There has been allot of speculation online, and off, regarding the best way to quit taking Paxil. I have used Paxil for my choice of anti-anxiety medication throughout my adult life. I’m very familiar with the side effects of Paxil, how to start using it, and how to stop using it. In this post I will describe the BEST WAY TO COME OFF PAXIL and go on Paxil.
Before you start or stop taking Paxil, PLEASE read this article because this medication is only PART of your recovery. When you are done using Paxil, you will be on your way to LIFE CHANGING internal and eternal events. Panic attacks will never happen again, and your life will be full and amazing.
Starting Paxil
When you start using Paxil it’s important to not be freaked out about possible side effects. Just know that within a few weeks of taking Paxil you will begin to sleep better, feel better, and your panic attacks and foggy anxiety will stop.
What Not To Consume When Going On Paxil
It’s very important to be disciplined when taking your Paxil medication as prescribed by your doctor. Avoid any alcoholic drinks and avoid any kind of mind altering drugs such as marijuana (or any other illegal drug). Avoid hopping yourself up on cigarettes and coffee too. If you are a smoker and a coffee drinker don’t stop drinking coffee and don’t stop smoking right now – just be as moderate as possible.
I can’t stress the importance of staying away from drinking over 2 alcoholic beverages in one sitting. As a matter of fact, if you truly want your stress to come under control and have a stress free life, then try to NOT drink ANY alcohol at all. If you are a heavy drinker, or perhaps an alcoholic, back off or quit all together. I know that sounds impossible, but it’s not. At the very least, slow down your drinking and smoking AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. Why? You don’t want anything to interfere with the Paxil that is slowly entering your blood stream. You want the medication to have it’s full effect.
What Time of the Day to Take Paxil
As a few doctors have told me, Paxil is a morning medication. Don’t bother trying other times of the day to take your pill(s). I’ve tried every time of day possible, and the morning is the best time to take your Paxil medication.
Try very hard to take your Paxil medication at the same time every morning. 8 o’clock AM is my best time to take it. I try to be spot on 8 o’clock in the morning, every morning. I’ve seen a huge difference when I’m late or early, such as taking it at 10 or 11 in the morning, or taking it early at 6 or 7 in the morning. For some reason, I’m much calmer, steadier, and more relaxed when I take my medication like clock work.
If you are suffering from extreme anxiety and panic attacks try not to worry. Within 2 weeks of taking your Paxil all that will begin to go away. Like I said, don’t worry about the side effects because they’re really not a big deal at all. Try not to take the horror stories on the Internet about Paxil users “freaking out” too seriously. Most of those case involved people using other illegal and legal drugs in access, and in some cases these people quit Paxil cold turkey coming off of a LARGE dosage. Never stop taking Paxil cold turkey.
Don’t confuse any of body pains, or symptoms of your present anxiety as Paxil side effects. It’s not the Paxil that’s causing this. It’s just your hyper sensitivity and anxiety in action as you try to imagine the worst. Just stick to the program and you’ll be fine. Always let your doctor know about your experiences as you go through this process.
Your doctor may prescribe an instant anxiety medication such as Ativan to help you through those first few weeks while the Paxil is building up in your system. That’s fine. Use medications like Ativan to get sleep, and to minimize your panic attacks when you have them. I keep a prescription of Ativan just in case. It gives you confidence that if you have some extreme anxiety or a panic attack you have some instant relief on hand.
Like I said, after a few weeks, and even better a few months, the Paxil will take affect and you will feel MUCH better. You won’t have panic attacks and you will be sleeping well again. You won’t need any meds like Ativan. Just keep what is left of your Ativan in a safe place for peace-of-mind.
How to Ween Yourself Off and Quit Paxil
This is very important. DON’T EVER STOP TAKING PAXIL COLD TURKEY. Do not stop taking Paxil suddenly. I’ve made that mistake once and will never make that mistake again. You’ll get through it, but it’s hell, and you don’t want to go there. You don’t need to ever go there. This is why you have heard people claim online that Paxil is poison etc, and cite all of these extreme cases where people “freaked out” because of Paxil. Usually these people were too young to be taking it, or they quit suddenly from a large daily dosage routine, or they consumed allot of other strong drugs (legal or illegal)
IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ: The weening down process I have below is ASSUMING YOU ARE DOWN TO 20MGs PER DAY ALREADY. If you are above 20mg you can use the same idea as below in increments until you get to 20mg a day. When you are at 20mg a day comfortably, then start the process below. MAKE SURE you consult your doctor before beginning a weening process, and feel free to print off this page to get his or her approval. He or she will be fine with this process, but you should let them know, because every patient has a unique medical history.
Stop using Paxil very slowly. Start by cutting down to 3/4 of your present dosage. You can use a razor blade to cut your pills. Some doctors tell you to take your Paxil dosage every second day when coming off of it. I don’t recommend this. You need to come down slower than that, or you will get the infamous “brain swooshes“, and it can be discomforting. You don’t need ANY feelings of discomfort my friend.
