Tapering: Paxil

holding

183 posts

Pennsylvania

Went through a bad taper

August 28, 2026··

Posted in:Paxil (Paroxetine)Support Symptoms & Self-Care

I was put on a very fast taper off Paxil to Lexapro that went very badly. I had severe withdrawal and was then put back on Paxil. I also take Buspar. I’m only 3 weeks in. I had a few good days and now a total setback. Anyone experiencing something like this?

Paxil — 20 mg — 20 years. Went off now back on — holding
Trazadone 37.5 mg
Buspar 5 mg two times a day

24 Replies

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BasedStaff19d ago

Community AnchorEffexor

@Paxil Hey Masha, you experience is very common unfortunately. Most people will do a taper thats too fast and then only learn that isnt a difficult thing to endure. What was your setback like? Any specifics?

Creator of Taper Community, here to help you.

Masha19d ago

LighthousePaxil · holding

My practitioner wasn’t informed. She tapered me like I had been on Paxil a few weeks instead of 20 years ago I know I willingly tried it but I regret it. I had heightened anxiety. Terrible nausea and sorry for the TMI but total diarrhea. I then had a depressive crash that landed me in the ER. spent two weeks in outpatient therapy where I was put back on Paxil. Been back to a low dose for 3 weeks. Gut health is better. But I have a ways to go to feeling strong and confident again.

Paxil — 20 mg — 20 years. Went off now back on — holding
Trazadone 37.5 mg
Buspar 5 mg two times a day

⭐

BasedStaff19d ago

Community AnchorEffexor

No worries, diarrhea is a very common symptom unfortunately. Happy to hear you have strong coping strategies! What size of cuts are you doing now when tapering?

Creator of Taper Community, here to help you.

Masha19d ago

LighthousePaxil · holding

I also added Buspar about a month ago. Oh I tried to go on Lexapro in that time too. Total failure. So I just truly want to warn people that a fast taper is very common and is completely the wrong move. GO SLOWWWWW

Paxil — 20 mg — 20 years. Went off now back on — holding
Trazadone 37.5 mg
Buspar 5 mg two times a day

⭐

BasedStaff19d ago

Community AnchorEffexor

Totally agreed!

Creator of Taper Community, here to help you.

Masha19d ago

LighthousePaxil · holding

For now I’m going to stay at 20. The taper and failed switch were very traumatic to my body. Anyone reading this please taper as slowly as you can. This was a horrible experience and now my recovery is going to take awhile.

Paxil — 20 mg — 20 years. Went off now back on — holding
Trazadone 37.5 mg
Buspar 5 mg two times a day

Adrian19d ago

WelcomerLuvox · completed

Very similar thing happened to me. I was tapering off Luvox and my practitioner had me do it way too fast. Then switched me to Pristiq for some insane reason. Totally set my recovery back. Horrible withdrawal. Don’t rush yourself progress takes time ❤️

Luvox — 3 years — completed taper | Pristiq — 1.5 months — completed taper | Ativan — 0.5mg — 8 months — down to as needed, haven't used in 4 weeks.

Masha19d ago

LighthousePaxil · holding

It’s surprising that many of these people licensed to prescribe these meds have no clue how to manage dosing

Paxil — 20 mg — 20 years. Went off now back on — holding
Trazadone 37.5 mg
Buspar 5 mg two times a day

Masha19d ago

LighthousePaxil · holding

She did not consider how long I was on Paxil at all. She also did not recognize how badly the switch was going and stop it sooner. I’ve changed providers since but she was the only provider I could find with availability

Paxil — 20 mg — 20 years. Went off now back on — holding
Trazadone 37.5 mg
Buspar 5 mg two times a day

Adrian19d ago

WelcomerLuvox · completed

"She did not consider how long I was on Paxil at all." — @Masha

the same exact thing happened to me. I had been on meds for 15 years and luvox for 3 at max dose. She had me taper down over about 5 months and then acted like I was abnormal for struggling with discontinuation. Providers just often do not understand.

Luvox — 3 years — completed taper | Pristiq — 1.5 months — completed taper | Ativan — 0.5mg — 8 months — down to as needed, haven't used in 4 weeks.

Duloxi19d ago

Community AnchorCymbalta · holding

This is exactly what has been happening to me for many years. Recently, my doctor actually laughed at the idea that I could still be experiencing an effect below 20 mg, because duloxetine at that dose is supposedly used for urinary incontinence. For a long time, I've had the feeling that something about all of this just doesn't add up. After my first failed tapering attempt, my doctor wanted to prescribe me ibuprofen for my withdrawal symptoms and Tiger Balm for the muscle tension. For me, the fact is that many doctors simply don't seem to understand what they're dealing with when it comes to withdrawal, or their knowledge is based mainly on what they learned from textbooks during their medical training. What I really don't understand is how these medications have been prescribed for so many years, yet there still seems to be so little knowledge and awareness about withdrawal and the difficulties people can experience when trying to come off them.

Cymbalta — 15mg(12mg) — 17 Jahre — holding -with clinician - 90 mg – 2021: First tapering attempt.
60 mg – 2023: Second tapering attempt.
With a doctor's supervision—but unfortunately, a doctor who doesn't know how to properly taper off an antidepressant.

Masha18d ago

LighthousePaxil · holding

How can we change what these providers understand? There are so many stories of withdrawal and failed tapers!

