Hi, my history is on SA under the same username Vonnegutjunky. Here is the link to my SA Blog

 

I’m still tapering, have great days and really bad days. I’m gaining in there and trying to remain functional as I taper. 

I had an adverse reaction to my reinstatement and have been tapering since. Appreciate that this forum exists.

Welcome to the forum, Vonnegutjunkie.

 

I am the Recovery Assistant Bot and I am here to post some information for you whilst we await replies from other members.

 

This is a volunteer-run, community forum aimed at helping those who are experiencing difficulties with psychiatric medications. If you are experiencing an adverse reaction to them, withdrawal difficulties or are injured by them, we are very sorry to hear this and will do what we can to help you.

 

While we are waiting for human members to reply, there are some things you can do that will help you get the most out of this forum whilst you await further support.

 

Please familiarise yourself with the forum rules and the disclaimer located here:

https://antidepressantrecovery.org/misc.php?action=help

 

Please update your signature. This will allow members to see some basic information about your drug history and situation so that they may help you best. Information on how to do this is located in the guides linked above, but here is a direct link:

https://antidepressantrecovery.org/misc.php?action=help&hid=8

 

Once this is done, future posts made by you will have this signature turned on by default.

 

If you have migrated here from "SurvivingAntidepressants" feel free to post a link to your old thread in this one, or include it in your signature.

 

We hope that you will find this forum helpful.

Hi Vonnegutjunkie

 

Welcome to the forum! It's great to have you here!

 

I have copied over you SA Blog title and linked your SA blog above for you.

 

Could I get you to update the following when you get a second?

 

-Signature with drug history

-DOB (You can select to show age only)

 

I hope you find the community helpful in your journey.

 

Chippy

Thank you for joining.

 

I hope that this places provides a similar kind of support to what you have been getting in the past and that the rest of your taper goes ok.

Hey thanks, I put my signature in my about me section, I couldn’t find even after serving for the term signature how to exactly do it- so I hope I did it right. Please advise if it’s not populating - thanks 

5 hours ago, Vonnegutjunkie said:

Hey thanks, I put my signature in my about me section, I couldn’t find even after serving for the term signature how to exactly do it- so I hope I did it right. Please advise if it’s not populating - thanks 

Hey

 

Thanks for that. No problems. There a couple of places to find the signature field. One of them is right below the about me field. I’ve moved your drug history into there for you. 
 

Chippy

Thanks so much 🙂 

Just posting an update. 
 

First - thanks for the site. Like so much. The admins and mods just don’t even know. 
 

I looked for this intro that started via my profile (content I started) but it wouldn’t populate in there? Alas,  I found it doing a general search.

 

 

i jsut want to say I’ve been tapering very slowly, you can see via my signature. I went from 5.5 to 5.2 mg this past year I actually think those numbers are a bit off, but my point is, I got to 5.2mg this past summer; and while I was functioning just fine, I noticed my anxiety increased- I think ok I can deal with anxiety and do things I want to do anyway; well I had a work incident and after that, I hit a wall; the hyper scanning for danger is untenable. I mean whoa. I hit a huge wave and have been here for 2 mos. 
 

 

I slow tapered over years and years, and I was fine, and bam, a wave. 
 

Does anyone understand why that is? Could it be that as you slow taper your able to maintain some sort of stability until your body realizes the “crutch” is no longer there when you need it? 
 

im bringing this up becuase i  will also see people do what would be considered a slow taper and feel fine and months, we’re talking 6-9mos out they are hit. 
 

any ideas why this happens? 
 

 

6 hours ago, Vonnegutjunkie said:

Just posting an update. 
 

First - thanks for the site. Like so much. The admins and mods just don’t even know. 
 

I looked for this intro that started via my profile (content I started) but it wouldn’t populate in there? Alas,  I found it doing a general search.

 

 

i jsut want to say I’ve been tapering very slowly, you can see via my signature. I went from 5.5 to 5.2 mg this past year I actually think those numbers are a bit off, but my point is, I got to 5.2mg this past summer; and while I was functioning just fine, I noticed my anxiety increased- I think ok I can deal with anxiety and do things I want to do anyway; well I had a work incident and after that, I hit a wall; the hyper scanning for danger is untenable. I mean whoa. I hit a huge wave and have been here for 2 mos. 
 

 

I slow tapered over years and years, and I was fine, and bam, a wave. 
 

Does anyone understand why that is? Could it be that as you slow taper your able to maintain some sort of stability until your body realizes the “crutch” is no longer there when you need it? 
 

im bringing this up becuase i  will also see people do what would be considered a slow taper and feel fine and months, we’re talking 6-9mos out they are hit. 
 

any ideas why this happens? 
 

 

Glad you like the site.

 

It's common to get waves of symptoms during a taper. The lower you go the more difficult the taper can be.

 

Added work stress may have also not helped this. It's always best to be stable as you can in your life whilst you taper.

 

It's not an easy thing you are doing. If you are now having WD symptoms from your taper you should consider in my opinion a hold to allow your brain to catch up before continuing your taper.

