Some Questions - 5 months post paxil

lil4alot · 12-18-2009, 01:42 PM

Hi there PP, this board has helped me through my taper, first and foremost I would like to thank you.

5 months ago I finished my taper off of 20mg of paxil in 5mg increments. I had been on 20mg of Paxil for 6 years. I did not find this site until mid taper and I realize a 5mg is not ideal or even recommended. Apparently in Canada you cannot get liquid paxil which makes it even more difficult.

The taper was grueling and probably one of the hardest things I have ever done. The problem I am having is now, 5 months off of paxil, my panic attacks are worse than ever. Now when I feel anxiety of any kind I start tremble and feel very cold, also with any stimulants added even caffeine and social situations, I begin to feel cold and start to tremble. Sometimes I tremble lightly, other times it has been very violent, most recently it was in the middle of the night and my stomach was cramping I was shaking uncontrollably, it lasted around 15 mins.

Is this normal? Over the past month I would say I've noticed feeling lightheaded, weird headaches and feeling exhausted all the time. Could this attributed to withdrawal at all?

I understand I will never be back to normal, and I need to learn to live with one way or another. What scares me is that I am developing a neurological disorder like MS. I've began obsessing and checking health sites for symptoms and such. A bad idea, I know, I have banned myself from this.

Any feedback would be appreciated, thank you!

stan · 12-18-2009, 02:18 PM

hello lil4alot

yes I think it's normal, I am 9 months and I tremble period
anxiety (chemical) will decline in coming months
many new symptoms appear, others disappear,
with time much reduced
but it is difficult to wait

bye

luc · 12-19-2009, 05:53 AM

Hey there, Lil4alot. You're just 5 months off. It's typically the worst time in SSRIs withdrawal. I had the same, and for that matter, most of the PP people. It takes some time for the brain to rebalance itself after the trauma of withdrawal. But in a couple of months you may start feeling better. It's all very cyclical-after some really hellish time you will experience the windows of relief, and then some rough stretches, and then again the good windows. Just be patient, though it's really difficult, I know... I'm at 12 month mark right now, and continuously getting better. Hang in there!

LCrawford67 · 12-19-2009, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lil4alot

Hi there PP, this board has helped me through my taper, first and foremost I would like to thank you.

5 months ago I finished my taper off of 20mg of paxil in 5mg increments. I had been on 20mg of Paxil for 6 years. I did not find this site until mid taper and I realize a 5mg is not ideal or even recommended. Apparently in Canada you cannot get liquid paxil which makes it even more difficult.

The taper was grueling and probably one of the hardest things I have ever done. The problem I am having is now, 5 months off of paxil, my panic attacks are worse than ever. Now when I feel anxiety of any kind I start tremble and feel very cold, also with any stimulants added even caffeine and social situations, I begin to feel cold and start to tremble. Sometimes I tremble lightly, other times it has been very violent, most recently it was in the middle of the night and my stomach was cramping I was shaking uncontrollably, it lasted around 15 mins.

Is this normal? Over the past month I would say I've noticed feeling lightheaded, weird headaches and feeling exhausted all the time. Could this attributed to withdrawal at all?

I understand I will never be back to normal, and I need to learn to live with one way or another. What scares me is that I am developing a neurological disorder like MS. I've began obsessing and checking health sites for symptoms and such. A bad idea, I know, I have banned myself from this.

Any feedback would be appreciated, thank you!

You tapered entirely too fast and this is why you're feeling the way you do right now. This is absolutely withdrawal.

lil4alot · 12-19-2009, 09:15 AM

Thank you for your responses and support - After reading through "Protracted wd- 1+ years post-taper" I am realizing this could only be the beginning, I think I will make an appt with GP about my headaches to see if these are dangerous, I've started getting shooting pains in my left eye, which has totally freaked me out.

In relation to the anxiety I remember my doctor recommending a drug to help 'level me off'.. I declined, I now have such a negative stigma associated with any kind of drug due to my experience with Paxil.

My brain feels like a pile of mush

LCrawford67 · 12-19-2009, 09:18 AM

My best advice to you would be, if you're going to do anything, go back on a low dose of Paxil, get stable, and taper much slower from there.

