Brian34: Paxil CT during benzo withdrawal

[Brian34]

Over the course of 6 months I was rapidly tapered by my psychiatrist from 60mg to 20mg of paxil. April of this year I was told to stop taking the 20mg paxil as my psych thought it was making my benzo withdrawal symptoms worse. It's been over a month now and I'm having horrible anxiety, fatigue, nausea and insomnia.

 

My psychiatrist doesn't think that my withdrawal symptoms are coming from the paxil withdrawals. He said that my body should be past that. But at the same time he's rapidly cut my dose of valium too from 60mg to 30mg in one month.

 

I don't know what to do. If I should reinstate the paxil? Check in at a behavioral center and try to stabilize.

 

It's been hell and I'm not sure what to do. I have since been prescribed Seroquel 200mg, lamictal 25mg, remeron 15mg, and I'm currently on valium 30mg. Please give me advice.

 

I already know that this psychiatrist sounds like a horrible one, but I wouldn't be able to see a different one in at least a couple months. Thanks everybody!

 

--sorry, forgot to mention that I was on the paxil for over 3 1/2 years and over the course of the 6 month taper I was switched between a lot of different ssri's. More than I can remember.

Edited June 3, 2017 by scallywag
tags + paragraph breaks

[Madeleine]

Welcome to the forum. How long were you on the paxil in total before you started to taper?  How long have you been taking all the other drugs?  Hopefully one of the moderators will give you some direction soon.  There is a section on when to reinstate the antidepressant. There is also a benzo section on this forum where you can post questions relating to the valium and find information there too.

[Brian34]

I was on the paxil for 3 1/2 years. I've been taking valium for a couple months (switched from 3mg klonopin). I've only been on the seroquel for a couple weeks. The lamictal for a week and just started the remeron yesterday (which seemed to have zero effect).

[mammaP]

Hi Brian, welcome to SA. Your shrink needs to be locked up and the key thrown into the deep blue sea! 

How are you with the seroquel? And the lamictal?  Has they made you any worse or are they helping? Throwing more and more drugs at you have already caused you problems! 

 

You could try a reinstatement of a small amount of paxil to stabilise. Maybe 1mg to start, just tell the psychiatrist that you want to go back to it, he will not get it that it will ease withdrawal. You are also suffering from the 50% cut of valium. 

 

I would not take the remeron, it will not help the withdrawal and can make things worse. 

 

It will help if you can put your drug history in your signature, you can find instructions here. We need the drugs and doses, and when you started/stopped them, plus changes. 

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/12364-please-put-your-withdrawal-history-in-your-signature/

[Brian34]

Ok. Updated my signature. Pretty much tells my story. I didn't realize how many meds i had been through. The brain zaps have stopped since i've been off the paxil. Seroquel used to help for sleep, but i took 50mg last night and it had no effect. Took 15mg Mirtazipine last night, seems like i dont have as much anxiety the next day and no nausea... but still no appetite. And the 20mg of valium daily has zero effect.

[Brian34]

Bump

[scallywag]

Brian -- Welcome to Surviving Antidepressants (SA)

 

You've gone through many, many dose and medication changes since August. No wonder you are feeling rotten.

 

I've resequenced the information in your current signature  to highlight the dates of the changes.

2012: 0.5 mg Klonopin, 10 mg Paxil, stopped 8/16

8/16: 20 mg Cymbalta, stopped 9/16

9/16: 5 mg Zyprexa, 25 mg Lamictal, stopped 10/16

10/16: 40 mg Paxil, stopped 12/16

12/16: 20 mg Prilosec, 20 mg Lexapro, stopped 1/17

1/17: 7.5 mg Zyprexa, stopped 2/17

2/17: 150 mg Wellbutrin, stopped 3/17

3/17: 20 mg Paxil, stopped April 19, 2017

4/17: 300 mg Seroquel, 250 mg Depakote 3 times/day, 600 mg Gabapentin 3 times/day

5/31/17: 100 mg Seroquel 1/day (night), "for the past couple of days" 25 mg Lamictal, 15 mg mirtazapine (night), 10 mg valium twice daily.

