I have been taking 20 mg. Paxil since 1993 for migrane headaches. During that time I have gained 100 lbs. I no longer have the headaches so my doctor decided last week to switch me from Paxil 20 mg. to Prozac 20 mgs. in hopes that I might get some of this weight off.
I am a sixty year old female. I am also diabetic.
I stopped taking the Paxil on May 26th. It is Sunday evening now and I am feeling like I have a slight case of the flu. I am also experiencing mild "brain zaps", however, nothing like it was when I tried going cold turkey off Paxil in 2005. My doctor feels that the Prozac will catch me and that I will not suffer too badly with side effects.
Is there anyone out there who has had this experience?
Should I break down and take 10 mg. of Paxil tonight before going to bed or just let the Prozac get in my system?
Please, I need your advice!
Thanks so much.
Caroline

Prozac takes a little longer to get adjusted in your system. Always go with your doctors advice, although I would start taking the Prozac before tapering off the Paxil. Then I would taper slowly, like in a few days go down to 15mg (if it's possible to split them up to that dosage) for a week then down to 10mg, then 5mg before stopping completely. Going from 20mg Paxil down to 10mg for a week or so, then stopping may be a bit of a struggle..... the brain zaps, flu like symptoms, etc, etc are all from the come down side effects (In My Opinion) and that is just to fast to try stopping this medication, Paxil is a very powerful med with a short half life which I think contributes to the side effects when coming off. Proceed with slow caution.

After all the stories I've heard and my own personal experience, I found it best to taper off SLOWLY... even when starting another medication. Good Luck

When paroxetine 'pooped' out my Doc wanted me to change to prozac. I went through terrible withdrawal and nearly ended up in hospital. I am not a health professional and have only my own experience to go on. But NO other AD (Prozac, mirtazapine.) would counter withdrawal from Paxil. I also had anxiety and intestinal disturbance and my wife complained of Body odour. So this drug was not for me. Purely guessing here, but if you have done well for such a long time I could not imagine weight gain being due to paxil. I gained weight during my treatment with paxil and during my torment trying to find a replacement I lost 10kg but thought it more due to my distressed emotional state and an increase in exercise. Initially I tried weaning paxil by halving the dose every two weeks starting from 20mg. initially I actually felt better. At two weeks on 5mg the withdrawal hit. Body pain, brain pain, flue like symptoms. As soon as I restarted paxil the symptoms abated. And my 'Doc' did not know this would happen!!!! Eventually I was able to change to mirtazapine by halving paxil every 5 weeks and simultaneously ramping up mirtazapine. I would warn you to be careful how you go off this drug. Everyone is different! So I cannot tell you that you will get withdrawal but I did and therefore many others must also be in danger. The medical profession is still very much in the dark with A&D drugs. Hopefully you will keep us up to date on how you fair so that if I am correct others can be saved from the horror withdrawal of these drugs.