Paxil withdrawl?

[kellycummings]

I'm sorta grasping at straws here. My doctor is gone for the weekend and I couldn't find what I needed on the net and I don't personally know anyone who I could ask.
My son is on 3 different meds, Paxil being one of them. I went to have the Paxil refilled and the drugstore told me that the doctor changed the dosage to a much smaller dose and wanted me to contact them before they filled it to be sure it was right. We had talked about weaning him off of it but I didn't know when they had planned to do it. Now I can't get hold of the doc, the drugstore doesn't want to fill the script without approval.
So, after all that, my son is freaking out. He's crying over video games, hyperactive to the extreme and more aggressive than normal. He actually hit the toddler today. He never touches him, never has. He's always known better.
What I'd like to know is, is this because of the Paxil? Is there anyone here with any experience with the drug? I'm thinking it could be that but it could also be an outside stimulant that's causing it. It's not unknown for this to happen to him because of something going on in his head or in his enviroment that I or my husband simply don't see. Seems odd that it coincides with the dropping of the Paxil though.
I know it won't actually do me any good but I was just wondering if anyone has seen this happen before. It might put my mind at ease for a couple days till I can see the doc.

Signed,
"Totally stressed and wanting to kill the boy" in Indiana.

 

[minsue]

I stopped Paxil suddenly without noticing any symptoms from it, but I was also pregnant and extraordinarily depressed/confused/stressed. I later learned that there can be very harmful side effects from stopping Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, etc. I wish I had any real info for you. Have you tried talking to the pharmacist about the symptoms?

 

[shereads]

No personal experience with Paxil, but I'm aware that there is anecdotal evidence that it is among the least appropriate antidepressants for children and teenagers. Sorry to hear that your doctor left you with questions and no way to get in touch. Is the lower dose in an increment that would let you give the equivalent of your son's previous dose until the doctor can answer your questions next week?

 

[shereads]

I found this forum regarding Paxil withdrawal for adults; hope it helps.

bhttp://www.marriagebuilders.com/forum/Forum28/HTML/003053.html

 

[kellycummings]

I stopped Paxil suddenly without noticing any symptoms from it, but I was also pregnant and extraordinarily depressed/confused/stressed. I later learned that there can be very harmful side effects from stopping Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, etc. I wish I had any real info for you. Have you tried talking to the pharmacist about the symptoms?

Without talking to the doctor the pharmacist couldn't tell me much. Since my son is taking to help control his OCB (he has autism) then the pharm said he wasn't sure what might happen.

 

[kellycummings]

Is the lower dose in an increment that would let you give the equivalent of your son's previous dose until the doctor can answer your questions next week? [/B]

I got none at all. The pharmacist didn't want to fill it since there were questions. He seemed genuinely sorry for that because he was mostly covering his ass in case anything happened.
It sucks, he cries and sings these incomprehensible songs that sound like old slave songs. Very depressing although after he's over it my husband and I joke about him singing "nobody knows the troubles I've seen." Has to be seen to be believed. Today he cried because he couldn't get past a level on Donkey Kong.

 

[Just_John1]

Kelli

No experience it Paxal, but my sister went through a systematic withdraw of anti depressants. I can recall though that through my youth every episode was timed with a refusal to take her meds. Sje was fine after a systematic withdraw. I just can;t remember what the meds were.

I wish you luck...


JJ1

THe doc's answering service won't refer you to who ever's covering for him? If you get cranky enough I guarrantee the answering service will find him for you.

Perhaps not very helpful but definitely sympathetic.

 

[kellycummings]

THe doc's answering service won't refer you to who ever's covering for him? If you get cranky enough I guarrantee the answering service will find him for you.

I'm very hesitant to talk to another doc because we've done that before with horrible results. Since he has autism, his case is very unique (like most) and another doctor has no clue. In the past we've had them prescribe drugs that did more harm than good.

 

[shereads]

I got none at all. The pharmacist didn't want to fill it since there were questions. He seemed genuinely sorry for that because he was mostly covering his ass in case anything happened.
It sucks, he cries and sings these incomprehensible songs that sound like old slave songs. Very depressing although after he's over it my husband and I joke about him singing "nobody knows the troubles I've seen." Has to be seen to be believed. Today he cried because he couldn't get past a level on Donkey Kong.

