Tyron Posted August 20, 2017 Share Posted August 20, 2017 (edited) Hello I am a 70 year old male! After 20 long years on Paxil 20mg and 3 years of Mirtazapine 15mg, for Dysthymia, I feel the need to start weaning off one of them, but which one? On comparing common side effects it appears the Mirtazapine could be the gremlin. It was prescribed to help me sleep but I still struggle so what's the point! I take both meds after my dinner at 7pm, but continue to snack till midnight. I feel emotionally and physically flat with all artistic passion out the window. I'm hoping my body would be better coping with just one poison! Any advice would be gratefully appreciated! Edited October 7, 2017 by Tyron white space; name update, increased font Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus mammaP Posted August 21, 2017 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted August 21, 2017 Hi Diehard, welcome to SA. You are right mirtazepine does tend to have more side effects than paxil. Paxil can be activating so it might be better for you if you take it earlier in the day then you might sleep better at night. You could take it an hour earlier each day until you at a better time for you, morning would probably be better. Then wait a while to allow your brain to adjust before starting to taper mirtazapine. Often side effects lessen as the dose lowers which is good, you don't have to wait until you are off completely to feel better. I lost all my artistic passion too, it's called anhedonia and I had no motivation whatsoever. It is very common with anti depressants. Some people taper one drug part way then start to taper the other so that side effects from both are less. Then go back to the first one and start to taper that one again and so on until both are gone. We recommend tapering 10% of the CURRENT dose with 4 weeks between drops. This allows the brain to adjust between drops and taper off with little discomfort. If there are any withdrawal symptoms it means that your brain is struggling and you need to slow down or make smaller cuts. You will soon get into the swing of it and be able to listen to what your body is telling you. First, we ask all our members to fill in their signature with their drug and tapering history. Include all prescription and over the counter drugs , this is because there can be interactions. This link will take you to the signature block in settings, fill it in and click save. http://survivingantidepressants.org/settings/signature/ Tapering mirtazepine, it is available in a liquid in some countries, or you can make a liquid yourself from tablets. This makes it easy to get the lower doses. http://survivingantidepressants.org/topic/5301-tips-for-tapering-off-mirtazapine-remeron/ **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 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 Link to comment
Tyron Posted August 22, 2017 Author Share Posted August 22, 2017 Thank you mammaP, I will take your advice on board! Link to comment
Tyron Posted October 7, 2017 Author Share Posted October 7, 2017 (edited) I has now been 20 years since I started antidepressants for persistent sadness and depression. I've reached a point of total frustration feeling that instead of helping they may be exacerbating the problem. I have absolutely nothing to be depressed about in my life yet I'm in a daily funk. Does anyone think and feel the same? Perhaps I should start to taper one of them! Edited October 7, 2017 by Tyron reduced font Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted October 7, 2017 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 7, 2017 Have you every read the book Your Drug May Be Your Problem by Peter Breggin? The drugs can cause the problems that they are supposed to help. I have been on ADs continuously for 25+ years and it is only now that my dose is lower that I am starting to feel like I did before starting them. I hadn't realised how numb I had been whilst taking them, but that is what they do. Recently I experienced true excitement (19mg Pristiq) whereas back in May when I bought my new car the excitement I felt then was a dulled excitement (on 25mg at the time). * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted October 7, 2017 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 7, 2017 Please follow these instructions and create your drug signature. The allows the moderators to see your drug history at a glance and not have to read through your posts. Please update it whenever you make a change. Thank you. A request: Would you summarize your history in a signature - ALL drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly? Please leave out symptoms and diagnoses. A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs. Any drugs prior to 24 months ago can just be listed with start and stop years. Please use actual dates or approximate dates (mid-June, Late October) rather than relative time frames (last week, 3 months ago) Spell out months, e.g. "October" or "Oct."; 9/1/2016 can be interpreted as Jan. 9, 2016 or Sept. 1, 2016. Link to Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature. You mentioned in another topic that you are considering tapering. Taking multiple psych drugs? Which drug to taper first? If you're not having an adverse reaction from the other medications, taper the most activating drug first. This is usually an antidepressant or stimulant (ADHD drug). Please also put your drugs in Drug Interactions Checker and copy and paste the results here in your topic. Before you begin tapering what you need to knowWhy taper by 10% of my dosage? Dr Joseph Glenmullen's WD Symptoms Checklist Brain Remodelling Video: Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery How do you talk to a doctor about tapering and withdrawal? What should I expect from my doctor about withdrawal symptoms? * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management Link to comment
Tyron Posted October 7, 2017 Author Share Posted October 7, 2017 (edited) Thank you ChessieCat, with the help of my GP I will start this week! Edited October 7, 2017 by Tyron reduced font Link to comment
Tyron Posted January 17, 2018 Author Share Posted January 17, 2018 Hello brave souls,After various other antidepressants I started Paxil (20mg) seven years ago and augmented with Mirtazapine (30mg) 4 years ago. In the interim I still suffered feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness and all the signs of Dysthymia so what was the point of the medication? Poor concentration and performance wrecked my career and emotional impulsiveness caused many problems in my marriage. I cannot understand why my dear wife of 37 years is still with me? I retired 4 years ago due to stress and depression but now at the age of 70, finally I have had enough antidepressants making me more depressed! I’m in my third week of reducing Paxil down to 15mg, so far so good. Although I have read many horror stories about weaning off Paxil, I am confident I will succeed if I go slowly. Drinking lots of water, daily walking, along with a good diet and reading all the brave success stories from this site will get me through. I know it! Once the Paxil is out of my system, Mirtazapine is next! I know it won’t be easy but I’m looking forward to the challenge. I thank all you brave soldiers for your encouragement and advice. Peace be with you! Link to comment
nz11 Posted January 17, 2018 Share Posted January 17, 2018 Diehard what do you think about the idea of doing a drug sig nz 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 Link to comment
Tyron Posted January 18, 2018 Author Share Posted January 18, 2018 Hi nz11, Please enlighten me, what is a drug sig? Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted January 19, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted January 19, 2018 The drug sig is the drug history which is put into your signature and shows up below every post you make. * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management Link to comment
Tyron Posted January 19, 2018 Author Share Posted January 19, 2018 Thank you Ccat, I think I have rectified that. Blessings! Link to comment
Tyron Posted January 20, 2018 Author Share Posted January 20, 2018 Hi Everyone, 12th day now after having tapered Paxil from 20mg to 15mg, feeling slightly better already! Next week I start 12.5mg of Paxil and plan to reduce by 2.5mg every month to "0" Staying on Mirtazapine till Paxil is out of my system, mean while I'm using Omega3, Tryptophan and MethylB Complex. I feel confident I can do it! Link to comment
nz11 Posted January 24, 2018 Share Posted January 24, 2018 Diehard have you read the link about tapering at 10% per month? What do you think about that idea? well done on doing the drug sig. 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 Link to comment
Tyron Posted January 31, 2018 Author Share Posted January 31, 2018 Greetings nz11, I am somewhat baffled as to how I would manage to measure the suggested 10% per month tapering. I have started off with a 20% reduction followed by 1mL per month using a syringe that came with the liquid Paxil. Each increment is 0.1mL which represents 1 mg. so with that I am only able to taper by 1mL each month. The top part of the table is using the syringe increments and the bottom part using the suggested 10% reduction; As you can see the 10% reduction measurements would be very tricky indeed! This will be my third day from 15mg to 12mg, So far, (apart from a few dizzy brain zaps) I'm doing well! However, I am concerned at the reduction from Oct onward. 2018 FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN mL 15 to 12 12 to 11 11 to 10 10 to 9 9 to 8 8 to 7 7 to 6 6 to 5 5 to 4 4 to 3 3 to 2 2 to 1 Percent 20% 8.33% 9.09% 10% 11.11% 12.50% 14.28% 16.66% 20% 25% 33.33% 50% 10% reduction in mL 15 13.5 12.15 10.93 9.84 8.85 7.97 7.17 6.46 5.81 etc etc Link to comment
nz11 Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 Diehard your first post says Paxil for 20 years but drug sig says since 2011. which one is correct 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 Link to comment
