I want to quit, how?

He everyone,

I have lots to tell you but I´ll try to keep it short. I´ve been on SSRI´s many times inmy life (mainly prozac) and I don´t remember having withdrawal symptoms, so that´s why I decided to take paxil. I took it in a very difficult part of my life, which is over and now my life is OK. Anyway, sadly the happiest times I remember were the ones on SSRI´s but that´s another story. The only thing that did happen with them (and nobody believes me) is that my libido left me and never came back! I´ve been on 10 mg for about 8 months. I hate my psychiatirst and he´s always been "all or nothing" and he´s the one who put me in paxil, after a weird experience on serzone. He says the withdrawal thing is pure invention and every time I compalin about a side effect he always says that it´s becuase I´ve never liked the idea of taking meds. Anyway, I want to quit but since he´s not supportive about it I´ll have to do it on my own. I´m doing it because I gained about 10 pounds and I want to get pregnant. Anyway, I went down to 7.5 mgs, at a very bad time (I have the flu). Even though I don´t feeel any dizziness or physical symtoms, I do feel some depression-like symptoms (although that could be from the flu).
I want to be free of paxil in about 2 months, has anyone done that? I primise to continue postinge, especially since I´ll need the support, but up to now I´m OK.

Diana

[JulieG]

1) FIND A NEW DOCTOR!!! The whole process will be easier and safer with a doctor's guidance. Believe me, I don't like doctors either and I am fed up with doctors that insist on creating a medicated version of myself. Find every document you can on Paxil withdrawal to prove that it does exist. That way you can go into the new doc's office armed and ready. The way I feel now is: I pay the doctors. They can either help me with what I want (IT IS MY BODY) or I will go elsewhere. My doctor may not believe withdrawal exists even with every thing I've presented to him but he knows that I have done my research and has agreed to help me do what I want. Your doctor may believe medication is imperative to you. For all I know, that may well be the case, but you certainly deserve the opportunity to discover that for yourself, on your own terms. Your doctor seems to think he is in charge. Ultimately, WE ARE IN CHARGE OF OUR BODIES. I am having an MRI at my doctors suggestion to prove that it isn't Multiple Sclerosis: I am not saying to totally discount everything your doctors say - but clearly your doctor does not respect your wishes and observations. There is a fine line where doctors seem to cross over and even though I'll listen to them and even heed their advice... I won't believe every thing they say anymore and I'll be a lot more sceptical.

Withdrawal is not something we made up. I'm not THAT imaginative. What a freak. Anyway, if he won't help, find another doctor.

2) Did you have the flu first? Paxil withdrawal can appear as the flu- its called Paxil Flu.

3) You went to 7.5mgs from what dose? How long have you been at 7.5?Be careful until you know if you'll be a lucky one that doesn't suffer withdrawal. SLOW SLOW SLOW is the key to success. I know I want off of it too, but I am going to go as slow as my body tells me too. I can't tell my body to go by any set schedule.

4) Be careful about the depression. Yes, it may be the flu. But it could be withdrawal. I know a lot of doctors will instantly say we are relapsing. The depression I got from withdrawal was sharper and more painful than pre-Paxil. It made me want to die. I felt like I was losing my sanity. If you sink too far down, its hard to get back up. Be careful, pay close attention to the signals. If you feel like you honestly can't take it any longer, you may have gone too fast. Also, some people do find themselves trapped on Paxil in order to not feel suicidal. Its a small percentage though but be careful.

5) Drink lots lots lots of water. Take a multivitamin, vitamin B. Ginger tea for nausea. Start taking FishOil capsules - it helps with depression A LOT I have found (in my case, anyway).

Good luck! I hope you have it super easy. And by the way, we believe you about the libido and side effects. We believe you about withdrawal. We'll be here for you when you need us!

You bet your sweet bippy we believe you! (I just dated myself with that phrase!) I am totally with Julie G on this one. You go at what speed and dose reduction your body tells you too. I found for me 1 month at each lowered dose before dropping again and then smaller drops each time (10 to 7.5 to 5 to 2.5 to drops and then off). I have been at zero for a couple of weeks now. Don't be in a hurry. I quit three times before and ended up back on because I didn't go slowly enough to allow my body to adjust. You are unique and only you will feel and know at what pace you can go. Remember the goal is to go to zero and stay there, not just to get to zero.

Thanks for your replies. I went down from 10 to 7.5 mg. And I did have the flu when I reduced the dose. It was a pretty bad one, probably from lack of paxil, I don´t know.

About the depression, I was also told by my doctor that it could be that "I´m not cured yet", like relapse. To me, depression starts with a weird, very repetitive fantasy (always the same fantasy, just changing the person), and I start paying more attention to the fantasy than to life. The fantasy is a very calming one. The funny thing is that, when I´ve been on SSRI I try to invoke the fantasy and it never came. With serzone, it took over my life!

I´ll stick to the 7.5 mg for a while, and report any changes.

Diana

P.S. I can imagine that people who come to this site are the ones who get withdrawal symptoms, but, are there people who don´t get them? I ´know I´m very susceptible to suggestion.

[JulieG]

There are LOTS AND LOTS of people with no withdrawal symptoms to speak of.

- A girl that just started working here was on Paxil. She didn't like it because it turned her into a zombie after 3 months so she quit taking it one day. Cold Turkey. No problems at all.

- My psychologist was taking Paxil. He stopped taking it because of the loss of libido and all he felt was a little bit of the roller coaster feeling for a week.

- My boyfriend's brother's girlfriend's ( ) son was on Paxil for 6 months. Quit Cold turkey because he wanted to drink and you're not supposed to drink on it. No withdrawal problems.

- A girl I work with has a friend that took Paxil. She stopped taking it cold turkey when my friend told her how bad my problems with Paxil are. NO PROBLEMS.

Its so hard to believe that people can quit this stuff just as easily as snapping your fingers. If I didn't know personally of these people I absolutely wouldn't believe it. I have heard that anywhere from 3% to 30 or 40% (can't remember) have withdrawal symptoms and of those people the withdrawal won't be severe with most of them. DON'T TAKE THE CHANCE THAT YOU'LL BE A LUCKY ONE. If you do take that chance and you're not one of the lucky ones, it can knock you flat on the ground and it will be a long time before you feel capable of walking across the street, let alone go to work again.