I think your pharmacist is wildly irresponsible. Anybody who knows antidepressants knows one is weaned off of them slowly, and that going "cold-turkey" is a risk even for adults. What a dumb way to cover his ass - by putting you and your son through an unscheduled "cold turkey" withdrawal!

Call. Threaten. Sue.

 

[kellycummings]

I think your pharmacist is wildly irresponsible. Anybody who knows antidepressants knows one is weaned off of them slowly, and that going "cold-turkey" is a risk even for adults. What a dumb way to cover his ass - by putting you and your son through an unscheduled "cold turkey" withdrawal!

Call. Threaten. Sue.

I aint real happy with them, that's for sure, but I'm more pissed at my doctor. They dropped the dose, which is fine, but didn't tell me. It's probably not even the docs fault, it's probably the nurse or whoever called it in for them. She really is the best child shrink in the area and I'll continue to see her but gonna have to have a talk with her about this.
I know the pharmacist cuz it's a small town and we only have two so I'll have a talk with him too. My poor little guy. It might not be so bad if I could explain it to him but he doesn't understand. All he knows is that he's sad and then incredibly hyper and then sad again. He's not even bi-polar. Sure is acting like it today though.

 

[Just_John1]

I feel for you Kelli

I know how difficult it is to deal with a sick child when you can communicate with them, I can't even imagine dealing with an autistic child. I wish you luck and I'll be thinking about you and your little guy. Best of luck, I'd offer you a bouquet of tulips, (it would be regifting... Thanks Min...) but I'm not smart enough to do the copy paste thing to ge tit to you...

JJ1

 

[shereads]

The great thing about small towns is that you can call the pharmacist in the middle of the night, if need be. Repeatedly. Every five or ten minutes if you feel like it.

He should know better; what harm could there be in filling a doctor's prescription for a smaller-than-usual dose? I'm mad at your pharmacist now.

I aint real happy with them, that's for sure, but I'm more pissed at my doctor. They dropped the dose, which is fine, but didn't tell me. It's probably not even the docs fault, it's probably the nurse or whoever called it in for them. She really is the best child shrink in the area and I'll continue to see her but gonna have to have a talk with her about this.
I know the pharmacist cuz it's a small town and we only have two so I'll have a talk with him too. My poor little guy. It might not be so bad if I could explain it to him but he doesn't understand. All he knows is that he's sad and then incredibly hyper and then sad again. He's not even bi-polar. Sure is acting like it today though.

 

[minsue]

Re: I feel for you Kelli

http://www.tulips.com/flowers/100%20MixedTulips%20250x250.jpg
JJ1

 

[kellycummings]

Re: I feel for you Kelli

I know how difficult it is to deal with a sick child when you can communicate with them, I can't even imagine dealing with an autistic child. I wish you luck and I'll be thinking about you and your little guy. Best of luck, I'd offer you a bouquet of tulips, (it would be regifting... Thanks Min...) but I'm not smart enough to do the copy paste thing to ge tit to you...

JJ1

Very sweet of you. Thank you.
As for the tulips, it's the thought that counts.

 

[kellycummings]

Re: Re: I feel for you Kelli

Yea! Thank you!

 

[kellycummings]

The great thing about small towns is that you can call the pharmacist in the middle of the night, if need be. Repeatedly. Every five or ten minutes if you feel like it.

He should know better; what harm could there be in filling a doctor's prescription for a smaller-than-usual dose? I'm mad at your pharmacist now.

After today I'm gonna have to go in and demand something. I can't let it go on like this. And when I'm there I'll tell him that shereads is pissed off and is gonna come over and kick his ass! He would probably know who I'm talking about, if you saw him the first thing you'd think is "dirty old man." LOL

 

[kellycummings]

Thanks guys.
I do appreciate the support. I guess I'm stressed about it and was hoping someone had seen it before and put my mind at ease. You've helped to do that. Nothing has changed but I feel better. Maybe just needed to get it off my chest. Hubby is asleep and I'm wide awake and worried. Bastard! LOL

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I have been on Paxil and came off it without a step down dosage. It was awful. Confused dreams, irritation at everything, lethatrgy that could turn into depression and emotional outburts over things that were trivial.

