I think I finally kicked Paxil!

[asherah]

OK, it has been 10 days since I took my last pill.

I still get the occasional "zap," (a weird electric shock feeling in your head, for those unfamiliar with this drug's side effects) and my stomach is still kind of iffy.. but it doesn't seem to be getting any worse..

So I am hoping this time I am finally off the stuff. I tried six months ago and got so sick I had to get back on.. but I only made it a week last time and I was so sick I could barely stand.

So I think this time I really may be off!

I have had such a hard time with this drug. I am hoping maybe I will finally be able to lose weight now if I am really off.

[hvl25]

Congratulations !! I hope this works for you!

[Quirky]

Way to go! In hindsight I feel very lucky not to have had withdrawal problems with Celexa/Wellbutrin - which I just quit cold turkey. It sounds like you really had a tough row to hoe.

[Jish]

Good luck!!! I know so many people who have had problems with Paxil. If you find that you are having a hard time again soon, you might try what several people I know have done. What they did is wean from Paxil to another med like Zoloft. It takes a few weeks since you go for a few days or a week at 75% Paxil/25% Zoloft, then to 50%/50%, then to 25% Paxil and 75% Zoloft until you are finally taking all of the other med. Then you feel normal again, you wean off of that med. It seems to be a gentler weaning for some people than going off the Paxil and having the withdrawl symptoms and going back on to avoid them.

Hopefully, you won't need this advice, but I thought I'd throw it out there for you or anyone else who has had a hard time with Paxil.

[asherah]

Thanks..
Yes, I have heard that has worked for some folks as well.

I have had an awful battle with this drug. It did help me when I was at my worst with ppd.

But I would choose a different one if I needed medication again.

I am STILL zapping a bit. But it is manageable.
It is sooo good to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

[Jish]

I would get those zaps every once in a while when I was on meds, and it scared the heck out of me at first. I thought I was having a stroke. Not good for someone whose depression manifests in anxiety about their health.:LOL

[asherah]

ugh, i know.

I also get this weird noise in my brain.. like a rustling sound.. totally thought I was going nuts until I went to quitpaxil.org
and read that lots of people had this!

[Elphaba]

congrats asherah!
I quit Paxil last Mother's Day. Since then, I have lost almost 30 pounds, and I haven't been exercising and except for a brief period of the anti-Candida diet I haven't changed what I eat.

[asherah]

I certainly hope that happens to me too!