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Weaning off of paxil... any suggestions?

leb505613leb505613
in Trying to Get Pregnant
I have some slight anxiety issues (mostly I think of myself as a chronic worrier). I have been on 10mg of paxil for about a year now. I spoke with my GP yesterday about TTC and he said there is no medicine that is safe to be on during pregnancy. Since you cannot stop paxil cold turkey (horrible horrible side effects) I have wean off it. He told me to just split the pills in half for about a week and then go off of it. I just want to see if there is anyone else out there who has had to deal with this. Have you found any other medication to be safe? How long did you wean off of your anxiety meds? How are you doing off of your meds? 
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Re: Weaning off of paxil... any suggestions?

  • sweetgothamsweetgotham member
    Follow your doctor's orders. For some reason, there have been quite a few threads on this topic in the past day or two (here is one: https://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/58502407.aspx). But you should really talk to your doctor about this (as there are some medications which are 'safer' than others from what I am reading). 
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  • celestialnytecelestialnyte member

    I'd follow your GP's advice.

    I wasn't on Paxil, but I was on a migraine medication that is absolutely awful if you're KU. It took me 2 mths to wean off of it, but I followed what the dr's advice was. 

    I was on anxiety medication about a year ago, and I weaned off of that as well. I have bouts of worrying (I classify myself as a chronic worrier, too) but I've learned some calm down techniques that have helped. 

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  • lvisserlvisser member

    Just a FYI - I am currently taking Prozac and my doc isn't worried... maybe attempt to switch meds instead of just going off?

     

    PS - Do not go off paxil cold turkey... horrible horrible side effects don't even begin to explain it!

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  • leb505613leb505613
    I completely know what you are talking about. We went on a weekend get away and I forgot my Paxil. OMG... I was super dizzy, shaky, nauseous, ice pick headache, seeing double... blah..I never want to experience that again. That is why I am asking about weaning off. One week on half dose doesn't seem like enough to wean... ya know?
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  • KMac570KMac570 member

    I weaned myself off of paxil two years ago, from 30mg/day.  It was an extremely painful process, unfortunately!  I believe I went from 30-25-20-15-10-7.5-0.  That last jump was unintentional.  Each drop in dosage was difficult, with withdrawal symptoms (nausea, vertigo, blurred vision, numb/tingly face, mouth and scalp, anxiety) lasting about a week each time.  The last drop lasted a couple of weeks.

    Listen to your doctor.  Also make sure that you are not cutting controlled release pills - only the normal, "old school" ones (my doctor told me they rarely prescribe them anymore actually). 

    That said, if your pills are not CR, I would recommend going from 10 - 7.5 - 5 - 2.5 - 0.  I believe this is a very standard way to do it, and it is what my doctor told me to do at the end. Leave at least a week, preferably two or three between each drop. 

    That said, make sure you okay everything with your doctor before you do it! 

    Best of luck, it is difficult but it CAN be done!!!!  :)

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  • behapy2daybehapy2day

    I am on zoloft and from what my doctor has told me and from what I have read- it is safe until the third tri. She hasnt been worried about it and knows we are TTC. (I also would call myself a chronic worrier- I have pretty bad anxiety.)

    DH weaned off of paxil last year and, to be honest, it sucked. Good Luck!

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  • SpartyMom2BSpartyMom2B member
    MH is weaning off of Celexa. Our GP said half of the original dose ED for one week, and then half of the original dose EOD the following week. He is off of it now and I did not notice any negative side effects. HTH.
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  • Mackerel1984Mackerel1984
    I switched to Prozac from Paxil since it is considered a safer alternative. Getting off Paxil SUCKED (it was close to cold turkey) what with those almost electric flashes and pulses. I've heard some people go from Paxil to Prozac and then wean off Prozac since it's much easier to come off of.
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  • leb505613leb505613
    I am going to call my doctor tomorrow morning. I started my second day of half dose and I am literally suffering. It is bad. I am SO exhausted, get the electric shocks every other minute and feel like I am going to throw up constantly. It is kinda like vertigo/sinus infection. I am seriously struggling... Any help would be soooo appreciated. PM me if you have gone through this and can offer help.
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  • closure17closure17
    Definitely call your doc. You need a better plan for coming off it. Wish I could offer you more help.
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