By gradually tapering off your dosage, you give your brain a chance to adjust to less of the medication so withdrawal symptoms aren’t as severe.
If you feel really drowsy, don’t drive or operate dangerous machinery. If you’re experiencing the opposite problem—having a hard time falling asleep—try taking your dose early in the morning and avoid caffeine. Your doctor can also prescribe a mild sleep aid while you’re tapering off of Paxil.
If these don’t help, ask your doctor about switching to a slow-release form of Paxil while you’re quitting it.
You might experience electric shock-like sensations in your brain. Most people refer to these as brain zaps and researchers admit that more studies are needed to understand how to manage them. [5] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
Keep in mind that any mental health issues that you’re managing like anxiety disorder, PTSD, panic attacks, or depression, will probably rebound while you’re getting off of Paxil. This is another reason it’s so important to gradually taper off your dose.
If you’re taking Paxil to manage bipolar disorder and you suddenly stop taking the medication, you might switch from depression to mania. It’s especially important for you to taper off your dose of Paxil before quitting it completely.
It’s also really important to talk with your doctor about why you want to stop taking Paxil. They’ll want to be sure that you’re able to manage your depression or anxiety without the medication.
For instance, if you’re currently taking 40 mg a day, reduce the amount to 30 mg and take this amount for 1 full week. Then, take 20 mg a day for the following week. It’s totally fine to adjust your tapering rate if you’re experiencing side effects. You may stay at a reduced level for more than a week or cut back by 5 mg instead of 10 mg. Recent studies have highlighted the lack of official tapering dosages and they’ve called for more research and guidelines. [10] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
For instance, if you had been taking 10 mg a day, you’ll be able to get off Paxil faster, but you still need to reduce the amount gradually. Go down to 5 mg a day for 1 week. Then, if you feel comfortable, stop taking Paxil.
For example, if you have a 10-mg pill, cutting it in half will give you two 5-mg pills. Avoid cutting extended-release Paxil in half since too much of the medication could flood your system at once. [13] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source If you aren’t sure if your pills are immediate or extended-release, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You may be able to switch to liquid Paxil—this can be easier to measure so you’re accurately reducing your dosage every week. Talk with your doctor about writing a small prescription for you.
Check with your insurance company to see what mental health resources are covered. You may need a referral from your primary care physician to get treatment. Minimize stress while you’re quitting Paxil—try to avoid big life changes that cause you anxiety or take a break from people who stress you out so you can stay calm.
If there isn’t a local support group, consider establishing one yourself. Contact local mental health support centers and ask about setting up an anti-depressant withdrawal group. Don’t be afraid to let your family and close friends know that you’re getting off of Paxil and might need extra support and encouragement.
The amount of time it takes for half of the medication to be out of your system is called the half-life. Paxil’s half-life is 24 hours.
The time it takes to feel normal also depends on your own body’s tolerance to the medication and the dosage you’d been on. Some people might feel back to normal faster than others.
