| |
 |
| Success stories , page 2 |
 |
 |
When I found out
I was pregnant in June, the first thing I did was
get on
the internet and make sure Paxil was safe for unborn
babies. All I could
find was that it was a category C drug - which for
me, wasn't a good enough
assurance that my little one would be safe if I
stayed on it. Then I came
across your website, which that very day had put
up a report about the
dangers to unborn babies. That night I read all
the tips on your website,
gathered up all my courage (because I had tried
many times, unsuccessfully,
to quit paxil before), and cut my pills in half.
It had taken me the entire
previous year to go from 20mg to 10mg, but because
I was pregnant I did a
half dose (5mg) for 3 days and then 2.5 mg for three
days, and then that was
it.
Wow - it was not a fun couple of days - or weeks!
My husband thought aliens
had taken my body over. I was nauseous, dizzy, I
couldn't stop crying, my
whole body hurt. When the physical symptoms ended
I began having suicidal
thoughts. I thank God that I was pregnant at the
time because that was
really what kept me from doing anything to harm
myself. I know I went off
Paxil faster than they reccommend, but I knew what
Paxil had done to me and
my life, and I didn't want that happening to my
child.
After maybe ten days, the bad thoughts went away,
the pain and dizziness and
zaps stopped. Of course by that point morning sickness
was setting in! :o)
But surprisingly, even though a lot of my anxiety
had to do with an
irrational fear of throwing up (I know it's weird),
the morning sickness
didn't give me panic attacks. I'm noticing that
some of those old panic
symptoms are returning, but I prefer those to knowing
that my baby could
have been hurt by Paxil. And I am so grateful to
my parents and my husband
for their supportiveness, and to your website! Whenever
I was discouraged
or feeling AWFUL I logged on and read what other
people were going through,
followed the tips, etc... and it helped every time
knowing I wasn't alone. |
 |
I am 23 years old, and I have been on Paxil for 10 years now. My mother thought I was a handful when I was in 8th grade, and decided that the answer was to put me on medicine like she was (she has several personality disorders and was on a high dose of Paxil, and I have been proven by doctors not to have such disorders). So, she had the doctors put me on it, and for awhile, I did ok. I honestly did not think that I needed it at the time, but I had to go along with what my mother said. Every time I went back for a checkup with the doctor, he recommended that I keep taking it. So…10 years goes by and I stay on the medicine. I have graduated from college with a journalism degree and work for the University of Georgia and am on my own. Paying my own health insurance, paying for everything for the first time in my life, and I decided that I wanted to begin the process of coming off of the medicine.
I knew for awhile that I wanted to be off the medication, just wasn’t sure of the timing of it (parents divorce, trying to find a job, other stresses in life) because I knew that coming off of it would be hard. I wasn’t sure HOW hard though – no one had ever told me the side effects of getting OFF the medicine! So, as it turns out, a month ago my refills had run out, and I was going back and forth with my doctor because I did not have an opportunity to go in to the doctor just for her to turn around and write me a prescription that they can do over the phone (I mean, I’ve been on it 10 years, nothing has changed!). In the time of trying to get a prescription written from my doctor, I ran out of pills. Four days went by and I was starting to feel the effects of this medicine. Four days turned into a week, and then I finally broke down and went in to see the doctor. When I got there, she and I decided that it would be best for me to continue being off the medicine, and that if I had come this far, I will be over it soon enough!
Well, she was right! It has now been 1 month since I took the last Paxil, and I have had every one of those symptoms listed on your “symptoms” page, except suicide. I have not thought of that, nor will I because I feel SO much better now that I have gotten off the medicine! It was like I was being held back by this medicine and the “anti-depressant” was making me feel depressed and unsure of myself. I am writing to let your readers know what has worked for me:
1) Exercise, Exercise, Exercise. I could not have made it through the last month if I hadn’t done that. It really is like a supplement for the medicine – I feel great after doing it (I run/walk 5 miles a day now) and it helps the zaps and dizziness and everything go away.
2) Take vitamins. I take a multi, Vitamin C, B-150, Vitamin E, and Salmon Oil (Omega-3 fatty acids) every morning. I can tell an immense difference.
3) Melatonin. I had a really hard time sleeping (severe insomnia) and that was probably the worst part of coming off the medicine. Melatonin is the natural chemical in the brain that triggers sleep. So it has helped me out immensely.4
4) Water. Drink LOTS of water! This is something that people are supposed to be doing anyways, but it flushed out my system really well and helped muffle some of the side effects I was feeling.
5) Support of family/friends. This was a big deal for me – I had the support of my boyfriend and my entire family (who, other than my mother, did not think I needed to be on the medicine anyways.)
Those are just some of the things that have helped me through the last month. I am not completely over the hump yet – most of the physical side effects have subsided, but I am now on the emotional rollercoaster that is really intense. My doctor says it should level out in a few weeks if I keep up with what I am doing.
Stopping Paxil cold-turkey does not work on everyone, but I wanted your readers out there who might be on the fence to know what has helped me – someone who has been on this for 10 years. I am feeling great feelings that I never remember feeling before – confidence, control of my life, less fatigued – all of these things that were supposed to be helped BY the Paxil!
