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Intro...... uh my intro


intro

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My apologies, I really couldn't think of a decent screen name.

 

Suffering from depression, anxiety and OCD (especially Pure - O) since adolescence but carried on regardless and still managed to study math at University. Probably didn't help as my extended family has a history of mental illness ranging from anxiety to schizophrenia and a couple of cases of (possibly) personality disorder. Almost amusing in a dark sort of way. I had also been molested when I was 4 years old which may have contributed to my OCD in later life.

 

Became a high school teacher, got hitched (to a lovely girl who studied psychology at Uni would you believe), had our first child, bought a house and then had a breakdown - which led to:

 

2/2006 - 5/2006 tricyclic antidepressant 

 

then

 

5/2006-6/2010 20mg Paxil
 
Which really helped apart from the first 2 weeks of suicidal ideation etc. Her ladyship couldn't believe I was the same person - from melancholic to easy going and funny. Also went from 170lbs - 210lbs. I almost fooled myself that that was all muscle.
Did have a tendency to take risks, especially while driving.
 
Had our second child whose name means Faith when translated as I needed a lot of this during my breakdown.

Got off paxil but became very aggressive for a few months followed by increased anxiety but managed to function until a near breakdown caused by either work related stress or a delayed withdrawal.

From 1/2013-9/2015 went back on Paxil.
 
Started functioning again but noticed that I was having episodes of mania. At least my students enjoyed it.
 
Started a new post which didn't quite work out. This coincided with Paxil not quite working. I concluded that I may be in withdrawal - waking up at night, insomnia heart racing etc. Left that post and may not go back into teaching which may be exacerbating my depression and anxiety. My blood sugar is a little bit on the high side which seems to be as a result of taking Paxil - I am fairly active and in decent overall shape which doesn't reflect this.  

Advised by my doc to go on sertraline after paxil taper ->10mg (currently) -> 5mg then start new meds but after reading some posts here, I am thinking of coming off completely.   
 
So far I can feel the withdrawal. Headaches, nausea and an extremely foul mood. Feel like I'm going to explode but have managed to keep it together. At least I'm doing well lifting weights and I find myself to be more assertive in a simmering kind of way. The punchbag probably doesn't like me much. My libido was not a problem on paxil but I am now finding that my eyes are starting to wonder - I hope my wife doesn't see this. In the meantime I try and meditate and keep up with my prayers which is a constant since my youth. I'm also into reading self help books (Stop Worrying by Dale Carnegie and others) and web articles about depression and anxiety.
 
I am in a fortunate position as I'm not working full time so I can go through this phase of withdrawal and to try and find a less stressful career. I intend to stay on 10mg for a while then try a very slow taper.
 

 

Intro

6/2006-6/2010 20mg Paxil
Got off until
1/2013-9/2015 20mg Paxil
Pooping out - what to do next
advised to go on sertraline after paxil taper ->10mg (currently) -> 5mg then start new meds but thinking of coming off completely

thanks to this forum

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Hello intro and welcome to S/A.

 

Can you please take a few minutes to fill in your signature? Also you should read windows and waves on this forum.

 

A moderator should be on shortly.

 

Also, please read Brassmonkey's Paxil thread.

 

Welcome,

Tgirl

April 2014 remeron 45mg.

June 2014 abilify 2.5 remeron wasn't working so abilify was then added

September 2014 woke up with anxiety x 100!!!!

Pdoc then took me from 45 to 7.5 within a month and took abilify from 2.5 to 0

Currently

Remeron 7.5

Vitamin d 5,000 iu taking for about 3 years

October 2014 added fish oil/omega 3 1000 mg per day

Levothyroxitine 100 10 years or so

Dec 2014 started tapering 10% every 10 days-no problems.

August 2015 down to 0.1 mg

Woke up with severe anxiety-sleep issues-racing thoughts-depression. 9/9/15 up dose 1 mg.

