What are the side effects when getting off of paxil because I am on 20 mg daily along with other meds and I am wondering because I hope to one day be off meds. Right now they really help and when I miss a dose I have an attack of rage, depression and irritability.

I was on Paxil from Jan. 1997-August 2000. I tapered the medication down very slowly, then when I finally was off of it I experienced sensitivity to light and sound. I had to keep my head under the blanket for a week. I even had static in my ears. Was very irratated. This lasted for a week and a half. Even though it was bad, I am relieved to be off the medication. Doctors never tell you when they perscribe the medication about the withdrawal symptoms. (I am finally off all my medications, but Paxil for me was the worst one to get off of.) Sometimes the symptoms came be so bad that people end up just staying on the medication. After I got over the worse of it I watched an episode on 20/20 about Paxil withdrawal. That is when I finally connected the way I felt as a Paxil withdrawal.

antidepressantsfacts.com/withdrawal-side-effects-SSRIs-emerging.htm

Everyone varies on how the withdrawal effects them. Never drop the medication abruptly than the withdrawal symptoms are even worse.