Question for those on anti-depressants (SSRI's) or previously on them.

S

serendipity730

New member
Hello,

Seven years ago, I went on Paxil for depression (severe at the time). Now, I am planning on becoming pregnant and the perinatologist suggested either going off anti-depressants completely or switching from Paxil to Zoloft. I would really like to go off completely but am aware of the well documented withdrawal symptoms associated with Paxil and need to wean off slowly. I guess I was wondering if anyone has had successive coming off Paxil completely? Did you have withdrawl symptoms?

Thanks!
 
S

serendipity730

New member
Hello,

Seven years ago, I went on Paxil for depression (severe at the time). Now, I am planning on becoming pregnant and the perinatologist suggested either going off anti-depressants completely or switching from Paxil to Zoloft. I would really like to go off completely but am aware of the well documented withdrawal symptoms associated with Paxil and need to wean off slowly. I guess I was wondering if anyone has had successive coming off Paxil completely? Did you have withdrawl symptoms?

Thanks!
 
S

serendipity730

New member
Hello,

Seven years ago, I went on Paxil for depression (severe at the time). Now, I am planning on becoming pregnant and the perinatologist suggested either going off anti-depressants completely or switching from Paxil to Zoloft. I would really like to go off completely but am aware of the well documented withdrawal symptoms associated with Paxil and need to wean off slowly. I guess I was wondering if anyone has had successive coming off Paxil completely? Did you have withdrawl symptoms?

Thanks!
 
S

serendipity730

New member
Hello,

Seven years ago, I went on Paxil for depression (severe at the time). Now, I am planning on becoming pregnant and the perinatologist suggested either going off anti-depressants completely or switching from Paxil to Zoloft. I would really like to go off completely but am aware of the well documented withdrawal symptoms associated with Paxil and need to wean off slowly. I guess I was wondering if anyone has had successive coming off Paxil completely? Did you have withdrawl symptoms?

Thanks!
 
S

serendipity730

New member
Hello,
<br />
<br />Seven years ago, I went on Paxil for depression (severe at the time). Now, I am planning on becoming pregnant and the perinatologist suggested either going off anti-depressants completely or switching from Paxil to Zoloft. I would really like to go off completely but am aware of the well documented withdrawal symptoms associated with Paxil and need to wean off slowly. I guess I was wondering if anyone has had successive coming off Paxil completely? Did you have withdrawl symptoms?
<br />
<br />Thanks!
<br />
<br />
 
K

KrazyKat

New member
I'm weaning myself off Paxil (or Aropax as we know it over here) at the moment and am doing ok, but it isn't easy.
Most people start off on 40mg, is this what you are currently taking?
I was only ever on 20mg max, then i cut straight down to 10mg per day with no obvious effects. However when i cut from 10mg to 5mg per day, i started to get electric shocks and feel a little depressed. Now i was actually put on Paxil for anxiety not depression, so it took me while to work out why i was feeling so down. I persisted and now i've been taking 5mg per day for about two weeks, the sadness is lessening and the electric shocks have all but stopped. My next step is to take 5mg every second day. I've heard that some doctors actually recommend patients trying to come off Paxil, start taking Prozac as well for a while, as it's easier to come off. I would suggest discussing this with your doctor, the electric shock sensations are awful and because of these, i have failed in my attempt to come off Paxil in the past. Hopefully this time i will be successful. Good luck!!
 
K

KrazyKat

New member
I'm weaning myself off Paxil (or Aropax as we know it over here) at the moment and am doing ok, but it isn't easy.
Most people start off on 40mg, is this what you are currently taking?
I was only ever on 20mg max, then i cut straight down to 10mg per day with no obvious effects. However when i cut from 10mg to 5mg per day, i started to get electric shocks and feel a little depressed. Now i was actually put on Paxil for anxiety not depression, so it took me while to work out why i was feeling so down. I persisted and now i've been taking 5mg per day for about two weeks, the sadness is lessening and the electric shocks have all but stopped. My next step is to take 5mg every second day. I've heard that some doctors actually recommend patients trying to come off Paxil, start taking Prozac as well for a while, as it's easier to come off. I would suggest discussing this with your doctor, the electric shock sensations are awful and because of these, i have failed in my attempt to come off Paxil in the past. Hopefully this time i will be successful. Good luck!!
 
K

KrazyKat

New member
I'm weaning myself off Paxil (or Aropax as we know it over here) at the moment and am doing ok, but it isn't easy.
Most people start off on 40mg, is this what you are currently taking?
I was only ever on 20mg max, then i cut straight down to 10mg per day with no obvious effects. However when i cut from 10mg to 5mg per day, i started to get electric shocks and feel a little depressed. Now i was actually put on Paxil for anxiety not depression, so it took me while to work out why i was feeling so down. I persisted and now i've been taking 5mg per day for about two weeks, the sadness is lessening and the electric shocks have all but stopped. My next step is to take 5mg every second day. I've heard that some doctors actually recommend patients trying to come off Paxil, start taking Prozac as well for a while, as it's easier to come off. I would suggest discussing this with your doctor, the electric shock sensations are awful and because of these, i have failed in my attempt to come off Paxil in the past. Hopefully this time i will be successful. Good luck!!
 
