New to this site....not to PAXIL....starting to feel withdraw

[mfstate03]

I have been on Paxil for 6 years and am in the final stages of tapering down. I am currently on 5mg tablets and believe I am feeling the beginning effects of withdraw.

I would describe my feelings as dizzy, confused and foggy. I have a hard time concentating on what people are saying to me. Things seem so ODD.....like everything around me is numb or unreal. It this the beginning???

[TryingtoGetWell]

Welcome to this group. What you're describing are certainly common withdrawal symptoms.

Can you give us a list of your taper schedule? Telling us what dose you were on, then the dates and dosages of dosage reductions during taper will really help us to help you.

You'll get a lot of good advice and support here. But we'd need to know that information to advise you. Keep in touch!

[Homerbcool]

What was your tapering scheulde..how did you taper and over how long and how long between dose changes

[Pat Shields]

Originally Posted by mfstate03

Things seem so ODD.....like everything around me is numb or unreal. Is this the beginning???

Yep-per. I got Paxil in Jan 2001. My first prescription refill was sent to me through the mail. I thought it was automatic. Didn't know I had to request it. Came time for the next refill, and it didn't come. So at the beginning of the first day w/o Paxil, it was exactly as you described. Thought I was coming down with the flu. By that afternoon I thought I was going to die. By that evening I finally realized what was going on, so I went to my pharmacy (VA hospital), which closes at 8 p.m., for a refill. They had only 5 tablets! I said 'I WILL TAKE THEM and by the time they are gone you should have a whole prescription's worth in." They didn't want to, but somehow (maybe it was my violent tone of desperation on my side of the thick bullet-proof glass window) I made my point and they gave me the pills. The rest of the people in line were uneasy, but on my way past them I explained that it was my own da/\/\n fault for not ordering the prescription and once I took my pill, which I had in my mouth, I would be fine.

So yeah, in my not-so-humble opinion, you indeed have the beginning. Welcome to paxilprogress and I am glad you found your way here.

[LCrawford67]

Welcome! As previously stated, we'll need to know a little more about your dose and tapering schedule.

[mfstate03]

This is the my taper to the best of my knowledge (don't have exact dates):

Mid -April - 80mg
5days later - 70mg
5days later - 60mg
5days later - 50mg
5days later- 40mg
7days later - 30mg
7days later -20mg
7days later - 10mg
14 days later (today 6/13/2007) - 5mg

I feel like my IQ has dropped as well. Things don't register as well and my timing with people is off. To make matters worse I have social anxiety, so I'm not sure if its the anxiety or the WD thats giving me these feelings.

[mfstate03]

This is the my taper to the best of my knowledge (don't have exact dates):

Mid -April - 80mg
5days later - 70mg
5days later - 60mg
5days later - 50mg
5days later- 40mg
7days later - 30mg
7days later -20mg
7days later - 10mg
14 days later (today 6/13/2007) - 5mg

I feel like my IQ has dropped as well. Things don't register as well and my timing with people is off. To make matters worse I have social anxiety, so I'm not sure if it's the anxiety or the WD thats giving me these feelings.

[TryingtoGetWell]

Originally Posted by mfstate03

This is the my taper to the best of my knowledge (don't have exact dates):

Mid -April - 80mg
5days later - 70mg
5days later - 60mg
5days later - 50mg
5days later- 40mg
7days later - 30mg
7days later -20mg
7days later - 10mg
14 days later (today 6/13/2007) - 5mg

I feel like my IQ has dropped as well. Things don't register as well and my timing with people is off. To make matters worse I have social anxiety, so I'm not sure if it's the anxiety or the WD thats giving me these feelings.

Honey, you may have anxiety but you're having withdrawal symptoms, big-time. You were on a very high dose of paxil and tapered way too fast for comfort.

You're going to need to go back up and then taper very, very slowly. Hang in there, people will be chiming in to give you good advice on how to do that. Moderators Laurie (Scotty) and Kim (katesmom) especially have a lot of knowledge and experience on that.

And we'll all be here for you as moral support and companions through a slower taper that will save you untold grief. I'm so glad you found this group.

[mfstate03]

Thank you so much for the insite! To be honest hearing this scares the **** out of me, but I'm glad I have this for support.

Do you recommend a dose to go up to???

[Casey1231]

I would suggest 20mg, considering your history, and see if you stabilize there, but let's wait and let some more experienced people chime in here with their opinions. You have found a great place here, stick around.

