tapering paxil CR?

Question: I have been taking paxil CR 25 mg for the past 4 months for PMS symtoms. However, i feel like that the dose is too much for my body to take, and for the past 3 days i have reduced it to 12.5 mg. Besides a mild headache, so far it has been ok. I want to know has anyone suffered from withdrawl symtoms from lowering the dose so abruptly. thanks.

Answers:
there is no other way to taper off the Paxil other than going from 25 to 12.5 mg. Whenever you come off a psychotropic medication, like Paxil, you MUST wean slowly off of it. Your doctor will probably have you take 12.5 mg for a week or two and then come off completely. Unfortunately, there is no way to cut those CR pills in half because any time a medication is controlled release (CR) it shouldn't be broken, crushed chewed, etc. You will notice a bit of a headace with coming off the med, but going down to 12.5 is the correct thing. Like I said, after a week, you should go to like 12.5 every other day, and then off completely. Slow is the key. you have to give your body time to adjust. Good luck

Other Answers:
Yes. You should not do this yourself, only the doctor can really lower a dosage. And it is usually a gradual increase or decrease.

And on another note, I know from working in nursing homes that you can not cut a pill without it having a score mark because if you do the meds loose effectiveness. Be careful when cutting/breaking pills. Also some meds aren't made to be crushed, broken down ect.

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I was on paxil cr for PPD. I stopped taking it cold turkey and what a mistake. I'm now off it but I had to wean myself. Every other day for a few weeks then 1/2 doses every other day for a while until I could function without it. I've been off since April 30th and feel great! If you do it gradually you will feel great too!
Good luck I was on Paxil for about a year when I wanted to get off it. I slowly went from 40 mg to 35, 30, 20, 15, 10, 5, and finally after about 6 months, 2.5. When I would try to stop taking it altogether I would get really dizzy and sick to my stomache. When I took 2.5 mg it would all stop. Finally I had to take my sister's Prozac for 2 days to get off Paxil. Don't ask me how that worked, but the doctor told me to do it. Don't taper off without telling your dr, and watch out for the side effects - they are totally present!

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