Long Term Withdrawal differences in slow tapers versus cold turkey

paxilmania · 01-24-2008, 09:04 PM

Anyone know what the differences are with Long term withdrawal symptoms in someone doing a cold turkey withdrawal versus someone doing a slow taper withdrawal?

For exapmle, since I tapered quickly, would I still have more intense withdrawals a year later than someone who tapered slow?
Im having a hard time understanding the differences in long and short term weaning.

scotty · 01-24-2008, 09:06 PM

While the time invested may be the same(but I do believe that cold turkey is much longer to recover from), the slow weaning makes that time MUCH easier to handle. Slow weaning diminishes symptoms and allows you to function at a reasonably normal level. Cold turkey doesn't.
So the choice is more about how you want to feel for the time needed.

LCrawford67 · 01-25-2008, 05:33 AM

If you notice, the people here who have suffered the longest, are those who have either CT'd or tapered too fast.

Those who taper slowly can not only function throught he process, but don't have near the problems after the taper, than those who did it quickly have.

paxilmania · 01-25-2008, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LCrawford67

If you notice, the people here who have suffered the longest, are those who have either CT'd or tapered too fast.

Those who taper slowly can not only function throught he process, but don't have near the problems after the taper, than those who did it quickly have.

Thank you
I think Im going to start over, Id rather start over now than two months from now.

nicemom · 01-25-2008, 06:08 AM

I agree. Better safe than sorry. You went too fast and it could affect you for years. If you go back and do it very, very slowly you will have no regrets. You already know you are very sensitive to the symptoms so if I were you I would drop 1mg or .5 at a time and perhaps longer in between. Listen to your body.

Good luck.

since95 · 01-25-2008, 09:08 AM

Paxilmania

I dropped from 30mg to 20mg earlier this year (doctors advice) and I am now just feeling confident that I can start to taper. I truly believe that if I had tapered slowly from 30 -20 I would be feeling a lot better. I plan to slowly taper the rest of the way in 10% doses and my goal is to hopefully be down to 10mg this time next year. Remember, you are not rushing to ge this drug out of your system, you are trying to find balance in order to function properly. I have yet to see a negative post from a member on PP about tapering to slowly. Good luck!!

peachsnaps · 01-25-2008, 05:53 PM

I took 20 milligrams of Paxil for over a year, then I started gaining weight so I had my doctor switch me straight to Prozac so I didn't go through any withdrawal. I think I did try to wean myself off of it one time but when I got down to 5 milligrams a day I started having crackling sounds in my head but that was the only withdrawal symptom I had.

I've taken a lot of the SSRI's but I don't take them anymore and hopefully won't ever have to take any again. I'm still depressed and probably need to be taking some kind of antidepressant but I don't want to become addicted again. I've thought about getting some type of therapy but I don't know much about that.

Peaches

01-24-2008, 09:04 PM	#1
paxilmania Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NY state Posts: 91	Long Term Withdrawal differences in slow tapers versus cold turkey Anyone know what the differences are with Long term withdrawal symptoms in someone doing a cold turkey withdrawal versus someone doing a slow taper withdrawal? For exapmle, since I tapered quickly, would I still have more intense withdrawals a year later than someone who tapered slow? Im having a hard time understanding the differences in long and short term weaning. __________________ - on paxil since 1997 - CT last dose of 2.5 mg was 1/17/8 went through a week of agony -huge mistake -started back on paxil 2.5 mg 1/25/8 -2/14/8-back to 5mgs -06/16/08-4.4 mg -07/01/08-4.0 mg -08/01/08-1.7 ML -10/25/08-0.8 ML liquid (1.6 mg) -update 05/2009- off paxil completeley as of a couple months ago!

01-24-2008, 09:06 PM	#2
scotty Administrator & Advocate Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 38,590	Re: Long Term Withdrawal differences in slow tapers versus cold turkey While the time invested may be the same(but I do believe that cold turkey is much longer to recover from), the slow weaning makes that time MUCH easier to handle. Slow weaning diminishes symptoms and allows you to function at a reasonably normal level. Cold turkey doesn't. So the choice is more about how you want to feel for the time needed. __________________ AKA Laurie "If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere." ~Frank A. Clark

01-25-2008, 05:33 AM	#3
LCrawford67 Moderator "Everybody poops" Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 26,493	Re: Long Term Withdrawal differences in slow tapers versus cold turkey If you notice, the people here who have suffered the longest, are those who have either CT'd or tapered too fast. Those who taper slowly can not only function throught he process, but don't have near the problems after the taper, than those who did it quickly have. __________________ 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

01-25-2008, 06:08 AM	#5
nicemom Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 3,183	Re: Long Term Withdrawal differences in slow tapers versus cold turkey I agree. Better safe than sorry. You went too fast and it could affect you for years. If you go back and do it very, very slowly you will have no regrets. You already know you are very sensitive to the symptoms so if I were you I would drop 1mg or .5 at a time and perhaps longer in between. Listen to your body. Good luck. __________________ 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.

01-25-2008, 09:08 AM	#6
since95 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Edmonton Posts: 352	Re: Long Term Withdrawal differences in slow tapers versus cold turkey Paxilmania I dropped from 30mg to 20mg earlier this year (doctors advice) and I am now just feeling confident that I can start to taper. I truly believe that if I had tapered slowly from 30 -20 I would be feeling a lot better. I plan to slowly taper the rest of the way in 10% doses and my goal is to hopefully be down to 10mg this time next year. Remember, you are not rushing to ge this drug out of your system, you are trying to find balance in order to function properly. I have yet to see a negative post from a member on PP about tapering to slowly. Good luck!! __________________ Since95 aka Dan -On Paxil for 15-1/2 years. Completed 2-1/2 year taper from 40mgs Paxil - 0. Med free August 24, 2009!

01-25-2008, 05:53 PM	#7
peachsnaps Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 7	Re: Long Term Withdrawal differences in slow tapers versus cold turkey I took 20 milligrams of Paxil for over a year, then I started gaining weight so I had my doctor switch me straight to Prozac so I didn't go through any withdrawal. I think I did try to wean myself off of it one time but when I got down to 5 milligrams a day I started having crackling sounds in my head but that was the only withdrawal symptom I had. I've taken a lot of the SSRI's but I don't take them anymore and hopefully won't ever have to take any again. I'm still depressed and probably need to be taking some kind of antidepressant but I don't want to become addicted again. I've thought about getting some type of therapy but I don't know much about that. Peaches __________________ By living fully recognizing that all we do is by His power, we honor God; He in turnes bless us. --Becky Laird

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