Bedish: Paxil withdrawal and health anxiety

[Bedish]

I have health anxiety after every time ı stop paxil. Anyone **** me? Many thanks in advance

Edited September 13, 2017 by baroquep

[baroquep]

Hi  Bedish,

 

Welcome to Surviving Antidepressants (SA), I’m glad you found the site. 

 

You haven’t given us much information to go on, and would ask that you let us know you have been trying to discontinue Paxil.  You may not be aware, but when an antidepressant is discontinued abruptly, doses skipped/alternated or a person tapers off too quickly this puts you at risk for developing withdrawal syndrome.  Because you are having difficulties stopping Paxil, it would appear that this is what is happening to you when you try to stop.

 

In order for us to provide you with specific information regarding your situation, we ask all of our members to fill out a withdrawal signature history so that all of your information can be read at a glance.  This helps moderators review your tapering/drug withdrawal history and we would ask that you follow the instructions at the link below.

 

Instructions:  Withdrawal History Signature

 

 •    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.

 

Surviving Antidepressants recommends tapering by 10% of your current dose with at a hold of at least four weeks before your next decrease.  The 10% taper recommendation is a harm reduction approach to going off psychiatric drugs.  Some people may have to taper at an even more conservative rate as they are sensitive to even the smallest drops.  

 

What is Withdrawal Syndrome?
Before you begin tapering what you need to know
Why taper by 10% of my dosage?
Tips for Tapering off Paxil / Paroxetine

 

I would encourage you to have a look at the links above, connect with members of the community so that you have the information necessary to successfully taper off of Paxil safely.

 

Best,
BaroqueP

[ChanceLucky]

I've had terrible health anxiety at many points in my life and it did get much worse when I went through prolonged AD withdrawal when off Celexa in 2015. I can relate. Like Baroq said, people here can be more helpful if you give more information.

[Altostrata]

Welcome, Bedish.

 

What exactly do you mean by health anxiety?

[Bedish]

Dear all

 

I had been on paxil on and off for the last 11 years. I started taking it after panic attacks. I stopped 3 times and each time to go back. Now i stopped again 4 months ago after tapering for a month. I had used it for a year this time.

 

Evertime i stop post nasal drip, health anxiety, sinus problems start. I am in a job which i am not happy but cannot leave it as it is my company. And when i am not on paxil i start seeing more of the problems. I studied psychology and read alot. Sometimes living in a world where it is not easy to keep dignity is hard. But hardest is seeing it and living through it. I also know it takes one into depression if i keep on thinking negatively and look from a posotive perspective. And afraid that i am causing myself health problems. Vicious cycle...

 

I am hoping to read your replies. Manny thanks for being here..

[baroquep]

Hi Bedish, I've merged your new post (Paxil Withdrawal) into your Introduction Topic which is where you should post all of your questions.  This keeps all of your information in one place.  Would you be able to answer the question below and review the topics provided earlier?

 

On 2017-09-15 at 1:52 AM, Altostrata said:

Welcome, Bedish.

 

What exactly do you mean by health anxiety?

 

On 2017-09-13 at 5:56 PM, baroquep said:

Hi  Bedish,

 

Welcome to Surviving Antidepressants (SA), I’m glad you found the site. 

 

You haven’t given us much information to go on, and would ask that you let us know you have been trying to discontinue Paxil.  You may not be aware, but when an antidepressant is discontinued abruptly, doses skipped/alternated or a person tapers off too quickly this puts you at risk for developing withdrawal syndrome.  Because you are having difficulties stopping Paxil, it would appear that this is what is happening to you when you try to stop.

 

In order for us to provide you with specific information regarding your situation, we ask all of our members to fill out a withdrawal signature history so that all of your information can be read at a glance.  This helps moderators review your tapering/drug withdrawal history and we would ask that you follow the instructions at the link below.

 

Instructions:  Withdrawal History Signature

 

 •    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.

 

Surviving Antidepressants recommends tapering by 10% of your current dose with at a hold of at least four weeks before your next decrease.  The 10% taper recommendation is a harm reduction approach to going off psychiatric drugs.  Some people may have to taper at an even more conservative rate as they are sensitive to even the smallest drops.  

 

What is Withdrawal Syndrome?
Before you begin tapering what you need to know
Why taper by 10% of my dosage?
Tips for Tapering off Paxil / Paroxetine

 

I would encourage you to have a look at the links above, connect with members of the community so that you have the information necessary to successfully taper off of Paxil safely.

