Is anyone trying to wean off an anidepressant?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 12:17 pm

Originally posted by Kris10:
I have been weaning off Paxil very slowly for sometime now. I'm considering taking another antidepressant to help with some of the withdrawal. But then worry what coming off that will be like???????

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 6:02 pm

Originally posted by jencole:
Paxil is a fantastic medication and has always worked well for me. However, coming off of it is not so easy. I am dosing down and dealing with the whooshing sound in my head non-stop. I hope that anyone who is weaning off of anti-depressants is consulting a doctor. There is a great website that has advice on how to wean off of Paxil (quitpaxil.org) I will warn you that this website is a bit anxious producing when you hear the stories of others who had problems coming off of Paxil...go to the section with advise on how to deal with the withdrawal symptoms, it is helpful

Thanks for this tip, Jen - much appreciated. M.

jillzmind · Post by **jillzmind** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 2:43 am

I have gone off Lexapro a couple of times. (I had a couple of miscarraiges and was having a bad time afterwards, so I'd go back on it. [I personally have no problem with medications, but do NOT believe that it something that a person should have to take for life, unless it's for an uncurable disease/problem.]) Anyway, it is soooooo important to go slowly. Even after going slowly, it is possible (and probable) that there will be a few withdrawl symptoms. I have experienced dizziness, weird zaps of what felt like electricity in my brain, weird sound-hallucinations, black spots in my sight, all kinds of weird sensations. Fortunately, they don't last very long, maybe a few days. So.... GO SLOW!
Take care.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 4:31 am

I have been on and off Effexor for the last five years. At one point I was on 300 mgs. It was the best that I ever felt in my life. I went off of it very slowly and with a doctor's help. It was difficult and there were days that I thought I would have to go back on it. I had hot flashes and anxiety attacks. Within a few months I was OK. I was able to stay off of it for about a year and then the anxiety was back full force. I am back on it but I only take 75 mgs. It just takes the edge off and I don't I'm not so obsessive!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 5:40 pm

Originally posted by ECBop:
I have been on and off Effexor for the last five years. At one point I was on 300 mgs. It was the best that I ever felt in my life. I went off of it very slowly and with a doctor's help. It was difficult and there were days that I thought I would have to go back on it. I had hot flashes and anxiety attacks. Within a few months I was OK. I was able to stay off of it for about a year and then the anxiety was back full force. I am back on it but I only take 75 mgs. It just takes the edge off and I don't I'm not so obsessive!

If taking 300 mg of Effexor was the best you felt in your life, why did you decide to get off?? Asking because I have been on Effexor for 10 yrs & have cut back to 15 mg. Always felt I shouldn't be on a drug, but helped me when I needed it. But I never felt great - just kept me from falling into a black hole. If I felt "great", I'd still be on it. Just curious.

PlanoGreg

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 2:10 pm

I started weaning off Paxil in August 2007. I was taking 10 mg. My main side effect was spaciness. My doctor had me use the liquid to decrease 2 mg at a time, waiting 6 weeks in between each step. Each time there was an initial increase in anxiety, that would disappear at about 3 weeks after the change. The spaciness was better at 6 mg, and gone at 4 mg. I did fine until I hit 4 mg (was managing with trouble at this dose), then at 2 mg a lot of weird life circumstances came at me, and now I went back to 5 mg after a weekend of non-stop panic. I sort of wish I had never tried to get completely off. I hope I level out at 5 mg, if I can get some sleep again.