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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 31. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JTK on January 11, 2000, at 19:50:59
Does anybody have any good things to say about withdrawal from Paxil?
I've been on 10 mgs for about seven months and am scared to death about coming off of it.
I love what it has done for my quality of life but don't look forward at all to the things that I've read.
thx
Posted by Noa on January 11, 2000, at 20:21:54
In reply to Paxil withdrawal fears, posted by JTK on January 11, 2000, at 19:50:59
You didn't say why you want to go off the paxil.
Posted by jtk on January 12, 2000, at 18:07:48
In reply to Re: Paxil withdrawal fears, posted by Noa on January 11, 2000, at 20:21:54
> You didn't say why you want to go off the paxil.
I will have to come off of it at some point in the next 6 months or so. Believe me I would stay on it forever if I could. My problems are so minor compared to a lot of peoples and I am some what to blame for the shape I'm in.Blah,blah,blah...
Posted by Mark T. on January 13, 2000, at 14:10:34
In reply to Paxil withdrawal fears, posted by JTK on January 11, 2000, at 19:50:59
> Does anybody have any good things to say about withdrawal from Paxil?
> I've been on 10 mgs for about seven months and am scared to death about coming off of it.
> I love what it has done for my quality of life but don't look forward at all to the things that I've read.
> thxWhy should you have to come off of it?? Is it the expense?? 10 mgs. seems so little for so much quality of life. I am on 40 mgs., and I know what the withdrawals will do. I went without my meds for 4-5 days because I was out, man it was the worst thing, worse than the depression/anxiety bit. Like the others said, why do you have to get off??
Posted by liz on March 27, 2000, at 18:08:19
In reply to Re: Paxil withdrawal fears, posted by Mark T. on January 13, 2000, at 14:10:34
> I was on 40mg of Paxil for nearly 6 months with tremendous success for depression and mild OCD symptoms. Recently the Paxil stopped working effectivly and the hope was to begin a new drug treatment. One of the reasons I was put on Paxil was the belief that it could be jused long term. That was my plan until it became ineffective in treating my depression. While using the Paxil nearly all my symptoms disapeared. The problem came when I was told to stop taking it cold turkey. Apparently some people can do thi8s effectivly, unfortunatly I was not one of those people. I began to experience the typical Paxil withdrawl symptoms within one week. Night sweats, vivid nightmares, nausea, tremorss, headaches and dizziness just to name a few. Despite several attemps to wean me off the drug withdrawl syptoms returned. Alng with others I felt as though I was "loosing my mind". However, now as of today I have begun a new treatment of effexor. I am optimistic this new treatment will help. I have heard meny suggestions about treament of the withdrawl syptoms. But the only advise I can offer is do not rush the process of quitting. If you are happy with the drug now don't stop taking it. If sometime down the line you feel you need to stop, do it gradually even on small doses. There is no reason to hurry and risk the "hell" some of us have been forced to go through. And do not loose hope you will make it. Be strong. And good luck.
Posted by vesper on March 28, 2000, at 0:24:17
In reply to Re: Paxil withdrawal fears, posted by liz on March 27, 2000, at 18:08:19
I went thru a couple of months of hell after going off paxil (10mg at the end). It sucks, but it DOES end. I just suffered through it. Different people respond differently. I do know that the SSRIs and effexor all have the same withdrawal problems, and my pdocs never told me this, they were disingenuous about things like that.
short acting benzos like ativan helped a little.
Posted by bob on March 29, 2000, at 21:26:51
In reply to Re: Paxil withdrawal fears, posted by vesper on March 28, 2000, at 0:24:17
Check out the ad for Paxil in TV Guide ... one page ad, nearly two more pages technical info and of warnings. They do try to put all the warnings into the most intense medi-babble I've ver seen, tho.
Anyway, to the point: while it never really did anything for me as an AD, Wellbutrin got me through Paxil withdrawal really, really smooth. If I forgot to take my wellbutrin before breakfast, within two hours I'd be feeling so bad I'd want to curl up in a ball and shake. 300 mg and 15-20 minutes later, and wellbutrin would have me feeling like a human being again.
I wonder if this has anything to do with the Zyban-side of wellbutrin? Any word on it working to ease other sorts of addictions?
just curious,
bob
Posted by Cam W. on March 29, 2000, at 21:39:52
In reply to Re: Paxil withdrawal fears, posted by bob on March 29, 2000, at 21:26:51
bob - I have seen one case where Wellbutrin has worked for a gambling (video lottery terminal) addiction. I've been trying to get the docs to use it, but we farm out our addictions to another agency. This can really suck, sometimes, especially for people with dual addictions (esp mental disorders and addictions). The addiction guys don't want you if you have a mental disorder and the mental health guys would rather not treat you until you have the addiction under control. Recently though, these problems are being addressed (time will tell). - Cam W.
