If you have taken the Paxil (Paroxetine) or Paxil CR (controlled-release), you know the true power behind this SSRI medication. When I first took it for social anxiety, it worked wonders – I felt so good that I never wanted to come off of it. Eventually the drug stopped working and I fell into a deep depression while still taking Paxil. I had been taking it for about 9 months, and decided that I should probably just get off of the stuff altogether if it was no longer helping. I was young and my general practitioner didn’t explain that it would be advisable to “taper” vs. going “cold turkey.”
Long story short, I had a total mental breakdown, severe anxiety, severe depression, suicidal ideation, and had a very difficult time recovering from the Pax-hell that I was being put through. The withdrawal symptoms were absolutely awful and I felt as though I would never recover. In all honesty, I think it took me several years before I felt “normal” again by my standards. Although my case of an extended withdrawal recovery period is not the norm, many people really struggle coming off of Paxil.
Factors that influence Paxil withdrawal include:
If you have read any of my other articles regarding antidepressants, specifically SSRI’s, you should know that there are a number of factors that play a role in your withdrawal from a medication. It should be noted that Paxil is among the most powerful antidepressants on the market – some research has even compared its effects as being “similar to cocaine.” Whether those claims are scientifically founded is another story. However, anyone that has had experience with this drug knows how hellish the withdrawal can be.
1. Time Span
How long were you prescribed Paxil? Have you only been taking it for a few weeks? Have you been on it for years? Obviously time span plays a huge role in determining how our body’s are going to respond to withdrawal. If you take something away from your body that you have been giving it for an extended period of time, you are going to have a tougher time rebounding compared to someone who was only on it for a couple weeks or months.
2. Dosage
What was the dosage that you were taking? Paxil comes in some standard dosages of 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg, and 60 mg. There is also the Paxil CR version which comes in 12.5 mg, 25 mg, 37.5 mg, etc. Obviously the CR simply means “controlled release” and that the dosage was slowly released over a 24 hour period. With the regular version of Paxil, the drug can get absorbed more quickly or all at once. They end up being very similar once your body gets accustomed to the standard Paxil. Anyways, the greater the dosage of this stuff, the tougher it is going to be to withdraw.
3. Individual physiology
There are rare superhuman individuals that don’t really notice withdrawal from certain medications. How sensitive you are as a person is going to play a major role in determining how Paxil withdrawal feels. Some people may notice that they are back to normal within a matter of weeks, while for others it may take months. And for others, like myself, it took years to feel better again.
4. Cold turkey vs. tapering
With the sheer potency of Paxil, I highly recommend that you do NOT stop cold turkey. Stopping cold turkey is just asking for some major trouble. When I was on this medication, I was only on the 12.5 mg CR version and I stopped cold turkey – huge mistake. I experienced withdrawal symptoms for a long time – and it took me years to feel “normal” again. Tapering is the smart way to go about withdrawal – gradually wean yourself off this medication with the help of your psychiatrist and/or doctor. If you haven’t yet quit the drug, but plan to withdraw soon, be sure to read: “How To Taper off of Paxil Properly.”
Paxil Withdrawal Symptoms: List
There are so many different withdrawal symptoms that people may experience while on this medication. Although you may not experience every symptom on the list below, it is common to experience several of them at the same time.
- Anger – Want to see someone get mad? Have them withdraw from Paxil. Coming off of this medication can make even the most docile human being turn into a raging evil monster.
- Anxiety – The anxiety coming off of Paxil is among the worst many people ever experience in their lives. Not everyone experiences this symptom, but the drop in serotonin levels can contribute to high anxiety coming off of Paxil.
- Blurred vision – Although this sounds somewhat odd to experience, people have reported that their vision seems blurred at times while coming off of Paxil. I had this experience, and my vision is perfectly fine, but something was clearly going on.
- Confusion – You may experience difficulties with thinking and may become easily confused throughout the day. This is normal – just remember that your thinking is temporarily slowed and your brain is trying to recover from the Paxil.
- Crying spells – It is common for people coming off of Paxil to breakdown and start crying – often uncontrollably. Feelings of deep depression and desperation may accompany this crying. Do your best to tough it out and recognize that it’s just the withdrawal.
- Decreased appetite – Coming off of Paxil you’ll experience the opposite of what you felt while on the drug. For most people, Paxil makes them hungry. When they stop, they have a tough time rebuilding their appetite for awhile.
- Dizziness – You may experience an extreme case of vertigo for the first couple weeks coming off of this medication. Just recognize that this is a common withdrawal symptom.
- Electric shocks – You may feel as though you are being electrically shocked or experience what many refer to as “brain zaps.” This can be very distressful in itself, but just realize that they will eventually go away as the drug leaves your system.
- Fatigue – It is very common to experience lethargy or fatigue. You may feel like sleeping all day and not wanting to do anything. Do your best to get through the day and do what you can.
- Flu-like – It isn’t uncommon to experience flu-like symptoms for the first couple weeks while coming off of Paxil – especially if you stopped cold turkey.
- Headaches – It is common to get headaches and/or feel pressure in the head during withdrawal. I had such severe headaches that I actually thought I needed to get an MRI to determine any alternative causes.
- Hot flashes – Many people experience hot flashes for weeks while coming off of Paxil.
- Hypersensitivity – You may be hypersensitive to light, sounds, and motion. I remember that I would freak out at loud noises and or super bright sunlight. This can cause you to go into panic mode.
- Hypochondria – It is pretty common to fear that you are going crazy while withdrawing. I thought I was going to develop schizophrenia, cancer, and/or problems with my hearing and vision. Every little thing made me panic and think disease.
- Insomnia – Can’t fall asleep at night? Since your brain’s serotonin supply is now diminished, you may find yourself unable to sleep or find mental peace. This insomnia will last until your brain finds a way to recalibrate its neurotransmitters.
- Mood swings – The mood swings that you experience may be absolutely crazy. You may go from extreme anger, to extreme sadness, feel aggressive one minute, and be sympathetic the next. Do your best to cope with this.
- Muscle cramps – Your body may ache and feel sore all over. This is because it is getting re-acclimated to experiencing life without Paxil cycling through it.
- Nausea – If every little thing makes you feel nauseated and somewhat sick, it could be a result of the withdrawal.
- Panic attacks – You may find yourself panicking in almost every major situation. Whether you are at work, school, or just out in public, everything may provoke a fear response. Do your best to fight through this feeling of discomfort.
- Poor concentration – Can you focus? Of course not, you’re coming off of Paxil. Most people experience a little cognitive boost while on the medication, and when they come off of it, they are unable to focus.
