Adjusting Meds SucksAs most of you don't know I am on paxil which is a medication used to treat various anxiety disorders and depression. I have generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks and mild-moderate depression. I've been on paxil for about 3 years and it has done a great job. However now that I am no longer in school I feel that I should no longer be on the medication if I can help it. I feel that I should be trying to get off the meds and with the assistance of my doctor I'm attempting to ween myself off of them slowly. You see, paxil causes dependency and my body is now going through withdrawal due to the halving of my dose. I have the shakes, nervousness, nausea/vomiting, dizziness and moodiness. It's highly unpleasant and not something one can do a thing about. I hate it but seeing as I do not want to be dependent on a medication it is necessary. Every time I decrease my dose I can look forward to various symptoms of withdrawal, some of which will mirror my original symptoms of anxiety/depression...joy.
I find that chammomile tea tends to combat the nervousness and allows me to sleep peacefully. Artistic expression seems to help my depressive symptoms and moodiness. However the physical symptoms are driving me crazy. My hands are shaking like I'm coming off crack and my stomach feels like I should take a gravol and go back to bed. My head spins like I've had too much to drink and I generally feel miserable like I have the flu. I made a conscious decision to go on the medication because of a variety of difficulties I was facing with my anxiety that various cognitive behavioural therapy techniques were not helping and my depressive symptoms were becoming alarming. I do not regret that decision as I have felt better on paxil than I had off paxil since I was 13 years old. I don't know if I will be able to go off of paxil entirely. I may need a low low dose for the rest of my life in order to be able to cope with the extreme anxiety I face on a daily basis. I will cross that bridge when/if I come to it. For now I will do my best to face these issues and deal with them. One can only hope that the withdrawal symtoms do not last for more than a few weeks at most...
Blessed Be...
The Goddess is alive and Magick is afoot...
Anxious
Devious Comments
I think when it comes down to it all you just need to consider your quality of life and what's going to give you the best rout to it. If you think going down part of your meds if going to increase your quality of life then by all means go for it, but if it's causing you tonnes of withdrawal and making your life miserable then maybe right now isn't the best time.
But it's good to try it out and see. So I hope the symptoms ease up on you. I just don't wanna see ma best friend beat herself up cuz she has to take meds. I don't like the fact that I have to take pain meds all the time but it's where I am in my life right now.
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What you feel, is ok! it's never gonna change anyway
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The Goddess is alive and Magick is afoot...
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