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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by acleme1 on February 3, 2011, at 11:29:26
Hello all. I have been on Paxil 40 mg/day for about 12 years now. I can't believe it's been that long, but how time flies. I am a 36 year-old male now, so I was about 24 years old when I took my first pill. At the time, I was diagnosed with pretty severe GAD and Panic Disorder.
Sometimes, I wish I had never started the medication - but I know that it has helped me to live a more full and productive life. Lately though, I have been worrying about what the long-term effects of this medication are?
Paxil wasn't meant to be taken for more than 6 months to 1 year from the research that I have been able to gather. For me, it's now been 12 years! What, if anything, is this medication doing to me and my brain chemistry?
I tried once about 9 years ago to just quit cold turkey. I wanted to see what it was like without the medication. I was fine for about 4 days, then all hell broke loose. At the time, I wasn't aware of the "discontinuation syndrome" that is so common with SSRI's. I eventually got back on the medicine, and have been on it ever since.
Is there anyone out there that has taken Paxil or a similar SSRI for 10+ years? What does your P-doc say about using the medication long-term...possibly for life?
Is there any benefit to trying to come off of the Paxil, and using CBT therapy + benzos "as needed" to manage the anxiety?
I guess I'm just hoping to hear from some of you guys that have been on SSRI's for many years. How are you doing, and do you plan to take this medication the rest of your life?
Thanks for any input. AC.
Posted by Phillipa on February 3, 2011, at 13:23:39
In reply to Been on Paxil 12 Years - Can anyone relate?, posted by acleme1 on February 3, 2011, at 11:29:26
Been on luvox 50mg and benzos long term. Luvox about 11 years benzos 40 years. I can not get off this ridiculously low dose of luvox. I have no idea what to do about it. The benzos lower doses today. I took paxil 2 years worked fine. Titrated off that. Long term effects I also worry continuously about. Glad I'm not the only one. Phillipa
Posted by roscopeeco on February 8, 2011, at 0:09:33
In reply to Been on Paxil 12 Years - Can anyone relate?, posted by acleme1 on February 3, 2011, at 11:29:26
First off, when you quit cold turkey you are going to have the symptoms you described. Secondly, if it has helped you live a more productive life, why would you want to come off the medication? Obviously it has altered your brain chemistry because you are less anxious. Is altering your brain chemistry a bad thing?
Posted by 49er on February 8, 2011, at 11:10:50
In reply to Been on Paxil 12 Years - Can anyone relate?, posted by acleme1 on February 3, 2011, at 11:29:26
> Hello all. I have been on Paxil 40 mg/day for about 12 years now. I can't believe it's been that long, but how time flies. I am a 36 year-old male now, so I was about 24 years old when I took my first pill. At the time, I was diagnosed with pretty severe GAD and Panic Disorder.
>
> Sometimes, I wish I had never started the medication - but I know that it has helped me to live a more full and productive life. Lately though, I have been worrying about what the long-term effects of this medication are?
>
> Paxil wasn't meant to be taken for more than 6 months to 1 year from the research that I have been able to gather. For me, it's now been 12 years! What, if anything, is this medication doing to me and my brain chemistry?
>
> I tried once about 9 years ago to just quit cold turkey. I wanted to see what it was like without the medication. I was fine for about 4 days, then all hell broke loose. At the time, I wasn't aware of the "discontinuation syndrome" that is so common with SSRI's. I eventually got back on the medicine, and have been on it ever since.
>
> Is there anyone out there that has taken Paxil or a similar SSRI for 10+ years? What does your P-doc say about using the medication long-term...possibly for life?
>
> Is there any benefit to trying to come off of the Paxil, and using CBT therapy + benzos "as needed" to manage the anxiety?
>
> I guess I'm just hoping to hear from some of you guys that have been on SSRI's for many years. How are you doing, and do you plan to take this medication the rest of your life?
>
> Thanks for any input. AC.Hi,
As one who slowly discontinued meds after being on them for 15 years, knowing what I now know, I have gotten off of them alot sooner.
You might want to visit http://www.paxilprogress.org as that is a support site for people who want to discontinue their meds. I found their slow tapering strategy (10% of current dose every 3 to 6 weeks) very helpful.