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Thanks Tina

6/2006-6/2010 20mg Paxil
Got off until
1/2013-9/2015 20mg Paxil
Pooping out - what to do next
advised to go on sertraline after paxil taper ->10mg (currently) -> 5mg then start new meds but thinking of coming off completely

thanks to this forum

Link to comment

Welcome 'intro'

I wish you well

Sertraline 100mg amytrip 60mg diazepam 4mg (and when needed) since late 90's.Reduced all meds over 6 wks (too short) last doses 13 wks ago.Still having withdrawals.I would have done it differently

5th august 2015 reinstated 5mg amytripiline.increased to 10mg amtrip 9th sept 2015.

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Thank you

6/2006-6/2010 20mg Paxil
Got off until
1/2013-9/2015 20mg Paxil
Pooping out - what to do next
advised to go on sertraline after paxil taper ->10mg (currently) -> 5mg then start new meds but thinking of coming off completely

thanks to this forum

Link to comment

Welcome. Just here to listen and learn. And try not to cry too much. Big hugs from afar. xo

I took Zoloft at 50mg/day, then 100mg/day, for 18 months for Postpartum Depression. My dr wanted to increase to 150mg, at which point I decided I needed to get off (at about 1 year). I had many debilitating symptoms but it took me a while to recognize that it was the drug causing the problems. I tapered off over 6 months, and had lots of horrible discontinuation symptoms. I went from 100 to 50 by alternating doses (doctor's plan), for probably 2-3 weeks, then to 50, and stayed there for several months. Then down to 25mg/day alternated with 50 mg/day for a couple of weeks, then straight 25, then every other day 25, for like 2 weeks each time, down to one dose of 25 every few days, then off completely. I'm now 3-4 months drug-free but still experiencing severe mood fluctuations and some depression and self-harm. Just wondering when it's all going to end and when I'll be back to my old self. As long as the answer isn't "never" I just want to hear other stories. xo

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thanks:)

6/2006-6/2010 20mg Paxil
Got off until
1/2013-9/2015 20mg Paxil
Pooping out - what to do next
advised to go on sertraline after paxil taper ->10mg (currently) -> 5mg then start new meds but thinking of coming off completely

thanks to this forum

Link to comment

Intro,

Is your wife a practicing psychiatrist?

 

I'm glad you found your way here.

 

 

Tina

April 2014 remeron 45mg.

June 2014 abilify 2.5 remeron wasn't working so abilify was then added

September 2014 woke up with anxiety x 100!!!!

Pdoc then took me from 45 to 7.5 within a month and took abilify from 2.5 to 0

Currently

Remeron 7.5

Vitamin d 5,000 iu taking for about 3 years

October 2014 added fish oil/omega 3 1000 mg per day

Levothyroxitine 100 10 years or so

Dec 2014 started tapering 10% every 10 days-no problems.

August 2015 down to 0.1 mg

Woke up with severe anxiety-sleep issues-racing thoughts-depression. 9/9/15 up dose 1 mg.

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She isn't practising. She did a BSc in Psychology which really didn't delve that much into psychiatry and she didn't intend to study further. We got married shortly after and before our first child she worked as a support worker for women in the community with mental health issues. She hasn't worked since but would like to get into counselling as our last child has started what you'd call kindergarten. Neither of us were really aware of my mental health until later. You could say that now she has had some real practical experience in dealing with mental health rather than the somewhat abstract nature of her degree. As a result she has been able to help friends and family.

6/2006-6/2010 20mg Paxil
Got off until
1/2013-9/2015 20mg Paxil
Pooping out - what to do next
advised to go on sertraline after paxil taper ->10mg (currently) -> 5mg then start new meds but thinking of coming off completely

thanks to this forum

Link to comment
  • Administrator

Welcome, Intro.

 

You are taking 10mg sertraline, correct? You went back up from 5mg? Your last dose of Paxil was when?

 

Did the sertraline reduce the withdrawal symptoms from Paxil?

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Hi

I'm still on Paxil, 10mg from 20mg and it has been about 10 days. I'm supposed to be going on sertraline after the paxil taper which according to my doc should be a month. I intend not to go on sertraline and just get off meds once an for all but do a slow taper as recommended here.

 

I've read other intros and I really feel for everyone here. I'm fortunate I'm only on one type of meds and it is a conservative dosage. I really can't imagine the nightmare some people here are going through with their multiple meds and high dosages. I wish everyone here the best. 

