Paxil Free

Saturday, January 6th, 2001 (67th day off Paxil).

I’ve spent the last six months trying to get off Paxil, and I’ve done it. It was the most debilitating hell I have ever experienced. I no longer have the worst of the withdrawal symptoms — namely the electrical surges behind my eyes and in head.

But now that I’m off the Paxil for good, it feels as if my entire nervous system is being rewired — that is to say, it’s painful. My body and my bones feel like one big painful ache. A few years ago I experienced a full-body migraine that put me out of commission for about a week, and this seems very similar to that, except most of the pain is coming from my body and not my head. Also, throughout the withdrawal, I’ve experienced varying degrees of sensitivity to light and sound, but within the past few days, this sensitivity has gone through the roof. Every sound, not just loud and sudden sounds, is filling my system with adrenalin and wiping me out.

I’m wondering if anyone has experienced this during this period of their withdrawal, how long it lasts, what can be done about it, etc. It doesn’t compare to the electrical surges, but it seems to be as equally debilitating.

Man, when is this going to end?

First response:

You hit the nail on the head. Your entire neurological system is rewiring itself. For the entire first year after getting off this garbage, I ached. I felt as if I had aged 100 years. I could do nothing, and I do mean nothing! As for the light and sound thing — it’s very common in traumatic brain injuries, even acquired brain injuries, such as those caused by toxins. There was one point for me where even the wind was too loud. Certain sounds will make my brain feel as if it’s frying or short-circuiting. Certain lights will make me feel as though I’m going to have a seizure, especially those headlights with the bluish tint (like a strobe light). I am unable to drive in traffic at night. I’ve heard from other SSRI survivors that this can go on for several years.

Second response:

My theory is that since Paxil has a dulling effect, that life feels very raw without it. This happens because before Paxil, you were already generally desensitized from repeated stimuli. Paxil hides experiences enough so that you have to get used to the little things again. So give it some time and your senses will adjust to comfortable levels again.

Third response:

I too have a sensitivity to light and sound that I didn’t have before my Paxil withdrawal. I prefer dim lighting and I’m always turning lights off in the house. Other than that I feel much better, just very overweight from this crap.