Good morning, or good afternoon, depending on how your day is going...☕ I'm currently at work, just taking a quick break to check in... For the last three days, anxiety has been hitting me hard with all sorts of physical sensations. I actually ended up taking some Xanax this morning, which is the first time I've needed it in a year and a half... I simply couldn't handle the suffering anymore. I just hope this isn't the start of a cycle where I'm constantly relying on the same medication. My goal is to find stability again. Hopefully, if these sensations subside and stop fueling the anxiety, I won't have to touch it again for another year...🙂 🙄
Kenneth Scott41 said:I tend to hold a similar perspective regarding AT&T. I mean, what's the big deal if you end up on them for life? Some people take heart medication indefinitely, after all.
I agree that everyone faces their own struggles, but I would prefer to be cautious because more negative information about side effects is coming to light every single day. I find it hard to believe that GlaxoSmithKline would face such massive penalties for concealing genuine side effects caused by Paxil, which remains one of the top-selling antidepressants. Besides, the official instructions state that the exact mechanism of action isn't even fully understood. I have been taking it for nearly ten years now, and I feel it is finally time to attempt to taper off. To conclude, here is an example of how flawed the system can be. I spoke with a neuropsychiatrist who also teaches neurology at a medical school; she is certainly highly educated. However, when I described the "brain zaps" I experience after stopping Paxil—which feel like intense electric shocks in my head—she looked at me blankly, clearly having no idea what I was talking about. She insisted these sensations weren't caused by discontinuing Paxil and instead referred me to get my cervical spine checked. Why do I only experience these sensations once I stop the medication, rather than while I am taking it? It seems they lack understanding, given how many people online and on forums like this discuss the hellish experiences of trying to quit. They claim these drugs don't cause "dependency," yet the reality suggests otherwise. 🤷
Brandon Lopez6 said:You sure they aren't expired? 😬 Jokes aside, maybe try to hang in there. I'd give anything to be able to go without those damn Xannies. They helped me out when I was trying to get off other pills, but man, they really messed me up in the end. 🙂
I didn't take it. No, it still has two months left before expiration. I completely understand where you're coming from... If only we could... But we will. You have the Xanax, I have the Prozac... we'll just have to support each other here.
Brandon Lopez6 said:Derealization. It's nothing major, really. Except for that exact moment when it hits you, obviously. Classic anxiety move. Don't sweat it, you're fine 🙂
I agree, I think that is... I noticed I still have some Normabloc left in my drawer. To be honest, I haven't taken a single dose since October 2011. I am unsure whether I should take one now or just try to push through this on my own...😕
Matthew White4 said:I can't even wrap my head around the thought of ever coming off Effexor. It’s basically rewired my entire brain to the point where I don't even want to exist without it.
I completely understand. I felt the exact same way about Paxil at first, but after nine years, it’s becoming too much for me. I really want to get off it eventually. 🤷
Good evening, everyone. Today, I feel absolutely wiped out for the first time in ages. I honestly don't know what's happening... I'm terrified that I might never get back to my old self. I managed to push through until 5:00 PM at work before heading to Chase. I thought I was going to collapse right there in the middle of the branch. Vertigo, fainting spells, instability, and this bizarre visual disturbance—it felt like my vision shifted by 500% in just a few hours. Panic set in immediately (you all know how anxiety works). I was convinced I’d either pass out on the floor or lose my mind. My brain immediately went into overdrive, convinced there's some underlying illness, even though I've been checked out from top to bottom. I had an MRI two years ago, and just two months ago, I did a full physical. Everything came back perfect. I've even gotten my weight under control; I lost 30 pounds over the last two years with my doctor's help. And yet... here I am again, gripped by fear and a million "what if" questions. Currently, I'm on half a dose of Paxil and 100mg of Lamictal. That's it. I can't tell if this is being amplified by all those videos I've been watching on YouTube about tapering off Paxil, or if something is actually physically wrong. I'm trying to figure out what this could be, but you know how things are handled here in the States...🙂 Damn. If this hits me just from thinking about tapering off Paxil, what happens when I actually tell my neurologist I want to stop? I have no idea if I'm even ready for this, but I've been on Paxil for nine years now, and it's just... exhausting.🤷 Thanks, and sorry for venting.🤔
Brandon Lopez6 said:I managed to get off that garbage without any weird glitches or fallout🥳 didn't even feel nauseous or anything🙂
So yeah, turns out I'm the exception to the rule, but that doesn't mean you won't be fine too. Just try not to stress yourself out beforehand—you don't want to trigger withdrawal symptoms while you're still actually taking the Paxil.