 

Chippy

5 hours ago, Vonnegutjunkie said:

any ideas why this happens? 

 

The unfortunate truth is that in peer support groups for these drugs, all we really have is the combined experiences of other harmed patients. In terms of objective science, there's very little.

 

Hopefully with some holding and stability this calms down in time. As far as symptoms, is it anxiety and a sort of "fight or flight" danger response?

7 hours ago, Vonnegutjunkie said:

Just posting an update. 
 

First - thanks for the site. Like so much. The admins and mods just don’t even know. 
 

I looked for this intro that started via my profile (content I started) but it wouldn’t populate in there? Alas,  I found it doing a general search.

 

 

i jsut want to say I’ve been tapering very slowly, you can see via my signature. I went from 5.5 to 5.2 mg this past year I actually think those numbers are a bit off, but my point is, I got to 5.2mg this past summer; and while I was functioning just fine, I noticed my anxiety increased- I think ok I can deal with anxiety and do things I want to do anyway; well I had a work incident and after that, I hit a wall; the hyper scanning for danger is untenable. I mean whoa. I hit a huge wave and have been here for 2 mos. 
 

 

I slow tapered over years and years, and I was fine, and bam, a wave. 
 

Does anyone understand why that is? Could it be that as you slow taper your able to maintain some sort of stability until your body realizes the “crutch” is no longer there when you need it? 
 

im bringing this up becuase i  will also see people do what would be considered a slow taper and feel fine and months, we’re talking 6-9mos out they are hit. 
 

any ideas why this happens? 
 

 

Hey, we're in the same paxil boat unfortunately, awful awful drug.

Besides the fact that the process is not linear and flare-ups can pop up even after long periods of stabilization, let alone after stressful factors as you mentioned you've been through so it's understandable, our system is so sensitive and unpredictable now.

Also as I gathered and staring to experience hard myself, the lower the dose, the harder it gets..

I'm so sorry you're going through such a long wave, it will fade just hopefully quickly.

Hang in there, you are not alone, sending you healing and positive vibes.

Thank you so much full healing, please feel open to private message if you ever want to, I think taper buddies can be helpful 

20 hours ago, Luke said:

 

The unfortunate truth is that in peer support groups for these drugs, all we really have is the combined experiences of other harmed patients. In terms of objective science, there's very little.

 

Hopefully with some holding and stability this calms down in time. As far as symptoms, is it anxiety and a sort of "fight or flight" danger response?

Yes it’s like a delusional fear of literally everything 

23 hours ago, Chippy said:

Glad you like the site.

 

It's common to get waves of symptoms during a taper. The lower you go the more difficult the taper can be.

 

Added work stress may have also not helped this. It's always best to be stable as you can in your life whilst you taper.

 

It's not an easy thing you are doing. If you are now having WD symptoms from your taper you should consider in my opinion a hold to allow your brain to catch up before continuing your taper.

 

Chippy

Thanks chippy. 
 

I hold, I do very long holds. I’ve held for almost 2 years in this taper. It’s taken me 5 years to taper from 10mg to 5.2mg. I mean I don’t think I could be going any slower. I am going to hold here,  just seems like people can taper relatively easy up to a certain point and then they are hit. It’s quite distressing to be doing everything “right” only to end up so severely debilitated. 

4 minutes ago, Vonnegutjunkie said:

am going to hold here,  just seems like people can taper relatively easy up to a certain point and then they are hit. It’s quite distressing to be doing everything “right” only to end up so severely debilitated. 

Yes I agree. Those lower doses are the hard part. I know and I’m sorry to hear this. Unfortunately there are no absolutes here just best practices and as you know they don’t guarantee a perfect result. Everyone is so different. As you say you’re doing everything right and it’s all you can do. Your body knows how to do this just have to be gentle with it just as you are. 

On 2/1/2026 at 8:44 PM, Vonnegutjunkie said:

don’t think I could be going any slower

Hey @Vonnegutjunkie I am here for you.

I am moving at a snail's pace right with you. 🐌🐌🐌 I think you are going faster than me....🤣

This drug is a beast. ❤️🙏

 

Thank you lost, it really is. 

So I read this about Paxil today 

 

 

“Once you reach under 5 mg, the effect of paroxetine on the CYP2D6 can lessen the inhibition of CYP2D6 causing the metabolism of paroxetine to accelerate. This may affect the drug in the plasma level to drop more drastically adding to a possible increase in withdrawal symptoms. If this occurs, it may be necessary to adjust by tapering less than 10% every 28 days and/or hold longer between drops in dosage.”

 

 

and that’s exactly what happened to me, I’m sure of it. I am sitting at 5.2 mg I lost 30lbs and during that my wd started ramping up until I’m where I am now and really really scared to death. 

it’s every day all day and night anxiety, incredible intrusive thoughts that come with terror and panic and visual issues. 

 

I can’t work right now and I’m so angry I have tapered so carefully just to have this happen to me anyway. 
 

I don’t know if I stay here and wait it out, uodose, just to have this happen again at a later time, or try to cross taper to some other med? I am reluctant to try another med as I reacted badly to this one during my reinstatement after my failed taper many years ago, it gave me akathisia - 

 

I want to cry, I don’t know what to do and I feel stuck and scared. 

