Posted by scottlaen on March 18, 2004, at 12:24:49
In reply to Paxil and Withdrawal Symptoms, posted by nucase on March 18, 2004, at 10:20:36
Hey- no offense, but your doctor is out of his mind.(or her's). Dropping straight off of 50 mg of paxil in a single stride is a receipe for dissaster (in most people).
Myself, I have tried decreasing my dose in the past by 5mg a week, and had major withdrawl symptoms (shaking, panic attacks, digestive- you know). If you even look at the latest information from Glaxo Smith Kline, they tell you to never stop suddently because your original symptopms OR SYMPTOMS RESULTING IN THE STOPPING OF THE MEDS can occurr.
Lately, my doctor has been decreasing my dosage at a rate of 2.5 mg every 14 days and added 10 mg of Lexpro to help w/the withdrawl. It's been a month or so, and I am down to 12.5, and started feeling edgy, so he slowed it to 2.5 mg/month.
If were on 50 mg of Paxil and stopped suddenly, no wonder you are a basket case! Find a new doctor, specifically one that is aware of the very intense withdrawl sickness that can accompany paxil AND who has had experience with it- that is, if you plan to get off the stuff.
Here's your answers- take them for what they are worth. I have been on 20mg of paxil for 6 years, and have been through the withdrawl you are having before
> 1) What my doctor misguided and irresponsible in telling me to get off like that?
Yes- without a doubt. Hopefully he isn't one of these doctors who thinks "it's all in your head." Because DUH- of course it's all in your head! That's where the neurotransmitters for seritonin originate. Not only is he misguided and irresponsible, but I think he has not even picked up an article on the subject in the past 5 years. Get a new doctor, and for crying out loud, take some paxil before you jump off a cliff.> 2) Is it normal for me to feel these ups and downs? Somebody suggested that I am probably bipolar II. Actually I might be but I am not sure if this is just the effect of withdrawal.
90% I would say is the withdrawl. I have felt the same things when I tried stopping paxil cold turkey. This isn't to say that you don't have other conditions. I'm not a doctor- but I know that the symptoms you describe are consistent with paxil withdrawl syndrome.
> 3) How long am I going to feel like that?
I don't know because I refused to let myself get to that point for very long, as I began to ruin all my personal relationships. I have heard that it can take up to 6 months- 1 year, but that's just what I have heard. I also have heard that it varies from individual to individual. Some people can just quit and are fine, while others cannot. Also, 50mg is a very high dosage to just stop taking.
Do yourself some good- consider resuming your paxil until you find another doctor who is competent. Here's a ray of hope- the last time this happened to me, I decided to start taking the paxil again, and within a few hours, I felt almost completely back to normal.Good luck, and get away from that doctor!!!
poster:scottlaen
thread:47473
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040313/msgs/325667.html