After you have dropped to 3/4 of your dosage for three weeks, then bring it down to 1/2 the dosage for three weeks. Then once you have gone at half the dosage for 3 weeks, ask yourself how you feel. Do you still feel ok? Do you feel like you are maintaining good sleep and a positive outlook on your life and the lives of those around you? This is when you could be on your way to quitting Paxil.
If all the answers to the above questions are yes, then you are ready to take the weening process to the next step. The next step is to take your dosage to half the dose one day and and a quarter of the dose the next day. Keep going by alternating half the dose for one day and a quarter the dose the next day. Do this for 2 weeks.
Then you are ready to go to a quarter of the dose every day. Make sure you steer clear of any other drugs (if you can) during this time. Avoid alcohol as much as possible, eat light, and make sure to get your rest. See how you feel after time. If you are doing fine, then you can go to a quarter dose every second day.
Do a quarter does every second day for two weeks. Then go 1/8 of the dose every second day. If you can drop to 1/16 of the dose every second day do it depending on if you have a good razor blade to cut the pills with. One of my biggest beefs with Paxil is that it should be sold in tiny increment pills for this weening down process.
After a few weeks of the 1/16 dosage every second day, assess your moods and sleep patterns. Assess your food intake, your patience level, etc. If all is well then it’s time to say goodbye to your friend Paxil. It’s very possible that at this very light dosage of Paxil you are not really doing anything anymore and it’s a placebo level, but all of us are different. Just see how YOU feel.
Make sure you consult your doctor periodically through your weening off process to keep them informed and “in the loop” as you successfully come down off of Paxil.
When You Have Paxil Out of Your System
Now you are “el natural” with your default blood and serotonin levels. See how you feel and make a strong effort to read some good books on maintaining an even keel. I cannot stress enough the importance of reading material that helps you really understand how your mind and ego works, because it is your mind and ego that are causing your stress. Try Eckhart Tolle’s book, “A New Earth”, and try Wayne Dyer’s book, “The Power of Intention” – these are life changing books that, in combination can free you from the thought processes that have caused all your anxiety in the first place.
Remember that you don’t have to be afraid of stress, and you should have learned by now how useless anxiety and worry is in your life. Try to avoid anything that upsets you and for God’s sake be grateful and thankful for all the people in your life and the life you have.
Maintaining an even keel emotionally these days is very important. Try and make your life as simple as possible, and make sure you avoid angry and uptight people as much as possible. Be aware if you begin slipping back into self medicating with alcohol or marijuana. That is a sure sign that you are not dealing with daily stresses properly. Try meditation. Try a good religion. Try exercise. Try taking long walks. Try changing jobs, spouses, houses – whatever it takes to find YOUR happy place.
If you for some reason fall into severe panic attacks and out of control anxiety, then don’t be afraid to return to a small dose of Paxil to even things out. Some folks stay on light antidepressants their entire life without any problems at all.
Best of luck,
Love Jacob
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Thank you very much for this helpful blog i am starting my generic paxil i currently take generic ativan as needed and hopin I won’t have to after the paxil kicks in. I am scared of trying paxil but I think the ativan will help me get thru my sleep at night. Thank you for your help and hope we can keep in touch,
Kelly
Hi! I’ve been taking Paxil for Panic attacks… 20mg per day. It has transformed my life.
However, I want to join the military and I am not allowed to be on any mood-altering medications…
I wonder if I’m done with Panic Attacks… I worry but I have to join the Army for my future! Anybody with suggestions, please email me… kirkdowning@hotmail.com … THANKS!
Try to remember how you dealt with anxiety before the Paxil and ask yourself if you could handle being in a military training facility with that mindset.
Do you think you can handle that?
Follow your life flow naturally and don’t push anything. If you are meant to be in the military you will find a way to make everything work.
MAKE SURE YOU TELL YOUR RECRUITERS that you take Paxil and tell them why. Tell the Military people the WHOLE TRUTH and tell them these concerns.
You might not be meant to join – maybe you are.
Jacob
Hi I am going to start taking pexeva which is the same as paxil. I am very nervous I had bad time with lexapro. I have EXTREAM anxiety and panic every day I just started xanax xr. 50 2 times daily. I am just so worried about taking the paxil because of the lexapro!! The lexapro gave me low heart rate and irregular beats also! My doc said I can take the paxil and xanax at the same time…..
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Great info here , i am looking forward for next posts , Great Blogs also.
Thanks
Roy
I just recently have been taken off paxil 30 mg weened down i think way to fast and am now currently on lexapro 10 mg my anxiety level is threu the roof i am taking 1 mg klonopin 4x a day and still anxiety level and mood swings thru the roof getting another appt. with my psych got cancelled and now a have to wait another 2 wks for an appt i have some paxil left is it safe to start the paxil again and stop the lexapro please any good advice i would appreciate Thanks
When it comes to medication levels, changes, in medications, etc, you need to see a doctor. I can’t be giving advice on this kind of question. Must be a professional for sure.
One thing I know though, ween off slow, and remember that your own body, mind, and spirit will help you get through it all in time.
