Paroxetine / Seroxat withdrawal symptoms

Hiya you asked how I am feeling now after being off Seroxat for a year, well I can honestly say I am great and so pleased I got off this drug. I am not saying it was easy, like most on this site I suffered withdrawal symptoms but I used a mantra to help me whenever it got too difficult I did slow deep breathing and repeated over and over "I can and I will get off this drug". I used this to stop smoking and it worked so I used it for coming off Seroxat.

Now  year later, I sleep well most nights, bees in head gone though I do have Tinitus (ringing in ears) and dizziness but am being tested for this as possibly an ear problem. I am more emotional and could cry about most sad things but I have learned to distract myself by either other thoughts or making myself do an activity even cleaning and this works for me so no crying. I maybe a very sensitive person anyway so do not let this trouble me too much. One very important thing is that I am happier than I have been in years so believe it to be worthwhile getting free of Seroxat.

only hope you succeed and everyone else trying to come off this.

Thanks. I'm very pleased for you.  Stay well and now you know the bad times will not last.🌷

Thank you so much for this really hopeful and uplifting message.

Did you suffer with extremely detailed, disturbing and vivid dreams, and if so, how long did it last? I think at the moment, the sleep/dream issues are my main concern, and would be so grateful to hear about your experience in this regard.

You mentioned crying more readily - I really identify with this. I'm a 'highly sensitive person', and am apprehensive about releasing all that emotion, which Seroxat presumably kept 'under control'.

Xx

Hi Tilly. 

Yes, vivid and almost mania-filled nightmares. 

Wife took me to A&E yesterday. Sleeping and nodding off were impossible as I started panicking and trying to catch breath. 

At last I saw a psychiatrist. They said the GP had done things all wrong. Abruptly stopping paroxetine after 20 years and changng SSRIs three times in 4 weeks. I was having serotonin disorder. I was right to stop and go cold turkey. They said to continue for a few days and then go back to paroxetine to stabilise myself. In the future I could wean myself off, but I need something to deal with the anxiety for the time being (plus counselling etc). Seeing a psychiatrist urgently is impossible - inlycwas is A&E. -they have now put me under the mental health team so I have contacts. The Priory twice never called back. Disgraceful. As for the GP, forget them. When the anxiety restarted, theyveee too quick to change meds and made it worse. Though I'd die. Good luck with everything 

That's terrible. The medical profession do know about Seroxat but nobody seems willing to offer any concrete advice - maybe it differs depending on the person.

I don't feel that anyone can rely on mental health treatment in the UK, it just isn't seen as important.

I am extremely fortunate to have an outstanding GP. I don't think there are any guidelines for them to follow re withdrawal so it's a matter of trial and error.

Not sure why they would say to wait before restarting Seroxat. I have always found that restarting it sorted out the unpleasant symptoms immediately. Are you intending to restart on a low dose? I hope that it helps you to feel more stable.

I can honestly say that I am currently doing well on Prozac, having started taking it almost two weeks ago. I'm hopeful that this may be the most sensible way in which to come off Seroxat - something I never thought I could do.

Let me know how you get on.

Hi. Very glad to read your recovery story. I was put on seroxat 25mg daily 5 months ago for my recurring migraines. I also have hyperthyroidism and recently another doctor diagnosed gut health issues as well. I too seroxat without break first 3 months. In the first month, my migraines were gone, however after that i felt the drug really wasnt working on me as no big relief from migraines, thata when i decided i should come off it.

I stopped taking it for two weeks (took one or two doses in between) and since i was vacationing those days maybe, i felt no major withdrawal symptoms other than gastro issues. I resumed my seroxat and took it another one month, and have again took break since two weeks.. this time the withdrawal is worse: diarrhoea, electric shocks in head, tremors, extreme nausea, ringing ears, fear of social situations, tummy aches, detailed dreams, etc etc. Have been feeling this since three days and had to take off from work.. what do i do now, i dont wana go back to that useless medicine, nor go back to that doctor who recommended it! do you think these withdrawal symptoms will subside in a month or so,m as i had only been taking that med for five months (that too not very regularly)..  i just do not want to start on that drug again, not even on a smaller dose! 