Posted by Phil on March 30, 2000, at 6:20:41
In reply to Re: Addictions Wellbutrin - to bob, posted by Cam W. on March 29, 2000, at 21:39:52
>
There's a catch-22 for you. Hope that gets sorted out.
Posted by deb on March 30, 2000, at 20:47:40
In reply to Paxil withdrawal fears, posted by JTK on January 11, 2000, at 19:50:59
I was on 40 mgs for almost 2 years and started going off the drug in the beginning of January. I drastically dropped my dosage and experienced HORRIBLE withdrawal. I then started taking 5mgs and recently went down to 2.5mgs (yes, a very, very small amount but it takes the edge off)....I am now adjusting to the 2.5 mgs and hopefully, within the next 2 weeks will be free of it! I had dizziness, nausea, muscle aches and pains, diarrhea, agitation, mood swings, anger....and a little panic. But I perserved and knew that if I couldn't break this "addiction" now I would simply have to do it all over again somewhere down the line. The drug did wonders for me but I experienced way too many side effects such as 40 lb. weight gain (despite a healthy diet and exercise), fatigue and lack of sex drive. It was a great drug for my panic/depression and really helped me out when I needed but had I known the degree to which I would suffer with side effects and withdrawal, I would have opted for another drug. I am now taking only 75mgs of Wellbutrin per day and hope to be off this drug by summer. I want to try life med free for a while, with the understanding that I can go back on meds if I need to. I am just so tired of being medicated. Good luck and hang in there, ok? You can do it.
Posted by Pam on April 19, 2000, at 9:20:44
In reply to Paxil withdrawal sucks.....but hang in there, posted by deb on March 30, 2000, at 20:47:40
I don't know a lot about addiction, but I'm really upset by the simplistic
equation that "problems going off Paxil" = "addiction to Paxil."This is a drug that alters our brain chemistry. It changed us when we
went on it. Of course changes will happen when we go off it!My experience is like a lot of yours. I was on Paxil, 40 mg/day, for a
whopping five years. It enriched my life, and it probably saved my life.When we're not depressed, it's easy to forget how hellish depression is.
I'm having a very difficult time right now with what is probably "Paxil
withdrawal," but I'd endure my current symptoms for a month rather than
go through another 30 seconds of the depths of hopeless despair that
led me to Paxil in the first place.I had sleep problems (mostly vivid dreams and hypersomnia) before,
during, and after my time on Paxil. I started weaning myself off
Paxil nearly a month ago (under a doctor's care) because my doctors
believed that a recent increase in my sleep problems was a manifestation
of my depression and that the Paxil wasn't working anymore. (They want me
to go on Prozac, but that's a whole 'nother issue.) As I took
less and less Paxil, I felt better and better! Emotionally, I'm feeling
really normal.Then, 10 days ago (when I was at the 10-mg dose), I started getting what felt
like a rapid and irregular heartbeat. Two nights ago, after being off Paxil altogether for
nearly a week, I had a horrible episode of "conscious dreaming"; I
could tell I was in a dream (and a fairly mundane one--not a nightmare)
but I couldn't get out. I kept going in and out of this state for
an hour or two. I also had some really weird altered perceptions, like
my arms were too long or my feet were on the wrong legs. It was
terrifying. So for the last two days, my sleep has been uneven (mostly
normal, though--no repeats of the severity of the episode two days ago)
and I've had this damned annoying ringing in my head.Reading this stuff on the Net is, for me, an enormous relief, because
I feel less like I'm crazy and more like I'm going through a medical
transition.(I'm going to the doctor in a few hours, by the way, to diagnose this
stuff properly.)I would beg anyone who's reading this NOT to be scared away from taking Paxil
because of possible withdrawal problems later. Different drugs help different
people (and some people aren't helped by drugs at all), and Paxil was the right
one for me. I am looking forward to life after Paxil, but I don't regret for
a moment having been on it for all that time, even though I feel crappy
at the moment.
