Newbies to paxil tapering, Will you please read this?

[LCrawford67]

Originally Posted by Sharron

any suggestions on what to take for the nausea, empty nawing feeling in my
stomach.

Ginger - be it in tea form, pill form, crystalized....works wonders

[rondee1374]

I've gone from 20 to 10 to 7.5 since April 30. I KNOW now that's too fast. I was doing OK but accidentally didn't take 2.5 of the dose the other night and now am suffering for it. I'm having trouble with my left eye, my bowels (sorry) have taken on a life of their own, slept all weekend, am coughing constantly, have a severe headache on the left side of my head and my heart feels like it wants to pound out of my chest. I've had some really stressful things occur in the last six weeks, the daughter I gave up for adoption 40 years ago found me (happy thing), her birth father is questioning her DNA (whatever), my job has become even more stressful than before and my husband of 33 years is feeling unloved(poor baby). I've been considering going back up to 10 mg until this all passes. I know that is probably not the right thing to do and I'm finally sleeping fairly well again. I'm so confused. Has anyone else noticed that the withdrawal symptoms mimic kidney disease? Does anyone one know if there has been research on this?

[Blinkysmom]

Originally Posted by LCrawford67

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!

Thank you for writing this ... so you were able to function while tapering slowly? I'm so afraid that I will become disabled from this experience. I went from 30-20 in a week (brother shot himself and doc. increased from 20-30). I experienced the brain zaps and the swooshing but it was tolerable (I went to work every day). Since then I have been terrified to taper. Is liquid form better than pill form? I heard they are now making 1 mg. tabs. Is that true? I don't want to start this taper without feeling that I've done all my due dilligence and there is so much on this site. I'm so grateful to all of you here at PP for sharing your hell. I wish you didn't have to have gone through it all.

[tootsieroll]

Originally Posted by Blinkysmom

Thank you for writing this ... so you were able to function while tapering slowly? I'm so afraid that I will become disabled from this experience. I went from 30-20 in a week (brother shot himself and doc. increased from 20-30). I experienced the brain zaps and the swooshing but it was tolerable (I went to work every day). Since then I have been terrified to taper. Is liquid form better than pill form? I heard they are now making 1 mg. tabs. Is that true? I don't want to start this taper without feeling that I've done all my due dilligence and there is so much on this site. I'm so grateful to all of you here at PP for sharing your hell. I wish you didn't have to have gone through it all.

I also have the same questions. Is liquid form any different?

[Songbird]

The liquid contains the same active ingredient as the pill. It is easier to use for tapering because you can more easily do small dose drops because it is easier to measure the precise dose. Another option is to cut the pills and weigh them on a jeweller's scale, however all the cutting and weighing can be very time-consuming. Some people do notice a difference when switching to liquid, presumably because it may be absorbed at a different rate from a pill. A few people have adverse reactions to the other ingredients in the commercial liquid, such as the colouring, but for most switching to liquid is okay.

[bbstar]

This is my second time to be off and I am starting to work with a Neurological Chiropractor. Has anyone else???

[TryingtoGetWell]

Originally Posted by bbstar

This is my second time to be off and I am starting to work with a Neurological Chiropractor. Has anyone else???

Welcome to paxilprogress, bbstar!

I wasn't even familiar with there being a specialty of Neurological Chiropractor, but I do want to say that we've found that by far most health care practitioners (conventional and alternative both) are not familiar with withdrawal from psychotropic meds like paxil or even with discerning what are adverse effects or long-term problems etc. from them. They often give advice that would be helpful to most people in other situations but not to people having problems with these meds or recovering from them (which can go on for some time even after being off them).

I suggest you start a new thread and give us a bit of your history with the med (how long on each time, taper schedules if any, etc.). When you have time, it's best to put a summary of this information in a signature that will appear on all your posts, so we can give advice that's relevant to your situation.

[TryingtoGetWell]

bbstar, this tells how to start threads, create signatures, etc.: http://www.paxilprogress.org/forums/...ement.php?f=14

[drevil77]

Hi everyone.. heres my problem:
i did more than suggested i am on 20mg regular paxil (2.5 years) got the 0.000 scale , shaved down to 19mg, on day 3 nightmares and insomnia with bad feelings, exausted whole day. after 5 days back on 20mg, improve same day and on day 3 -------> 100% back to normal.

So what now?

[LCrawford67]

Taper in smaller increments. Some folks have to taper in 5% increments, some even smaller. There is no "one size fits all" and you'll have to find the formula that works for you.

Also, bear in mind, a slow taper doesn't mean symptom free. So, I wouldn't updose every time symptoms popped up either. Only if they effect your quality of life.

[LCrawford67]

Originally Posted by Blinkysmom

Thank you for writing this ... so you were able to function while tapering slowly? I'm so afraid that I will become disabled from this experience. I went from 30-20 in a week (brother shot himself and doc. increased from 20-30). I experienced the brain zaps and the swooshing but it was tolerable (I went to work every day). Since then I have been terrified to taper. Is liquid form better than pill form? I heard they are now making 1 mg. tabs. Is that true? I don't want to start this taper without feeling that I've done all my due dilligence and there is so much on this site. I'm so grateful to all of you here at PP for sharing your hell. I wish you didn't have to have gone through it all.

