Posted by Greg on August 2, 2000, at 18:19:49
In reply to Paxil withdrawal is real, posted by Mystery Bell on August 2, 2000, at 15:34:48
MB,
On the flip side, many people have taken Paxil for a long time and have had great results with it. I recently started taking it and while I have yet to have any results either way, I remain optomistic. I talked to many who have taken it then stopped with little or no side effects. With almost any drug you take you can find long lists of potential side effects, many with a much higher rate than 2%. Just thought both sides of the story should be told.
I'm sorry to hear that this has been so rough for you and I wish you peace, health and happiness in the future.
Greg
> I have been suffering with Paxil withdrawal for the past 14 days. I feel so much better each day. It was HELL and it may be for you, but you can do it.
>
> Some history: I was prescribed Paxil 20mg 18 months ago because of OCD. The OCD didn't bother me much, but I had just acquired it and they were not sure how bad it could get. 20mg didn't do much, so I was put on 30mg. I took this for one year. Three months ago, my doctor thought I needed a larger dose and I went to 40mg. This is when my hell began.
>
> I had problems with choking, hoarseness, loss of voice altogether, coughing, gasping for breath during sleep, and a feeling of "frogginess" in my throat. I went to three doctors and underwent AWFUL tests, to no avail. No one cared that I was on the Paxil. It couldn't matter. They were sure I had throat or voice box cancer. I was preparing for surgery...
>
> Then I read 'US Prescribing Information for Paxil' and found my own problem. The increase in the Paxil was causing my problems. I quote "Events reported by at least 2% of OCD, panic disorder, and social anxiety patients are: abdominal pain, agitation, back pain, cough increase, depression, headache, hyperkinesia, infection, parethesia, pharyngitis, respiratory disorder, rhinitis, sinusitis, abnormal dreams, abnormal vision, chest pain, depersonalization, dysmenorrhea, flu syndrome, myalgia, respiratory disorder, impaired urination..." and it goes on.
>
> Other symptoms were "chills, monialisis, bruxism, dysphagia, eructation, esophagitis, edema, lack of emotion, rhinitis, bronchitis, voice alteration..."
>
> WHO WOULD PRESCRIBE THIS DRUG??
>
> If you want to get off Paxil, you can. IT WILL BE DIFFICULT. I have epilepsy and did not have seizures for over two years. Getting off Paxil, I have had dozens of seizures each day. When you say you feel electrical zaps - YOU ARE HAVING SEIZURES! This is what a seizure is, a skip in the electrical impulse in the brain.
>
> Here is what I have done. I tried weaning off the drug, but had withdrawal with each decreasing dose. Rather than have symptoms four times, I wanted to have them only once. I stopped totally 14 days ago. This is my survival pack:
>
> Pycnogenol for the seizures. Aleve for the body pains and spasms. Tylenol Extra Strength for the headaches. Sominex to sleep. Dramamine for the spins and dizziness. All these are available at the drug store. IT IS WORKING.
>
> When I see these doctors writing that the symptoms are not from withdrawal, I say BACK IT UP. You take 40mg for six months and then just quit.
>
> They won't.
>
> Good luck and God bless.
poster:Greg
thread:42028
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000729/msgs/42039.html