Shown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Pregnant Lady on September 16, 2003, at 23:22:51
Hi everyone. I want to apologise in advance for the length of this post and hope that enough people will read this and provide me with some advice.
I have been taking Paxil for three years for anxiety and depression. In this time I have experienced two major withdrawal episodes, though at the time I did not identify these as withdrawal. Both episodes occured after not taking Paxil for a few days by accident. I have experienced the following symptoms: electric shocks in my head and ear, dizziness, nausea, diahorreah, problems with liver function, sores in my mouth, sweating and bad dreams.
I am currently 3 months pregnant and have recently cut back from 10mg/day to 5mg/day. This cut back has been accompanied by all the symptoms listed above plus agression, paranoia and what I can only term extreme depression accompanied by some suicidal type thoughts.
As I also have morning sickness and because I experience withdrawal if I am only one hour late taking meds I am at the stage now where I want off these drugs NOW!!!
I have seen a psych who recommended taking no more Paxil and commencing Prozac tonight. He has also given me a script for an anti-nausea drug.
I am terrified, frustrated and just want rid of this drug. Can anyone tell me whether Prozac experiences the same withdrawl symptoms? Has anyone used Prozac to withdraw from Paxil? Has anyone doen this while pregnant????
Finally at times I have been so sick with withdrawal that I thought I should go to the hospital. Has anyone done this? Did it help at all? Am I overreacting???
I really really really need help and support right now. If anyone has any information they feel may help me please post it! I will be here wiating to read it!
Thanks
Lucy
Posted by Festus on September 17, 2003, at 22:01:53
In reply to Pregnancy, Paxil withdrawl and Prozac- HELP ME!, posted by Pregnant Lady on September 16, 2003, at 23:22:51
Hi Lucy,I,m sorry you have to go through this mess while being pregnant on top of it all,but I think you may have a good idea about trying to get off the meds during this time.I can,t identify with the pregnancy(I,m a "HE")but I,too,just went from 20mg Paxil after 2 years,right to 20mg Prozac.It,s been about a week now,and I,ve been quite nauseated since the switch,I was,nt sure if it was Paxil WD or a virus or Prozac side-effects.It,s let up some,but I,ll get real sleepy,real fast in the evenings.I don,t know if the Paxil was really doing any good or not,but I wish some others would chime in and give us some more info.Take care,Lucy! Festus
Posted by MamaCindy2000 on September 23, 2003, at 12:26:16
In reply to Pregnancy, Paxil withdrawl and Prozac- HELP ME!, posted by Pregnant Lady on September 16, 2003, at 23:22:51
Hi this message is coming from a woman who really knows what is going on with you. I dont know if I can help you, But i had a similar experience Id like to share. In Nov. 1999 I found out I was Pregnant. I was on 40mg Paxil. My decesion to stop my Medication was initally easy for me. There are no studies on the affect this could have on your baby. I knew he was so special I didnt want to hurt him. However my P-doc,OBGyn, and GP all insisted that I remain on the med. This was by far the hardest thing I ever did. Pregnancy is emotionally difficult itself, Adding the withdrawls (which I was not aware of at the time), and a non supportive boyfriend. I look back now, and dont really know how I got through that time. But I did!!! and my Baby is healthy. I will say I cried ALOT. and the GUILT was horrible. I felt guilty for crying and feeling depressed, and for making my baby feel that way (or so I thought/think). I constantly apologized to him. I also felt incredibly guilty for taking the medication and not knowing the effects it could have on him.
About the Prozac. I have read some posts where people say that taking prozac helps with the withdrawl symptoms. I think it would be ok to take it to help you through the withdrawls. The DECISION is yours. If you are suicidal dont stop taking your meds. Hang in there. Please e-mail me if you want to. Cindy
Posted by MamaCindy2000 on September 23, 2003, at 12:35:17
In reply to Pregnancy, Paxil withdrawl and Prozac- HELP ME!, posted by Pregnant Lady on September 16, 2003, at 23:22:51
Maybe consider alt. therapy. Im not experienced w/ it. Light therapy. ???? maybe worth a try
Posted by libberty on October 9, 2003, at 18:12:56
In reply to Re: Pregnancy, Paxil withdrawl and Prozac- HELP ME!, posted by Festus on September 17, 2003, at 22:01:53
I went off meds entirely in April of this year and now take only truehope EMPower. But I had the same withdrawal symptoms from paxil.. the electric shock feeling in my head and the dizziness, I also had trouble sleeping.
It does get better, drink alot of water..and congratulations on your pregnancy
This is the end of the thread.
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