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Mapleleafgirl: Successfully Tapered off Paxil


MapleleafGirl

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Mapleleaf, reading this is just what I needed to read right now. Thank you for sharing this story and congratulations on the success of your taper! 

 

Sleep is my issue with Zoloft and why I so desperately need to get off it--I only sleep the first part of the night and this has been going on for years, I guess I am missing out on deep sleep or REM sleep (I always get them confused) and I feel constantly fatigued. It's so difficult to work, parent, and everything else after years of this. 

 

From reading your story, am I understanding correctly that you reinstated the Paxil after 11 months off? What dose did you reinstate at (your original dose?) and did it have the full effect of clearing your w/d? I have just reinstated Zoloft at a low dose after 6 weeks off and am hoping and praying that it clears my symptoms. I am willing to go up to a higher dose if necessary, and so do an excruciatingly long taper if necessary to get off this stuff and avoid the terrible w/d symptoms that I am having now and have had twice in the past (but always assumed was relapse b/c my doctor never told me w/d existed). 

 

Thank you for your comments. 

I have issues with sleep too..i did on paxil..while tapering and still at 7.5 months out...i am missing out as well on the deep sleep....some nights i do have it but its rare..but atleast that shows me that eventually it should get there:)

 

Yes i reinstated the last time at 11 months off paxil...i went back on at 10mgs..then went to 15mgs..a few months later then to my full dose of 20mgs.. a few months after that.....i started to feel a little better at 7 days back on...and then from there it got better...my longest lasting symptom..was the blurry vision...and the zero sleep...those started to clear up at about 4 weeks.....I stayed on paxil again for 2 years then in May of 2010 i started my 4 year long taper....i had minimal stuff..i went really slow...i was so freaked out about the horrible withdrawal i had a few years back...before i RI at 11 months off...that i just knew i had to take it mega slow..

Michele aka MapleLeafGirl

Paxil Free Since June 1st 2014

Was on Paxil for 8.5 years on and off from 2001

Did a 4 year successful taper off 20mgs of Paxil

My Successful Tapering Story: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/7812-mapleleafgirl-successfully-tapered-off-paxil/

Tapering Schedule:

3rd attempt at withdrawal going slow..compounded pills
05/27/2010 - 03/12/12: Tapered From 20mgs - 6.2 (2nd year into Taper)
04/11/2012 - 6.0 - 3.4 - 05/05/2013 (Third year into Taper)
06/04/2013 - 3.2 - 1.0 - 05/31/2014 (Fouth and Final Year of Taper)

February 9th 2016 month 20 off paxil and four year taper..experiencing a horrible wave bad bad bad

May 2016 Made the decision to go back on an SSRI  - Currently on Escitalopram 10mgs but planning to taper at some point in the near future

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Hi there:)

 

I was a member of paxilprogress since 2004 and then the site was shut down...I was on paxil for 8.5 years starting in 2001...after a horrible withdrawal ..at 11 months off i went back on paxil again for a few years then did a successful 4 year taper with compounded pills.. i have now been paxil free since June 1, 2014..paxil progress members will know who i am:)

 

Michele aka MapleLeafGirl

Hi Michele

 

You are such an inspiration!  I have read stories on coming off Aropax and I was terrified of coming off this drug.  I have been on Aropax for almost 12 years.  I started of on 20mg and 2 months later increased to 40mg.  I went down to 20 mg about 9 years ago and stayed on that dose until the other day.  I consulted my doctor last week and told him I was ready to start weaning of this.  He told me to reduce my dosage to 10mg but I will need to stay on this for a couple of months before tapering down any further.  Today is my 5th day on 10mg and so far so good.  I have only had head zaps on and of for 4 days and a bit of nausea but my mood is great.  I have also started to dream again.  I will most likely use your tapering guide under 10mg.  I also found a compound pharmacy in my area which is great.  I have to say that Aropax really helped me with my severe anxiety and panic attacks as i have only had a handful since being on medication.  It was great to find a site where you can read posts with success stories.

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You are going WAY too fast...if you were 20mgs you should not be going to 10mgs..you need to taper so slow..10% every 30-60 days...it took me 4 years to come off 20mgs of paxil...and you may feel good right now..but you are going too fast and it will soon catch up....you cant go from 20 to 10 that is dangerous..not to mention..the doctor is giving you bad advise...you basically just cut your dose in half...the symptoms will soon catch up...zaps and nausea are just the beginning..with a slower taper you can pretty much avoid most things...

 

this is how i tapered down to 10...

 

19.5, 19....18.5....18....17.5...17...16.5..16..15.5...15...14.5 14..13.5..13..12.5..12..11.5. 11..then 10.5..10...that took me a year and a bit..then after that i went even slower..under 10 and that took me the 3 years...

Michele aka MapleLeafGirl

Paxil Free Since June 1st 2014

Was on Paxil for 8.5 years on and off from 2001

Did a 4 year successful taper off 20mgs of Paxil

My Successful Tapering Story: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/7812-mapleleafgirl-successfully-tapered-off-paxil/

Tapering Schedule:

3rd attempt at withdrawal going slow..compounded pills
05/27/2010 - 03/12/12: Tapered From 20mgs - 6.2 (2nd year into Taper)
04/11/2012 - 6.0 - 3.4 - 05/05/2013 (Third year into Taper)
06/04/2013 - 3.2 - 1.0 - 05/31/2014 (Fouth and Final Year of Taper)

February 9th 2016 month 20 off paxil and four year taper..experiencing a horrible wave bad bad bad

May 2016 Made the decision to go back on an SSRI  - Currently on Escitalopram 10mgs but planning to taper at some point in the near future

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  • Mentor

hello maple, thankyou for telling us your story... well done.  If only I had known to give up my stuff, over four years!  Too late now.  Hope I am better in a year or two.  Yes, halving a dose is way too fast,  damn doctors...xxx

 

Obviously you are going for a gentle landing, instead of the crash..

 

Did you jump off at 1mg?

 

I was put on Aropax  (Australia)  alias Paxil by an uninformed gp. (For being exhausted and thin, yes, time to tear up old hospital notes?)................ had been drug free for about 9 years (yep AD stuff)...   Paxil quickly sent me completely psycho, then followed 8 years on effexor, helping me recover from the paxil....

 

Then the zoloft, recovering from the Effexor.............. all the time thinking I was well, it it all did way fry my brain.  