6/2006-6/2010 20mg Paxil
Got off until
1/2013-9/2015 20mg Paxil
Pooping out - what to do next
advised to go on sertraline after paxil taper ->10mg (currently) -> 5mg then start new meds but thinking of coming off completely

thanks to this forum

Link to comment

Using the 10% method at what point do I become paxil free. Below is a quick excel calc with 10% intervals 3 weeks apart

 

 

Dose Date

10   20/09/2015

9   11/10/2015

8.1   01/11/2015

7.29   22/11/2015

6.56   13/12/2015

5.9   03/01/2016

5.31   24/01/2016

4.78   14/02/2016

4.3   06/03/2016

3.87   27/03/2016

3.49   17/04/2016

3.14   08/05/2016

2.82   29/05/2016

2.54   19/06/2016

2.29   10/07/2016

2.06   31/07/2016

1.85   21/08/2016

1.67   11/09/2016

1.5   02/10/2016

1.35   23/10/2016

1.22   13/11/2016

1.09   04/12/2016

0.98   25/12/2016

0.89   15/01/2017

0.8   05/02/2017

0.72   26/02/2017

0.65   19/03/2017

0.58   09/04/2017

0.52   30/04/2017

0.47   21/05/2017

0.42   11/06/2017

0.38   02/07/2017

0.34   23/07/2017

0.31   13/08/2017

0.28   03/09/2017

0.25   24/09/2017

0.23   15/10/2017

0.2   05/11/2017

0.18   26/11/2017

0.16   17/12/2017

6/2006-6/2010 20mg Paxil
Got off until
1/2013-9/2015 20mg Paxil
Pooping out - what to do next
advised to go on sertraline after paxil taper ->10mg (currently) -> 5mg then start new meds but thinking of coming off completely

thanks to this forum

Link to comment
  • Mentor

Wow, you doing well Intro.....(and YES I LOVE THE NAME!).......... when I got here, I had no idea how to function, let alone work out my maths!  But friends here, did my calculations for me, thank goodness!

Yes in hindsight, how I wish I had found this site sooner, and yes, I wish I had taken two- three  years minimum to get off my drugs.............

 

Anyway welcome!  And wont you celebrate in mid 2018! 

 

If you can get off the drugs you are on, and luckily you only on one, you have a long happy life ahead, you, your wife, and lovely family..............

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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  • Mentor

Oh, and lots of great advice here, for learning to manage stress, treat yourself well,   all that stuff.......    when I am a bit better, I will try all of it!  

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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Thanks ang, I'm sorry I feel a bit teary reading your history. Really hope things work out for you.

6/2006-6/2010 20mg Paxil
Got off until
1/2013-9/2015 20mg Paxil
Pooping out - what to do next
advised to go on sertraline after paxil taper ->10mg (currently) -> 5mg then start new meds but thinking of coming off completely

thanks to this forum

Link to comment

After reading posts on here, I realise that going from 20mg to 10 is a bit of large jump. I'm not doing too badly so should I worry about this jump. As said before I'm not in full time work so that really helps.

Some symptoms  so far:

Anger but I'm keeping it together although I'm swearing a lot more.

Headaches and Nausea - physical activity helps

Aches and pains  but that could be because I'm hitting the gym more

Mild difficulty reading/concentrating

Gained a few pounds

Some insomnia but I no longer get heart pounding moments at 3AM as I got at 20mg. I do get other sleep disturbances such as involuntary movements in my legs when I start to drift off

 

In a funny way the anger helps. If I feel a little low, a simmering voice shouts inside "why the hell should I be anxious/scared/depressed" and I get over it.

Same thing with any Pure O type thoughts which are starting to creep in but I try to ignore them.

