Mental Health Odd experience after medication increase

[VonnegutJunky]

Hello everyone- I'm new here and appreciate anyone's input on my current situation:

8 years ago I went on 20mg of Paxil- within a month I finally felt normal!!! ( I had been suffering with horrible anxiety for years prior to this)

After being on this dose for 4 years I decided to reduce to 10mg due to lack of ability to orgasm- I did this reduction with no problem

From May of 2014 - November 2014 I reduced down to 5 mg -

Withdrawal hit ( did not know about this at the time) I was in a really bad situation and began having strange suicidal thoughts

I have never suffered from depression

Doc said go back on your meds

I did; I went back on 10 mg - but for 5 months after going back on 10mg, the withdrawal and depressive feelings did not go away - they would come in waves -

Doc Said you need a higher dose - go back to 20mg

The day after I did this shit got weird - I cannot begin to even explain how strange and horrible feeling everything became -

I could not feel anything - physically or mentally -
I could not grasp time
I just felt so strange and not myself
All of my arthritis pain went away? ! That was nice but I also felt so strange
Visual snow - tinnitus both kicked in and are still severe
Random sweating

This was in May of this year -
For 4.5 months now I have been struggling

Things have gotten better - but I still suffer debilitating anxiety - I get sadness - I mean it just doesn't feel like this Paxil works anymore but not only that- it's making me worse?

I know when you first start an ssri it makes you feel worse before you get better - but I haven't gotten better

- I am functional now, but it took 3 months for me to be able to teach a class again - and I still feel off

My question is this
What happened? Does this have anything to do with receptor desensitization?

I dont understand why that jump to 20 did so much damage

At 10 I knew I wasn't doing well, but I did have some days where I felt OK- but at 20 I just felt horrific - I cannot explain- probably like someone who has taken too much ecstasy and then feels like crap for days after-

Will my receptors up regulate again if this is the issue?
Should I just come off the med?
Should I augment, and if so what should I try?
Should I try a new med? I am hesitant to oo this as The STARD report states that a new med is usually ineffective if your old med stopps working

Any thoughts are welcome

Jenny

 

[bdomihizayka]

Personally, I would get the fuck off of it.

I have had very similar experiences to your own. I don't think we know enough about the long term effects of these drugs yet and any permanent damage they potentially may cause.


I was in a very tough spot. Tapered low off my zoloft.... started feeling really weird and constantly panicky..... doctor said it's my symptoms returning (utter bullshit- I know MY anxiety). Went back up, did nothing.....so I cold turkyed it (not suggesting you do the same).

I was on zoloft for a good 4 years. Took me nearly a year for that nasty drug induced anxiety and overall weird feeling to go away. I thought the zoloft gave me brain damage or something.


Your results may vary. Some people have very little trouble going on and off of antidepressants; and some people get hit with horrendous withdrawal (which the doctor will attribute to "returning" anxiety/depression symptoms since antidepressants are "non-addictive")

Good luck and stay strong. I wanted my soul back.