Hey @Vonnegutjunkie

Your dose is sitting you right at the beginning of the crazy curve downward. Then on top of it, this drug makes your body think you are tapering faster.

Definitely just sit with this dose and let your body get comfortable with it. As you saw, paroxetine hits so many receptors, transmitters, enzymes that no other drug could fill in the gaps if you did a bridge. 

I've heard after 2 mg it gets much easier....I am hoping even sooner.

One day at a time.... what you are feeling will resolve. Keep making your environment one of healing. ❤️🙏

Thank you for the reply, it’s been 7 mos since I’ve been down to 5.2 and I am now getting hit really bad with these symptoms. And I have 0 coping skills, because the drug was the coping skill. Now I’m kinda lost, even seeing a therapist and she’s not really helpful in this.  I read about the tapping an cns calming techniques in the other thread and I’m trying to do them with little patience.

@Vonnegutjunkie there are a few things in here

https://antidepressantrecovery.org/forum/14-symptoms-coping-strategies/

 

I have also found that ChatGPT can help give suggestions for coping with withdrawal symptoms.

 

Distraction is very helpful for me. I read a lot of fiction novels…easy going calm stuff that is easy to understand and doesn’t tax my brain.

 

Most importantly, keep telling yourself this will pass, you will e okay. 

Oh I am so sorry @Vonnegutjunkie. This must be really hard and concerning when, as you say, you've done everything right. Yes, this Paxil is nasty stuff. I've been on it for 32 years and am down to 15.4 mg. The symptoms are starting to show up. I lazed around most of the day, as I had zero energy to do anything. I would do something for 10 minutes, then want to sit down again.

 

I have been through absolute hell withdrawals in the past and can really feel your pain. It will take me years to get to where you are in your journey. I will keep up on your progress, hoping and praying for your speedy and complete healing. This path is so unpredictable. Tomorrow, you could be ready to tackle the world again. I think this quote has been attributed to John Lennon:

Everything will be all right in the end. So if it is not all right, it is not yet the end.

Be kind to yourself, keep in touch with the folks here who have your back, and persevere. I am praying earnestly for you.

xxoo Jamie ❣️🙏🌻

1 hour ago, Vonnegutjunkie said:

So I read this about Paxil today 

 

 

“Once you reach under 5 mg, the effect of paroxetine on the CYP2D6 can lessen the inhibition of CYP2D6 causing the metabolism of paroxetine to accelerate. This may affect the drug in the plasma level to drop more drastically adding to a possible increase in withdrawal symptoms. If this occurs, it may be necessary to adjust by tapering less than 10% every 28 days and/or hold longer between drops in dosage.”

 

 

and that’s exactly what happened to me, I’m sure of it. I am sitting at 5.2 mg I lost 30lbs and during that my wd started ramping up until I’m where I am now and really really scared to death. 

it’s every day all day and night anxiety, incredible intrusive thoughts that come with terror and panic and visual issues. 

 

I can’t work right now and I’m so angry I have tapered so carefully just to have this happen to me anyway. 
 

I don’t know if I stay here and wait it out, uodose, just to have this happen again at a later time, or try to cross taper to some other med? I am reluctant to try another med as I reacted badly to this one during my reinstatement after my failed taper many years ago, it gave me akathisia - 

 

I want to cry, I don’t know what to do and I feel stuck and scared. 

I'm so sorry @Vonnegutjunkie I'm one on one with you! the lower doses it all goes completely crazy, so true and horrifying.

When I got halfway I tried to bridge with Prozac (longer half-life) more tolerable so they say and it ended badly, I also tried Seroquel for a while which made me hallucinate and I decided that enough, any other drug could trigger who knows what and it's not a risk I think is worth taking especially since the system is so hyper sensitive.

I'm with you on the coping skills too, it seems like they all disappeared along with my identity but I think it's a collective experience for all those who are quitting, when neurons are flying everywhere it's impossible to think logically and even though it feels like forever it will get better as the system heals, you will get yourself back, you haven't lost it, it just under thick layer of symptoms now.

Paxil is a really is a brutal beast but we'll get through it, keep holding and stay strong.

Edited February 20Feb 20 by Fullhealing

4 hours ago, LostinCanada said:

@Vonnegutjunkie there are a few things in here

https://antidepressantrecovery.org/forum/14-symptoms-coping-strategies/

 

I have also found that ChatGPT can help give suggestions for coping with withdrawal symptoms.

 

Distraction is very helpful for me. I read a lot of fiction novels…easy going calm stuff that is easy to understand and doesn’t tax my brain.

 

Most importantly, keep telling yourself this will pass, you will e okay. 

What book are you reading now? Or any suggestions would be good! 

7 hours ago, Vonnegutjunkie said:

any suggestions would be good! 

Depending on your brain fog...I have done Little House on the Prairie when I can barely think...right now I am doing clean Regency romances...I have a Kindle prescription...I just finished the Donovan's Series by Martha Keyes.❤️