 

Difficult, but grateful, getting my old personality back, horrible the person i was while on all this crap.  Ten years of hell.....      

1992 Dothiepin 375mg 8 weeks, exhaustion/depression.  Serotonin syndrome, oh yes!  seizures . Fell pregnant, 3rd baby, Nitrous Oxide, 3 weeks mental hospital pp psychosis. zoloft tegretol.

Feb 1996 ct tegretol, tapered Zoloft 8 weeks. as (unexpectedly)  pregnant. Steven died after 3 days.(Zolft HLHS baby).  98 had run in with Paxil, 2 tablets, 3 weeks taper, survived.
2005..menopause? exhausted again. Zyprexa, mad in three days, fallout....  Seroquel, Effexor, tegretol,   and 8 years of self destruction. Failed taper.
Damn 1/4 valium... nuts again! .fallout, zoloft 100mg  seroquol 400mg mirtazapine 45 mg  tegretol 400mg.  Mid 14 3 month taper. Nov 14 CRASH.
Mid 15 ....   75mg  seroquel,  3 x 1800mg SJW  2 week window end of December followed by 6 week wave
5/2 68mg seroquel, 2.5 x 1800mg SJW::::20/2 61mg seroquel, 2.5 x  SJW::: 26/2 54mg seroquel, 2 x SJW::::21/3 43mg seroquel, 1 x 2700SJW :::: 23/4 36mg seroquel 1 x 1800 SJW
15/5 33mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::   28/5 30mg seroquel, 1 x SJW::::;  18/6 25mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::::, 11/7 21mg seroquel 1/2 SJW::, 26/7 18mg seroquel 1/2 SJW:::, 9/8 12mg seroquel :::, 16/8 6mg seroquel ;;;;, 12/9 0 jump.

23/9  3mg.....,  27/9 0mg.  Reinstated, 6mg, then 12mg.............  LIGHTBULB MOMENT,  I have  MTHFR 2x mutations.  CFS and issues with MOULD in my home. So I left home, and working 150km away during week, loving it.

Oh was hard, panic attacks first week, gone now, along with the mould issues.

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Hi, Today is my 10th day weaning off Aropax from 20mg to 10mg and doing really well.

I only had very few head zaps and a little nausea on the 4th and 5th day. Head zaps have gone and I only have a little nausea and my mood is fantastic. Fingers crossed all stays well.

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  • 1 month later...

Your story gives me hope and something to look forward to. I will be attempting my 3rd withdrawal from Aropax (Paxil) later this year once I come back from a cruise with friends.

Thank you so much for sharing and it is nice to know that someone has successfully rid themselves of this drug. Well done to you !!!!

7 years on Zoloft ranging from 50mgs - 200mgs then  onto 20mgs of Aropax/Paxil for the past 9 years

2 unsuccessful attempts to withdraw from Aropax :(

3rd attempt is GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL as I am now more informed and aware  ;):DB)

 

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How are you doing lately, Maplegirl? Also wonder if you felt any setbacks when you completely off the Paxil?

Drug free Sep. 23 2017

2009 Mar.: lexapro 10mg for headache for 2 weeks.

2009-2012: on and off 1/4 to 1/3 of 10mg

2012 June--2013 Jan,: 1/4-1/3 of 10mg generic, bad jaw pain

2013 Jan-Mar: 10 mg generic. severe jaw and head pain;

2013 Mar--Aug. started tapering (liquid ever since) from 10 to 5 (one step) then gradually down to 2.25 mg by July. first ever panic attack, severe head/jaw pain

2013 Aug.: back to 2.75 mg; Nov: back to Brand Lex. 2.75mg -- 3mg,

2014 June: stopped PPI, head pressure/numbness. up-dosed 4.5mg, severe reaction mental symptoms added on

2014 Aug--2015 Aug: Micro taper down to 3.2mg, .025mg (<1%) cut holding 2-3 weeks.

2015 Aug 15th, Accidental one dose of 4.2mg. worsening brain non-functional, swollen head, body, coma like, DR

2016 Feb., started dosing 10am through 11 pm everyday 2/13--3.2mg, 3/15-- 2.9mg, 4/19-- 2.6mg, 6/26--2.2mg, 7/22 --1.9mg, 8/16--1.8mg,8/31--1.7m g, 9/13--1.6mg, 9/27--1.5mg, 10/8--1.4mg, 10/14--1.3mg, 11/1--1.2mg, 11/29--1.1mg, 12/12--1mg, 12/22--0.9mg

2017: 1/7--0.8mg, 1/15--0.7mg, 1/17--0.6mg, 1/20--0.52, 1/21--0.4mg, 1/22--0.26, 1/23--0.2, 2/13--0.13mg, 2/20--0.06mg, 3/18--0.13mg, 6/1--0.12mg, 7/6--0.1mg, 7/14--0.08mg, 8/17--0.04mg, 8/20--0.03mg, 8/28--0.02mg, 9/6--0.0205mg, 9/8--0.02mg, 9/17--0.015mg, 9/20--0.01mg, 9/21--0.0048mg, 9/22--0.0001mg,

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  • 4 weeks later...

Hi Maplegirl!  I'm very happy to find your success story!  Is it all still going well for you?  I am just about 5 weeks off Paxil.  I started tapering in November 2014 and took my last dose on March 22, 2015.  After reading this site and your post, I know that what I thought was a slow taper was actually very, very fast.  However, the WD was manageable until 3 weeks Paxil free.  I guess that I should probably go back on some dose of Paxil, but I am hesitant for two reasons:  First, I feel like a failure going backwards and secondly, I don't know how much Paxil to start back on.  I was on 60 mg for about 15 years.  My last dosage was 10 mg. Then I went to 0 in just a couple weeks time because I was excited to be off of it.  Do you or anyone else have ideas for me?  If I don't got back on Paxil now, am I going to wind up where you were at 11 months off?

 

I hope you still read this site.  Thanks for any help that you can give me.

Started antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds in 1990 after complete mental breakdown; don't remember exactly what.

Most recent med combo was Paxil, Wellbutrin and Buspar started sometime between 1995 and 2000. 

Continued on these meds with the addition of Klonapin in 2004.  Maxed out all doses except Klonapin.

Due to Paxil poop-out, started a slow taper in November 2014. 

Paxil free since March 22, 2015.  Major withdrawal symptoms with a large spike at 4 weeks Paxil free. 

Started taper of Wellbutrin 2 days ago.  Severe anxiety.