Yep! I was able to work, go out, and enjoy life. Something I wasn't able to do the other two times I tried to quit.

I haven't heard/read anything about 1 mg tablets. But, with liquid, you're able to get more accurate doses and taper in 10% increments. If you were able to handle a 10 mg drop, I've no doubt you'll do just find tapering at 10%!

[carolyn]

Just wanted to give a +1 to Laurie's post.

I tapered the way she did -- 10% drops every three weeks -- and had a very good quality of life. I worked full time, played sports, went on trips; pretty much had a normal life, albeit with a few symptoms.

I cut 20mg pills from 20mg to 9.2mg and then switched to liquid for the rest. Liquid was definitely easier and resulted in more consistent doses.

Also, what Laurie said about updosing is spot on. You will get some symptoms during your taper; what I noticed is that I got pretty much all the symptoms people complain about but they were mild and generally short lived. I never updosed during my taper and all of the symptoms did eventually go away on their own.

[drevil77]

Well I tried 5% so I guess I'll have to go 2.5 %meaning (19.5)
question does that mean I have to go 2.5% of 19.5 or just go to 19?
Question 2: if I get withdrawal how USUALLY does it last?
Thanx again everybody

[LCrawford67]

If you're going to drop 2.5%, then that's what you drop each month (or however often you drop.)

No one can answer your second question. But, the purpose of a slow taper is lesser w/d symptoms for shorter duration. Again, don't get caught in the trap of updosing every time you feel a symptom. For me, some symptoms lasted a few days, some a couple weeks and some, throughout most of my taper. But, none were bothersome enough that I couldn't function.

[carolyn]

Originally Posted by LCrawford67

Again, don't get caught in the trap of updosing every time you feel a symptom. For me, some symptoms lasted a few days, some a couple weeks and some, throughout most of my taper. But, none were bothersome enough that I couldn't function.

Exactly!!

[sweetie'smom]

My doctor has bounced back and forth from telling me I may have to take this the rest of my life to wanting me to try and stop taking it. He told me to take one every other day and then one every third day. I don't think he really knows. I think gradual reduction sounds like the best way and you would think doctors would know. However, doctors don't even tell you the side effects of any medicine or what not to combine with other medicines. You have to do your own research and find out yourself. I don't know either why a doctor would want anyone off a medication so quickly, don't they get big profits from prescribing medicines?

[Songbird]

It is because some of them are led to believe that there is no withdrawal, so if you just stop taking it and have symptoms, it is considered a 'relapse', which to them means you need to keep taking it for the rest of your life. They are setting people up to fail.

The 'every other day' schedule does not work well, because most of these drugs have a half-life that means you would be going in and out of withdrawal every other day.

[tootsieroll]

I'm just curious..why is the taper set at 10% for most people..I mean why not 5% just to be on the safe side??

[Songbird]

Because most people want to get off as quick as they can! Tapering by 5% will take a lot longer. Remember it is only a guideline, it is important to listen to your body and adjust your tapering according to your individual response to drops.

[LCrawford67]

Originally Posted by tootsieroll

I'm just curious..why is the taper set at 10% for most people..I mean why not 5% just to be on the safe side??

10% seems to work for most people. While you want to go slow, why go any slower than you have to?

[sweetie'smom]

I had been doing as my doctor suggested with the every other day and then the third day, he' s definitely wrong. I became nauseous, my heart felt like it was flip flopping, I felt physically ill. I have started taking my 20mg dose again on a daily basis. I still plan to do the gradual reduction method but I may wait a month or so. Breaking a 20mg pill in half is too drastic a reduction too isn't it? It sounds like liquid Paxil is a must. I plan to do all I can too to change my lifestyle during this time. I have already done some things I have never done, and really enjoyed myself. I am trying to become more independent, going places on my own, new places. I am still scared about all this though, I know what I was like before, I didn't sleep, I sat in one spot on the sofa and cried all the time. I felt like the world was moving but I was standing still. I lost several months of my life, not to mention the toll it took on my family. I am active in church again and participate in every activity there that I can. I want to continue to be able to function and enjoy things. Thanks for listening.

[undone]

As a newbie, there's nothing I could understand more.

[DaveC426913]

I am finding that tapering is allowing me time to come up with coping mechanisms for the effects as they re-emerge.

One of the best mechanisms I have is the ability to rationalize how I feel. I can recognize that the appearance of physiological symptoms, such as adrenaline-rush, heart-racing, stress, moodiness, irritation, short-temper etc. without having to succumb to them as signs of "real" emotions.

While I may not be able to easily change the symptoms, I am able to choose how I act and react.

[LCrawford67]

Good for you, Dave! Another bonus in tapering slow!

[Mummyto2]

Is slow tappering the same with all SSRI's. I have been on Lexapro 20mgs for just over 6 months for PND- anxiety and stress. Because I have been on the drug for only a short time will this effect the severity of my withdrawl symptoms and can I come of a little more quickly? My doctor told me to reduce to 10mgs in one go but from all I have read this is way too fast! I have chosen tho drop to 15mgs and am on day 2 but I am still concerned that this is still too quick?? I have two young children and have in the past experienced horror withdrawls from going cold turkey of Effexor XR (Doctors orders ) so I am slightly nervous about this being a bad experience