It is my recommendation that no one go through what myself and many other people on this earth are going through, and the simple way to fix that is to say do not take Paxil to begin with, period. Or at least know what you’re getting into! |
| |
|
"I had recently come off paxil, September
15,2000, to be exact. Prior attempts had not gone
well, so before I came off it this time, I cut
down my dose very gradually, after discussing
it with my doctor. I took my regular dosage of
1 pill per day. I then cut it in half and took
only a 1/2 pill a day for about 3 weeks. I then
took only 1/4 pill a day for several weeks and
then on September 15 I stopped taking them all
together. On the 17 September, I felt the dizzy
spells again, and thought I should take a 1/4
pill, but decided to to let it go, and see how
I felt. I now realize that was the best thing.
It has been almost 3 weeks now, and the dizzy
spells come and go, but are few and far between,
and they don't last for very long even when I
do get them. I am very pleased that I am finally
off them and thought I should share my experience
with you, so that you could share it with your
readers and that perhaps someone else may have
success in the same way. I think that by coming
down in my dosage as gradually as I did, it helped
my body adjust to the fact that it was no longer
getting any. It was far easier this time, that's
for sure." |
|
|
"I had recently come off paxil, September
15,2000, to be exact. Prior attempts had not gone
well, so before I came off it this time, I cut
down my dose very gradually, after discussing
it with my doctor. I took my regular dosage of
1 pill per day. I then cut it in half and took
only a 1/2 pill a day for about 3 weeks. I then
took only 1/4 pill a day for several weeks and
then on September 15 I stopped taking them all
together. On the 17 September, I felt the dizzy
spells again, and thought I should take a 1/4
pill, but decided to to let it go, and see how
I felt. I now realize that was the best thing.
It has been almost 3 weeks now, and the dizzy
spells come and go, but are few and far between,
and they don't last for very long even when I
do get them. I am very pleased that I am finally
off them and thought I should share my experience
with you, so that you could share it with your
readers and that perhaps someone else may have
success in the same way. I think that by coming
down in my dosage as gradually as I did, it helped
my body adjust to the fact that it was no longer
getting any. It was far easier this time, that's
for sure." |
 |
| I know (don't ask
how) that the way to get off Any substance, if hospitalization
isn't indicated, is to tough it out. Eventually,
you get through it. With that knowledge in mind,
I steeled myself for a battle, and a battle it was.
Three days of feeling worse than seasick, with auditory
hallucinations, and vision disturbances: whenever
I turned my head left or right, there was a smeared
afterimage like the one you get when you pan a camera
real fast. I would lose my balance getting up to
cross the living room. Daring the subway was difficult:
I had to hold my head straight and keep my eyes
forward like the guard at Buckingham Palace. The
nausea was constant. Another thing---my emotions
came back with a roar, good and bad. My libido,
ten months dormant, came back to life in two days
(that helped ;-). I went on crying jags. I felt
suicidal on day four, and wondered why this was
the toughest thing I'd ever had to kick. But . .
. I noticed that it was ever so slightly better
on day five. Then maybe two per cent better on day
seven. I'm stubborn, and I really hate to be under
anything's thumb, so I was grimly determined to
get through. I had moral support from a couple of
friends who'd gone through the process, one who
had had it much worse. And I realized that anything
that kicked me in the head this hard had to be a
damned dangerous drug and not one I was willing
to go back to. If I did, I knew I would lose all
the ground in detoxing that I'd so painfully achieved.
It's now three months later, and I am free of it.
Not even the auditory buzzes in the night any more.
And I tell everyone I know who's taking an antidepressant
what happened to me, and urge them to not stay on
it any longer than they flat have to, and not go
on it unless they are truly clinically depressed.. |
|
"Just wanted
to let you know how helpful your site has been.
I have been Paxil-free for one month and I feel
so much better now. I have been switching doctors/shrinks
as I changed health care and I was sick of all the
double talk I was hearing. My current shrink told
me he would not prescribe me anymore Paxil until
I was completely a non-drinker. Since that was never
going to happen (I don't drink a lot but I do like
to go out to bars on weekends, apparently that was
unacceptable) I decided to see what would happen
if I cut down on drinking and got off the Paxil.
I had no idea what those "zaps" were and
they were so scary, I thought I had something wrong
with my brain. I had them all the time, several
a minute and sometimes one every couple seconds.
My shrink thought I was more nuts than usual, he
had no idea what I was talking about. Fortunately
they are very rare now, but unfortunately the dizziness
is still a problem after a month. The one advantage
to taking the Paxil in !
the first place is that my claustrophobia is so
much better, because when I was on the Paxil I rode
in a lot of elevators, planes, etc with very little
anxiety, and I became used to these activities,
so even now I rarely have a panic attack in a claustrophobic
situation.
Anyway, this site is very helpful and reassuring.
For people trying to quit, let me say this: if your
doctor/shrink is not helping you with the withdrawal
process, go to someone else who understands and
will help. This is serious business." |
|
|
Hi, My wife found this web site for me. I have
been weaning of of Paxil now for 5 weeks. I am
currently not taking any at all. I started out
cold turkey but ended up in the ER. I was so out
of control and felt like just ending it all. The
doctor in the ER looked Paxil up in the PDR (the
big book that list the drugs and side effects).
