My mom is experiencing withdrawel symptoms from paxil. It's gotten bad.?

Question

She has nausea, vomiting, extreme vertigo, diarrhea, headaches, etc. Is there anything she can do to dull this in anyway without retaking a paxil??? We called the ER doctor and he just suggested to take a xanax. She stopped taking it about 10 days ago and the symptoms started right then and have gotten progressively worse. Any advice would be GREAT. Thanks...-A Worried Daughter.

Answer 1

Paxil you can quit cold turkey. As in many cases it take 2 weeks worth of withdrawing but each day after the first week or so, it does get better.As for the xanax...don't let her take it!! That would help for a day or two, but getting off of that is even worse than what she is doing with the Paxil. She can't die from Paxil withdrawal, but she can from xanax, klonipan, ativian,and valium(all best known benzodiazapine's) Just keep up with fluids and light meals with patience and understanding. It is hell, I know. But it will be better.Sometimes it has to get worse before it gets better. It may not look that way now, but I can promise you. Try to keep her mind occupied on other things. Distraction will help make the time go by a little faster. That's what my family had to do for me. Good Luck and God Bless

Answer 2

I can't really understand why an ER doctor would say "take a Xanax", wow now that will cause you some grief. Xanax probably would help short term, however in the long term she would suffer because Xanax is a benzodiazepine which is habit forming. I don't care what anyone tells you, Paxil is not an addictive substance. Paxil doesn't bind with any opiate receptors or gaba receptors within the brain. True, it will cause some form of withdrawal if you stop taking it cold turkey as all pychotropic meds. can, but this does not mean it's addictive. I think people are confused by this and need to check the facts out before making a bold statement like that.
Paxil has a half-life of approx. 21 hours so if it's been 10 days since taking it it should be out of her system by now. I would have to consider why did she stop the medication to begin with? She might have a return of symptoms and this may not get better unless she takes her medication or by changing to another medication, however Xanax is not the right one. Has she been taking any other meds such as Xanax,Valium, Ativan, Klonipin? If so, that is probably what's making her feel the intense withdrawal. Check with her and see what other meds she's taking or has taken and see if she has stopped them, as well. If she has taken a large dose of Paxil,say 40 to 60mg a day then she needed to taper by increments of 10mg each week and then start skipping to every other day until it was gone. I'm sorry but don't do the Xanax, it will only cause more problems down the road. Best of luck to you and your Mom!

Answer 3

I stopped Paxil a while back because it was a terrible awful brain-rotting drug. It sounds like she didn't wean and went cold turkey. She must feel awful - I would HIGHLY recommend going to the ER and getting a xanax or some clonepine. Paxil is evil and I commend you mother for getting off of that stuff. Maybe get a dr. appt. for xanax or clonepine - even a little atenolol would take the edge off. It's very dangerous to take this stuff and stop it suddenly. I feel for you and your mom, I really do.

I would really advise going to the ER and getting something NOW for the withdrawal. I don't think you could die from the withdrawal, but you'll feel like you want to.

I'm NOT A DOCTOR, but I've been on ALL of the medications enough to know. Everyone is different, but if she's been off for 10 days, the worst is probably over.

Get the xanax.

Answer 4

Did you explain to the dr. she quit 10 days ago?

The xanax really should do it, you can always call ER again, and
restate her situation. She may have a bit of another situation?
The Paxil really should be just about out of her body by now.

Another call would ease your mind.

Good luck. . (also a little chicken noodle soup and dry toast may
help the nausea)
NEVER RESTART A MED> AFTER BEING OFF SO LONG IT WILL ONLY CREAT ANOTHER PROBLEM!!

Answer 5

Hi sweetheart... I stopped Paxil several years ago, but did not experiance these symptoms... a good idea is to stop gradually... cut the scrip in half for a week or two, then in a quarter for another week or two...Then try to quit altogether... Dr.s are legalized drug pushers, they do not understand the complications of their prescriptions most of the time... That is my advice to you, I know it works for pain killers, I wish you and your Mom the best of luck....

Answer 6

Paxil is really difficult to get out of your system. She needs to step down gradually, not just stop taking it. That could be the reason she's experiencing these symptoms.

Answer 7

So sorry,unfortunately Panax is addictive as you know and it takes time for the body to get normal again 2-3 even 4 weeks. Do not know how long Paxil stays in the system. She needs to drink lots of water Because she has diarrea and vomiting she is losing nutrition and minerals so she needs to take a lukewarm glass of water, 1 to 1 1/2 Tablespoons of BROWN Vinegar mixed in and some honey to sweeten and drink--the Brown Vinegar-a large grocery store or health food stroe has it, and drink through out the day for the Brown Vinegar and to some degree the honey has potassium and minerals that she needs to strengthen,boost her immune system. She also can take a Once a Day Vitamin Mineral Supplement for to throw the addiction off her body needs to be strong and needs NUTRIENTS-if she can't keep food down she at least needs to drink vegetable,fruit juices.tea-caffeinated-she needs the energy kick right now and tea also protects from free radicals. She can also take extra Vitamin C-like 1000mg-will not hurt her 1 x daynot at the same time she takes the Multivitamin-best in the PM-will also boost immune system.Anything to make her body strong. Zanax by the way is also addictive-did a quick search and found it is used for depression,anxiety BUT since she is already withdrawing from addictive why in God's name take another addictive pill which if she takes 3 times a day-the usual prescribed way to take in 4 mos approx or sooner she'll be withdrawing again. ZOLOFT IS NOTa ddictive but also a chemical and prescribed for me but did not like mademe feel weird. Went to my regular Health food store and asked what is good for stress,high anxiety and given RHODIOLA ROOT-natural powder from root in a capsule and helps with stress ,calms me,lifts my spirit,gives me energy in the AM but also helps me sleep in the PM can take 2 capsules but I only take 1 in the AM for find 2 bit too much(for me) beffore she messes with any addictive chemicals give the RHODIOLA (SUPER)ROOT a try. I take 500mg in 1 capsule and the Brand is SOLARAY. Because she is withdrawing she can try 1 but can safely take 2 capsules. It is not addictive,has no side effects ,will not harm liver,kidneys, nor interfere with any prescribed medications. Wish her and you GOOD LUCK but hang in there for it will get better a little every day-Just remember water,vinegar,honey,vitamin,vegetable fruit juice,any light food she can keep down-sometimes cold canned fruit is good, yogurt even chips of ice for cannot get dehydrated. the more she drinks,eats the faster it will take to get the chemical out of her system-if she throws up doit again and again until it stays down.

Answer 8

she may need to restart them and then wean herself off slowly, dont go cold turkey it can be fatal, take it slowly like taper off over a 2 week period...and a xanax would be helpful but they are more addictive than paxil

Answer 9

Yes, I get that quite a lot of the time, Though it's usually to do with chocolate!! Thank you very much :)

Answer 10

It sounds like she quit SUDDENLY. Yea withdrawals are bad with all meds. Especially phyc meds. She need to go back to doc and talk to him. Maybe go back on them and in a week or two decrease slowly. Don't worry okay. As a daughter just take her to her reg physician it will be okay