Getting off Paxil, paroxetine, SSRI with L-Tryptophan
 

I have been working at transitioning off 60 mgs daily of Paxil. I told my new doctor first so it is in my medical record if I have any problems. We could not find any information about dosages so we decided to wing it. The original plan was to reduce to 45 mgs of Paxil and add one capsule of L-Tryptophan. The minimum capsule size is 500 mgs so I cut the Paxil to just 30 mgs thinking 500 mgs was a lot of L-Tryptophan.

I realized by the 2nd day that 500 mgs was not enough so I doubled to 1000 mgs with my 30 mgs of Paxil. I realized I needed more in the morning so I added 500 mgs of L-Tryptophan at bed time with my gabapentin. I have been doing great with this dose for the past week.

In a week or two, I will cut back to 15 mgs of Paxil and add some more L-Tryptophan. Hopefully, I will be off the Paxil completely in a month or 2.

My goal has been to get away from the Paxil side-effects. The sweating, nausea, and sexual dysfunctions have been unpleasant.

I think adding L-Tryptophan to a daily regimen may work good for many who are struggling with anxiety. It also helps with sleep.

L-Tryptophan metabolizes to 5-HTP which metabolizes to Melatonin and Serotonin. Although 5-HTP is cheaper than L-Tryptophan, 5-HTP is risky to take as one can overdose on it. It is more difficult to overdose on L-Tryptophan.

A starting dose of 500 mgs twice a day would be worth trying. Doubling that should not be a problem. Do not take L-Tryptophan without medical advice if you are taking an anti-depressant, especially an SSRI or SNRI . Effexor and Cymbalta, and norepinephrine are SNRI's. Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa, Lexapro and Prozac are SSRI's. Elavil (amitriptyline), a tri-cyclic anti-depressant, nortriptyline, a tetra-cyclic anti-depressant and MAOI's should not be combined with L-Tryptophan.

Natural remedies like St John's Wort and other natural substances that increase serotonin should also not be taken with L-Tryptophan or any anti0depressant.

I heard that 1/4 Cup pumpkin seeds or edamame had the same effect as tryptophan without the side effects. The other one was oolong tea (two cups a day) or kimchi or kefir to replace gabba. Haven't tried them myself but for those that want to try something natural it might be worth a shot.

Sorry if there's spelling errors. 4:30 with no sleep so who knows what I'm typing!

CC

The proper dose of L-Tryptophan should not have any side-effects. If side effects develop, one should reduce the dose until the side effects resolve. L-Tryptophan is a natural substance that is present in many animal and plant proteins.

The natural substances you mention would be very difficult to use daily and on a long term basis. Those who need a short term benefit might find them useful.

Definitely keep us posted with how you are doing Mark. I have been hearing a lot about the dreaded "Paxil Withdrawal". I am interested in more natural substances rather than drugs and if they work. And also, good luck. :)

Good luck with this, I only want to stay on medication short term until the PCS goes away. I think the longer you stay on them the more intense the side effects.

I also would like to one day get off all medication as well and appreciate this information.

Thanks, Mark. Keep us posted as to your progress with this experiment. Good luck.

Best to you Mark. I was on Paxil a few years ago (a lower dose, 30mg if I recall) and like you was unhappy with the side effects.

Was this for depression or other mood disorder? As I have mentioned in other posts I have found mindfulness meditation helpful. If your physical symptoms allow, consider light yoga, I find this very helpful also.

I have been on Paxil to help control looping thoughts, otherwise called perseveration. My mind will get stuck looping on mundane thoughts like lyrics to a song, the spelling of a word, a license plate number, etc. This can go on for hours and is exhausting.

I am dosing just enough to prevent this looping from returning. As I said, right now I take a 30 mg Paxil and 2-500 mgs L-Tryptophan capsules in the am and a 500 mg of L-Tryptophan at night before bed. When I started, I took 30 mgs Paxil and 500 mgs of L-Tryptophan in the am and the looping returned mildly. I increased to 2-500 mgs of L-Tryptophan and the looping stopped.

I am going to try flipping the dose to 2-500 mgs of L-Tryptophan at night and 1-500 mg L-Tryptophan in the am with my 30 mgs of Paxil. It may help with insomnia this way.

L-Tryptophan has a 12 hour half-life so dosing twice a day is suggested.

So far, I don't have any unusual Paxil withdrawal symptoms. I went off Paxil cold turkey last fall for 9 days by mistake and did not suffer any bad effects. My wife says I was a space cadet, though.

btw, I package up 60 days of my meds and vitamins regimen in zip lock bags so I don't need to open 14 bottles every morning. I did not notice that I had started into some bags that still needed Paxil. I was 9 days along before I noticed this error.

I have had a low grade head ache since mid day yesterday. I don't know if this is Paxil withdrawal or just my normal PCS head aches. I've been head ache free for 3 weeks.

Understanding PCS is more an art than a science.

How is it going?
 

Hi Mark,
Just wondering how your doing? I had major problems with Paxil. I had a bad reaction to it and never was able to take it. I have the looping thought thing sometimes. I did not know there was a name for it.
Hope you are coming off of it easy and not having any effects that are too bad so far. Be careful. Managing PCS is an art. Very intricate.
Brain