Depression Med Withdrawl

Most antidepressants have termination effects (not really withdrawal).

You shouldn't quit cold turkey. You need a termination plan.

Usually, you gradually reduce the dose until you can quit entirely.

Absolutely! Did your doctor advise you to quit cold turkey? I've never heard of that! (Unless one is experiencing really bad side effects from the antidepressant, in which case they prescribe a different one to be substituted immediately.)

What he said.

Ok. Doc did mention that I can take half dose of what I have. Will do that and schedule an appt to get an idea of the timing involved.

thanks!

I agree re the gradual weaning from any one anti depressent, just from my reading - but I'm no expert.

Did mention?


Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr............


Any doctor who knows what they are talking about knows that you wean off anti-depressants slowly, and ought to give you a schedule.

Some are retained in the body longer than others, and I don't have a MIMS on-hand to look up the schedule for Paxil.....but slowly does it is the key.

You may still experience some side-effects from cessation of the drug, but a weaning process ought to minimise these.

Really, I am shocked that your doctor did not give you a schedule.

Finally thought of the word: titration. The doc should have given a titration schedule.

Speaking from experience, I just ceased venlafaxine 2 weeks ago. Went from 300mg to zero. BIG MISTAKE. Don't be tempted. As we speak, I am an in-patient as I crashed so badly.

The brain-zapping lasted about a week for me. Now that the physical withdrawal symptoms have ceased, I am trying to deal with the psychological ones.

I felt it was the right decision for me. It obviously wasn't, as now my family are suffering with me not being there, and I am also like a grenade just waiting for someone to say the wrong thing to me so I can fly into a rage.

Please don't do. If you aren't happy with Paxil, try something else. I have just been started on Lexapro, but unfortunately I have to try and bear the next 8 days or so until the therapeutic level is reached in the bloodstream again...all because I stopped cold turkey.

Good luck, and hope you can stick it out.

Thank you for this! I know it must be hard for you right now and I wish you luck!

Taking my medication as I should. The zaps have stopped. Thanks to everyone's advice here, I will continue to take it until I can be weaned slowly off.

Dlown, thanks for your comments too. My discussion with Doc did not include me going off the drug and it has been several months since I have seen him, so some of what he said has been lost over time. It is time for another appt.