New guy - Hello everybody

mad_scotsman · 02-15-2008, 04:50 PM

Hello.
My name is Murray and I live in Aberdeen, Scotland.

I am currently withdrawing from Paxil after being on 60mg for 10 years. I got to the stage where I would rather be dead than take this pill. I believe Paxil changed me in ways I couldn't possibly have contemplated back in 1998.

After being diagnosed with OCD and depression I was prescribed Paxil. To this day I don't really know how it affected me. Did it do me good? At first I would say yes. I went through spells of feeling much better. I remember feeling as if I had a new lease of life. But at other times it seemed like the drug was making my original symptoms worse. After a year of being boosted by the drug I started to experience bouts of anxiety and depression worse than I had gone through before I started Paxil.

And the side-effects of this pill are horrendous. Paxil turns you into a fat zombie and your whole personality and behaviour changes.
But then I'm preaching to the converted ....... you guys know all this already.

I started the withdrawal last June and of course it's been hell but after reading the posts on this forum I guess I'm not alone.

momof2 · 02-15-2008, 04:55 PM

Hi there,

I am fairly new myself. Only been on here less than a week. It has already helped me alot. There are some wonderful and caring people on this site, I think you will find it to be very helpful! :-)

Katesmom · 02-15-2008, 04:57 PM

Welcome, Murray!

60mg is a whopping dose of paxil--the maximum, in fact. Take the w/d slow and easy. Do not skip or alternate doses. Take a daily dose. Your body feels the taper as a percentage of current dose, so if you are tapering by an absolute amount (so many mg each taper), then you will find the taper increasingly difficult. We recommend tapering about 10% of current dose every 4-6 weeks. That has lead to a lot of success, but takes a great deal of patience. You CAN do this!

scotty · 02-15-2008, 05:12 PM

Welcome! Love the screename!!

LCrawford67 · 02-15-2008, 05:18 PM

Welcome to Paxil Progress, Murray!

I echo Kim's post. Slow and steady wins the race. It's about quality of life, you can do this and still maintain that quality.

We're here to help in any way we can!

commish · 02-15-2008, 05:34 PM

Hi Murray
I am new here as well. I've only been trying to reduce from 40 mgs for about three weeks. I can relate to the fat zombie part.I am ahsamed to say I have gained about 20 k (50lbs) while taking this junk. These folks are here for support and they do a fine job. I have received some excellent advise and will need a lot more I'm thinking.
Dale

paxilgirl · 02-15-2008, 06:16 PM

Murry, welcome and I too love the screen name!

You are amongst one of the most well informed bunch of individuals, who, like you, have gone through Paxil WD and all its hellishness....we are here for you.

Dawn B. · 02-15-2008, 06:26 PM

60 mg. is a huge dose!!
How much have you reduced?
I'm in w/d from 20. Down to 9.5. It's been HORRIBLE.
I'm in poop out.

SDAVIS · 02-15-2008, 07:01 PM

Welcome Murray! So much good information on the site. The moderators are always right there with answers and advice. Good luck on the taper. You'll do great!
Stan

mad_scotsman · 02-16-2008, 01:37 AM

Thanks for the welcome guys. I appreciate it. I'll need all the support I can get over the next few months. I hope I can offer it back.

mad_scotsman · 02-16-2008, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dawn B.

60 mg. is a huge dose!!
How much have you reduced?

erm.....let's just say I'm going faster than I should.
But at this moment in time I'm functioning and I really don't want to take a step backwards by upping the dose again. I know it's gonna hit me in waves and cycles but I'm gonna tough it out. After what this drug did to me.....how it made me feel and the things it made me do.....I reallly don't want to be on any more than I have to.

Esperance · 02-16-2008, 06:15 AM

Hello Murry from the Granite City. Lovely place, but mighty dark in the winter, eh?
Try to take it a little slower from here on out. The lower the dose, the stronger the withdrawal symptoms are for many folks.
Take care

Chrysalis · 02-16-2008, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mad_scotsman

erm.....let's just say I'm going faster than I should.
But at this moment in time I'm functioning and I really don't want to take a step backwards by upping the dose again. I know it's gonna hit me in waves and cycles but I'm gonna tough it out. After what this drug did to me.....how it made me feel and the things it made me do.....I reallly don't want to be on any more than I have to.

Welcome to PP!

Word to the wise, take your taper slow, slow, slow. WD causes not just physical symptoms that can be "toughed out." It can cause drastic psychological and emotional symptoms that can destroy your life and relationships.