nz11 Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 8 hours ago, Diehard said: started off with a 20% reduction followed by 1mL per month DH are you aware this is not the recommended way to taper as per sa. What do you think about the sa taper method. 8 hours ago, Diehard said: using a syringe that came with the liquid Paxil. I assume therefore that you are getting liquid paxil from the pharmacy Please confirm the mg : ml ratio in the bottle. 8 hours ago, Diehard said: Each increment is 0.1mL which represents 1 mg. As i say just to ensure we are all on the same page here please confirm the mg:ml ratio in the bottle of paxil liquid 8 hours ago, Diehard said: As you can see the 10% reduction measurements would be very tricky indeed! What about rounding? 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 Link to comment
nz11 Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 On 1/17/2018 at 5:48 PM, Diehard said: After various other antidepressants I started Paxil (20mg) seven years ago Okay i think i got it 7 years on paxil and 20 years on ads, there exist others prior to paxil. You know what i think ... i think the drop to 15 may well be too much. If i were you i would not drop again as you have planned. If you put '10 days ago ' in your drug sig it is confusing could you help us out here and date this. 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 Link to comment
Tyron Posted February 1, 2018 Author Share Posted February 1, 2018 Correction! 13 years on various ADs, then started Paxil 7 years ago, added Mirtazapine 4 years ago to help with sleep. Decided to make changes due to anger issues and worsening depression, something wasn't right. Started tapering Paxil from 20mg to 15mg - 3 weeks ago then down to 12mg three days ago. Saw my Psych today told him I was getting Getting brain zaps, feeling nauseous but appear to be travelling ok. He wasn't happy with the outcome and has put me on Lovan (Prozac) while tapering as it's easier to come off? He wants me to reduce Paxil by 2mgs per month whilst gradually raising Lovan. It all sounds quite scary to me but I'll see how it goes. I just want to feel "normal" and be artistically and musically creative again! Thank you soo much for your caring responses. I'll keep you posted. Kind Regards Link to comment
nz11 Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 I know that inspite of sa's advice to the contrary you have thought this through and decided to go with the psych advice. These are two questions i would be asking the psych Has he had success with this method in the past....if so, Is he able to put you in contact with one of his other patients with whom he has had success with this method so you can talk to them regarding how it went and how they are doing now. If he cant put you in contact with another patient then that means you are either his first attempt at this or he has up till now not had any success with this bridging plan. I don't think these requests are too much to ask. Wishing you strength. 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 Link to comment
Tyron Posted February 3, 2018 Author Share Posted February 3, 2018 Hello Again, Due to my very sensitive system, now experiencing brain zaps and vertigo I have decided to follow the 10% tapering advice! Presently my wife is recovering from cancer treatment so I need to be fully "Compos Mentis" to be there for her. The nearest I can get to 10% would be reducing by 1mg per month without the aid of Lovan. Has anyone used natural supplements to help support their system? Thanks for the caring advice. Kind Regards Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted February 3, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted February 3, 2018 The only supplements which SA recommends are Magnesium and Omega-3 Fish Oil . Try a small amount to start and build up. Try each separately. Only make one change at a time, ie don't make a reduction and start a supplement at the same time. It's also a good idea to keep daily notes on paper. 20 minutes ago, Diehard said: The nearest I can get to 10% would be reducing by 1mg per month Many members find that the lower their dose gets the slower they need to go. This topic discusses this: Why taper paper: dose-occupancy curves There as several options to get doses. From Post #1 Tips for tapering off Paxil (paroxetine) Precisely weighing tablet pieces or crushed tablets with an electronic digital scale You may wish to precisely measure your dosage with an electronic scale that measures milligrams. These are available for under $30 US. See Using a digital scale to measure dosesUse Paxil liquid to taper This is the easiest and most accurate way to taper Paxil. See FDA prescribing information at http://www.drugs.com/pro/paxil.html In the US, the ordering code for Paxil Oral Suspension (liquid),10 mg/5ml., in 250 ml bottles is NDC 53873-043-00 (GlaxoSmithKline Paxil liquid) https://www.hipaaspace.com/medical_billing/coding/national.drug.codes/53873-043-00 NDC 60505-0402-5 (Apotex generic paroxetine