From Paxil to Zoloft, anyone?

Hi!
I'm new here. Trying to withdraw from Paxil by starting on another SSRI. That's Zoloft. For the last few weeks I've been on a 20mg daily dose. This tuesday and wednesday I took only 10mg. On thursday nothing. Friday again 10mg and today, saturday nothing. Tomorrow on sunday I'm planning to take my first dose, 50mg of Zoloft. Is it safe doing it like this? I'm really tired of Paxil, I've been on it for 2 years now, so I hope that this will work. I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who tried to quit Paxil by switching to Zoloft (or some other SSRI)

Thanks, Mike

[JulieG]

I think that's a pretty rough leap off Paxil, but maybe you won't have withdrawals. Zoloft didn't help me, BUT I was having a huge withdrawal problem, so of course nothing would help the withdrawals but the thing I was the thing that caused them. My doctor says that each SSRI is a little different, one may just have what you need. Why do you want off paxil? Are you having any withdrawal problems?

[quote"JulieG"]I think that's a pretty rough leap off Paxil, but maybe you won't have withdrawals. Zoloft didn't help me, BUT I was having a huge withdrawal problem, so of course nothing would help the withdrawals but the thing I was withdrawal except the thing that caused them. My doctor says that each SSRI is a little different, one may just have what you need. Why do you want off paxil? Are you having any withdrawal problems?

- Yes, I have withdrawals, nausea, dizziness, vivid dreams you name them! Just woke up the second night in a row from an incredibly vivid dream. If I remembered everything in it, it would really be some good actionfilm screenplay! But still, really scary. The vivid dreams, nausea and fatigue during withdrawal are the reasons why I'm trying Zoloft. I hope that Zoloft would be my ticket to an SSRI free existence some day.

Good luck, mike. I hope switching will work for you. I did not have much trouble weaning off of serzone which is sort of an ssri but not really if that makes any sense. I believe I would have had trouble with discontinuation of paxil even if I had weaned slowly. Some do seem to be less addictive than others, of course paxil is the worst.

Hi, again!
Thanks for the replies. Yes, JulieG it has proven rough this leap off Paxil. So, last sunday I took my first 50mg of Zoloft. During these five days I had this pain on the left side if I inhaled deeply. That lasted for about 36 hours or so. Still, somehow I've managed to sleep, but my sleep pattern is very disrupted. Yesterday I got this tremendous headache, which fortunately went away with some painkillers. I'm very fatigued and nauseous by now. But that was also the case when I was on 20mg Paxil. I guess it's just my body craving for the Paxil? But after a week without Paxil and starting the other SSRI, physically, it can't be very wise to go back to the Paxil, can it? I really don't have the strength to do anything, for most of the day I don't feel like eating anything. I just wish that the physical sensations would go away. I guess that I just have to stick it out. By the way in 2 hours or so it's time for the sixth Zoloft pill.

I'll keep you posted and hope that you're doing better than me.

I'm really having a rough time by now. Feeling nauseous most of the time, just lying in bed, eating when I can. The diarrhea is also a problem. So, I guess switching to Zoloft hasn't quite helped me yet.

The only thing that's helping me even a little now is Valium, which I really "have" to take 5-10mg/day. Without it I'd have to go to the ER every day.

These aches in my body are almost too much sometimes. It's strange that you can have this heavy withdrawal symptoms for this long even when you switch to another SSRI? Of course they are still very different, the other one being paroxetin and the other one Sertralin.

Anyway, can't take this much longer. Still, in my better moments I'm kind of determined to see this through.

Mike

I need some help here! This nausea and heavy fatigue can't be anything but Paxil withdrawal "in the background", can it?

This can't be side-effects caused by Zoloft, because I've been on it for a month now? I actually had 2 good days a week ago, only to wake up some mornings with some horrible headache. My stomach is still very upset and I have to go a few times per day.

I really have such pains sometimes, that Valium is a necessity almost every day now.

What can I do now, since I'm Paxil free for a month? Certainly not go back on it? I'm sooo tired. How long will this last?

