Any advice or thoughts on weaning off paxil?

Question

Last summer I had a bout of intense, devastating and unpredictable panic attacks. In desperation I began taking Paxil for it's anti anxiety properties. I haven't had any attacks since last August, and I've gained 30 lbs and am totally ready to be off this drug. However, I have heard horror stories, and my perscribing psychiatrist (who doens't know me all that well after only monthly 10 minute appointments) has frightened me by telling me how they could very well come back soon as I get off of it. But I feel good and ready to rid myself of this drug. Does anyone have anything thoughtful or wise to offer about their experience or knowledge with getting off of Paxil? I want to so much but I must say I am scared.. Thank you for your time.

Ok, while I very much appreciate the answers so far, I guess I should have been more specific. I do know technically how I need to wean off, by going down to 15 for a few weeks, then 10, then 5, etc.. I think I am looking more for mental and emotional preparation, insight, etc. Thank you though so much.

Answer 1

From the week you start weaning,
take a notebook and write notes and remarks about why you are stopping the medication........any symptoms that you haven't had to deal with over the past year.....any other changes in your mood, relationships, reasoning, or abilities...... any weight changes.......desires to eat nor not eat.......tears or confusion.........and episodes of nervousness or anxiousness.

If you will keep and continue to contribute to your notebook over about the next 3 months, both you and your Dr. may find it to be a very valuable tool in understand how your mind and body are working/ or not working. It should take about 3 months for all the effects of Paxil to have left your body, and for your body to have resumed its "norm" that you will be living with from here-on-out.

Use this notebook as a tool, to look back through, to help you evaluate where you are today, and where you are 3 months from now, weighing the symptoms, risks and consequences.
It will give you a more accurate picture than your memory alone.

Answer 2

There's a non-profit website called Quit Paxil. Be sure to read up on what to expect, and let your family/friends know what you'll be going through.
http://www.quitpaxil.info/

Taper off as slowly as possible. I cut down by 5mg each month and I had a rough time. Not every feels that bad, but be prepared. Read up on the symptoms so you know you're "normal".

I noticed other people have said take 1 pill every other day- DON'T do that. It's the worst thing you can do! Taper off slowly and steadily, cutting your pills into 4ths if you need to, or gettign liquid Paxil to cut down even more slowly.

If you were on Paxil for panic like I was, there are other, drug-free ways to overcome. I wasted 6 years on Paxil when I needed som iron, some protein and to stop eating sugar.

Hang in there, drink A LOT of water, try to exercise, try to take some fiber supplement, and when you are off Paxil for 2-3 weeks, take 100-300mg of 5HTP a day.

Answer 3

OK, it sounds like you have two questions-one about the drug and one about the dosing. Paxil is a perfectly good antidepressant in the family of meds called SSRIs, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. They raise serotonin levels by decreasing its reuptake (clean up) in the cleft between nerves. I personally don't prescribe a lot of Paxil compared to other antidepressants because it can have more side effects compared to others but if its working for you, I would not change it. My experience has been that Paxil can be reasonably dosed once a day, usually all at night since it can be sedating. A certain subset of the population metabolizes these drugs more rapidly than other people and in those people higher doses or more frequent doses may be necessary. I don't know why your doc wanted to go twice a day instead of once a day but again, if it is working for you, I wouldn't rock the boat. It is true that Paxil has a short half life (stays in the system for a shorter period of time) compared to some of its sister medications. For this reason, if the dose is discontinued abruptly people can have a withdrawal syndrome that is similar to a case of the flu. This does NOT mean it is addictive like heroin or any controlled substance. Your body just gets used to it and needs to stop it over a period of time rather than all at once. I had a similar experience with Effexor, which is also short acting, when I stopped it at high dose abruptly. I felt terrible. But I restarted it and went off slowly and things were fine. If at some point you decide to come off of the medication, let your doc know and he will titrate you off of it slowly or cross taper to a longer acting agent.

Answer 4

I had the same thing. It took about two weeks to get over the effects of getting off it. I would get dizzy spells and anxiety, but it eventually went away. Also, you could get angry easily. It depends on the person. I have heard of people trying to gradually lessen their dosage, but it doesn't really help that much. My advice is to let the people around you who you trust know what you are doing so they can be there for you and realize why you may be acting different. I am now taking some OTC things which are safer and a lot cheaper. I feel pretty good most of the time. Best of luck!

Answer 5

Start buy breaking your pills in half, then fourths, then taking every other day, until you are gradually off of them. Paxil is like a pair of crutches-you need it for a while, but once you heal, you don'[t need them as much anymore, and eventually, you can do without it. Good luck!

Answer 6

you must wean yourself slowly, very slowly. Suggest that you simply tell your psychiatrist that you wish to try going without, fully aware that the potential exists for the attacks to begin again. As long as you are aware, and still want to try to wean off the Paxil, he should support your decision and help to do so safely.

Answer 7

try to get on another medicine but you have to slowy get off paxil.....ask about a different medication....when i got a different type of medication i had to cut the paxil in half (12.5 mg) and took both meds for 3 days then after that i totally stoped taking paxil....but i only took it for about a month..the dr said you can get addicted to paxil and it does cause weight gain...look into different meds and talk to your dr. about getting off paxil...it is a good medicine tho..good luck!!!!!!!

Answer 8

Go by your Dr. recommendations. I was on this medicine and never had to wean off of it and it didn't do anything for me. Such a useless drug!

Answer 9

well Try taking them every other day for a while and then keep going down each week and see how that works for you.Good Luck and I hope you are able to get off of them and loose your unwanted weight.

Answer 10

GRADUALLY CUT DOWN