Quit Paxil too quickly-Go back on or tough it out?

fuzzyjelly · 11-11-2009, 04:41 PM

I was taken off Paxil by my doctor by going from 40 to 20 for one week, then to 10 for one week, then done. I'm almost two weeks past my last dose and have been in full withdrawal for about 5 days.

I didn't know anything about tapering until I started to feel awful and started doing some research. I was on Paxil for about 8 months total, starting at 10 and gradually being bumped up to 40. I was at 40 for about the last 3 months.

I'm having a very hard time dealing with this. My major symptoms are the dizziness, nausea, foggyness, the whoosh in the head thing. Someone needs to come up with better terms for this stuff :-)

I need to get back to functional and I'm wondering if I should go back on then taper myself very slowly back off or if it's better to just tough it out and avoid having to do it again.

PatriceKM · 11-11-2009, 04:42 PM

I think you should go back and start a taper. How did you feel when you went from 40 to 20?

fuzzyjelly · 11-11-2009, 04:49 PM

I truly didn't feel any different at any dose, that's why we decided to discontinue. Even if I HAD known about withdrawal I wouldn't have thought I'd be affected because Paxil didn't seem to have any effect on me.

scotty · 11-11-2009, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuzzyjelly

I truly didn't feel any different at any dose, that's why we decided to discontinue. Even if I HAD known about withdrawal I wouldn't have thought I'd be affected because Paxil didn't seem to have any effect on me.

It may not have had any positive effect, but believe us, it has made changes in your brain chemistry. I would go back on 20mg and stabilize.

PatriceKM · 11-11-2009, 04:57 PM

If you look at my taper schedule, you will see that I went from 20-10 and thats when the withdrawals kicked in so I went back to 20 and tapered slowly from there. It hasnt been perfect but it has been better. I would suggest going back to 20 and tapering slowly.

When I did go back to 20. A lovely PP member sent me this quite, which really helped.

“IT IS NOT ADMITTING TO FAILURE to go back up to a comfy level and then drop in a controlled manner. It is all about YOU TAKING CONTROL of the drug and your life, which cannot be anything but positive!!”

Songbird · 11-11-2009, 05:18 PM

Your doc's taper schedule is virtually a cold turkey. I agree with the advice to reinstate 20mg, wait to stabilise, and then do a slow taper.

fuzzyjelly · 11-11-2009, 07:55 PM

I'll call him tomorrow and get a script.

What would be the best way for him to write it to suit my tapering needs? I'll ask for liquid, but if he insists on tablets, should I have him write for 2 10's per day so I can use them to taper?

TryingtoGetWell · 11-11-2009, 08:04 PM

Hopefully he'll prescribe the liquid (suspension); I don't see why not, especially since he's evidently supportive of your going off the med that wasn't even working for you.

But if for some reason he won't, you can break pills with a pill cutter, and I would think the lower dose tabs would make that easier.

If he won't prescribe liquid, ask him why. If you're not satisfied with his answer, you might want to consider finding another doctor. (But get the prescription he will write first, 20s or hopefully 10s, so you won't have a delay in reinstating, since time can be a factor that will make a difference to your ability to reinstate and your long-term recovery.)

Don't be alarmed if you can't get the liquid. Many members of PP live in countries where liquid isn't even available, and they're successfully doing slow tapers cutting and even filing tablets.

Songbird · 11-11-2009, 10:03 PM

Good advice. The liquid is the easiest. But if you can't get liquid, you can use a scale to weigh pill pieces.

11-11-2009, 04:41 PM	#1
fuzzyjelly Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 3	Quit Paxil too quickly-Go back on or tough it out? I was taken off Paxil by my doctor by going from 40 to 20 for one week, then to 10 for one week, then done. I'm almost two weeks past my last dose and have been in full withdrawal for about 5 days. I didn't know anything about tapering until I started to feel awful and started doing some research. I was on Paxil for about 8 months total, starting at 10 and gradually being bumped up to 40. I was at 40 for about the last 3 months. I'm having a very hard time dealing with this. My major symptoms are the dizziness, nausea, foggyness, the whoosh in the head thing. Someone needs to come up with better terms for this stuff :-) I need to get back to functional and I'm wondering if I should go back on then taper myself very slowly back off or if it's better to just tough it out and avoid having to do it again.

11-11-2009, 04:42 PM	#2
PatriceKM Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 407	Re: Quit Paxil too quickly-Go back on or tough it out? I think you should go back and start a taper. How did you feel when you went from 40 to 20? __________________ 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 1/3/10 4.4 "Healing comes from the healed; not the physician." DG

11-11-2009, 04:49 PM	#3
fuzzyjelly Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 3	Re: Quit Paxil too quickly-Go back on or tough it out? I truly didn't feel any different at any dose, that's why we decided to discontinue. Even if I HAD known about withdrawal I wouldn't have thought I'd be affected because Paxil didn't seem to have any effect on me.

