Paxil Flu - anyone else ever had it?

[DenaliDemocrat]

I had been on 25 mg Paxil for a year due to panic attacks. Job stress, the election, and a reconstructed knee all took their toll on me. I year later I am much better. So, now I am coming off of this shit, but the flu is killing me. I got the zaps, dizziness, nausea, sweats, flourescent lights just fucking kill me.

Anyone here ever have paxil withdrawals, if so, any coping advice?

[swag]

1. Are you going off under a doctor's direction, tapering, going cold

turkey, or what?

I tapered very very slowly and it was an incredibly miserable few weeks.

[DenaliDemocrat]

4. doc had me go from

25 mg to 12.5 to zero.

Going from 25 to 12.5 was no sweat. Going from 12.5 to zero is killing me. I gave in about two hours ago and took half a pill. Amazingly, within the hour, I felt like a new person.

If you have a better plan for tapering, I am all ears. This withdrawal is very rough. I thought they said this shit was non habit forming.

[swag]

6. I don't have a better plan.

I think it's good that you downed one when the symptoms got too bad.

Can you take 12.5 every two, then every three, then four days?

I was chopping the fucking things up with a steak knife. 20 to 10, 10 to 5, 5 to crumbs, crumbs to 0.

That's how I did it.

Take care. And call your doctor immediately if you feel you need back on for any reason right now.

[swag]

7. Oh, I read your half a pill thing

That's smart, seems to me.

When I was you, I did half for a few more days, then 1/4 for a few more. Your mileage may vary.

Best to you. Call that doctor if you need to.

[Beware the Beast Man]

2. On a similar wavelength,

I get the "brain shivers" when I would go off Zoloft for a while. I kind of feels like a muscle spasm within the temples. Like you, I'm feeling a lot better after a bit of a downer, but I still need to put my ducks in a row before I ask my doctor to wean me off. Best of luck to you. :thumbsup:

[DenaliDemocrat]

5. It will come

for me the deal breake was having three ligaments in my knee reconstructed. A brutally tough surgery followed by an equally tough recovery. As the knee has healed and I gained more and more of freedom and less daily pain, the panic attacks grew less frequent.

[swag]

3. Coping advice:

Know that what's happening now, in terms of the uncomfortable part of the withdrawal, is going to disappear within a matter of days.

Get some good exercise if you can, at least some walks, preferably in the sunshine. Eat nutritious foods. Get your fruits and vegetables.

Your emotions may to be over the top for a while, but you'll probably enjoy them, particularly those you have while listening to your favorite music, reading your favorite book, watching a good movie.

Your sexual urgings are going to come back with a vengeance. Be there to greet them.

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

8. Just got started with Paxil this week ...

I can't wait until I feel better .

[Roon]

9. Yaaaay!

I'm on Zoloft and Risperdal. Just remember, your family and friends are going to notice the difference before you do.It's a nice relief getting help.

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

10. Well right now I don't know if its working yet .

But I hope that I feel better soon .

[laheina]

11. You will.

It may take a couple of weeks, but eventually you will have more good days than bad days. The bad days will get progressively fewer and farther between. :hi:

[Oeditpus Rex]

12. Your doctor is an idiot

You don't halve a dose of a psychotrophic drug and then go to zero. Weaning takes more steps and several months.

If you can, and want to, try halving the 12.5s and see how that works.

I did this progressively with Xanax until I got to my current dose of .125 mg.

[liberaltrucker]

13. Effexor withdrawal is pretty much the same

Fortunately the drug is right for me, and I'll
probably take it the rest of my life. I once fucked
up and didn't renew the script. Felt like I'd stuck my
hand in a light socket for a couple days. As Our President
said, "I feel your pain".....literally.

[khashka]

14. Paxil just about killed me

I took it for panic attacks. I was constantly sick. Vomiting, night sweats, fainting,suicidal thoughts,etc. Totally ruined my bf's life and mine and our relationship.

And migraines! I usually only get one or two a year and they are usually pretty fucking bad. On Paxil? Every few days.

Khash.

[lady raven]

15. My husband had HORRIBLE zaps when w/d from Paxil

Strangely, you know what cured it? He took one 60 mg Prozac and never had Paxil w/d again. Weird.
I'm not telling you to try this, but you might mention it to your doctor.

[Vektor]

16. Those are the standard withdrawal symptoms...

unfortunately, you just have to ride it out. Please tell me you are NOT doing this cold turkey. That is very dangerous. You need to wean yourself off of it.