We all have bad days, and some of us have huge imaginations which causes HIGH anxiety. We can overcome high anxiety, and panic attacks too, by meditating, finding a routine, and STOP TAKING OURSELVES SO DAMN SERIOUSLY.
If you can’t get in to see your doctor, and you really need some help, go to an emergency room and tell the doctor(s) there EXACTLY what you are going through.
They will prescribe a plan and maybe some temporary medication to help you.
When you are taken to a room (or cubicle) and the doctor comes to see you, notice how your anxiety level seems to drop greatly – this is proof that almost ALL of your anxiety and stress is “just in your mind” and “your perceptions”. I’ve been to the emergency room a few times for anxiety issues, and this happened every time I went.
You have to sometimes just laugh at your stress thoughts. They are quite ridiculous really and RARELY ever based on any facts – almost always pure fiction.
Hang in there my friend – you will make it through all of this. You have a long way to go, and many years on earth to learn how to relax and enjoy your life. Some day you will even be helping others get over and through their anxiety problems.
I have been on paxil 10 for a week now for severe anxiety and panic attacks. I have been prescribed vistoril 50mg for temporary relief of attacks, i have only had to tke 1 a day for the first 4 days since this started, still get bad anxiety but have been trying to cope without the vistoril. The biggest problem I have now is not being able to sleep. I have been prescribed trazadone 50 mg to help me sleep but am afraid to get hooked on it. Last night I tried to go to sleep on my own with just the paxel 10mg, woke up after 3 hrs and then tried the trazadone 50 mg still could not get back to sleep had to take 50mg more of the trazadone and then slept for about 2 to 3 hours more. I’m scared and wonder just want to sleep normal and feel better. I see the therapist today, but don’t see the doctor until oct 29th. I also seem to have a little more trouble ejactulating. Could you please give me your opinion on my situation. I really just want to get better and get my life back, also i donot smoke or drink. but I do like a beer every once and a while is this okay.
Thanks Jacob for the hope,
sincerely
Tony
Hi Tony,
Very glad to hear you are taking the steps to get your anxiety under control.
If your serotonin levels are really out of whack 10mg of Paxil likely won’t kick in enough to help you. I never did for me. Once I was at 20mg of Paxil all Panic Attacks went away and sleep was normal.
Make sure you have ONE doctor prescribing multiple drugs for sleep and temporary high anxiety. For short term use 2-4 weeks, these temp (instant) drugs can help greatly with sleep and pulling you out of a panic attack.
Tony – say these words to yourself next time you have a panic attack (or depression attack);
“I’m letting go of control now and letting Universal energy (God, or whatever you want to call it) take control. Go ahead – panic away – enjoy it, but I’m going for a walk.”
When you hear voices in your head that are scary, simply CORRECT those frightening thoughts by saying this;
“OH REALLY! Bullshit – that’s not real and it’s ridiculous.”
The other big problem is sometimes when under high anxiety you start to feel guilt for almost everything you have done in the past, and feel like your are a “bad” person. This is also bullshit.
I can pretty well guarantee that you are an WONDERFUL and LOVING person, and people who know you feel the same way. Our self esteem is severely affected in a negative direction when we suffer from high anxiety and panic, so say this to yourself ALLOT;
“I am a good person and all of these negative perceptions I have of myself and others is pure fantasy – these thoughts are not real.”
Tell yourself this too,
“The Paxil will kick in over the next couple weeks and I’ll be fine and then have time to correct my negative inner dialogue.”
You’re going to be OK Tony – I’ve been exactly where you are right now, and as a matter of fact I was in that place with high anxiety and a panic attack last week. I had decreased my Paxil to 10mg, quit smoking, and had to deal with the year end of my company. Even when we “think” we have it all figured out, we still fail to think clearly sometimes.
We “Panickers” have two things that bring us to the extremely hellish panic attack;
1. A huge imagination
2. A bad habit of making up bad stuff and bad perceptions
We need to learn to use our big imaginations in only way – POSITIVELY. We can then live anxiety free, and help all of those we know feel better about their lives and the lives of all.
I know how hard positive “stuff” is to hear and BELIEVE when you are in a bad state of anxiety, but I have to say it.
Your negative thoughts are fantasy. Your positive thoughts are real.
Use that powerful side of yourself to give yourself a strong talking to. Say things like;
“ENOUGH – THE FEAR YOU HAVE IS NOT REAL – ENOUGH. I CHOOSE LOVE FOR MYSELF AND EVERYONE ELSE”
If all that doesn’t work, I watch old movies that are harmless. Helps you doze off to sleep eventually too.