11-11-2009, 04:57 PM	#5
PatriceKM Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 407	Re: Quit Paxil too quickly-Go back on or tough it out? If you look at my taper schedule, you will see that I went from 20-10 and thats when the withdrawals kicked in so I went back to 20 and tapered slowly from there. It hasnt been perfect but it has been better. I would suggest going back to 20 and tapering slowly. When I did go back to 20. A lovely PP member sent me this quite, which really helped. “IT IS NOT ADMITTING TO FAILURE to go back up to a comfy level and then drop in a controlled manner. It is all about YOU TAKING CONTROL of the drug and your life, which cannot be anything but positive!!” __________________ 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 1/3/10 4.4 "Healing comes from the healed; not the physician." DG

11-11-2009, 05:18 PM	#6
Songbird Join Date: May 2007 Location: New Zealand Posts: 7,532	Re: Quit Paxil too quickly-Go back on or tough it out? Your doc's taper schedule is virtually a cold turkey. I agree with the advice to reinstate 20mg, wait to stabilise, and then do a slow taper. __________________ Jul 01-Feb 02 Aropax Feb - Dec 03 Citalopram Jul 04 Aropax Jan 07 - Feb 08 20mg - 5mg Apr 4.5mg 5mg Jun 10mg zopiclone > seroquel Jul 20mg Aug + methionine Oct aropax > loxamine Dec off seroquel 7 Dec 17.5mg 30 Dec 15mg 24 Jan 12.5mg 16 Feb 10mg 10 May 9mg 30 May 8mg 5 July 7.5mg 2 Aug 7.25mg 1 Sep 7mg 9 Oct 6.75mg 8 Nov 6.5mg 18 Dec 6.3mg Appreciation is the antidote to stress - Trust is the antidote to fear

11-11-2009, 07:55 PM	#7
fuzzyjelly Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 3	Re: Quit Paxil too quickly-Go back on or tough it out? I'll call him tomorrow and get a script. What would be the best way for him to write it to suit my tapering needs? I'll ask for liquid, but if he insists on tablets, should I have him write for 2 10's per day so I can use them to taper?

11-11-2009, 08:04 PM	#8
TryingtoGetWell Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,281	Re: Quit Paxil too quickly-Go back on or tough it out? Hopefully he'll prescribe the liquid (suspension); I don't see why not, especially since he's evidently supportive of your going off the med that wasn't even working for you. But if for some reason he won't, you can break pills with a pill cutter, and I would think the lower dose tabs would make that easier. If he won't prescribe liquid, ask him why. If you're not satisfied with his answer, you might want to consider finding another doctor. (But get the prescription he will write first, 20s or hopefully 10s, so you won't have a delay in reinstating, since time can be a factor that will make a difference to your ability to reinstate and your long-term recovery.) Don't be alarmed if you can't get the liquid. Many members of PP live in countries where liquid isn't even available, and they're successfully doing slow tapers cutting and even filing tablets. __________________ 5/93 - Started paxil after 6 years sensory distortions from benzo WD (+ chronic medical problems/pain) 20 mg/day; yrs later 15 mg 3/30/06 - 20 mg 4/21/06 - 15 mg 4/27/06 - 10 mg 5/17/06 - 5 mg (none taken 5/20) 5/21-24/06 - 2.5 mg (5/22 - none taken) 5/25/06 - d/c’d paroxetine Felt better than in years, then gradual WD symptoms 6/17/06 - Bolted awake in blind terror, started E-ticket ride to hell 9/08 - Varying degrees of improvement; still on the ride Still on 0.5 mg clonazepam

11-11-2009, 10:03 PM	#9
Songbird Join Date: May 2007 Location: New Zealand Posts: 7,532	Re: Quit Paxil too quickly-Go back on or tough it out? Good advice. The liquid is the easiest. But if you can't get liquid, you can use a scale to weigh pill pieces. __________________ Jul 01-Feb 02 Aropax Feb - Dec 03 Citalopram Jul 04 Aropax Jan 07 - Feb 08 20mg - 5mg Apr 4.5mg 5mg Jun 10mg zopiclone > seroquel Jul 20mg Aug + methionine Oct aropax > loxamine Dec off seroquel 7 Dec 17.5mg 30 Dec 15mg 24 Jan 12.5mg 16 Feb 10mg 10 May 9mg 30 May 8mg 5 July 7.5mg 2 Aug 7.25mg 1 Sep 7mg 9 Oct 6.75mg 8 Nov 6.5mg 18 Dec 6.3mg Appreciation is the antidote to stress - Trust is the antidote to fear

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