so it's been about a month that I quit Paxil, an antidepressant.
I reduced over a long time. Apparently not long enough.
Like I said elsewhere, I wanted to quit to have a child soon. I felt fine for 2-3 week s after being completly off.
Now, not so much. I have insomnia, chest pains, palpitations, tingling, racing toughts, worries, low apetite and lots more.
I was curious as to what is causing all this. Am I just anxious like I was before? Or is it the withdrawl? Or something else? If it is the withdrawl, can I handle it?
So I went on a forum called Paxil Progress where everyone is strugling and someone mentioned that after 5 months off the paxil he suddenly had wierd symptoms. Everybody seemed to think it was withdralw. 😕
I`m prety skeptic; shouldn't it be sooner? If not, what is going to happen to me? Have I damaged my brain like a heroin addict?
To add to that, there is a pdf that is supposed to help you get through withdrawl. They say it takes a year where my doctor said a few weeks top.
They also say to question every drug and ask for second and third opinions about them to various professionnal becasue they are only human and make mistakes.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS DOING AND WHAT MY THERAPIST TOLD ME NOT TO DO!
That I should stop worrying that the doctors don't know and that I have to stop looking for bad stuff about meds becasue it feeds my fears.
I also think Paul is not a fan of seeking reasurance all the time, which is what I' ve been doing lately.
I feel I can't trust anyone. Isn't it believed by some that rhino horn is good for potency? And that is ludicrus, so how can I belive that a drug hasn't messed me up permenantly? How can i be sure that a new one will be safe for me when paxil used to be considered safe?
How can I manage all the contradictions I find when trying to be informed?
Because I don't want to take something that will harm my baby if I have one but I can't handle this sort of feeling much longer. I'm trying not to fight it, to let it come and leave me. But if it's withdrawl, am I just cursed to feel terrible and scared all the time?
As you can see, I'm starting my week quite erratically.
I know you guys don't know who I am for real and can't offer medical advice.
Has anyone ever had withdrawl tough? How long does it last for real? It might not even be that. I might just be anxious again.
I'm sorry for rambling. Not sure if it helps but it's an outlet.
ok take care. One at a time.

Thanks for the reply.
My doctor also thinks its Rebound Anxiety. I think my last tapering was too fast. I am aware that I will probably have some anxiety outbursts all my life. I had some even on the paxil sometimes.
Maybe I'll re-instate just a little to tapper off slower still...

I'm seeing a psychiatrist next week who specialises in treating pregnant women. It's not really a consultation; more of a question period to ask him about the effects of anxiety vs medication on a potential pregnancy. I'll probably be more informed then and from a person who deals wth this exact issue all day.

Also, I'm not going to that horrible paxil forum again. Those people are a bit paranoid, even by anxiety standards. I'm sure not all of them are and they probably just wanted to help, but it's really just making me more scared to be patronised because I trust my doctor.
Wich is a bit ridiculous.
I hope you made a typo, because you end with "you're alone out there", which is not true because you answered me and this forum exists. I think you ment "you are not alone."
I know I am not alone, and it's a great relief.

Hey Sarah,

Are you feeling any better? Also thanks for the "don't read if you're anxious" warning, that was thoughtful. I've heard paxil can be tough to come off but not impossible. Just be careful what you read in those forums and take it with a grain of salt. A lot of the people on there are either terrified and will feed your anxiety or think they're doctors and can be giving out the wrong info. If you've gotten answers from your doc try to stay away from those! Stay here instead 😉 Hope you're doing alright.

Update!
Well, I have been advised to reinstate the meds, at least for now.
The doctor is convinced that they are not dangerous if I get pregnant. He sees pregnant women everyday and a lot of them use antidepressants. According to him, the mother's comfort is most important for the baby. He aknowledged the reaserch I found but said there are as many more that disprove them so the inconclusive aspect makes the doctors recomand that treatment is maintained through the pregnancy.
NOW
DON'T USE THIS INSTEAD OF MEDICAL ADVICE FROM YOUR DOCTOR if you have a similar fear as me. Maybe your case is different.
I'm still nervous about the stuff that the other people said on the other forum. They really scared me becasue they validated my deepest fears.
But I'm not pregnant now and there is a chance I can't even be pregnant, so we'll see then. Until that time, I'm waitng another week and then I'll start the treatment again if nothing changes.
I felt like a failure for not being able to feel better on my own, but the doc told me that like diabetes, anxiety may need some drugs to improve but I also have to help myself. Yoga, meditation, breathing and counseling all contribute to my health. I will not improve with just drugs. I have to work at it.Just like a person has to maintain their sugar level with food and exercise.
Still painfull to realise I might need them, maybe for good. Good thing is 5 health professionals agree that I'm not endangering a future baby if I do take them.

Hi Sarah - Sorry to hear you are having a hard time with all this. I tried to go off Celexa 10 years ago when conceiving my first child. I ended up losing weight (when I should have been gaining) during the 2nd & 3rd month of pregnancy. I had horrible insomnia as well and just couldn't get by without the medication. My doctor at the time told me the the risks of my severe anxiety could put the baby in more danger than the medication. I ended up going back on the lowest dose of Celexa that I could handle.
I am happy to say that I now have two healthy daughters - 6 and 10. I was on the medication (SSRIs) with both pregnancies.
I was finally able to come off SSRIs this past year - I'm starting to struggle more now, but hoping I can gain some more insight from Paul & others on this site to utilize coping skills when needed.

Good luck to you!