8yrs on..3 days weened. how long do I stay?

[AileenM]

Day 3. 8 yrs of 30-40-mils. I am getting off this crap. It has almost distroyed my life. Is that anger? YIPEE!! yup, I'm comming alive alright. Went from 20 to ten. On day 3. Can ANYONE plz tell me how long I should stay on 10 before the 'cut'???? No zaps yet, a little moody, dreams and I actually pooped 2 days in a row , but that is it so far...Don't say it's up to me and my body. If I knew me and my body that well would I have lost 8 years?

[LCrawford67]

I can appreciate wanting to get off this stuff, believe me. But, you're going way too fast and you're going to pay for this eventually. Twenty to ten is a 50% reduction and it hasn't caught up to you yet, but it more than likely will very soon.

So, sit where you are for several weeks before tapering again. And, you should taper 10% of the current dose, every 3-5 weeks. You may want to think about getting a script of liquid Paxil as you go along, for the smaller doses.

And, whether you want to hear it or not, it's important that you listen to your body during this time.

Welcome to Paxil Progress!

[Katesmom]

Originally Posted by LCrawford67

I can appreciate wanting to get off this stuff, believe me. But, you're going way too fast and you're going to pay for this eventually. Twenty to ten is a 50% reduction and it hasn't caught up to you yet, but it more than likely will very soon.

So, sit where you are for several weeks before tapering again. And, you should taper 10% of the current dose, every 3-5 weeks. You may want to think about getting a script of liquid Paxil as you go along, for the smaller doses.

And, whether you want to hear it or not, it's important that you listen to your body during this time.

Welcome to Paxil Progress!

Amen to that!

This is NOT a bloodstream issue; getting paxil out of your body and 'detoxed' will not bring wellness. Paxil has made semi-permanent changes to your brain and your brain/body need paxil now to make everything make sense. This is why it takes several weeks to reach full efficacy--it's making those changes. It's not like an aspirin or any other drug that only works during it's half-life.

Right now, you need to give your brain what it needs to function as close to normally as possible so that you can function while your brain is getting the message that it will have to live life with decreasing amounts of paxil. This has to be done slowly, with small tapers, over time. Give yourself lots of time to stabilize. This really does make for an easier and shorter withdrawal period. Going too fast causes chaos for a long, long time, way past your intake of paxil.

Good luck to you.

[Dawn B.]

Hi,
I just did what you did. I went from 7 yr. of 20 mg. to 8.5 in 6 weeks. Now I am paying for it. Withdrawal didn't start immediately. Then I thought I had the flu, and just kept cutting my dose down. I just kept getting sicker, and sicker until the light went on that it was withdrawal. I had to up my dose, I went back to 13 mg. to get rid of some of the w/d effects. It's just horrible.
If you start feeling it, you'll know you went too fast. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy.
I wish I had found this site before I got myself into trouble. And Katesmom is right: Unfortunately you can't just detox this out of your body. It's an addiction.
Good luck and God bless,
Dawn <><

[scotty]

Originally Posted by Katesmom

It's not like an aspirin or any other drug that only works during it's half-life.

I've been trying to explain that in one sentence for years!!! LOL!!

[AileenM]

Thanks!
I will call the doc and see if he will give me 15. I don't trust his knowledge, as I fought with the office angerly to get a refill last year until he would could see me when I was out. They had no clue saying I could just go without for a week and a half. The result? After arguing beligerantly with him He double the dosage to 40!
How does one reduce like that? A pill cutter? I'm on day 4 and other than my body feeling like it was hit my a Mac truck I feel good. I SURELY don't want to ruin anything by going too fast! Thanks for all the advise!

[scotty]

Let me get this straight..you were on 30-40mg for eight years and are now down to 10mg? How long did you take for that drop in dosage?

[AileenM]

This will be 4 days on 10..so far yesterday I felt like I was hit by a truck and awoke to a bad dream that relived the nightmare that got me to the counciler in the fist place. I am watching very close for mood swings and/or body changes, but so far no zaps, whooshes or headaches.. oh, yes there is, the slight ringing in my ears. If I feel any alarms go off I will go up to 15 and stay there a few weeks, then 14ish. Hard to really get it right if your cutting it. Thanks for evy1 supprt too!!

