Paxil titration using Prozac

[infraredz]

I am trying to titrate myself off of Paxil (paroxetine) using Prozac (fluoxetine). My doctor's script says:

1. Vit E 400iu BID
2. Vit C 500g BID
3. Prozac 20mg/d x 10d
4. Paxil 10g/d x 5d then
5mg/d x 5d then stop

I know the Prozac is being used to 'soften' the blow of Paxil by using its longer half-life but what I can't make sense of is if I should be taking Prozac and Paxil at the same time. This seemed strange to me but that's how it looks.

Looking for some input here on how to make sense of this.

(I have complete amnesia of the visit due to being on Ativan)

 

[Cloroxtastebad]

I cant say for sure, but typically you would take the prozac at the same time as paxil. The idea is to titrate off paxil while building up prozac for a little bit before stopping both. That way as the paxil leaves your system quite quikly, the prozac will remain for much longer allowing for a slow transition without any rollercoaster effects.

You may still have some withdrawal symptoms but they should be very mild and not troublesome.

 

[Snowy]

Yes, you should take both at the same time, i think.
Prozac (Fluoxetine) inhibits it's own metabolism and has therefore no linear dose/plasma level relation. It needs time to accumulate since the inital half life (first dose e.g.) is much smaller than the final half life. I would recommend to take large bolus doses every time you reduce the dose of Paxil (Paroxetine), which will result in the desired long half life.