 

Best,
BaroqueP

 

[Bedish]

On Friday, September 15, 2017 at 8:52 AM, Altostrata said:

Welcome, Bedish.

 

What exactly do you mean by health anxiety?

Hello again and thanks for yr reply. When i say health anxiety i mean taking every ache and pain as a serious illness. I sprained my knee the other day and was afraid to go to a dr. (I did at the end). I have a problem od diarrhea and swallowing and post nasal drip and they all started after stopping paxil 4 months ago. I do not know how long it will take and hoping that i am brave enough not to start paxil again.

[Altostrata]

Yes, when you make every ache and pain into a big occasion for fear, you make life more difficult for yourself.

 

Health anxiety can be managed with cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). Can you work with a therapist on this? There's no reason to take Paxil for health anxiety.

 

Your gut is telling you it needs to stay calm. Perhaps you could consider a non-irritating diet for a while: Very mild foods such as chicken, rice, broth, cooked vegetables, soups.

[ChessieCat]

Hi Bedish,

 

Please make a signature which contains your drug history.  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.

[Bedish]

Hello and many thanks for your replies. After reading many posts ı understood my tapering of having 10 mg which was the half doz for a month was not enough. I do not want to go back rhough. I really hate pıst nasal drop ı have everytime ı stop and do not know what to do.

[miT]

Hey Bedish. I'm currently on paxil 3.5mg and I plan to taper for at least 3 more years. It's my choice to go slow, but yours was definitely too fast.

 

If you give more information on your drug history the mods can offer their advice on what to do next.

 

[apace41]

15 hours ago, Altostrata said:

Health anxiety can be managed with cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). Can you work with a therapist on this? There's no reason to take Paxil for health anxiety.

 

 Alto,

 

I agree in part with this and also disagree in part.  I agree that nobody needs to take Paxil for health anxiety when they present with that condition.  HOWEVER, if the health anxiety is really a withdrawal symptom -- Bedish says that it arises when he stops the Paxil -- then the analysis is different.  I know in my case I went from "health aware" to "health anxiety" as a result of withdrawal.  

 

Cognitive behavioral therapy is the right approach to the issue, however, it is a little bit more difficult to "rewire the brain" while it is being chemically assaulted with neurotransmitters misfiring due to withdrawal.

 

Best,

 

Andy

[Altostrata]

That is very true, apace.

 

Bedish, aside from health anxiety, what is your current symptom pattern?

[Bedish]

Hello altostrata my mail symptom is having flu like symptoms and constant post nasal drip. Everytime i stop paxil this drip starts. This time food particles stuck on my throat sometimes depending on my awareness. And i have started therapy again.

Thank you everyone. I really really appreciate all yr posts.

 

[Bedish]

I think i will need to start paxil again after 4 months so i reinstate it. What do you think?

Thank you

[ChessieCat]

Hi Bedish,

 

Please put you drug doses in your signature.  Edit a signature.

 

Q:  What was the last dose of Paxil that you took when you stopped in April 2017?

 

Once we know the dose we can make a suggestion of what amount you could try as a reinstatement.  These drugs are very strong and sometimes taking a dose as small as 1mg or 2mg can help with the withdrawal symptoms.  Sometimes even a very tiny dose of 0.5mg might be enough.  Please read Post #1 of this topic so that you understand about reinstatement.  Because your brain will already have made some adjustments in the months you have been off Paxil, please do not go back on the same dose you were taking in April this year.  This would be too much for your brain and may cause major problems.

 

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms

[Bedish]

Hello ChessieCat. Thank you fr yr reply. We do not have liquid paxil in turkey and the smallest doze is 20 mg. What would you suggest.

many thanks

[ChessieCat]

From Post #1:  Tips for tapering off Paxil (paroxetine)

 

Make your own liquid
You can make your own liquid with water. See How to make a liquid from tablets or capsules

[ChessieCat]

8 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

Please put you drug doses in your signature.  Edit a signature.

 

Q:  What was the last dose of Paxil that you took when you stopped in April 2017?

 

From your signature:

 

2015 -2017 april

tapered for s mınth with 10 mg

 

Did you take your dose on alternate days?  Or did you just stop at 10mg?

[Bedish]

Thank you Chessie ı stopped at 10.