I have been on Paxil for about 10 years. I weined off of it about a month ago and I am having the most severe physical and mental withdrawl symptoms. I don't know what to do. I feel like I am going crazy and physically feel like I have the flu or something. I don't even get out of my house because I feel so horrible all of the time. I am either angry or crying all day. Need some help!!
I have severe withdrawal symptoms after weening off Paxil after 10 years, what should I do?
Question posted by rhonda_001 on 29 May 2011
Last updated on 21 May 2024
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20 Answers Page 2
Larsy1966
9 June 2011
Hi. Paxil is one of the hardest antidepressants to come off of. I did hear that using prozac can help with the withdrawals. You are not going crazy. Paxil is a long acting antidepressant. In other words it takes time to build up in your system (about 3 days). If you are sick you can't just take a paxil and feel better. It will take about 3 days to feel normal again. It's a nightmare and I am on the lowest dose of paxil because I can't get off of it. I need to find the site where it tells all about how hard paxil is to come off of. I will look for it and reply again. Also, if you google paxil withdrawal you might be able to find some information. Hope this helps. TC. Larsy
Jay Allen
25 June 2017
Hi, I've been on 30mg Paxil for like 17 years and tried 3 times to quite. Haven't been able to do it even by slowly decreasing the dosage. On one occasion I had trouble getting the doctor to fill the prescription. Finally after explaining to the Pharmacy I was in with drawls they got the prescription through. At this point I've given up until I get enough will power again.
1Miranda
30 Sep 2022
Yes - Prozac does help and this is what my dr. had me do:
Days 1 thru 7 – take Paxil and Prozac
Day 8 – 13 – take Prozac only
Day 14 – not taking anything
I hope this helps for you.
D27736
5 June 2011
First, why do you want off of paxil? Is not working for you? It seems to only be considered horrible to people who want to quit taking it. If you need to quit the drug, talk to your doctor. Ask for the liquid form, that way you can VERY slowly ween off. If it takes a month or so to begin feeling the positive effects initially, plan on micro reductions in dose every month or six weeks. It may take many months, but it will be so slow that your body will stay on track of producing it's own hormones. In time you will be off and feeling fine. I don't think you should just cut the pills into ever smaller pieces. You need to be more precise than that. Good luck and be patient, you will get there.
Vampira
16 Aug 2016
As for myself, I don't want off the paxil, I just can't find a dr to refill my rx..I don't have insurance and can't pay. I've got names of a place that does a sliding scale, but I just lost my home and am renting a room with my 21 yr old daughter, at her friends home til I can get financially somewhat stable again. I cut them in half thinking some is better than none, and knew they would be gone soon
bigjt34
30 May 2011
you need to go right back to your dr get back on them but at a low dose,ive been on every antidepressant made and paxil had the worst withdrawls i wanted to die.so i gott back on it and weened down slowly.tell your doc he or she will know how to wean you down right.if you dont do this try to get put on a low dose of ativan,xanax or klonipin just for a short time till you get over it.if you dont do something withdrawl from it can last a while trust me i know and i feel bad for you
yankeelady1952
2 Jan 2017
I had been on Paxil for about 2 yrs, went off of them gradually and did fine. Now the dr.says to go back on them--20mg a day to start for 2 wks,then 40mgs a day. I found I was so nauseated and throwing up after 20mg for 3 days that I had to stop them. The nausea vomiting immediately went away. when I stopped after 3 days.Why? How can they make me sick one time starting them and not the next? I couldn't take it I was so dehydrated and had nothing to throw up. Am I a wimp?
caringsonbj
30 May 2011
I have never ever taken this medication before but with having problems such as you describe one of the things I would do I would get in touch with the doctor who has been prescribing this medication there may be better advice but I feel at this point in time you are having enough trouble until he needs to be the one to give you advice, I am so sorry that you are experiency these problems but the sooner that you contact him then the sooner you may get the advice you need in order to get the help that you need. It is my sincere wish that you do get to improving, please let us know how you are doing
rhonda_001
30 May 2011
I am supposed to have a follow-up visit with him in about 3wks. I called his office about 2 weeks ago and told them the problems i was having, and they said he was just to busy to see me at that time and I would have to wait until my follow up appt.
caringsonbj
30 May 2011
You said that he had changed and placed you on Prozac it may be that by the time that you get into see him (probably the time should be up) then you ought to know if the Prozac has helped you in any way or not, if you continue to have problems then maybe you should give his office another call and tell them that you have taken the prozac and just given them a run down of what you've took and how you are feeling.
