I love my doctor! Update

CarlaD · 12-01-2009, 09:02 AM

I just got back from seeing my Doctor. About 3 weeks ago we decided to wean off paxil and quit Clonazepam. I was afraid she would rush me as most doctors seem to do. However today we had a great chat, and she was telling me that she had a friend on Paxil and how this friend was weaned so quickly it was terrible. She saw what her friend went through. Therefore, she TOTALLY understands how hard it is to wean and is TOTALLY on my side to take things nice and slow. She told me to forget about the Clonazepam for now, keep it as is, stay at 25mg paxil for another week and then try 20mg, then go see her again sometime in January. She also was not opposed to me cutting my pills even smaller (eg. go to 22.5mg next) I don't think I will do that though. I will just drop to 20mg. I can handle it. I don't work, I don't have children,....I can stay home and rest through the headaches, go in the yard with my dogs, etc. I am very fortunate in that sense.

imokay · 12-01-2009, 09:10 AM

Carla that is AWESOME that you have a Dr that actually understands. PLEASE use the chart we have on here to figure out where to go to next. We recommend no more than 10% more than that and we have found people suffer a LOT more than they need to. I understand you can stay home and rest but if you go to quickly then it could be YEARS before you feel better so why not take it slow? You need to remember it is allllll about quality of life and not how fast you get off of it. I am glad that she said the leave the klonopin where it is for right now that is EXACTLY the right thing to do.

pboy · 12-01-2009, 09:34 AM

Great to hear that a doctor understands about this...such a rare thing!

nickels · 12-01-2009, 09:53 AM

Thats great! My doctor had a similar stance and also a friend who had a hard time coming off paxil (she actually couldn't go below 5mgs) so he was also supportive but still not completely understanding of the need for SUCH a slow taper, as I was doing. By the end of my taper, he thought I was just prolonging my situation...but it worked for me and that was all that mattered. Its definitely a plus to have a supportive doctor...but they really aren't so knowledgeable in ssri withdrawal...so make sure you listen to your own body and your best bet is to use the guidelines here.

You might be able to get away with such a large drop initially (I did) but if you do have all this time, why not just slow down the taper a bit so you don't suffer needlessly? There really is no rush and big drops could equal big set backs.

CarlaD · 12-01-2009, 01:00 PM

imokay....hmmm.......

you have a very good point.....quality of life.....and it's not a race.

I will figure out how to cut to 22.5mg ......a 20mg and 1/4 of a 10mg will do it

Thanks!

scotslass · 12-01-2009, 01:47 PM

I agree with nickels honey,I would wean a litlle slower than 25 to 20.I dropped from 40 to 30 right away and then tapered 10% from 30 but it was to fast and when I got to 22mgs I hit a rough spot,I think the large drop in the beginning finally caught up with me.This is one time in your life when it is much better to be the turtle not the hare.

Best of luck sweetie

Songbird · 12-01-2009, 05:13 PM

You're lucky to have a supportive doctor, many don't. I'm also lucky to have a very supportive doctor.

You will need to do smaller drops as your dose gets lower. Cutting quarters might be okay until you get down below 20mg, and definitely below 10mg you'll need much smaller drops. You can either switch to liquid paxil, or use a scale to weigh the pill pieces to get accurate doses.

stan · 12-05-2009, 07:55 AM

hello Carla
sorry bad English

in front of my suffering due to AD
I find it hard to love a doctor who prescribed for months to 10 years of antidepressants;
did he make a point each year with you for what motivated the AD ?
Has he offered you cbt ...? Has he proposed the withdrawal ?
the big problem is essentially the duration prescriptions
it is very well the doctor will help wean
good luck for Following !
bye

CarlaD · 12-05-2009, 08:08 AM

Stan

This is not the same doctor that prescribed the meds. I have no idea what happened to him. This doctor is new in my life, I was lucky that she took me as a patient. She is young and up to date on things. Unlike the idiots that kept giving me refills year after year and never EVER asking me how I am feeling. This doctor is anti med if possible, but uses common sense as well. She is human. She take the time to talk to me. We even talked about our canoeing adventures as we are both into canoeing. I love her because I know she truly cares about me.

stan · 12-05-2009, 02:08 PM

ah! seen like that ok !

to the next!