6/2006-6/2010 20mg Paxil
Got off until
1/2013-9/2015 20mg Paxil
Pooping out - what to do next
advised to go on sertraline after paxil taper ->10mg (currently) -> 5mg then start new meds but thinking of coming off completely

thanks to this forum

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Intro, welcome fro  me too. You are right that cutting 50% was a huge drop but often recommended by doctors. You are also right to avoid starting another drug,  switching one drug for another can cause even more problems. If you can't cope you could go back up a little, maybe even 2 ,more mgs might help, but if you stick with it the symptoms will settle down again. You will probably have windows and waves before becoming stable, so will start to feel better then take a step back again. This is completely normal and is your body trying to stabilise. You can read about windows and waves here.. http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/82-the-windows-and-waves-pattern-of-stabilization/

 

I would wait a few months before starting to taper, and take it slowly. The taper you worked out looks good but I would wait longer than 3 weeks between cuts. Paxil is a nasty little drug that can cause problems tapering unless it is very slow.  If you get any withdrawal symptoms while tapering , hold until 3-4 weeks after the symptoms have subsided, then make smaller cuts as withdrawal means the cut was too big for your brain to process. It's different for everyone, and some need to go slower that others. We all want to be off the drugs and we want it NOW, telling ourselves that we can tough it out and be free of the poison! Many of us have discovered the hard way that toughing it out isn't the best way when you can taper slowly, safely and get off with little or no discomfort while getting along with life. Hopefully you will stabilise soon. 

**I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge.

 

 

Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem)

1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat

2002  effexor. 

Tapered  March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads.

Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg  

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. 

 

My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33

 

Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible

 

 

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Thanks Mamma

6/2006-6/2010 20mg Paxil
Got off until
1/2013-9/2015 20mg Paxil
Pooping out - what to do next
advised to go on sertraline after paxil taper ->10mg (currently) -> 5mg then start new meds but thinking of coming off completely

thanks to this forum

Link to comment

Oh I had to get off the computer as I had visitors - Cant let them see what I was on!

 

I remember in my youth when the Pure O was at its worst and I couldn't figure out what it was, I said,

 

'My mind is not my own

It has a mind of its own'

 

A scholar explained to me that those Pure O thoughts should not be thought as your own and should be disowned.

The more you toy with it and fight it the worse it gets and the worse your ocd/anxiety/depression gets.

The analogy that the scholar put forward was is as if  somebody puts an object ie a book in front of you which doesn't belong to you. This 'book' is your intrusive thought. If you choose to hold or take the book you have made it yours and this is where the problem starts. If you choose the ignore the 'book' then it doesn't belong to you and you have disowned it, therefore it's not your problem.

 

One example of an intrusive thought was 'if you don't do such and such you something bad will happen to you'. It was this that triggered my first breakdown and subsequently started my relationship with Paxil. Yesterday I imagined something horrible happening to a loved one and it was distressing but fortunately I was able to overcome it.

 

I may have gone a little off tangent, and some may not understand this but I hope it helps if you do.

6/2006-6/2010 20mg Paxil
Got off until
1/2013-9/2015 20mg Paxil
Pooping out - what to do next
advised to go on sertraline after paxil taper ->10mg (currently) -> 5mg then start new meds but thinking of coming off completely

thanks to this forum

Link to comment

Hey intro,

 

I hate those thoughts. I have always had especially the two you spoke of, even before medication. But, it's something I could have lived with.

Tgirl

April 2014 remeron 45mg.

June 2014 abilify 2.5 remeron wasn't working so abilify was then added

September 2014 woke up with anxiety x 100!!!!

Pdoc then took me from 45 to 7.5 within a month and took abilify from 2.5 to 0

Currently

Remeron 7.5

Vitamin d 5,000 iu taking for about 3 years

October 2014 added fish oil/omega 3 1000 mg per day

Levothyroxitine 100 10 years or so

Dec 2014 started tapering 10% every 10 days-no problems.

August 2015 down to 0.1 mg

Woke up with severe anxiety-sleep issues-racing thoughts-depression. 9/9/15 up dose 1 mg.

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Tina when did you start getting those thoughts. Oh and by the way those weren't the worst thoughts I had. I started getting the OCD/Pure O at 16-17. Does music trigger them for you?

6/2006-6/2010 20mg Paxil
Got off until
1/2013-9/2015 20mg Paxil
Pooping out - what to do next
advised to go on sertraline after paxil taper ->10mg (currently) -> 5mg then start new meds but thinking of coming off completely

thanks to this forum

Link to comment

Intro,

 

no music doesn't trigger it.

