Is this All in My Head?

Ladybug3 · 02-08-2012, 06:14 PM

I trying to taper off Paxil (Pexeva) for the third time. The first time was way too fast, 20 mg to 10mg, the second I was combining drugs (Paxil and Prosac) and I had a bad reaction to Prosac, and this time I am trying to taper very slowly without adding another drug to the mix. I am about to be married in two months and my fiance and I want to try to start having children right away. My doctor says that I cannot be on Paxil. I am currently on 30 mg and I am tapering by 2.5 mg. I have been great until today, day 7, and I am feeling these wooshing feelings in my head. Could this be my anxiety trying to sabotage me into thinking this is withdrawal already or is it possible to feel this way by only reducing my 2.5 mg? I thought that your body really wouldn't be able to tell a difference in this minimal amount.

scotty · 02-08-2012, 06:23 PM

Nope, you're body will feel it, but hopefully it will be minimal. Weaning by 2.5 is fine at the higher doses, since it's less than 10%, but you should consider weaning by smaller amounts as the total dose gets lower. How much time are you leaving between weans?

Ladybug3 · 02-08-2012, 06:42 PM

I was on 30 mg and now I am on 27.5 mg since a week ago. I think I want to wait 3 weeks before tapering again, right? I am extremely sensitive to this medication and I am so scared to do this again. The last two times were so traumatic. I thought I was going crazy. I have anxiety just thinking about withdrawing

scotty · 02-08-2012, 06:48 PM

Then just slow down the whole process. 3 weeks in between weans is the minimum we recommend, so keep that in mind.

Don't freak yourself out! Your other experiences were both using techniques that we pretty much know don't work. Keep telling yourself that this one will be different and don't let the "worry" create more problems. One little step at a time and you CAN do this!

Ladybug3 · 02-08-2012, 06:59 PM

Thank you so much for the positive encouragement. This website is wonderful because it helps to have the support of people who KNOW what it is like. Everyone else has NO idea. My fiance is awesome and supportive, but even he doesn't think it is as big of a deal as I am making it.

You are completely right - I am doing it the RIGHT way this time.

scotty · 02-08-2012, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ladybug3

I am doing it the RIGHT way this time.

And that's what will get you through!

Brassmonkey · 02-08-2012, 08:32 PM

Ladybug3--Something you might want to try is the modified 10% taper I have been doing. I drop by 2.5% a week for four weeks for a total of 10% and then hold at the low dose for two more weeks for a total of 6 weeks between drops. I call it the Slide method. I am in the middle of my fourth slide and have had very few symptoms, I think it is because of letting the brain get use to the idea of a drop over a longer period of time instead of all at once. Just an idea you might consider.

Hope you feel better and your taper goes smoothly.

02-08-2012, 06:14 PM	#1
Ladybug3 Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 3	Is this All in My Head? I trying to taper off Paxil (Pexeva) for the third time. The first time was way too fast, 20 mg to 10mg, the second I was combining drugs (Paxil and Prosac) and I had a bad reaction to Prosac, and this time I am trying to taper very slowly without adding another drug to the mix. I am about to be married in two months and my fiance and I want to try to start having children right away. My doctor says that I cannot be on Paxil. I am currently on 30 mg and I am tapering by 2.5 mg. I have been great until today, day 7, and I am feeling these wooshing feelings in my head. Could this be my anxiety trying to sabotage me into thinking this is withdrawal already or is it possible to feel this way by only reducing my 2.5 mg? I thought that your body really wouldn't be able to tell a difference in this minimal amount.

02-08-2012, 06:23 PM	#2
scotty Administrator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 47,004	Re: Is this All in My Head? Nope, you're body will feel it, but hopefully it will be minimal. Weaning by 2.5 is fine at the higher doses, since it's less than 10%, but you should consider weaning by smaller amounts as the total dose gets lower. How much time are you leaving between weans? __________________ AKA Laurie "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." MLK

02-08-2012, 06:42 PM	#3
Ladybug3 Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 3	Re: Is this All in My Head? I was on 30 mg and now I am on 27.5 mg since a week ago. I think I want to wait 3 weeks before tapering again, right? I am extremely sensitive to this medication and I am so scared to do this again. The last two times were so traumatic. I thought I was going crazy. I have anxiety just thinking about withdrawing __________________ 20mg of Paxil started Sept. 2000 for anxiety Tapered to 10mg June 2005 = disaster 20mg June 2005 - July 2010 Tapered off and introduced Prosac July 2010 30mg Pexeva August 2010 - February 2012 27.5mg 02/08/2012

02-08-2012, 06:48 PM	#4
scotty Administrator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 47,004	Re: Is this All in My Head? Then just slow down the whole process. 3 weeks in between weans is the minimum we recommend, so keep that in mind. Don't freak yourself out! Your other experiences were both using techniques that we pretty much know don't work. Keep telling yourself that this one will be different and don't let the "worry" create more problems. One little step at a time and you CAN do this! __________________ AKA Laurie "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." MLK

02-08-2012, 06:59 PM	#5
Ladybug3 Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 3	Re: Is this All in My Head? Thank you so much for the positive encouragement. This website is wonderful because it helps to have the support of people who KNOW what it is like. Everyone else has NO idea. My fiance is awesome and supportive, but even he doesn't think it is as big of a deal as I am making it. You are completely right - I am doing it the RIGHT way this time. __________________ 20mg of Paxil started Sept. 2000 for anxiety Tapered to 10mg June 2005 = disaster 20mg June 2005 - July 2010 Tapered off and introduced Prosac July 2010 30mg Pexeva August 2010 - February 2012 27.5mg 02/08/2012

02-08-2012, 08:32 PM	#7
Brassmonkey Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: California Posts: 2,032	Re: Is this All in My Head? Ladybug3--Something you might want to try is the modified 10% taper I have been doing. I drop by 2.5% a week for four weeks for a total of 10% and then hold at the low dose for two more weeks for a total of 6 weeks between drops. I call it the Slide method. I am in the middle of my fourth slide and have had very few symptoms, I think it is because of letting the brain get use to the idea of a drop over a longer period of time instead of all at once. Just an idea you might consider. Hope you feel better and your taper goes smoothly. __________________ AKA Tom 1994 started 20mg Paxil 1999 updosed to 30mg 2005 updosed to 40mg 2010 started not to work very well 09/2011 CTed from 15oz vodka a night 09/2011 dropped to 36mg 06/2012 dropped to 19mg (past halfway point) 08/2012 dropped to 17.1mg 09/2012 dropped to 15.2mg 11/2012 dropped to 13.8mg 12/2012 dropped to 12.4mg 01/2013 dropped to 11.1mg 03/2013 dropped to 10.0mg

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