And if it's trash? Yeah, I can definitely agree with you there.😬
Good for you... I'm actually jealous. I'm already feeling the withdrawal symptoms just from watching these documentaries on YouTube. If only my mother were still alive to give me a hug... man... Let's switch gears for a moment... LIVE, LIVE, JUST LIVE, MY DARLING... HOP, HOP, HOP...🙂🙂🙂🙂: rock:
Edward Long4 said:Well, that's literally why we're here—to help you out whenever things get rough.🙂 Plus, a little humor makes the whole mess a bit easier to stomach. Just make sure you strip down completely 😍—wait, I meant tapering off the Paxil, obviously (not that kind of stripping!) 🙂
Haha... I’ll be fully transparent if everything stays unzipped. 🤣
redranger2 said:Listen, I really hope you aren't all planning on quitting your medication cold turkey, because that’s a recipe for triggering a massive shock to your brain, which has become entirely dependent on that chemical support. When tapering off SSRIs, you have to go slow, and frankly, that process can be quite a marathon. Once you finally reach the point where you're down to just a 1/4 dose, you should continue taking those tiny amounts for a while—maybe every other day, then every third day—until you eventually wean yourself off completely. Your brain simply needs enough time to relearn how to manage its own neurotransmitters without outside help.
Of course not. I wouldn't do anything without her support. My main concern is how to taper off a 20mg dose when I can easily split the pill into 10mg halves. I've been on that 10mg dose for about two years now. Based on what people have shared here, I'll probably just switch to taking half a pill every other day for the next two weeks and call it a day. But what happens after that?
Anthony Lopez8 said:Every single fish oil capsule contains both DHA and EPA. The real question isn't whether you're taking them, but how much of each you're actually getting. There is absolutely no point in buying some low-dose product and swallowing ten capsules a day just to hit a target... Generally speaking, it is recommended to take moderate amounts of Omega-3 and Vitamin B alongside psychotropic medications, given their role in supporting nervous system function and such. As for whether "preloading" with supplements can prevent the misery of withdrawal? Honestly, I don't have an answer for that... Regarding the pupil dilation, mine were slightly enlarged, but it didn't bother me much... It’s very possible that it might settle down after the first few weeks.
Of course the symptoms are caused by the drug. I wasn't able to miss even ONE DOSE of Velafax without the "brain zaps" hitting me within an hour or two. Tell those pharmaceutical companies to try taking these meds long-term and then tell us whether or not they're addictive.☕
As for the dosing, it's a bit tricky. In the US, people mostly use this supplement. It's likely popular because it's recommended by "The Road Back," but it really is practical—it contains 360 mg of EPA per serving. You take at least three servings of three capsules a day until the worst of it passes.
Thank you. Yes, I will obviously have to look for something similar in our local market if it even exists... My only "fear" is managing the dosage on my own. I have no idea what I'm doing... Now I am trying to figure out how to taper off this junk while staying home. Naturally, this would be in agreement with her... though I know she won't understand when I bring this up. They aren't educated on this and frankly don't care; they will just deny it. I have no choice but to handle this myself after I inform her. I need to grab a Uber and try to resolve this on my own. I'm watching a documentary on YouTube about those commands and it’s horrifying... I regret the day I took that crap...😲 Just tell me that "nobody has ever successfully quit" (hopefully 🙂)... If anyone has more advice, please share it. I am going to need it.
Steven Martin13 said:To be completely honest with you, when I first stopped taking my meds, I was incredibly young—really naive, actually. I didn't understand how any of it worked, and my psychiatrist back then didn't really walk me through the details either, so I just took whatever was handed to me.
I was on Helex for six months, three times a day, and then I just... stopped. Just quit cold turkey on the very last day of that six-month stretch.
Since I was clueless, I didn't give much thought to those side effects you get when you stop using them. For instance—and this is a bit wild—I used to think those "brain zaps," those little electric shock sensations, were just something happening to me personally, rather than a direct consequence of the medication. It wasn't until recently, while scrolling through some videos on YouTube, that I finally realized, "Oh, wait, that's actually a thing."
I never really dwelled on it because I just assumed it was part of being an adult—that it was normal. They happened in the past, they still happen occasionally now (though very rarely), but honestly, I try not to let it occupy my mind.
And yeah, I was working right through it. In fact, looking back, that was probably when I was living my most active life.
I respect that.👍 I am just hoping I can endure this, because the fear I'm feeling is honestly overwhelming. My biggest concern is that I might inadvertently reinforce my own symptoms through autosuggestion. I'm going to head over to YouTube now to see if I can find some helpful information.
