Coming off Paxil

[Solenodon]

Hello! I have been on Paxil for quite a few years and it really did help. A while back (pre-pandemic), I felt I was in a pretty good place to finally come off of it over concern about long term use (research showing correlation with early dementia) and wanting to be free of the side effects (emotional numbing, complete loss of libido). I was nearing the end of tapering off slowly and doing well withdrawal and then the pandemic hit. I've been holding at a very low dose, but it's becoming clear that the stress of the pandemic is sinking in and I'm really struggling with the OCD ramping up. I now have to decide whether to increase the dose of Paxil after working so hard to get nearly off of it (Paxil is really tough to get off of, strong withdrawal effects). Because of the pandemic I'm not able to get to a CBT or ERP therapist and I can't find one doing telehealth that my insurance will cover. I'm considering trying NAC to see if I can maintain until I can get to a therapist. Has anyone tried it? Anyone have any other suggestions? Thank you.

[Hidden]

I don't have any good suggestions, but I'm very sympathetic. I was doing the same with Trazodone--tapering off it very slowly after years on it and I was ALMOST off it and then the pandemic hit. Personally, I decided sleep is really important to my general equilibrium, so I decided to stay on the Trazodone for now, but it was definitely disappointing. I know how hard it is to get off Paxil. My mother-in-law foolishly decided to go off it cold turkey and was miserable for months. Good luck.

[Solenodon in reply to Hidden]

I'm pretty tempted to go back on Paxil because it was working, but it was so hard to come off of it that I am reluctant to be faced with the process all over again in the future. On the other hand, the future is in the future and I have to deal with my brain right now :(.

[Albertina_G]

I have not tried NAC for OCD but I have read that it helps with OCD and it takes around 8 to 12 weeks to see its effect. You can check treatmyocd.com if you want to do telehealth therapy they also cover insurance.

[Solenodon in reply to Albertina_G]

Thank you, I hadn't heard of treatmyocd.com. I'm going to look into it for telehealth options. Much appreciated!

[OCD34]

I had to switch from Zoloft to Cymbalta for ocd due to National Zoloft shortage from pandemic. So far so good. Can your general doctor prescribe you Cymbalta? I went off Zoloft 100mg cold turkey in 2006. Worst 6 months of my life. Switching from Zoloft to Cymbalta immediately no taper had no issues. In fact I felt better.

[Solenodon in reply to OCD34]

Thank you, I'll look into Cymbalta. It's been a rough road getting off Paxil. I had to make really small decreases to avoid very uncomfortable brain and skin issues. I've read them described as 'brain zaps' and 'skin prickling', but this doesn't do them justice in my experience.

[DeathtoOCD]

I haven't tried it myself, but I have heard good things about NAC.