Hang in there Tony – you body will sleep when it decides it’s had enough. Your body and mind can handle stress like this until your medication kicks in.
thx jacob,
slept better last night, day 8 on paxil 10 mg. took 100 mg trazadone with the paxil at bedtime, woke up after an hour then decided to take 1 50mg vistoril and had the best nights sleep since this all started. Could the paxil be kicking in or is it still too soon? Going to see my primary care doc tomorrow morning. I need a plan on how to continue taking my meds, and should I tell him i want 20 mg paxil as you said you needed? I feel more relaxed today had therapy yesterday. was able to move up my psych appointment to the 16. Any suggestions. Also once you got use to the paxil, how long, was your sex drive the same and you said you could sleep right? What meds did you take to sleep until the paxil kicked in and for how long and did you ween your self off of them ? Again thanks for the hope and caring Jacob
your friend,
tony
Hi Tony,
Great to hear the sleep and other things improving. Your schedule sounds JUST like mine. It took 10-15 days for the Paxil to take affect. I’m still taking 10 mg a day and doing OK, and the sexual side affects are almost nil. With 20mgs of Paxil my sexual drive was greatly reduced (which was kinda nice) and it did affect or marital “action”. That is the main reason why I went down to 10mgs.
I used Ativan to sleep and during the day for the first two weeks as the Paxil took affect. I would take one Ativan at bed time and then two spread out during the day – it was a HUGE help for me.
After two weeks on Paxil I didn’t need Ativan any more.
If the 10mgs is working for you GREAT. Don’t increase unless it’s still not helping. With 20mg life was relaxed and loved it! However. My wife needs to “get it good” sometimes right.
So all the best! It sounds like you are on your way Tony.
Make sure once the Paxil has kicked in (in a month you will notice an even BIGGER difference as it builds up over time) you read lots of good books about Universal Intelligence, and learn how your mind and ego can work together to rob you of reality – rob you of your natural relaxed inner-self. That way some day you can stop the Paxil and then you will understand how your mind and ego work next time you have to deal with stress.
Jacob
thanks jacob,
God bless you! and ditto my wife need to get sometimes good too:)
I will talk to my doc about the ativan
your friend,
Gino
Thank you so much Jacob!
Rarely to find such a realistic approach, it was indeed refreshing!
Still I am not sure, if the depresion was the worst or the best thing that ever happened to me. But it gave me another perspective, much more realistic and at the same time much more painfull.
I am on paxil 4 months now and my doctor recommends to slowly take it out of my life.
But scared as I am, I detect and connect every tiny rush or pain in my body with the medication. And each time I get into internet all I read are terrible stories!
I am taking 20mg per day and the doctor suggested cutting it in half for the moment.
But as you explained already, I am hypersensitive and the depression made me fear life in general. As I am a high energetic person, this bothers me a lot. Mood swings, dizziness, side effects or no side effects, fear of panic, fear of fear ….:)
So now it is my day 2 with 10mg, together with medazepam 3x10mg (only for a period of 1 week, until I handle the fear of expecting paxil withdrawal side effects). Must admit though, that occasionally the books of M. Scott Peck put me back to ground-but only when sure I could take it! Yoga, meditation, universal energy transmittance, pranic therapy, treatment with breathing, Hare Krishna, taking photos, yoga again… At the end of the day all is good, but also none is the solution, only an asset. The hardest of all is keeping a steady image of myself, loving myself and learning to live with myself and because of myself. I guess this requires lifelong patience (which looks scary again)……
I would sincerely appreciate any comment of yours or opinion!
Thank you so much again!
Katarina
I just started on 10mg of Paxil last month for my panic attacks I have been suffering lately. The first few days were pretty rough, however I think a lot of this roughness was due to getting myself worked up. I am the type of person that said I would NEVER seek medication for stress. So when I started taking Paxil I would obsess and give myself panic attacks because I thought it was going to mess me up (the fact I was reading all the Paxil “horror” stories on the internet didn’t help either). My emotions were definitely out of whack for the first few days. I remember I was driving somewhere and just started laughing uncontrollably with the feeling I was high (fun actually!).
After a month now, I am kinda on the fence with how I feel. I haven’t had any real bad panic attacks, but I do notice that there are times where I feel somewhat cloudy in the brain. I also seem to have developed a restlessness in my legs (Is this normal?). Lastly (and the part I hate most) I have suddenly broken out with pimples on my stomach and back (I NEVER had pimples like this before).
So I can’t say either way I am happy with Paxil or dissapointed. I am just “eh” about it.
I have an appointment with my physician next week to talk to her about these side effects I am experiencing to see what she wants to do. Wish me luck! Nate
Even with medication, if you still make yourself worry, and keep giving in to negative thinking, you won’t find that normal happy balance. It takes both to recover, and it take time to ween yourself of Paxil slowly so you are hardly taking any at all. Take it slow, and please remember that life is good, almost ALL people are good. Try to disregard the bad as it’s just a passing thing.
I just came across your website. It is very comforting and informative! Please keep writing! I am 33 and have suffered panic attacks since age 23 when my father passed away. I took Paxil for 4 years and went off it when I had children. It worked very well for me then. After I had my two little ones I took zoloft for 4 years and it worked well too. I tried to wean off and the panic came back with a vengence so I went back on the zoloft and increased the dosage. It has been 8 weeks since I have been back on it and 4 weeks and the higher dosage. I thought I was doing better but I had a bad panic attack today. Have you gone off paxil for a while and gone back on it and it worked again? I am shocked that I had a panic attack on Zoloft because I never had them before on Paxil or Zoloft. I am also working on relaxation techniques and seeing a therapist but when you are in the throws of anxiety it seems like it will never get better! Thanks so much for your blog!