LaurieShay
29 May 2011
Hey rhonda,
I have to say I think you are having a resurgence of the symptoms for which you went on the Paxil in the first place. A months time is long enough to be over the withdrawals. Please contact the doctor for re evaluation. Sometimes when you take a medication for depression and/or anxiety when you stop taking it the depression and/or anxiety comes back even worse, none the less it will return for some people and you may have to continue on with taking a medication for depression and/or anxiety. I don't know your particular situation but it sounds like you need to be evaluated by a professional. Will you consider it?
Best wishes,
Laurie
rhonda_001
29 May 2011
I am seeing a pyschiatrist, and he put me on Prozac about two weeks ago.
LaurieShay
29 May 2011
Ok, that is postive. It will take another couple of weeks to get the maximum benefit from the Prozac. In fact, some of the symptoms you are having, like the ones that are like the flu, maybe side effects of the Prozac but this should subside with continued use. You can read about the common side effects at https://www.drugs.com/sfx/prozac-side-effects.html
Hang in there girl, it will get better.
Laurie
rhonda_001
29 May 2011
Thank you, I hope it will get better. It sure doesn't feel like it will though. But, thanks!
ace_rick
30 May 2011
Laurie , I gree with you,,just more little time and everything will ease..ace
earthshine
8 June 2011
I was also on paxil for about 10 years, and came off 6 months ago. I also experienced the crying, and moments of rage. They subsided and gradually have gone away over a couple months. I am still now experiencing tingling sensations in my face, and once in a while burning sensations. The symptoms you were having could be withdrawal symptoms - as your body has gotten used to the medicine over the course of 10 years.
MartyWalker
10 Jan 2012
The Mayo Clinic just announced this week that it may take two to 20 years to weein off Paxil all the way. You are in withdrawals still and the only thing Laurie was right about is that after a couple of weeks you should be put on another, less strangulating medicine that Paxil. I'm not calling her a liar at all , I'm just going by this new word about Paxil withdrawal. I can't even go two days without it. It has me good at 40 mgs a day.
socnancy
28 Aug 2016
I just read that experts are rethinking the withdrawal period for the drug Paxil. Everyone is different. They are now recommending 90 days!! Hang in there! I'm completely off today (as many times before this), so I have a long haul ahead of me. It also depends on how long the drug has been in your system as far as how long before you'll feel better. For me it's been almost 20 years. I cut down from 20 mg. to 10 mg. about 5 years ago. Then about a little over 3 weeks ago I went down to 5 mg. Now today is zero! My problem in withdrawal is lack of sleep--not being able to sleep or stay asleep. I have seen the psychiatrist who put me on this horrid stuff for almost 20 years, but I totally broke away from him this past May. I want nothing more to do with professionals like that!
catarina7000
13 Dec 2017
How did you taper off of it? The recommendation is reducing by 10% at a time. This could take a really long time if you were on a high dosage. I have heard really horrible things about this drug. I have been on 10 mg for a year and a half. I am starting to slowly ween off. I have been scared about being dependent on this drug. I think you also have to think about how long you were on it and how your brain might have changed in the process. Hang in there. Trust your intuition and what you think is best for your body and take what doctor's say with a grain of salt. Do your research. I had a doctor tell me once that I couldn't crush it to taper off which isn't true. I wanted to reduce by 10% at a time to reduce withdrawal symptoms and that's almost impossible to do if you're cutting it. The one you cannot crush is the extended release. I am not on that. I wish I hadn't listened to her and had tapered off a long time ago.
I just didn't see how I could deal with cutting down a quarter or a half at a time because I know I am sensitive to drug changes. I can even tell a difference if I take it at a different time which doctors say isn't possible. Don't believe anyone who says things are just in your head when you know them to be your experience.
Related topics
paxil, depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, anxiety and stress
Further information
- Paxil uses and safety info
- Paxil prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Paxil (detailed)
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