1. < Depression & Anxiety
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Tips on how to wean off of Paxil (paroxetine): Bad withdrawal.

Posted by debamato @debamato, Feb 21, 2024

I’ve been on Paxil for 20 years and that time went from 20 mg to 40 mg. Currently weaning off and down to 20 mg but having very bad side effects I would love to hear your positive experiences with this.

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applepie | @applepie | Feb 16, 2025
In reply to @usernamej "I’m guessing it may depend on how long someone has been on it. For me it..." + (show)
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I’m guessing it may depend on how long someone has been on it. For me it was about 30 years. It was and still is rough.

I’m glad you did well !

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I believe so yes, time on the med must be a factor along with some other variables, the determine how easy/tough it is to wean off.

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tinkytam | @tinkytam | Feb 17, 2025
In reply to @debamato "I need some encouraging words to help me through the process of weaning off Paxil. I’ve..." + (show)
Profile picture for debamato @debamato

I need some encouraging words to help me through the process of weaning off Paxil. I’ve been on for 20 years started with 20 and now have weaned back down to 20 after being on 40 having a very difficult time need some advice.

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I don't know if you're still on this thread a year later but....I am down to 20 mg from 40 also.
I am a little anxious but my biggest complaint is an overall achiness and cold/hot flashes.
My doctor doesn't think it is related but it began during my tapering period.
I am thinking of going back up to 30 mg to see if it helps.

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daveshaw | @daveshaw | Feb 17, 2025
In reply to @usernamej "Paxil has been awful to reduce the dose for me too. It’s been 11 months and..." + (show)
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Paxil has been awful to reduce the dose for me too.
It’s been 11 months and I am at 7.5 using the liquid form.
I decrease the dose by .25 milliliter every 3 to 4 weeks.
And, it’s still awful.

To get through this anxiety I cross taper with Remeron.

It still is not easy. Others been thru this?

I never planned on getting off of Paxil because it worked so well for anxiety …. Until it stopped helping after a super stressful time.

Tried cross tapering and nothing helped much so using a slow reduction with liquid and Remeron to help side effects.still have bad spells of restlessness. Upon waking is hard every morning

Is it possible to get thru this withdrawal, be on Remeron and the anxiety will eventually dissipate or atleast not be an every day occurrence like it is with the withdrawal.

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If you truly suffer from depression and anxiety rather than tapering off Paxil find an antidepressant that works best for you. I tried Remeron and had terrible results.
Depression and anxiety don’t just go away on their own. You have to realize that it is a condition that you have to treat your entire lifetime. Cycling in and out of depression is no way to live your life.
I wish you the best of luck.

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keppraeffect | @keppraeffect | Feb 17, 2025
In reply to @usernamej "I agree with you re Paxil withdraw. I just need to hear people say this restlessness/anx/irritation..." + (show)
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I agree with you re Paxil withdraw. I just need to hear people say this restlessness/anx/irritation will one day go away after completely getting off Paxil.
March 2025 will be a year for me trying to wean off Paxil. I’m on the liquid and at 7.5 milligrams.
It’s been hell, a journey I wish no one had to experience.
Good to hear you say that it can take a year to get off Paxil. It will take me longer and I too feel withdrawal every time I reduce the dosage. And, I am only reducing now by .25 MIL every 2 to 3 weeks. The anxiety is really awful.
To get this far I am taking Remeron. Started at 7.5. Now at 30 mg. Don’t like starting on anything because of the fear the Paxil withdrawal has created BUT my body was experiencing so much angst that it needed calming.

Does the brain ever repair from this? Will the anx ever lessen where it stops effecting your life.
Do the number of years on this drug cause permanent damage, I was on Paxil for close to 30 years.

I hoped to stay on it forever until it just wasn’t working anymore in a very stressful time.

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20 years on paxil. I worked until 1.5 years ago. Tried to go off and crashed. Couldn't sleep for months. Many people have tried and failed to get off it even though it was not working any more. Facebook group call antidepressent ssri withdrawal support. Also one called Managing SSRI Withdrawal.

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hippos4me | @hippos4me | Feb 18, 2025

I'm on my third month of tapering off just 10 mg and have found that when I feel anxious, I just get up and move...simple as going to local Walmart and walk for 1/2 hour. One more month to go and have fingers crossed.

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sears | @sears | Feb 19, 2025
In reply to @tinkytam "I don't know if you're still on this thread a year later but....I am down to..." + (show)
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I don't know if you're still on this thread a year later but....I am down to 20 mg from 40 also.
I am a little anxious but my biggest complaint is an overall achiness and cold/hot flashes.
My doctor doesn't think it is related but it began during my tapering period.
I am thinking of going back up to 30 mg to see if it helps.

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Doctors just are not going to admit to the horrible effects these medications cause when trying to discontinue. They never have and never will. It’s unconscionable that they get away with this. They were lied to by the pharmaceutical companies and we are or have suffered for it.

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teacherbuilder55 | @teacherbuilder55 | Aug 30 5:49pm

You must do this with a psychiatrist of doctor with considerable experience in dealing with your discontinuation process. I am 71 years old and was on Paxil for 34 years. My doctor, in what turned out to be an act of malpractice put me on a 30 day discontinuation schedule and transitioned me to Wellbutrin as I weaned off. It has been a nightmare. 4 months later, after the shock from too-rapid Paxil discontinuation I have been on and off Wellbutrin, hydroxyzine, and am now on my 3rd week of Buspar, 15mg per day and at the end of this week will have been on Zoloft, 25mg. In addition, I am taking lorazepam to deal with the worst effects of the anxiety on an episodic basis while letting the Buspar deal with anxiety on the more long term basis. What you are doing is survivable, and probably a good idea. Paxil has the worst record for discontinuation for any of the SSRI's. But you must do it under the careful management of competent medical professionals. Best of luck to you-I would not with what has happened to me on anyone.

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