Current dosages:  Wellbutrin SR 300 mg (down from 400 mg,) Buspar 60 mg/day and Klonapin .12-.5 mg/night

Also currently taking Lotrel for high blood pressure related to kidney disease, Synthroid .075 mg and Aspirin 82 mg

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

I am ALMOST at 1 year off..another 2 weeks and i will be there:) i am doing well...fatigue and sleep are still my main issues..but i can live with those...other that that things are fine:)

Michele aka MapleLeafGirl

Paxil Free Since June 1st 2014

Was on Paxil for 8.5 years on and off from 2001

Did a 4 year successful taper off 20mgs of Paxil

My Successful Tapering Story: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/7812-mapleleafgirl-successfully-tapered-off-paxil/

Tapering Schedule:

3rd attempt at withdrawal going slow..compounded pills
05/27/2010 - 03/12/12: Tapered From 20mgs - 6.2 (2nd year into Taper)
04/11/2012 - 6.0 - 3.4 - 05/05/2013 (Third year into Taper)
06/04/2013 - 3.2 - 1.0 - 05/31/2014 (Fouth and Final Year of Taper)

February 9th 2016 month 20 off paxil and four year taper..experiencing a horrible wave bad bad bad

May 2016 Made the decision to go back on an SSRI  - Currently on Escitalopram 10mgs but planning to taper at some point in the near future

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Congratulations.

Appreciate the update ..you are a legend!...an all American Canadian hero !

Thought for the day: Lets stand up, and let’s speak out , together. G Olsen

We have until the 14th. Feb 2018. 

URGENT REQUEST Please consider submitting  for the petition on Prescribed Drug Dependence and Withdrawal currently awaiting its third consideration at the Scottish Parliament. You don't even have to be from Scotland. By clicking on the link below you can read some of the previous submissions but be warned many of them are quite harrowing.

http://www.parliament.scot/GettingInvolved/Petitions/PE01651   

Please tell them about your problems taking and withdrawing from antidepressants and/or benzos.

Send by email to petitions@parliament.scot and quote PE01651 in the subject heading. Keep to a maximum of 3 sides of A4 and you can't name for legal reasons any doctor you have consulted. Tell them if you wish to remain anonymous. We need the numbers to help convince the committee members we are not isolated cases. You have until mid February. Thank you

Recovering paxil addict

None of the published articles shed light on what ssri's ... actually do or what their hazards might be. Healy 2013. 

This is so true, with anything you get on these drugs, dependance, tapering, withdrawal symptoms, side effects, just silent. And if there is something mentioned then their is a serious disconnect between what is said and reality! 

  "Every time I read of a multi-person shooting, I always presume that person had just started a SSRI or had just stopped."  Dr Mosher. Me too! 

Over two decades later, the number of antidepressant prescriptions a year is slightly more than the number of people in the Western world. Most (nine out of 10) prescriptions are for patients who faced difficulties on stopping, equating to about a tenth of the population. These patients are often advised to continue treatment because their difficulties indicate they need ongoing treatment, just as a person with diabetes needs insulin. Healy 2015

I believe the ssri era will soon stand as one of the most shameful in the history of medicine. Healy 2015

Let people help people ... in a natural, kind, non-addictive (and non-big pharma) way. J Broadley 2017

 

 

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  • 1 month later...

Hi Mapleleafgirl. Thank you so much for writing your success story. It definitely gives me hope. I've been on paxil for 20 years and hope i will succeed in my taper. Right now I'm trying to stabilize on paxil 7.5mg. I was on 20 mg, but switched over to liquid prozac, hoping the taper would be easier on this. Unfortunately, the switch didn't work. I took this for 5 weeks, but stopped and went back to liquid paxil, but at 7.5mg. I was afraid to go any higher since it is recommended to reinstate at much lower dose. It's been 4 weeks now reinstating the paxil...my anxiety is starting to lift, but i still get burning and tingling in my chest and arms that tends to come and go all day long. Did you get any of this when you reinstated?

Also, did you have weight gain on paxil? I gained about 15 to 20 pounds. Did you have any weight lose during your tapering down? Or did the weight come off once you were completely off paxil?

 

I'm so happy for you that you succeeded in getting off Paxil!!! You must feel so proud! I'm certainly proud of you!

 

Ladybug99

ADs for approx 20 yrs.

Klonopin .05mg 2009-2013 Last dose Aug 2013

APRIL 21, 2015: switched from Paxil cr 25mg (equiv to 20. mg regular paxil) to liquid Prozac 20 mg. Took prozac for 5 weeks. Didn't work.

MAY 21. 2015: switched back to Paxil - liquid 5mg for 1 week. Then upped to 7.5. Waiting to stabilize at this.

Tapered off prozac in 2 weeks.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Your post gives me such hope. I am on 50mg of paroxetine. Yes I know its crazy and had i been informed I would not have gone this high. I started on 25 after my melanoma diagnosis in 2012. The continued stress was taking its toll and my dr upped me to 37.5 and then 50mg. I was able to come down to 25mg on my own 2 years ago. I felt ok at first but then it all came back in a tidal wave of terrible withdrawl. Went back to 50mg. I now know that this dosage will take a very long time to taper from. I am glad to see that capsules can be compounded as it seems mistakes could easiuly be made on the liquids later on. I am searghing for a new dr in my area. My current dr is only interested in me either being on this dosage or going cold turkey. She has lost her mind!!! :huh:

If anyone if in the Houston, TX area I would love some info on a dr that is helpful. Thanks!!!

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  • 1 month later...

Hi Amy!

 

I just noticed that you said you were in the Houston area. I am currently tapering from paroxetine and live in Katy! I have a great internal medicine doctor here that is helping me taper at my pace (3-4 years). Let me know if you would like her info! Best of luck to you! Go slow!!

*2000: Started Paxil CR 20 mcg at age 13

*Fall 2009: Came off Paxil CR 20 mcg cold-turkey

*Summer 2012: Reinstated Paxil CR 20 mcg

*April 2015: Started taper from 20mcg

*August 2015: Currently on 16mcg

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  • 3 months later...

Hey when you say compound, do you mean they crushed up the pills and weighted them out for you? Or did they specifically make thsee pills for you by adding in raw powder?

Feb 2012 Paxil 20mg.

Early March 2012- C/T paxil. Late March - Started Lexapro 10mg, Klonopin 0.5 x 3

February 2013 -Switched to Celexa 20 mg, Valium 10mg x 3

July 2014- Forced c/t off valium by Doc. Switched back to paxil.

