Hi CarnationsL: I was on Paxil before. While I was on this med. I did a CBT program and a support group. I stayed on Paxil for more than a year afterwards, practicing what I learned and felt really well and ready to wean off. I started by halving the dose for approx. a month or two, then taking the half every other day for about a month, then nothing. When decreasing the dosage I did have a side effect which felt like a sort of buzz in my head. Hard to describe, but nothing that hurt at all, just a buzz. This passed after a couple of wks. or so. No problem for me other than that. I haven't had any panic attacks since.
When I was sick last yr. I had a lot of pain and the anxiety started up again so wanted to join this site to "nip it in the bud", so to speak. I was having symptoms, such as throat tightening, chest pains, difficulty catching my breath, sleeplessness, fear of walking too far and not being able to get home again (I feared the pain would return and weaken me).
I strongly recommend that if you decide to stop meds. to do so with your doctor's knowledge and help. Hope this helps...
I was on Lexapro (SSRI) for a year and a half. It did me very well and I still had panic attacks but I got on my days with it. The best advice I can give you is to taper off in very small amounts with your Dr.'s supervision and at a time when things are calm. I tapered off on my own (with no doctors) during the time my ex went over seas and I moved back with my family ( a lot of lifestyle changes) and this did me very bad. That is my experience and each is different depending on your meds too. Which are you taking and what does your dr. sayabout it?
No ,when you can control the effects or outcome of the panic attack. When you can have a panic attack and say "oh hell I'm having an attack" and it doesn't go full blown then you can cut back on the meds. If you stop too soon then each panic attack you have reinforces the negative and you will have to go back on at a higher dose to block the reinforced negatives. Is there any one here that can remember what happened when they quit too soon?
I can tell you but each is different. I think what you really want to know is how hard is it to do. Ativan is very hard. most are quite easy it just takes a while to taper off. The length of taper depending on how long you have been on and actually if you are ready to stop. Not needing it is more critical than just not wanting it. The only people that can't stop are the ones with an actual disease not a condition. Say bipolar or schizophrenia rather than GAD or panic disorder. Antipsychotics are easier because there main effect is drowsiness. But they are seldom used for anxiety.
I am not on medication really so I can not answer your question. I do have xanax that I take if I can't sleep for a few days but I rarely take it. Sorry I couldn't answer your question. Their are others in the group that have gone off various meds that can tell you how they went off meds. I am sure once they read your post they will respond. I hope you find the answers you are looking for.
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