Coping with Seroxat (Paxil) withdrawal?- serious question?

Question

Please, this is a serious question. That people who try and withdraw from Seroxat often suffer a living hell, mentally, goes without saying. But I am asking this question from the point of view of the partner. My wife has been trying, on and off for the last four years to come off these wretched tablets. Now, she has become verbally abusive and "impossible" to live with insasmuch that there is nothing I seem able to do to stop our situation becoming explosive, even, dare I say it, violent. Our marriage, never strong, is now at broken-point and the children are suffering too. I really need to understand her plight better in order to somehow deal with this in a supporting and caring manner. Right now, everything I seem to do or say seems to make it worse.

Please - my question is to the partners, wives, husbands of seroxat withdrawal sufferers. How do YOU manage to cope?

Many thanks to ALL the respondees - much appreciated that people have taken the time to write a response.

Answer 1

i are in the uk i was on this drug and did not affect me at all but have watched programs about it and people killing themselves when on it also self harming also suiside please get help from your doctor as these tablets are very dangarous when taking also worse when trying to get off them.very hard to cope from what i saw in them tv programs sorry to say .anyway i wish you and your wife all the luck in the world as you will need it.i was lucky i just stoped taking them and was ok .ps i would insist also to doctor you need other help as you cannot do this on your own.dont think you can get this drug now in uk think it was banned

Answer 2

I'm afraid I don't fit the profile of the person you are looking for answers from but I feel compelled to respond to your situation. I was taking seroxat myself. I had a hard time coming off it. It was stressful and took 6 months on a reducing dose. Every step was difficult and I know I was grumpy and difficult to be around at times. There were other symptoms too but this isn't relevant to the question.

I would, however, want to emphasise that throughout that time I was in control of my actions and knew what I was doing. I am very concerned that your relationship is so unbearable and that you and your wife are blaming seroxat. Is it possible that the issue of seroxat is an easy answer to the question of why your relationship is so difficult? Even with the added complication of seroxat withdrawal, violence is not acceptable and a dangerous development that puts everyone at risk. I am worried as well that your children are suffering too. You don't say what is happening in this respect but if you know that the current living situation is causing them harm, you have a responsibility to take action to keep them safe.

With all the symptoms I experienced, I did not lose control of my faculties and knew right from wrong. I was not violent at any time. I believe your wife also has choices about this behaviour and this is something you may need to consider.

I would suggest you make contact with your wife's GP asap and explain what is happening. Get clarification from them about whether they would expect this as a reaction to seroxat withdrawal. Consider their response and what action you want to take. You say that your relationship has never been strong and perhaps this is a good time to evaluate whether it is helpful to anyone to keep trying to make it work. If you are the victim of violence you might want to contact mankind on 0870 794 4124 or visit http://www.mankind.org.uk/. Violence is never acceptable no matter what the circumstances.

You might also want to visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/relationships/domestic_violence/menhh_index.shtml#external_sites

I know this probably isn't the answer you want but you seem to be at breaking point. Please talk to someone about what is happening before things get more serious.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Answer 3

I've not been pregnant on Paxil but I would do as both your doctors suggest. The warnings on the label and on the internet are the same as the warnings for pregnant women and smoking. Yeah, it's probably best not to smoke while your pregnant, but you could. Anyway, your benefits really do outway the risk in this case. Stay happy and healthy. Get check ups often and talk with your doctors about the baby. Everything should be fine. Or if your still not satisfied and don't trust your doctors you could get a third opinion from another doctor. Good luck!

Answer 4

man i really feel for you. Maybe this is the letter my expartner would have written.I spent half our life together coming off seroxat.She did try very hard to be loving and understanding and i tried very hard to be in control so it wasnt complete hell all the time, but it often felt far bigger than i could handle. In the end we agreed to time apart which she then decided to make permanent. If we had known or suspected that it was the drug maybe things couldve been different, but i had a history of problems that seemed to have subsided for a while..Just looked up the links on the website mentioned above and quite a few effects applied and still do. If it really is the pills then maybe it could help to know that this isn't actually your wife, but maybe a break from each other would help as it seems like somehow your presence is triggering off something. It was like that with us even tho we loved each other dearly,..almost painfully.Really hoping you get the best information and proper advice you need.

Answer 5

This drug has taken a lot of media bashing over the years. That has been a little unfair since they seldom include details of profoundly depressed and anxious patients who have had dramatic benefit. The drug has one of the 2 features of a drug of addiction, it is difficult to stop. Unlike true drugs of addiction its therapeutic effect does not decrease with time and there in no ongoing tendency to need to increase the dose.

Firstly, and I have only recently come to accept this,some patients are only 'normal' and well when they take SSRIs. Sounds bad, but if you think about it we don't cure high blood pressure we manage it, and the patient needs lifelong therapy to stay well and controlled. Is there a difference? maybe not?

Secondly if your wife is keen to withdraw I have found the most useful technique to make sure the patient is stable, then transfer to liquid seroxat. This can be withdrawn 1-2mgs a month, it takes time but usually causes few problems. Go discuss that possibility with your GP. It is a bit doctor intensive as I feel you need to be seen and assessed every 4 weeks.

Answer 6

If you're in the UK, there was a program on TV last night with regards to Seroxat. It was aimed at the difficulties that patients taking have experienced.

The telephone number to speak with someone about it is: 0800 077 077

Give them a call. You've got nothing to lose.

My own wife successfully weaned herself off Seroxat (Paroxetine). It took a great deal of time as once her dose was so low, she continually had 'Panic attacks'. It may be that your wife could do with a substitute medication whilst reducing her Seroxat. Speak to your doctor about this.

It might pay you to take a look at the following site. It explains some of the difficulties experienced in taking/coming off Seroxat.

Answer 7

Seroxat Withdrawal

Answer 8

I saw your question last night only didn't answer I knew that there was a programme Panorama which was on only I didn't watch it. I get an email from Patrick Holford not that sure of the site (if you check on a search it will come up) well I have just got my email and it is ALL about Seroxat there is lots of info and some links as well only I don't know how to put them on here sorry but PLEASE check it out as you might find out the correct info. Good Luck and take care.

Answer 9

thats the whole point u cant cope if theres any violence its not good for u or the kids u need to resolve this one way or another and quick before it gets worse. see if theirs any friends or family members who will help out or if that dont work u may have to see someone who could help like a councillor

Answer 10

This a tough question but i found you a forum on the net which people talk about this, here the link and good luck to you all.

http://www.depressionforums.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=3481&mode=linear