TaperCommunityTaperCommunity
L

Tapering: Paxil

holding

1 posts

Northeast USA

Hi, I'm LG

April 9, 2026Β·Β·
I am currently holding at 12.5 mg of Paxil down from 25 mg after 20 years. Paxil worked well for me but getting older and concerned about long term use so started tapering in October and just starting to feel back to baseline.

Paxil β€” 20 years β€” holding

3 Replies

Jules
JulesStaff5mo ago
Community Anchor
Hi, LG, welcome to the community. 12.5 MG is a big drop after 20 years. Holding at 12.5 mg of Paroxetine and feeling back to baseline is a really good sign. No rush from here. Slower and smaller tends to go much smoother, especially in the second half.
Steve
⭐
SteveStaff5mo ago
Community AnchorEffexor Β· active
Hello and welcome LG! Great you were able to get through that half a year and getting back to baseline. After 20 years itβ€˜s appropiate to see how tapering such amounts work for you and it seems like you are on a good way. I would suggest to stick to the hyperbolic tapering method, so the next reduction, when you feel ready, should only be another 50% to 6,25mg and see how you react. Tell us about your progress when you do this, have a smooth holding phase! πŸ’ͺπŸ‘

off Stimulants (2000-2013)
off Fluoxetine (2010-2013)
off Lamotrigine (2013-2016)
off Quetiapain (2016-2020)

currently Effexor β€” 33mg β€” 13 years (from 300mg) β€” actively tapering | with clinician

Catina
⭐
Catina5mo ago
Community AnchorEffexor
Hi LG! A warm welcome to you. I understand your concern with being on a drug long-term. When these drugs are "tested" the trials don't last anymore than 8-12 weeks. That's great that you've been able to get down to 12.5 mg! That's a huge feat. And I'm glad you're feeling more stable. Paxil withdrawal can be very difficult, especially when people get below 5 mg. Just take things slow and listen to your body. Slower is faster! Looking forward to supporting you through the rest of your taper. Catina ❀️

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

β€œYour 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.

Join the conversation

Sign in to share your experience and connect with others.

Need a clinician who understands tapering?

Browse our map of deprescribing-informed providers worldwide.

Find a Deprescriber