Paxil Withdrawal Diary

By

Anonymous

 

OCTOBER 3, 2012

Twelve years ago I was going crazy with anxiety after taking Buspar for four years.  The psychiatrist thought it was time for Paxil*. The Paxil has been my daily side kick and I have never taken more than 20mg successfully.  At 40mg, I could not stand up without losing my balance so it was back to 20mg each day.

I have to admit that I have been afraid to stop taking the Paxil because my life if good today and I am able to cope with some pretty nasty situations without going bonkers; however it has now been way too long to keep depending on a substance like Paxil.

Doctors’ and their opinions?  Well, I have moved several times since beginning the drug and each new doctor continued to prescribe it.  When I wanted to stop, on psychologist advised I just stop taking it.  That was truly wrong advice. Sick and weary I began to take it again within a week. 

Another doctor gave me a withdrawal procedure that had me off the drug in two weeks.  Hello, I have taken this stuff for 12 years!  Two weeks won’t get it done.

I am going it alone with some advice I have read from the experts.  SLOW this time and watching vitamin B and a few other things.  I am hopeful that this is the next right thing to do.

Today’s dose was my normal 20mg.

 

I am still suffering with mold allergy and received a buildup shot for my allergies today.  Itching at the injection site again this week is evident.

 

 

October 4, 2012

 

Today I took 10 mg Paxil and began with 2 biotin tablets and took my melatonin at bedtime. 

I am looking for food sources of Vitamin B and hoping that the supplemental vitamins will begin to work on the CNS and allow the withdrawal to be easy.  I am anticipating that this withdrawal could last from 6 months to a year.  I am not in a hurry because what I experienced before with trying to stop Paxil wasn’t worth it.  I am trying to do it with some common sense this time.

*I take the generic Paxil.

 

October 5, 2012

 

Good day…did stand up about the Doctor appointment…I don’t think that was too much. ( Voiced a strong opinion about seeing the doctor instead of the nurse practitioner.  This is the cancer doctor who checks my M protein level every 6-8 months concerning my MGUS.) I went about everyday business without any problems. I began taking complex B vitamin and researched choline.

10mg Paxil, 1 super B complex vitamin, 1 1000mcg Biotin, energy drink powder drink mix (just add water).

 

October 6-12, 2012

Allergies are quiet troublesome; however my general mood is good and no real problems are being noticed.  This is the second week of 10mg of paroxetine after taking 20 mg for 12 years.  I am sleeping well…interrupted only by the coughing associated with the allergies.

October 12-16, 2012

I have been experiencing a little nausea…nothing big.  Increasing my water consumption and sitting calmly for a few minutes is turning out to be the right solution.  So far, so good.

The horror stories I have read on the Internet were very scary and kept me from the weaning process.

October 17, 2012

Two successful weeks are very encouraging to me.  My new doctor thinks I am proceeding in the right way and agrees that this will be a long process…many months.

October 18, 2012

In 1996 I began using Buspar and then in 2000 I was weaned from Buspar to Paxil.  I remember being told that behavior modification was essential to produce a better feeling.  The drugs cannot do it alone.  That is another reason for wanting to wean off now...I know more about me and what makes me tick.  I feel I can control my reactions to my feelings  better now than I did 12-16 years ago.  Continuing to do the same crazy things over and over again expecting different results is truly insanity. I think it was Einstein who said that.