I've had those thoughts every since I can remember. I never really thought it as odd. ( thought everyone had these thoughts).

 

It's so weird that you brought this up, because I've really never put much thought into it.

 

Another thing I do is, I feel like everything has to be even. Like even numbered or even on both sides. ???

 

But,

These have always been there since before the Meds.

For me, it's not bad, only when I imagine bad things happening to people whom I love. It's scary. But, I have always known it to not be real. Like, I know it did not happen, it's not a reality. ( if you get that).

Tgirl

April 2014 remeron 45mg.

June 2014 abilify 2.5 remeron wasn't working so abilify was then added

September 2014 woke up with anxiety x 100!!!!

Pdoc then took me from 45 to 7.5 within a month and took abilify from 2.5 to 0

Currently

Remeron 7.5

Vitamin d 5,000 iu taking for about 3 years

October 2014 added fish oil/omega 3 1000 mg per day

Levothyroxitine 100 10 years or so

Dec 2014 started tapering 10% every 10 days-no problems.

August 2015 down to 0.1 mg

Woke up with severe anxiety-sleep issues-racing thoughts-depression. 9/9/15 up dose 1 mg.

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I would also like to add that I don't have experience nor have I ever experienced rituals.

I don't wash my hands a million times, don't turn light off on.

Tgirl

April 2014 remeron 45mg.

June 2014 abilify 2.5 remeron wasn't working so abilify was then added

September 2014 woke up with anxiety x 100!!!!

Pdoc then took me from 45 to 7.5 within a month and took abilify from 2.5 to 0

Currently

Remeron 7.5

Vitamin d 5,000 iu taking for about 3 years

October 2014 added fish oil/omega 3 1000 mg per day

Levothyroxitine 100 10 years or so

Dec 2014 started tapering 10% every 10 days-no problems.

August 2015 down to 0.1 mg

Woke up with severe anxiety-sleep issues-racing thoughts-depression. 9/9/15 up dose 1 mg.

Link to comment

I think horrifying thoughts happen to everyone, but most shrug it off. I know people have said that they have such thoughts but they just get on with it and they don't have mental illness. eg A guy at work experienced bad thoughts when his newborn daughter wouldn't stop crying. This happens more than you think amongst 'normal' people. As humans we have a conscience and we know the difference between right and wrong and just shrug it off. Another example is that some religious people have thoughts of blasphemy - it doesn't make them irreligious, bad or sinful.

 

When it occurs and reoccurs, makes you cry, is intrusive and disturbs you, stops you from living your life then it's Pure O. The Pure O disappeared when I went on Paxil and since then I really haven't had it much.

 

Please don't think of this too much T. You're probably OK and normal. Don't mention rituals. That's another can of worms :(

 

Regards Intro

6/2006-6/2010 20mg Paxil
Got off until
1/2013-9/2015 20mg Paxil
Pooping out - what to do next
advised to go on sertraline after paxil taper ->10mg (currently) -> 5mg then start new meds but thinking of coming off completely

thanks to this forum

Link to comment

Why are you coming off the Paxil?

April 2014 remeron 45mg.

June 2014 abilify 2.5 remeron wasn't working so abilify was then added

September 2014 woke up with anxiety x 100!!!!

Pdoc then took me from 45 to 7.5 within a month and took abilify from 2.5 to 0

Currently

Remeron 7.5

Vitamin d 5,000 iu taking for about 3 years

October 2014 added fish oil/omega 3 1000 mg per day

Levothyroxitine 100 10 years or so

Dec 2014 started tapering 10% every 10 days-no problems.

August 2015 down to 0.1 mg

Woke up with severe anxiety-sleep issues-racing thoughts-depression. 9/9/15 up dose 1 mg.

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From my first post but edited slightly
 
From 1/2013-9/2015 went back on Paxil.
 
Started functioning again but noticed that I was having episodes of mania. At least my students enjoyed it.
 