He told me I could not be going thru withdrawl
because there was not anything mentioned in the
book about it being addictive. He then had the
hospital shrink come down to talk to me, all he
would say is "maybe you just need to be taking
it". I was put on it for stress at work by
a regular doctor, not a phyciatrist and since
I not longer had the stress at my job I wanted
off of it. I ended up going to a mental health
center, they are the ones that helped wean me
off. The funny thing is the shrink I saw there
said he had never met anyone with my withdrawl
symptoms. The scratching noise in my head was
awful. I described it to them as it sou!
nded like someone was sanding in my head. I have
had the strange dreams, night sweats, shocking
sensations in my mouth, tounge, and hands, twitching,
depression (my wife can not talk to me with out
it ending up in an arguement) and most of the
others listed. I was on paxil since June of 2001.
I never dreamed it would be so hard to get off
of. The medical profession needs to be warning
people about what is going to happen when they
try to quit taking it. I am doing better, still
have the tingeling, but not as often, the scratching
noise is still very prominent, especially if I
am walking fast or making sudden movements. All
I can say to everyone is HANG IN THERE. IT WILL
GET BETTER!" |
|
|
I am a 44 year old female who has been taking
Paxil for approximately 5 years. It was initally
prescribed for Panic Disorder, (related to my
Fibromyalgia). I started at 20 mg. but took only
10 mg. daily, unbeknownst to my Doctor. I, like
many others, thought that I could stop and /or
wean from this drug. Alas, I began the journey
into Hell! After "cutting the dosage"
failed, I decided to cut the drug on different
days. I began by not taking Paxil on Fridays.
This continued for about 2 months. I then cut
out Paxil on Wednesdays, again continuing for
about 2 months. By this time I was only taking
it 5 times a week with little side effects. I
too had suffered "electric head" pins
& needles in my face and lips, anxiety etc.
trying to wean via dosage. I then stopped taking
Paxil on Saturdays; thus building to 2 days in
a row without the drug. Then Tuesdays, and so
on, still maintaining my 10 mg. dosage. If I required
a "fix", during a certain day - I simply
took one. I suffered very little side effects
doing it this way. I, after about a year of this
pattern, have now not had a Paxil in 2 weeks.
I have had NO side effects other than being a
little quiet, so says my husband. I have thoroughly
enjoyed and appreciated your site and have sent
it to various people that hopefully will benefit.
I hope that in the next few weeks I am maintaining
my drug-free state with little or no side effects.
Anne-Marie |
|
|
Finally. I'm off. My story doesn't compare to
most of the people who have posted to this site
but they all gave me encouragement and made me
realize that I wasn't going crazy with what was
going on with me.
I started because of post partumn depression and
was on 20mg for only 4 months - but I guess that
was long enough. My MD was smart enough to know
that I just couldn't stop. She had me start cutting
them in half and was on 10mgs for 4 months again.
This is when trouble started. When I forgot to
take them I'd hit that magic 3rd day and things
would go wacko. Brain zaps: I had what I termed
"zings" like an electical current going
through my brain - fast, very fast- and then "towel
thwackers" which to the best of my ability
I described as my brain being thwacked with a
kitchen towel. And best of all - total mind/body
disassociation and all I wanted to do was curl
up in a ball and close my eyes.
Well, I made it down to 5mgs and after 3 weeks
of success on them I started my own schedule.
First I started skipping a day in between, then
taking it every 3rd day and then every 4th day.
I am have not had a dose in 10 days and feel fine.
I'm thinking this is it but I still have a few
morsals stocked away just in case |
|
I was put on this
hellish drug after I had my daughter 3 years ago.
The depression had reached fever point and they
were trying to lock me up and take away my baby.
Obviously this only hieghtened the feeling of utter
worthlessness. I agreed to go on these pills, told
they would help, I gratefully accepted. If I knew
then what I know now, I would have run a mile from
them. They did dull the depression at the beginning
but the side effects became much worse then the
depression I was being treated for. Within 6 months
I had gained 5 stone, however much I ate I felt
hungry. I felt what I can only describe as walking
beside myself. I walked into door frames and shop
displays. The panic attacks were truly scary, visiting
the clinic with my new baby was terrifying. Then
came nausea, searing headaches and perhaps the most
embarressing... producing milk from one breast even
though I wasn't breastfeeding. After 2 years and
feeling like my life was spirraling out of control
I!
told my doctor I wanted off the pills. He reduced
my dose and the withdrawl really kicked in, the
dreams were terrifing, I really lived them. My babies
cry became amplified and pierced my brain. After
7 days and night of complete torment, and being
no closer to being rid of these damned pills I got
a babysitter and went complete cold turkey. I wont
explain what happened in the next few days, I doubt
I could. However, I am now off them for 6 months
and Ive never felt better. I am doing a degree and
living life to the max. I do however have Chrohns
Disease but they won't admit that the Seroxat was
responsible, they wouldn't would they. It seems
to coincidental that the symtons began a month after
I started taking them. Nevermind, I just wanted
to say that however bad you feel, and I know bad
is an understatement, it does get better. I can
see the world clearly, I am a good mother and I
can see a future again. Don't give up hope, give
up those bloody pills. |
|
|
Just a short response to the subject. I am a
77 year old woman who has had enough!! Paxil withdrawal
produced most of the symptoms that were described
by others. I was on Paxil for 5 years, 20 mg a
day. I wanted off because of weight gain of 60
pounds and little or no emtional response. I was
apathetic and showed no interest in life. I first
consulted my internist. He said to decrease the
dosage for 2 weeks and then quit. Wow then the
anxiety attacks hit so badly that I went back
on the drug. I saw a psychiatrist and his advice
was that Paxil was a good drug, just stay on it
and we'll find out what is causing you to be so
anxious!! A therapist that I had been working
with recommended that I see a psychiatrist who
was an expert in the pharmicology of these drugs.