Anthony Lopez8 said:Well, here it is—I found it. Ideally, you'd be looking at somewhere between 2,000 and 4,000 mg of EPA daily. EPA is a specific type of Omega-3. Just grab some high-dose fish oil capsules and check the label to see how much EPA is actually in there...
I should point out that this dosage is somewhat higher than the standard recommended daily amount, so you are essentially taking this at your own risk; however, given the positive effects—specifically regarding those "brain zaps" that so many people report experiencing at this dosage—I believe it is worth a shot.
For me, the physical withdrawal was absolute hell, though mentally, I wasn't even remotely addicted. In fact, it didn't even cross my mind to start taking those pills again, not even while I was lying on the floor dealing with muscle spasms, shaking, and vomiting. Considering I was on a massive dose myself—Effexor, specifically—I suspect your tapering process might actually go a bit smoother than mine did.
I've been doing some digging online regarding those specific dosages. It’s a bit confusing when you look at the labels; for instance, one product might list only 180mg of EPA per capsule, even though the total Omega-3 fatty acid content is listed at 1,000mg. I noticed this discrepancy with brands like Solgar. Each serving of this fish oil concentrate provides 1,000 mg of EPA. Each serving provides 180 mg of EPA and 120 mg of DHA. It seems unreasonable that I would need to consume ten to fifteen capsules just to reach the levels you mentioned. I would end up looking like a shark if I kept that up. 🤣.... I can't even begin to imagine the hell you've been through. It sounds truly devastating. I suspect I won't experience anything less than that. I am genuinely dreading those sudden spikes. Even now, I find myself worrying about how it’s all going to play out. To be honest, I've had enough of this after nine years. Dealing with Paxil and their constant claims that it "doesn't cause dependency" or that these aren't side effects feels exhausting. Currently, I feel alright, though I have been riding these small ups and downs for about two years now.🙂
Steven Martin13 said:Withdrawal symptoms tend to pop up after you stop taking a lot of different antidepressants—including Zoloft, at least in my experience. Aside from being physically painful, I don't think there's any greater danger. For me, they lasted a few months simply because I didn't know about forums or anywhere else to look for info back then. Eventually, it just passed on its own. The thing is, these symptoms don't show up while you're still on the medication, and honestly, they don't happen to everyone.
As for those dilated pupils you mentioned—it might be the antidepressant, or it might not. Generally speaking, most side effects tend to taper off once your body gets used to the chemistry. The most important thing is just to hang in there through the beginning, because—and this isn't a rule, mind you—it can be pretty uncomfortable sometimes.
Man, props to you for powering through that. How did you manage it? Personally, I feel like I wouldn't be able to handle it; I simply don't have the time or the luxury of staying shut in at home waiting for it to pass. Between work and everything else, life goes on. If you have a job, you understand exactly what I mean.
Anthony Lopez8 said:I went through the process of tapering off a massive dose of Effexor—which is notorious for its revolting withdrawal symptoms, including those very "brain zaps" you mentioned—and somehow, I made it out the other side. My approach was to gradually reduce the dosage, though I won't lie, it was an incredibly unpleasant experience. In fact, the "electrical" sensations became secondary to the other physical symptoms I had to endure. But, the trade-off is that I am currently entirely medication-free, and once those symptoms finally subsided, they stayed gone. Taking a full year to do it is a sensible strategy, especially if your symptoms are as intense as yours sound.
One thing many people in our situation consider a "miracle cure" for those brain zaps is taking high doses of Omega-3 fatty acids. I discovered this relatively late in my journey (and it was a bit difficult to source quality supplements since I don't eat animal products), so I can't say for certain if they are truly miraculous, but I would strongly suggest you look into it. Many people find it remarkably effective at mitigating those specific issues. If you decide to go that route, I might be able to help you look up which dosages tend to be most effective, though I don't have the specific numbers memorized right now...
As for psychiatrists, you hit the nail on the head—most of them seem to have absolutely no concept of the physical dependency these psychotropic drugs create (or perhaps they simply choose to ignore the reality of it, though I couldn't say which...).
Man, I would be incredibly grateful for that information. I suspect I will face some intense "hits" after my first attempt at tapering. I know staying positive is important, but honestly, that feeling is just too much to handle right now. I just want to be rid of it; nine years on these meds is plenty. Most doctors don't grasp the issue because they claim antidepressants aren't addictive. Isn't that what GSK says? Hmm.
