Posted by JohnL on January 5, 2000, at 18:24:15
In reply to how to get off Paxil, posted by Bill on January 5, 2000, at 12:30:26
I would first question why get off the Paxil? Whatever the reason, here are some ideas that are used clinically:
1. Take the Paxil every other day instead of daily while titrating. Or twice every three days.
2. Take Prozac for two or three days (build it up to replace the Paxil). Stop for three days. Take one more dose. Let it fizzle out. Prozac disappears from the system much slower than Paxil, allowing a smoother transition. One Prozac will last up to a week, where Paxil is only about a day or so. This method is used by doctors. Just get a prescrip for a few capsules of Prozac.
3. Treat the withdrawal symptoms with Benadryl or herbal teas.The withdrawal effects can take 2 to 4 weeks to subside. For me, with Paxil, it was about 1 1/2 weeks. I drank lots of calming herbal teas to help...passionflower, hops, valerian, chamomile. They did help.
But one has to wonder whether she is experiencing withdrawal effects, or a rapid return of a vengeful depression, which may be worse than it was previously. It's not abnormal at all for these things to worsen over time. The Paxil was keeping it in check. Hope it's just withdrawals, because those do go away. JohnL
poster:JohnL
thread:18094
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000101/msgs/18119.html