He tapered me off over 8 weeks and I continued
in talk therapy during this time. I have been
off Paxil for 4 weeeks now and feel wonderful.
I'm able to cry, laugh and respond like a normal
person. I still have hot flashes and chills. I'm
seeing an acupuncturist and taking Chinese herbs
which have helped. I have started an exercise
program and have lost 10 pounds. I have been assured
that eventually the hot flashes and chills will
go away. In the meantime, I'm angry that I was
given this medication. I'd like to prevent others
from suffering it's effects. |
|
I just
want to share my story and let people know it can
be done and tell how I finally did it. I have taken
Paxil off and on for about 6 years. I most recently
had taken it for about a year and a half for panic/anxiety
attacks. I was finally also diagnosed with adult
ADD.
I started taking Wellbutrin and it worked wonders
both for my ADD and for the attacks. My doctor started
out weaning from my 40 mg of Paxil to 30 then to
20. I did ok until I went to 10..I had severe brain
tremors and hot flashes. I couldn't continue with
my withdrawls any longer so I upped my dose to 20.
My doctor said it couldn't be that bad and to just
maybe try 10 mg for a week. I thought I was going
to lose my mind. I couldn't function in my work
or home life. I made it through about 10 days and
then dropped to 5 mg. Much worse... the brain tremors
as I came to call them were just terrible. I then
started reading on the internet about similar problems.
A nurse suggested to start chipping away at the
pills a little bit each day so that you take less
and less each day. Why not I thought. I started
to chip a tiny piece (maybe 2 mg) and take that
dose for 3 days then chip a little more off and
take that dose for 3 days. It has taken me about
4 months but I am off of it and have been for a
month. When I got down to about 2 mgs left. I was
terrifed to go completely off so I took it for about
2 weeks and then went cold turkey on a week end.
I still had a few brain tremors but nothing like
the first time I tried to get off of it. I have
been off of it for amonth and feel great. The weird
thing is that I had taken Paxil about 6 years ago
for 3 years and went off of it without any complications.
For the first time in along time I feel in control
of my life. I have started exercising and have lots
of energy. I have lost 16 pounds in a month and
also have lost my HUGE appetite. I always thought
that Paxil was responsible. Now I know...... |
|
I was on Paxil from
April 2001 until November 2001. I did not wean myself
off of paxil, but stopped cold turkey. At the time
I did not realize what was happening to my body
in ref to the withdrawals in which I was going through.
It wan't until a friend went on the Internet and
looked up Paxil info and discovered what was happening
to me was in fact PAXIL withdrawals. I swore I would
never, ever again subject myself to a drug having
the types of side effects associated with PAXIL.
Everything I've read on the Paxil Withdrawal page
are experiences I had felt. Well, to those who are
suffering from withdrawals and are trying to quit
cold turkey or wean themselves off, there is good
news.
The symptoms eventually cease. I'm sending this
on September 11, 2002. I
am Paxil free and "anti-depressant" drug
free. How did I do it? Determination. I'm in the
military, so there are other stressors related there,
but I basically made my mind up that I did not ever
wish to go through what I'd gone through when I
came off Paxil. |
|
| I have been off
Paxil for three months now, after having been on
30 mg. per day for the past five years. I was put
on it because of a depression I was in and it did
help me at the time. However, in the past couple
of years I really wanted to get off this drug because
anti-depressants are not meant to be on for life
-- they are meant to be short-term, i.e. one year
or so. Interestingly enough, the doctor who had
put me on this drug was reluctant to take me off,
and said that I will probably be on it for life.
Thus began my search for a doctor who I found who
has helped many men and women off anti-depressants,
safely and successfully.
I knew the withdrawal symptoms would be a rough
ride for a bit, but I was prepared to do "whatever
it takes" to be paxil-free. So, last May,
my "new" doctor started tapering me
from 30 mg. to 20 mg. which I did for four weeks.
I experienced some dizziness and "disconnection"
with my body -- an unbalanced feeling. In June,
I went from 20 mg. to 15, and then 15 to 10 mg.
July 1st, I stopped all paxil. All of a sudden,
I felt completely lethargic -- it was as if the
life had been sucked out of me. I experienced
"electric shock pulses" in my brain
for a couple of weeks. And I was completely disconnected
from my body and had much trouble with walking
and balance. My doctor advised me that while getting
off paxil, I must eat 3 balanced meals a day --
get out for a walk in the fresh air every day.
I did not do this, and I think my withdrawal symptoms
were worse because I was not looking after myself
nutritionally or physically. Anyway, finally in
mid-August, I began a 6 kilometre walk every second
day -- I started to eat 3 healthy meals a day,
and I started feeling stronger with each week
that passed. I have continued this regimen, along
with taking amino acids, multi-vitamins and anti-oxidants
and I am feeling FANTASTIC! I feel "real"
again, and I have feelings/emotions that I can
"feel". While on Paxil, I "floated"
over everything -- now, my mind is clear and focused,
my short-term memory has improved 100%. So, rest
assured, the withdrawal symptoms do pass and it
is a huge sense of relieve to be paxil-free.