Hiya benny21592 you asked about your withdrawal symptoms and I can only say that the first month of my withdrawal was the worst but each week it improved. The vivid dreams and restless nights maybe continued for a further month but then I only had the occasional symptom until there eventually was no withdrawal symptoms. I was on this drug for 20+ years but believe that taking this drug for any length of time will cause some withdrawal symptoms.

I have had migraines since a teenager and in my opinion I have never heard of anyone being prescribed this for that reason. Seroxat is a Seratonin re-uptake medication. Seratonin is a chemical in brain cells which controls moods. Migraines are caused by conscription of blood vessels so nothing to do with Seratonin. Maybe you were feeling depressed about your migraines and that is why the GP prescribed them.

I you can persevere with the withdrawal symptoms I feel sure you will get off these. There are other drugs for migraine, I know cos I was prescribed them and they worked. Good luck with your progress whatever you decide xx

hi Paroxetine-to-fluoxetine I am glad my journey off this drug gave you hope. The vivid dreams as a withdrawal symptom lasted for about two months then they just stopped. 

You appear to be getting your withdrawal under control so persevere and like me you will be free of it and happier xx

Thanks! A lot of pplare telling me i made a mistake by quitting the med cold turkey and shiuld go back to the doctor or a psychiatrist who will probably put me back on the med and help me get off it gradually, like you did. Should i just wait for the withdrawal symptoms to subside ( one of my affected friends told me withdrawal doesnt go away on its own), or resume the med and get off it slowly?!

You will probably be better to go back to taking Seroxat and coming off slowly. You will get withdrawal symptoms and you will need to persevere and the withdrawal symptoms will end. Firstly the drug needs to be out of your system then your body needs to adjust to being without the drug, this is better done slowly just as I did and I am proof that it will be ok in the end. Good luck and be brave whatever you decide to do xx

Thanks. U mentioned u were given other drugs for migraine which worked.. could you tell which were those (the active, not the brand name so i can look for them in this part of the world).. thanks again

After going to A&E, seeing a psychiatrist, and after chatting to the psychiatrist from MAUDSLEY, I was advised to continue the cold turkey for a total of five days and then restart on 10mp paroxetine. I was given a sleeping tablet and managed to sleep  through the night. Last night, I felt relaxed after the sleeping tablet. An hour later, at bedtime, I took my first 10mg paroxetine. Within half an hour I was getting nervy and woke up. Then some tremors. When I did sleep I had the return of the mania dreams with horrid dreams (crawling through dust and hinting awake before a panic attack set in.)  

So I fear a return to paroxetine, having gone without it for 3 to 4 weeks, followed by two other SSRIs, then cold turkey, will make it worse. Maybe I have serotonin syndrome. 

I'm awaiting a call back for advice. 

I feel like either way I can't win. I do have some scary thoughts. I feel I need to be in a hospital now to be monitored. 

Very scared

Hiya the medication is called Sumatriptan 50mg. This must be taken at the onset of a migraine and as early as possible.  It worked for me and there are other medications but cannot remember the names. Hope this is helpful xx

Try to stick to one type tablet, preferably sedative.  Reverting to Parox/Seroxat didn't seem to be a good move? Try to get some strenuous outdoor, fresh air exercise like hill walking and it will help you sleep. Any mountaineering club near you?   Be kind to yourself 🌷

Hi Benny,

I hope it's ok to add a comment? I have suffered from dreadful migraines for years, as did my mum and her mum. The Drs prescribed me with Naratriptan 2.5mg (Naramig and amerge) I think those are its trade names. If you feel the migraine coming on, aura, stiff neck etc take one. Also not sure where you are but the only over the counter tablets that take any headache away that you know will turn into a migraine are Syndol tablets. Boots sell them. Also I have heard some Drs offer Amitriptyline for migraines. Also so many dietry things can cause them. Hope this helps 

Many thanks, i live in Pakistan(south asia) .. yeah i understand pretty well that normal headache relief tablets and even muscle relaxants or painkillers wont work on chronic migraines like ours. I will try the meds u suggested. Mondays are the worst and i remember i only had half a dozen mondays in the last few years where i went without a migraine. Maybe anxiety and migraine are interrelated as i have been suffering from them so regularly on the first day of the week! And maybe thats why the doc gave me seroxat to treat migraine in the first place, however, i became immune to it after three weeks and observed no improvement in my quality of life, hence decided to quit after a few months.