Hey everyone, I’ve been reading through the forum and I completely relate to what you all are going through. My own story is long and would take quite a while to fully recount here. To summarize: I have been on Paxil since 2004. My dosage fluctuates depending on how things are going. In 2006, I lost my father, and in 2007, my mother. I managed to pull through those losses and keep moving forward. Around that time, my neuropsychiatrist put me on Lamictal and Valium due to some erratic EEG readings. For the last two years, my results have been fine. I stopped taking the Valium, and currently, I am at half my usual Paxil dose along with 100mg of Lamictal. The hardest part is the mere thought of tapering off the Paxil. I want to get off it, but... I tried once before and, honestly, it was a nightmare. It feels like flashes of light in my brain. If I blink, there's a flash; if I turn my head, there's a flash. It is genuinely maddening. My psychiatrist noted: "patient attributes their condition to the tapering of Paxil." That pushed me back to a half tablet, and I have been stuck there for two years now. It's exhausting. Part of me thinks about just locking myself in the house and attempting the taper again. But... I'm afraid. I feel like the specialists at GSK haven't even begun to grasp how terrifying this side effect actually is. On the depression forums, people constantly mention this "electric shock" sensation. Does anyone have any advice?
Dear friends... I felt compelled to write because, for the last three years, I have been walking the same path that most of you are on right now. Angela Wright started this theme, and she has achieved something she likely never expected. This discussion has proven that when it comes to illness, we are all equal; our loved ones face immense battles that they can only win with our unwavering support. Please, do not leave them to fight alone, no matter how exhausted you feel or how difficult this journey becomes for your family. Even today, I think about how painful it was to watch my father fade away; his physical suffering created a profound emotional ache within me. Yet, remembering how much our care meant to him brings me a sense of peace, knowing he wasn't alone during his hardest moments. Stand by your loved ones during their struggle, and never, ever let them give up. I know I am not offering anything groundbreaking, but I simply want you to know that you are not alone in this fight... 🙄
I am posting in the HEALTH section for the first time, as my usual focus is on PSYCHOLOGY... I am not sure if this has already been discussed here. If it has, please feel free to simply ignore this thread... I find myself in a situation where my mother needs a liver transplant due to cirrhosis caused by Hepatitis C, which she contracted during a surgery 18 years ago, back when that virus wasn't even recognized... I wonder if our society—and myself personally—must first endure such a terrible tragedy before we wake up and realize that any one of us could be a potential donor. Or perhaps we need to read the letter from young Ana Rukavina, who pleaded for her life only to ultimately lose the battle because no one, from the government down to individual citizens, realized that stem cell research could one day save a life like hers. It is heartbreaking that our fellow Americans waiting for organs face each of their days with dread, simply thanking God they made it through another night. It is terrifying to look at the statistics: in just the first eight months of last year, there were only 48 liver transplants performed, yet in those same eight months, at least a thousand citizens died who could have been potential donors... to say nothing of kidney shortages... Most of you likely won't find this relevant, as I certainly didn't care about it until I faced this tragedy—until the woman who carried me for nine months and nursed me with her own milk now requires a new organ just to stay alive... I encourage anyone interested to comment on this thread, or at the very least, give some thought to what I have written... THANK YOU
Benjamin Thompson44 said:Is there really no one here who can help me?
There has already been quite a bit of discussion regarding this topic on this forum, so I suggest reading through the existing comments... what you are describing is tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and you should consult an audiologist specializing in hearing rehabilitation. They will need to run some tests before providing a specific diagnosis. You can find more general information right here on the forum.
Jack Bennett3 said:When I was a kid, I used to play with a toy gun that wasn't particularly powerful. After shooting it for quite a while, my ears started ringing. The sound was intense enough that it really frightened me. When I woke up the next day, the ringing hadn't stopped; it had lessened slightly, but it was still there. It’s been eight years since that happened, and my ears have been ringing ever since. If anyone has suggestions on how to stop this ringing, please let me know. I would be incredibly grateful if I could find a way to stop it, or at least reduce it to a minimum. Thank you in advance.
You likely caused some hearing damage. I have dealt with constant ringing in my ears for many years now. You should consult an audiologist who specializes in this area. They can perform various tests to determine the volume, intensity, and other specific parameters of the noise, which will allow them to design a treatment plan for you. In my case, I followed my prescribed therapy regularly, but unfortunately, it didn't yield any results. Now, I simply focus on management to ensure the condition doesn't worsen. That isn't to say a treatment won't work for you, though. This condition is professionally known as tinnitus.