K

KrazyKat

New member
I'm weaning myself off Paxil (or Aropax as we know it over here) at the moment and am doing ok, but it isn't easy.
Most people start off on 40mg, is this what you are currently taking?
I was only ever on 20mg max, then i cut straight down to 10mg per day with no obvious effects. However when i cut from 10mg to 5mg per day, i started to get electric shocks and feel a little depressed. Now i was actually put on Paxil for anxiety not depression, so it took me while to work out why i was feeling so down. I persisted and now i've been taking 5mg per day for about two weeks, the sadness is lessening and the electric shocks have all but stopped. My next step is to take 5mg every second day. I've heard that some doctors actually recommend patients trying to come off Paxil, start taking Prozac as well for a while, as it's easier to come off. I would suggest discussing this with your doctor, the electric shock sensations are awful and because of these, i have failed in my attempt to come off Paxil in the past. Hopefully this time i will be successful. Good luck!!
 
K

KrazyKat

New member
I'm weaning myself off Paxil (or Aropax as we know it over here) at the moment and am doing ok, but it isn't easy.
<br />Most people start off on 40mg, is this what you are currently taking?
<br />I was only ever on 20mg max, then i cut straight down to 10mg per day with no obvious effects. However when i cut from 10mg to 5mg per day, i started to get electric shocks and feel a little depressed. Now i was actually put on Paxil for anxiety not depression, so it took me while to work out why i was feeling so down. I persisted and now i've been taking 5mg per day for about two weeks, the sadness is lessening and the electric shocks have all but stopped. My next step is to take 5mg every second day. I've heard that some doctors actually recommend patients trying to come off Paxil, start taking Prozac as well for a while, as it's easier to come off. I would suggest discussing this with your doctor, the electric shock sensations are awful and because of these, i have failed in my attempt to come off Paxil in the past. Hopefully this time i will be successful. Good luck!!
 
R

rubyroselee

New member
I was taking Paxil for about a year for anxiety. I moved away from my psychologist and was without health insurance for a short period of time and was not able to get the Paxil prescribed for me anymore. I decided it was time for me to come off it anyways. Since I'm a nurse I knew that I had to wean myself off it. I was taking 37.5mg and I just kept slowly decreasing my dose until I was off it by cutting the pills in halves and quarters. I had no problems doing it this way and had no withdrawal symptoms.

I would definitely advise you to talk to your doctor about coming off the Paxil though. I didn't really have a choice and that's why I did what I did.

Good luck!
 
R

rubyroselee

New member
I was taking Paxil for about a year for anxiety. I moved away from my psychologist and was without health insurance for a short period of time and was not able to get the Paxil prescribed for me anymore. I decided it was time for me to come off it anyways. Since I'm a nurse I knew that I had to wean myself off it. I was taking 37.5mg and I just kept slowly decreasing my dose until I was off it by cutting the pills in halves and quarters. I had no problems doing it this way and had no withdrawal symptoms.

I would definitely advise you to talk to your doctor about coming off the Paxil though. I didn't really have a choice and that's why I did what I did.

Good luck!
 
R

rubyroselee

New member
I was taking Paxil for about a year for anxiety. I moved away from my psychologist and was without health insurance for a short period of time and was not able to get the Paxil prescribed for me anymore. I decided it was time for me to come off it anyways. Since I'm a nurse I knew that I had to wean myself off it. I was taking 37.5mg and I just kept slowly decreasing my dose until I was off it by cutting the pills in halves and quarters. I had no problems doing it this way and had no withdrawal symptoms.

I would definitely advise you to talk to your doctor about coming off the Paxil though. I didn't really have a choice and that's why I did what I did.

Good luck!
 
R

rubyroselee

New member
I was taking Paxil for about a year for anxiety. I moved away from my psychologist and was without health insurance for a short period of time and was not able to get the Paxil prescribed for me anymore. I decided it was time for me to come off it anyways. Since I'm a nurse I knew that I had to wean myself off it. I was taking 37.5mg and I just kept slowly decreasing my dose until I was off it by cutting the pills in halves and quarters. I had no problems doing it this way and had no withdrawal symptoms.

I would definitely advise you to talk to your doctor about coming off the Paxil though. I didn't really have a choice and that's why I did what I did.

Good luck!
 
R

rubyroselee

New member
I was taking Paxil for about a year for anxiety. I moved away from my psychologist and was without health insurance for a short period of time and was not able to get the Paxil prescribed for me anymore. I decided it was time for me to come off it anyways. Since I'm a nurse I knew that I had to wean myself off it. I was taking 37.5mg and I just kept slowly decreasing my dose until I was off it by cutting the pills in halves and quarters. I had no problems doing it this way and had no withdrawal symptoms.
<br />
<br />I would definitely advise you to talk to your doctor about coming off the Paxil though. I didn't really have a choice and that's why I did what I did.
<br />
<br />Good luck!
 
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