Cross tapering Paroxetine to Vilazodone
I started paroxetine 20 mg in 2019 after being on Cymbalta for 10 years. Two years ago I increased Paroxetine to 30 mg due to some increased anxiety. Paroxetine was a wonderful drug for me and I felt 100% until this January when I went through an intense episode of vertigo that took a month to resolve. After that my anxiety came back full force and after increasing Paroxetine to 40 mg for two weeks with terrible side effects, my psychiatric NP suggested I switch to Vilazodone. I am in the process of crosstapering. The first week - lowered Paroxetine to 20 mg, added 10 mg Vilazodone. Second week - Paroxetine 15 mg, 10 mg Vilazodone. Third week - 10 mg Paroxetine, 20 mg Vilazodone. This is where I am now. Fourth week will be 5 mg Paroxetine, 20 mg Vilazodone. Fifth week will be 2.5 mg Paroxetine, 20 mg Vilazodone. Sixth week will be no Paroxetine and NP and I will decide if we should raise Vilazodone to 30 mg, depending on how I feel. Unfortunately, I have read way too much here and other sites about the horrors of paroxetine withdrawal. Perhaps that information is having an impact on my symptoms (expecting the worst). Crosstapering really doesn’t allow for micro dosing which seems to be the safest way to discontinue paroxetine. I am having extreme body aches, like I have the flu only worse; internal shakiness; excessive sweating; feelings of hopelessness; bouts of crying and vivid dreams. I don’t know if it’s withdrawal from Paroxetine, side effects of Vilazodone or a combination of the two. Am I decreasing Paroxetine too quickly? Am I putting myself at risk for discontinuation syndrome or PAWS? I can take Xanax .50 mg/2x day, but I have a fear of becoming dependent on it so have limited myself to .25 mg per day which essentially does nothing. I am a 73 year old female. Getting off Paxil is a good thing because it seems it is contraindicated for seniors. I would appreciate any encouragement, similar stories or words of advice. I am really struggling. Thank you for reading.