Posted by Pam on April 20, 2000, at 12:12:01
In reply to Paxil withdrawal, posted by Pam on April 19, 2000, at 9:20:44
Yesterday I wrote here about my symptoms (problems distinguishing
between dreaming and waking, weird noises in my head, erratic
heartbeat).Then I went to the doctor, who said my symptoms were classic for
Paxil withdrawal (confirming my self-diagnosis).He said he could give me beta blockers, tranquilizers, or other drugs
to treat some of my symptoms, but since I seemed to want to get away from
drugs altogether, he'd just recommend that I avoid caffeine
and try to relax.BTW, my blood pressure and heart rate are VERY high
right now, but my doctor isn't concerned about any
long-term dangers, possibly because I'm pretty healthy
otherwise (apart from lifelong skrimishes with depression).Next week I'm seeing the shrink (as opposed to the internal
medicine guy of yesterday), and I'm hoping to get a better
sense of how long my withdrawal symptoms will last. (They're
bad enough to interfere with my work.)I have to say again that I still would go on Paxil if I
had it to do over. Yeah, no one told me that withdrawal
would be this unpleasant, but I've been suicidal, and it's
a hell of a lot worse than having light-saber WHOOSHes in
my head.Pam
Posted by bob on April 21, 2000, at 12:38:31
In reply to Re: Paxil withdrawal (again), posted by Pam on April 20, 2000, at 12:12:01
> I have to say again that I still would go on Paxil if I
> had it to do over. Yeah, no one told me that withdrawal
> would be this unpleasant, but I've been suicidal, and it's
> a hell of a lot worse than having light-saber WHOOSHes in
> my head.Then why the rush to get away from meds completely?
If it works, then run with it! But if you start backsliding, don't let this withdrawal put off trying something different (just as you don't want to put others off from trying paxil).
I've mentioned above and in some other threads that wellbutrin helped me get over my paxil withdrawal. It took 4-6 weeks to do it, but it really put the lid on any withdrawal symptoms I was feeling.
Just a thought...
bob
Posted by Heather on April 21, 2000, at 16:03:04
In reply to Re: Paxil withdrawal fears, posted by bob on March 29, 2000, at 21:26:51
Hi, my name's Heather, 23. During my teens, I was placed on a daily dose of Paxil - not for depression, but for migraines (supposedly it helps open up blood vessels that constrict to cause migraines). It helped dramatically and I was on it for several years. After that time, a doctor told me I needed to get off of it because I had high liver enzymes (probably due to years worth of binge drinking as well as a fatty liver). Well, despite phasing the drug out properly, I went through a SEVERE withdrawel. My mom, who has been an RN for almost thirty years and has spent time in NYC's busiest ER, said she never saw a heroin addict go through withdrawel that was worse than what I went through. I was sick as a dog, uncomfortable in my own skin...I had myriad symptoms, including shaking, fever, vomiting, headaches, etc. It was so severe that I remained curled up in a ball on the couch for days, looking as if I was coming down off of some street drug.
Upon researching afterwards, my mom and I found a message board online where numerous Paxil users were describing identical forms of withdrawel. It seems as if the doctors and the medical community are far behind what the patients themselves have learned...
Anyway, I firmly believe that I was physically addicted to Paxil - but that I wasn't aware of that fact since I took it every day per doctor's orders..
Posted by Louisa on April 21, 2000, at 16:16:28
In reply to Paxil withdrawal sucks.....but hang in there, posted by deb on March 30, 2000, at 20:47:40
My meds regimen is as follows: 40mg of Paxil at night, and 150mg of Wellbutrin in the morning. Together, this works for me (for depression).
Last night, however, I forgot to take the paxil, and I slept REALLY badly-- terrible, terrible nightmares, cold sweats, etc. Today, I feel absolutely exhausted, to the point of having to take a 2 hour nap this morning instead of working on my dissertation.
Is it possible that these two phenomena are related? (now I really sound like an academic...) If so, I need to find a better system to remind me to take my meds at night!
I'm also a little concerned about Paxil withdrawal in general, since I'm thinking about trying to get pregnant in the fall. Valerie Raskin, in her book When Words are not Enough, suggests staying on meds until you find out you're pregnant, so as to maximize your "symptom free" period, if you're likely to slip back into depression. But from what I'm hearing, that so-called symptom free period may instead be full of the withdrawal symptoms from hell! Since I'll be teaching a demanding schedule next year, that could prove to be disastrous. Any suggestions about how to minimize withdrawal symptoms for the pregnant lady?
Louisa
Posted by bob on April 21, 2000, at 20:25:41
In reply to immediate paxil withdrawal effects?, posted by Louisa on April 21, 2000, at 16:16:28
> Last night, however, I forgot to take the paxil, and I slept REALLY badly-- terrible, terrible nightmares, cold sweats, etc. Today, I feel absolutely exhausted, to the point of having to take a 2 hour nap this morning instead of working on my dissertation.
