Any advice on my situation

[Bob50UF]

Thanks in advance for reading this.

My taper is going different than how I thought that it would go. When I reinstated at 10mg anxiety was not one of my symptoms. I had brain fog and bad memory and fatigue. This was how it all the way down until 5 mg. I get to 5 mg and the anxiety/high adrenaline levels kick in. I drop to 4.5 and the anxiety/adrenaline becomes worse, but brain fog has lifted and concentration is better. I assumed this would continue as I continued to drop in dose.

I drop to 4 then 3.6 then 3.2. As I drop lower, anxiety has gone away. I have no high adrenaline or CNS sensitivity or these type of symptoms. Rather, my symptoms are on the other side of the spectrum. Extreme fatigue and brainfog and bad memory. No energy. Getting worse as I drop lower.

Why the reverse in symptoms? I thought a lower dose meant more anxiety and less fatigue/brain fog. Has anyone had a similar experience? Sometimes I feel like just ditching at 3.2mg since i have 0 anxiety at this low dose (have been at 3.2 for 5 weeks now). I am probably going to drop to 2.8 next week and decide from there.

Thanks again for your time and concern.

-Bobby

[rbds22]

Originally Posted by Bob50UF

Thanks in advance for reading this.

My taper is going different than how I thought that it would go. When I reinstated at 10mg anxiety was not one of my symptoms. I had brain fog and bad memory and fatigue. This was how it all the way down until 5 mg. I get to 5 mg and the anxiety/high adrenaline levels kick in. I drop to 4.5 and the anxiety/adrenaline becomes worse, but brain fog has lifted and concentration is better. I assumed this would continue as I continued to drop in dose.

I drop to 4 then 3.6 then 3.2. As I drop lower, anxiety has gone away. I have no high adrenaline or CNS sensitivity or these type of symptoms. Rather, my symptoms are on the other side of the spectrum. Extreme fatigue and brainfog and bad memory. No energy. Getting worse as I drop lower.

Why the reverse in symptoms? I thought a lower dose meant more anxiety and less fatigue/brain fog. Has anyone had a similar experience? Sometimes I feel like just ditching at 3.2mg since i have 0 anxiety at this low dose (have been at 3.2 for 5 weeks now). I am probably going to drop to 2.8 next week and decide from there.

Thanks again for your time and concern.

-Bobby

Everyone reacts differently, you may be able to cut off the paxil now or maybe not. Tapering is a roller coaster. For example, when I tapered down it was horrible and debilitating. When I cut off completely I felt very good. Then after a month or more my brain simply didn't know how to function on it's own and then all hell broke loose. This is just one of many scenario's that can happen. some peoples brains are more resilient than others. You will have to wait and see how the cookie crumbles.

[LCrawford67]

Yep! Tapering is a roller coaster. I had a period at the beginning of my taper, where I felt anxious. Towards the middle, extreme fatigue. Towards the end, where I actually thought I'd feel more symptoms, not much at all.

There's really no explanation for any of it.

[Bob50UF]

Thanks for the replies. I don't think that I am actually going to ditch at 3.2 as ditching at 4 -5 mg is what got me into this situation in the first place.

LC at what dose did you start to feel better?

[rbds22]

Originally Posted by LCrawford67

Yep! Tapering is a roller coaster. I had a period at the beginning of my taper, where I felt anxious. Towards the middle, extreme fatigue. Towards the end, where I actually thought I'd feel more symptoms, not much at all.

There's really no explanation for any of it.

Just be aware that just because you go slower does not always mean that you will feel better when you ditch it completely. It's your brain re-adapting after the meds are completely gone. Not saying that it won't help going slower, just stating some knowledge.

[Bob50UF]

Well I am hoping that going slower does make this easier. If it does not then I never should have reinstated I guess.

[LCrawford67]

Originally Posted by Bob50UF

Thanks for the replies. I don't think that I am actually going to ditch at 3.2 as ditching at 4 -5 mg is what got me into this situation in the first place.

LC at what dose did you start to feel better?

I started feeling better around the 15 mg mark. I was one who had more effects in the beginning. But keep in mind, Paxil stopped working for me by then and I actually felt better, the lower in dose I went.

Your brain and body will always have to adjust after you stop, no matter what. But, that also has a lot to do with simply adjusting to a life without medication and regaining your full range of emotions.