Hi, I'm new here.

jennifer23 · 07-01-2009, 05:47 PM

Hello everyone. I have been reading this site for years but am just now posting for the first time.
I have been on paxil (for the most part) since 1995. I've tried to get off a couple of times unsuccessfully - and I am currently on my 3rd attempt.
I am at 10mg (from 11.25) - just dropped down a few days ago.

I have been reading and learning a lot from all of you. So, thank you very much. I plan on staying on 10mg for the next 4-6 weeks. After that I'm not sure if I should try to break down the 10mg pills or go on the liquid Paxil. I am concerned that I will have a hard time measuring the liquid Paxil for some reason. Is it pretty easy? I'm thinking I should go down just 1mg steps for the remaining 10mg.

I have been on Paxil for so long that I am excited about the prospect of possibly living with out it at some point. But am also frightened because I have failed in the past at staying off of it. I hope that the reason I failed was due to a too-fast tapering schedule and not some inherent need for medication.

Like many of you here, I have gained weight, lost motivation, felt numb, slept through my twenties, etc. But I am not in a super hurry. I am trying to enjoy each day while working through the process of letting go of this drug.

Thanks for listening and thanks again for all of your great stories.
Jennifer

PatriceKM · 07-01-2009, 05:51 PM

Welcome Jennifer! I am also at 10mg now!
I know what you mean about sleeping through the 20's! Luckily Im 26 so maybe I can stay awake for the rest of them!
That's good that you arent in a hurry and are trying to enjoy each day! Sounds like youre on the right track.
I also had an unsuccessful taper- I went way to fast - per doctor's orders- and ended up right back on the stuff.

Best of luck!

carolyn · 07-01-2009, 05:59 PM

Hi Jennifer! Welcome!

First off, measuring the liquid is super easy. Most big name pharmacies only carry 10mL oral syringes, but a lot of "mom and pop" pharmacies have 5mL and 3mL syringes.

I bought a 5mL syringe and used that from 9.2mg (4.6mL) until 5.6mg (2.8mL); I'm now using a 3mL syringe.

The only trick to measuring the liquid is that 1mL of liquid is the same as 2mg of the pill form. So if you're on 10mg pills, that would be the same as 5mL liquid.

Whew, that was accidentally a bunch of numbers! Sorry about that! My point was that liquid is way easier to taper on and, once you get the syringe, you're golden.

Dropping 1mg at a time is fine at the upper doses but you'll want to shrink the drops once you get closer to 5mg and definitely once you're under that.

Blah blah blah enough numbers and stuff. It sounds like you have a perfect attitude and you're going to do great!!

Welcome again!

Jess_Reyna · 07-01-2009, 06:04 PM

Hi Jennifer and welcome to Paxil Progress! Well I'm glad you've decided to taper. If you've been reading for so long then you know what is a recommended tapering schedule. 8-10% every 3-6 weeks is what most people on paxil progress recommend so that you can drop and still have quality of life. I know what a tough decision this is but I'm glad you are excited about it. We will be here to cheer you on every step of the way! Good luck!

JessG · 07-01-2009, 06:06 PM

I started Paxil when I was 18 and I am now 29, so I can definitely empathize with the "sleeping through your twenties" thing. If you can afford the liquid Paxil, go for it. Your drops will be more precise that way and cutting/weighing pills is a pain(that's what I do.) Also, it is important to stick to the 10% or under rule when tapering under 10mg. 1mg a month may not sound like much now but once you get down to the small doses it can get to be too much. Good luck and keep us updated

scotty · 07-01-2009, 06:08 PM

Welcome Jen!
Get the liquid. You can ask here about the measurements with each new dose you are moving to. We can walk you through it with no problem.

Songbird · 07-01-2009, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jennifer23

But I am not in a super hurry. I am trying to enjoy each day while working through the process of letting go of this drug.

This is a good attitude, if you don't rush it you'll do great. I agree with the others about the 1mg drops, smaller drops will be better as your dose gets lower.

Sewgirl · 07-01-2009, 09:08 PM

Hello from another new taper-er, and welcome.
I'm curious about your comment regarding the time of day you take Paxil, now changed to evening.
Do others on here take it in the evening? When I first went on it I was told to take it in the morning, no reason given.
There is so much info on this forum you will be able to find out many many things.

JessG · 07-01-2009, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sewgirl

Hello from another new taper-er, and welcome.
I'm curious about your comment regarding the time of day you take Paxil, now changed to evening.
Do others on here take it in the evening? When I first went on it I was told to take it in the morning, no reason given.
There is so much info on this forum you will be able to find out many many things.

