I recognize the irony in giving dire warnings to someone about to discontinue anxiety medication but:
* Research the potential withdrawal effects. They're much more upsetting and disruptive when you don't know what to expect or how to attribute the effects. But don't panic preemptively and expect all of them, just commit them to memory so that you don't panic if and when they occur.
* As others have suggested - taper off as gradually as you can.
* Do not schedule the discontinuation around any deadlines or professional engagements. Use a bad case of the flu as an excuse - assuming you're in the northern hemisphere it's flu season, and conveniently enough SSRI withdrawal symptoms can resemble those of the flu (http://www.aafp.org/afp/2006/0801/p449.html).
Having been prescribed paroxetene for crippling anxiety and having suffered through severe withdrawal effects myself, hopefully this will help.
Thanks, I think I can handle it now, I came back from the dead, any temporary shit that still allow for eating and walking will be water under the bridge quick.
* Research the potential withdrawal effects. They're much more upsetting and disruptive when you don't know what to expect or how to attribute the effects. But don't panic preemptively and expect all of them, just commit them to memory so that you don't panic if and when they occur.
* As others have suggested - taper off as gradually as you can.
* Do not schedule the discontinuation around any deadlines or professional engagements. Use a bad case of the flu as an excuse - assuming you're in the northern hemisphere it's flu season, and conveniently enough SSRI withdrawal symptoms can resemble those of the flu (http://www.aafp.org/afp/2006/0801/p449.html).
Having been prescribed paroxetene for crippling anxiety and having suffered through severe withdrawal effects myself, hopefully this will help.