- Slowed thinking – If you find yourself unable to think quickly, perform well on the job, and/or problem solve, it’s due to the withdrawal.
- Severe depression – The depression that you experience coming off of Paxil may be so severe, that you won’t even know how to make it through life. Do your best to focus on making it through one day at a time. Eventually you will rebound back to 100%.
- Suicidal thoughts – Feel suicidal before you take Paxil? Coming off of it the suicidal thoughts may be 100x worse. Yes you read right, 100x worse. The best thing you can do for yourself is try to think positive and/or do something to distract yourself from the way you are feeling.
- Sweating – It is common to sweat profusely while on Paxil, and you may find yourself sweating a ton while coming off of it.
- Vivid dreams – Many people experience vivid dreams while on this medication, as well as while coming off of it.
Note: It is known that Paxil stays in your system for only 4 to 6 days after your last dose; it has a short-half-life. Â For this reason, many people notice severe discontinuation symptoms within just days of stopping Paxil.
Paxil Withdrawal Symptoms Length of Time: How long will they last?
How long will withdrawal from the drug Paxil last? Like I said, it will totally depend based on individual factors. New research suggests that the withdrawal period actually lasts a lot longer than professionals originally thought. They are finally starting to see the light that these drugs are not something to be taken lightly. Most people have withdrawal symptoms for at least a couple months following discontinuation. A good rule of thumb to go by is give it 90 days to fully recover – most people feel back to themselves after 3 months time.
In the meantime, try to take it one day at a time and don’t freak out at every little symptom. Your brain is likely in panic mode. Make sure you are exercising, eating healthy, and socializing to the best of your ability. A day will come when you will feel 100% and back to normal even if you don’t believe it right now. The process takes time. If you can make it through this withdrawal, you can make it through anything. I am here if you need to share your comments and experiences.
So glad I found this website. I’m currently 16 and have been taking Paxil for about 8 months now, as well as another antidepressant for about 6 months. When I first had the medication prescribed to me I was in no way informed of what was to come. I was put on medication for severe anxiety and depression, though My doctor never really warned me about withdrawal symptoms or how the meds would affect my body.
I stopped taking my antidepressants cold turkey 6 days ago and it’s been absolute hell. The brain zaps and nausea and sweats are definitely the worst of it, as well as the random crying spurts. My parents don’t even know I stopped taking my meds, since last time I did I ended up in the mental hospital. Someone PLEASE tell me that the withdrawal symptoms will go away soon. I wish I had of never started Paxil in the first place.
I’m on day 6 of cold turkey on Paxil 60mg I’m sick, everything is spinning, vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, can’t get out of bed. Is there an end to this? What can I do to help some of this? I just want it to end. I’ve been on it for 14 years.
I was on Paxil for almost a year, decided last week that I really hate relying on any drug to make me feel better, so I stopped taking it. From all that I am reading here, I feel really lucky. The only few symptoms I’ve noticed is the vivid dreams even if it’s an hour nap, and I am slightly dizzy.
Oh, and I don’t seem to want to eat as much. Happy to report that my mood seems to be fine, but I do work out frequently, and have planned activities that always have been pleasurable for me. Maybe it will hit me later, but thankfully I have my annual check up next week. Wish me luck!
Thank you for all the sensible advice because I AM AT MY WITS END TO GET OFF PAXIL… after a small cutback I feel dizzy, nauseous, shaky, angry and tearful all at once. I feel like someone has stolen my brain and I want it back. I’m normally pretty placid but feel like telling the world to get f$&ked right now. Thank you for reading… I appreciate the opportunity to vent!
At first, I started cutting back because I didn’t think I needed it and wanted to know the “real me” as I have been on a few different ones over the lasy few years. I thought, wow, this is a piece of cake… then it happened. All of a sudden, I am a miserable mess. Flying off the handle randomly, alienated a friend, almost ended my relationship, constant crazy crying spells, having to literally force myself out of bed.
I am certain people at work are just flat out avoiding me. I can’t control it and it’s AWFUL. Exhausted, can’t sleep, no motivation to do anything… and I just feel like an awful person period. I may not be Miss Bubbly but this withdrawal makes me into a MONSTER.
Thank you guys for sharing!! I’m only early days of going cold turkey AND I’m also detoxing as I abuse alcohol too!!! It’s not a very nice experience… The worst for me is the electric cattle prod I feel shot through my messed up nervous system. It’s probably the thing I hate the most… So I hope it goes soon.
I can handle the depression/anger/mood swings as these were all still present whilst on this horrible drug. No idea why I decided to go cold turkey on both these drugs at the same time but it feels like it’s too late to go back. But I feel stronger and more secure after reading everyone’s feedback… One day at a time…
I have been on paxil less than a year to help with menopausal hot flashes which indeed it has helped. I took Zoloft years ago to assist with some depression. I was able to stop it cold turkey no problem. I stopped taking the paxil five days ago with a little hesitation about the hot flashes not medication withdrawals.
I had no idea. I’ve never experienced any medication withdrawals. Let’s see, I’m having vivid weird dreams and restlessness all night, horrible vertigo, nausea, headaches, ringing in ears, swoosh or some noise when I move my eyes. I googled about the eye noise and it’s not just me. I feel fatigued and flu like. I haven’t felt any mood swings and pray I don’t.
I probably should have called the doctor and weaned myself off. I just never imagined all the withdrawals. I never even googled or worried about it until I was so sick with vertigo today. It started a couple days ago but has only gotten worse. I have caught myself thinking maybe I should take half of the prescribed 40 mg.
But I’m like so many of you after reading your posts. I want off. I’ll find another way to deal with my hot flashes! This is too high a price.
I was on Paxil 40mg for about nine months for depression. I decided to go off of it about three weeks ago and tapered off but not slow enough. I have been completely off for one and a half weeks. I have been miserable!! Mostly stomach and brain zaps/dizziness issues but it has been horrible.
I never have diarrhea and have been having it. I’m afraid to eat anything. I also cry very easily which I never really cried while taking Paxil. I’m exhausted and just worn out. Thankfully the head issues went away but still stomach issues. I just want to feel better!!!
Hi. Just found this link and had a eureka moment. I literally thought I was one of a few people to suffer with the side effects of these mind numbing spirit crushing drugs. In a nutshell I didn’t have the greatest start in life and had a tough time when I was younger. I went to my doctors at about 18 years old as a last resort and plea for help.