I also take mine in the evening and try to keep it at the same time every night, 11pm. I think some people get drowsy after taking it so they prefer to take it at night. It's important to try to take it at the same time every day since the half-life of Paxil is so short

jennifer23 · 07-01-2009, 09:36 PM

Wow, thanks everyone for your replies! Thanks for the input on the liquid - I think I should be able to handle that.

I started taking it at night recently because I thought it might help me be less drowsy during the day - and I do think it has helped a bit.

VTgirl · 07-02-2009, 07:06 AM

I have always taken my paxil at night too - I just felt better that way. For some reason when I did take it during the day it would upset my stomach.

07-01-2009, 05:47 PM	#1
jennifer23 Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 3	Hi, I'm new here. Hello everyone. I have been reading this site for years but am just now posting for the first time. I have been on paxil (for the most part) since 1995. I've tried to get off a couple of times unsuccessfully - and I am currently on my 3rd attempt. I am at 10mg (from 11.25) - just dropped down a few days ago. I have been reading and learning a lot from all of you. So, thank you very much. I plan on staying on 10mg for the next 4-6 weeks. After that I'm not sure if I should try to break down the 10mg pills or go on the liquid Paxil. I am concerned that I will have a hard time measuring the liquid Paxil for some reason. Is it pretty easy? I'm thinking I should go down just 1mg steps for the remaining 10mg. I have been on Paxil for so long that I am excited about the prospect of possibly living with out it at some point. But am also frightened because I have failed in the past at staying off of it. I hope that the reason I failed was due to a too-fast tapering schedule and not some inherent need for medication. Like many of you here, I have gained weight, lost motivation, felt numb, slept through my twenties, etc. But I am not in a super hurry. I am trying to enjoy each day while working through the process of letting go of this drug. Thanks for listening and thanks again for all of your great stories. Jennifer __________________ 20mg: 9/95 prescribed for depression and panic disorder C/T 12/97 unsuccessful 20mg: back on 3/98 Summer 2000 tapered off again but too fast Back on 20mg spring of 2001 Began tapering again in 2006 very slowly down to 12.5mg: 07 - 08 11.25 mg: 5/30/09 and switched to taking it at night 10mg: 6/28/09

07-01-2009, 05:51 PM	#2
PatriceKM Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 339	Re: Hi, I'm new here. Welcome Jennifer! I am also at 10mg now! I know what you mean about sleeping through the 20's! Luckily Im 26 so maybe I can stay awake for the rest of them! That's good that you arent in a hurry and are trying to enjoy each day! Sounds like youre on the right track. I also had an unsuccessful taper- I went way to fast - per doctor's orders- and ended up right back on the stuff. Best of luck! __________________ 6 years on paxil 9/29/08- 40mg-30mg 10/19/08 20 mg 12/16/08 10mg dizzy, hot flashes 12/30/08 Back to 20mg 1/4/09 18mg 1/19/09 16mg 2/5/09 15mg 3/8/09 13mg 5/17/09 - 12mg 6/12/09 11mg 6/17/09 10mg 7/8/09 9mg 8/10/09 8mg (screwed something up) 8/31/09 6mg 10/13/09 5.4mg 11/9/09 5mg "Healing comes from the healed; not the physician." DG

07-01-2009, 05:59 PM	#3
carolyn Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SF Bay Area, CA Posts: 3,103	Re: Hi, I'm new here. Hi Jennifer! Welcome! First off, measuring the liquid is super easy. Most big name pharmacies only carry 10mL oral syringes, but a lot of "mom and pop" pharmacies have 5mL and 3mL syringes. I bought a 5mL syringe and used that from 9.2mg (4.6mL) until 5.6mg (2.8mL); I'm now using a 3mL syringe. The only trick to measuring the liquid is that 1mL of liquid is the same as 2mg of the pill form. So if you're on 10mg pills, that would be the same as 5mL liquid. Whew, that was accidentally a bunch of numbers! Sorry about that! My point was that liquid is way easier to taper on and, once you get the syringe, you're golden. Dropping 1mg at a time is fine at the upper doses but you'll want to shrink the drops once you get closer to 5mg and definitely once you're under that. Blah blah blah enough numbers and stuff. It sounds like you have a perfect attitude and you're going to do great!! Welcome again! __________________ 10mg: 5/02 - 8/07 for panic disorder 20mg: 8/07 - 8/08 CBT: 8/07 - 2/08. Recommended! 1 unsuccessful taper in 7/08; went back to 20mg 2008: 8/2: 18.75mg 8/24: 17.25mg 9/28: 16.10mg 10/19: 15mg 11/9: 13.75mg 11/30: 12.5mg 12/21: 11.25mg 2009: 1/11: 10.6mg 2/1: 10mg 2/22: 9.4mg 3/6: 9.2mg (liquid) 3/29: 8.4mg 4/19: 7.6mg 5/10: 6.8mg 5/31: 6.2mg 6/21: 5.6mg 7/12: 5.1mg 8/2: 4.8mg 8/23: 4.4mg 9/13: 4mg 10/4: 3.7mg 10/25: 3.4mg 11/15: 3.1mg