Started a new job which didn't quite work out. This coincided with Paxil not quite working (pooping out). I concluded that I may be in withdrawal despite my dose being a constant 20mg - waking up at night, insomnia, heart racing generally feeling rough etc. Left that post and may not go back into teaching which may be exacerbating my depression and anxiety. My blood sugar is a little bit on the high side which seems to be as a result of taking Paxil - I am fairly active and wouldn't consider myself grossly overweight which doesn't reflect the blood sugar situation.  
 

Advised by my doc to go on sertraline after paxil taper drop to 10mg (currently) then to 5mg then start new meds but after reading some posts here, I am thinking of coming off completely. 

6/2006-6/2010 20mg Paxil
Got off until
1/2013-9/2015 20mg Paxil
Pooping out - what to do next
advised to go on sertraline after paxil taper ->10mg (currently) -> 5mg then start new meds but thinking of coming off completely

thanks to this forum

Link to comment

Intro,

 

Are you on 5 mg or 10 of paxil? And what are your symptoms currently?

Tgirl

April 2014 remeron 45mg.

June 2014 abilify 2.5 remeron wasn't working so abilify was then added

September 2014 woke up with anxiety x 100!!!!

Pdoc then took me from 45 to 7.5 within a month and took abilify from 2.5 to 0

Currently

Remeron 7.5

Vitamin d 5,000 iu taking for about 3 years

October 2014 added fish oil/omega 3 1000 mg per day

Levothyroxitine 100 10 years or so

Dec 2014 started tapering 10% every 10 days-no problems.

August 2015 down to 0.1 mg

Woke up with severe anxiety-sleep issues-racing thoughts-depression. 9/9/15 up dose 1 mg.

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Hang in there - Intro.  I wish you all the best!

Username: quitpaxil2015 - Started antidepressants sometime in 1990. Misdiagnosed with Bipolar, but later with thyroid disease in1998 (8 years of being on several different psychiatric meds with several psychiatric hospitalizations). Total thyroidectomy in 1999. At the time, was on 85 mg of Paxil. In 2001, tried to get off Paxil and had car crash due to vertigo and w/d symptoms. Given more psychiatric meds including Prozac and Trazodone to treat SEVERE w/d from Paxil - which is the only reason I still take Paxil. Tried to taper off Paxil again in 2004  - from 25 mg to 20 mg (5 mg cuts) - had to go back on 25 mg on the 10th day of the taper due to inability to function (dizziness, vertigo, motion sickness, crying spells, depersonalization, etc). Currently on Paxil 25 mg and Trazodone 100 mg. Trying to quit Paxil in 2015. April 22, 2015 - Paxil 22.5 mg. May 13, 2015 Paxil 20 mg. June 3, 2015 - Paxil 17.5 mg. June 24, 2015 - Paxil 15 mg. Don't remember  - 12.5 mg. August 5, 2015 - Paxil 10 mg. September 16, 2015 - 7.5 mg (considering going back up - severe anxiety/panic) September 28, 2015 - back up to 10 mg. October 6, 2015  - back up to 15 mg.   :unsure:

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thanks qp! I'll be lurking to see where you're upto because we have the same arch nemesis.

 

I'm on 10mg. Just went to the doc to tell him about my plans to get off paxil - he was quite positive about it and I got the impression he was kinda impressed with the 10% reduction method - all thanks to this site and the peeps who live here! So I am now in the possession of some liquid paxil but  that will have to wait till my 10mg tablets finish.

 

Still feel quite aggressive. Just doing mundane tasks feel like I'm trying to fight something. Almost like my head is on fire.

You'd think that working out would calm me down. I actually feel more agitated afterwards - kinda overstimulated. I think I've read about this phenomenon on this site

6/2006-6/2010 20mg Paxil
Got off until
1/2013-9/2015 20mg Paxil
Pooping out - what to do next
advised to go on sertraline after paxil taper ->10mg (currently) -> 5mg then start new meds but thinking of coming off completely

thanks to this forum

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I'm glad your physician is on board with the 10% taper and that you got the liquid version!!

 

I struggle with whether to work out or not. I am normally very active but don't want to overstimulate my system. I also have a hard core trainer and am afraid of being pushed to hard right now when I feel so fragile. I missed all of last week...