Little did I know that as oppose to any kind of therapy or genuine help he would actually just whip out a prescription pad and start my journey to hell. Over the years I’ve had just about every side effect imaginable and after being started on Setraline am now on Paroxetine. Had anger that would make the Incredible Hulk look timid, had the severe dark depression, utter despair, nightmares and at times felt literally suicidal.
Years later despite a bad start in life I’m now married with a beautiful baby son and live a relatively normal life with the exception of still being chained to these drugs and the horrible side effects. Determined to come off them. A book called “your drug may be your problem” by Peter Breggin has given me some useful pointers and after 10+ years at 40mg I’ve been dropping down slowly but surely.
I’m now down to 30mg. I purchased a pill cutter on Amazon and dropped to 35mg for 6 months and will do the same at 30mg and so on all the way down to 0mg one day. Thank you to everyone that took the time to write on here and I genuinely wish you all the best. -Rob
Let me quote Lynn, “If I had known what I was getting into, I would have never started Paxil.” I am writing from Iran, where people are dealing enough with the toughest problems in daily basis, however, Paxil withdrawal came to me tougher than nearly most of other hardships around the pain was both mental and physical while the latter was even tougher with head zaps and a unique experience like my brain was moving inwards left to right by every slight change in position from right to left (I would call it zero-g or elevator shake); it happened even when I performed the normal behavior of breathing before I fell asleep…
I cut off my intake from 20 mg down to 10 last year which was followed by some 5 mg dosage for 2weeks since December 2015, then I removed it totally from LIFE. I have been off paxil for 2 weeks now and the topsy-turvy thing in my head is gone, yet I have a feeling like something else is not going off well again, as if my brain (when modeled by an electronic board) is missing some required material to feel normal… I cannot find the word, as if it is malfunctioning, or it’s not CALM it’s not peaceful.
Why did I not visit the psychiatrist who prescribed it 2 years ago in order to ask him taper the procedure? Good question. BECAUSE he did not LIKE to do that. And every time I went to his office, I had to pay 10 dollars to beg him DOCTOR PLEASE take me off that pill, while he was quite ignorant to “my demand”. I am so sad and sorry for myself I have this message to psychiatrists around the world – SHAME ON YOU.
YOU sit in your office and prescribe addictive medicine for people who don’t have enough information about SSRI family (and other medical treatments) people who surrender to you and let you decide on their behalf because they imagine you might help them get better. Shame on YOU. That’s for money, isn’t it! That’s all. The brain works through a chemical-electrical procedure based mainly on neurons for stimulation of the adjacent cells, hence the transmission of the “message” between every two neurons.
This happens through dendrite-dendrite or dendrite-axon wiring, which include ion channels on their length. At rest, while the neuron is not stimulated enough to trigger a pulse, sodium vs. potassium/calcium, etc… ions have a specific pattern of distribution around the channel membrane (i.e., + inward and – outwards). This balance is violated by signaling of the “message” when you cut the medical treatment off the brain, it needs time to habituate to the new volume of ions, their distribution, and volume of neurotransmitters secreted in the gap between each two neuron.
Whether it would EVER feel easy with this tremendous change, is what I don’t know.
It is so comforting to read the below. I have been on Paxil 20 mg for the past 3 years, and have started to to reduce the dose 6 months ago as per my doctor’s instructions. It has been going great, until this week. I reduced the dose to 5mg every 2 days as per his instructions, and all of a sudden I feel down, very demotivated, and exhausted.
I am getting the feeling of being detached from my body and the flu-like symptoms as well. I am exercising every day, but still suffering from insomnia at night. I really hope this goes away quickly, I can’t wait to get back to normal life.
Withdrawal is frightening and plain sucks. I ran out of paroxetine on the Monday. I thought I had a script so was going to get it filled on Tuesday. Went to chemist and found it was in fact not a script. Had to call doctor and ask for a script. Takes 48-72 hrs to get one. I worried a bit because I tried to ditch the drug once before and found it extremely disabling so stayed on it.
Turns out I couldn’t get the repeat script before Monday so now 8 days off the drug. cold turkey. Can’t even explain the anguish the stupid thing is causing me. However at least now after reading the article you wrote I now know what all these symptoms are. I am having them all. Crazy psychotic dreams (ugly dark ones), not sleeping, flickering eyes, and vertigo. I feel like “waves” role through me.
It is horrid. But now it is day 8 and I am NOT going back on it. Bugger that. What a nut-job of a drug. Coming off near kills you and the side effects or withdrawal symptoms are worse than the reason you get put on it to begin with. How crazy is that! Downside is I am studying full time and on prac. Bit scary. I will be very mindful and careful of what I am doing. I feel the effects but won’t allow them to control me as I know what the cause is. Thank you for the article and God Bless all of you going through this.
I was on Seroxat (paroxetine) 30 mg for 25 years and recently was switched to Sertraline, transitioning over a 2 week period during which I was told to take more of the Sertraline and less of the paroxetine each day. It was no problem at all in the short term. None of the acute side effects previously experienced even when missing one dose of the paroxetine. Too good to be true? Yes!
Six months later and now up to 150mg Sertraline, I am unable to function or do my job as I am completely knocked off in terms of cognitive function. Zero short-term or working memory, constantly repeating myself, asking the same questions over and again, confused, disorientated, unable to drive as cannot focus or concentrate at all. My mood is worryingly low and got the first time in many, many years I have had thoughts of ending it all as I just cannot bear feeling so depressed and for no actual reason.
I am like a zombie. I just cannot function or complete even the simplest of everyday tasks. Either I have dementia setting in or a brain tumor developing or (realistically far more likely), all of these things are a consequence of the change in medication – side effects of my new drug or withdrawal effects from the swift, removal of the paroxetine! Has anyone been on paroxetine as long as I have been?
Has anyone else come off the drug in the way I was told to do? Has anyone else lost their ability to function as quickly as I have done? This must most logically, surely be related to the rapid withdrawal from such a powerful drug and/or side effects of the new drug, or even a combination of the two?!
My GP is unable to decide what now to do for the best but I am now unable to do my high level job and stand to lose my career! Any advice from anyone that has encountered similar symptoms or a similar withdrawal schedule ? Im desperate for advice. Thanks!
I was on 30 mg of Paxil for almost a year gained 50 lbs! I recently tapered of slowly from 30 to 25, etc. My last dose was a few days before Christmas! I am getting severe chest pains is this a common withdrawal? I just saw my PK he told me to stick it out for another 2 weeks?
