Who out there is totally off Paxil

08-29-2002, 09:47 AM

Who is off Paxil and not on ANY OTHER SSRI DRUG and made it through the withdrawel experience in one piece????? Please someone respond?????

Joelle · 08-29-2002, 10:29 AM

It still feels weird to say this but I AM!

I was on 20mg of Paxil for about 6 years and quit cold-turkey, tomorrow will be 7 weeks. The withdrawl was the worst hell of my life. I was very sick for several weeks. I wondered if it would ever end and if I would ever feel "normal" again, or even be able to function as I once did. Now I can stand tall and say- I AM A SURVIVOR! I still have my off-days but I would say I am almost back to 100% again.

I do take a natural plant extract which helps with seretonin production (5-HTP). I will never take another chemical SSRI ever again. Poison.

08-29-2002, 10:37 AM

I am totally off 20 milligrams of Paxil after 6 months of tapering. Halfway through I switched to Prozac. I took my last dose of Prozac on Memorial Day and am feeling better than ever. Of course not being on drugs is in some ways harder but that is life and for me a clear choice.

You may want to read the topic I created that documents much of the withdrawal experience. It is called From Paxil to Prozac to Nothing.

Goood luck.

Mark

08-29-2002, 10:40 AM

Joelle,

Can you tell me more about 5-HTP. How did you hear about it? Is it safe? Where do you get it? Our family member is now off 60 mg. of Paxil Cold Turkey. It will be 1 month today, he is Paxil Free, but going through HELL!!! Still hanging in there with all our support and love. I'm so glad for you!!!! I now keep everyone here in prayer to be strong and recover fully from the Paxil War!!!

08-29-2002, 11:03 AM

Cold turkey from 60 mg???? YIKES!!!

Joelle · 08-29-2002, 01:03 PM

Absolutely! I heard about 5-HTP here, actually. I get it at the health food store. Depression runs in my family and I figure I will always need *some* help for the old brain. I take a moderate dose (50mgs) and it has really helped even out my moods, but without the Paxil numbing effect. I have not experienced any side-effects since I began taking it about 6 weeks ago. Here is a good page which will tell you more about it http://www.5htp.com/
(sorry about the pop-up ad)

You can aslo do a web search for 5-HTP for more info. I have read a lot about it and feel comfortable with its safety. The best part is, I have not run across any negative reports re: 5-HTP. Very important- 5-HTP can not be taken while on any other SSRIs. Your uncle should be ok, since he's been Paxil free for a month. It may be helpful to your uncle but first please read all you can about it, for you own peace of mind.

Tell him we said he is a very brave man and to hang in there!

08-29-2002, 01:09 PM

I was on 20 MG for 3 years and tapered for 3 months. I have been off for 3 weeks and I am feeling very good now. Just little stuff. BUT it WAS hell for about 2 weeks and so bad that you cannot imagine life ever getting better, but it does.

08-29-2002, 05:36 PM

I too am completely off at this point. I tapered down from 10 mgs. since April. I have now been completely off for about 12 days but I am going through hell. I've been through all the withdrawal symptoms during the tapering process, but now my worst problem is the rage/anger and crying spells. I feel at times as if I'm losing my mind. I'm just praying it gets better soon. I wish your loved one good luck. I can't believe they stopped cold turkey at 60 mgs. I couldn't tolerate stopping cold turkey by any means and I was only on 10 mgs. I was however on it for 8 years. I think the longer you're on it, the harder it is when you stop.

Sandra

Ariella · 08-29-2002, 09:01 PM

I've been Paxil-free for almost 2 years now.

I found my permanent solutions in books, all you wonderful people, pschotherapy, spirituality, lifestyle choices, diet choices, creativity, laughter and love. It definitely wasn't an overnight thing. I had to work every single moment of every day at reprogramming my inner dialogue and retraining my emotional responses to the world and especially my tendency to victimize myself. I had to give full permission to disorders (anxiety, depression) so that I could let them go using the idea: "you cradle a cut, not slap it."

It took a year before I ever touched Paxil, and years after to be where I am today but it's permanent. There will never be a regression. It's impossible anyway. You're changed by life and if you're paying attention to that you can never become the person you were before (anxious, depressed) because that person is gone, replaced by this other person who has lived so many more years, felt so many more things, gained insight and made discoveries contributing to the 'current' form.

You can however feel like you're the same person with the same anxiety or depression, but you're not. You've just yet to create the new you that is without them. The freedom is always approaching, never moving away. Always seek the patience and forgiveness to know that.

08-29-2002, 09:47 AM	#1
JanBob Posts: n/a	Who out there is totally off Paxil Who is off Paxil and not on ANY OTHER SSRI DRUG and made it through the withdrawel experience in one piece????? Please someone respond?????

