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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 2 of 2. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by pluginbaby on July 1, 2008, at 2:24:36
I posted this on the medications board, but an answer I received made me wonder if it was actually withdrawal I was going through.
I've been on Paxil for 10 years (for panic disorder), and recently cross tapered to Prozac because I would like to have a child and my pdoc advised that it was safer. I have been on 20mg of the prozac for 3 weeks (and 15mg 2 weeks before that, 10mg 3 weeks before that). I find I still feel quite stimulated and anxious - what I put down to the start up effect of Prozac. But shouldn't that have stopped by now? I've been taking it for 8 weeks all up. I'm starting to wonder if it's actually withdrawal from the Paxil since I was on it so long.
Anyone had a similar experience?
Thanks
Jax
Posted by BPIIwho knew? on July 18, 2008, at 11:13:55
In reply to Is this withdrawal?, posted by pluginbaby on July 1, 2008, at 2:24:36
My vote is that it's paxil withdrawal. In an attempt to avoid going through literal hell of w/d from paxil ,I too tried adding other meds (in my case, mood stabilizers with AD properties)while tapering off Paxil. I could not seem to tolerate other drugs, while my highly-regarded psychiatrist kept suggesting it was actually Paxil w/d causing my creepy sxs.
So, only way to know for sure? Quit Paxil to get to "baseline" and then treat sxs as needed. Guess what? Doc was right. Paxil withdrawal can last for weeks or months, esp. if you've been on it for a long time.
Another suggestion- after my 2 pregnancies (3 and 5 yrs ago), the nature of my depression and response to SSRI changed to more agitation/anger. Unfortunately, I continued to pop those little pink pills (fearing w/d) with little supervision and that may have worsened things. If I had to do it over, I would keep a mood diary (see your doc) and be closely monitored before , during and after you have babies by a GOOD, Vigilant psychiatrist in order to detect any subtle (or in my case, not so subtle) signs that meds may need to be adjusted. Best of luck to you.
This is the end of the thread.
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