super slow tapers

10-05-2007, 12:15 AM

I initially PM'd Kim with this post b/c I didn't want to scare any newbies, but she encouraged me to go ahead and post. I have to say, I do love this site. It is incredibly supportive and tolerant of everyone, and the way you teach people to taper is right on. I wish I would have found this site at the very beginning of this torturous journey.

Anyway, here is what I asked Kim...do you know of anyone who did a super slow taper and still was in complete hell...I'm talking completely 100% housebound and/or bedridden. I went way too fast with the first half of the lexapro taper, and you probably remember I ended up in a c/t-like state in Jan 07. I have updosed and got some relief where I semi-function in torture most days at home. I'm hoping if I go super slow with my taper that my brain will catch up and over time I will heal even more from the other drugs I was on. So do you know of anyone who did a super slow taper and still ended up in a c/t-like state? Are there ever cases where the brain does not heal at all on the way down with a slow taper...and won't start healing until one is completely off the drug??? This is so scary to be in this state and still have so much of a drug to taper. I haven't left my house at all for 10 months now. Bathing and getting food in is an olympic event. =(

I hope you have something encouraging to throw my way, b/c this feels hopeless.

Emmy

nicemom · 10-05-2007, 05:35 AM

I don't remember reading any posts like that here, where someone tapered slowly and suffered terribly. I can tell you one thing though, after all I have learned and read and been through personally,,,,if I had to do it all over again I would taper so slowly that my brain wouldn't even notice. I would make my drops no more than .5 mg and I would wait a very long time in between. I especially recommend that for those who are very sensitive. Nothing to lose but everything to gain!

LCrawford67 · 10-06-2007, 02:19 PM

Welcome to Paxil Progress!

CT is cold turkey, in most posts. I'm not sure if that's what Emmy is referring to or not.

Dropping from 40 to 20 mgs isn't slow. That's a 50% reduction and could cause you some problems.

We recommend 10% of your current dose, every 3-6 weeks, depending on what your body tells you.

If you go to our Methods of Wellbeing section, you'll also find great information on supplements that will help you through this journey.

You MAY be able to get away with this big of a cut, because of the higher dose you were on. But, from 20 mgs down, it's very important to go slow and go with the 10% rule.

This would be a good time to look into either a prescription of liquid Paxil, or find a compounding pharmacist, who can crush, weigh, and recapsule your pills into the desired increments. This will also require prescriptions from your doctor.

angels · 10-06-2007, 03:54 PM

Hi,
I only took Paxil 4 days, so I can't speak from Personal withdrawal experience, but I have joined the site 4 years ago and have observed a lot of people's withdrawal. Like Laurie, I'd say that you are dealing with the effects of your initial fast taper. I remember when you first joined and am so happy that you got some small relief.

You will heal. I am sure that dealing with little improvement for so long makes it seem like healing is not going on. But it is. My own opinion is that the brain can only repair itself in stages and it seems that some stages are really long and then some results will show. But healing has been happening all along.

I can't remember the exact particulars, but Hope is a good example of how things do get better. Look at her early postings. She went through so much and came so far. Her post is here
http://www.paxilprogress.org/forums/...ad.php?t=30968

I know it's easy to say be positive, but I sometimes find that when that is hard to come by, Faith is something I can lean on because I don't have to understand it or have it explained.

May you continue to heal.

mapleleafgirl25 · 10-06-2007, 04:24 PM

i would have gone slow too..i did in the beginning..but once i got down to 10 mgs..and stayed there for a couple of months..within 21 days..i went from 10 to 7.5 to 5 then off..and i am 8 months off and still dont feel that great..i mean..i am not suffering bad..but i could have avoided it if i had gone alot slower..SO GO SLOW!!! its the best way!!

michele

10-05-2007, 12:15 AM	#1
emmy Posts: n/a	super slow tapers I initially PM'd Kim with this post b/c I didn't want to scare any newbies, but she encouraged me to go ahead and post. I have to say, I do love this site. It is incredibly supportive and tolerant of everyone, and the way you teach people to taper is right on. I wish I would have found this site at the very beginning of this torturous journey. Anyway, here is what I asked Kim...do you know of anyone who did a super slow taper and still was in complete hell...I'm talking completely 100% housebound and/or bedridden. I went way too fast with the first half of the lexapro taper, and you probably remember I ended up in a c/t-like state in Jan 07. I have updosed and got some relief where I semi-function in torture most days at home. I'm hoping if I go super slow with my taper that my brain will catch up and over time I will heal even more from the other drugs I was on. So do you know of anyone who did a super slow taper and still ended up in a c/t-like state? Are there ever cases where the brain does not heal at all on the way down with a slow taper...and won't start healing until one is completely off the drug??? This is so scary to be in this state and still have so much of a drug to taper. I haven't left my house at all for 10 months now. Bathing and getting food in is an olympic event. =( I hope you have something encouraging to throw my way, b/c this feels hopeless. Emmy Last edited by emmy : 10-05-2007 at 12:18 AM. Reason: forgot to say something

