DO NOT stop taking Seroxat/Paroxetine/Paxil (or any SSRI) without medical supervision. Withdrawal syptoms can start as soon as you miss a single dose and can go on for many months.
Withdrawal syptoms can include akathesia, agitation, mania, psychosis, self harm, suicidal thoughts and actions, violence, fear of loud noises, electric zaps of the head and body, thoughts of homicide, profuse sweating, disturbing nightmares, lack of empathy toward other people, anger, severe memory loss, nausea.
April 28, 2007 at 7:43 am
I stopped taking Celexa cold turkey on my own because the nurse who had given me the free sample (2 mos. worth) wouldn’t listen to me when I said I thought I wanted to go off it because of the side effects. I had a few of the things you list here, including anger explosions, self-harm, and what medical people insist on calling “anxiety disorder”, which I had never had before in my life. I tried to tell psychiatrists, etc. and they said, “It’s out of your system by now.” I still have the anxiety and occasional explosiveness, and I think it seems like people look frightened of me and I can only guess that I come off as more intense than I can perceive. I have felt a reduction in my empathy for other people, and that was what I considered my only truly good quality. I feel like my brain has been ruined. Thank you for this list. It must be making a lot of people feel less alone.
January 17, 2008 at 4:55 pm
FYI – symptoms is spelled incorrectly.
And – I love your blog!
January 17, 2008 at 6:48 pm
[...] Before I go any further, let me remind my readers of a few things. If you are taking antidepressants and want to stop, seriously consider the real implications of such a decision. You may want to follow this advice: [...]
May 5, 2009 at 1:34 am
I am a miserable human being. After having numerous surgeries, I was put on Zoloft, which I have been on now for the last nine years. I cannot function as other people do, I have no motivation, no drive, no happiness, no normalcy whatsoever.
I also, after the surgeries, continued using pain medications just to feel somewhat normal. I was sent to a rehab in February for a month. After returning, I am not alright, I do not feel well, I cannot get out of bed, I have gambled so much money away that I am sick to death. I have no control. I eat boxes of chocolate, rather than a piece or two. Everything I do is extreme. I feel as though I am going insane. I can’t even get excited about my only daughter’s upcoming marriage. I NEED HELP!!!!! I don’t know where to go, who to see, or how to begin my journey back to happiness and peace.
Can someone please respond and give me some hope.
Julie
January 20, 2008 at 6:33 am
http://www.prozacbacklash.com has advice from a doctor in a book called The Antidepressant Solution.
February 4, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Can anyone tell me any good news! I was on Paxil for many years and quite glad to be rid of the depression I was going through at the time. But enough is enough — I tried to quit cold turky in July, but when my husband died in August I went back on Paxil (1/2 what I had been taking) to help me get over my loss. I’ve weaned off recently and I thought I was doing okay (flu like symptoms, diahhrea, headache, crying) but after reading these blogs I’m worried about how long it will take to feel great again. I need to keep it together for my children. Is there any good news, do some of us recover quicker than others, will I now be able to loose the extra pounds I’ve been carrying since starting Paxil?
February 6, 2008 at 9:12 am
I can only suggest that you keep calling doctors and trying to find one who has the guts to hear the truth about Paxil. I think you really should find a doctor and a psychologist to support you right now. I know how annoying and upsetting going from person to person to get someone to listen to and help you is but what you have described and the other things I have read about Paxil make it sound like you definitely should keep trying to find someone who will actually support you and help you. I tried schema therapy for a while and it really helped with anxiety. It takes quite a while and it seems like it’s doing nothing and then one day you come home from something and you realize that your mind feels lighter, less worrying. I would really urge you to try to get a copy of the book The Anti-Depressant Solution. The author has been helping people get off ssri’s for at least several years. Support, support, support. That’s my best advice. Good luck.
April 24, 2008 at 2:28 am
[...] Remember, never quit psychotropic medication cold turkey. You need a planned withdrawal. Never dispose of you medication until you are clearly weaned off for many months. The medicine is the antidote should you experience painful withdrawals. Learn more at Discover and Recover and at Seroxat Secrets [...]
April 24, 2008 at 2:48 am
The best book I’ve read on the subject of safe withdrawal from psychiatric medication is ‘Your Drug May Be Your Problem – How and Why to Stop Taking Psychiatric Medication’.
It was written by Peter Breggin, MD – Harvard Medical School graduate in Psychiatry. Dr. Breggin is a strong voice of dissent within the field, and is called ‘the conscience of American psychiatry’ by many of his colleagues.
Considering the fact that the SSRIs are clinically no better than placebo, and can cause horrific problems – from addiction to injury in both the brain and body, I would encouarge anyone to read it when making the decision to get off these drugs (I prefer to call them drugs).
He outlines a safe protocol in the book – 10 percent withdrawal at a time, with plenty of support by a good doctor. It can be very dangerous if done any other way.
There are so many alternative methods to treat depression – for instance, Neurofeedback (EEG biofeedback), acupuncture, good therapy, nutrition…..too many to mention in one email.
Thank you for this post.
Duane Sherry, M.S., CRC
http://discoverandrecover.wordpress.com
November 29, 2008 at 10:39 pm
I mentioned “ten percent at a time”….actually, this would be about the fastest one could go….Dr. Breggin insists it’s better to err on the side of caution…..There is no such thing as “too slow”….there is “too fast”….and going too fast can cause further injury…..
Also, I would like to note, I am not a doctor….The book was written by a doctor and outlines the protocol, and strongly recommends working with a doctor…It’s worth buying if you are considering withdrawal.
Duane Sherry
Duane