[scotty]

Welcome mfstate!! Wow, that is one nasty weaning schedule. The reality with weaning is that it can take 2-4 weeks to feel the initial withdrawal effects. So you are basically getting hit with the symptoms from the initial two weans.....it's probably going to get worse, before it gets better. If I were you, I'd jump back up to at least 20mg and stay there for a few months. 80mg of Paxil is an overdose in a toxic range. Getting off that dose safely is going to take time, so be prepared.

If the 20 doesn't calm things down, then go back to 30. But the weaning schedule you are using is only going to get you right back on another drug.

[mfstate03]

Sorry...I should have mentioned this earlier.....

I am taking prozac now at 20 mg....I started that at 5 mg when I was on 40 mg of Paxil. As I weened off of the Paxil I went up on Prozac. I am currently at 20 mg of Prozac.

[TryingtoGetWell]

Hi, I'm back again. Please know I wasn't trying to scare you, just wanted to make sure you stuck around here and got the good advice that's available to you.

I was on a lower dose but I tapered too quickly, and wish I had known what I know now. Unfortunately, by the time I found this group (almost a year after going off my last dose!) it was too late to go back on and taper as they recommend. I'm getting better now, but it's been real slow going and didn't have to be this hard.

I'm so glad you found this group early on. It's a really wonderful, supportive group of people. I feel like they're family now (uh, in the best sense!!!! ). Please know that you can post as often and whenever you want; when you do, you'll hear soon from someone who understands and cares what you're going through!

[TryingtoGetWell]

Originally Posted by mfstate03

Sorry...I should have mentioned this earlier.....

I am taking prozac now at 20 mg....I started that at 5 mg when I was on 40 mg of Paxil. As I weened off of the Paxil I went up on Prozac. I am currently at 20 mg of Prozac.

I just saw this after posting my last message. I'm glad you added that; it helps. Laurie should have more advice for you on that (she's an RN); I'm not qualified to advise on meds.

Do you remember about when you went on the prozac and in what increments?

If you're taking any other meds, even over-the-counter ones, or any herbal remedies, be sure and let us know about those too. It'll help them to help you!

[mfstate03]

Thanks so much for your insight.....I started the prazac roughly 4 weeks ago. 5mg for one week, 10mg for one week and 20mg for two weeks....

[Katesmom]

Personally, I'm not a fan of the buffering method via prozac. It won't save you from paxil w/d, it has a tendency to cause anxiety, and it puts you at risk for serotonin syndrome. I would dump the prozac (the long half life and short use should make that okay) and try to get stabilized on paxil. Do a slow, methodical taper of paxil.

[mfstate03]

Whats seritonine syndrome???

[scotty]

Serotonin is an overproduction of serotonin from using more than one serotonin enhancing drugs. Rare with ssri's, but still potentially possible.
The "buffering" method using Prozac is something we talk about here, but in true practice we have found that few succeed using it. The reality of getting off Paxil is that you have to wean with Paxil.
Is your goal to be drug free, or just free of Paxil?

[mfstate03]

My goal now is to me Paxil free....I DO want to be drug free down the road, but need soemthing for the anxiety and depression.

[scotty]

What else are you doing for the anxiety and depression besides drugs?

[mfstate03]

For the past 5 years I've been seeing a therapist and practicing some CBT and negative self talk. I have recentley switched therapists becuase I felt I needed a more active approach in conquering my fears. I have a meeting with him this Friday.

[scotty]

That's awesome!! Alot of times it takes changing therapists to find the one that works well for you.

[Katesmom]

If anxiety is a problem for you, prozac is NOT the drug for you. Anxiety is a common side effect of that SSRI.

[mfstate03]

What else would you recommend for Social Anxiety? To be honest, It hasn't helped for the anxiety, but has helped well for the depression. I thought it has been to early to tell....

[Katesmom]

Frankly, looking to a pill is never going to be the answer. Therapy, self-help books and techniques, taking a Toastmaster's class--all a better route than meds.

Meds have a limited lifespan. You have to realize that they were tested for 12 weeks. That's it, just three months. The long term studies are us, the folks who are taking them. I have seen ample proof that these drugs just don't work for more than 12 or 13 years. At that point, you will max out on dose and still get withdrawal side effects that will be increasingly debilitating. Of course, some people experience poop out much sooner than that. Knowing that, you have to know there is going to have to be a plan B. Start plan B today.