08-29-2002, 10:29 AM	#2
Joelle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: central Ohio Posts: 219	It still feels weird to say this but I AM! I was on 20mg of Paxil for about 6 years and quit cold-turkey, tomorrow will be 7 weeks. The withdrawl was the worst hell of my life. I was very sick for several weeks. I wondered if it would ever end and if I would ever feel "normal" again, or even be able to function as I once did. Now I can stand tall and say- I AM A SURVIVOR! I still have my off-days but I would say I am almost back to 100% again. I do take a natural plant extract which helps with seretonin production (5-HTP). I will never take another chemical SSRI ever again. Poison. __________________ When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. - Franklin D. Roosevelt Don't compromise yourself, you are all you've got. -Janis Joplin

08-29-2002, 10:40 AM	#4
JanBob Posts: n/a	5-HTP Joelle, Can you tell me more about 5-HTP. How did you hear about it? Is it safe? Where do you get it? Our family member is now off 60 mg. of Paxil Cold Turkey. It will be 1 month today, he is Paxil Free, but going through HELL!!! Still hanging in there with all our support and love. I'm so glad for you!!!! I now keep everyone here in prayer to be strong and recover fully from the Paxil War!!!

08-29-2002, 01:03 PM	#6
Joelle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: central Ohio Posts: 219	Absolutely! I heard about 5-HTP here, actually. I get it at the health food store. Depression runs in my family and I figure I will always need some help for the old brain. I take a moderate dose (50mgs) and it has really helped even out my moods, but without the Paxil numbing effect. I have not experienced any side-effects since I began taking it about 6 weeks ago. Here is a good page which will tell you more about it http://www.5htp.com/ (sorry about the pop-up ad) You can aslo do a web search for 5-HTP for more info. I have read a lot about it and feel comfortable with its safety. The best part is, I have not run across any negative reports re: 5-HTP. Very important- 5-HTP can not be taken while on any other SSRIs. Your uncle should be ok, since he's been Paxil free for a month. It may be helpful to your uncle but first please read all you can about it, for you own peace of mind. Tell him we said he is a very brave man and to hang in there! __________________ When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. - Franklin D. Roosevelt Don't compromise yourself, you are all you've got. -Janis Joplin

08-29-2002, 05:36 PM	#8
mercury Posts: n/a	I am completely off and in hell I too am completely off at this point. I tapered down from 10 mgs. since April. I have now been completely off for about 12 days but I am going through hell. I've been through all the withdrawal symptoms during the tapering process, but now my worst problem is the rage/anger and crying spells. I feel at times as if I'm losing my mind. I'm just praying it gets better soon. I wish your loved one good luck. I can't believe they stopped cold turkey at 60 mgs. I couldn't tolerate stopping cold turkey by any means and I was only on 10 mgs. I was however on it for 8 years. I think the longer you're on it, the harder it is when you stop. Sandra

08-29-2002, 10:37 AM	#3
Anonymous Posts: n/a	I am totally off 20 milligrams of Paxil after 6 months of tapering. Halfway through I switched to Prozac. I took my last dose of Prozac on Memorial Day and am feeling better than ever. Of course not being on drugs is in some ways harder but that is life and for me a clear choice. You may want to read the topic I created that documents much of the withdrawal experience. It is called From Paxil to Prozac to Nothing. Goood luck. Mark

08-29-2002, 11:03 AM	#5
Anonymous Posts: n/a	Cold turkey from 60 mg???? YIKES!!!

08-29-2002, 01:09 PM	#7
momof2 Posts: n/a	I was on 20 MG for 3 years and tapered for 3 months. I have been off for 3 weeks and I am feeling very good now. Just little stuff. BUT it WAS hell for about 2 weeks and so bad that you cannot imagine life ever getting better, but it does.

08-29-2002, 09:01 PM	#9
Ariella Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 7,100	2nd anniversary! I've been Paxil-free for almost 2 years now. I found my permanent solutions in books, all you wonderful people, pschotherapy, spirituality, lifestyle choices, diet choices, creativity, laughter and love. It definitely wasn't an overnight thing. I had to work every single moment of every day at reprogramming my inner dialogue and retraining my emotional responses to the world and especially my tendency to victimize myself. I had to give full permission to disorders (anxiety, depression) so that I could let them go using the idea: "you cradle a cut, not slap it." It took a year before I ever touched Paxil, and years after to be where I am today but it's permanent. There will never be a regression. It's impossible anyway. You're changed by life and if you're paying attention to that you can never become the person you were before (anxious, depressed) because that person is gone, replaced by this other person who has lived so many more years, felt so many more things, gained insight and made discoveries contributing to the 'current' form. You can however feel like you're the same person with the same anxiety or depression, but you're not. You've just yet to create the new you that is without them. The freedom is always approaching, never moving away. Always seek the patience and forgiveness to know that. __________________ Panic attacks started Dec/1996 Zoloft summer 1998 (quit CT after a few days - bad reaction) 10mg Paxil fall 1998 / 20mg Paxil winter 1999 10mg September 2000 / 5mg October 2000 / FREE November 2000 Healed by Anxiety eBook

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