March 20, 2015 - first 3.33% dose cut from 15mg to 14.5mg

April 1, 2015 - second cut down from 14.5mg to 14.2mg.

April 7, 2015 - third cut down from 14.2mg to 14.0mg

May, 2015 switched to manufacturered liquid paxil. Bad reaction.

Early June-Went down to 13.8

June to September- trying multiple methods.

October 2015- second attempt at compound. New pharmacy. Still feels like doses are all over the place.Symptoms are getting worse weekly/daily.

November 2016- started tapering again due to alcohol binge making 13.8 feel to strong, but it feels as if aNY cut even 0.1mg throws me into horrible withdrawal.

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  • 3 months later...

Hi there,

 

Its MapleLeafGirl...

 

i did a four year taper off paxil...then for the last 20 months was doing ok..until  now...all of a sudden i have anxiety...head pressure, vision issues, no appetite, cant sleep which i had issues in the last two years, and i went to the eye doctor and they said my vision was fine...i am freaking out..i have no idea why now after such a slow taper this would happen..any insight would be great.thanks so much.

 

michele

Michele aka MapleLeafGirl

Paxil Free Since June 1st 2014

Was on Paxil for 8.5 years on and off from 2001

Did a 4 year successful taper off 20mgs of Paxil

My Successful Tapering Story: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/7812-mapleleafgirl-successfully-tapered-off-paxil/

Tapering Schedule:

3rd attempt at withdrawal going slow..compounded pills
05/27/2010 - 03/12/12: Tapered From 20mgs - 6.2 (2nd year into Taper)
04/11/2012 - 6.0 - 3.4 - 05/05/2013 (Third year into Taper)
06/04/2013 - 3.2 - 1.0 - 05/31/2014 (Fouth and Final Year of Taper)

February 9th 2016 month 20 off paxil and four year taper..experiencing a horrible wave bad bad bad

May 2016 Made the decision to go back on an SSRI  - Currently on Escitalopram 10mgs but planning to taper at some point in the near future

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi, Michele.

 

I've read your success story and have been inspired by it so I'm saddened to hear that you are having a struggle at this point.  How long has this been going on?  Is there anything you can attribute it to?

 

I will say that I've seen others who have had a wave at 1-2 (or even more) time off the meds and that the waves have been very short-lived and manageable (at least in all the cases I can recall). 

 

What are you doing for yourself at this point?

 

Try to relax and not freak. It is most likely something that will go as quickly as it came and you will be back to yourself in short order.

 

Best,

 

Andy

 

Sertraline 50mg and Clonazapam .375mg from 2000 -- symptoms of dizziness Spring 2012

increased to .5 Clonazapam and 100mg Sertraline -- no improvement

Benzo microtaper from November 2012 to November 2014 (followed benzo sites "taper benzo first")

Started Sertraline taper in December 2014 cut by 25mg to 75mg; 62.5mg 1/1/15 and 50mg on 2/1/15

Held at 50mg through April 5 to use liquid 
Reduced dosage in 10% or less drops from 50mg to 25mg -- at single tablet of 25mg on 10/5/15

Transitioned to all liquid for accuracy while tapering -- Horrible insomnia -- back to 25mg liquid and held until October 1, 2016

10/16 -- 11/18 tapered very slowly to 10.6mg.  No real improvement and never really stable so updosed to 12.5mg (1/2 a pill) for convenience and long hold.

After 8+ months of holding with no noticeable improvement decided to add .4ml of liquid Prozac (about 1.5mg) to see if that improves the situation

Supplements, Magnesium, D3, Omega 3, curcumin, Valerian, 81mg Aspirin, L-Theanine, Vit. C,

 

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Its been going on now for about 16 days......its making me totally stressed out more...i can sleep..eat...work..

Michele aka MapleLeafGirl

Paxil Free Since June 1st 2014

Was on Paxil for 8.5 years on and off from 2001

Did a 4 year successful taper off 20mgs of Paxil

My Successful Tapering Story: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/7812-mapleleafgirl-successfully-tapered-off-paxil/

Tapering Schedule:

3rd attempt at withdrawal going slow..compounded pills
05/27/2010 - 03/12/12: Tapered From 20mgs - 6.2 (2nd year into Taper)
04/11/2012 - 6.0 - 3.4 - 05/05/2013 (Third year into Taper)
06/04/2013 - 3.2 - 1.0 - 05/31/2014 (Fouth and Final Year of Taper)

February 9th 2016 month 20 off paxil and four year taper..experiencing a horrible wave bad bad bad

May 2016 Made the decision to go back on an SSRI  - Currently on Escitalopram 10mgs but planning to taper at some point in the near future

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Have you taken anything or done anything unusual recently. I had a similar thing happen with a particular brand of antibiotics last year.

March 2003 took two sartroline tablets after a traumatic incident and had a reaction so stopped.  I am not sure now whether what I had for the next 18 months was WD after the reaction or the emotional fallout from the traumatic event.  Some of it was very similar to WD in hindsight.  

 

February 2014 - Took five pristiq (50mg) tablets and three Ativan and had a severe reaction.
Extreme withdrawal symptoms for three weeks compounded by visit to naturopath -

One week later took 900mg St John's Wort x 3 daily for six weeks - more negative effects and suspected serotonin syndrome - before tapering over three weeks. Last tablet late May 2014.

Waves and windows cycle of recovery with longer windows and manageable waves.

May 2015 - already in a mild wave, following a usual pattern, I took clarithromicin and amoxicillin for two weeks for a sinus infection which I also seem to have had quite a reaction to.

 

February 2016 - Feeling much better.  I still have waves and windows but they are manageable.  I'm largely enjoying life again.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

...i can sleep..eat...work..

 

Can or can't, Michele?

 

Was there anything that took place at that point?  Any new meds you took or any other illnesses?  A particularly stressful series of events?

 

Or, was it purely out of the blue? 

 

Are these the same symptoms you had before?  (Sorry, I haven't had a chance to read through your thread.)