P.S. The doctor who helped me get off paxil does
not like the drug, because of the severe withdrawal
effects. He said there are other anti-depressants
that are easier to get off. BUT GETTING OFF PAXIL
IS WORTH IT AND THE WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS ARE TEMPORARY.
YOU CAN DO IT! |
|
| I can't thank you
enough for organising this web site. I have only
just realised what has been happening in my life.!!
I was first prescribed Paxil or Seroxat as it is
know in England by my doctor.I was in a pretty depressed
state and I agreed to take it.(Reluctantly, as I
have never been keen on the idea that a drug was
the answer to mental problems. Stiff upper lip and
all that.) However it was a pretty desperate time
in an otherwise fairly sunny life and I was desperate
for help. It was great, I felt like my "old
self" and apart from a slight weight gain which
wasn't an issue for me, I was really pleased with
the results. My doctor advised me to stay on it
for at least a year. I did and then I moved to the
United States. There have been a few occasions when
I have tried to get off Paxil always with real problems.
I didn't associate the symptoms with Paxil withdrawal.
I am now 52, and always assumed the terror attacks,
headaches, anger, sadness etc might be hormonal.
I always ended up back on Paxil as it just seemed
to make me "o.k." I had absolutely no
idea that I could possibly have been suffering from
any kind of withdrawal. About 5 months ago I stopped
again, having decreased the dosage from 20 a day
down to 5 a day and then alternate days. I could
not possibly have come off this drug more slowly.
Fine I had stopped. At first it all seemed fine
and for about six weeks I was full of energy and
everything seemed fine and then Hell started. This
time I was convinced I was going through the most
horrendous menopausal syptoms and finally ended
up in the offices of a top endicronologist in Los
Angeles. I gave him an account of my past health
and mentioned that I had been taking antidepressants
on and off for the previous 5 years but was no longer
taking anything. We started on a series of extensive
blood tests looking at my hormonal panel. I waited
a few weeks, convinced I was going mad. Finally
I rang him and said, "look I have to go back
on Paxil, I have a really important job interview
in London and I can't afford to behave like a mad
woman." He suggested I did that but go in to
see him prior to my London trip. All the tests had
arrived back with him, and although it showed I
was in perimenopause, things looked pretty good,
and nothing in the hormone panel led him to believe
what I was suffering from was directly related to
menopause!! He then said he was convinced I was
suffering from extreme "withdrawal symptoms"
from stopping Paxil. At first it just didn't add
up or make sense to me. I had stopped a few months
before and didn't understand why I was having symptoms
so much later on. I now realise that this is not
unusual. Needless to say I arrived in London told
a friend what he had said, and of course she told
me there have been frequent articles in the British
press on this topic, all depicting a variety of
what had happened to me. A few weeks ago Panorama,
a television program in the U.K, much like 60 minutes
here in the U.S, had devoted the entire program
to what was happening to people who came off Seroxat/Paxil
in the U.K. She has taped this for me and I shall
look at it when I return to London next week. I
am now taking 5 gm a day and will get off this horrific
drug with this doctors help. It's been enormously
helpful referring to your web site, and if you like
I would be happy to let you have the Panorama tape
if you would like to see it. I have every intention
of taking legal action, not because I want a dime,
but because I really believe Glaxo need to act responsibly
about this drug, and allow people to know what they
might be getting into when they start taking it.
I also believe the only thing that they will react
to is a lawsuit and potential financial damage.I
would never have started it if I had any idea there
was any possibility that it might be addictive.
I was assured at the time by my doctor in England,
that this wasn't the case. Thank God I came across
this endicronologist!! and your web site. |
|
|
My daughter was prescribed Paxil approximately
3 years ago for an episode of depression. My husband
and I interviewed the clinical practitioner at
that time to question the decision as we were
very concerned about the possibility of any long
term effects and whether or not this treatment
was in her best interests. We were reassured this
was the way forward. For one reason or another,
new country of residence, new home, new job -
she was advised not to come off it Paxil, but
to wait until her life had stabilized to a more
normal pace. Well over the past 6 months or so,
she has tried to come off Paxil several times
with the advise of her family doctor, using a
gradually reducing dosage. Even with a very small
reduction of the drug she suffered from itchy
teeth and nausea, fatigue and headaches, to mention
a few. Then she came across your web site with
its help, advice and spiritual support and I can't
thank you enough with all my heart. You see, she
decided to go 'cold turkey' she couldn't stand
the thought of the very gradual reduction and
the thought of 35 weeks or so with the side effects.
As a mother it's one of the most difficult things
I have had to do, to witness her pain and suffering,
going through episodes of violent mood swings,
of desperate anger attacks, of sweating, insomnia
hot flashes, cramps - Need I go on… at times
she was like a possessed person, but I had to
appreciate she was possessed only with Paxil withdrawal.
There was one particular episode of several days
when I asked (near to pleading) with her to go
back on something. All those vivid awful films
one has seen of drug withdrawal are exactly right!
I was so scared. But she kept going and after
about 3 weeks, she started to see some light at
the tunnel end and with the support love and friendship
from us all, she has quit Paxil for good.