Thanks Meredith -will keep writing. And yes, I have quit taking medication (Paxil) and then started again. I’m only taking 10 mg of Paxil each morning now.
If we do enough worrisome thinking, we can override our medication and have a panic attack, but the meds will soon bring you back. The human condition is such we can do and think ANYTHING if we are not taking a large dose every day.
When times are good, it’s important to read materials that help you understand reality and not fantasy fears. Reality is good, and only us humans create the fantasy of bad, and then sometimes turn that fanatasy in to a reality (hence wars, and mainstream media). When times are good, use that time to read and listen to wise people who believe in what is good and real.
I began taking a multivitamin every morning with my Goji berry drinks (with my 10mg of Paxil) and it REALLY makes a difference. If we are short of certain vitamins and minerals we get tired easily, and us anxiety prone types can slip into fantasy fear again.
Have some good, sleep, a good read, and good walk, and like Mom used to say, “Take Your Vitamins”
All the best Meredith
Thanks so much for your supportive comments. I totally agree with you on the power of positive thinking and I am working on it!
I was prescribed prestiq took it for 2 days and got really sick, and became manic until the pill wore off. I waited a few weeks until I felt comfortable ot try again. I was prescribed paxil 20mg I took it today for the first time. I have been sick all day with flu like symptoms, a bit of panic all day, and I had a hard time laying still on the couch. I have slept on and off in cold sweats, but thank god I could sleep. I don’t know if I should keep taking this drug. I don’t want to feel like this tomorrow. Any suggestions?
please remove my last name from my last comment
You can’t judge Paxil with one day of use – it won’t be doing anything good or bad. You sweats and extreme anxiety are coming from your thinking processes, and the bad experience you may have had with this last med.
Your flu symptoms will VERY likely have nothing to do with meds. Flu and cold symptoms are normal when we are suffering daily from anxiety.
Hang in there, and take your Paxil for two weeks, no matter how you feel in the interm. It will take more than 14 days for the Paxil to kill your panic attacks, lack of sleep, and general fear.
Hang in there and don’t take ANYTHING your brain thinks seriously. Our thinking is just a noise and you need to disregard it all during this time. Turn it off, and say this;
“I CHOOSE to let this pass and I will now let all my fears go”
This is my first day on Paxil. 20mg dose and I feel awful. Im so shaky, my eyeballs feel jittery, I cant think clear, my hands shake and I cant stop bouncing my foot and just relax. I feel like Im on some kind of speed. I dont smoke or do drugs of any kind, Im just speculating. My jaw feels reaaly tight and when I yawn I get really dizzy and feel like Im about to pass out. I feel so sick to my stomach like I am going to throw up. I also have bad diarrhea only a few hours after taking it.
Had to stop typing. Almost blacked out after a yawn. Im gonna curl up into a ball with my cell phone in case I need to call 911. I feel so sick.
Have you gone to see a doctor yet?
All these symptoms can be completely “created” because of worry and a wild imagination telling you that the Paxil is causing all of this.
I had many of symptoms you are taking about because of my imagination when I first took Paxil – I just kept going until my fears subsided and my life went back to normal.
Paxil can have side effects but usually very mild. When you take 20mg the first few days you may feel a little bit drowsy, but this about it.
Most symptoms are from our own fearful imaginations, but always go to a doctor to get checked out.
I had to take a fast-acting anti-anxiety medication (Ativan) for the first 3 weeks while the Paxil slowly kicked it.
I HIGHLY doubt Paxil is causing these symptoms. My anxiety was so bad that I HAD TO JUST STICK WITH THE PAXIL because I had no other choice. My doctor told me that all of my so-called symptoms were in my head, except the drowsiness effect – he turned out to be absolutely right.
Hi! Just wondering if you take the brand or generic paxil? Do you think there is a difference?
I take a small dosage of 10 mg every morning, with my multi-vitamin, and I consume a handful of Goji berries every day. That is all.
I have used the brand name Paxil and generic, and didn’t really see a difference. I have only used the generic Paxil for the last 3 years and it’s just fine.
Jacob, everything you said makes so much sense, and it is in accordance with everything my family doctor would say. I’ve been on Paxil for 13 yrs. It has been quite effective. It helped me through the most traumatic events, even my recent cancer diagnosis. With a little help from Ativan here and there, I made it through a double masectomy, and chemo. I’m told I will be fine, however I must go off the paxil as it interferes with an estrogen blocker that I must go on for 5 yrs. Already knowing this, I weaned myself down to 10mg. With positive thinking, deep breathing, I was doing ok. The doc prescribed effexor, so on the 26th Dec, I took 37.5mg effexor, and 10mg paxil. Slept good still. The next day took 37.5 E and 5mg P, and continued for 6 more days. Still sleeping. Day 8, took 75mg E and no paxil. Three days later I couldn’t fall asleep. I started panicking, so I took 5mg paxil in the middle of the night and was able to sleep. I did the same the next night only sleeping 3hrs. Started panicking, went to see the doc who recommended I go back on the 10 until the effexor kicks in. I slept ok the next 2 nights being on 10, last night, even though tired and relaxed, I kept getting adrenalin rushes just as I was nodding off. I’m relaxed enough to fall asleep, but just as I’m slipping away I get a jolt, an excitement. This went on for the next hour so I just took an ativan and went to sleep. Can this be my body getting re-adjusted to the paxil dosage? All I can think about all day is, “will I sleep tonight”. It’s one thing to be too wired to fall asleep, but when I’m actually nodding off? I’m feeling anxious and a bit scared. I read blog after blog of effexor/paxil…..and it filled my head with all kinds of fears.