Paxil — 20 mg — 20 years. Went off now back on — holding
Trazadone 37.5 mg
Buspar 5 mg two times a day

Sorbetcyn18d ago

LighthousePaxil · reinstated

Hi Masha I too have been on Paxil for 20 years or more and experienced the same non information from my go, just split the pill see how you feel keep doing that and that was all the information he offered, so I came off to quickly and experienced symptoms along with angry outbursts and I had no idea I was experiencing withdrawal from the paroxetine after discontinuing it , after some research I got back on at 5mg which didn’t quite steady me so I upped it to 7mg and holding. I am still feeling some anxiety but I’m lessening my coffee intake which tends to add to my anxiety and I will continue this taper slowly for as long as it takes. Thanks for this taper community we don’t have to feel alone in this journey.

Paxil — 5mg — 20+ — reinstated | without clinician

Masha17d ago

LighthousePaxil · holding

It astounds me at how clueless doctors are about tapering! I’m sorry this happened to you. But I hope you heal!

Paxil — 20 mg — 20 years. Went off now back on — holding
Trazadone 37.5 mg
Buspar 5 mg two times a day

Masha16d ago

LighthousePaxil · holding

If anyone here has advice for how handle the slow progress of reinstatement I would love to hear it. So you really get better with time? I mean I went off Paxil because it felt like it wasn’t working as well and now going back on is supposed to just work? I’ve added Buspar.

Paxil — 20 mg — 20 years. Went off now back on — holding
Trazadone 37.5 mg
Buspar 5 mg two times a day

Duloxi15d ago

Community AnchorCymbalta · holding

Hi Mascha, Yes, you will feel better again—probably even faster than the withdrawal symptoms gradually crept in. But!!! Increasing the dose too quickly can also overwhelm the nervous system. Sometimes more is simply too much and unnecessary. Of course, it also depends on where you are right now, especially since your doctor has now prescribed you another medication as well, which may make the situation even more complicated. The most important question is: can you stop the Buspar and simply go back to Paxil? Then I think you should take some time and think about whether there was a dose during your last taper at which you were still feeling relatively stable. That might be difficult to determine because you tapered so quickly, but perhaps you could slowly work your way back toward that dose. During my last attempt to increase my dose, I noticed changes relatively quickly. It wasn’t always that the distressing symptoms immediately disappeared—it was more like the symptoms shifted. What I find particularly interesting is that the derealization and nausea have now almost completely disappeared, especially the derealization. There are still quite a few symptoms left, but I no longer have that feeling that I’m going crazy. That was the worst part for me because of the changes in my perception. But I’ve made it through so far, and things are getting better. A few weeks ago, nothing seemed to help anymore. Yesterday, I did 20 minutes of moderate cardio on the cross trainer, and for the past 24 hours my symptoms have been significantly better. Four weeks ago, I couldn’t tolerate that at all. I’m still extremely sensitive, but I’m starting to experience my surroundings as reasonably pleasant again, and I’m able to consciously relax. To me, that means my nervous system is still fundamentally capable of doing this! 💪 @duloxetin

Masha15d ago

LighthousePaxil · holding

I went back to my dose I was on for years and am not changing it. Holding at 20 mg. I had gone as high as 50 this year! DNA tests showed I should only be on low doses. Buspar was added to compensate where Paxil seemed to be less effective. I’m going to hold here and see how I do. I pray more doctors learn about safe tapering!!!!! How do we get that word out?!

Paxil — 20 mg — 20 years. Went off now back on — holding
Trazadone 37.5 mg
Buspar 5 mg two times a day

Masha4d ago

LighthousePaxil · holding

Anyone deal with an agitated mood?

Paxil — 20 mg — 20 years. Went off now back on — holding
Trazadone 37.5 mg
Buspar 5 mg two times a day

Sorbetcyn4d ago

LighthousePaxil · reinstated

Yes off and on I do

Paxil — 5mg — 20+ — reinstated | without clinician

Masha4d ago

LighthousePaxil · holding

Ugh it’s my first time today and it’s terrible

Paxil — 20 mg — 20 years. Went off now back on — holding
Trazadone 37.5 mg
Buspar 5 mg two times a day

Sorbetcyn4d ago

LighthousePaxil · reinstated

What are you experiencing?

Paxil — 5mg — 20+ — reinstated | without clinician

Masha4d ago

LighthousePaxil · holding

Just like restlessness and agitation. It could be the fact that Trazadone and Paxil are not a good combo for me since I them metabolize slowly. I could have like a backlog and my liver can’t keep up.

Paxil — 20 mg — 20 years. Went off now back on — holding
Trazadone 37.5 mg
Buspar 5 mg two times a day

Masha4d ago

LighthousePaxil · holding

Who knows? It feels like there’s constantly a new symptom!

Paxil — 20 mg — 20 years. Went off now back on — holding
Trazadone 37.5 mg
Buspar 5 mg two times a day

Alimac4d ago

Prozac · planning

Too fast of a taper off 2.0 mg Abilify. Akathesia is horrible. Have insomnia too. The other symptoms I can handle. My Psychiatrist and NP have no clue how to do this.

Prozac — 10 mg — 30 years — planning taper | Abilify — 2.0 — 1 year — actively tapering | without clinician

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