long-time users

i'm looking for a bit of inspiration here.

has anyone successfully gotten off paxil, after being on the drug for a really long time (5 or 6 years or more)?

do you think that being on the drug for that long almost definitely makes withdrawal more difficult?

thanks,
heather

(on paxhell over 6 years and getting ready to begin tapering SLOWLY next month)

Hi Heather- Just some words of encouragement...I had been on Paxil for 5 yrs (considered a long time in my eyes) and I began slowly tapering about 10 months ago. I just took my last Paxil 33 days ago, and so far I consider myself a success story. I am doing very well, and I feel really really good. Most of all, happy to be off of Paxil, and proud that I did it when I didnt think I could. Hope this helps. Good luck!

[emily]

Heather,

My story has good news & bad news. The good news: I've been off Paxil for 2 months, after six & a half years on, & am doing great. The bad
news is that I started on Lexapro (10mg, the lowest prescribed dose)
when anxiety & panic returned (when i got down to 5mg Paxil). Still, I'm pleased to be off what seems to be the most problematic SSRI. If you take it slowly, & have a good therapist & good habits in place (mutivitamin, fish oil, a daily 20 minute walk), you'll do great!

[genevieve]

Hi!
maybe staying some years on the drug makes the withdrawal harder ... but!!! dont assume it will be hard. Some people have no withdrawal at all, others have it but really light. Be prepared for the worst, but know that the best can happen!
I have been on and off paxil for about 5 years. After 6 months of tapering I was FREE on july 2003. This is 8 months!!! I am really happy since I have never been paxil free for this long since my 18th birthday! (I am 24 now) My biggest challenges have been the fatigue/weakness, the nausea (almost gone after 6 months!!!!!) and the return of anxiety-panic. My suggestion for you : go slowly, take care of yourself, be careful with doctor's advices (people on this board seem to know a lot more than most doctors I have seen) and be sure to work on the psychological issues that brang you to paxil first. Also, to be surrended by people you love and who understand is SO helpful!

[hope]

I was on Paxil for 7 years, given it for post-partum depression. I had a hard time trying to stop it in the past but I didn't know I was addicted to it. When I learned it was addicting, I made a serious attempt to get off it. I'm at 7 months trying to recover, not including 3 months weaning. Still dizzy, get head zaps, some anxiety (which I didn't have before) and trouble sleeping.

I'm thinking my brain has more recovering to do. I don't know of many long-term users who kicked it yet. I am hoping to be one of them though.

I was on Paxil for 7 years and yes, you can sucessfully go off Paxil. The withdrawals can be "hell". I took antihistamines to help with the dizziness and tried to keep my life as calm as possible. I had brain zaps, felt flu-ish, was edgy/temperamental and very lethargic. I went on Lexapo a few months later as melancholy set in. I didn't want full depression to return. After about 6 months of Lexapro, I started feeling bizarre and couldn't relax. I had no appetite (some would love that!), and didn't feel pleasure in anything. My TMJ/head pain was also severe. At that time, I realized SSRI's were not the answer for me.

Withdrawals from Lexapro were just as bad as from Paxil. I started taking "Trileptal" as well as antihistamines during the process. I can't even begin to explain how much Trileptal has helped me. It took the edge off everything. At first, I only took 75 mg in the morning and 75 mg at night. Trileptal is mainly used for epilepsy, but has been found helpful as a mood stabilizer in Bipolar Disorder as well as helping some with depression and anxiety.

I have been off all meds that contain serotonin since August. The TMJ/head pain is finally gone. I am actually running again. The only ongoing problem I have are memory issues. I lose thoughts, words, names, and have awful days when concentration takes a lot of effort. I am hoping this is also a lingering "withdrawal" symptom that will improve in time. A friend told me I could also be going though perimenopause??

I am a lightweight and currently take 25 mg Wellbutrin for melancholy and 150 mg Trileptal for anxiety (both morning and night). For now, it works--especially combined with running.

I really don't think some people ever experience serious withdrawals. I have a friend that was on Paxil for stress and anxiety. She went off it all at once with no problems whatsoever. Knowing then what I know now, would I do it all over again? Yes, I was suffering immensely and it helped restore my sanity. I just wouldn't take it for more than two years.

thanks so much for your response, marci.

can i ask, how long was your tapering process? and how did you feel throughout the process? were the withdrawals terrible the whole time, or just when you took your last dose of paxil?

thanks

heiwalove,

Interestingly enough, it never mattered whether I quit at 5 mgs or 2.5 mgs. It was just as bad regardless. I had tried to quit before at different dosages. When I made the final decision to quit, I had tapered within a couple weeks from 2.5 mg to 1.25 mg. We are talking tiny dosages! But I've heard of someone actually "shaving" their Paxil pill.

I felt fine throughout the tapering process--my withdrawals didn't start until a couple days after my last pill.

My best advice is to choose your timing. When I went off Lexapro last summer, I did it while on vacation. Have someone you can talk to throughout the process and see if you can take something (besides alcohol or another addictive med) to help take the edge off.