10-05-2007, 05:35 AM	#2
nicemom Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 3,181	Re: super slow tapers I don't remember reading any posts like that here, where someone tapered slowly and suffered terribly. I can tell you one thing though, after all I have learned and read and been through personally,,,,if I had to do it all over again I would taper so slowly that my brain wouldn't even notice. I would make my drops no more than .5 mg and I would wait a very long time in between. I especially recommend that for those who are very sensitive. Nothing to lose but everything to gain! __________________ Diane On Paxil for 5+ years Weaned from 40mg to 15 over a 1 1/2 year period. From 15mg-0 May/June 06 (before finding PP) Protracted w/d from c/t. First 10 mths up and down but tolerable. Akathesia hit at 11 months. Many months of terrible mental and physical torture. 3/09 started Prozac but too stimulating. Currently on 15mg Lexapro and feeling so much better. Not all who waunder are lost.

10-06-2007, 02:19 PM	#3
LCrawford67 Moderator "Everybody poops" Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 34,484	Re: super slow tapers Welcome to Paxil Progress! CT is cold turkey, in most posts. I'm not sure if that's what Emmy is referring to or not. Dropping from 40 to 20 mgs isn't slow. That's a 50% reduction and could cause you some problems. We recommend 10% of your current dose, every 3-6 weeks, depending on what your body tells you. If you go to our Methods of Wellbeing section, you'll also find great information on supplements that will help you through this journey. You MAY be able to get away with this big of a cut, because of the higher dose you were on. But, from 20 mgs down, it's very important to go slow and go with the 10% rule. This would be a good time to look into either a prescription of liquid Paxil, or find a compounding pharmacist, who can crush, weigh, and recapsule your pills into the desired increments. This will also require prescriptions from your doctor. __________________ 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 Today is the best day, EVER!

10-06-2007, 03:54 PM	#4
angels Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 3,052	Re: super slow tapers Hi, I only took Paxil 4 days, so I can't speak from Personal withdrawal experience, but I have joined the site 4 years ago and have observed a lot of people's withdrawal. Like Laurie, I'd say that you are dealing with the effects of your initial fast taper. I remember when you first joined and am so happy that you got some small relief. You will heal. I am sure that dealing with little improvement for so long makes it seem like healing is not going on. But it is. My own opinion is that the brain can only repair itself in stages and it seems that some stages are really long and then some results will show. But healing has been happening all along. I can't remember the exact particulars, but Hope is a good example of how things do get better. Look at her early postings. She went through so much and came so far. Her post is here http://www.paxilprogress.org/forums/...ad.php?t=30968 I know it's easy to say be positive, but I sometimes find that when that is hard to come by, Faith is something I can lean on because I don't have to understand it or have it explained. May you continue to heal. __________________ Are we anti-med? I thought we were pro-heal? There's no SSRI on the market that cures anything. Therefore, SSRIs are anti-heal.. Darcy Baston There is more than lies within those shiny brochures in the a pharma reps' trunk.Sometimes you have to look beyond the marketing machine to get the facts. Laurie Yorke

10-06-2007, 04:24 PM	#5
mapleleafgirl25 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 2,638	Re: super slow tapers i would have gone slow too..i did in the beginning..but once i got down to 10 mgs..and stayed there for a couple of months..within 21 days..i went from 10 to 7.5 to 5 then off..and i am 8 months off and still dont feel that great..i mean..i am not suffering bad..but i could have avoided it if i had gone alot slower..SO GO SLOW!!! its the best way!! michele __________________ 3rd attempt at withdrawal going slow..compounded pills Taper: 05/27/2010 - 03/12/12: Tapered From 20mgs - 6.2 (2years) 04/11/2012 - 6.0 05/10/2012 - 5.8 06/09/2012 - 5.6 07/09/2012 - 5.4 80/08/2012 - 5.2 09/07/2012 - 5.0 10/07/2012 - 4.8 11/06/2012 - 4.6 12/06/2012 - 4.4 01/04/2013 - 4.2 02/03/2013 - 4.0 03/05/2013 - 3.8 04/04/2013 - 3.6 05/05/2013 - 3.4

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