 

Between August 2016 and May 2017 you've stopped medication(s) and started a new one (or two) almost every single month. And in April or May 2017, while stopping depakote and gabapentin, seroquel dose was decreased and 3 other medications were added.

 

To understand why this merry-go-round of medications might be causing you problems, please have a look at these two links:

How your brain responds to psychiatric drugs - aka "Brain remodeling"

Youtube video, 4 minutes: Healing from antidepressants

 

Am I correct in understanding that you started Lamictal, mirtazapine and valium around May 28 or 29? And that the Seroquel dose was decreased to 100 mg on approx. May 24? Was the Seroquel decrease from 300 mg or some other dose?

 

What are your symptoms like? Please keep notes on paper of your symptoms and the times of your dose(s). This post has a useful format for a daily log:

Take notes of doses and symptoms.

 

Your symptoms log will help you see patterns, if any exist. When you have a few days worth of notes (timing of both doses and symptoms), please post them as a new reply here in your introduction topic. We may be able to see something to suggest.

[Colonial]

I would think dropping the Paxil from 20 mg to nothing has a great deal to do with it, as it only takes 10 mg of Paxil to rewire 75% of your receptors.  I've been trying to get off Paxil since Jan of 2015 and I've only gotten as far as from 25mg down to 5.2 or so right now.  I would see if you can get a liquid and re instate a few mgs.  It might help.  But as said above any Psych doc who dropped you from 20mg of Paxil to nothing and doesn't know to expect major problems should have His head examined.

[miT]

I agree. 20mg paxil is not a minor dose. It's possibly the highest effective dose. Anything higher barely adds anything. 

I would definitely reinstate the paxil like I did. See my signature. I started at 5mg and then built up. It worked for me. If you can start lower, try it.

[Brian34]

I'm an idiot and haven't reinstated to paxil as my psych is refusing to prescribe them to me as he thinks they will only make things worse. I have become fully unfunctional and bed ridden. What scares me the most is that I don't know whats causing it. I tried checking myself into a treatment center thinking that everything I was feeling was the benzos. I was told that I was accepted into a nice treatment facility, but I had to detox the valium. I went through the detox and have been in hell since. I cant eat. cant sleep. And now I'm wondering if it was the paxil all along that starting me on this or if I'm very unlucky and had both the benzos and paxil poop out on me at the same time. I must mention that I I started feeling horrible in the beginning of march when I was still on the 20mg of paxil. So i'm not sure if I should reinstate. any advice would be great. Please help me as the most recent symptom has been suicidal thoughts. I feel like I'm losing my mind.

[scallywag]

Brian, let's start with getting clear about what exactly you are taking now. I previously posted these 3 questions:

 

From what you've previously posted, I've concluded that you are taking

• Lamictal
• Seroquel
• Mirtazapine
• Valium

If you are still taking these medications, please post the doses and 2 dates: when you started taking that dose, and when you started the medication.

[Brian34]

I stopped the lamictal before one week in May. I only took the seroquel for about 1 week in June. I stopped the mertazipine before 1 week. I'm trying to not let my body get dependant on these meds. I have been off the valium for almost 2 weeks. Off the paxil for over 2 months now. 

[scallywag]

Please make a list that says the drug, the dose you're taking now, the date you started taking that dose and the date you started taking the drug. For example:

 

Lamictal, started taking 25 mg on May 1, 2017, started taking Lamictal in 2016

[Brian34]

I honestly can't remember exact dates. I never took more than 5 pills of lamictal in May. Probably early may.

The seroquel I took for about 6 days from June 13-19th. 

The valium 60mg started in middle of April, cut to 30mg April 26th, tapered to 25 in May for 2 weeks, 20mg in May for 2 weeks, 15mg in June, detoxed to 0mg from June 19th to June 23rd. 