-Colly

 

[rgraham666]

I was on Paxil and I took myself off it. I hate taking drugs.

I had no side effects.

Although it would be hard to seperate withdrawal from the stress of living in a house with other ex-mental patients, supposedly ex-crackheads and other assorted psychopaths.

 

[jfinn]

Thanks guys.
I do appreciate the support. I guess I'm stressed about it and was hoping someone had seen it before and put my mind at ease. You've helped to do that. Nothing has changed but I feel better. Maybe just needed to get it off my chest. Hubby is asleep and I'm wide awake and worried. Bastard! LOL

I'm glad you're feeling better, but I'm still puzzled by your pharmacist's reaction. I can't imagine this situation being handled this way. My question is why you're the one who has to contact the doctor? Normally the pharmacist should do this himself when there are questions about dosages. Frankly I can't even imagine him asking you to do that since it's his responsibility to insure he's filling a 'script correctly. I've never heard of a pharmacist taking the word of a patient or patient's guardian about the validity of an Rx. They pick up the phone and call themselves.

That's another thing. Where has the doctor gone to that her entire office is shut down without contingients for any coverage of patient problems? That sounds screwy to me. There really should be a way to check your son's chart to varify the new med levels. I also wonder about a physician making such a drastic change without informing you first.

I could better understand if Paxil was a Class III drug (a controlled substance like oxycodone or ritalin) but it isn't, so he doesn't have to account for it in the same way. Individual state (and I assume, Province) laws vary, but it's likely that if he's really concerned he has the option of extending the old Rx strength for the length of time it would take to cover your son's doc's absense. Have you discussed this option with him?

If that doesn't work, and you really can't contact anyone who's taking over the doctor's practice then I'd suggest talking to the hospital where she has her privilages. Perhaps the ER physician or one of the house staff could write you an interim Rx to ease your poor little guy's agitation. They might even know who has access to the doc's records. They might even be able to contact the doctor and have the whole mess straightened out. At any rate they should be able to help.

Good luck.

Jayne

 

[kellycummings]

All better. Sort of. I went to the drugstore and explained how we might have a postal type situation if I didnt get something soon. He gave me enough to get by for a couple days.
What a clusterfuck. I'm glad that's over.
Thanks everyone!

 

[pop_54]

Hi Kelly, sorry to hear about your probs love, I've seen a similar behaviour problem with an adult recently who was put on antidepressants, then it was decided they were doing more harm than good and she had to come off of them. (She's 100pc better now without them).

I think you'll find the pharmasist is covering their arse, there is a big stink world wide about the over prescription of all kinds of antidepressants in past years. Law suits will be flying about like confetti soon. Normal people suffering nothing more than a 'bad week' have been sent over the edge by the drugs prescribed to help them it appears, or should I say prescribed to get them out of the doctors surgery, and out of his hair.

Your case is different because of the clinical need with your lad's autism, but all doctors and chemists are playing safe until the facts are known I think. Your doc really should have told you in advance, and should have left more clear instructions for the chemist.

Glad you've managed to sort it now.

 

[jimmies]

I'm sorta grasping at straws here. My doctor is gone for the weekend and I couldn't find what I needed on the net and I don't personally know anyone who I could ask.
My son is on 3 different meds, Paxil being one of them. I went to have the Paxil refilled and the drugstore told me that the doctor changed the dosage to a much smaller dose and wanted me to contact them before they filled it to be sure it was right. We had talked about weaning him off of it but I didn't know when they had planned to do it. Now I can't get hold of the doc, the drugstore doesn't want to fill the script without approval.
So, after all that, my son is freaking out. He's crying over video games, hyperactive to the extreme and more aggressive than normal. He actually hit the toddler today. He never touches him, never has. He's always known better.
What I'd like to know is, is this because of the Paxil? Is there anyone here with any experience with the drug? I'm thinking it could be that but it could also be an outside stimulant that's causing it. It's not unknown for this to happen to him because of something going on in his head or in his enviroment that I or my husband simply don't see. Seems odd that it coincides with the dropping of the Paxil though.
I know it won't actually do me any good but I was just wondering if anyone has seen this happen before. It might put my mind at ease for a couple days till I can see the doc.

Signed,
"Totally stressed and wanting to kill the boy" in Indiana.

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