Adding another drug into the mix isn't going to do a thing for Paxil w/d, plus, you'll then have to deal with the start up side effects of the new drug.

lil4alot · 12-19-2009, 09:24 AM

Thanks LC - I will mention this to my doctor, it will be so hard to go back through this. I'm better off doing it the right way in the end.

12-18-2009, 01:42 PM	#1
lil4alot Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto Posts: 5	Some Questions - 5 months post paxil Hi there PP, this board has helped me through my taper, first and foremost I would like to thank you. 5 months ago I finished my taper off of 20mg of paxil in 5mg increments. I had been on 20mg of Paxil for 6 years. I did not find this site until mid taper and I realize a 5mg is not ideal or even recommended. Apparently in Canada you cannot get liquid paxil which makes it even more difficult. The taper was grueling and probably one of the hardest things I have ever done. The problem I am having is now, 5 months off of paxil, my panic attacks are worse than ever. Now when I feel anxiety of any kind I start tremble and feel very cold, also with any stimulants added even caffeine and social situations, I begin to feel cold and start to tremble. Sometimes I tremble lightly, other times it has been very violent, most recently it was in the middle of the night and my stomach was cramping I was shaking uncontrollably, it lasted around 15 mins. Is this normal? Over the past month I would say I've noticed feeling lightheaded, weird headaches and feeling exhausted all the time. Could this attributed to withdrawal at all? I understand I will never be back to normal, and I need to learn to live with one way or another. What scares me is that I am developing a neurological disorder like MS. I've began obsessing and checking health sites for symptoms and such. A bad idea, I know, I have banned myself from this. Any feedback would be appreciated, thank you!

12-18-2009, 02:18 PM	#2
stan Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: FRANCE Posts: 2,044	Re: Some Questions - 5 months post paxil hello lil4alot yes I think it's normal, I am 9 months and I tremble period anxiety (chemical) will decline in coming months many new symptoms appear, others disappear, with time much reduced but it is difficult to wait 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

12-19-2009, 05:53 AM	#3
luc Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Europe Posts: 3,793	Re: Some Questions - 5 months post paxil Hey there, Lil4alot. You're just 5 months off. It's typically the worst time in SSRIs withdrawal. I had the same, and for that matter, most of the PP people. It takes some time for the brain to rebalance itself after the trauma of withdrawal. But in a couple of months you may start feeling better. It's all very cyclical-after some really hellish time you will experience the windows of relief, and then some rough stretches, and then again the good windows. Just be patient, though it's really difficult, I know... I'm at 12 month mark right now, and continuously getting better. Hang in there! __________________ Xanax c/t July 2008 Paxil c/t December 2008 ...ended with a double ticket to Hell of a double c/t...to not lose my job, I worked all that time. I have no idea how I've made it... But due to WD I lost someone I loved so much... Keep walking. Just keep walking...

12-19-2009, 09:15 AM	#5
lil4alot Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto Posts: 5	Re: Some Questions - 5 months post paxil Thank you for your responses and support - After reading through "Protracted wd- 1+ years post-taper" I am realizing this could only be the beginning, I think I will make an appt with GP about my headaches to see if these are dangerous, I've started getting shooting pains in my left eye, which has totally freaked me out. In relation to the anxiety I remember my doctor recommending a drug to help 'level me off'.. I declined, I now have such a negative stigma associated with any kind of drug due to my experience with Paxil. My brain feels like a pile of mush

12-19-2009, 09:18 AM	#6
LCrawford67 Moderator "Everybody poops" Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 30,253	Re: Some Questions - 5 months post paxil My best advice to you would be, if you're going to do anything, go back on a low dose of Paxil, get stable, and taper much slower from there. Adding another drug into the mix isn't going to do a thing for Paxil w/d, plus, you'll then have to deal with the start up side effects of the new drug. __________________ aka LC aka Laurie C. Paxil, 20 mg since 1997, for IBS Two unsuccessful attempts to quit. Started tapering 11/27/06 PAXIL FREE 12/29/07 *"Whether You Believe You Can, Or You Can't, You Are Right."* ~ Henry Ford

12-19-2009, 09:24 AM	#7
lil4alot Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto Posts: 5	Re: Some Questions - 5 months post paxil Thanks LC - I will mention this to my doctor, it will be so hard to go back through this. I'm better off doing it the right way in the end.

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