Many people on the site have found CBT to be very helpful. In studies I have seen, over time, CBT wins out as the most effective treatment for anxiety.
Even if you chose not to discontinue meds, it is a good site to have bookmarked in case you change your mind.
Most psychiatrists in my opinion, greatly minimize the side effects and long term use dangers.
Posted by Laney on February 9, 2011, at 20:48:10
In reply to Re: Been on Paxil 12 Years - Can anyone relate? » acleme1, posted by 49er on February 8, 2011, at 11:10:50
Hi Acleme?
I have been on paxil for about 14 years. I myself could kick myself in the butt for trying to taper a few different times.
My last attempt at tapering was about 1-1/2 years ago and I did a 7 month taper. I got down to 3.5mg. and did get involved with the site paxilprogress. I am stuck in a rut of depression ever since that last taper. Maybe it's been more like two years.
In other words I should have left it alone. If I could go back I absolutely would. Your going to have to make that gamble yourself. If you choose to you may be better off or worse off. No one really knows why.
I'm still looking for a paxil replacement if you will. I'm stuck in the mental funk of withdrawl. I thought I'd go back to my normal self but didn't.
Hope that helps.
Best wishes.
Laney
Posted by Conundrum on February 11, 2011, at 12:16:56
In reply to Been on Paxil 12 Years - Can anyone relate?, posted by acleme1 on February 3, 2011, at 11:29:26
> Hello all. I have been on Paxil 40 mg/day for about 12 years now. I can't believe it's been that long, but how time flies. I am a 36 year-old male now, so I was about 24 years old when I took my first pill. At the time, I was diagnosed with pretty severe GAD and Panic Disorder.
>
> Sometimes, I wish I had never started the medication - but I know that it has helped me to live a more full and productive life. Lately though, I have been worrying about what the long-term effects of this medication are?
>
> Paxil wasn't meant to be taken for more than 6 months to 1 year from the research that I have been able to gather. For me, it's now been 12 years! What, if anything, is this medication doing to me and my brain chemistry?
>
> I tried once about 9 years ago to just quit cold turkey. I wanted to see what it was like without the medication. I was fine for about 4 days, then all hell broke loose. At the time, I wasn't aware of the "discontinuation syndrome" that is so common with SSRI's. I eventually got back on the medicine, and have been on it ever since.
>
> Is there anyone out there that has taken Paxil or a similar SSRI for 10+ years? What does your P-doc say about using the medication long-term...possibly for life?
>
> Is there any benefit to trying to come off of the Paxil, and using CBT therapy + benzos "as needed" to manage the anxiety?
>
> I guess I'm just hoping to hear from some of you guys that have been on SSRI's for many years. How are you doing, and do you plan to take this medication the rest of your life?
>
> Thanks for any input. AC.I took prozac with success for 4 years and then stopped it. My memory and cognitive functions have suffered tremendously after stopping prozac, I also experienced a blunting of my emotions. I never had problems like this while on prozac though, or before taking it. It seems like the brain adapts and becomes accustomed to that drug molecule and cannot function well without it. Unfortunately going back on the drug has not helped nor has time.
So, if it were me I would stay on the drug for life. Its probably cheap and hasn't done harm yet. If you were to stop it, I would go to a site like www.paxilprogress.org and see what those people are doing to get off it. Paxil withdrawal can be worse than heroin withdrawal for some. I know they often advocate reducing dosage by onlye 10-15% on that forum and often shave pieces of the pill to get really smalls doses of around 1mg. Even if you could get by on just 1 or 2mg for life might be fine and you'd be less likely to worry about staying on it for so long. Trust me you are feeling fine now. There isn't a garauntee that if you stop it, you will be fine or that it will work again, or in my case, that you will ever feel normal again.
Posted by huxley on February 20, 2011, at 3:46:59
In reply to Re: Been on Paxil 12 Years - Can anyone relate? » acleme1, posted by Conundrum on February 11, 2011, at 12:16:56
I am the same as conundrum. Switched from Paxil to Prozac 3 and a bit years ago and crashed big time. Have never been the same since.
This is the end of the thread.
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