>
> Is it possible that these two phenomena are related?What? Naps and dissertations? Well, trying to do mine certainly put me to sleep really fast. ;^)
If your fall is going to be so crazy, and if that one missed dose is any accurate indication, then you may want to switch from paxil to something else this summer if the timing is better. What are you taking the paxil for -- depression? Some anxiety thrown in there? Anyway, a different SSRI might be better. If you've responded well to paxil, your chances are good that you'll respond well to another SSRI.
I was on zoloft on three different occasions. Each time I dropped it, I didn't have any withdrawal (tho I've heard of others who have). Once was cold turkey, the second time I swapped it for paxil with no noticeable problems (outside of my lack of a good response!), the third time I tapered down from 200mg/day over 5 weeks or so. The first and third time I did have a relapse of my depressive symptoms, but that was because I wasn't replacing it with another AD at a therapeutic level. If it were me and I had a good response to paxil, I might try a switch to zoloft. With all I've heard (and experienced myself!) about withdrawal, tho, I'd still do a taper while gradually increasing the med you're switching to.
My two pence,
bob
Posted by Louisa on April 22, 2000, at 11:11:34
In reply to Re: immediate paxil withdrawal effects?, posted by bob on April 21, 2000, at 20:25:41
I do see what you mean, and I may have to consult my pdoc about this this summer. I have tried zoloft in the past, but I really, really got the shakes from it, and that's why I ended up on paxil. prozac was very far from being a success for me, unfortunately, since I know that's the one recommended for use during pregnancy, since it's been studied the most.
And it's hard to know which is worse, this summer or next fall: I MUST finish the diss this summer... and I'm teaching a full load in the fall, with my first lecture classes. So it's 6 of one...
I'd appreciate any other thoughts people have, too!
Louisa
Posted by FP on April 22, 2000, at 23:48:06
In reply to Re: Paxil withdrawal fears, posted by liz on March 27, 2000, at 18:08:19
> > I was on 40mg of Paxil for nearly 6 months with tremendous success for depression and mild OCD symptoms. Recently the Paxil stopped working effectivly and the hope was to begin a new drug treatment. One of the reasons I was put on Paxil was the belief that it could be jused long term. That was my plan until it became ineffective in treating my depression. While using the Paxil nearly all my symptoms disapeared. The problem came when I was told to stop taking it cold turkey. Apparently some people can do thi8s effectivly, unfortunatly I was not one of those people. I began to experience the typical Paxil withdrawl symptoms within one week. Night sweats, vivid nightmares, nausea, tremorss, headaches and dizziness just to name a few. Despite several attemps to wean me off the drug withdrawl syptoms returned. Alng with others I felt as though I was "loosing my mind". However, now as of today I have begun a new treatment of effexor. I am optimistic this new treatment will help. I have heard meny suggestions about treament of the withdrawl syptoms. But the only advise I can offer is do not rush the process of quitting. If you are happy with the drug now don't stop taking it. If sometime down the line you feel you need to stop, do it gradually even on small doses. There is no reason to hurry and risk the "hell" some of us have been forced to go through. And do not loose hope you will make it. Be strong. And good luck.
I went through pretty much the same experience. Paxil suddenly stopped working and my doc took me off of it cold turkey. Bad idea. Wound up in the psych ward. Best thing to do is decrease the dose over 2-3 weeks while starting a new SSRI - that's what my current shrink does and it is much better; although some posters have said the hell of Paxil withdrawel will go away - and they are right! - there's always the problem that you might kill yourself first. These drugs demand serious respect. Paxil withdrawel is so ugly because, compared to many other SSRIs, its half life in the body is short.
Hope this helps.
FPPS: still curious to know why you had to stop - insurance benefits running out?
Posted by Marci on March 28, 2001, at 17:42:49
In reply to Paxil withdrawel, posted by Heather on April 21, 2000, at 16:03:04
Heck, I've gone off Paxil twice, with no major
problems - I was stepped down, no biggie. Okay, I felt a bit
dizzy and nauseous for a few days, but nothing compared to going
off Klonopin, you want to talk BAAAAD withdrawal
symptoms? How about having bouts of "coming out
of your body," like you were floating over it? Thinking you
were dead? Fear that your cats were lions ready to eat you?
Being afraid to go to sleep, unable to drive,
a feeling like you want to run and run to escape the boogeyman?
Attacking your mom, hitting her? This lasted maybe 3
weeks!Going off Paxil is no big deal!
Posted by JETT55 on March 28, 2001, at 18:50:57
In reply to Re: Paxil withdrawel, posted by Marci on March 28, 2001, at 17:42:49
> Heck, I've gone off Paxil twice, with no major
> problems - I was stepped down, no biggie. Okay, I felt a bit
> dizzy and nauseous for a few days, but nothing compared to going
> off Klonopin, you want to talk BAAAAD withdrawal
> symptoms? How about having bouts of "coming out
> of your body," like you were floating over it? Thinking you
> were dead? Fear that your cats were lions ready to eat you?
