Anxiety and Stress Forum - Quitting Paxel

Mental Health > Anxiety and Stress Forum > Quitting Paxel - Cold Turkey

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Q: Quitting Paxel - Cold Turkey

asked by: DanielleProctor on May 31st, 2004

New User

I've read that paxil is completely out of your system in 6 days or less [see bleow]. Is it really?

I quit paxil 4 days ago [cold turkey]. A personal decision. I was prescribed paxil for anxiety but after 2 years on the medication I started experiencing anxiety once again.

The first 2 days, and nights, were hell. I was constantly over heated, shaky and angry. I had horribly vivid dreams the first night and woke up every half hour the second night. The dreams [nightmares] have stopped now [day 4] and I am sleeping through the night, but I am still continually suffering from "brain zaps", numb tongue, hot flashes and fatigue. I also am having a difficult time adjusting to changes in light [indoors vs. Outdoors]. Other entries suggest it can take up to 4 weeks, sometimes more for the symptoms to subside. How long am I going to feel this way?

"a forum-m.D.-rg(10-mar-04) innakap paxil is out of your system completely in 6 days or less. Stopping should be down slowly over a two week period. Many doctors add lexapro while you are doing this, but you should not simply stop cold one day and start another the next day."

any advice, suggestions, help anyone can offer.

Replies(9)

BR612

replied on July 27th, 2004

New User

Brain Zaps

I too am trying to get off this paxel rollercoaster ride. Just in the past 2 months I have cut my rx by half. I have been taking it for roughly 3 years now for depression/anxiety. I have found that by even cutting my dosage in half, I have had the experience of a lifetime! Nightmares, brain zaps, emotions from outright rage to a flood of tears. Last night I felt I wanted to just smash my head thru the living room wall, just so the dizziness would stop. I had no idea that this would give me so much trouble trying to quit. What an eye opening experience. I have a call in to the doctors office this morning to see if there's something he can do. In the meantime, lock me up in the cellar!!!!

DanielleProctor

replied on July 27th, 2004

New User

Quiting Paxel

Hello!

It gets better, I promise! You have to hang in there and just know that these are temporary side effects. Once it is out of your system life gets back to normal and you will look back on this and be proud of yourself for making it through! It took me about 3 weeks, everyone is different though. I didn't want to cut cack my dosage; I felt tiat would take too long, so I quit cold turkey. I think for me it was a good decision but like I said everyone is different. It's best to talk to your doctop but just know that this experience is only goilg to maie you stronger so hang in there!

Take care ok!!

Danielle

purple333

replied on July 27th, 2004

Extremely eHealthy

Stopping any med cold turkey is not advised - that said I have done it - in fact I stopped several cold turkey all at the same time. From reading the two posts here - I think that maybe sometimes cold turkey is easier - very hard but over a generally shorter time frame than doing slowly & suffering longer.

Still cold turkey can be dangerous - even deadly - so I don;t recommend it - despite my own stupid behaviour (i was just lucky I didn't do any permanent harm in going cold turkey with no help even!!).

For me things were ok for a day then hell for several & then things just started getting better it took about 4 weeks. Obviously 4 weeks is a very general statement & guide as everyone is different & so is every med

to both of you persevere - things will get better - also remember that there are many natural alternatives to treat/help anxiety & stress from vitamin b, 5htp, sam-, dhea, st johns wort, to yoga, relaxation, cbt & ces or sound/light machines!!!!

qt3

replied on July 28th, 2004

Experienced User

Not only would I not advise quiting any anxiety med cold turkey, I would make sure and start trying an alternative like purple mentioned before I even began reducing my meds. Everyone's different but the cold turkey route is hard for most people and a little risky.

xrayjenny

replied on September 30th, 2008

New User

paxel cold turkey

DONT DO IT!!!! I did it multiple times with the same outcome. My docter saw me one day & asked me why I looked so bad, I was there for my daughters check-up. I wasn't there for me. I had not taken the paxil for a few days & the results were terrible. I switched to Lexapro to soften the blow. It helped. I now take Trazidone. It is mild, it is 1-3 tablets to help me sleep. I have OCD & problems sleeping & the tazidone does the trick. I know waht you are going through. It is DETOX from the drug. After a while you bild up a tolerance to the drug along with a depandence..... Lexapro wil soften the blow for now. Take my advice it will be bad for a week, but well worth it. I was addicted too. I had nausea, Vomiting, insomnia, panic, & kids to care for. I think Paxel is evil. I took it for over 5 years on & off. A word of advice I think that the Generic form is even worse. I went on-&-off of Name Brand all the time. The Generic is what I had the problems with.

dl5crew

replied on October 9th, 2008

New User

Paxil

I'm glad that I found this. My doctor wants me to take Paxil for anxiety. I tried one pill and was drunk for almost three days. I told my husband that I am not going to take that crazy medicine.
I will continue to breathe deep and pray through my attacks.

sabesabe

replied on October 26th, 2008

New User

trazidone

xrayjenny,
How is the tradazone working now? I think I have similar symptoms as u as well as the responsibility of raising kids, too.
My doc gave tradazone to me several months ago to replace temazpan. It worked for 6 months and then lost it effectiveness.
The doc put me on temazpan again and added wellbutrin. The wellbutrin(1x per day) is making me snappy/easily angered and now I want to go cold turkey off the wellbutrin(been on it for 4 months now) and eventually quit taking the temazapan. I think I'll try and follow dl5crew's move to deal with the anxiety/attacks another way. Thank you

dl5crew

replied on November 2nd, 2008

New User

trazadone

I was on Trazadone about 5 years ago. I started at 50mg worked up to 150 mg. I would have to take it while sitting on the edge of my bed. After about 10 minutes, the room would start spinning, I would then fall asleep. I would sleep really hard for about an hour, maybe two. I would wake up and be awake all day.

CarolDiane

replied on November 3rd, 2008

Extremely eHealthy

Don't do it. Could cause sesures and other fatal issues. That has been clinically documented. Please talk to your doctor first and wheen down if you have to.

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