 

Best,

 

Andy

Sertraline 50mg and Clonazapam .375mg from 2000 -- symptoms of dizziness Spring 2012

increased to .5 Clonazapam and 100mg Sertraline -- no improvement

Benzo microtaper from November 2012 to November 2014 (followed benzo sites "taper benzo first")

Started Sertraline taper in December 2014 cut by 25mg to 75mg; 62.5mg 1/1/15 and 50mg on 2/1/15

Held at 50mg through April 5 to use liquid 
Reduced dosage in 10% or less drops from 50mg to 25mg -- at single tablet of 25mg on 10/5/15

Transitioned to all liquid for accuracy while tapering -- Horrible insomnia -- back to 25mg liquid and held until October 1, 2016

10/16 -- 11/18 tapered very slowly to 10.6mg.  No real improvement and never really stable so updosed to 12.5mg (1/2 a pill) for convenience and long hold.

After 8+ months of holding with no noticeable improvement decided to add .4ml of liquid Prozac (about 1.5mg) to see if that improves the situation

Supplements, Magnesium, D3, Omega 3, curcumin, Valerian, 81mg Aspirin, L-Theanine, Vit. C,

 

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no i have not taken any meds or anything..it just came out of the blue...and i have had these before...worse..these are not like before...but its enough to freak me out..that is why i spent 4 years tapering so slow...

Michele aka MapleLeafGirl

Paxil Free Since June 1st 2014

Was on Paxil for 8.5 years on and off from 2001

Did a 4 year successful taper off 20mgs of Paxil

My Successful Tapering Story: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/7812-mapleleafgirl-successfully-tapered-off-paxil/

Tapering Schedule:

3rd attempt at withdrawal going slow..compounded pills
05/27/2010 - 03/12/12: Tapered From 20mgs - 6.2 (2nd year into Taper)
04/11/2012 - 6.0 - 3.4 - 05/05/2013 (Third year into Taper)
06/04/2013 - 3.2 - 1.0 - 05/31/2014 (Fouth and Final Year of Taper)

February 9th 2016 month 20 off paxil and four year taper..experiencing a horrible wave bad bad bad

May 2016 Made the decision to go back on an SSRI  - Currently on Escitalopram 10mgs but planning to taper at some point in the near future

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Hi Michele,

I read your recovery story and I'm so sorry that you're feeling bad : (

I know a girl that had a bad wave after a long recovery, and it passed !!!

So you will get better !!!!!!!

Courage !

- 2002 -> 2012 Paxil, 20 mg for anxiety

- January 2012 : 1 month withdrawal -> depression, burning sensations in my legs

- February 2012 : reinstate 20 mg -> back to normal

- January 2014 -> August 2015 : « alternate days » tapering from 20mg to 2,5 mg -> anxiety, back pain and trouble focusing

- 4 september 2015 -> panic attack, psychiatric hospital for 1 week, stop Paxil, get Clomipramine, Abilify, Domperidone for 2 weeks, then stop everything

- 20 september 2015 try to reinstate Paxil 20 mg -> permanent tinnitus with only one tablet

- Free from paxil since september 2015 ->suffering from permanent side effects : tinnitus, hyperacusis, neuropathic pain, prostatitis, depression, suicidal ideations, akathisia.

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  • Moderator

Hi MLG-- I'm so sorry you're having this trouble, totally unfair. 

 

The post taper area is hard to get information on as everyone tends to disappear.  From what I have been able to glen it appears that there are several times, post taper, that getting hit by a wave often happens.  The most common is the 10 month wave. Following that there appears to be another that tends to show up in the 18-20 month range.  Then for some reason again about the 3 year mark.  They tend to catch people unawares and have no discernable trigger.   As scary as they are, they're just the same old waves we know and loth. Rest assured you're not having a relapse, it's just the drugs up to their sneaky ways.  Best thing to do would be to dust off the old AAF and roll with it the best you can.  Things should be looking a lot better in a few weeks.

 

(((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))

20 years on Paxil starting at 20mg and working up to 40mg. Sept 2011 started 10% every 6 weeks taper (2.5% every week for 4 weeks then hold for 2 additional weeks), currently at 7.9mg. Oct 2011 CTed 15oz vodka a night, to only drinking 2 beers most nights, totally sober Feb 2013.

Since I wrote this I have continued to decrease my dose by 10% every 6 weeks (2.5% every week for 4 weeks and then hold for an additional 2 weeks). I added in an extra 6 week hold when I hit 10mg to let things settle out even more. When I hit 3mgpw it became hard to split the drop into 4 parts so I switched to dropping 1mgpw (pill weight) every week for 3 weeks and then holding for another 3 weeks.  The 3 + 3 schedule turned out to be too harsh so I cut back to dropping 1mgpw every 4 weeks which is working better.

Final Dose 0.016mg.     Current dose 0.000mg 04-15-2017

 

"It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can loose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general."  Stephen Hawking

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Michele,

 

As usual, Tom has said what I wanted to say only better.

 

This wave will pass.  Just try to stay calm and do all of the self-compassionate, self-caring things you did when you were going through this nonsense the first time.

 

You will be okay.  Just try to relax.  Magnesium and fish oil if you haven't been taking them.

 

Best,

 

Andy

Sertraline 50mg and Clonazapam .375mg from 2000 -- symptoms of dizziness Spring 2012

increased to .5 Clonazapam and 100mg Sertraline -- no improvement

Benzo microtaper from November 2012 to November 2014 (followed benzo sites "taper benzo first")

Started Sertraline taper in December 2014 cut by 25mg to 75mg; 62.5mg 1/1/15 and 50mg on 2/1/15

Held at 50mg through April 5 to use liquid 
Reduced dosage in 10% or less drops from 50mg to 25mg -- at single tablet of 25mg on 10/5/15

Transitioned to all liquid for accuracy while tapering -- Horrible insomnia -- back to 25mg liquid and held until October 1, 2016

10/16 -- 11/18 tapered very slowly to 10.6mg.  No real improvement and never really stable so updosed to 12.5mg (1/2 a pill) for convenience and long hold.

After 8+ months of holding with no noticeable improvement decided to add .4ml of liquid Prozac (about 1.5mg) to see if that improves the situation

Supplements, Magnesium, D3, Omega 3, curcumin, Valerian, 81mg Aspirin, L-Theanine, Vit. C,

 

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Tom..i almost started crying to see you responded to me....brought me back to the old days:) i am trying to hang in there...its just crazy..that after this long time it would happen..for me it causes PTSD..you know the awful withdrawal i went through years ago before i started my slow taper...so that is my first trigger..and i just think OMG..its going to last forever.....Thanks Andy as well..i have been taking Magnesium for about three years now...fish oil i dont do well with..makes me feel off..so i stay away from that...