Mertazipine started may 13th to 15th. Restarted June 28th to July 1st. Have not taken any in 3 days. 

[scallywag]

If you can't remember exact dates, approximations such as "early May" or "mid-February" are fine. Please remember that many of us are dealing with cognitive symptoms as a result of our own medication withdrawal issues, and that it's easier to understand a list rather than a paragraph.  Please format your reply as a list:

 

Lamictal, dose, date started dose, date started drug

Seroquel, dose, date started dose, date started drug

mirtazapine, dose, date started dose, date started drug

valium, dose, date started dose, date started drug

[Brian34]

Sorry. My mind also feels like mush right now. 

 

Lamictal-25mg early may stopped in early may at 25mg

Seroquel-100mg started April 19th stopped April 25th

Seroquel- 100mg started June 15th stopped June 19th

Valium- 60mg started late March ended April 19th

Valium- 30mg April 26th, 25mg middle of may, 20 end of may, 15mg beginning of June, rapid taper to 0mg from June 19th to June 23rd

Mirtazipine- 15mg started middle of may, ended middle of may

Mirtazipine- 15mg started June 28th ended July 1st

 

I hope that's what you were looking for. 

 

[scallywag]

Thank you for clearly posting your recent medication history.  Based on your post ...

12 hours ago, Brian34 said:

Lamictal-25mg early may stopped in early may at 25mg

Seroquel-100mg started April 19th stopped April 25th

Seroquel- 100mg started June 15th stopped June 19th

Valium- 60mg started late March ended April 19th

Valium- 30mg April 26th, 25mg middle of may, 20 end of may, 15mg beginning of June, rapid taper to 0mg from June 19th to June 23rd

Mirtazipine- 15mg started middle of may, ended middle of may

Mirtazipine- 15mg started June 28th ended July 1st

 

... it seems that you are not taking any medication right now. Is this correct?

 

If my inference is not correct, please post a list of the medications you are currently taking and the dose you are taking of each medication.

[Brian34]

Sorry. My mind also feels like mush right now. 

 

Lamictal-25mg early may stopped in early may at 25mg

Seroquel-100mg started April 19th stopped April 25th

Seroquel- 100mg started June 15th stopped June 19th

Valium- 60mg started late March ended April 19th

Valium- 30mg April 26th, 25mg middle of may, 20 end of may, 15mg beginning of June, rapid taper to 0mg from June 19th to June 23rd

Mirtazipine- 15mg started middle of may, ended middle of may

Mirtazipine- 15mg started June 28th ended July 1st

 

I hope that's what you were looking for. 

 

I am not currently on any medications right now, but do think a lot about taking remeron again as it did help with my insomnia. 

 

Edited July 5, 2017 by scallywag
de-emphasize repeated information

[scallywag]

No wonder your mind is like mush. 

Why did you discontinue mirtazapine after a few days in May?

Why did you discontinue mirtazapine on July 1?

 

It takes much longer than a few days to stabilize after reinstating, particularly given the merry-go-round, except not merry at all, of medications you've been on since the start of this year.

Edited July 5, 2017 by scallywag

[Brian34]

In May I thought the mirtazipine was causing palpitations. Could have been wrong as I was still getting them after I stopped. 

 

In July I stopped the mirtazipine because I've been having racing thoughts and my psych said the remeron could be causing it. 

[scallywag]

What does your pDoc say about how you're feeling now?

[Brian34]

He thinks I'm bi polar now. Wants me to start zyprexa or Latuda. I don't trust him anymore. 

[scallywag]

Please read up on Zyprexa and Latuda.

Tips for tapering off Zyprexa (olanzapine)

Patient information on Zyprexa at drugs.com.

 

Tips for tapering off Latuda (lurasidone)

Patient information on Latuda at drugs.com.

 

These medications are in the same prescribing class as Seroquel, "anti-psychotic" medications.

 

Please remember that we don't generally recommend medications. We're not medical professionals with the license to prescribe.

