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Community AnchorEffexor

Hi @Heather21, welcome! Congrats on getting so far with your Paxil taper. That's no small feat. How have you been feeling? Don't hesitate to slow things down toward the end; that's where the greatest changes in serotonin receptors take place. We look forward to supporting you for the rest of your taper! Catina 🩷

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 16.64 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Synthroid - 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.

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BasedStaffSep 9

Community AnchorEffexor

28 months is a serious stretch of patience, Heather21. Catina's right that the low end can feel different, so it's smart you're already on a hyperbolic curve. How has the last drop treated you, any new symptoms or mostly smooth sailing? If you start logging check-ins under the My Taper tool, you'll have a clear map of what shifts as you go, and your experience will be a huge help to someone just starting this grind.

Creator of Taper Community, here to help you.

H

Heather21Sep 9

WelcomerPaxil · active

Patience or stubbornness 😂. Before starting I decided to give up alcohol and started practicing yoga regularly ( 4-5 times /week) and try to watch my diet. I also try to stay away from other medications ( like acetaminophen or ibuprofen). I was also advised by my pharmacist not to introduce new supplements. My last drop to 1.8 ml was end of July and I am experiencing some nighttime awakening . No trouble falling to sleep but wake up 2-3 hours and sometimes have a difficult time falling back to sleep. I have been journaling my progress and just found this forum and will be visiting it regularly. It is nice to have others who are withdrawing from Paxil to share insights.

Paxil — 10 mg for 20 mg then 20 mg for 15 years ( so total of about 35
Years)— actively tapering

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CatinaSep 9

Community AnchorEffexor

"Patience or stubbornness 😂" — @Heather21

LOL....love it! 😊

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 16.64 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Synthroid - 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.

anne noni mossSep 29

LighthousePaxil · holding

How are you @Heather21 ??

atypical in presentation of side effects, super sensitive to small doses and general delayed responder. never took a psych med that didn't' make me sick immediately with infections and restless legs. have never been able to tolerate being on them, but have never had support to get off so I've been bouncing back and forth. i don't like capital letters. sorry.

Paxil — 1 mg — 2 yrs — holding until Oct. 7 doc appt.
Seroquel — 50 — planning taper |
trileptal -75 planning taper
prasozin 1 mg planning taper

started my psych med saga in 2001 and wish I never had. I had some difficulties with sleep and anxiety, but NOTHING like what was in store for me after trying every med out there. My last treatment center promised to "get me totally off" in 2022 but it was a lie. They just switched drugs and added more and more in a desperate attempt to help me "stabilize," so they could call me a "success story" once insurance stopped paying. I agree with those who state that this industry needs to change. AND I'm working on not being resentful about my suffering because it doesn't help anyone.

been on an off cocktails since 2001. Most recent mixture, prescribed in 2024: 20 mg Paxil, 150 Trileptal, 50 Seroquel, 2 mg prasozin, (for PTSD/nightmares.)

immediately went to 1 mg prasozin, and after 3 months cut to 10 mg paxil. No felt effects. Then went to 5 about 3 months later, (though I didnt' keep track so I'm rusty.) No felt effects. So, I've roughly been on 5 mg for a year and a half.

Side effects always force to to start tapering RIGHT AWAY.

I didn't start keeping track of my Paxil taper until this year. I went from 3mg to 1 in 10 months, using a liquid Maudsley-ish slow taper. Again, no felt effects until now.

October 2026...sleeping less and feeling more sedated during the day. Having trouble managing my social life without getting over-stimulated. Must set boundaries according to my body and not my heart.

Holding 1 mg paxil until blood work done and evaluated, and to see if build a social life that doesn't make me lose sleep. Sounds silly as I type it, but actually, nothing is "silly" on this ride! Everything is WILD!!!! LOL

Keeping all other meds the same. Sorry so long.

H

Heather21Sep 30

WelcomerPaxil · active

I am still at 1.8 ml and only having issues with sleep disturbances. I sometimes think I would like to drop to 00 but want to take this as slow as possible. I truly hope the rest of my journey will be a successful as the last 18 ml.

Paxil — 10 mg for 20 mg then 20 mg for 15 years ( so total of about 35
Years)— actively tapering

anne noni mossSep 30

LighthousePaxil · holding

Yes! I'll join you in that positive thought. I'm on my last MG and fearing going lower. We are not alone anymore.

atypical in presentation of side effects, super sensitive to small doses and general delayed responder. never took a psych med that didn't' make me sick immediately with infections and restless legs. have never been able to tolerate being on them, but have never had support to get off so I've been bouncing back and forth. i don't like capital letters. sorry.

Paxil — 1 mg — 2 yrs — holding until Oct. 7 doc appt.
Seroquel — 50 — planning taper |
trileptal -75 planning taper
prasozin 1 mg planning taper

started my psych med saga in 2001 and wish I never had. I had some difficulties with sleep and anxiety, but NOTHING like what was in store for me after trying every med out there. My last treatment center promised to "get me totally off" in 2022 but it was a lie. They just switched drugs and added more and more in a desperate attempt to help me "stabilize," so they could call me a "success story" once insurance stopped paying. I agree with those who state that this industry needs to change. AND I'm working on not being resentful about my suffering because it doesn't help anyone.

been on an off cocktails since 2001. Most recent mixture, prescribed in 2024: 20 mg Paxil, 150 Trileptal, 50 Seroquel, 2 mg prasozin, (for PTSD/nightmares.)

immediately went to 1 mg prasozin, and after 3 months cut to 10 mg paxil. No felt effects. Then went to 5 about 3 months later, (though I didnt' keep track so I'm rusty.) No felt effects. So, I've roughly been on 5 mg for a year and a half.

Side effects always force to to start tapering RIGHT AWAY.

I didn't start keeping track of my Paxil taper until this year. I went from 3mg to 1 in 10 months, using a liquid Maudsley-ish slow taper. Again, no felt effects until now.

October 2026...sleeping less and feeling more sedated during the day. Having trouble managing my social life without getting over-stimulated. Must set boundaries according to my body and not my heart.

Holding 1 mg paxil until blood work done and evaluated, and to see if build a social life that doesn't make me lose sleep. Sounds silly as I type it, but actually, nothing is "silly" on this ride! Everything is WILD!!!! LOL

Keeping all other meds the same. Sorry so long.

Hi, I'm Heather21

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