Have taken Paxil for a few years in hopes that it would help me with Depression/Anxiety and PMS and life stressors that ran high. I was never able to take recommended dose, 20 mg.. My system could not tolerate it- made me to tired. I managed to stay on 10 mg for over a year. As I started to do my own research on this medication, I realized that it was not working for me.
The Dr that prescribed me this was not my G.P. He guaranteed this was the best med and he even bragged about how much it helped one hid other clients. What he didn’t tell me was how it can affect people differently and that coming off this med, is hell! When I shared my concerns with my GP, she had informed me that she would have never suggested this med for me. Mind you this a year after I had already been on it.
So began my journey of getting off this med. Made many attempts to ween myself off, all which had failed because of the withdrawals. My second to last attempt I ended up in a Hospital for a week bring my levels back to stable me out. Did though, at my request, have a Gene Sight Test done. (Mouth swab test to determine which meds your system will tolerate and utilize better). Well not to my surprise that Paxil, among many other SSRIs were on the list of extreme caution!!!
By this time I was seeing a Psychiatrist and going to weekly counseling. I was determined to get off this med with several attempts and a fear so intense about the withdrawals, my doctor prescribed a liquid form that I come decrease in as little as 1/2 mg if need be. Managed to go decrease by 2 mg per week, which seemed rather quickly for me. It took me 5 weeks to get off 10 mgs. I managed to be go to work and function half-assed.
List of withdrawals for me: Anger!!!, Anxiety, Confusion, Crying spells, Decreased Appetite, Headaches, Glitches and Zaps, Fatigue, Hypersensitivity!!!, Hypochondria, Mood Swings, Nausea!!, Panic Attacks, Poor Concentration, Slowed Thinking and Body Movement, Depression, Suicidal thoughts… Hope I got them all!!! All the while I was taking low doses of Ativan for the anxiety and anger and L-theanine 100-200 mg doses up to 3 times a day for calming down.
I have been off Paxil for several weeks and have been going down hill for the last month or so. My Naturopath believes that I need a to take a med on my list of approvals!!! Scared sh*tless to try something new. Pristiq was on the top of the list as well as Fetzima. Well called into work 2 days in a row due to physical symptoms and low tolerance for anything that I have always done before.
So funny that I’m going on and on about all this. This has been what I call my prison for the last year!!! By the way I also have been using an acupuncturist and masseuse. Just started 5-HTP today in hopes that it with help with my transition. Just recently lost my health care, could not have been at a worse time. Thanks for all your input and support during this period in my life.
I’m going off 40mg of paroxetine and on to a low dose of another medication as paroxetine was no longer working for me. I feel sick, dizzy, my heads heavy, my neck aches, and I’m so exhausted but can’t sleep. It’s awful and I wish I could feel normal again.
Wrote about a week ago about how this site saved my life after five days of withdrawal cold turkey from the paxil, Xanax, requip, trazadone and others. Everything was magnified by 10-thousand times more because you can’t stop the other pills abruptly either. Well it’s been two weeks now and I am feeling a little better, probably because I got my Xanax refilled and the other meds.
The dizzy spells, anger, dry mouth, itching, etc. have almost disappeared, but I still get terrible dreams but I always had. I am still angry because of falling twice hurting my right knee then my right foot due to the dizzy spells. The second fall came with a brain zap and a dizzy spell together. It took me ten minutes to get up and I still can’t walk on my foot. I was not concerned about the dizzy spells because I have three bleeding ulcers and dizziness is a side effect and I have to be admitted to the hospital for blood transfusions.
But since stopping paxil the dizziness and nausea have subsided. I wish a of you luck and will keep you in my prayers. Remember it will get better. When I was out of all my pills for those five days benadryl helped a little so now it is always in my house. Now I am afraid what will happen if I quit the Xanax suddenly. That’s another website and I already read it. Good luck everyone and thank you for saving my life by sharing your hellish stories.
I tapered off of 30 mg daily over a six week period. I did well down to 10 mg. I started getting slight withdrawal symptoms. At 5 I got significant withdrawal and now I’m off totally a few days and it’s severe. Brain zaps mood swings etc. This is hell and I am trying to find some relief. Any suggestions?
I am trying to get my 19 yr old daughter with cerebral palsy and cognitive disorder off this terrible drug. We are tapering her off and still terrible side effects. Worst one is insomnia. She has maybe slept average 2 -3 hrs a day overpast 5 days. I’ve give her melatonin but not much relief. Has anyone used anything else with good results?
I feel so terrible for her, especially because she doesn’t understand. All these pharmaceutical companies and doctor’s prescribing this drug should burn in hell… they obviously have no conscience. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Another Dr. suggested Ativan. Don’t know about that plus not keen on giving her more prescription meds. Thanks and God Bless all others out there going through this.
I started taking paxil about 3 months ago after years of suffering from depression and severe anxiety, culminating to a profound panic attack which left me unable to work. First my GP prescribed 20mg of paxil and suggested I see a psychiatrist who then upped the dose to 40mg, never once did either of these Dr’s explain the withdrawal symptoms as a risk for taking this medication. At the time I started taking them I really didn’t care much about side effects as I figured I was already in the worst shape I had ever been in and I just wanted to get out of that hell and begin to feel better.
And it has helped to the point I felt better then I started to get lax about taking my meds consistently, especially around Thanksgiving when I had a week off. Well on Thanksgiving I was so sick I couldn’t even eat or enjoy time with my family. I was dizzy, confused, forgetting my words, nauseated, tired and more, but at that time I had no idea why. A few days later I got even sicker, sore throat, trouble swallowing, night sweats, etc.
I got back to my regular routine which included taking my meds again once I went back to work, slowly the aches and pains went away. I work for a school system and we went back on holiday break and again I’ve been lax with taking my meds the last two weeks. I’ve had some bouts of dizziness, foggy days, tiredness, body aches, etc. but I still hadn’t put two and two together as to why. Then yesterday I almost lost it completely.
I went stark raging mad because the cashier at walmart overcharged me 12 cents! When I shared the story with my family they all laughed, like seriously it’s 12 cents… and part of me recognized how much I was overreacting to that 12 cents, but I couldn’t stop being angry. As well I’ve done a little drinking since I’ve been on vacation (I am on vacation, and it’s the holidays) so the times I’ve felt dizzy and nauseated I just thought well maybe I drank to much, but I’m really not a drinker so I’ve had a few beers at most.