[MeganK]

Welcome AileenM. I did the drop on my own and dropped too fast as well. But then I found this site and got some good advise. I've been on Paxil Cr 6 yrs, last 3 yrs I've been up to 75mg. I tried dropping to 37.5mg but that was way to drastic. I didn't notice it until into the 2nd week. So I did some research found this site and learned I cut too fast. So now I'm at 62.5mg. I've been at this dose for 5 days and am doing much better. And I see a new psychiatrist on Tuesday. Good luck to you. You have found a great site.

[angels]

Hi, I'm not sure if I'm understanding this right, but if you went from 30 or 40 to 20 and now 10 in 3 or 4 days, it is very important that you go back up so that you are making a 10% drop. Also very important that you wait between 3 and 4 weeksa between drops. You won't be feeling the effects right away and things will get worse for you and actually take longer to recover your health unless you wean according to the 10% schedule.

There is a spreadsheet with the schedule on a sticky and I recommend reading the downloadable withdrawal guide.

Your brain has to adjust with each drop; that's why the schedule is so important.

[TryingtoGetWell]

Hi Aileen,

I agree with what everyone else here has written, except to clarify that although yes, it is an addiction, it's different from most other addictions and detoxes. Some people have no problems, but too many of us have lengthy problems after the med is out of our system if we drop too fast.

And often the effects aren't felt for days or even weeks. I felt great physically (as well as mentally) for about two or three weeks of being totally off after a too-fast taper. I didn't know it was addictive and I was overjoyed that my side effects were gone and I felt better than I had since I was a kid.

Then it hit me like a wall, and 16 months later I'm still recovering. I wish I had done the slow taper advised here; I hadn't known to do that, and after a certain point you can't. But you still can, and I urge you to play it safe and go back up, possibly to your usual dose, then taper slowly at a 10% drop from each previous dose, then wait to stabilize at least 3-4 weeks (some people need even longer; you'll learn in time when withdrawal effects hit you and then stabilize where you then feel like you did on the previous dose again, apparently).

Others here - I wasn't clear from your replies here (though I read quickly) - should she go back up to her previous dose of 30-40 (I'm not clear which it was) and stabilize on that or what dose, before slow tapering.

Aileen, most people here use the liquid form of paxil to do the precise slow taper of 10% each drop from previous (not original) dose (the amount of each drop in dose depends on what your previous dose was while tapering). But at the beginning you can use a pill cutter until you get the liquid form.

Please take care - you'll be glad you did. It seems faster to drop quickly, but it really isn't. Many of us have been ill for years from a too-fast taper, so tapering slowly will enable you to avoid much misery and to function in life, and may even save you time in recovering from this med, in the long run!

[AileenM]

Thanks!
I am so lucky to have found all of you to help me in this process! It seems that there must be something out there written for the doctors and pharmasists (sp) because they both told me take the usual dosage every other day for a month then every third day and so on. They have no clue, I'm sure they only read what the makers tell them!

[AileenM]

Funny how I worked in casinos for 11 years and never felt the urge to gambe.
3 months after starting paxel I starting gambling. THe urge was overwelming! Since January 2000,
My home faced forecloser 4 times and I gambled almost every day after work. I have lost close to $40,000 over the years, if not more.
Jumping down to 10 I no longer feel the over powering urge, now it is just a tap on the back. I feel like I am getting my life back and family back. I will go back up to 15. Some pills I cut this and some 10% off. I will go up to the one that curbs my compulsiveness. And taper from there safely. I have no choice, I can't face loosing the house again! I feel betrayed that the company did not tell me I could develope anxiety with obsessive compulsive behaviors. I signed the petition. AND when did they deem this drug addicting? You guys are my only thread to wellness and support as my mom and brother whom live with me are zero support. I left the free book (PWG) on the table for them, but it has not been touched.
God bless you and keep you strong.

[angels]

Originally Posted by AileenM

Thanks!
I am so lucky to have found all of you to help me in this process! It seems that there must be something out there written for the doctors and pharmasists (sp) because they both told me take the usual dosage every other day for a month then every third day and so on. They have no clue, I'm sure they only read what the makers tell them!

You are correct. It comes from the pharmacy reps who undergo intensive sales training. A doctor with a conscience would never give their patients anything that is so addictive.