Newbies to paxil tapering, Will you please read this?

[Betsy]

I just read this post today.

Update:
After the suggestions of everyone here I have changed my taper to 5 mgs less per month. So am I starting at 20 mgs today.

We hope that "After reading the suggestions of everyone here" anyone new to paxil tapering would consider changing their taper to a 10% reduction of their current dose waiting 3 - 6 weeks between tapering. That is why it is suggested, because it works the best. The choice is yours, but we want you to be completely educated.

We see at least 5 - 8 people a week come to this site and do exactly what this person has done. Read over the site and decide that they are the exception and try to go faster than what is suggested. We then "beg" them they reconsider going slower and they say, "No, I think I'll be fine", only to have them posting again in the very near future that they are suicidal and want to know what they can do to stop it. We are so sad because we know that following the recommended tapering would have most likely prevented it.

We cry with them and have empathy that they are in a horrible situation and in horrendous physical and emotional pain. Some even still continue to go their own way, ignoring what we have learned and they end up wishing they had gone back and done it slower. It is so hard to watch this happen, week after week, after week on this site. And it still happens.

There are so many people here who did that and regretted it, so many people who followed the guidelines and were so glad they did. Why do people have to learn the definition of "horrible withdrawal" for themselves? Why do people ask for help and information only to ignore it when it is offered? I don't understand it. . . .

Good luck to you. I hope you who choose to do this are one of the lucky ones who can get off this quickly. It is so hard for me to watch people go through this over and over and over. I feel like I have lived through a hellish experience. I guess they don't understand what "hellish" really means until they are there. I do not understand why anyone would want to go there if they didn't have to.

But we all have the opportunity to choose. Even following recommendations on this site I've had horrendous situations. I guess, in this area at least, I know the people on this site KNOW what they are talking about. I suppose in other areas I reinvent the wheel.

And I can see how trusting the experience of someone online you don't really know might be a difficult thing to do. I just wish there were a way to get people to understand.

Betsy

[carolyn]

I've thought the same thing recently, Betsy. Thank you for posting this.

[babs]

X

I hope all the newbies read this.

[PatriceKM]

Its true.....keeping quality of life while tapering is so important.

[AussieGirl]

To all newbies

I fully second everything said here.

10% or less and slow and steady .

[BlueEyes]

Betsy: Very well stated.

I cannot myself emphasize this enough to GO SLOW on this weaning.

I just don't think people realize how "potent" these chemicals really are.

Terri

[mslitterbox]

I'm fairly new here, but these forums have become my second bible! I come and read every single day! I have taken the advice of the most experienced here, as they have lived through this hell. Even my own doctor refuses to give me the help I need, so where would I be without all these wonderful people who take hours out of their own lives just to help us through this. I would hate to see this all in vain.

Betsy, many many times I have thought the exact same thing that you have written. I wanted so much to reply to those people that you are talking about, but was afraid my reply would be inappropriate. I still think it would be, but this post gives me a chance to finally voice my own opinion.

Newbies, you came here for help. Let these people help you! They know what they're talking about! I've done my research on the internet, and I've read one horror story after another. Rarely does my research turn up the advice to taper as slowly as what is recommended here. Maybe that's why people on other message boards usually have major withdrawl symtoms, or don't have success stories. Yes, there are the lucky few who get through this with minor problems. But very few. And then there are the ones who continue to have major problems long after they stop taking these drugs.

Please, if you have no intentions of following the advice here, don't waste the advice of these wonderful people. There are many forums out there, so maybe one of them is for you.

[LCrawford67]

Great post, Betsy and I'm going to make this thread a sticky!

I want to explain why we advocate the 10% taper.

These drugs cause chemical changes to the brain and as a result, quitting them cold turkey or rapidly, is equivalent to blunt force trauma to the brain. This is an analogy we often use and I've yet to find a better one.

Those who have stopped this way usually suffer the most and longest and those people will attest to that in this thread, I'm sure.

