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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jake97tx on January 9, 2004, at 1:43:00
Hi,
I've been on Paxil 8 years now for Panic Disorder. The drug pooped out about 4 years ago, so logically the doc and I decided, no prob. we'll try something else. Sounds simple, but apparently you have to get permission from Mr. Paxil you want to quit taking it. After failing to ween off, I added 1mg Xanax to 10mg Paxil and the addition seemed to keep me relatively Panic Free. Six months ago, my Anxiety returned in a big way and I decided to try to get off Paxhell so I could start a diff SSRI. Nope...If it were a boxing match, Paxil would have one by TKO fairly quickly. So...The doc put me on Lexapro about 3 weeks ago to combat my increasing anxiety. So I'm taking 10mg Lexapro, 10 mg Paxil, and 1mg Xanax a day.
Should I continue at this regimen and ween off Paxil when I'm feeling better, or am I at risk of Serotonin Syndrome? Sorry this message was so long, hope someone has some insight for me. Thanks!
Posted by crazychickuk on January 9, 2004, at 10:43:22
In reply to Xanax, Paxil, Lexapro...and...The SSRI Trap?, posted by jake97tx on January 9, 2004, at 1:43:00
Can you just stop paxhell cold turkey now, whilst u still on lex and xanax?
Posted by jbs on January 9, 2004, at 12:36:19
In reply to Xanax, Paxil, Lexapro...and...The SSRI Trap?, posted by jake97tx on January 9, 2004, at 1:43:00
I agree with CCUK, you might be able to stop the Paxil now that another SSRI is on board; or at least go down to 5 for a while. I doubt your gonna get Serotonin Syndrome on such low doses of these two meds; there's probably no reason not to simply stay on all 3 if that works for you; it's not 'clean' from a med management point of view or cheap, but so what.
Posted by jerseydevil on January 9, 2004, at 15:21:41
In reply to Re: Xanax, Paxil, Lexapro...and...The SSRI Trap?, posted by jbs on January 9, 2004, at 12:36:19
If you are as sensitive to paxil withdrawl as I am, then cold turkey off of 10 mg/day of Paxil is probably a really bad idea. Perhaps (with counsel of your pdoc) you should add the other SSRI at a low dose and drop the Paxil from 10 to 7.5, wait a month (or longer if needed to adjust) and go to 5, then 2.5, maybe 1.25 then zero. My present cocktail has 7 meds for MDD and possibly BPII, with an anxiety component. I've been on Paxil a little under four years, and have been trying to get off of it for fourteen months. At the start my pdoc put me on Welbutrin and Neurontin. The Paxil step down from 20 to 15 was ok, 15 to 10 crushed me, but we bumped up the Neurontin (good for anti-anxiety, bad for short term memory). Four months later I went from 10 to 7.5 and had to take a medical leave from work. A month ago my pdoc put me on 37.5 of Effexor (yah, yah, I know) and 50 of topamax. Two weeks ago I went from 7.5 to 5 mg/day of Paxil and I'm aggitated but not harmful. I will become Paxil free. Good luck to you too.
Posted by jake97tx on January 9, 2004, at 20:44:39
In reply to Re: Xanax, Paxil, Lexapro...and...The SSRI Trap?, posted by crazychickuk on January 9, 2004, at 10:43:22
Like JerseyDevil, I can't quit Paxil cold-turkey. I have to ween very slowly. So I guess my concern is taking 2 SSRI's concurrently for a few months. Has anyone done this?
Posted by theo on January 10, 2004, at 14:00:03
In reply to Re: Xanax, Paxil, Lexapro...and...The SSRI Trap?, posted by jake97tx on January 9, 2004, at 20:44:39
I took 20mg of Prozac with 10mg Paxil when I was weanig off and had no problem because the Paxil dose was down to 10mg (the lowest dose for me on weaning). I had no problems and had no withdrawal from Paxil. And gues what, 8 months later I'm 1 month in to starting Paxil again, Musical SSRI's!!
This is the end of the thread.
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