 

oh and the muscle jerks are back too...i have not had those in years...i am getting them again in my throat...chest...legs fingers...those dont freak me out...because i had them so much before....

Michele aka MapleLeafGirl

Paxil Free Since June 1st 2014

Was on Paxil for 8.5 years on and off from 2001

Did a 4 year successful taper off 20mgs of Paxil

My Successful Tapering Story: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/7812-mapleleafgirl-successfully-tapered-off-paxil/

Tapering Schedule:

3rd attempt at withdrawal going slow..compounded pills
05/27/2010 - 03/12/12: Tapered From 20mgs - 6.2 (2nd year into Taper)
04/11/2012 - 6.0 - 3.4 - 05/05/2013 (Third year into Taper)
06/04/2013 - 3.2 - 1.0 - 05/31/2014 (Fouth and Final Year of Taper)

February 9th 2016 month 20 off paxil and four year taper..experiencing a horrible wave bad bad bad

May 2016 Made the decision to go back on an SSRI  - Currently on Escitalopram 10mgs but planning to taper at some point in the near future

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Hang in there...this too shall pass.

Paxil 20mg from 1998-2011 

Paxil 40mg from 2011-2012 while experiencing poopout

October 2013 quit cold turkey

Oct-mid Nov 2013 great window

Late November WD nightmare 

Windows and waves pattern 

Now: 28 months cold turkey...doing decent learning to deal with the windows/waves pattern fighting it every step of the way. 

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So sorry to hear this Mapleleafgirl. I was wondering how you were doing. I'm sure you will just float through this. I imagine it is just a little more re-wiring going on leading to even better days. Hang in there.

Paxil start September 2003 due to Fluoroquinolone adverse reaction that I wish doc. knew what it was. 10mg. most of the time with a few short runs of 20mg. FAST tapered 3 times and finally hit poop out or a reaction to nsaid's in Nov.2013. Started a 10% taper Jan. 2014 and have been ok until Sept 14 and went through a short hell. Now plodding through and looking for the light with unrelenting insomnia and pain, fog, loss of interests....<p>12/20/14 - .8mg.

1/01/15 - .75 mg.

1/15/15 - .42 mg. better sleep now, hope it continues...

2/11-15 - .25 mg. doing really good!! 2 weeks feel 85% of old me!

3/17/15 .14 mg. Knee pain bad!

4/07/15 .05 mg. this is so small now that I am estimating and just licking it off palm small as a "." 

4/13/15 NOTHING !!!! Took my last little micro dose on 4/12/15. 

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MLG, hang on...you're going to be just fine. You'll get through this wave and probably quickly. Like Brassmonkey said, most likely in a few weeks. Who knows, maybe in one week!

 

I sent you another email. It has my number, so please call me anytime. I'm here for you!

 

YOU'RE GOING TO BE OK! THIS WILL PASS.

 

HUGS,

Ladybug99

ADs for approx 20 yrs.

Klonopin .05mg 2009-2013 Last dose Aug 2013

APRIL 21, 2015: switched from Paxil cr 25mg (equiv to 20. mg regular paxil) to liquid Prozac 20 mg. Took prozac for 5 weeks. Didn't work.

MAY 21. 2015: switched back to Paxil - liquid 5mg for 1 week. Then upped to 7.5. Waiting to stabilize at this.

Tapered off prozac in 2 weeks.

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The post taper area is hard to get information on as everyone tends to disappear. 

!!!!!!!!!!!!  kk kkhmm !!!!

 

Don't do this to me, MLG.

 

Like Andy I'm saddened to hear of this setback.

I have followed your story with interest because your drug history was very similar to mine.

I'm sure this will pass.

Let's not forget in spite of a world leading taper, 20 months drug free could be considered early days. (Healy2-4 remember).

 

As Brass says go with the AAF.

 

Are you exercising?

Hang in there.

 

Can you confirm if you're saying you can sleep or can't sleep.

If you are saying you 'can't' sleep, then uncannily ignoring taper methods this happened to me at about the same time. I've had it for two years now and it's ongoing I'm hoping it will resolve in the next few years.

If you are saying you 'can' sleep then that is wonderful.

 

Have you had to make any decisions recently or had any situational stresses. Even trivial ones

Remember we have an impaired CNS,  the emotional veneer has been left very thin in (heaps of ) places we have a lowered stress tolerance. So even minor things can set it off.

Like you I have also felt there was something wrong with my eyes and have had them checked out and like you everything came back okay.

 

nz11

Thought for the day: Lets stand up, and let’s speak out , together. G Olsen

We have until the 14th. Feb 2018. 

URGENT REQUEST Please consider submitting  for the petition on Prescribed Drug Dependence and Withdrawal currently awaiting its third consideration at the Scottish Parliament. You don't even have to be from Scotland. By clicking on the link below you can read some of the previous submissions but be warned many of them are quite harrowing.

http://www.parliament.scot/GettingInvolved/Petitions/PE01651   

Please tell them about your problems taking and withdrawing from antidepressants and/or benzos.

Send by email to petitions@parliament.scot and quote PE01651 in the subject heading. Keep to a maximum of 3 sides of A4 and you can't name for legal reasons any doctor you have consulted. Tell them if you wish to remain anonymous. We need the numbers to help convince the committee members we are not isolated cases. You have until mid February. Thank you

Recovering paxil addict

None of the published articles shed light on what ssri's ... actually do or what their hazards might be. Healy 2013. 

This is so true, with anything you get on these drugs, dependance, tapering, withdrawal symptoms, side effects, just silent. And if there is something mentioned then their is a serious disconnect between what is said and reality! 

  "Every time I read of a multi-person shooting, I always presume that person had just started a SSRI or had just stopped."  Dr Mosher. Me too! 

Over two decades later, the number of antidepressant prescriptions a year is slightly more than the number of people in the Western world. Most (nine out of 10) prescriptions are for patients who faced difficulties on stopping, equating to about a tenth of the population. These patients are often advised to continue treatment because their difficulties indicate they need ongoing treatment, just as a person with diabetes needs insulin. Healy 2015

I believe the ssri era will soon stand as one of the most shameful in the history of medicine. Healy 2015

Let people help people ... in a natural, kind, non-addictive (and non-big pharma) way. J Broadley 2017

 

 

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Hello from the other Ladybug! LOL.

