309 replies to this topic

[PrincessNutella]

Can we plan a cross taper for me? Cymbalta to Paxil? Attacks proved to be uncontrollable

[fishinghat]

What is your current dose of Cymbalta and what level of Paxil does he want you on?

What cross taper did you try for the "Attacks proved to be uncontrollable".

[PrincessNutella]

No cross taper. 10 mg of Cymbalta to 5 to none, then 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg of Paxil. I took clonazepam for the attack, didn't do much.

5 HTP sounded nice?

[invalidusername]

There is a lot of hype about 5HTP - granted it might be the brand that I bought, but it didn't do much, and what it did do, only lasted for around 2-3 hours. I have bought a well-researched book and currently reading through it to get the low down. 

 

Worth a shot, but I would go with a reputable brand with plenty of reviews. That way if it doesn't work, the quality of the pills can't be blamed...

[fishinghat]

"No cross taper. 10 mg of Cymbalta to 5 to none, then 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg of Paxil. I took clonazepam for the attack, didn't do much.

5 HTP sounded nice? "

Ahhh, I see. So you are already on the 20 mg of Paxil. No 5htp with the Paxil. Too much of a risk of serotonin syndrome. Are you having more problems with anxiety or depression? What are your symptoms right now.

Things like l-theanine, clonidine and/or hydroxyzine can help with the anxiety. The last two are by prescription. Sorry to take so long to reply, my new hot water heater went out this morning and I have been bouncing back and forth getting that repaired and I had a screwed up prescription so I spent around 2 hours on the phone raising cane to get that fixed.

[invalidusername]

I am not sure that 5-HTP would be the way to go for anxiety anyway. Dopa or gaba is more closely suited, but again, whenever aminos are called into the balance, the others can suffer to then be out of balance. The key is balance rather than quantity, which is why it is such a minefield...

 

Hope you got all the stuff sorted out Hat. The last thing you want is the wrong medication when the boiler packs up on you!

[fishinghat]

Ozgun
 
You m ight want to look at these 3 posts beginning with the first one I linked to. It may give you some ideas.

https://www.cymbalta...n-zaps/?p=76387

[PrincessNutella]

Sorry to take so long to reply, my new hot water heater went out this morning and I have been bouncing back and forth getting that repaired and I had a screwed up prescription so I spent around 2 hours on the phone raising cane to get that fixed.

That's an adventure

Change of plans:
7 days of Duloxetine 10 Paroxetine 5 (I'm beginning here actually)
7 days of Duloxetine 5 Paroxetine 10
Rest is Paroxetine 15 and another appointment.
Clonazepam 1 mg throughout.

Took 5-HTP yesterday night (10 mg Duloxetine only) and that got rid of my anxiety?

As of the last 4 days, my body is tense, I'm crying, I feel anxious, angry. Depressed and anxious at the same time, maybe? Sounds like withdrawal to me.

[fishinghat]

That sounds like as good a start as any. You will continue to have these symptoms until you have been on the Paxil for a few weeks. Hang in there.

[invalidusername]

How long did the effects of the 5-HTP last? And what does did you take?

[PrincessNutella]

I took 100 mg in a panic. Helped the panic at first but became too much for my stomach, so I threw up. I was very calm rest of the night.

Think I’d do well with, like, 20 mg of it.

[invalidusername]

Ooooh - that is often the reaction to having too much in the system - please be careful. Everyone is different, but it only takes that little bit too much.... just like I found out when the wife tried to make me some Kratom. Twenty minutes in and I was really paranoid, but it only lasted about 15 minutes and then I was so unbelievably relaxed!!! But I am sticking to my usual dose.

[fishinghat]

Remember the teaspoon teacup rule.

[invalidusername]

Remember the teaspoon teacup rule.

 

Not familiar with that one Hat - can you elaborate?

[gail]

Hello Scrat,

Seven teaspoon, you are given that to make it till you go for sleep.

Example: getting up, make your bed, wash and get ready for the day. That's one or two teaspoon gone.

