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Crossing Back Over To Paxil

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Anxiety & Panic Disorders
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Posted 8/17/2015 6:09 PM (GMT 0)
Well I reached the point of not being able to take the down and very down emotions. My PCP heard my need to go back to the Paxil after 6/7 long years of trying to survive without it; even though my med manager refused to let me try it again. SO I began the crossover last Thursday. The medicine regiment is 10 mgs. Paxil, dropped the Esitalopram from 10 mgs. to 5 mgs, leaving Clonazopram at .3150mgs as it was and adding methylabolamin B12 every other day as had been. SO..we will see how it goes. I must say that my brain feels better already; although the physical anxiety is still there but hasn't worsened. I have to call and confirm, but I think I am supposed to stay at this dose for 1 week and then drop the other 5 mgs. and add the other 10 of Paxil. But I may be wrong. Plus I think I would rather drop only 2.50 of the Escitalopram and add 5 mgs. of the Paxil to avoid the anxiety increasing. Thoughts????
Posted 8/17/2015 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
I think the slower taper from the escitalopram and small increase in Paxil would be easier on you as well. I know it would be on me.

Hope your primary agrees.

I really, really hope this helps you. Glad your head is in a better place. Mine is also, since stopping the progesterone. I am still dealing with the physical anxiety as well, but I think that's to be expected with the other things we are both dealing with.
Posted 8/17/2015 7:29 PM (GMT 0)
3Shadows,

Wishing you the best in your transition!! Keep up with your coping skills during this time...and keep posting, so we can keep you in support!

Try to get a written copy of your increase/decrease instructions, so that you are clear on exatly what to do, and when! :)

S.C.
Posted 8/21/2015 1:13 AM (GMT 0)
It has been 8 days since I began the crossover with a downward/upward taper. I am still at 10 mgs. of Paxil and 5 Mgs. of escitalopram; with the clonazopram 0.3150 mgs. am and pm, as a bridge. I feel as though I was supposed to make another adjustment yesterday; but would you believe that I called today and all of the doctors involved in my treatment for this adjustment are on vacation? There is also no written documentation of my the steps I am to take in my records. No one is to return for another week either. I have been doing my own research as the safest way to carry on with this cross over and get different professional ideas. I think it is a symptomatic plan; meaning each site reports on the higher percentage of a successful crossover technique and that is the doctors call. I think I will go ahead and drop half of the half a 10 mg. pill = 2.50 mgs. and add 5 more mgs of the paxil for another week; then finish the drop and crossover after that. The only problem I have really is the panic/aniety still at midday and am not getting relief from the 0.3150 clonazopram during the day. At night, when I take the paxil, same amount of clonazopram and the 5mg of lexapro I do not have any panic feelings all evening or into early morning. They have always come around 1-2pm during the day even though I take my am dose of clonazopram at 10am; and keep on until my AD and clonazopram at night.
Posted 8/21/2015 1:50 AM (GMT 0)
Hmmm Do you think the mid-day anxiety/panic could have anything to do with what you are or are not eating?
Posted 8/21/2015 8:28 AM (GMT 0)
Hi

I did this exact crossover a few years ago from Escitalopram to Paxil and did not have to many problems. I would say that you need to drop your Escitalopram before upping your Paxil but always discuss this with your doctor.

Hibee
Posted 8/21/2015 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
Jakes's mom-no I don't think it is food related. There is nothing I do or don't eat that causes that feeling. It is more the feeling that you get when you are going into a panic attack. The emotional piece or pysche piece is missing. But thanks for the suggestion.

Hibee; I would have done the escitalopram drop first, but that is not the initial instruction I got from my doctor with the first drop. I guess it is more of a switching over they are doing. Titrating the paxil up as I titrate the escitalopram down.

I went ahead and did it last night. I will stay there for one week and if all goes well and I am feeling really well; I will either just drop the esitalopram all together alone or add the paxil as I have been. I may okay on 15 mgs. of paxil. But I don't want to be just fine-I want to be 'well' : ) I will be seeing my med. prescriber at that time anyway to talk about it .

I do notice a slight difference in my moods in positive way already. I hope it continues : ) I am a bit tired or slower but I remember that in all my med switches. Plus when I am so full of anxiety I get into a busy state to avoid the thoughts. I told my husband last night that it feels abnormal to feel normal. I mean not having a racing mind and worrying or trying to be fixer of everything, and or not feeling depresses is rather weird for me. He couldn't understand-he has never had to suffer with my depression or anxiety so I get it.

I will keep you posted.
Posted 8/21/2015 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
Oh no!! You did not get the written instuctions? That is too bad.:(

Hopefully, you can continue with your current course of action with positive results!

If you do run into an issue, and need questions answered...you can ask to speak to a doctor on call...

...or even call your pharmacist for some guidance.

I wish you the best, and hope things continue to go well.:)

S.C.
Posted 8/21/2015 6:08 PM (GMT 0)
I did get a a call from the nurse this morning. The instructions were for me to completely drop the rest of the escitalopram and add the 10 more mgs of Paxil. But I had already begun with only half of that reductions dose instruction. I don't think it will matter if I take it slowly as I told him. Better to be safe and stable then unstable and sorry.

Thanks for you comment and encouragement. Hope you are doing well.
Posted 8/31/2015 4:23 PM (GMT 0)
A little over 2 weeks on the paxil-4 days on the full 20 mgs. Still on the clonazopram. I have a break through day of no panic this past Friday then the pani has returned. It could be the washout of the esitalopram. I feel l so much better from 8pm to 8/9am then the panic returns. It is milder though I think. But that is when I take my 20 mgs of paxil, and 0.30 mgs. of clonaz. I haven't seen much of a difference during the day with 0.25 or 0.30 of clonaz during the day as far as helping the anxiety. Depression is better and scattered brain feeling is gone though!
Posted 8/31/2015 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
3S.,

Baby steps...

...as long as you are having some positive moves in the right direction, I think you can remain hopeful that things will continue to improve...though not always in a linear line...

Great job on working out the schedule that best suits your needs!

Keep up the good work, and please continue to update when you can.:)

Peace and progress!

S.C.
Posted 8/31/2015 6:11 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks SC!!
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