NavigatorPaxil · holding

thank you Catina! This is my life...this tapering journey. not ALL of it, but it sure takes up a chunk. I'm making the best of it!

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

HopeNeverFails1h ago

NavigatorZyprexa · active

Anne NM, Thanks for saying it clear! It sure does! Seems my last cut has likely caused me some increased symptoms - worsened insomnia (2h sleep last night 🥱) along with significant anxiety feelings, nausea, dizzy, body aches, etc. This cut's symptoms seem thr most obvious to be WD vs relapse My last cut about 8-9 days ago I dropped both my Olanzapine and my doxepin. I figure that's the culprit. I figure I'll maybe just drop one at a time now, it's just that I dislike taking either 😒

Zyprexa — 0.8mg — 5.25 months — actively tapering | Silenor / Sinequan — 0.8mg — 3 months — actively tapering

anne noni moss1h ago

NavigatorPaxil · holding

hope never..you are my hero. such cheerfulness on 2 hours sleep...BRAVO. I know how painful it is, but I can still choose my attitude. I'm a bit loopy during those hard, hard, seasons. I'm preparing for some as I drop below 1 mg...but now that I know it's the meds making the insomnia SO MUCH WORSE, I can rejoice! The body sleeps when it needs to. :)

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.

HannaPot55m ago

NavigatorMirtazapine · active

Thank you @Catina You are always so cheerful and inspiring 💕😃 We are rebuilding our lives!

Mirtazapine — 30mg — 12weeks — actively tapering

H

HopeNeverFails16m ago

NavigatorZyprexa · active

"cheerfulness on 2 hours sleep" — @anne noni moss

Thank you so much for the kind words and how you really know what it's like. It's like ugh and sounds like you know it! Anyway, I'm starting to get acclimated to it after I changed my mind as to what sleep I really (really) need - 3h/night avg is good enough. Some guy my son works with gets 3h/n and functions, is happy, and thinks it's normal. Some guy I church with gets 4.5 and it's good enough. Youre right - I'll at least get what I minimally need ('my daily bread') and I'm averaging over 4 this month, so I'm good! Thanks for caring 🙂

Zyprexa — 0.8mg — 5.25 months — actively tapering | Silenor / Sinequan — 0.8mg — 3 months — actively tapering

⭐

Catina9m ago

Community AnchorEffexor

"I'll at least get what I minimally need ('my daily bread') and I'm averaging over 4 this month, so I'm good!" — @HopeNeverFails

I think that's a good way of looking at it. 👍

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.28 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.

🌸 Sunday Encouragement 🌸

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