Getting off paxil

[dcoope11]

So I have been on 5mgs of Paxil since November (never been on more) and my psychatrist and I decide I no longer need the drug. How should I get off the drug? I hear all these borrow stories of people getting off the drug but I have only been on for 7 months on a very low 5mg dose. Do you think I will have withdrawal and should I cut the pills in half to ween myself off of it?

[kelliesean]

So I have been on 5mgs of Paxil since November (never been on more) and my psychatrist and I decide I no longer need the drug. How should I get off the drug? I hear all these borrow stories of people getting off the drug but I have only been on for 7 months on a very low 5mg dose. Do you think I will have withdrawal and should I cut the pills in half to ween myself off of it?

Hmmm.. That's interesting that your psychiatrist hasn't discussed how you would come off the meds.. It's actually a very significant issue..

When coming off of meds we should do it very slowly and gradually in order to avoid the terrible effects you mentioned :)

I would say ask your dr :)

[dcoope11]

My doctor told me to cold turkey it since I'm only on a small dose. He said I most likely won't experience much but then I google thing (bad I know) and they all say no don't do that!!

[kelliesean]

My doctor told me to cold turkey it since I'm only on a small dose. He said I most likely won't experience much but then I google thing (bad I know) and they all say no don't do that!!

So yeah.. I wd go with what you suggested, breaking it in half. .. Or maybe take every other day instead of every day as you do now..

Can't hurt :-)

I know my dr had me on lorazepam for 6 months as I was getting Zoloft good and into my system.. And my final dose, which was so small.. When I stopped I had a huge anxiety attack.. But it wasn't something that continued to happen..

Anyway my doc then suggested I break the pill in half.. Come off the lorazepam even more slow than he originally tht necessary..

Who knows if I was just anxious about it.. Or if my system really did have a withdrawal lol

[dcoope11]

I agree! I think that it's all in my mind. I think about omg I might have a bad withdrawal from this and that causes a panic attack. Haha at least you know I could never be a drug addict!!

[Dcoito]

5 mg is the lowest dose to take. When I weaned off Paxil years ago I was at 30 mg. then 25 then 20 , 15 , 10 , to 5 mg. after that I just took one on the days I felt body shocks. Like a small pulsating sensation. As those disappeared. I no longer was on the medication. Worked out very well!

[alankay]

At 5 mg I'd just drop it. Now if you start to get withdrawal symptoms, just go back to 5 mg for a day or two and then quarter the 10mg tabs with a pill splitter from the pharmacy(2.5 mg) for a few weeks but you may have little trouble quitting from that small dose. Alankay