Posted by IsoM on February 13, 2002, at 18:20:03
I just wanted to let others know about my recent experience. It may in no way be relevant for others but who knows, so I'm adding it.
I've been one of the worse people to stop Luvox & Paxil. I felt awful when I stopped Luvox though I did it over 3 months. It was a nightmare. A few years later when I attempted to go off Paxil, it felt worse. I spent most of the summer in bed wishing I was dead. Even a year later, I felt strange & continued to have annoying (at this point) brain zaps, sudden vertigo, especially when turning my head, more buzzing & ringing in my ears than before, & a genral whooshey head feeling. I ended up going back on 10 mg along with my other meds to hold the symptoms down to a manageable level.
But I always hated using Paxil & wanted off it. I don't mind my Celexa at all. Three days ago, I ran out of my Paxil & thought I could get by for one day before I see my doctor for a refill. I knew I'd suffer but it was only one day (it had happened before so I knew what it would feel like).
The thing is it didn't happen. I was surprised & thought that I'd try 2 days to see if there was a return of my old symptoms. Nothing. Now it's three days & I feel no different. No horrible rebound withdrawal symtoms like before- even when I stopped at around 1 mg before. Why?
I thought 'what was different?' & the only thing different is I'm taking adrafinil (Provigil's cousin). Adrafinil is supposed to increase over-all brain metabolism & maybe that's how it works with SSRI stoppage. Every other instance of ever tapering my dose down brouht on the withdrawal/discontinuation symptoms immediately. I can't find any other explanation for the difference except the adrafinil.
Anyone else taking Provigil or adrafinil that's stopped any SSRIs noticed the same thing? I'd be curious to learn more. There may be a treatment for the withdrawal symptoms many have to endure!
poster:IsoM
thread:94032
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020208/msgs/94032.html