Last night was New Year’s Eve, I had two beers and was sleep by 11:30, I woke in a sweat around 1 to realize I slept through the festivities and would have stayed sleeping if I hadn’t been awoken by the dripping sweat (mind you I’ve been keeping my thermostat at 65 to avoid the sweaty nights.) But when I got up this morning I was so dizzy and feeling so weird, I couldn’t even make coffee. I just knew it couldn’t have been the two beers. So it wasn’t until this morning that I put two and two together, my dizziness mood swings and other ailments… that it might be withdrawal symptoms making me feel so weird.
I Googled it and came across several sites like this, with others expressing the same sort of symptoms and now I know exactly what’s got me feeling crazy: Paxil Withdrawal! I think I’ve taken my meds like 3 days in the last 2 weeks. So after realizing this is most likely the cause of my crappy feelings, I took my meds this morning. I had already decided that I wasn’t going to stay medicated for long and decided I would go off the paxil closer to the end of the school year, and that’s still the plan especially after reading the hell I can look forward to.
But since reading these posts, I now have a better understanding of how important it will be to begin tapering sooner rather than later, as the symptoms I’ve already experienced may only get worse and might last for some time. My goal is to be completely off by the start of the next school year and I won’t be trying it cold turkey. Thanks to everyone who’s shared here.
Came off paxil, Xanax, requip, trazodone all at once not by choice but because of the long holiday weekend, my pharmacy didn’t deliver until Monday. I gave up driving due to severe dizziness and falling twice hurting my right knee first then right right. I know there is damage to them but it did not seem to matter. My car is also eight months past due inspection.
I knew the withdrawal would start but had no idea I was about to enter hell! I was on all these pills plus too many more to mention. I am disabled and have a sympathetic doctor who was only try to help. I have three bleeding ulcers, anemia, migraines, herniated disc etc. Plus I am the caregiver of my 86 year old mother who has dementia. I suffered from panic attacks for 10 years. All these problems were nothing compared to withdrawal.
I had all the symptoms everyone wrote about regarding the evil paxil. Had I not found this website five days into withdrawal from the paxil and the other pills I don’t believe I would have made it. I found a few Benadryl and ambien that helped calm me a little and I would check on my poor mother every 10minutes because I got it in my head she was dead. Her having dementia I had to keep reminding her it was the withdrawal and panic attacks.
By Monday I got my Xanax, Requip and Zanaflex delivered, but not the paxil. I feel a little better but due to money problems I have to ration these pills out. Thank God for your site and everyone who shared. I now know what that head zaps, nausea, dizziness, more severe panic attacks, etc. were coming from. Hopefully I will get back on track, get my car inspected and get my busted knee and foot looked at.
I blame this on the paxil and the paxil withdrawal. All of you who contributed to this site and shared you stories saved me. I thank you and will keep you in my prayers. Sorry if I rambled but it’s 3:15 am and my thoughts are still scattered. I think I am afraid to sleep because the ambien doesn’t always work and the room spins when I first lay down then comes the head zaps.
I just wanted to thank everyone for sharing their experiences. Without these types of forums, I think this withdrawal would have gotten the best of me. I’m only 3 weeks in and the anger, mood swings, and nausea is a daily battle that I cannot wait to be rid of. I try my best to recognize when my temper is flaring and when I’m not acting myself and do my best to correct it.
My motto is fake it til you make it lol. I’m taking it one day at a time and hoping that one day soon, I will feel well again. It scares me that a medication alone can cause this much turmoil but it reinforces my decision to discontinue my use. Best of luck to everyone and here’s hoping our light at the end of the tunnel appears sooner rather than later!
(22M) I have taken 10mg paxil for almost a year now, the last 3 months of which I have been trying to get off of the drug. My thinking, memory and concentration have been impaired so strongly that even though you stated users will go back to normal, it is hard for me to believe. I would have never taken it if I had known this would happen.
Update: I switched to citalopram trying to taper off SSRI’s alltogether and have done so successfully with relative ease. My cognitive abilities have been restored as well.
Hi everyone. Well, I didn’t realize I am actually a drug addict until this week… and I’ve really appreciated reading about people’s experiences, it has really helped me, thank you. I started this July 20mg a day, after really bad anxiety building up for years so that I couldn’t stop crying; I couldn’t stop and go off sick from work, what with two kids, one with skin problems and a phobia, and house to look after.
Dr said it would take a couple of weeks to feel the effect but on the first day it was like when Bob Hoskins goes into Toon Land in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, like I was stoned and couldn’t cry, brilliant. By the end of October I thought I’d had enough of needing so much sleep and being dozy in the evenings so, after feeling positive and a few drinks, decided to stop. Was worried about building up a resistance.
Two days later after horrendously disturbing frightening dreams (previously vivid dreams which I’d spend ages thinking about the next day) back to the doc’s and alternating 20mg and 10mg each day, after a month onto 10mg now for a week (I’m English, live in England so I’m not sure if there are any other doses available). I supposed it’s helped me take a step back from all the problems, but I think it has blocked my reactions off and when it’s taken away I will just go back to how I was before with all the anxiety.
So has it been worth it? It’s like swapping one set of problems for another! The dreams that make me feel alone and scared and worried about sleep, prickling all over my legs, lump feeling back in my throat, waking up soaking with sweat. When I first started taking them I thought I was hearing the wind around the house every night, I guess that was because of the tablets. I stopped smoking years ago with Allan Carr’s Easy Way to Stop Smoking and it was a doddle, only 2 weeks for the nicotine to get out of your system, so I’m trying to think on these symptoms as positive that my body is adjusting to different dosage of the drug.
Also going to carry on learning EFT (tapping) and yoga which haven’t felt like doing, which was strange! Any advice gratefully received, thank you.
I am now on day 9 of withdrawal, I started tapering about 3 months ago slowly slowly from 20 mg down to 5 mg and now cold turkey. I had been on them for 25 years! Originally they wanted me to start on 40mg but I never took that much thank goodness. Tapering definitely helped me for the past few months as before I couldn’t even go 36 hours without severe dizziness if I didn’t take one.
I am pushing on without but it is tough. The hardest thing is the mood swings. I’ve been teary, angry, anxious and moody, it’s tough on my children and partner, as well as me! I’m determined to do it though this time. Tried many times before but failed, but didn’t taper before! Just hope the withdrawal symptoms go soon so I can finally get on and enjoy the rest of my life!
I was on paxil 12.5 mg for 25 days and stopped cold turkey. I’m facing hell right now: terrible headaches, severe neck and back pain, generalized body aches, diarrhea, brain zaps, lost of appetite, etc. I will never get close to that dreaded drug again. I’m on 4th day off paxil and withdrawal symptoms are terrible.