12-01-2009, 09:02 AM	#1
CarlaD Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 115	I love my doctor! Update I just got back from seeing my Doctor. About 3 weeks ago we decided to wean off paxil and quit Clonazepam. I was afraid she would rush me as most doctors seem to do. However today we had a great chat, and she was telling me that she had a friend on Paxil and how this friend was weaned so quickly it was terrible. She saw what her friend went through. Therefore, she TOTALLY understands how hard it is to wean and is TOTALLY on my side to take things nice and slow. She told me to forget about the Clonazepam for now, keep it as is, stay at 25mg paxil for another week and then try 20mg, then go see her again sometime in January. She also was not opposed to me cutting my pills even smaller (eg. go to 22.5mg next) I don't think I will do that though. I will just drop to 20mg. I can handle it. I don't work, I don't have children,....I can stay home and rest through the headaches, go in the yard with my dogs, etc. I am very fortunate in that sense. __________________ over 10 years Paxil 30mg, Clonazepam/Klonapin 1mg, Wellbutrin 150mg Nov 9, 2009 25mg Paxil Dec 5, 2009 22.5mg Dec 23, 2009 20mg April 9, 2010 17.5mg

12-01-2009, 09:10 AM	#2
imokay Sometimes ya just gotta say F$%^ YOU! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 8,346	Re: I love my doctor! Update Carla that is AWESOME that you have a Dr that actually understands. PLEASE use the chart we have on here to figure out where to go to next. We recommend no more than 10% more than that and we have found people suffer a LOT more than they need to. I understand you can stay home and rest but if you go to quickly then it could be YEARS before you feel better so why not take it slow? You need to remember it is allllll about quality of life and not how fast you get off of it. I am glad that she said the leave the klonopin where it is for right now that is EXACTLY the right thing to do. __________________ CALLY PAXIL FREE October 7, 2009 When the world says, "Give up," Hope whispers, "Try it one more time." “Do not let your struggles defeat you. Let your victories over them strengthen you. Together with God, there is no challenge that you cannot overcome

12-01-2009, 09:34 AM	#3
pboy Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: UK Posts: 772	Re: I love my doctor! Update Great to hear that a doctor understands about this...such a rare thing! __________________ On Lexapro for 2 months & CT'd. Had withdrawal so re-instated. Started chopping tablets. Then crushing into juice. Trying to slowly get off the stuff. 5mg (3 weeks until stabilized) then chopping so unsure how much (2.5 weeks) 4.4mg (4 weeks), 4.2mg (3.5 weeks) 3.8mg (4 weeks 4 days), 3.6mg (3 weeks) 3.26mg (4 weeks 2 days), 3.1mg (2 weeks 5 days) 2.9mg (4 weeks 5 days) 2.7mg (5 weeks 3 days) 2.6mg (4 weeks-ish) 2.5mg (5 weeks), 2.4mg (6 weeks), Now at 2.3mg.

12-01-2009, 09:53 AM	#4
nickels Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 2,280	Re: I love my doctor! Update Thats great! My doctor had a similar stance and also a friend who had a hard time coming off paxil (she actually couldn't go below 5mgs) so he was also supportive but still not completely understanding of the need for SUCH a slow taper, as I was doing. By the end of my taper, he thought I was just prolonging my situation...but it worked for me and that was all that mattered. Its definitely a plus to have a supportive doctor...but they really aren't so knowledgeable in ssri withdrawal...so make sure you listen to your own body and your best bet is to use the guidelines here. You might be able to get away with such a large drop initially (I did) but if you do have all this time, why not just slow down the taper a bit so you don't suffer needlessly? There really is no rush and big drops could equal big set backs. __________________ Nicole 2000 - 20mgs Paxil for GAD & Panic Attacks 2001 - 30mgs increased to 40mgs 2006 - back down to 20mgs - poop out 2/2007 - C/T off 20mgs - went back on at 10mgs 7/2007 - stabilized then started my taper off of 10mgs 8/2007 - down to 5mgs then found PP and began 10% taper 10/15/2008 - 0! 2/2009 - started CBT to finally work on anxiety

