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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by VonnegutJunky on September 1, 2015, at 0:28:20
I desperately need help.
I was on Paxil 10mg for 8 years for anxiety - May of 2014 I began my taper from 10mg and got down to 5mg by November - last Christmas everything hit and I was in hell- never had physical symptoms; they were all depression (like I have never felt before) and anxiety - so I went back on my 10mg
Except these waves of depression kept coming back -
So may of this year I doubled my dose-
The day after I doubled my dose I felt So STRANGE! I mean like nothing I have ever experienced and ways that are almost indescribable!!! Just so odd and it of it- fears that I would blank out / go crazy/ couldn't read or focus on anything-
Numb; unfocused; could not cognitively grasp the idea of time or space; all emotions were void; but I was also very anxious; everything was foggy and distant; horrible tinnitus and visual snow and I just did not feel any kind of normalI rode this out for 3 months ( I figured I had destabilized my systems by trying to come off the med it would take some time
To get stable again)About 3 months later, things had greatly improved for about 10 days- I felt like my old self - this was last week-
Then I started feeling funky again a few days ago
Not as bad as when I doubled my dose, but still not good either - but still not feeling normal -Of the things bothering my the most
Tinnitus
Visual snow
Body numbing Anxiety
Constant worry about how I feel
Burning sensation in my mouth
Sometimes double visionI have not had side effects on Paxil for the entire 8 years that I took it -
I sleep a lot - all day actually - luckily I work in the evening
Sometimes in the evening I feel much betterI do have a history of migraine with aura
I do not know if this is depression? Or a side effect of pail or continued withdrawal? I have been on 20 mg for 3.5 mos now-
If it is depression I have never felt anything like it before and I'm 42
If it is depression, will it take Paxil at 20mg longer to work than normal?Also I do have some intense life issues at the moment that would cause depression for anyone - and I happened to start going through them during my failed taper
What would any of you do if you were in my situation?
I had horrible start up effects when I doubled my dose - I don't want to give up too early if the medication will be beneficial soon - also starting a new med will give new start up effects of worsening my depression before it gets better, which I don't think I can handle at this point-And what about the days that I have where I do feel really good? What could explain those?
Any insight?
Thank you!
Posted by Lou Pilder on September 1, 2015, at 5:10:11
In reply to I need help!!! Paxil issues! Don't know what to do, posted by VonnegutJunky on September 1, 2015, at 0:28:20
> I desperately need help.
>
> I was on Paxil 10mg for 8 years for anxiety - May of 2014 I began my taper from 10mg and got down to 5mg by November - last Christmas everything hit and I was in hell- never had physical symptoms; they were all depression (like I have never felt before) and anxiety - so I went back on my 10mg
>
> Except these waves of depression kept coming back -
>
> So may of this year I doubled my dose-
>
> The day after I doubled my dose I felt So STRANGE! I mean like nothing I have ever experienced and ways that are almost indescribable!!! Just so odd and it of it- fears that I would blank out / go crazy/ couldn't read or focus on anything-
> Numb; unfocused; could not cognitively grasp the idea of time or space; all emotions were void; but I was also very anxious; everything was foggy and distant; horrible tinnitus and visual snow and I just did not feel any kind of normal
>
> I rode this out for 3 months ( I figured I had destabilized my systems by trying to come off the med it would take some time
> To get stable again)
>
> About 3 months later, things had greatly improved for about 10 days- I felt like my old self - this was last week-
> Then I started feeling funky again a few days ago
> Not as bad as when I doubled my dose, but still not good either - but still not feeling normal -
>
> Of the things bothering my the most
> Tinnitus
> Visual snow
> Body numbing Anxiety
> Constant worry about how I feel
> Burning sensation in my mouth
> Sometimes double vision
>
> I have not had side effects on Paxil for the entire 8 years that I took it -
>
> I sleep a lot - all day actually - luckily I work in the evening
> Sometimes in the evening I feel much better
>
> I do have a history of migraine with aura
>
> I do not know if this is depression? Or a side effect of pail or continued withdrawal? I have been on 20 mg for 3.5 mos now-
> If it is depression I have never felt anything like it before and I'm 42
> If it is depression, will it take Paxil at 20mg longer to work than normal?
>
> Also I do have some intense life issues at the moment that would cause depression for anyone - and I happened to start going through them during my failed taper
>
> What would any of you do if you were in my situation?
> I had horrible start up effects when I doubled my dose - I don't want to give up too early if the medication will be beneficial soon - also starting a new med will give new start up effects of worsening my depression before it gets better, which I don't think I can handle at this point-
>
> And what about the days that I have where I do feel really good? What could explain those?
>
> Any insight?
>
> Thank you!Vg_J,
You wrote,[...I desperately need help...Paxil..in hell...waves of depression..fears...go crazy/couldn't focus...could not..grasp the idea of time and space...all emotions were void...any insight...].
What you describe here could be the beginning of death. To stop death from the chemicals in the drugs is something that I am prevented from posting here due to prohibitions posted to me here by Mr. Hsiung. Many here could tell you to take more drugs that could cause you to suffer a horrible death by them.
Lou
Posted by VonnegutJunky on September 1, 2015, at 5:45:54
In reply to Lou's response-suffer a horrible death by them » VonnegutJunky, posted by Lou Pilder on September 1, 2015, at 5:10:11
Lou - I kindly ask that you do not reply to my thread anymore
Thanks
Posted by Christ_empowered on September 1, 2015, at 5:53:43
In reply to I need help!!! Paxil issues! Don't know what to do, posted by VonnegutJunky on September 1, 2015, at 0:28:20
OK. I'm not a pro by any means. Ummm...there may be something called "tardive dysphoria." Its sort of...a theory, I guess. The idea is that antidepressants can both exacerbate and actually cause depression and other mood problems...even when they weren't present when treatment started (like with you and other people who take ADs for anxiety or other "issues").
