Hi all, hope it's ok to post on here even though the original post was a year ago, I see a reply 4 days ago and have been very keen to join a forum to try to get as much advice as possible from fellow sufferers of this nightmare drug!
I have been on seroxat for 20 years (biggest mistake of my life) I went to see the Drs after being ditched by a boy who I thought was the love of my life, and not understanding these feelings were in fact very normal and given time would go I was told by the Drs I had anxiety and these new drugs were the 'wonder cure' I trusted the Dr that they would help with these horrid feelings I had not had before.
He put me on 20mg which I faithfully took for 10 years. Never noticed any difference whatsoever, none! So, I decided 10 years ago to go down to 10mg overnight. This worked absolutely fine.
Fast forward to 5 years ago, and I started getting perfectly healthy teeth that had never been filled suddenly becoming loose and needing removal. Not choosing root canal. I was told I had bone loss, now these were perfectly healthy teeth!? No bleeding gums, not gum disease but a drug was suspected.
So I looked into this to see if there was a correlation between any meds I am on (This is the only prescribed med I am on) and bone loss there was!! I found other people had a similar experience with seroxat and bone loss resulting in tooth removal! I couldn't believe it! This scared me enough to want to come off this drug asap, so I made an appointment with the Dr who told me I could quit cold turkey as he has had patients do this that had been on it for as long as I had and successfully managed this, or cut down to 5mg for 1 week then 4mg for 1 week 3mg for 1 week etc until you quit! My Dr also told me that because I have been on seroxat for so long they would've stopped woking about 4 years ago as my body would've become accustomed to it, therefore rendering it useless other than any bad side effects!
Not so simple!! 5 weeks ago I took myself from 10mg to 5mg overnight by cutting the pill in half. First 2 weeks fine, then the 3rd week oh dear.... I have been just horrid, vile to live with, very very short tempered, ratty, shouting, such anger where I am full of rage, and it happens suddenly no build up, it's dreadful, also can get very over emotional at things that I'd normally have laughed off before I cut down!? But not everyday, about 3 to 4 times a week. Now my partner is struggling to cope with this even though I have told him none of my anger is personally directed at him, he sees it that way. I have been seeing things from the corner of my eye, like white flashes or black flashes too. I know it's the reduction in this pill!
I just don't know what to do. I am in no way wanting to go back to 10mg. I know that some of you are on 60mg, and this must seem so trivial I apologise I don't mean to moan, and I am thankful to be on such a low dose. But nevertheless I am going through these horrendous withdrawals like others here and so so sympathise, but feel pretty hopeless, is there light at the end of the tunnel? Have any of you successfully come from 10mg down to 5mg overnight with no adverse effects? How did you cope? How long do I stay on 5mg for? Do I need to go on a different drug to help cope as I don't want to start all over again with seroxat? Please can someone tell me if I'll get through this? I was thinking of taking 5Htp pills whilst still taking the 5mg dose.
I am due to see my Dr next week, but as nice as he is he sadly hasn't got a clue about just how very addictive seroxat is and just how difficult it is to come off of it.
Please can anyone on here give any advice? Even if just to say it is possible to successfully come down to 5mg. How long will this anger last on 5mg? Will it get better at 4mg etc? When do I cut down to 4mg? I don't think my Dr can help me with these questions which is why I have more faith in the seroxat community here.
I am sorry for this long reply. I really don't know where else to turn. Thank you all so very much.