Through it all I know you too kept her going
and I want to thank you for that and to let other
families of those brave people trying to come
off, that it is all worth it, hold on, and you
WILL come through - just as my lovely brave heroic
daughter has, and now she has her future back
again as a drug-free individual.
A very helpful website I found when I was in
need of some words to help her was: http://www.wildestcolts.com/
- it really helped LA of California - this guy
talks it straight, there is nothing wrong in having
a depression but a drug duped state is not the
answer and we all have capabilities within in
that may just need tapping into.
I wrote this not only as a thanks, but you may
be able to encourage other mums, dads, husbands
or wives who have to stand back and watch helplessly
whilst their loved ones go through withdrawal |
|
| I have now been
living without Paxil for 16 days...and when I say
living that is exactly what it has been. I'm sure
anyone reading this has also read through others'
tales of woe, as well as the list of symptoms, and
believe you me, I have gone and am going through
just about every single one of those...but they
have subsided and will continue to subside. In return,
I have felt waves of emotions - good and bad - that
I don't ever remember feeling before; it's a trade-off
I will take. It feels absolutely wonderful to me
to be able to get angry and sad and happy and giddy
all in the space of a few minutes. For example,
I actually cried watching the news of the Columbia
disaster (yeah, that's right, I'm man enough to
admit it). A year ago, I might have felt a little
bad, but not really cared. It felt really good to
feel that bad, if that makes any sense. I think
that antidepressants take effect by dulling your
emotions, which can be good in some cases, but Paxil
took away part of me that made me me. I even met
a girl AFTER stopping Paxil and am happier in that
respect than I have been in awhile (you know she's
gotta be one of the good ones if she stuck around
during the first few bad days). Speaking of that
issue, speaking from a guy standpoint, the side
effect of, ummm, not being able to get the mail
delivered is something I definitely do not miss.
But anyway...
I took Paxil for about 6 years for longstanding
panic disorder, started when I was about 21, and
I have to admit that it helped me a good deal.
I am not a Paxil-hater; I think that it can do
good things for people with many different problems.
I think, though, that there is a tendency in the
medical community (in which I work, plus am studying
to become a physician) to throw pills at patients.
While this might work on a purely physical level
with problems like hypertension or hyperthyroidism,
dealing with the mind involves so much more. If
you are thinking about quitting your SSRI of choice,
I would urge you to take a look at yourself and
where you are at in your life. For me, I began
taking Paxil when I was really at a low point
of my life. In the past year or two, as I have
really actually finally reached adulthood (more
or less), I came to the realization that I could
do this, that I had learned and grown enough to
try "going it on my own", and that being
able to handle life without that little blue pill
would do more for my psyche than the pill itself.
And thus far, it most certainly has.
I quit cold turkey, which I knew was inadvisable,
but I have never been one to make the right choice.
I think, though, that it was right for me. I hope
that anyone even thinking about quitting visits
this site, for it was the greatest source of strength
in that awful first week of vertigo and the damn
electric shocks and ear-buzzing thing (what the
&*%# is that?), just to know that I was not
alone...I think that we all maybe feel that way
about our various anxieties and depressions and
whatever, that we are the only ones going through
this. So thank you everyone for telling me how
miserable you were (it's like we've all come back
from the war, huh? sharing all our war stories
etc.) Anyway, as I said, it's been 2 weeks, and
I am able to do little things like sleep without
having supremely realistic nightmares and move
my eyes quickly without my head crashing in. I
am now ready for the rest of my life, free to
live and be without having that little pill fog
everything over...
PS: The one thing I get upset about is no one
talking to you about the addiction of these drugs
- and they are addicting, if only on a purely
physical level; look what happens when you withdraw
them. The word needs to be spread, just to inform
people of the risks involved |
|
| I feel that it is
my responsibility to write in and post my experience
and comments since this website helped me when I
needed it. Everyone's advice and experiences helped
me get through my own tough time. As of today, I
am (let me think) 11 days free of paxil. I feel
really good too. I don't know if it is just knowing
that I am not taking paxil that makes me feel so
good or if it is the fact that I am not taking it
and my body loves it. Either way, I feel great,
and I wanted to write in to let others out there
that are quitting Paxil know that they will feel
geat too. I quit cold turkey just because that's
the type of person I am. I just wanted to be done
with it regardless of the side effects. The side
effects were bad, not really terrible, but I felt
they would be bad no matter how I got off of it.