Greetings, Mike

[JulieG]

Mike, I am so sorry you are going thru this. You could go back on Paxil and go down slower, but that sounds agonizing doesn't it? It does seem to be Paxil related - there are so many of us going thru the same things its just not possible to be coincidental. I have such nausea at times I feel like I'm about to throw up from my insides to my feet. (You ever see that Rin & Stimpy cartoon where one of them puts his bottom lip over his top lip and then over his head and then over his feet and then all the way to the top again until he either disappears or is just a lip? I feel like the opposite is going on.) Last week my back hurt so bad I thought I would pass out from the pain and today it is my hips and knees that are killing me. Are you drinking lots and lots AND LOTS of water? Are you taking a multi-vitamin? and vitamin b? the vitamins make me really sick to my stomach so I got centrum chewable multivitamins and sublingual vitamin b. Some one said magnesium works, I'm going to try that tomorrow, and oh, yeah, try ginger tea for the nausea. It works sometimes for me, but sometimes I have waited too long to get it that I'm past the point of feeling better. And some people say forcing yourself to exercise helps, but since I feel like I have 50 miscellaneous broken bones thru out my body, thats rough for me to do consistently.

Have you discussed any of this with your doctor? What does he/she say? Is valium addictive? I would hate to see you with problems getting off one pill just to get another problem with another pill.

Mike, hang in there. I know its really rough right now, but everyone keeps saying we can live thru this, so we just have to believe.

How funny that you should post this!!

I have been completely off Paxil for about three weeks and all my panic came rushing right back. I've been debilitated for the past couple of weeks and went right back to my hermit-like ways and drinking to relieve the stress.

I went to my psychiatrist today in tears and we talked about my options. I feel strongly that I gained 40 pounds as a result of Paxil so we decided that I would take Zoloft instead.

So, as of today, I'm taking 50mg Zoloft. I know it's probably not taken effect yet, but I feel a million times better.

JulieG,

I appreciate your concern very much. You're right, it can't be coincidental.Quite a good description of how you're feeling, that's pretty close to how I'm feeling too!

I've been drinking, yes, but maybe instead of soft drinks, I really should try drinking more water instead. I'm taking vitamin C and, all the B vitamins in one pill.

I'm going to get magnesium and ginger tea today. Maybe then chewable multivitamins also? Are the chewable ones in some way more gentle to the stomach?

I've been riding my bicycle a bit, when I'm having a less fatigued day.But when days like yesterday come around, you don't really feel like moving anywhere, only going to the supermarket for some food.

Unfortunately, the doctors at my health station (we have a national health service where I live) have been changing a lot during the last months. Sometimes you really can't even get an appointment for weeks! This is really horrible and shouldn't be happening.

Last month, when I was having some really bad spell, I got fed up and went to a private GP. He listened to me for about 45 mins. which was nice and then we agreed on changing my medication.

I guess Valium could be addictive too. I didn't take one yesterday, even though I was feeling awful. Fortunately I'm not working at the moment, I simply couldn't manage that.

Inanna,

Good to hear from you! Maybe you shouldn't touch the alcohol now? It can't be good for you. How does your psychiatrist feel about it?

I also feel that I've got my "new" round stomach much due to the Paxil. Would like to hear how you're doing with the Zoloft in the coming weeks.

Mike

[JulieG]

I don't know if the chewable multivitamins are actually more gentle on my stomach or not... but I don't get as nauseated when I use them and I don't burp up "vitamin air".

I hope all of the vitamins and stuff start helping you.

The ginger tea (actually a spiced tea with ginger root) helped me somewhat. My stomach still feels like it's going to burst at any moment. I'm slim but my stomach looks like I'm pregnant or something.

Since I've been Paxil free for almost 7 weeks and still don't feel that good, I've started to suspect the Valium use also to cause some withdrawal symptoms. I mean when I'm 3 days without Valium I start feeling fatigued and some headache also may occur.

This is really awful. However, still the Paxil must be the main cause for my discomfort?

Also tried a magnesium and B-vitamin in one. Since then the worst muscle pain has eased al little.

Mike

[Paxil Junkie]

valium is also very addictive, its an opiat i believe, like viccodin and heroin, plus u could have side effects mixed with w/d from 2 drugs, of course urfeeling bad this is y im never takin another one of these money making, mind altering chemicals, "prozac clones" again

[JulieG]

Ok. This is a silly question, but the zoloft commercial just came on. You know the one: the little round thing with a frowny face bumping around unhappily until zoloft arrives. What is that, exactly? My boyfriend says its is a zero. I say it looks like a rock. Is zoloft saying depressed people are rocks or zeroes?

[safarigal]

I tried the Paxil to Zoloft routine. Yikes, it was hell. I didn't know about the Paxil withdrawal problems at the time so went from Paxil to Zoloft in a week. What a mistake that was. I thought I was going insane. Wild dreams, zaps, fatigue, panic, anxiety, suicidal thoughts. I gave up and went back to Paxil and upped it to 30mg. Now I'm weaning off Paxil slowly!
Doing great...no ZAPS! no nausea.