We all understand the need and want to get off of these drugs. But, the goal should never be just about that. It should be about maintaining quality of life. You want to be able to function, work, play with your kids, etc. We can just about guarantee you, that won't happen if you get too impatient.

So what if you're tired of being on Paxil (or other SSRI)? So what if you've been on it for years and years? If your dose is continually decreasing every few weeks and you're able to live your life, that's the only thing that should matter.

No, tapering slowly doesn't promise "no w/d symptoms" but it does mean whatever symptoms you may feel, should be mild and short lived. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule and some have to taper much slower and some can go quicker, but the "10% rule" is what works for the majority of folks here.

I can personally tell you, I tried to cold turkey, I tapered too fast; both were disasterous. I finally found this site and did it the right way. It took me over a year, but I'd been on for over 10 years and believe me, even though it seemed like an eternity on paper, that year just FLEW by and it was so worth it to function and maintain my lifestyle.

Your brain and body will thank you!

[Juliemarla]

Well, I was one of the newbies that didn't look here first. I taper off from 40 to 0 in 6 weeks. I had been on for 13 years. Needlesstosay, I had some issues. I was told by everyone who answered my thread to get back on the drug and try to do it slower. Well, I have done that. So far I have taken two days of 30 mg and tomorrow I will go back to 40. I have some major long term plans for the next 6 weeks and will probably not try again until after that time. I must admit it scares the heck out of me to try again. Do people get this complacent after a failure? I actually don't want to experience those feelings ever, ever again. Is there any harm( other than experiencing withdrawal if I quit again) to continuing on the drug forever. That is how scary the symptoms were to me. Maybe I just cannot tolerate discomfort.

I am feeling slightly depressed and a little anxious still, but hope within a week those feeling will disappear with the resumption of 40 mg.

Let me know your thoughts.

[LCrawford67]

Julie, I had two attempts at quitting, I know exactly what you're feeling. But, this is the reason we advocate a slow taper. When I tapered the last time, my quality of life wasn't disrupted at all.

Get stable again before worrying about tapering. When you're ready, we'll walk you through it.

[AussieGirl]

Please do not think you failed. You just had a learning experience

Before I found PP I had had many many attempts over the years to quit , I realise now the reason for my many learning curves was I was tapering WAY WAY too quick. Especailly as a long term user.

Since finding Paxil Progress I have slowly gone from 10mgs to 9mgs to 8 mgs and now 7.5 mgs.

For the first time EVER my taper has been manageable. Some symptoms sure and some days better than ever, however all days I have been able to cope using my already learned CBT; my toolbox of tricks; and after reading the many many posts here and getting the support I need form my PP friends.

SLOW and STEADY is definitely the key along with new strategies to cope with stress and anxiety etc.

[Songbird]

LC is right, you have to get stable first and not think about tapering. You'll know when you're ready to try again.

[Betsy]

You haven't failed, you just learned why we beg newbies to go slowly. And we are all human and have to find some things out for ourselves. It breaks my heart for you, because I know how hard MY version of trouble was and that was when I tapered too large a taper long before I found paxil progress.

My ability to have a life by following the guidelines here, has been GREATLY INCREASED! You will mostly like have the same or better experience than I have. I've been on it a long time, but I had been trying to get off the hard way for most of those years. I just wish I could have found this info out before. It will be much better for you should you decide to taper more slowly.
And we'll be here for you.
Take care, hope things settle for you soon. It will likely take a week or two for things to get better, maybe sooner for you.

Also, there are non-med ways to deal with anxiety and depression. Check out David Burns Book "When Panic Attacks". He teaches you tools to use in anxiety recovery, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy being one of the best tools, and he has other methods in the book as well. Lots of people on here have learned a lot from his book titled "The Feeling Good Book" which has the basics of CBT in it. "When Panic Attacks" is his more recent book. I'm really liking what I"m learning from it! You might look at the website "controlinganxiety.com" He has some audios on that site by Dr. Clarie Weekes, another great mind who helped people recover from anxiety. He also explains relaxation/meditation and why it helps to calm the body. Relaxation/meditation has been a HUGE help to me in my withdrawal and recovery. I still have 7 mgs to go. but it was an answer to prayer for me. There are lots of Relaxation CDs available to purchase out there that can help.