liquid) https://www.hipaaspace.com/medical_billing/coding/national.drug.codes/60505-0402-5 Some people are sensitive to changes in the form of the drug. If you are taking tablets, you may wish to take part of your daily dosage in tablet form and part in liquid for a few days to ease the transition from tablets to liquid. Use oral syringes to taper with the liquid, see http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/235-tapering-techniques/Make your own liquid You can make your own liquid with water. See How to make a liquid from tablets or capsules * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted February 3, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted February 3, 2018 On 01/02/2018 at 10:17 PM, Diehard said: Started tapering Paxil from 20mg to 15mg - 3 weeks ago then down to 12mg three days ago. Please update your signature whenever you make a change. Thank you. If you are still experiencing withdrawal symptoms you might consider updosing by a small amount. If you have been on 12mg for several weeks, taking just an extra mg may be enough. Your brain will have already made same changes since you lowered your dose. It is better to increase by a small amount and see if that helps rather than increasing by too much. If you find after 1-2 weeks that you are still suffering you can always increase by a bit more. Please see Post #1 of this topic: About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management Link to comment
nz11 Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 3 hours ago, Diehard said: I have decided to follow the 10% tapering advice! You have made a wonderful choice. Are you still taking Lovan? dosage? or have you ditched it? 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 Link to comment
Tyron Posted February 3, 2018 Author Share Posted February 3, 2018 I will only take Lovan in 4 months if I start having a hard time. Not sure how to edit the med signature! Link to comment
nz11 Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 Okay so you havent taken any lovan as yet. imo the cut to 15mg is too much to start with. 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 Link to comment
Tyron Posted February 14, 2018 Author Share Posted February 14, 2018 Hi Everyone, I'm tapering off Liquid Paxil 12mg presently then down to 10mg on the 1st of march. I'm kind of doing alright, except for becoming moody and lethargic. My GP has given me Lovan (Prozac) to start at a very low dose to help with the imbalance but I remain hesitant. Should I start with 5mg of Lovan when I get down to 10mg of Paxil or is that too much? Your advice would be appreciated, Thank you! Link to comment
Tyron Posted April 16, 2018 Author Share Posted April 16, 2018 Hi Everyone, I'm tapering off Liquid Paxil, now down to 10mg from 20mg (3 months ago) also taking 10mg of Lovan. I'm kind of doing alright, except for very low motivation and not wanting to do anything all day. Tapering Paxil by 1mg per month, but would I have to match the Lovan dosage? Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted April 16, 2018 Administrator Share Posted April 16, 2018 Diehard, I moved your post here, your Intro topic is the place for questions about your particular situation. We have to ask you a lot of questions that would throw other topics off-track. How long have you been taking Lovan? Please update your signature. How did you feel after you added Lovan? When did you cut Paxil to 10mg? How did you feel after that? 4 minutes ago, Diehard said: would I have to match the Lovan dosage? Please clarify. What do you mean by match? Please note, if you're taking 10mg Paxil, 1mg is 10%. If you're taking 9mg Paxil, 1mg would be 11%. If you're taking 8mg Paxil, 1mg would be 12.5%. The decreases get proportionately bigger, which is not what you want in a taper. We advise calculating the 10% decreases based on the last dosage, not the first. 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. Link to comment
Tyron Posted April 16, 2018 Author Share Posted April 16, 2018 Hello! Three months ago I cut my 20mg tablet down to 15mg without any issues. I am now on 10mg of Liquid Paxil without any major issues, I am in fact in a much better mood now than when I was on 20mg. I understand the percentages but the 'how to' is the tricky part. Next month 10% is easy enough, but dropping by 1mg per month yes the percentages would be higher..4 down to 3 would be 33.33% and 2 to 1 is 50% How do I accurately achieve 10% measures? When I was on 15mg Paxil, I was also taking 5mg of Lovan (3 months ago) Now on 10mg Paxil (since 4 weeks ago) - I am also on 10mg of Lovan (started 1 month ago) No Major issues except for Lethargy and feeling sorry for myself! Would I need to raise Lovan as the Paxil dose gets smaller. Link to comment
Tyron Posted December 15, 2018 Author Share Posted December 15, 2018 Hi everyone! I am 2 weeks short of my 3rd month off Paxil and I am going through horrendous depression and fatigue. I would love to hear success stories of others who have come off Paxil please. I am still on Mirtizapine 45mg at night and 20mg of Lovan in the morning.😢 I don't want to be on any meds but feel I'm destined to take them till I die. Link to comment