 

I say just try to do some yoga or even just 1/2 of the workout you usually do. I read on this site that some people do well with yoga. Maybe the best advice of all is to listen to your body!

 

Well wishes!

Username: quitpaxil2015 - Started antidepressants sometime in 1990. Misdiagnosed with Bipolar, but later with thyroid disease in1998 (8 years of being on several different psychiatric meds with several psychiatric hospitalizations). Total thyroidectomy in 1999. At the time, was on 85 mg of Paxil. In 2001, tried to get off Paxil and had car crash due to vertigo and w/d symptoms. Given more psychiatric meds including Prozac and Trazodone to treat SEVERE w/d from Paxil - which is the only reason I still take Paxil. Tried to taper off Paxil again in 2004  - from 25 mg to 20 mg (5 mg cuts) - had to go back on 25 mg on the 10th day of the taper due to inability to function (dizziness, vertigo, motion sickness, crying spells, depersonalization, etc). Currently on Paxil 25 mg and Trazodone 100 mg. Trying to quit Paxil in 2015. April 22, 2015 - Paxil 22.5 mg. May 13, 2015 Paxil 20 mg. June 3, 2015 - Paxil 17.5 mg. June 24, 2015 - Paxil 15 mg. Don't remember  - 12.5 mg. August 5, 2015 - Paxil 10 mg. September 16, 2015 - 7.5 mg (considering going back up - severe anxiety/panic) September 28, 2015 - back up to 10 mg. October 6, 2015  - back up to 15 mg.   :unsure:

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Way to go intro!!

I'm impressed by your liquid Paxil SCORE!

That and a doctor who is on board with your taper plan, I'm sure you'll do very well!!

AWESOME!

 

I would definatly wait a bit on a taper.

 

Best of luck,

Tgirl

April 2014 remeron 45mg.

June 2014 abilify 2.5 remeron wasn't working so abilify was then added

September 2014 woke up with anxiety x 100!!!!

Pdoc then took me from 45 to 7.5 within a month and took abilify from 2.5 to 0

Currently

Remeron 7.5

Vitamin d 5,000 iu taking for about 3 years

October 2014 added fish oil/omega 3 1000 mg per day

Levothyroxitine 100 10 years or so

Dec 2014 started tapering 10% every 10 days-no problems.

August 2015 down to 0.1 mg

Woke up with severe anxiety-sleep issues-racing thoughts-depression. 9/9/15 up dose 1 mg.

Link to comment

thanks all and best of luck to you.

 

Just one thing I'm struggling with - morning anxiety/depression, withdrawal or not, paxil or no paxil. I did say earlier that its not as bad as before but as we have all experienced, things do change.

Anyone tell me what I could do about this. Morning exercise doesn't really help. 

 

QP you have a trainer? I suspect they don't work half as hard as their clients do. ;) That really sounds a little cynical. Sorry for being negative. :D

6/2006-6/2010 20mg Paxil
Got off until
1/2013-9/2015 20mg Paxil
Pooping out - what to do next
advised to go on sertraline after paxil taper ->10mg (currently) -> 5mg then start new meds but thinking of coming off completely

thanks to this forum

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Intro,

Try your best to just exept it for now. This too shall pass. Windows and waves.

Exercise sometimes makes things worse. Try meditation, maybe even yoga.

I'm not a doctor.

Tgirl

April 2014 remeron 45mg.

June 2014 abilify 2.5 remeron wasn't working so abilify was then added

September 2014 woke up with anxiety x 100!!!!

Pdoc then took me from 45 to 7.5 within a month and took abilify from 2.5 to 0

Currently

Remeron 7.5

Vitamin d 5,000 iu taking for about 3 years

October 2014 added fish oil/omega 3 1000 mg per day

Levothyroxitine 100 10 years or so

Dec 2014 started tapering 10% every 10 days-no problems.

August 2015 down to 0.1 mg

Woke up with severe anxiety-sleep issues-racing thoughts-depression. 9/9/15 up dose 1 mg.