 

I'll ask other moderators to read this topic and get a sense of your situation. A reply may take several days. Thanks in advance for being patient.

[Altostrata]

Hello, Brian.

 

You are experiencing withdrawal syndrome from a benzo and Paxil and subsequent irritation of your nervous system by all the drugs you've gone on and off since then.

 

Why did you quit Lamictal?

 

What is your current daily symptom pattern? What is your sleep pattern?

[Brian34]

I quit lamictal because it didn't feel like it was doing anything. My main symptoms are lack of appetite. Extreme anxiety. High heart rate. Tremors. Severe insomnia. Intrusive suicidal thoughts. I try and go to sleep at 9pm every night. But I'm very sensitive to sounds. So anything makes me jump awake. I've gotten about 4 hours of sleep the past 3 days. It's been very rough. 

[bhasski]

Brian  what your doctor advised was foolish ? If you can take second opinion for reinstatement, then please go for it.

Paxil is one of the most evil drug and CT causes what you are experiencing.

 

I have also CTed on doctors advice and know what comes after.

 

Try to get stable  enough first with this doctor if you want or,

see another and tell him what you feel after the paxil drop of  60-20 mg and 20mg - 0. 

 

You will get better bro.

 

[Brian34]

The thing is, I wasn't better when I was still taking it. It honestly felt like the klonopin and paxil stopped working at the same time. 

[Brian34]

I would reinstate... But I have no way of knowing if it's the paxil causing the withdrawals or the benzo's. I didn't feel this horrible when I first came off the paxil in April. But when I stopped the benzo's in june... that's when it got really bad. I'm just afraid I'll restart the paxil and not feel any different.... And than I would be starting over. I do get windows where I don't feel so horrible... But when the symptoms get bad I start to become extremely depressed... feeling like I'm the only one who has been withdrawaling from 2 potent drugs and that I'll never heal. Or take years of suffering to heal. 

[scallywag]

Brian,  We've had many members who've discontinued a drug after "poop-out" or tachyphylaxis (the drug stops providing the intended benefit) and they have still had withdrawal symptoms.

 

Not experiencing the intended therapeutic effect of a drug does not mean that there were NO effects -- your CNS (central nervous system) almost certainly adapted to the drug's presence while you were on it.

[Pandoraa]

Brian34- How long were you taking benzos that doctor things that they may do withdrawal sympthoms to you? In past you had some history of taking benzos?

[Brian34]

I literally started the benzo's the same day I started the paxil back in 2012. I understand that my nervous system became used to the medications... although I didn't know that was possible when I started them. I thought I might have to be on the meds for life. Now I'm just trying to survive one day to the next. My doctor didn't think it would be an issue stopping the paxil. And I don't know if it's the paxil or clonazepam causing symptoms. 

[miT]

The meds also learned me to live from day to day. Life comes day by day, so I consider that a positive side effect.

I'm really sorry about the physical discomfort though. It takes some time to heal, but you will eventually.

[Brian34]

Thanks mit. I'm hoping I heal and that I don't suffer long. 

[Pandoraa]

Brian34, so didn't  you think to reinstal paroxetine?

How clonopin helps u with WD?

 

In my case they gave me clonopin 2 weeks ago for paroxetine WD sympthoms. I tapper it slowly (faster than is recomended here) with doctor.

I hope maximum 4 moths to use clonozepam.

[Brian34]

I'm not taking klonopin or paxil anymore. I was given both at the same time over 3 years ago. Both stopped working at the same time. So even if I were to reinstate the paxil, I would still be going through klonopin withdrawals and since the paxil stopped working, it may not help me feel any better. And it would suck to start the paxil, get no relief and have to start withdrawaling all over again. 

[scallywag]

Brian, are you keeping track of your symptoms? Please keep notes on paper of your symptoms and the times of your dose(s). This post has a useful format for a daily log:

Take notes of doses and symptoms.

 

If you post these notes here daily, we may be able to suggest a next step.