A lot of people recommend weaning yourself off of
it, but I think that all depends on the type of
person you are. Now, the side effects...they're
bad the first week but THEY DO GET BETTER. I PROMISE-
JUST HANG IN THERE. Around the fifth or sixth day
off, I broke down and started crying. I kept saying,
"I can't do this," but I knew in my heart
that I could. Going back on Paxil was not an option
for me. And even though I was SOBBING, it was like
a double-edged sword- I was upset, yet it felt SO
GOOD to cry. I was on paxil for a year and I hadn't
cried the whole time. It was so refreshing and it
touched me deeply to cry. For about three or four
days, it was bad. I couldn't walk straight, which
I handled by staring at the ground whenever I walked
and also by walking very slowly. I had bad headaches
when I moved my eyes too fast, which I took Aleve
to handle. The shocks sucked and there was nothing
I could do about those. For those in the process
of quitting, please hang in there. It's very important
to be strong and determined. You can definitely
do this and once it's over, you'll think to yourself,
Now that wasn't that bad. You'll feel so free and
in control of your own life and so proud that you
were able to rid yourself of a physically addictive
mind-number. Hang in there and be strong |
|
| Thank you for this
site, it has help me realize I'm not alone and I
can judge my progress. I was on 20mg. for 3 years,
many times I tried to quit, I finally did it, my
reasons for being on it were now gone (i.e.: the
divorce was over) I had a sensitivity to any reduction
so I had with my doctor planned to step down to
15mg. for as long as it took to get use to that
dose. When I dropped down I did it on the weekend
Friday mornings to give myself as much time away
from people as possible! by Friday night I could
feel some withdrawals. so for the next three days
I would mood swing like crazy. my poor kids ..I
told them and others about the side affects so they
could be prepared and to save relationships along
the way! it would be about 5 days for me to be able
to feel ok, in the beginning I would take Dramamine
to stop the motion sickness I found that I was eating
a lot to keep my stomach full to rid myself of the
motion sickness. this would help but it still makes
you feel pretty doped up which when you get to the
end of all this you'll see you were! I would step
down my doses every two weeks, I still get some
brain zaps and when I get stressed I feel like a
bit numb but the best I have found for the withdrawals
are a combination of b-complex supplement and phosphatidyl
choline complex they are at any health food store.
another quick fix for the withdrawals was redbull
a drink loaded with B's!! exercise too if you get
a bad case of the withdrawals and drink lots of
water its the drug leaving your system!
I have now been paxil free for two weeks I feel
alive!!!!!!! all my senses are full, I get excited
now I feel focused and the stress, well if I ever
get stress again. I'll use counseling not drugs!
all the best to you all thank you for the site
I could be the poster boy...God Bless |
|
| I am a 35 year old
single mother and registered nurse. I began taking
Paxil last year for signs of depression and anxiety.
When I began Paxil I was working for a large neurosurgical
practice, as the only RN for 7 physicians and their
patients. Part of my job duties included meeting
with drug company reps. The GSK rep came to me with
the new Paxil CR and tons of samples and literature
touting it as the new wonder drug. My physicians
began prescribing the drug, and I myself began taking
it. Early this year I began to feel much better,
and decided to cease taking the drug. Little did
I know I was about to journey into hell. The gastrointestinal
symptoms and insomnia hit me first, soon to be followed
by far worse side effects. When I could sleep it
was briefly, and the dreams/nightmares began, I
would wake up, sheets and mattress pad soaked. I
began to feel very disoriented, and it felt as though
my brain was "sloshing" about. The itching
was intense, electric shocks up my left side and
my mind took a path of it's own. I had bouts of
confusion and difficulty thinking straight. At night
I began suffering from sheer terror, waking up convinced
people were outside my bedroom door scratching on
the glass trying to get in to harm me. I kept every
single light on and the phone by me at all times
just in case I had to call for help. Part of my
mind knew it wasn't real, but the terror and vivid
nature of the hallucinations won out. I felt that
I was losing my sanity. I could not risk working
because I was terrified that in my altered mental
state I may make a mistake that could harm a patient.
I called in sick and eventually resigned my position
as a nurse out of fear. I printed out information
from this site and gave copies to my physicians,
they were horrified and in fact recalled patients
complaining of similar symptoms. They also made
the decision never to prescribe the drug again.
I contacted our GSK rep and left a voicemail and
e mail demanding answers to why the withdrawal had
never been discussed. I was furious. I found this
site on one of my many wakeful nights, at first
I was so relieved, I had a reason for my insanity!!!
Then I became very angry. It took months for me
to return to my pre-Paxil state. This entire thing
is a tragedy perpetrated by drug reps who KNOW full
well about the withdrawal potential. GSK sent me
to hell, in my fantasies I imagine all their high
ranking mucky mucks being forced to take their own
drug for at least 6 months quit cold turkey and
then experience the hell of withdrawal |
|
|
I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder
in July of 2002. My shrink prescribed me alprazolam
and Paxil CR at 12.5 mg. He was very sure to indicate
that the sedative was addictive but the Paxil
CR was not. I believed him. I was a biology student
in college and studied neurology at the University
of Chicago for a time. I questioned him on how
they work and felt comfortable about going ahead
and taking the pills. My dosage was kicked up
in January of 2003 to 37.5 mg. I was worried that
I would never respond. I'm not sure that I really
did. I think it was more of a case of getting
further away from the event that precipitated
the problem, that being that my dad passed away
suddenly in December of 2001. I was left to be
the sole support for the rest of the family. I
got extremely anxious. Well, I decided in early
June that it was simply time for me to leave the
drugs behind. I was unemotional, lacked a sex
drive (which hurt my relationship with my girlfriend,
although she understood what caused it), and just
felt like I was gliding through life instead of
living it. Well, I did a quick weaning. Went from
37.5 to 12.5 in less than two weeks. Took my last
12.5 on June 20, 2003. I started to feel the flu-like
symptoms the following day. The zaps came on the
next day. I got really scared. I didn't even think
to blame it on the drug because I fully trusted
the word of my doctor. On the third day, the zaps
were unbearable and I felt the depersonalization.
I didn't feel like a human being but like a machine.