Link to comment
  • 1 month later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hey Intro - 

 

What you are having is Cortisol Mornings:  

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/33-waking-with-panic-or-anxiety-managing-cortisol-spikes/

 

The good news about your 10 mg drop is this:  the early drops (when you go from full dose) are the easy ones.  It's when you get down lower that the drops become more and more critical.

 

Keep monitoring your symptoms, if it get scary, you can always increase a little bit, maybe to 12.5 mg, to alleviate the worst symptoms.  When you go into withdrawal, reinstating the drug your body is craving is how you treat it.  But we never reinstate the whole dose, because of risk of overstimulation or side effects.  Study here, in case you need it:  About Reinstating and Stabilizing to Stop Withdrawal Symptoms

 

I love the way you are working with your O.  and C.  and D.

 

Here's a challenge for you.  Once upon a time, there was no "OCD" in the DSM.  How would you describe your thoughts and behaviours if they were not a "diagnosis?"  (I hate labels, but I love descriptions!)

 

Anyhow, thoughts.  Get sticky, eh?  I learned about this when I was very young, studying Thich Nhat Hanh.  Monkey mind.  Watching train cars go by (or maybe it's the same train car-thought over and over again but it doesn't matter:  I am not my thoughts).  Or - I am not my thoughts, I am the screen upon which my thoughts are projected.  The job of the brain is to produce thoughts.  So?  Let it do it's job, you don't need to attach to them.....  (these are the thoughts which came to me while I was reading your description of how to deal with "sticky thoughts")

 

One last thing:  Paxil (and all of these drugs, really) is famous for "delayed withdrawal."  You go off or decrease, you feel fine, then then, 6 months later, BAM! You're on the floor shaking and sweating and crying and zapping and what have you - we're often told by the docs that this is "original condition returning" because it's more than 6 weeks after discontinuing the drug.  But it's not.  It's the way the drug restructured your brain - trying to repair itself.

 

Here's a better description of what I'm trying to say:  Rhi's description of healing the brain

 

So that's why Mamma suggested that you stay at your current dose for a few months, to let all of the "bouncing brain" settle down.

 

Also, many people are helped by Magnesium and Omega-3 fish oil

 

It will get better, and it sounds like you have support and coping techniques in place to help you do this (these are vital!).  Glad to meet you, Intro!

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

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  • 2 weeks later...

Thanks Jan

At the moment I am on 9mg/4.5ml of paxil. I'm generally OK but I take things very personally at the moment, especially if it's to do with work.

Thankfully I'm not full time. The state of education is dire in the UK.

I've come to the point where I suspect that Paxil has been propping me up during my career. If this really is the case then I should find an occupation

where I don't have to be drugged to function properly.

6/2006-6/2010 20mg Paxil
Got off until
1/2013-9/2015 20mg Paxil
Pooping out - what to do next
advised to go on sertraline after paxil taper ->10mg (currently) -> 5mg then start new meds but thinking of coming off completely

thanks to this forum

Link to comment
  • 4 months later...

Hi all

I was trying to taper and I got to 5.6mg of Paxil. I was having a terrible time with morning cortisol, insomnia, extreme anxiety and suicide ideation. The latter was not helped by the fact that where I live, there have been many suicides - people who I knew or a friend or a relative of someone I knew - something in the water maybe?

I came to an agreement with my doctor to come off Paxil and wait till it clears before considering going on other meds. It's been 3 weeks and things have improved. The suicide ideation has gone but i still feel jittery at times. Still feel like crap in the mornings but feel pretty good other times.

 

My wife has been volunteering to help a child who is believed to be on the autism spectrum. One of the things that came up was that the child was to be put on a diet ie gluten free, raw milk etc to help fix his gut. My wife suggested that I do the same and that this may help with my issues and it has. I am also taking ashwaghanda. I'll be getting rid of my aluminium pots and pans, Fluoride toothpaste and other things which maybe affecting me.

Prayer has been a big thing for me. I've always prayed but I do so now with more devotion and this has also helped

6/2006-6/2010 20mg Paxil
Got off until
1/2013-9/2015 20mg Paxil
Pooping out - what to do next
advised to go on sertraline after paxil taper ->10mg (currently) -> 5mg then start new meds but thinking of coming off completely

thanks to this forum

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