Oh...that, and, Paxil is really potent. I mean, people get ill effects from Paxil tapers a lot. I dunno. I took Paxil @ 20mgs as a teenager (that used to be the standard dose) and then when I tapered everything went to hell. I got better on Klonopin...which has its own set of problems :-(
Have you ever tried supplements? Me, I do a full on Orthomolecular line up (B complex, C, E, niacinamide, etc.), but I have Bipolar I and have to take some heavy meds, so...maybe that's a bit much for you? I dunno. 5htp can boost serotonin levels in the brain. Dosage varies wildly, so you'd have to experiment and see. Also, 5htp would be something you'd probably wanna try after you're off Paxil (or any AD that effects serotonin), so you don't get serotonin syndrome.
Other than that...maybe b-complex and niacin or niacinamide, plus C, to help the anxiety? (Yes, I'm pushing Orthomolecular on you, lol). There are anti-anxiety and mood elevating herbs and amino acids, too...stuff like DL Phenylalanine (spelling?) and taurine and St.John's Wort, etc.
Now, pharmaceuticals...tricksy. I would guess that neurontin or lyrica would help w/ anxiety and maybe tame the tapering problems, but...hey, I'm not a doc, much less your doc, lol. Benzos are good...until you taper, and then some people have problems (others don't, of course). Oh, and benzos can cause or worsen depression, especially Klonopin...and it seems like everybody and their mama's on Klonopin these days.
Maybe...add BuSpar? Some people who aren't responding to an antidepressant will respond when BuSpar is added. I think its supposed to be fairly lightweight in terms of side efffects, and its been generic forever, so its cheap.
That's about all I have for you. Other people will chime in, I'm sure.
Posted by Lou Pilder on September 1, 2015, at 6:07:53
In reply to Re: Lou's response-suffer a horrible death by them, posted by VonnegutJunky on September 1, 2015, at 5:45:54
> Lou - I kindly ask that you do not reply to my thread anymore
> ThanksVg_J,
I am trying to save lives here and prevent life-ruining conditions and addictions. There are mothers reading here that are trying to make a more-informed decision as to drug their child or not. What rational basis do you have, if any, to want me to not post my responses to anything that is posted here which could cause a distorted, misleading or inaccurate view to be presented if I am prohibited to post my responses to what is posted here?
Lou
Posted by SLS on September 1, 2015, at 8:10:31
In reply to Re: Lou's response-suffer a horrible death by them, posted by VonnegutJunky on September 1, 2015, at 5:45:54
> Lou - I kindly ask that you do not reply to my thread anymore
> ThanksYou may voice your concerns to the moderator by writing a letter and sending it to:
- Scott
Posted by SLS on September 1, 2015, at 8:15:47
In reply to Re: Lou's response-suffer a horrible death by them, posted by VonnegutJunky on September 1, 2015, at 5:45:54
> Lou - I kindly ask that you do not reply to my thread anymore
> ThanksI would also recommend that you rewrite the subject line in order to keep the thread on topic, as I have done here.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on September 1, 2015, at 8:32:01
In reply to I need help!!! Paxil issues! Don't know what to do, posted by VonnegutJunky on September 1, 2015, at 0:28:20
In my estimation, Paxil is the worst SSRI for producing a phenomenon called "drug-induced drug refractoriness". It means that while you are taking the drug for the first time, things are happening in the body that will set up for future failures to restart the medication and respond to it. The next time you find something that works well, you should probably remain on it indefinitely.
Paxil is actually the SSRI that bind tightest to the target site (transporter), even though it affects other systems. However, Lexapro is the drug that is the purest for inhibiting the transporter. Lexapro might make sense as being your next move. If Lexapro does not help, it might be time to go for a SNRI drug like Effexor, Pristiq, or Cymbalta.
Your story, unfortunately, is a common one with Paxil.
- Scott
Posted by Chris O on September 3, 2015, at 3:56:26
In reply to I need help!!! Paxil issues! Don't know what to do, posted by VonnegutJunky on September 1, 2015, at 0:28:20
Withdrawals combined with a return of anxiety? I know I always get a bunch of depersonalization effects when I abruptly stop many of the SSRI meds. They eventually dissipate though.
Posted by former poster on September 17, 2015, at 9:37:16
In reply to I need help!!! Paxil issues! Don't know what to do, posted by VonnegutJunky on September 1, 2015, at 0:28:20
>>The day after I doubled my dose I felt So STRANGE! I mean like nothing I have ever experienced and ways that are almost indescribable!!! Just so odd and it of it- fears that I would blank out / go crazy/ couldn't read or focus on anything-
Numb; unfocused; could not cognitively grasp the idea of time or space; all emotions were void; but I was also very anxious; everything was foggy and distant; horrible tinnitus and visual snow and I just did not feel any kind of normal.<<Amazing similarity to me. Had to double check and see if I was reading my own post! Have you taken any antibiotics around the time your symptoms appeared? My problem started when I was taking flouroquinolone antibiotics, further aggravated by taking topomax. Seems the only thing that works for me is keeping busy.
You're not alone. Keep fighting and think positive.
This is the end of the thread.
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