I was on 30mg for 3 years. I decided life was caer now and I don’t need it. My Dr told me take 20mg for a week then drop it to 10mg for a week then stop. Today is my 3rd day at the 10 mg. I am not really feeling anything but a small headache and slight confusion. I hope this is it but I am a bit nervous after reading all these comments! Is it too soon for side effects?
Hi! I am trying to come off of a 50mg dose of Paxil. 50mg was too high for my body and I did not realize it until I was several months into the 50mg dose. I was so anxious having this feeling of crawling out of my skin. It was really awful now that I don’t feel like that! I am now down to 20mg after tapering 5mg at a time. Luckily I have an amazing doctor that allows me to do what I need to do to try to get off of this medication.
However, now that I’m down to 20mg my anxiety and panic are through the roof! (This is what I was originally put on this medication for.) I am having debilitating anxiety!! I am also extremely worried about everything, a problem for me before SSRIs. My doctor prescribed me Lamictal as well although I do not have seizures or bipolar disorder. I suppose she’s using it as a mood stabilizer, an off label treatment option. Still, anxiety is crazy.
I have not had a problem with depression really ever…just anxiety. ‘Brain zaps’ were also a huge problem for me, causing me to need to taper up and wean more slowly. I, too, became pregnant while taking this medication. Instead of going off of all SSRIs like I had for my 2 pregnancies before, I elected to take Prozac. Hard to switch but worth it!! I, however, liked Paxil better and switched back after my son was born because it was safe for breastfeeding. I feel like I’ll never get off this stuff…UGH
Hello everyone, Thought I’d contribute my experiences in case it helps others coming off Paxil. I was on 20mg for 12 years, tried to stop taking it many times but stomach upset and weight loss due to lack of appetite and nausea always drained my determination to the point where I went back to the medication. Difficult is not the word to use when trying to explain the process of stopping paxil, I am sure each of us here can relate to this at a very deep level.
To get off this med you need to have very strong personal motivation, keep this goal in sight as much as possible through your withdrawal, I wasn’t able to do this everyday but kept refocusing when I felt somewhat better. I am now at 10 weeks completely off paxil, some days are not good, some OK, and occassionally some almost seem darn good. An upward trend seems to be appearing more often lately. Just don’t give up! Do your utmost to tough out the bad days by keeping your personal goal visible.
I have been on Paxil for 2 years and decided to come off of it as I was becoming alcoholic. I just could not control myself. I had to have a drink. I stopped Paxil over a week period and the brain zaps were pretty horrible for the next month. So much so that I swore to myself that whatever happens to me, I will never ever go back on this medication.
I have been on paxil for 9 years. I came off it 3 years ago, only to have to be put back on it. This last 3 months I tried again. And have been paxil free for 2 months cold turkey, without any horrible side effects! And I feel good! Does anyone know how that happened? When I came off the first time, the withdrawal was horrible and the symptoms… I could not function. I was on 12.5 mg Paxil.
I took paxil for about 5-6 years as a teenager, till I was eighteen, of a dosage I can’t quite recall. About that time I stopped taking the medication on my own, cold turkey, without telling my parents or my psychiatrist. I experienced depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and most of the other symptoms listed here. After telling my parents, they were happy I had decided on my own that the medication wasn’t helping, but the symptoms of withdrawal may have contributed to a decision to delay college. I’d appreciate it if anyone could point me toward more information about teenagers and paxil.
9 years on 20mg. Initially prescribed for PTSD and anorexia nervosa. Situation changed (divorced the problem) and not so traumatized and anxious and OCD as I was being in the relationship. Perfectly happy, but realized the 40+ pounds was directly related to the drug. No longer in the stressful environment, I have asked the doctor to take me off… They wanted me off in two weeks (tapering 10mg to 5mg). That has been impossible.
I chose the ‘liquid’ route and tapered my self off .5mg every day and am now at cold turkey (after 30 days). I am nauseated. I have a constant headache and ringing in my ears. My brain feels like it is floating in my skull. I am sweating/hot flashing/sweating. The more I come off this sh*t, the more I am determined to get my brain back. Being able to read that this is real and not imagined has been very helpful. Knowing that I am not going crazy… Thank you everyone for sharing.
I hope you are doing well. Best wishes.
I was on Paxil for one year, starting at 20mg and finally on 40 mg given to me by my regular doctor. She also referred me to psychiatrist. I started EMDR therapy To get relief from memories of childhood rape, anxiety, depression. I can’t tell you how important this part is. The combination saved my life. Since I had finally dealt with my past, I was ready to come off the drugs. (I had self medicated with alcohol for years and was sober when starting Paxil). I tapered off September 14-October 5. The withdrawal started immediately all the things mentioned, some days I didn’t think I would make it.
I figured the quicker I got it out of my system the better. Here I am 4 weeks after my last dose, it has been ridiculously crazy. Music is the only thing that got me through, play it loud! My son gave me an old iPhone and loaded my CDs on it. Thankfully, I can use it at work most of the time, as I seriously felt like I was gonna lose my f’n mind. Here is where the old hippie in me comes out, maybe from listening to all my music from the 60-70s: I have to wear comfortable clothes as my skin seems super sensitive, I started putting coconut oil in my coffee and it really helped my brain function.
I carry an amethyst in my bra, it gives me comfort and helps me stay sober. I got a semicolon tattoo with music notes surrounding a butterfly to remind me every time I look at it, that I could have ended my life story, but only paused, and have made it through! A healer told me the vibes you send out are the kind you receive. I try to project positive thoughts sending out love to those around me, my dogs, the homeless person on the side of the road, anyone that may need it.
This has helped me retrain the path my mind takes to stay away from depression and anxiety. I found my long lost faith and have been able to begin to pray again, (picture little David with an angel holding a sword standing behind him as he beats Goliath)!! I think I am through the hardest part, but the massive headache remains, never goes away 24/7. Sending peace and healing, I hope you find what helps you.
I am better. It’s week 5 I think? It is better BUT, I still am an angry little nematode ALL the time. I am frustrated to the point of utter madness over, well NOTHING. Nothing. I just can’t seem to bring up my coping skills for any reason whatsoever. I will say that I took people’s advice and started Omega-3 Fish Oil and Tryptophan. I actually did better OFF of that. I forgot to take it one day and felt so much better I just stopped.
The Tryptophan is OK at night, but I think the other actually made it worse. If anyone has suggestions about this mad thing I’ve got going on, I’d love to hear them. I’m praying that this is not the “new me” and it’s going to last forever. I keep looking back and asking myself if I was like this before the Paxil, and I wasn’t, so I’m hoping it passes.