07-01-2009, 06:04 PM	#4
Jess_Reyna Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: California Posts: 298	Re: Hi, I'm new here. Hi Jennifer and welcome to Paxil Progress! Well I'm glad you've decided to taper. If you've been reading for so long then you know what is a recommended tapering schedule. 8-10% every 3-6 weeks is what most people on paxil progress recommend so that you can drop and still have quality of life. I know what a tough decision this is but I'm glad you are excited about it. We will be here to cheer you on every step of the way! Good luck! __________________ One failed attempt-Tapered way to fast Found Paxil Progress December 19, 2008 Back on 20 mg tablets February 5, 2009 18 mg-Switched to liquid-Here we go! February 26, 2009 16.2 mg March 19, 2009 14.6 mg April 9, 2009 13.2 mg May 7, 2009 12 mg May 28, 2009 11 mg June 18, 2009 10 mg July 14, 2009 9 mg August 4, 2009 8.1 mg August 26, 2009 7.6 mg September 16, 2009 7 mg October 7, 2009 6.4 mg October 28, 2009 6 mg November 18, 2009 5.6 mg

07-01-2009, 06:06 PM	#5
JessG Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Houston,Tx Posts: 190	Re: Hi, I'm new here. I started Paxil when I was 18 and I am now 29, so I can definitely empathize with the "sleeping through your twenties" thing. If you can afford the liquid Paxil, go for it. Your drops will be more precise that way and cutting/weighing pills is a pain(that's what I do.) Also, it is important to stick to the 10% or under rule when tapering under 10mg. 1mg a month may not sound like much now but once you get down to the small doses it can get to be too much. Good luck and keep us updated __________________ Prescribed Paxil in Mar. 1998 for social anxiety Skipped a couple of doses and found out about Paxil WD, been scared to get off since. 1st attempt to taper in 2002 by 2.5mg drops. Crashed somewhere between 10-15mg "Doc" upped Paxil back to 30mg. 2003-2005: Up and down from 27-35mg(?) Tapering since Dec 2005, from 35mg Stayed at 20mg for ALL of 2008 2/23/09:19.5mg 4/10/09:18.7mg 5/23/09:17.5mg 6/18/09:16.5mg 7/20/09:15.5mg 8/22/09:14.8mg 10/28/09:14.5mg

07-01-2009, 06:08 PM	#6
scotty Administrator & Advocate Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 38,588	Re: Hi, I'm new here. Welcome Jen! Get the liquid. You can ask here about the measurements with each new dose you are moving to. We can walk you through it with no problem. __________________ AKA Laurie "If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere." ~Frank A. Clark

07-01-2009, 09:08 PM	#8
Sewgirl Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 29	Re: Hi, I'm new here. Hello from another new taper-er, and welcome. I'm curious about your comment regarding the time of day you take Paxil, now changed to evening. Do others on here take it in the evening? When I first went on it I was told to take it in the morning, no reason given. There is so much info on this forum you will be able to find out many many things.

07-01-2009, 09:36 PM	#10
jennifer23 Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 3	Re: Hi, I'm new here. Wow, thanks everyone for your replies! Thanks for the input on the liquid - I think I should be able to handle that. I started taking it at night recently because I thought it might help me be less drowsy during the day - and I do think it has helped a bit. __________________ 20mg: 9/95 prescribed for depression and panic disorder C/T 12/97 unsuccessful 20mg: back on 3/98 Summer 2000 tapered off again but too fast Back on 20mg spring of 2001 Began tapering again in 2006 very slowly down to 12.5mg: 07 - 08 11.25 mg: 5/30/09 and switched to taking it at night 10mg: 6/28/09

07-02-2009, 07:06 AM	#11
VTgirl Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Vermont Posts: 156	Re: Hi, I'm new here. I have always taken my paxil at night too - I just felt better that way. For some reason when I did take it during the day it would upset my stomach. __________________ Panic attacks since I was 8 yrs old, anxiety, little OCD, & little PTSD 22 yrs old started Paxil CR 2002 - 6/16/09: Paxil CR 12.5mgs 6/16/09 - Paxil 10.0mgs 8/7/09 - 9.6 mgs Liquid! 8/28 - 8.0 mgs (cause I did not read syringe right) 8/30 - 8.8 mgs 9/21 - 8.0 mgs 10/19 - 7.2 mgs

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