Lloyd Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 Hi Diehard, sorry to hear you are not feeling well. One of the moderators should be along soon to help. How long did you taper off of paxil for? Your signature says tapered to 10mg in March. Are you taking any at the moment? Are you experiencing brain zaps? Fish oil is quite helpful for reducing brain zaps. I am in WA as well, there is quite a few people here from Australia. Paroxatine - 2004-2006 Effexor XR 75mg 2006 - 2016 (Discontinued Feb 2016) - Withdrawal for 6 months. Effexor XR 75mg Re-instated June 2017 (Discontinued Dec 2017) Effexor XR 2-3 mg Re-instated March 10 2018 - 1 day (Didn't work) Effexor XR 2mg Reinstated (Again) May 11 2018. 6 Beads July 2018 - 0.0mg of Effexor. Zilch Link to comment
Leo1983 Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 Your intro is in the wrong place. Need to be in introductions. May 2016 - Aug 2016 - Prozac 20mg March 2017 - June 2017 - Sertraline 100mg. Horrific withdrawal 5 m onths. July 2017 - Aug 2017 - Mirtazapine 15mg. Horrific. August 2017 - December 2017 Fluoxetine 10mg for 2 weeks ghen Escitalopram 20mg for 12 weeks. Never felt normal since this. Or baseline. March 2018 - June 2018 - Escitalopram 5mg for 12 weeks. Stopped and here i am full of symptoms i never had. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus manymoretodays Posted December 18, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted December 18, 2018 Hi Diehard, I just noticed your most recent post in success stories and moved it on back here to your introduction. Please update your signature in Account Settings On 12/15/2018 at 12:02 AM, Diehard said: Hi everyone! I am 2 weeks short of my 3rd month off Paxil and I am going through horrendous depression and fatigue. I would love to hear success stories of others who have come off Paxil please. I am still on Mirtizapine 45mg at night and 20mg of Lovan in the morning.😢 I don't want to be on any meds but feel I'm destined to take them till I die. How did you taper the Paxil from 10 mg to zero? When did you increase the Lovan to 20 mg? When did the symptoms of horrendous depression and fatigue start? Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks. Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988. In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm. Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time). 5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014) 12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs. My last psycho med ever! Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to 2016 Dec 16, medication free!! Longer signature post here, with current supplements. Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016. And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed. Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022. Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜 None of my posts are intended as medical advice. Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider. My success story: Blue skies ahead, clear sailing Link to comment
Tyron Posted December 18, 2018 Author Share Posted December 18, 2018 Hi Manymoredays, I have just updated my signature notes, sorry I'm not using this site as I should...I'll get there! A month ago my psychiatrist tried me on Lamictal (Lamotrigine) 4 weeks ago which sent me spiralling down and feeling suicidal after a week. Came off them immediately and fell into a very bad depression. It's a struggle but I'm coming good now! Started taking fish oil yesterday! Magnesium is good and so is regular exercise which I struggle to get started. I also struggle with sleep (refuse to medicate sleep) Don't have confidence with the Mirtazapine and Lovan, there has to be something suitable! Reducing Paxil in liquid form is the easy way to go but expensive. So many battling souls on multiple medication that my heart goes out to! The mind plays many tricks on us all; we must keep trying and never ever give up. Blessings to you my friend, God speed. I wish you good success and good fortune! Link to comment
Tyron Posted March 15, 2021 Author Share Posted March 15, 2021 Hello! For eight years I have been taking Matazapine and Lovan but was still disgruntled as I was still feeling agitated and moody, so my psych suggested a blood test to determine which AD would be more suitable with my metabolism. The results indicated that Lovan could be the culprit so my psych recommended that I switch from Lovan (prozac) to Trintellix. however, since reducing just the Lovan from 20mg down to 10mg my wife noticed that I have been more creative and proactive. If I continue feeling this way reducing the Lovan then I would rather do without a new drug, so can someone recommend a supplements to soften the discomfort whilst tapering? I have an appointment with my Psych in four weeks. Many Thanks Link to comment
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