Five left. You have a panic attack, that's at least three teaspoon.

We have two left. Not much when it's 2pm. A couple worker asks you to do a part of her work.
Well, you can't,, you need to preserve the 2 left.

Go back home in crazy traffic, and voila, no more teaspoon, no more energy.

Take care of your spoons!

[invalidusername]

Ah - and there was me thinking it was something to do with measuring out my doses!!

 

That is a good way to consider these things. And I am often known for not abiding by this and giving myself a break - I do have a habit of pushing myself to prove that I can do things.

[fishinghat]

Actually Gail is feeding you a line. lol

It does have to do with doses. This saying came from the 1800's in the old west. When a dr prescribed something it was almost in the liquid form. The old saying is that if a dr prescribes a teacup full of medicine then just take a teaspoonful first to see what happens. If no problems you can work up to a teacup full.

Any new med or supplement I try I always start with 10 to 29% of the recommended dosage until I see what happens and then work my way up from there.

[invalidusername]

LOL.... well thanks to Gail for confusing my brainium more than it already is!!

 

But that said, both great advises

[gail]

Fisherman, sorry to say that I'm not feeding Scrat a line.

God gives us seven spoons for the day. Chose your battles wisely. I think that it's This moment or FiveNotions that came up with that.

I would never feed someone a line, I think!

[fishinghat]

Sorry Gail. Sounds strange to me. Spoons? Oh well, if it works don't fix it.

[invalidusername]

Our piece of Canadian loveliness is right...

 

https://butyoudontlo...e-spoon-theory/

[PrincessNutella]

Hello, did you miss me?   

I'd like to say I've been taking care of my spoons, but nah. I wish. In the past 3 months I've been all over my thesis work. Panic attacks only when I'm very exhausted or angry, taken care of easily with clonazepam (0,5 or 1 mg) or Xanax (0,25 or 0,5 mg).

As I can see, I took paroxetine in varying doses (starting taper and ending taper) for about 3 months. This was my first day without any meds. I feel more excitable as the drug wears off and a bit woozy, but my mood is great, actually (knocking on wood). I have a depression type of a thing back in my mind, but I know it's the discontinuation thing. Or the thesis. We'll see 

 

[fishinghat]

Hey, great to hear from you Ozgum. I am glad that things are doing at least fairly well. Keep us posted and good luck on the thesis. They are a lot of work and stress. You still have your thesis defense ahead of you and your oral and written exams so pace yourself.

[invalidusername]

Good grief.. you just come back here and say that word... thesis!! Thanks Ozgun!! I have my end of year review next week

 

But seriously, good to hear from you and thanks for the update. Glad to hear that you are organising things well with your meds, and that you seem to be on top of the discontinuation. Don't forget that slow wins the race!!

 

If you take a look around some recent posts, you will see that we have a few more that have had fun with withdrawal, not dissimilar to yourself. They are popping up all over the place

 

So glad that you are still doing your study. You are doing so well to still be hard at the work whilst going through all this medication madness. I remember some weeks ago and you were a lot worse and still you carried on. Truly an inspiration.

 

Well done and hugs for you Princess Nutella

[PrincessNutella]

Hello I'm not having fun right now, unfortunately. I feel better without the Paroxetine, but I have regular sweats, and now palpitations and a full blown anxiety attack type of a thing. I believe this is normal?

[fishinghat]

Normal for Paroxetine (Paxil).

I hope the dr warned you that Paroxetine withdrawal can be pretty bad too.

[PrincessNutella]

No, he didn't. I knew fortunately, but thought it would come gradually. Apparently I was wrong, it hit me at once. What should I do?

[fishinghat]

How long did you take to taper off it?

[PrincessNutella]

My treatment dose was 15 mg, I dropped to 10mg for about 2-3 weeks and then 5 mg of Paroxetine for about 3 weeks. 3rd day off it now.

[fishinghat]

Wow, that is real fast. My suggestion would be to go back to 5 mg and see if you can stabilize. Then taper from there.