This week I've been having these "swoosh like" dizzy waves in my head! (can't describe them better) Are these feelings the dreaded "zaps" or what? However I find this very unpleasant.

Yesterday was my 2 month anniversary off Paxil and I've taken a few day off Zoloft now also, because I wanted to see if I'm less fatigued. I'm so confused now, uh!

Also, for the past 10 days I've been experiencing heartburn. Maybe my stomach don't like the Zoloft? I would really like to be rid of this SSRI's once and for all!

What do you think, are most of my symptoms still Paxil withdrawal? Of course my leap off Paxil was kind of rough, as you can see at the start of this topic. The main thing is that I really can't function because I'm feeling that weak most of the time. Uh, just the thought of having to go to work each morning. When I barely can walk to the supermarket!

Mike

Mike

[JulieG]

I have had the swooshies and the zaps. I don't know if they are variations of the zaps or not, but yes they are unpleasant.

I don't know if maybe your tummy doesn't like Zoloft but BOY I have heartburn that could kill a horse. Maybe it is Paxil withdrawal. Hey Paxil Junkie/Steve: if you read this post.. you're on something for the heartburn/acid reflux thing.. right? Is it because of withdrawal?

As far as the fatigue: again, I have that too on my lovely withdrawal but maybe its Zoloft too.

Thanks for checking back in with us.

Since Sept. 9th I've also quit Zoloft. Called my doctor 4 days later and informed him that my stomach can't take Zoloft anymore. I don't think that he has any idea of what SSRI withdrawals are?

He just said: - Well, we'll meet in 5 weeks time (now "only" 3 weeks) and until then, you just stick with Valium (known in my country as Diapam) as needed! Hmm, I wonder what kind of miracle he's got in mind for me then?

Here's another example how dedicated the doctors are, where I come from (as I said before we have a national health service) In a crisis like this, where I'm switching SSRI's and then trying to quit them altogether, I've got to wait 5 weeks to see my doctor!

Today I've been 12 weeks Paxil free! Still, waiting for my appointment, I rely heavily on Valium. By now I must be addicted to it, even if I don't have to take it daily.

Mike

Hey Mike, I tried valium once, years ago, when I lost my little girl. That stuff really zoned me out. It was like I was drunk all the time, and I couldn't stay awake. So the Dr. had me try just a half a valium and it still did the same thing. So I said heck with it, and just flushed them all down the toilet. So your valium is probably adding to your fatigue and tiredness. Hang in there, and wishing you better and healthier days!

[JulieG]

Everyday I lose respect for doctors more and more. I can't believe thats all he said. Was he even concerned?

Hang in there Mike!

[Paxil Junkie]

im sad to say that by now u might be addicted to valium now... valium is very very addictive and maybe now that when u dont take a valium when u usually do that could be adding to your withdrawls

Have you considered Klonopin as opposed to Valium? It stays in the body longer and seems quite effective at fighting back the panic and gripping fear?

I take .5 mgs. in morning and night and while like Steve, I would like to be without these meds, it is necessary for me to be on something for intense anxiety (based on family and self difficulties).

The side-effects of the Klonopin are low and much more tolerable than any SSRI. I would watch the dosage and prevent against "creep". It is addictive and does have withdrawal issues.

Klonopin provide a reduction of the adreneline flow without numbing out life and its complexities, like I feel on SSRI's.

Blessings, Bill

Mike -
I'm probably not the first to say it, but you went off the Paxil WAY too fast and I'm pretty sure it's bad for you to switch from one to another without tapering both. I got SO SICK from Paxil withdrawals once I decided to get rid of it altogether. I switched from Paxil to Celexa by starting at 30mg Pax and 5Cel, then 27Pax and 7Cel, then 25Pax and 10Cel, etc. etc. I changed the dosage once a week. It took me forever. Of course I'm on my way back now. Eight days after 0Pax and 30Cel I got the withdrawals and now I'm back to 5Pax and seriously considering keeping it. It's not like any of us can AFFORD to be sick like this.

Tara-
Didn't know that you can switch SSRI's like you mentioned. Like taking both at once at different doses for a few weeks.
Still, I think since I'm on my 4th Zoloft free week and on DAY 89 without Paxil, it wouldn't be wise to get back on either one. Especially not Paxil,
Yesterday I had a terrible experience when I was at a concert. I've got some major flu also now, but mainly because I was feeling physically ill, I had to leave an hour early at this $45 show!
I think this was a combination of the flu, SSRI withdrawal and me not taking a Valium for 42 hours.
Mike