12-01-2009, 01:00 PM	#5
CarlaD Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 115	Re: I love my doctor! Update imokay....hmmm....... you have a very good point.....quality of life.....and it's not a race. I will figure out how to cut to 22.5mg ......a 20mg and 1/4 of a 10mg will do it Thanks! __________________ over 10 years Paxil 30mg, Clonazepam/Klonapin 1mg, Wellbutrin 150mg Nov 9, 2009 25mg Paxil Dec 5, 2009 22.5mg Dec 23, 2009 20mg April 9, 2010 17.5mg

12-01-2009, 01:47 PM	#6
scotslass Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,720	Re: I love my doctor! Update I agree with nickels honey,I would wean a litlle slower than 25 to 20.I dropped from 40 to 30 right away and then tapered 10% from 30 but it was to fast and when I got to 22mgs I hit a rough spot,I think the large drop in the beginning finally caught up with me.This is one time in your life when it is much better to be the turtle not the hare. Best of luck sweetie __________________ 12yrs of 40mgs paxil July 2008-October 2009 down from 40-6mgs,Crashed big time back up to 8mgs,little relief from anxiety and depression Nov23,up to 10mgs,hoping to stabilise here for a while March 18/10 dropped to 91/2 mgs April 17/10 dropped to 9mgs May 16/10 81/2 june 17/10 8mgs July 8/10 7.5mgs Aug 12/10 7mgs

12-01-2009, 05:13 PM	#7
Songbird Queen of the appendage vocabulary Join Date: May 2007 Location: New Zealand Posts: 9,152	Re: I love my doctor! Update You're lucky to have a supportive doctor, many don't. I'm also lucky to have a very supportive doctor. You will need to do smaller drops as your dose gets lower. Cutting quarters might be okay until you get down below 20mg, and definitely below 10mg you'll need much smaller drops. You can either switch to liquid paxil, or use a scale to weigh the pill pieces to get accurate doses. __________________ 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

12-05-2009, 07:55 AM	#8
stan Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: FRANCE Posts: 2,044	Re: I love my doctor! Update hello Carla sorry bad English in front of my suffering due to AD I find it hard to love a doctor who prescribed for months to 10 years of antidepressants; did he make a point each year with you for what motivated the AD ? Has he offered you cbt ...? Has he proposed the withdrawal ? the big problem is essentially the duration prescriptions it is very well the doctor will help wean good luck for Following ! bye __________________ 59 years old, for anxiety 12 years paxil, cold turkey 1,5 month,held 8 days, then switch citalopram, 1 month 20 mg then taper 11 months avril 2008 to march 2009 : 20 mg to 0 mg off since april 2009

12-05-2009, 08:08 AM	#9
CarlaD Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 115	Re: I love my doctor! Update Stan This is not the same doctor that prescribed the meds. I have no idea what happened to him. This doctor is new in my life, I was lucky that she took me as a patient. She is young and up to date on things. Unlike the idiots that kept giving me refills year after year and never EVER asking me how I am feeling. This doctor is anti med if possible, but uses common sense as well. She is human. She take the time to talk to me. We even talked about our canoeing adventures as we are both into canoeing. I love her because I know she truly cares about me. __________________ over 10 years Paxil 30mg, Clonazepam/Klonapin 1mg, Wellbutrin 150mg Nov 9, 2009 25mg Paxil Dec 5, 2009 22.5mg Dec 23, 2009 20mg April 9, 2010 17.5mg

12-05-2009, 02:08 PM	#10
stan Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: FRANCE Posts: 2,044	Re: I love my doctor! Update ah! seen like that ok ! to the next! __________________ 59 years old, for anxiety 12 years paxil, cold turkey 1,5 month,held 8 days, then switch citalopram, 1 month 20 mg then taper 11 months avril 2008 to march 2009 : 20 mg to 0 mg off since april 2009

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