why does it say “comment awaiting moderation”
Hi Roxy, it says waiting moderation because when people post the first time I have to make sure it’s not spam. You good
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You experience with the sleep issue is EXACTLY the same as mine. If I’m anxious and try to go to sleep, I’ll almost feel like I’m really close to going to sleep, and then WHAM! A jolt wakes me up and I can’t away. Very frustrating and frightening.
One thing my doctor told me was – don’t be afraid to take your Ativan to go to sleep, cause it’s about equivalent to having one beer. Big deal.
So when you are waiting for the Effexor to kick in and the Paxil to leave, go ahead and take an Ativan a couple times through the day and another to go to sleep. Talk to your Doc of course on this, but there is no sense is being stressed while you are waiting for the Meds to change.
I wish you all the best with your fight against Cancer (sounds like you are on top of things) and most of all, all the best with staying RELAXED.
In the end it’s all really beautiful (ans so are you), so there is no sense worrying about anything – right.
Thanks Jacob. I wish I had come across your site prior to weaning off the 10mg Paxil, in fact I wish I had done so while I was still on the 20mg. Your suggested method is alot more reasonable. Clearly I didn’t allow enough time, probably shocking the brain with termination of one and introduction of another. Once I’m stabilized, I’m definitely using your suggested method to wean off. Alot of this is psychological as well- 5mg Paxil at 100am and I’m able to sleep? No way it worked that quickly. Yes I will be using the Ativan that the MD prescribed for the transition. Thanks for taking the time to blog about your experience.
I was just thinking about something. You wouldn’t happen to have sleep apnea would you? You see I do, even though I AM NOT textbook candidate for this disorder. I am not very compliant with the CPAP treatment, so I am not using it. This is my thought. When the airway collapses, there is cessation of oxygen to the brain, hence there is an adrenaline rush to stimulate the air way to open. The starting and quitting of SSRIs cause us to become extremely hypersensitive until normalization occurs. I was wondering if this adrenaline rush intensifies jolting us awake, when normally we wouldn’t even realize it is happening. Just a thought. No reply needed except for a simple yes /no I have/don’t have sleep apnea.
Well that is a good question and I don’t know for sure. I snore really loud and 99% of time NO-ONE can sleep in the same room as me.
My step-kid’s father does sleep apnea treatment for a living, and he suggested I get tested out for sleep apnea. I really should get tested.
I sleep really sound and don’t wake up for 6-8 hours, so have always thought that I didn’t have it.
You got me thinking again.
I know that when I have really bad, and prolonged, anxiety (which has only happened three times in my life at – age 23, 33, 41) where I can’t even get to sleep without some serious drugs taken, I get this jolting issue when trying to get to sleep. The anxiety levels have to be really high for this problem to occur.
I don’t think people that have sleep apnea have a problem just getting to sleep – their problem is after they have been to sleep – is it not? Don’t know.
One thing for sure, when the inability to fall asleep occurs, the mind and ego are in full swing scarying the crap out of the anxiety sufferer.
If we can just learn to IGNORE our thoughts and realize that our minds are basically stupid parrots, and our bodies are the holders of the truth.
Once we learn to TURN OFF our minds and focus our energy on the truth within our bodies, and the universal intelligence outside our bodies, we are on the right track again, and almost ALL anxiety begins to subside.
Even though our bodies are born perfect, and still function perfectly throughout our lives, we can upset it’s balance when we let our minds and egos control the day.
Hi Jacob,
Thank you for the precise website I was looking for. However, I wish I had found it in December. Please help me. I welcome any advice you have. Here’s my story: I’ve been weaning myself off of 20mg of Paxil (paroxetine) since the week of Dec. 20th. First, I went from 20mg to 10mg. I did this for almost 3 weeks. Have to admit it was pretty hard the first 2 weeks. But I powered through. So I was reluctant to do what the nurse at my OB/GYN ofc had suggested. She said to take it every other day for a week. Then every other 2 days and so on. Well I thought I could handle it since the 3rd week felt good again. So this past week I’ve been on 10mg every other day. I have to say I am sooooo miserable. I’m not sure it’s withdrawals or I’m catching what my kids have. My joints an muscles ache. I feel nauseous. I have chills then hot flashes. I am miserable. I don’t know whether to suck it up and continue the with every other day or go backwards to 10mg everyday. Then go to 5mg and so on. Please help! I welcome any advice. According to the nurse, she’s not “aware” of withdrawals. Oh I still have some Xanax. Could I use that instead of Ativan?