Those two things, along with mild to moderate exercise, no caffeine, alcohol, tobacco or refined sugar, have made this journey possible for me to do, and still have a good quality of life. Yeah, I still have withdrawal issues, but the are bearable and I can get through them. Usually by the 6th week after I taper I'm ready to taper again. Sometimes, I have to wait longer, I seem to have an extremely sensitive body. Most people are able to get off this stuff faster than I have been able to, but I am gong to get off of this! Slow, but SURE!
Betsy

[spanky]

Hi everyone,
I am a newbie tried several times to quit paxil no luck. I finally got the nerve to quit again and I may have gone to fast. Went from 25mg to 12.5 did relativeley well for that period 22days I recently dropped to approx 6.25. Have extreme nausea and stomach cramping bloating and no appetite. Should I go back up to 12.5 and stabalize or have my doctor prescribe 10mg. Also I bought a pill cutter but it does not cut with accuracy how do you get such accurate dosing? Digital scale? where would I find one of these.

[rob.pow]

Hey Spanky..
Sorry to hear you're having a rough time with... me too. I've done a few tapers like that and definately encountered 'the horrors' and had to reinstate!! . I guess its taken a while and reading lots of PP for me to figure out what i can cope with and what I have to do. Stick with this place .... seriously... I don't think anyone out there can offer better advice than this place. As for your questions...

well i'm a newbie here too but if you go to the threads like 'FAQ' and 'Newbies start here' threads you should get navigating pretty quickly. Also the search function is good... ie search success and all the good stories will probably come up... Digital scales on ebay make sure it measures to 0.001 accuracy... just type in digital scales 0.001. apprx $30 us.? Pill cutters are pretty clumsy i think... I use a craft blade and or nail file... some people crush them... I got some empty capsules off ebay too...! 500 for $15 us.. to put the crapxil in.. (bits get very small). Land all those in a pill organizer...$5 us... ebay too!! And you should be ready for some serious tapering!! I'm not sure where you should reinstate before you start a slow taper after the ups and downs in dose... but those drops are way bigger than anyone on here would advise... I'm getting smacked around by a 2.5 mg drop. Maybe do a signature with your dose and the dates you dropped.. that might help to understand where you at as far as reinstating dose but probably I would try to stabilise at 20mg and then do 10% drops per month from there..... but ask some of the crew here what they reckon. Anyways maybe start a hello thread in 'general discussion' everyone will be there in a second to answer all your questions. People might not see ya if you're in another thread.. Hope that helps a bit...
take care and catch ya soon
Rob

[PatriceKM]

Welcome Spanky.
You are tapering way too fast. You should ask your doctor to get you the liquid paxil. Its much easier to measure.

[fuzz429]

I wish i would have read this 3 weeks ago when i started .....im tapering real quick (doctors orders) and its killing me im down to 5 mgs already.....I've been on 20mg for 11 years.

[Songbird]

Three weeks isn't that long, you still have time to convert to a slower taper. The tapers recommended by doctors are almost always far too fast.

[fuzz429]

yeah he wants me to be off it in 2 weeks

[Songbird]

Why so fast? If w/d is 'killing you' as you say, why would he not allow you to slow down?

[fuzz429]

well i havent asked him i didnt know about the slow taper......but from where im at now i dont want to jump back up and start again.

[Songbird]

That kind of fast taper is a recipe for a lot of pain. There are some lucky people who can do it without major problems, but if it is already 'killing you', your body is trying to tell you something!

[fuzz429]

i think my big problem is though i caught a bad cold right in the begging of the taper and im having a hard time telling which is which....also now it is allergy season to so that's adding to it. I dont want to defy you but i think im going to keep going. i'm not one to quit i did a 30 day water fast last summer and thought that was the hardest thing. but i will keep you updated.

[Songbird]

I hope you do okay, just be aware that the option is there for you to updose and slow taper if it does get too much to handle.