 

Don't know if you remember me from PP, but I remember you quite well and I'm very sorry to hear about this recent wave. It's astonishing to think it can happen almost 2 years out even though you did a very slow and sensible taper. I agree with everyone else who says this is just a blip in your recovery and I'm sure it will pass. I'm in a wave myself and interestingly enough am experiencing many of the same symptoms as you are with the headaches, visual disturbances (I've been thinking of seeing an eye doctor about it), muscle jerks and sleep issues. Seems odd given that we are in such different places in our journey. Looking at the bright side, at least you are off so this is likely one of the last waves you will ever have to experience and when it's over you might be in an even better place then you were before. Stay strong, everything's going to be ok. Hugs.

a.k.a JMarie

Paxil since Mar.1998

2006-2007:40-20mg
2009: 20mg to 14mg 2010: 14mg to 10.5mg 2011: 10.5 to 7.6mg  2012: 7.5 to 6.8mg

2013: 6.7-6.3mg 2014: 6.2mg-5.8mg 2015: 5.7 to 5.15mg 2016: 5.1-4.6mg

1/19/17: 4.5mg 3/17/17: 4.4mg

6/15/17: 4.35mg 8/10/17: 4.3mg

1/29/18: 4.1mg 5/07/18: 4.0mg

7/31/18: 3.9mg

 

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HI NZ11 and Ladybugs:)

 

I have not slept in 20 months like a normal person...i have the half conscious sleep...or sleep for a couple of hours here and there, it was fine before i could live with it..but now with this stuff going on.. i dread it...i am hoping this will pass soon, its coming up to 17 days now...all this just brings me back to that BAD TIME years ago..when i tapered too fast and was in that horrible place...that was the most frightening time of my life...that is why when i went back on for a couple of years then did that slow taper i did it that way to try to avoid this stuff...granted..this is my FIRST major thing in 20 months..but to me it seems magnified...because of the head stuff..and restlessness...anxiety....low mood....eye stuff.....i go for a walk everyday..that is the one thing that gives me relief for a little bit....but i am having a hard time working..that is setting me back  as  a graphic designer with my own business...its hard to focus on the computer ect.....

 

i have the icky clammy hands and feet but those seem to go away when i try to relax a bit

Michele aka MapleLeafGirl

Paxil Free Since June 1st 2014

Was on Paxil for 8.5 years on and off from 2001

Did a 4 year successful taper off 20mgs of Paxil

My Successful Tapering Story: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/7812-mapleleafgirl-successfully-tapered-off-paxil/

Tapering Schedule:

3rd attempt at withdrawal going slow..compounded pills
05/27/2010 - 03/12/12: Tapered From 20mgs - 6.2 (2nd year into Taper)
04/11/2012 - 6.0 - 3.4 - 05/05/2013 (Third year into Taper)
06/04/2013 - 3.2 - 1.0 - 05/31/2014 (Fouth and Final Year of Taper)

February 9th 2016 month 20 off paxil and four year taper..experiencing a horrible wave bad bad bad

May 2016 Made the decision to go back on an SSRI  - Currently on Escitalopram 10mgs but planning to taper at some point in the near future

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Hey MLG you've triggered a pp reunion!!

 

Well you are holding down a job even your own business ..that's outstanding!

Dont forget to take your lunch breaks and none of this accumulating your annual leave for years on end.

Hope this sorts itself out real soon!

 

nz11

ok Brass i confess i don't have a social life!! lol.

Thought for the day: Lets stand up, and let’s speak out , together. G Olsen

We have until the 14th. Feb 2018. 

URGENT REQUEST Please consider submitting  for the petition on Prescribed Drug Dependence and Withdrawal currently awaiting its third consideration at the Scottish Parliament. You don't even have to be from Scotland. By clicking on the link below you can read some of the previous submissions but be warned many of them are quite harrowing.

http://www.parliament.scot/GettingInvolved/Petitions/PE01651   

Please tell them about your problems taking and withdrawing from antidepressants and/or benzos.

Send by email to petitions@parliament.scot and quote PE01651 in the subject heading. Keep to a maximum of 3 sides of A4 and you can't name for legal reasons any doctor you have consulted. Tell them if you wish to remain anonymous. We need the numbers to help convince the committee members we are not isolated cases. You have until mid February. Thank you

Recovering paxil addict

None of the published articles shed light on what ssri's ... actually do or what their hazards might be. Healy 2013. 

This is so true, with anything you get on these drugs, dependance, tapering, withdrawal symptoms, side effects, just silent. And if there is something mentioned then their is a serious disconnect between what is said and reality! 

  "Every time I read of a multi-person shooting, I always presume that person had just started a SSRI or had just stopped."  Dr Mosher. Me too! 

Over two decades later, the number of antidepressant prescriptions a year is slightly more than the number of people in the Western world. Most (nine out of 10) prescriptions are for patients who faced difficulties on stopping, equating to about a tenth of the population. These patients are often advised to continue treatment because their difficulties indicate they need ongoing treatment, just as a person with diabetes needs insulin. Healy 2015

I believe the ssri era will soon stand as one of the most shameful in the history of medicine. Healy 2015

Let people help people ... in a natural, kind, non-addictive (and non-big pharma) way. J Broadley 2017

 

 

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what is AAF? ..i just hope this ends soon...i have zero appetite..and have lost some weight..another fear of mine...ugh..you would think after a super slow taper...the stuff would be minimal....i had hoped i was healing already..i just hope this is not withdrawal again...

Michele aka MapleLeafGirl

Paxil Free Since June 1st 2014

Was on Paxil for 8.5 years on and off from 2001

Did a 4 year successful taper off 20mgs of Paxil

My Successful Tapering Story: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/7812-mapleleafgirl-successfully-tapered-off-paxil/

Tapering Schedule:

3rd attempt at withdrawal going slow..compounded pills
05/27/2010 - 03/12/12: Tapered From 20mgs - 6.2 (2nd year into Taper)
04/11/2012 - 6.0 - 3.4 - 05/05/2013 (Third year into Taper)
06/04/2013 - 3.2 - 1.0 - 05/31/2014 (Fouth and Final Year of Taper)

February 9th 2016 month 20 off paxil and four year taper..experiencing a horrible wave bad bad bad

May 2016 Made the decision to go back on an SSRI  - Currently on Escitalopram 10mgs but planning to taper at some point in the near future

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Well you can have some of mine cos i cant seem to lose any!

You might like to read this

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/10964-the-dr-claire-weekes-method-of-recovering-from-a-sensitized-nervous-system/

Thought for the day: Lets stand up, and let’s speak out , together. G Olsen

We have until the 14th. Feb 2018. 