Hey , you responded. Cool. I hear you, and once again, you make sense. The airway collapses just as the person is most relaxed, for me, it could be just as I’m nodding off and then it continues through out the night. If i wear ear plugs I can actually hear my airway flop. I know sounds crazy. I always thought I was a good sleeper, until I had the polysomnograph done, which indicated moderate OBS. I had no clue, as it happens so quickly, that I was having 30 to 40 apnea episodes an hour. I was semi-awakening without realizing it. I’m very fit, athletic, toned, eat well, active, don’t drink, smoke or do drugs. Also, here’s the clincher, I DON”T SNORE. Now not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, and not everyone that has sleep apnea snores. Jacob, you lovely creature, if you don’t wake up tired, then I wouldn’t worry about it. I used to feel tired after 9, 10 hrs sleep, which prompted the sleep study. The jolts have stopped for me by the way.
One more thing, yes the apnea occurs when sleeping, BUT, remember there is an adrenalin rush to open the airway. This happens all night long without the sufferer knowing, unless there are frequent nocturnal arousals/gasping. But what got me thinking , a pharmacist mentioned the hypersensitvity that occurs when starting/stopping/increasing dosage of SSRIs. So i just thought my body at this time was just being extra sensitive to the adrenalin rush that I normally wouldn’t notice. Jacob this is probably just my over active imagination.
Hi. Thank you for this website. Your knowledge and understanding is very reassuring. I have been a panic sufferer for more than 15 years and do not wish this on anyone. It is excruciatingly painful and debilitating. I have been on Paxil for about 13 years. I have a feeling it is losing its effectiveness. Because of this I decided to lower the dosage and that didn’t work so well. The anxiety increased.
I have had a rough go last year with job loss, house in limbo, isolation, little support network and now starting a new job. WOW! Talk about stress – as you can imagine my anxiety went through the roof.
I have been suffering immensely these past several months. I have tried natural supplements like Magnesium, GABA, Taurine, Tyramine, etc., to no avail.
My anxiety hits when I drive. I upped my paxil to 30 mgs. Yesterday was so good getting to work but this morning was very, very hard. I hate beening in bondage with this disorder. I want my freedom back. But it’s been a long, tiring struggle. Do you have any suggests for reducing anxiety while driving? I just cannot relax in my car. I feel like such a mental defective.
It’s VERY common to have anxiety while driving (especially if you live in a big city) so the first thing to understand is that you are NOT a “mental defective”. Not one little bit.
Try this – get a map out and re-map a completely different route to where you usually drive. Find a route that takes longer and gets you away from the high speed congested roads and highways. Take some time to plan a route that is MUCH less stressful. Even if you have to get up an hour earlier and go to bed an hour earlier – it’s worth it.
When you have re-mapped your routes, go and drive them on a day when there is VERY LITTLE traffic. Get used to the new routes when there is little traffic and try and enjoy your drive.
Take things with you that make it less stressful – take relaxation music to put in the CD player. Take a familiar object that gives a sense of peace and safety. Clean up the inside of your vehicle so that is a place of relaxation and order – not a messy place of hell.
Consider using scented objects to give the inside of your vehicle and comforting aroma.
Make the inside of your vehicle a sanctuary of sorts. Make sure you have powerful sunglasses to stop the sun from adding more stress to the drive. Makes sure you have good windshield wipers and fluid sprayers so you are always ready for anything that can cause visibilty problems.
Accept your problem with driving and make a concerted effort to make some changes like I am describing – take the issue head-one and before you know it, you will be doing much better.
Unfortunately when we have a list of high stressors (like you have described above) then our anxiety spools up and then the smallest things can cause great stress – once you sort out the stressors (one by one) you will find the little things no longer effect you the same way.
I know some people who fear driving so much they moved to place where they didn’t have to drive!! That is taking action to the extreme, and I’m not suggesting you move, but you could maybe find a way to get rid of the car and pay someone to pick you up for work and back. What about car pooling?? Even people who have NO real stress in life, can find driving to be very stressful. Whatever you do, don’t beat yourself up over this, and don’t get mad at yourself for feeling this stress.
You are another walking and talking miracle on this earth and you can’t forget that you are actually living in a bubble of love. If you turn of the television and the news, you will soon realize that 99% of people have nothing but good to give you, and nothing but love to send your way. They want to help you. Just open your heart and accept help and ask for help. Just like you did on Saneadvice. The healthiest thing you can do is accept your temporary anxiety and ask for help from other people.
Hi Jacob:
Thank you for your response. I like your idea about making my car a sanctuary. I will apply that. I don’t want to give up driving bc that would be like giving into the fear and I don’t want to be defeated by it. It sounds as though you have applied spirituality to your healing. Can you recommend any books?
I think anxiety disorders are more common than most people realize. I hope some day soon I can realize the gift that it can be. I have suffered emmensely from it and it is my hope that I can make peace with it.