> Being afraid to go to sleep, unable to drive,
> a feeling like you want to run and run to escape the boogeyman?
> Attacking your mom, hitting her? This lasted maybe 3
> weeks!
>
> Going off Paxil is no big deal!Heather,
Please let us know, how much klonopin were you on and for how long?
The withdrawl you had sounds like a nightmare.
Did you taper of the drug or go cold turkey?
Jett
Posted by JETT55 on March 28, 2001, at 18:54:57
In reply to Re: Paxil withdrawel, posted by JETT55 on March 28, 2001, at 18:50:57
> > Heck, I've gone off Paxil twice, with no major
> > problems - I was stepped down, no biggie. Okay, I felt a bit
> > dizzy and nauseous for a few days, but nothing compared to going
> > off Klonopin, you want to talk BAAAAD withdrawal
> > symptoms? How about having bouts of "coming out
> > of your body," like you were floating over it? Thinking you
> > were dead? Fear that your cats were lions ready to eat you?
> > Being afraid to go to sleep, unable to drive,
> > a feeling like you want to run and run to escape the boogeyman?
> > Attacking your mom, hitting her? This lasted maybe 3
> > weeks!
> >
> > Going off Paxil is no big deal!
>
> Heather,
> Please let us know, how much klonopin were you on and for how long?
> The withdrawl you had sounds like a nightmare.
> Did you taper of the drug or go cold turkey?
> JettI'm sorry, I don't know if I was to post to Heather
or Marci. Not too familiar with this board:-)
Posted by Marci on March 29, 2001, at 14:10:10
In reply to Re: Paxil withdrawel, posted by JETT55 on March 28, 2001, at 18:50:57
> Heather,
> Please let us know, how much klonopin were you on and for how long?
> The withdrawl you had sounds like a nightmare.
> Did you taper of the drug or go cold turkey?Actually, I'm new, and not Heather, I'm Marci.
My mom wanted me off it, said I wasn't myself (she had been on Xanax
and had an even worse time), and she put me in a rehab section of the
hospital, just like she had been). They
took me off it cold turkey, and started me on
phenobarbital (for the seizures that could develop going
off of it). I also had been drinking more than
I normally had - because the Klonopin just wasn't doing
it for my nerves. I ended up out of the hospital
and in a mental health facility for 2 weeks (because I was more
depressed than anything). I really do
not recall how much I was on, but it was a low
dose, and I never had abused it. Ended up in AA,
only thing that got me thru it all!TOTALLY scary med - as are any of the benzos. Stay
away from them, at ANY cost, just not worth it.
They are very, very addictive, and make Paxil
withdrawal seem like a piece of cake by comparison!Marci
Posted by jailerjo on October 7, 2003, at 7:27:14
In reply to immediate paxil withdrawal effects?, posted by Louisa on April 21, 2000, at 16:16:28
I am new to this site so please be patient with me. I recently reduced from 40 to 20 to 10 mgs of paxil, then ceased it for 150 mgs wellbutrin sr. I went in to a huge tailspin,chills, loss of appetite, general fear over anything and evetything. Yesterday my Doc and I decided to forget the Wellbutrin and go back to 20 mgs paxil. Does anyone know how long it will take for the symptoms to go away again? I admit I feel a tad better after just yesterdays dose.
Posted by Festus on October 7, 2003, at 22:38:32
In reply to Re: immediate paxil withdrawal effects?, posted by jailerjo on October 7, 2003, at 7:27:14
I took 40mg Paxil a day for a year and lost my insurance,so I could not manage the cost of it.I talked to the doc and he worked with me for a while by dropping me to 20mg a day and providing samples.After a while,he told me he had to stop the samples,so I asked him what else I could take.At this point,I did,nt feel the Paxil was really helping any,so he put me right on Prozac 20mg/day.For about 10-14 days,I felt sickly,weak and nauseated,appetite was screwed up,then it went away,and I fell OK.Festus
Posted by jailerjo on October 8, 2003, at 15:07:18
In reply to Re: immediate paxil withdrawal effects?, posted by Festus on October 7, 2003, at 22:38:32
I have been back on 20 mg. paxil for three days after trying wellbutrin for 10 days. I am starting to feel better already. Has anyone else experienced withdrawl from paxil. I am just gald I was able to get back on it and start to feel better. I had a loss of appetite, chills, sweats, anorexic feelings and extreme panic attacks. Has anyone else experienced this, then gone back to paxil?
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