"Paxil was very beneficial in getting me through a rough patch"

I have been on paxil for over 2 years. At one point I self-upped my dose to 60mgs/day. Paxil was very beneficial in getting me through a rough patch but I don't need it anymore and am trying to wean off. I self weaned down to 30 successfully, but when I went down to 20 I started having mood swings, headache, flu/cold symptoms. I am an attorney and can't afford to not be sharp. I will probably go up to 25 and take it more slowly from here. It sucks that it could take another year before I am free of it.

I wonder if anyone has successfully used st. john's wort to help them wean. What about prozac? I had a friend get off paxil onto prozac with no problems. Is it possible to go to prozac and then get off prozac which doesn't have such terrible withdrawal?

-- submitted by John, 27

"Diagnosed for bipolar 7 years ago - was put on prozac, zoloft, lithium, depakote, ritalin and other drugs over a four year period"

Diagnosed for bipolar 7 years ago - was put on prozac, zoloft, lithium, depakote, ritalin and other drugs over a four year period - all with side effects. Did the normal 6-8 week withdrawal and became suicidal. Last medication the pdoc gave was paxil. One evening I forgot to take dosage, woke up in the morning with hand paralysis (I am a professional violinist, BIG TERROR). Took paxil and within 20 minutes could bend fingers. Rapid and mixed cycling became worse to the point that I finally told the pdoc I wanted off - he agreed that I was having an extreme reaction to this drug. After a month the depression got worse and then had a major rapid cycling event in an hour - knew that this drug was bad news. That night began night terrors, slept 1.5-3 hours per night for a month. GI tract stopped functioning, had to eat rice, broth, steamed veggies. If I ate anything solid, it came through the intestines solid (sorry for the graphic detail but true). Would wake up in the middle of the night in hysteria. Then my legs would feel as if they were hooked up to an electrical battery - could feel energy going down legs like what you would see in the old Frankenstein movies. I knew this was dangerous because my mother, who was also bipolar, died in withdrawal from other medications in the early 80's and had the same reactions the month before she died (heart stopped from exhaustion). Worst part was, because of exhaustion, lost temper with colleague because of my terror and his insensitivity to how sick I was (he had been support person). He filed grievance, suspended from work, had breakdown while pdoc out of country. This was all 2 years ago in February. I am just now starting to be "normal" though the pdoc now has diagnosed me as having Postraumatic Stress Disorder from what I experienced. I am using bodywork/massage therapy, polarity therapy, ayurvedic medicine all under the supervision of the same pdoc. He has told me that I am doing incredibly well. I actually think that I am LESS depressed than ever!

-- submitted by Orty, 47

"I began having vivid, anxiety filled dreams, and lightheadedness"

I switched from prozac to paxil in June. I tried tapering the dose until I was at 15 milligrams every other day for a month. I took the last dose a week ago. After 3 days, I began having vivid, anxiety filled dreams, and lightheadedness. The dizziness has been severe for the last three days, an is accompanied by a feeling that my heart is pounding when I move suddenly, mental confusion, nausea, pounding sensations in my head and ears, emotional surges and the overall feeling that I have the flu. I am determined to stay off of this poison, but I don't know how long this withdrawal will last. Previously, I had ended a cycle on Prozac with no side effects whatsoever.

-- submitted by KJHSF, 35

"After two years I was weaned off the Prozac, but my Panic Attacks started again"

I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder 5 years ago. I was first treated with Prozac and Xanax. After two years I was weaned off the Prozac, but my Panic Attacks started again. I was then put on Paxil 40 mg per day. I felt wonderful on the Paxil and the Panic Attacks stopped. After a year I was weaned off the Paxil. With each decrease in dosage I suffered terrible withdrawal symptoms, from trembling, nausea, spacey feelings,anxiety etc. It has taken me three years to be at 10 mg and I have stopped there. I'm not ready to deal with the withdrawal again! I must say Paxil was very helpful with my disorder and without it I may have been a prisoner of my house. I have spoken to several doctors about this medication and none of them are aware of the withdrawal symptoms. Many times the symptoms of withdrawal are the same as the symptoms of our disorder so even the patient may be fooled. I'm trying my best to educate my doctors, but it is a slow process.

-- submitted by myers