BTW, the is anyone else experiencing their family and friends saying, “Perhaps you feel this way because of lack of meds…” as if feeling ANYTHING is a crime now. (Some of my anger is justified. The difference is that now I just don’t passively let people walk all over me.) I still would like to hold the CEO of this company in a room and make him take this crap for a year then watch him go through this. Maybe then he’d care a little more. Although, I doubt it.
A Google search brought me to this page, when I wondered why I feel so sleepy when I take my 20mg even a few hours later than usual. As I read the list of withdrawal symptoms, it dawned on me that I’ve been having withdrawal symptoms for about a year, even though I haven’t changed a thing! I’ve also stopped noticing whether it’s even still doing anything for me. Obvs something to bring to my doc, I just wanted to throw in on this discussion so that I can easily find this thread again. Tapering sounds scary as hell.
I’m happy to hear of your positive progress, Mona. She has some helpful advice, and I’m sure if you guys are anything like me, you’re willing to try almost anything if it will help! Vitamin B, fish oil, gonna try magnesium, all good. Also check out Dr Claire Weeks’ work as Mona advised, it leads to valuable info on handling anxiety and panic attacks. A huge help for me to cope with the never-ending, random anxiety! 7 weeks paxil free!
I’m 19, I was on Paxil for about 11 months on and off, not thinking about my own mental health whatsoever, thought it didn’t matter, didn’t think it was doing anything to me. Now I can’t even get out of bed without thinking that it has caused permanent brain damage and that I am going to be this way for the rest of my life.
It has caused me to lose my friends, drop out of my classes, and not even able to find a job because of how stupid and pathetic I feel. I had everything in the palm of my hand at one point, and now it seems like all of that is gone. If I could do anything it would be to go back and change the day that I decided to go on medication.
Except for a small difference in age, you have described me word for word. Could you give an update as to how you feel now? Did it get better?
If I had known what I was getting into. I would of never started Paxil. I have been on it four months and I am on day 4 cold turkey. Everything is getting to me today. I am balling my eyes at right now. I have four kids I take care of by myself. I feel like I can’t keep up and do it any more. I am tired and just want left alone.
I can’t bring myself to care what I look like. I use to love getting filled up and haven’t cared since taking Paxil. I don’t want to talk to anyone. I am afraid I made a terrible choice starting Paxil. I hate the way I am feeling right now and don’t feel it will get better. I feel I was better trying to coop with my anxiety with help.
I’m on my 6 day of Paxil free. My side effect is really light, thank goodness. Can’t drive much. I’ve been doing a lot of cardio, and somehow after I shower, I am sleeping so good. I was getting some sweat outbursts and nightmare. But cardio is helping a lot. Just gotta hang in there. This to shall past.
I just want to say that the symptoms get better. I’m not all good, because I still have hot flashes and insomnia. But it’s getting better. I learned that I need to accept my symptoms to get better. It can seems stupid, but deep breathing all the time has helped a lot. Meditation, too. I’m also doing CBT and it also helped. I’m taking B complex, fish oil, magnesium, and 12 more minerals. I take melatonin to sleep (1 mg) and sometimes it helps, other times it helps less.
It’s just difficult to believe that we are going to be better for good, but if we don’t believe it, we probably won’t. So, please believe it. Also, look at Dr. Claire Weekes work, and listen to her on YouTube. If you like it, maybe she can help you. She has passed away, but her work is still here and has helped many people. If it resonates to you, maybe it can help you. If it doesn’t resonates to you, at least it won’t do any bad. Much love.
I had been taking seroxat 20mg for 3,5 years. I just stopped taking it a couple of days back. It has been hell. Though having a partner who understands, helps. I have been having panic and anxiety attacks. Have been experiencing extreme nausea, lightheadedness, muscle cramps. I have also been experiencing balance issues. Have not been able to walk for more than a minute or two. And the moment I get off bed, I start having headaches and cant balance myself, feels like I am going to fall down. Wish I had never taken this drug. May God help all those going through withdrawal and make it easy for them.
I am so sad to hear of all these stories; I’m encouraged because I’m not alone and may someday be myself again; and I am furious at the doctors and medical providers for ignorantly pushing these drugs on us when they mostly have NO IDEA exactly how they work and how they affect us! I have a common story, more than 12 years on Paxil (because of early menopause), tried to get off Paxil 2 years ago after 6 slow months of tapering, had the array of extreme side affects anyway, then was told by my doc that it WASN’T the Paxil and I needed to go back on it.
That was even worse than withdrawal, but after months settled to almost bare-able, and so 7 months ago I tapered again. After 5 months of tapering, I am now 6 weeks and 3 days off Paxil 100% (yay for me!), and I am still wondering if this will ever end? I am blessed, my husband and family are hugely supportive or I know I wouldn’t be able to do this! I still can’t work, get through a day without some sort of ‘episode’, and the worst for me, experience long nights of insomnia with huge anxiety thrown in for good measure!
One suggestion that works for me if I’m not too wound up, is journal what you’re going through. I’m an artist, so I do an art journal; but it helps to put down every little thing that’s going on, knowing that before you finish each entry you have to come up with something; anything, just one little thing; that’s positive about that day. To be honest, I’ve had a couple of days where I could not come up with anything positive, but most days as bad as they’ve been, I have actually found something positive to journal, even if it was something as simple as “it didn’t get any worse today”.
Get out your colored pencils and markers, if nothing else it’s a distraction for a few minutes from your all too real woes. God Bless you all!
Hi all. This is my 5th days paxil free. I am on paxil for 5 years, tapered down to 5mg and 5 days ago I cut it completely. I can do it because at the moment I don’t work so I can stay at home. The biggest problem now is that I have persistent diarrhea. Each day. But I would like to start taking St. John’s wort. What do you think? Can it “combat” withdrawal? Thanks.
Week 6! Tapered off 40 mg in the first two weeks. Taken for 2.5 years. Wow. Thought I was doing better! Still extreme anger, crowds a bad idea, insomnia has returned, now mood swings that are very unbearable!, feeling I will never find myself again, sweating / hot flashes… Who knows maybe there’s more. How can one keep up w/ sooo many withdraws!!
My husband can not stand me and I still can’t stand me. I tried find a quiet, dark room to be still. Pray! That doesn’t work. My husband wants to know what I’m doing grrrrrr! He asks me “when do you see the doctor again?” I’m at the point I almost can not handle this! Praying week 7 is better. Heck let’s pray now for it to happen ha!! Woah is me. Feeling terribly burdened!
