posted 05-28-2003 04:54 PM            

I also read the article in Glamour that you speak of. I am having a tough time coming off of Lexapro, but nothing compared to the time that it seems most people have coming off of Paxil. Apparently the way that most people do it is to add in Prozac. I know that you're probably hesitant to mix more meds in, I certainly am! So I'm suffering through it the best I can. But anyway, I've heard a lot of people say that adding in Prozac helps a lot. Prozac is the same type of AD, it is another in the SSRI class, it has a longer half-life than most other SSRI's, so it stays in your system longer and aids in coming off of things like Paxil (and Lexapro too apparently)!

Talk to your doc about mixing in Prozac. You really have to be your own medical advocate. A lot of psychiatrists seem to think that there is no such thing as antidepressant withdrawals. Boy would I love it if they would be in my position right now!

:-/

posted 05-29-2003 01:33 PM            

------------------
Sheldon

posted 06-07-2003 07:17 PM            

I find it a little strange that your doctor doesn't explain the different types of addiction, and not relating to controlled substances type of addiction.
If your doctor won't listen, you ask for another doctor or therapist or someone who actually seems to care for the patient and teaches the individual, everything you always wanted to know about the medications u take.
You're not paying your doctor to giggle at you or give u starnge looks or making you feel 6" tall. This is your body, you want it taken care of. You are not just another digit on his paycheck..
( Yes, I have become a bit demanding with my doctor's, only because I get fed up very quickly, or I didn't want the run around or be treated like lab rat. uhhh, u might want to remember though, to never argue with the person who is about to give you a colonoscopy... )

posted 06-08-2003 06:54 AM            

I came off of Paxil about 9 moths ago and was only able to do so with VERY slow tapering.

The key for me using a pill cutter and to reduce only ONE DAY'S dose by 50% per week.

What worked for me was:

1st fortnight 20mg per day except Sunday (10mg)
2nd fortnight 20mg per day except Sun/Wed (10mg)
3rd fornight 20mg per day except Sun/Tues/Thurs (10mg)
4th fortnight 10mg per day except Mon/Wed/Fri (20mg)
5th Fortnight 10mg per day except Mon/Thurs (20mg)
6th Fortnight 10mg per day except Monday (20 mg)
7th/8th fortnight 10mg per day

Then repeat the whole process replacing 20mg with 10mg and 10mg with 5mg in the schedule above.....After 32 weeks you'll be on 5mg per day and can then see by trial and error the best way to taper off completely.

I finshed by taking 5mg on alternate days for a week, then I was able to just to stop.

Hope this helps.....

With kind thoughts,

Cushy

posted 06-08-2003 07:51 PM            

Of course, two weeks is not enough time for the Paxil to kick in. If you stop now, you will never now if it was right for you.

Though I don't think Paxil or any SSRI is good for GAD or panic attacks. In my case, it was an SSRI what triggered my panic attacks.

Whatever you decide to to, talk to your doctor first. Of course, by now it sounds as if they don't know zit. But at least you'll be able to sue someone if things go wrong.

posted 06-09-2003 03:44 PM            

Serotonin is a good thing, but it isn't good at higher levels (aka serotonin syndrome). So how do they know what level your serotonin is really at in your brain right now? Well, they don't, because there is no physical test to determine this, unlike the infamous diabetes and blood pressure comparison, which they can measure those amounts.

They only know serotonin stimulation helps mood, and from this they assume people are deficient. So it is not scientific fact but theory that leads to these prescriptions.

Now some new independent studies(not paid for by drug companies) are suggesting the brain eventually kills off it's own serotonin receptors in an effort to combat the over use of serotonin caused by antidepressants over several years use. So, are these wonder-drugs helpful and can work to alleviate depression but be destructive at the same time?

posted 06-10-2003 04:28 PM            

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2976498.stm

It will be interesting to see if the US FDA will follow suit. My guess is that they won't......

posted 06-10-2003 08:06 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by jinglebts:
for what it's worth, i had no trouble coming off paxil and think it's a great drug ...

---

Good for you! There's a lot of people who never experience withdrawal. I don't know the exact percentage, of course, but I don't want everyone reading these posts to be scared of their meds. They can really be helpful but they should not be taken forever.

And even those who suffer withdrawal can minimize their symptoms by setting themselves on slow taper schedules.

posted 06-24-2003 09:46 PM            

Paxil has been the only thing that has ever worked for me. However, for me, it wears off after a year and a half, so I went off of it once (after it lost its effect), then I took nothing for a while, then I went back on Paxil for about 6 mos. Now I'm going off of it because I don't feel it has the same effect. And each time I go off of it, it is the same thing, even with gradual tapering. Massive withdrawal symptoms. I am going through them right now. Massive headache, splitting so much I have to hold my head and massage it. Terrible dizziness, nausea, etc. But I am determined to finish off this tapering and not let this drug get me down. Since it doesn't work anymore, and since no other ones work for me (too many terrible side effects), I'm going to buy a light box and use that. I'm also going to do meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, do walking and other exercise, and proper nutrition to combat depression. I know others don't have that option-they have to use a drug in order to function. However, I don't want to use drugs anymore right now.