I am trying to look for positivity after this seroxat episode .. going through withdrawal has forced me to slow down and practice more mindfulness (during windows where the withdrawal symptoms are not that bad) .. maybe i will be a changed and better person once i manage to crawl out of this withdrawal! I really hope that would also include me coping better with these chronic migraines without use of any meds. 

Avoid amitryptaline. Just as bad as Seroxat & as addictive 🌷

Hi Benny,

It sounds like maybe you should not have been put on seroxat in the first place. Your Dr should've maybe given you a migraine pill not seroxat? This could explain why you didn't feel any different, although they do take weeks if not months to work. Saying that I never felt any different on them year in year out! The only difference felt was after they stopped working about maybe 15-17 years later? 

You know what, it sounds like you are really strong and doing the right thing well done Benny! It's not easy and you need a good support network around you for sure!

Maybe the Monday migraines are related to the stress around the start of a new working week. Mindfulness is a wonderful thing, medication and relaxation training your mind to over come the 'Monday migraine' may well work you know! 

It's like if you bang your head (not too hard) 7 times on your pillow you will wake up at 7! It really works! Why?? You can train your mind to be a powerful ally. Addictions cause new lines to form in the brain, new patterns and it is said these can be re-aligned. 

So there is hope!! Stay strong Benny. Ps maybe dietary things make the migraine worse and can even cause them. Tyramine is bad for migraines, they are in red wine etc. Blue cheeses too.Low blood pressure can cause wicked migraines too. 

Hope and pray for you they go for good

My dad has just been prescribed amitriptyline :0 It is making him sooo sleepy in the day, but he sleeps much better at night now! He takes 20mg at night. This helps his anxiety that he has developed during the past few years. He doesn't suffer migraines thankfully but does get headaches. He is 73 this November mind you, so he's later on in life to start on it.

On a good positive note there is hope! I have weaned from 10mg to 5mg (2/3 weeks of hell) Now going from 5mg to 2.5mg has been much easier than I thought! I was so scared to do this. I have been given liquid seroxat now with a syringe! My Dr left a note on my prescription for the pharmacist saying THIS PATIENT IS WEANING OFF SEROXAT DO NOT GIVE ANY MORE MEDICINE TO THIS PATIENT,Wow! So what happens if I'm not ready to stop taking it after I run out???

Mind you I have been taking a st Johns Wort (Kira) tablet every morning so maybe these are helping? Don't want to become addicted to them now after the seroxat has gone!?? 

How are you doing Cailin? I so hope you're coping ok?  

xx  

 

Tilly I love reading your posts, they give me and all of us hope, hope that we can do this, we can be free of this awful drug that has taken over our lives for so long!

Thank you for keeping us all positive with hope xxxx

How can any health official suggest going cold turkey on this drug is beyond me? The only safe way to do this with the minimum withdrawals is slowly. It doesn't matter how long it takes you will get there, slowly and in your own time. They are not on it, never have been never will be I doubt so I believe they are not qualified to tell a long time seroxat user to quit cold turkey!  Hang in there, how are you doing now?? xx

Have you checked your magnesium levels? Started taking this with selenium and iodine..a definite shift.. Thanks for asking.. 🌷🌷

Well, after going to a manic hell, I went to the Priory who were brilliant. The psychiatrist said it was ridiculous that the GP abruptly stopped the paroxetine and swapped it with other meds. I was told that the 10mg I was in was almost ineffective and had put me in 20mg daily. After a week I feel more stable and normal and the manic, nervy attacks have eased off.  My cold turkey lasted six days and was as hellish as the change of meds over two weeks. With counselling, CBT and having joined a self-help group for panic & anxiety sufferers, along with the meds, I can see light at the end of the tunnel. Earning oneself off paroxetine is indeed  horrific, though. I can't afford not to be on it if it means my life is stabilised 

I take a magnesium & calcium tablet (1 tablet with both in it from boots) each day a multi vitamin & a probiotic & recently started taking an omega 3 fish pill not sure whether any of these work though as don't feel any different I don't think? 

How do I check my magnesium levels? Will the Dr do this? Thanks for suggestion x so pleased you're well 🤗🙏🏻

I totally understand x it's good that you're feeling more yourself now because it wasn't your fault you were pushed into severe withdrawals and you weren't looked after they should've made sure you weaned off slowly x I know you'll get there but it's good to hear you're in control again x stay strong 🤗🙏🏻