron June 2004-Nov. 2007-Paxil CR 25 mg+10mg liquid multivitamin supplement + 500mg evening primrose oil Nov 16 07--switched to 20mg reg Paxil Feb.1/08--down to 17.5mg March 28/08--15mg August 08--12.5 mg Sept 08--10mg Jan 31/09--8mg Liquid Paxil March 09--5 mg reg. Paxil Sept 18,09--on the paxil-

05-25-2007, 10:43 AM	#11
scotty Administrator & Advocate Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 38,590	Re: What's the deal with Paxil CR and tapering? Exactly!! With regular paxil you can get down to weaning by 2.5 mg(cutting into quarters), with CR you can only get down to half of whatever the dose of that specific pill is. 12.5 mg CR = 10mg regular 25mg CR = 20mg regular 37.5mg CR = 30mg regular __________________ AKA Laurie "If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere." ~Frank A. Clark

05-25-2007, 12:23 PM	#12
ppd Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 94	Re: What's the deal with Paxil CR and tapering? There's so much to know. Thanks for knowing and sharing it! __________________ My Journey: 2002-First child at 36, severe PPD-Paxil 20mg for a year 2003-Tapered off and free for 3 months -Severe anxiety and depression, put on Remeron -Severe reaction to Remeron June 2004-Nov. 2007-Paxil CR 25 mg+10mg liquid multivitamin supplement + 500mg evening primrose oil Nov 16 07--switched to 20mg reg Paxil Feb.1/08--down to 17.5mg March 28/08--15mg August 08--12.5 mg Sept 08--10mg Jan 31/09--8mg Liquid Paxil March 09--5 mg reg. Paxil Sept 18,09--on the paxil-

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