Paroxetine is a prescription drug that doctors typically use to treat symptoms of depression, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. It has unpleasant side effects, such as headache, insomnia, and decreased libido, which may cause patients to want to discontinue therapy. However, abrupt withdrawal of the drug triggers withdrawal symptoms that are even worse than the side effects. To detoxify safely while minimizing discomfort, it is essential to gradually reduce the dosage with great care.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Deciding When To Stop Therapy
Step 1. Assess whether or not you are ready to permanently stop taking the medicine
Before learning the correct procedure, you need to decide if you still need paroxetine to control symptoms of depression or anxiety. Your doctor will help you make this choice based on the improvements you have seen, the duration of therapy, and the progress you have made in symptom control through other techniques.
Step 2. Choose the right time to reduce the dosage
Your doctor is likely to help you "detox" from paroxetine through a gradual "tapering" program. If possible, start the process on a Friday so you can monitor your body's reactions without the thought of having to go to work. The other factors you should consider are:
- Take days off work or organize the detox process during the holidays;
- Minimize stress; try to take care of most chores, such as housework, bills, and other stressful tasks, before you start tapering. If possible, ask a family member or friend for help in dealing with these issues during the withdrawal crisis.
- Inform friends and family that you are planning to stop taking paroxetine and that you may be suffering from serious side effects.
Step 3. Develop a plan to manage withdrawal
It is worth organizing in detail how to deal with the symptoms. Be foresighted and gather things that can distract you, such as movies, books, music, games, or TV shows; consider which physical activity can help you, such as golf, gardening, swimming, cycling, or walking.
- Recall pleasant ideas or memories to focus on in the most difficult moments; by doing so, you can lift the mood a little and look at things from a less negative point of view.
- Prepare a diary in which to write down the experience you are experiencing.
Step 4. Discuss with your doctor about a safe withdrawal of paroxetine
Abruptly stopping therapy could trigger a variety of withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety, sleep disturbances, dizziness, and headache, which can last for months. A steady and gradual reduction of the dosage under the close supervision of the doctor is very helpful in reducing all these unpleasant negative effects. See your doctor as a detox companion and follow their directions to make the transition as easy as possible.
Part 2 of 2: Cut down on Paroxetine
Step 1. Decrease the dosage by 10%
Standard guidelines indicate that the amount of drug should be reduced by this percentage; to start take into account the dose you are taking and lower it by 10%. Proceed in this way for each phase of the tapering, considering the dose you are taking at that moment as the basis of the calculation. Whatever pace you choose, remember to be cautious to minimize possible symptoms.
- For example, if you are taking a 20 mg tablet, scale the dose by 10% and take 18 mg. The next time you need to reduce the amount, you need to calculate 10% of 18mg and thus reach a dosage of 16.2mg. You need a pill-cutting tool and perhaps even a precision balance to make sure you are following the correct rhythm; for this purpose, you may choose to switch to paroxetine in liquid form, which is much easier to measure.
- This drug is potentially dangerous for the fetus, it is therefore essential to stop the therapy before becoming pregnant. If you notice that you are pregnant before completing the tapering, ask your doctor for advice to stop taking it immediately.
Step 2. Decide if you need to follow a different pace
Generally, a 10% dose reduction is recommended, but you may need a customized schedule. This decision depends on several factors, such as the presence of other drug therapies, how long you have been taking paroxetine and at what dosage.
If you haven't taken it for a long time, you could scale the amount even faster; if you have been taking it for years, you have to stick to a slower pace
Step 3. Switch to liquid formulation
Perhaps the simplest way to accomplish this process is to use liquid medication instead of tablets, which allows for more accurate dose measurement. Generally, it is available in a concentration equal to 10 mg / 5 ml; your doctor can teach you to accurately measure the amount to adhere to a safe protocol.
Some patients believe it is the simplest method of scaling the medicine
Step 4. Buy a pill cutter
You can buy it in all pharmacies. Since you are reducing the dose, you need to cut the paroxetine tablet very precisely; divide it in half or in quarters.
For example, if you are using the 10mg lozenge, half is 5mg and one quarter is 2.5mg
Step 5. Weigh the pills
If you want to be even more precise, buy a precision digital scale that appreciates milligrams; this way, you can cut the pills into smaller sections and weigh them to get the correct amount.
Step 6. If you are taking controlled-release paroxetine, switch to regular paroxetine
In the first case, the tablets are coated so that the active ingredient is gradually released into the body. If you cut this type of pill, the body receives an uncontrolled amount all at once, with potentially dangerous effects; you must therefore switch to the standard formulation, which is absorbed by the body in a different way and allows you to start tapering.
Step 7. Try the Prozac method
If you run into any obstacles to tapering your paroxetine dosage, you can give this method a try. The doctor changes the therapy by prescribing Prozac, which has a longer half-life; this way, you should be able to control the severe effects of withdrawal. Once you have stabilized on this second drug, you can start halving the amount each week.
- If you are having difficulty, go at a slower pace or reduce smaller amounts of medication.
- You can also try liquid Prozac.
Step 8. Adjust the pace according to your needs
Pay close attention to your body's symptoms and reactions as you decrease the dose. A 10% reduction could be perfect or excessive; it may be necessary to lower the quantity by only 5% per month or even reach 15-20%. If you think tapering is too fast or too slow, discuss this crucial detail with your doctor.
Step 9. Take advantage of the support of psychotherapy
It is a very useful tool to avoid depression recurrence while trying to manage the side effects of the drug. Analysis and psychotherapy bring to light the roots of depression in order to be able to manage it effectively and constantly. The other advantage of this type of approach is that you can follow it for as long as necessary, without running the risk of developing negative secondary reactions, as happens with the psychiatric drug.
Step 10. Find a mutual aid group
It provides valuable support as you deal with withdrawal and the feelings that go with it. You can also ask for support from family and friends to keep you on track in your battle with depression. With the proper support of your doctor and loved ones, you can manage to do without paroxetine and once again enjoy a life without medicine.
Step 11. Adopt other healthy lifestyles
To be able to stop taking this antidepressant and fight abstinence, establish good habits. Eat a nutritious diet and exercise to manage discomfort and keep psychological pain at bay. Exercise triggers the release of endorphins which are the antidepressant chemicals produced by the body; in addition, some foods have a positive impact on mood without having to resort to drugs.
Advice
Always consult a doctor before you stop taking the drug, a doctor supervises the tapering process and withdrawal symptoms
Warnings
- Be aware that withdrawal symptoms can be severe.
- If you are pregnant or trying to have a baby, never take paroxetine.
- Never take the medicine every other day, otherwise it upsets the brain and nervous system.
