How to get off anti-depression medicine now?

Question

well i know someone that takes paxil a anti depression medicine . they have been on this for about 9 years they want to stop. what is the best way. thanks please don't say go to a doctor this she seen she wants to do it herself

Answer 1

The best way is to go off the drug slowly. Going off too fast can cause serious side effects.

Answer 2

If you do not have enough money, you could take drugs, like alcohol or crack, to feel better and many do. But that does not cure it. The cure is to make more money. If you are depressed, the cure is not to take a drug, like Prozac. The cure is to be happier. If you have panic or anxiety, which everyone feels at one time or another, the cure is not to take drugs. The cure is to feel more tranquility, calmness and peace of mind. See site below for more on this.

Kevin Trudeau says in his best selling book, Natural Cures They Do Not Want You to Know About, "All illnesses and diseases are caused by the same things; (1) too many toxins in the body; (2) nutritionally deficiencies; (3) electromagnetic chaos exposure; (4) mental and/or emotional distress." "The most effective way to cure and prevent disease is by getting the toxins out." "One very powerful cleanse is, of course, fasting." "Drugs only suppress symptoms, and they cause disease because they are toxic." In More Natural Cures Revealed, Kevin Trudeau says "The facts are clear, drugs, both prescription and non-prescription, do not make you healthier, they make you sicker. Drug companies are not interested in your health. Drug companies only want you to buy and use more drugs. If you want to cure yourself of any disease you have and remain healthy, you must eliminate all non-prescription and prescription drugs."

http://www.phifoundation.org/heal.html

Answer 3

Tapper down the dosage over 6 months (at least).  Coming off of paxil is like coming off of heroine.  You will have some withdrawal, but it won't be as bad as coming straight off of it.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Of course, it is best to discontinue medications under the supervision of a physician.  If your friend refuses to do this, tell them that it is important NOT to stop these drugs suddenly - this can cause serious side effects.  Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs - like Paxil) must be discontinued slowly.

Also, if your friend does choose to discontinue the Paxil, please watch him or her carefully for signs of worsening depression - this can take a while as SSRIs have a long half-life (that is, they stay active in your system for several weeks).  

Answer 5

You are right that my first instinct is to say go to a doctor.

Since you do not want that as an answer, I have to say to do it slowly. Start by decreasing the dose by .5 or 1 mg and then after 3-5 days lower it again. Continue until totally off.

If they were to stop right now the results could be dizziness, sensory disturbances (including electric shock sensations and tinnitus), abnormal dreams, agitation, anxiety, nausea, sweating, mood fluctuations, headache, fatigue, nervousness and sleep disturbances.

I do have to put in a bite that this person should think hard about doing this before they do.  They should have a system in place so if they were to end up back to where they were before they went on Paxil. You did not share this so I have no idea. But I can tell you that stopping abruptly can cause suicide thoughts or actions to occur.

This person should think about why they want to stop taking it, if they have spent time learning skills to help them without medication, what they will do if they slip back, if they are ready to handle side-effects.

Answer 6

hi there,

I;vie has currently tried to come off anti depressants and i must say it's not easy....theres going to be side affects of coming off them, the person may feel worse, but if they really want to come off them by tthemselves cut the dosage in half then the next month take one every other day then the next one every 3 days that was the advice from my gp, very slow, as your body relays on the cchemicalbalance that makes the person feel better within their sselves also excersice is a great thing and keeping busy. hope this helps good luck.