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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by scottlaen on September 17, 2004, at 9:47:42
Hey guys, I finally was able to get off Paxil after 7 years @ 20-30 mg and numerous failed attempts. I thought I would share this with you guys because I struggled so much with this over the years. Here's what my was done
1. added lexpro 10mg
2. got the liquid version of PAxil and decreased by 1 mg every 10 days
3. For the last 5 mg, we decreased the dosage to 1/2 mg every 10 days.
4. Added clonazepam for anxietyIt took almost 6 months, but it worked. With the exception of a few stomach related issues when I decreased, I had practically not other withdrawl symptoms at all. It should also be noted that I've tried for years to get off the stuff and got very ill every time, even when decreasing slowly.
I feel better than ever now- actually, it's nice to FEEL things again in general. Paxil dulls all your emotions, not just those that make you depressed or anxious.
Hope this helps anyone struggling to get off Paxil.
Posted by woolav on September 17, 2004, at 13:10:30
In reply to Paxil Withdrawl, posted by scottlaen on September 17, 2004, at 9:47:42
Good for you! Question though, are you going to continue the lexapro or is this it for you for meds? (I got off paxil about 2 months ago) and switched to prozac) I had a good 2-3 wks of crazyness. I mean I was rage filled. I hated everyone...It was unbelievable. But, that has subsided now and I feel pretty good. Except Im tired from Klonopin......
S
Posted by sunshine211 on September 18, 2004, at 7:16:32
In reply to Re: Paxil Withdrawl, posted by woolav on September 17, 2004, at 13:10:30
you guys can be by new friends! I will be tapering off my 37.5 Paxil after 6 months and adding in small amounts of Cymbalta to take the edge off and eventually switch over to. I take 0.5 mg of Klonopin too, alternated with Ambien, to sleep. the K sucks. so groggy.
I hope I don't go into rages or weird withdr. That is my ultimate fear, heard lots of stories. keep me posted and I'll keep my info up too
Posted by scottlaen on September 18, 2004, at 8:12:19
In reply to Re: Paxil Withdrawl, posted by woolav on September 17, 2004, at 13:10:30
Hey wool-
That's a good question regarding the lexpro, and while I have thought about it, I do not know if I will stay on it for the long run or not. While my original symptoms (panic, phobias, and mega-anxiety) have not returned nearly to their original state, they are still there to some degree. The question is whether lexapro is helping or not.
Regarding Klonapin- I hear you with the tiredness, however I am also on Adderall XR, so perhaps that helps to combat it. I do get tired though, and don't take it as often as I should to be effective. It should also be noted that my doctor recently put me on Buspar, which he believes can help with anxiety without the side-effects of K. If it works, I will most certainly get off K, but I don't know about lexpro.
Getting on lexpro was not nearly as difficult as starting paxil, and (while I may be wrong here), it seems that getting off lexpro isn't nearly as big of an issue as Paxil.
Either way, Lexpro has far less side effects, so for not I am not going to touch my emotional switchboard. My doctor seems genuinly interested in helping me with these medications, and is the first one who actually listens to what I have to say, and really wants to help.
Stay away from those doctors who think they know it all- We all know that these drugs affect everyone differently. The best doctors know this as well, and will listen to you.
> Good for you! Question though, are you going to continue the lexapro or is this it for you for meds? (I got off paxil about 2 months ago) and switched to prozac) I had a good 2-3 wks of crazyness. I mean I was rage filled. I hated everyone...It was unbelievable. But, that has subsided now and I feel pretty good. Except Im tired from Klonopin......
> S
Posted by scottlaen on September 18, 2004, at 8:26:01
In reply to Re: Paxil Withdrawl, posted by sunshine211 on September 18, 2004, at 7:16:32
Sunshine-Be CAREFUL tapering off that dosage. From my experience, I would suggest taking it as slow as you need to in order to avoid side affects. If it takes 8 months, so what. Don't put yourself through hell. It's not healthy!
It sounds like wool quit pretty fast and got through the month-long insanity, but I'm sure that it was probably one of the most difficult times in his/her entire life.
Regarding K making you groggy, there are many different anti-anxiety meds out there in the Benzos class that all help with anxiety/agitation, but not all of them will make you groggy. I would talk to your doctor about this because being on Paxil alone probably doesn't help with your grogginess (how many times per day do you yawn?).
I also suggest this to everyone: Take a pro-active role in any decisions regarding your medication. Don't just blindly listen to your doctor without asking questions and suggesting other options. If your doctor is against certain medications and won't even consider them, I would question that as well. Good doctors should always keep an open mind regarding meds and their affects/usefulness on different people.
Example- I once had a doctor who was dead against Valium. I don't know if they guy had some bad experience with a patient, but he ruled out ever prescribing it. There is no excuse for this kind of crap, especially when a drug has been on the market for over 30 years and has more clinical data regarding it's short-term and long-term effects than most other meds.
Good luck and don't worry!
> you guys can be by new friends! I will be tapering off my 37.5 Paxil after 6 months and adding in small amounts of Cymbalta to take the edge off and eventually switch over to. I take 0.5 mg of Klonopin too, alternated with Ambien, to sleep. the K sucks. so groggy.
> I hope I don't go into rages or weird withdr. That is my ultimate fear, heard lots of stories. keep me posted and I'll keep my info up too
Posted by sunshine211 on September 18, 2004, at 9:02:31
In reply to Re: Paxil Withdrawal, posted by scottlaen on September 18, 2004, at 8:26:01
Thanks for the advice scott. I actually have a great pdoc. we click on many levels, she really knows her stuff, but like you said, the good ones don't know everything. She is definitely one to admit that too. -WE- spent a lot of time deciding on taking meds or not. I definitely will pass on the same advice you gave me about being proactive, you really have to be. Thanks again I think I will increase the tapering time. :)
This is the end of the thread.
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