Finally, I searched the web for advice and found
this fantastic site. I realized what was causing
it and gained the will to perservere. The zaps
got terrible on the 7th day. I had a job interview
the next day so I cut a 20 mg IR pill into 8 pieces
and took one of them hoping to simply take the
edge off. It worked. So, I decided to keep the
little bits around in case I felt really horrible.
I took another ~2.5mg piece two days later. That
was the end (June 29). I feel a hundred times
better, the libido is back and emotions are hitting
me that I didn't realize existed. I tried the
supplements suggested. They didn't work in the
immediate term, but maybe they've helped to shorten
the duration of my withdrawal syndrome. Almost
all the letters state that it will end. They are
right. Don't be afraid. You can do it. Just be
positive and take any supplements mentioned that
you believe will help. I think if you believe,
then they will work. Listen to Frank's message
on the symptoms page, it will help you keep your
resolve. Today is one of the greatest days of
my life. I feel calm, my brain is clear and, most
importantly, I have an incredibly positive outlook
on the future. No more psychoactive drugs in my
life! I just read about a study that gives strong
evidence that the SSRI's have a nominal effect
in comparison to the placebo and that cognitive
therapy has a longer-term effect on depression/anxiety
than the drugs. Thanks for hearing me out and
good luck!!!! The best days are yet to come. |
|
| am a 36 year old women and I have been on Paxil CR for about 2 years. I started having panic attacks after almost being raped and my family doctor put me on Paxil CR. Because of the weight gain, (I started out at 115 pounds. I have always been lucky to be skinny, I have never needed to worry about my weight and now I weigh 160 pounds which is more than I did pregnant with either one of my children), and a few other side effects, I wanted to get off of it. My doctor tried switching me to different medicines but did not realize that the withdrawal symptoms from getting off Paxil would hinder me being able to try anything else. Every time I would try to change I would go through Paxil withdraw and have to go back to Paxil. I would get so nervous and would cry and cry and cry. Finally I decided, I would just get off this medicine instead of trying to change to another, when my weight got to be 160 pounds. My doctor pretty much told me to figure it out on my own. So I have. With the knowledge I got from this web site as well as other places, I decided to slowly wean myself off. My normal dose was 25 mg, I decided to go down in 3 mg increments weekly. I immediately went down 3 mg to 18 mg. and each Friday I would go down 3 mg. I did this by cutting my 25 mg pills in quarters and then I ask my doctor for 12.5 mg pills and did the same to these. When I finally got to 3 mg, I started Prozac (generic) 10 mg for the rest of the week. Then I stopped taking Paxil and Prozac on the same day. I have been extremely lucky. I have not experienced any Paxil withdrawal symptoms. I have been Paxil free for four days and when I have tried getting off of it before it took only two days for extreme symptoms, such as dizziness, crying or anxiety to appear. This method worked great for me and I feel great. This has been the only way that has ever worked for me and I am sooooo glad that I finally did it. Now I have to get this weight off...... |
|
Please KNOW that it can be done. I quit Paxil Nov 25 of 2006. It took 21 days to start to feel good/normal/ not pukey.
3 weeks seems like an eternity when you come off of Paxil. Buy a calendar and mark off each day.
YOU will feel like you are now in a parallel universe.
NOTHING but this horror and rage will matter to you.
YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLY REMEMBER WHAT YOU USED TO CARE ABOUT. YOU WILL care again. Drink so much water you feel like you might puke! It helps 1/4!
21 days! 3 weeks! YES.........YOU can do it! |
|
| .I did go to my GP about 2.5
months into the weaning process...was down to 2.5
mg a day...anger...irritability...spins...whooses...headaches...
nausea...the works. Thankfully not as bad as some
people experience. But I did feel it was best to
let my doctor know what I was doing...she claimed
she was told the drug was "non-habit forming...non-addictive"
...I am sure she was...but she gave me the impression
I have been the only one to have difficulites...at
least in her practice. She did encourage me to push
forward...not take anymore as even the 2.5 wasn't
helping. She screwed up her face and asked me to
describe EXACTLY.... the symptoms I was feeling...I
leaned forward and said: It is like being on acid!....to
which she responded...tentatively...."Well.......
that..... doesn't help me". It was quite amusing.
Anyway I have got myself in the care of a wonderful
Naturopath and massage therapist...who have both
dealt with Paxil patients. The Naturopath recommened
5-HTP which enchances sleep and mood. Since I have
been taking this natural supplement...I have not
had my "problem". So I am thinking I was not sleeping
properly...not deep enough...and my bathroom dreams
were too real..that they tricked my body into actually
going. Anyway...thats my theory..until proven wrong
I guess. By the way this supplement is an absolute
wonder...it doesn't make you tired...but really
helps you sleep solidly and doesn't make you tired
upon awaking. That along with Omega 3...Coral Calcium...B's....
more organic and healthful diet....and liver cleanse...I
feel GREAT! I am finally out of the woods as far
as withdrawal goes....and I know I would not have
been able to do it without the help of your website.
I would have assumed I was "ill"again and gone back
on the drug for god knows how long! Ironically enough...
a few years ago, I wrote a book on Bipolar Affective
Disorder...in which I even claimed that medication
was non addictive...but we now know that is not
true in all cases. Maybe there is second book on
the way........ |
|
>> send
in your success story |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
banners below lead to
my other sites
|
|
|
|
my
web-design biz
|
websites
for under $700 |
| |
|
