Tapering: Paxil

active

7 posts

Italy

Hi, I'm Francescolitio

August 7, 2026··

I have been taking paroxetine (Daparox) for several years. I was stable on 20 mg for a long time and did not have these symptoms. After reducing the dose, and particularly after a previous reduction and subsequent restart of the antidepressant, I began experiencing symptoms that I had never experienced before. These include genital numbness/anesthesia, reduced or absent sexual desire, loss of sexual arousal, lack of spontaneous and morning erections, emotional blunting/anhedonia, brain fog, and a strong feeling of detachment from my mind and emotions. The genital symptoms are especially concerning because I previously had normal sexual sensation and strong arousal. I am worried that these symptoms could be related to antidepressant withdrawal, a persistent post-drug effect such as PSSD, or another neurological mechanism. I am currently taking sertraline (Zoloft) while gradually reducing paroxetine, and I am concerned about whether continuing sertraline could worsen these symptoms. I would like to understand whether my symptoms could be caused by withdrawal, medication changes, PSSD, or another condition, and what the safest approach to my medications would be.

Paxil — 11mg — 3 years — actively tapering | Zoloft — 50mg — 2 weeks — planning taper | without clinician

8 Replies

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Catina1mo ago

Community AnchorEffexor

Hi @Francescolitio.....welcome to Taper Community. This is a peer-support community with people from all over the world who are tapering a variety of psychotropic drugs. We hope you'll feel at home here. What you're describing sounds very distressing. I'm sorry you're struggling and are unsure about what is happening. Similar experiences have been reported by some after SSRI dose changes and after stopping and restarting a drug. Some have referred to this as PSSD, although the exact mechanisms of this are still being researched. Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between PSSD, withdrawal symptoms, drug side effects, or other possible causes. We can't say with certainty what exactly is behind your own symptoms. Because you are currently taking sertraline while reducing paroxetine, it would be worth discussing your concerns with your prescriber. Adding or switching serotonergic medications can sometimes make it harder to tell which medication is contributing to symptoms. Any changes are best made carefully and gradually rather than making multiple changes at once. A few questions that may help us understand your situation better: How quickly did you reduce the paroxetine, and what dose did you reduce from and to? How long were you off paroxetine before restarting? What dose of sertraline are you currently taking? We're really glad you reached out. Many members here understand how frightening these symptoms can feel, and you're not alone in trying to sort out what is happening. Catina 💝

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.92 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Levothyroxine - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

Francescolitio1mo ago

WelcomerPaxil · active

I have no psychiatrist at the moment I’m suffering alone now that I have 2 ssri and Idk how to taper them without dying like this, I’m having withdrawals symptoms so strong but only now. For 2 months I only had pssd symptoms, genital numbness, no libido at all, impossible to have sexual desire, anedonia, emotional blunting and a disconnection from my mind and emotions. Idk i feel my life is an end. I’m now at 10 mg of paroxetine tapered too fast and I tapered zoloft to 25mg too. I have to being damaged with pssd and suffering withdrawals too is not fair

Paxil — 11mg — 3 years — actively tapering | Zoloft — 50mg — 2 weeks — planning taper | without clinician

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Catina1mo ago

Community AnchorEffexor

"I have no psychiatrist at the moment" — @Francescolitio

So is your family doctor prescribing your two medications?

"I’m suffering alone now" — @Francescolitio

You're not alone. We're here to help and support you through this. 💗

"I’m now at 10 mg of paroxetine tapered too fast and I tapered zoloft to 25mg too" — @Francescolitio

I'm sorry. If you tapered too fast, then just give yourself some time for things to stabilize as best as they can. How much of a reduction in the Paxil did you make? Your signature says you're taking 11 mg but your post says 10 mg, so did you reduce by 1 mg? Please clarify if you can.

Francescolitio1mo ago

WelcomerPaxil · active

Yes I reduced one mg , my ex psychiatrist gave me those meds, I stopped talking with her becuase she told me she doesn’t believe in pssd and didn’t want me to stop those meds, my symptoms got worse with zoloft and she didn’t care

Paxil — 11mg — 3 years — actively tapering | Zoloft — 50mg — 2 weeks — planning taper | without clinician

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Catina1mo ago

Community AnchorEffexor

"I reduced one mg" — @Francescolitio

Actually, that is a very reasonable reduction. It's less than 10%.

"my ex psychiatrist gave me those meds" — @Francescolitio

Do you have another doctor who will be prescribing your medications? You will need these prescriptions so you can taper off.

Francescolitio1mo ago

WelcomerPaxil · active

Yeah but I was higher like 13 or something more, upping zoloft I reduced then I got worse . Now after 1 week 50mg zoloft I returned to 25. But ofc paroxetine is more less and now I’m suffering so much. With pssd symptoms ( anedonia, emotional bluntind dissociation ) and anxiety and withdrawal

"10%." — @Catina

Paxil — 11mg — 3 years — actively tapering | Zoloft — 50mg — 2 weeks — planning taper | without clinician

Francescolitio1mo ago

WelcomerPaxil · active

"off." I have my family doctor yes that could prescribe me , but I don’t have a psychiatric who can help me with tapering off. Because my ex psychiatrist gave me zoloft with genital anestesia and the other symptoms and now it’s a hell — @Catina

Paxil — 11mg — 3 years — actively tapering | Zoloft — 50mg — 2 weeks — planning taper | without clinician

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Catina1mo ago

Community AnchorEffexor

"I don’t have a psychiatric who can help me with tapering off." — @Francescolitio

@Francescolitio, if your family doctor can prescribe you the drugs you can discuss with them the issues you're having and the desire to do a safe taper: https://taper.community/thread/dbb2cdbb-bb3d-4bb9-93ab-b33de4a3fd0b https://taper.community/resources/blog/how-to-talk-to-your-doctor-about-tapering Hopefully your doctor can support you. If they don't have knowledge about Hyperbolic tapering, this site has all the information you need to taper on your own if need be. You just need to make sure you keep getting your prescriptions so you can taper safely and at the rate your nervous system can handle.

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