I’m starting to wonder if this is a wonder drug or deadly poison. I was originally put on Paxil back in 2001, 9 months after I had my son. I was 22, happy and healthy, but I started getting terrible daily migraines. My Dr. said this would help and also put weight on me (I’m very very thin). After the initial introduction period, I felt great. I was tired a lot, but what new mother isn’t?
I was working, finishing college, and taking care of a baby. The headaches continued, so Topamax was added to my list. It helped. A lot. After being on these drugs for 13+ years, I reevaluated my situation. I was skinny. Sick skinny. I’m 5’8 and weighed 104 lbs and couldn’t put on a single pound no matter what I did. After doing research, I realized it was the Topamax causing the weight loss.
I went to a new neurologist and he suggest I cross taper from paxil to Elavil. I got myself off Topamax with no problems. Well, I managed to fix one problem and create another. My headaches disappeared. I gained weight. Physically, I’m thrilled. Inside, I hate myself. I’m angry, full of rage, and have now developed panic attacks to no avail. I went back to the doctor… More pills.
Kept me on Elavil, added Xanax and Inderal. More pills, no change. I’m unbearable. I cry all the time (I NEVER cry), I have raging outbursts over nothing, I hate who I am. I keep telling myself its my body resetting from Paxil. Quite honestly, if I switched it out for another antidepressant, why am I going crazy? I wasn’t even depressed in the first place, now I can actually say I am.
If my body is going to take up to a year to recover, I can’t do this for that long. I can’t keep popping Xanax that don’t work great anyway, and I’m going to ruin a lot of relationships because I’ve turned into a person I can’t personally stand. If anyone has or had an experience similar to mine, any feedback is greatly appreciated because I’m literally going off the deep end.
I was on 60mg of Paxil for 2 years. I have now been told to get off it after being diagnosed with bipolar. There have been studies my psych doctor said to bipolar symptoms being worse with antidepressants. However, because they want me on antipsychotic medicine as soon as possible, they want me to cut down quite quickly.
I am literally feeling horrible. It’s like my brain follows what I’m doing, but about 3 seconds behind. I feel dangerous to drive, and honestly, feel drunk. I hate it. I’ve already been off work for 5 months and this is by no means helping my return to work staging. So anyone who is going through the withdrawals…you have love and support from me. It’s hell.
Hi, Officially done tapering off Paxil. On day two of not taking it. I probably picked the worst time ever to taper off my meds, but now I feel like I can’t go back. My anxiety is worse, I feel like I’m going to cry over the littlest things, I’ve contemplated quitting my job because I’m so stressed, but I’m trying not to do anything rash. The worst part is I feel like such a hypochondriac, which was an issue I had before I started the medication. I feel like all my fears are coming back of what COULD be wrong with me and I feel a lot of my symptoms are something seriously wrong versus just being withdrawal effects. I just want to cry and try to sleep. THIS BETTER GET BETTER. Reading all of your responses really help, thank you all for taking the time to let me know it will get better. <3
I have been off of my 10 mg paxil for 5 days now. I had spinal surgery and was on some pretty heavy pain meds for a few days and didn’t notice any Paxil withdrawl specific symptoms until day 3. I have pretty much stopped the pain meds during the day as my surgical pain is not that bad unless I am lying down. So I am feeling the “Paxhell” mostly during the day. My dizziness is really bad (don’t feel safe to drive), I think I know what you all mean by brain zaps (I feel a surge of energy in my head like a head rush for a second ofr 2) I don’t have the electrical feeling though.
My psychiatrist told me that 3 days of pain medication (norco) would take care of paxil withdrawals. That sounds like a hear say recommendation and nothing that is based on scientific research. I decided to go back on 5mg for the next week or so and then to 2.5mg for a week and then to 1.25mg for a week, then maybe even 1.25 every other day for a week. Hopefully this will work. From reading this I do get the feeling that I am not alone, but I also get the feeling that the psychiatrists actually know very little about the long term effects of this drug and the effects and reasons for symptoms of withdrawal.
I see that many people have taken managing these negative withdrawal effects in their own ways, with acupuncture, massage, and supplements. I wish someone would post how that has gone for them in the long term. There is no scientific research on these techniques either. I also notice that people tend to write about the hell of being in the middle of withdrawal but I have not seen one post indicating that this withdrawal ever ends! From what I read here it can go on for years!!!! Not encouraging.
Something else that occurs to me is that the reason that we all have been put on paxil by an MD is because of mental illness. Especially depression. I know that I was pretty miserable before I took the paxil. I am worried that I will drop back in to depression without it! Not because of the paxil withdrawal but because of my own brain chemistry. This is such a complicated issue. It is really sad that our doctors are not doing more to find safe effective ways to wean us off of this drug or transition us to a safer drug.
When I asked my psychiatrist about the long term effects of taking paxil he said with a confident smile “There are none!” This was the same confident smile that came out when describing the use of pain meds for 3 days to avoid paxil withdrawal. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to observe that the fact that this blog has so many posts or that if you google paxil withdrawal you get 366,000 results in .43 seconds. The first being quitpaxil[dot]org. That there is something physiological going on here with very negative repercussions for the users of Paxil.
I am going to go through my withdrawal plan and then come back an post the results in 2 months (12/06/2015) I am putting on my calendar now. Will do my utmost not to flake on you all! I am hoping that the people who logged on to vent and find community have not come back because they are feeling so much better and have simply moved on to better things! Paxil was introduced to the market in 1992 (23 years ago) I think that it is bit early to start making statements like that.
Hello. I’m beginning week 5 after starting the tapering off of Paxil. Had taken this script for 2.5 years @ 40mg. I’ve gained 40 lbs. I have successfully tapered off completely by the end of week 2. My doc recommended I should stated another SSRI at that time but I told him. Oh hell no. Saw my doc at my 1 mo ck last week.
My husband and daughter can’t stand me. I can’t stand me either! My anger is out of control. Mood swings from I think normal to extreme hostility over nothing! I avoid crowds. Ppl annoy me. Sweating profusely. Sometimes still hard to focus. Want to just get in my car and go to save my family from me. Ha! Slight nausea. I’ve asked my doctor is ther permanent?
He laughs and says no. But I’m not joking. How much longer. I don’t like being angry! Will I make it without losing my job too? Have had only 1 sick day. Looking back, heck I don’t know hiw I worked and still working. I’m losing my mind! When will this end? Feeling deeply burdened!