Delynbetter · 02-16-2008, 09:36 AM

Welcome, Murray! You are definitely not alone and no matter how you proceed, you have a great group of people here to lean on.

rdjanis · 02-16-2008, 09:51 AM

Welcome to paxilprogress!

paxilmania · 02-16-2008, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mad_scotsman

erm.....let's just say I'm going faster than I should.
But at this moment in time I'm functioning and I really don't want to take a step backwards by upping the dose again. I know it's gonna hit me in waves and cycles but I'm gonna tough it out. After what this drug did to me.....how it made me feel and the things it made me do.....I reallly don't want to be on any more than I have to.

All I can say is think twice about this, step backwards now or stepbackwards later

Paxilalmostkilledme · 02-16-2008, 11:18 AM

you are at the right place!

Hopefully you have already used the "search" option on the top of the page.
You can type in searches for various symptoms and other questions, and you will be surprised at the wealth of info you will find.

since95 · 02-16-2008, 12:16 PM

Hi Murray,

We are all here for you, please use the website for support!

pokie · 02-16-2008, 03:02 PM

Hi Murray,

So what do you think of your fellow Scottie Craig Ferguson??????

mad_scotsman · 02-16-2008, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pokie

Hi Murray,

So what do you think of your fellow Scottie Craig Ferguson??????

We don't see much of him these days. He just became a US citizen.
He never calls or writes.

02-15-2008, 04:50 PM	#1
mad_scotsman Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 78	New guy - Hello everybody Hello. My name is Murray and I live in Aberdeen, Scotland. I am currently withdrawing from Paxil after being on 60mg for 10 years. I got to the stage where I would rather be dead than take this pill. I believe Paxil changed me in ways I couldn't possibly have contemplated back in 1998. After being diagnosed with OCD and depression I was prescribed Paxil. To this day I don't really know how it affected me. Did it do me good? At first I would say yes. I went through spells of feeling much better. I remember feeling as if I had a new lease of life. But at other times it seemed like the drug was making my original symptoms worse. After a year of being boosted by the drug I started to experience bouts of anxiety and depression worse than I had gone through before I started Paxil. And the side-effects of this pill are horrendous. Paxil turns you into a fat zombie and your whole personality and behaviour changes. But then I'm preaching to the converted ....... you guys know all this already. I started the withdrawal last June and of course it's been hell but after reading the posts on this forum I guess I'm not alone.

02-15-2008, 04:55 PM	#2
momof2 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 321	Re: New guy - Hello everybody Hi there, I am fairly new myself. Only been on here less than a week. It has already helped me alot. There are some wonderful and caring people on this site, I think you will find it to be very helpful! :-)

02-15-2008, 04:57 PM	#3
Katesmom Moderator Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 13,706	Re: New guy - Hello everybody Welcome, Murray! 60mg is a whopping dose of paxil--the maximum, in fact. Take the w/d slow and easy. Do not skip or alternate doses. Take a daily dose. Your body feels the taper as a percentage of current dose, so if you are tapering by an absolute amount (so many mg each taper), then you will find the taper increasingly difficult. We recommend tapering about 10% of current dose every 4-6 weeks. That has lead to a lot of success, but takes a great deal of patience. You CAN do this! __________________ 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

02-15-2008, 05:12 PM	#4
scotty Administrator & Advocate Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 38,588	Re: New guy - Hello everybody Welcome! Love the screename!! __________________ AKA Laurie "If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere." ~Frank A. Clark

02-15-2008, 05:18 PM	#5
LCrawford67 Moderator "Everybody poops" Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 26,487	Re: New guy - Hello everybody Welcome to Paxil Progress, Murray! I echo Kim's post. Slow and steady wins the race. It's about quality of life, you can do this and still maintain that quality. We're here to help in any way we can! __________________ 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

02-15-2008, 05:34 PM	#6
commish Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 1,841	Re: New guy - Hello everybody Hi Murray I am new here as well. I've only been trying to reduce from 40 mgs for about three weeks. I can relate to the fat zombie part.I am ahsamed to say I have gained about 20 k (50lbs) while taking this junk. These folks are here for support and they do a fine job. I have received some excellent advise and will need a lot more I'm thinking. Dale

02-15-2008, 06:16 PM	#7
paxilgirl "Stinks of lavender" Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 10,381	Re: New guy - Hello everybody Murry, welcome and I too love the screen name! You are amongst one of the most well informed bunch of individuals, who, like you, have gone through Paxil WD and all its hellishness....we are here for you. __________________ Paxilgirl Put on Paxil for situational depression in August 2003. Was also on .5 mg of Clonozapem. Started on 10mg and increased to 30mg. Weaned off during the summer of 2004. Became PAXIL FREE October 4, 2004. Completely recovered!!!