I love your website and your words are very comforting! Thank you, again.
Hi Sandra,
Thanks for making your way back here.
Please update me on your progress on making your vehicle feel like a safe sanctuary – I really want to know how you do.
There is one book that I recommend more than any other book on the planet – “A New Earth” by Eckhart Tolle.
I believe the teachings of Tolle are more valuable than any other spiritual teachings every written. For me anyway, when I read his books or listen to his voice, I somehow begin to undertand the truth of OUR world and not the fictions of MY world. He helps me stop obessing about “little me” (my ego) and see the truth that is ALL of US, ALL of NATURE, and ALL of the universe.
“A great silence space holds all of nature in it’s embrace. It also holds you.” – Tolle
He can truly change your life for the better, and he is not one of these writers (marketers) who simply churning out flowery language for profit.
He spent years as a so-called “bum” on park benches, and he has so much to teach you.
Enjoy
Dear Jacob,
Thank you for this comforting website. I’m 18 years old, and about a month and a half ago had a panic attack out of no where. Landed me in the hospital. 2 weeks later had another one out of no where. Had 2 more since then before February 12, and decided this wasnt normal, and went to my doctor. He said I was suffering from anxiety, and possibly agoraphobia. I started 10 mg of paxil. I’m not going to lie I havent had a panic attack after the 1st few days. My side effects were nausea, diareah, twitching, eye jitter, and I cant sleep. the hospital prescribed me with ativan, although my doctor does NOT want me taking it, even though i only take .25 mg i cut my 1 mg into 4 as told so that i wouldnt feel tired during the day. I find my self being able to go back to sleep after i wake up, but i wake up like every hour to half hour. Also my biggest problem with my anxiety is that it feels every single day for the past 3 weeks, that i either have some kind of disconnect from reality, or depersonalization, and wondering if this will go away because it scares me the most, and its bothersome, and if its because my anxiety’s so bad. Also drivings hard because I get somewhere and ask my self wow i have no idea how i got here (goes along with the weird disconnect from reality feeling) I dont know what to do. It bothers me alot even though I know Im real, and that its not unreal. Half the time it feels like I just want to crawl out of my body and feel normal again. I dont even want to leave my house. I have no energy anymore since all this anxiety, and ive lost about 10 pounds before the paxil and 6 pounds on the paxil.
Can you please help?
i need to add this disconnect lasts all day everyday. will the medication help it go away. i know i have to work on it myself too with accepting it.
Jacob: Thank you for sharing your experiences… this is first site I have seen without truly frightening thoughts. I, like the other ‘panickers’ here, need reassurance. My panic attacks started as a racing heart and every possible cardiac workup has been negative. I am starting to recognize my symptoms as anxiety and they occur as I am drifting off to sleep, before I actually realize that I am sleeping I am awakened startled and nervous. This is day 10 of Paxil ER 12.5. I am hesitant to move up to the 25mg as my doctor told me I could. For three days I took the 25 mg and I feel poorly: nausea, constipation, insomnia. So, I went back to the 12.5 mg today and I will wait the full 2-3 weeks before adjusting the dose. Here are my concerns, I feel like I could still take a xanax at times to take the edge off. Xanax makes me feel better, yet the idea makes me feel like I am doing something wrong. I try telling myself that this is temporary until the paxil starts to work. Are my experiences similar to others? I have only had one full blown panic event in the 10 days and only one night of bad sleep. I am reassuring myself that this is already an improvement… I just want it all to end! No more anxiety would be great. Why only when I am falling asleep??
Thank you for sharing!
Dianna
Thank you so much for sharing your positive Paxil experience. There is so much negativity out there. I am on day 7 of Paxil, 10mg for now for anxiety. I am looking so forward to it working. It’s hard for me to believe it will work – I have all the usual physical symptoms of anxiety, but you have given me hope. My question is if I find I need more than 10mg, will I at least get some relief with the 10mg until it is upped? I would hate to not have any relief for a number of weeks. Thanks so much for your posts!
Okay, I have been on Paxil for ten years. At that time I was prescribed the drug for PMDD which is severe PMS. My doctor said I would not have to be on it the rest of my life. Well when I was pregnant in 2003 I had to stop Paxil and I had no side effects and I felt fine during the pregnancy. As soon as my daughter was born I was back on Paxil and I wish I would have stayed off of it. I am only at 20mg. per day and I want off this stuff. I am tired of not being able to lose weight and I eat all the time. My PMS is not as bad but being on this drug is worse. Any advice? Please email me.
Thank you so much for your sane and helpful advice. Yours is the most helpful that I’ve ever read.
Thank Vicki,
Our goal has always been to try and help anxiety sufferers understand that ALL of their anxiety is coming from their minds, and we all need to learn that our minds don’t need to be taken seriously. In fact, we don’t need our minds for much more that saying hello to those we meet, being kind, and enjoying the present moment.
We don’t need our minds to judge things, people, and events as bad or good. Everything is just as it is, and everything is going to be OK. You’re going to be OK too.