URGENT REQUEST Please consider submitting  for the petition on Prescribed Drug Dependence and Withdrawal currently awaiting its third consideration at the Scottish Parliament. You don't even have to be from Scotland. By clicking on the link below you can read some of the previous submissions but be warned many of them are quite harrowing.

http://www.parliament.scot/GettingInvolved/Petitions/PE01651   

Please tell them about your problems taking and withdrawing from antidepressants and/or benzos.

Send by email to petitions@parliament.scot and quote PE01651 in the subject heading. Keep to a maximum of 3 sides of A4 and you can't name for legal reasons any doctor you have consulted. Tell them if you wish to remain anonymous. We need the numbers to help convince the committee members we are not isolated cases. You have until mid February. Thank you

Recovering paxil addict

None of the published articles shed light on what ssri's ... actually do or what their hazards might be. Healy 2013. 

This is so true, with anything you get on these drugs, dependance, tapering, withdrawal symptoms, side effects, just silent. And if there is something mentioned then their is a serious disconnect between what is said and reality! 

  "Every time I read of a multi-person shooting, I always presume that person had just started a SSRI or had just stopped."  Dr Mosher. Me too! 

Over two decades later, the number of antidepressant prescriptions a year is slightly more than the number of people in the Western world. Most (nine out of 10) prescriptions are for patients who faced difficulties on stopping, equating to about a tenth of the population. These patients are often advised to continue treatment because their difficulties indicate they need ongoing treatment, just as a person with diabetes needs insulin. Healy 2015

I believe the ssri era will soon stand as one of the most shameful in the history of medicine. Healy 2015

Let people help people ... in a natural, kind, non-addictive (and non-big pharma) way. J Broadley 2017

 

 

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what will the fish oil help with again? i take the magnesium already for three years...

Michele aka MapleLeafGirl

Paxil Free Since June 1st 2014

Was on Paxil for 8.5 years on and off from 2001

Did a 4 year successful taper off 20mgs of Paxil

My Successful Tapering Story: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/7812-mapleleafgirl-successfully-tapered-off-paxil/

Tapering Schedule:

3rd attempt at withdrawal going slow..compounded pills
05/27/2010 - 03/12/12: Tapered From 20mgs - 6.2 (2nd year into Taper)
04/11/2012 - 6.0 - 3.4 - 05/05/2013 (Third year into Taper)
06/04/2013 - 3.2 - 1.0 - 05/31/2014 (Fouth and Final Year of Taper)

February 9th 2016 month 20 off paxil and four year taper..experiencing a horrible wave bad bad bad

May 2016 Made the decision to go back on an SSRI  - Currently on Escitalopram 10mgs but planning to taper at some point in the near future

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Here you go MLG.

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/

 

It's generally been found useful as support for the CNS.

 

It has plenty of other healthy qualities, is anti-inflammatory and good for heart health.  The only reason NOT to take it in my view is if it is too activating for you.

 

Best,

 

Andy

Sertraline 50mg and Clonazapam .375mg from 2000 -- symptoms of dizziness Spring 2012

increased to .5 Clonazapam and 100mg Sertraline -- no improvement

Benzo microtaper from November 2012 to November 2014 (followed benzo sites "taper benzo first")

Started Sertraline taper in December 2014 cut by 25mg to 75mg; 62.5mg 1/1/15 and 50mg on 2/1/15

Held at 50mg through April 5 to use liquid 
Reduced dosage in 10% or less drops from 50mg to 25mg -- at single tablet of 25mg on 10/5/15

Transitioned to all liquid for accuracy while tapering -- Horrible insomnia -- back to 25mg liquid and held until October 1, 2016

10/16 -- 11/18 tapered very slowly to 10.6mg.  No real improvement and never really stable so updosed to 12.5mg (1/2 a pill) for convenience and long hold.

After 8+ months of holding with no noticeable improvement decided to add .4ml of liquid Prozac (about 1.5mg) to see if that improves the situation

Supplements, Magnesium, D3, Omega 3, curcumin, Valerian, 81mg Aspirin, L-Theanine, Vit. C,

 

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  • Moderator

Hi MLG-- We go back a long way don't we. I hope today is going better.

 

Fish oil during WD is primarily for cognitive stuff.  Many find it beneficial for brain fog, that's where it's helped me the most.  You mentioned it caused you trouble in the past so I would be very careful with it.

 

AAF: Acknowledge, Accept, Float.  I'm pretty sure you've done it before, we talked about it back at Prior Place.  Acknowledge the symptoms, study them, get to know them.  Accept that they are there, that thy are just symptoms and that they aren't going away until they're ready to.  Let the symptoms Float off as you go on about your life as best as possible.  I liken it to a bad house guest. At first you socialize with them, learn about them, discover why they drive you crazy.  Then you accept the fact that even though you don't like them they're aren't going anywhere.  Finally you just ignore them until they get bored and leave.

 

The muscle jerks are telling me that this is a recovery related wave.  It's taken a long time but your CNS has found a group of nerves that need to be reworked so they are misfiring while the adjustments take place.  It's all part of the healing process.  I had a nice bunch of them on my last drop, especially in my legs. Stretching and constantly moving them seems to help a bit, also keeping them warm.

 

Take time for yourself, maybe retreat from life a bit for a few weeks. Hopefully you don't have many hard deadlines to hit with the design work so you can try to let it flow instead of forcing it.

 

((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))

20 years on Paxil starting at 20mg and working up to 40mg. Sept 2011 started 10% every 6 weeks taper (2.5% every week for 4 weeks then hold for 2 additional weeks), currently at 7.9mg. Oct 2011 CTed 15oz vodka a night, to only drinking 2 beers most nights, totally sober Feb 2013.

Since I wrote this I have continued to decrease my dose by 10% every 6 weeks (2.5% every week for 4 weeks and then hold for an additional 2 weeks). I added in an extra 6 week hold when I hit 10mg to let things settle out even more. When I hit 3mgpw it became hard to split the drop into 4 parts so I switched to dropping 1mgpw (pill weight) every week for 3 weeks and then holding for another 3 weeks.  The 3 + 3 schedule turned out to be too harsh so I cut back to dropping 1mgpw every 4 weeks which is working better.

Final Dose 0.016mg.     Current dose 0.000mg 04-15-2017

 

"It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can loose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general."  Stephen Hawking

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