02-15-2008, 06:26 PM	#8
Dawn B. Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ramona, CA. Posts: 1,322	Re: New guy - Hello everybody 60 mg. is a huge dose!! How much have you reduced? I'm in w/d from 20. Down to 9.5. It's been HORRIBLE. I'm in poop out. __________________ Mt 19:26 'With God, all things are possible' Started Paxil 2000 for post partem anxiety Happily on it until it pooped out 2/07 Started cutting down way too fast 7/07 from 20 mg. to 10 mg. and got very sick. Found PP, went back to 13 mg. Waited and waited and never stablized. Began slow wean, down to 7 mg. over a year. Never felt well. Trashed the paxil at 7 mg. in Aug. '08.

02-15-2008, 07:01 PM	#9
SDAVIS Join Date: May 2007 Location: EL CAJON, CALIFORNIA Posts: 133	Re: New guy - Hello everybody Welcome Murray! So much good information on the site. The moderators are always right there with answers and advice. Good luck on the taper. You'll do great! Stan __________________ May 1995 thru April 2007 - 30 mgs April 2007 - 30 mgs May 2007 thru March 2008- tapered @ 10% drops to: March 16, 2008 - 7.5 mgs April 5, 2008 - 7.0 mgs

02-16-2008, 01:37 AM	#10
mad_scotsman Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 78	Re: New guy - Hello everybody Thanks for the welcome guys. I appreciate it. I'll need all the support I can get over the next few months. I hope I can offer it back.

02-16-2008, 06:15 AM	#12
Esperance Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: London (UK) Posts: 409	Re: New guy - Hello everybody Hello Murry from the Granite City. Lovely place, but mighty dark in the winter, eh? Try to take it a little slower from here on out. The lower the dose, the stronger the withdrawal symptoms are for many folks. Take care __________________ Esperance 20 mg in '03 for Fibromyalgia Two failed attempts to reduce the dose Nov 2007 - 20 mg gradually reducing to 5 mg So far so good. . . -------------------------- Hope doesn't come from calculating whether the good news is winning out over the bad. It's simply a choice to take action. Anna Lappe

02-16-2008, 09:36 AM	#14
Delynbetter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 10,518	Re: New guy - Hello everybody Welcome, Murray! You are definitely not alone and no matter how you proceed, you have a great group of people here to lean on. __________________ Diagnosed anxiety/panic disorder without agoraphobia 1989. Talk/music therapy. Major anxiety and mild depression in 2004 from situational stressors. Began Paxil CR 25mg, 10/04. Quit cold-turkey 5/5/05 as demanded by doctor. Found paxilprogress 5/17/05. Began Paxil CR 12.5mg 5/17/05. Weaned 4 1/2 months. During taper - anx/panic/depression, manic episodes, agoraphobia, suicidal ideation, many other physical symptoms. Paxil-free 10/2/05.

02-16-2008, 09:51 AM	#15
rdjanis "has a lavender scented keyboard" Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ontario Posts: 22,238	Re: New guy - Hello everybody Welcome to paxilprogress! __________________ Rita

02-16-2008, 11:18 AM	#17
Paxilalmostkilledme Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Montreal, QC Vancouver, BC Posts: 625	Re: New guy - Hello everybody you are at the right place! Hopefully you have already used the "search" option on the top of the page. You can type in searches for various symptoms and other questions, and you will be surprised at the wealth of info you will find. __________________ Paxil - 2000-2006 40mgs, weight gain of 50 pounds tapered for one month as I had to get off due to behavior issues. late Dec 2006....last paxil 3 months of major w/d. supplements: b-complex, mags, fish oil "Your Mileage WILL Vary" should be stamped across every drug dispensed. Your doc shouldn't poo-poo your reaction. You live inside your body. You know what's happening in there.

02-16-2008, 12:16 PM	#18
since95 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Edmonton Posts: 351	Re: New guy - Hello everybody Hi Murray, We are all here for you, please use the website for support! __________________ 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!

02-16-2008, 03:02 PM	#19
pokie Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 3,118	Re: New guy - Hello everybody Hi Murray, So what do you think of your fellow Scottie Craig Ferguson?????? __________________ Been on this crap since 1995 First taper 10% 2006 20mg to 8mgs crashed My 2nd Taper attempt! 10/01/08 40mgs 12/9/08 36mgs 01/09/09 33mgs 02/09/09 30mgs 03/12/09 27mgs 04/28/09 24mgs 05/24/09 23mgs 06/09 CBT started 07/21/09 22.5mgs 08/12/09 22mgs 09/03/09 21.5mgs 09/24/09 21mgs 10/16/09 20.5mgs 11/07/09 20mgs

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