Four years of fear about your heart, with every test coming back normal, is exhausting, and it's understandable that you want to be free of medication. Please don't taper on your own. Paroxetine is known for causing withdrawal-like symptoms (palpitations, anxiety, restlessness) when reduced quickly, and cutting tablets in half can be too abrupt a drop. That can look exactly like a relapse, even when it isn't. Your professor's advice to continue is reasonable for now, but the sleepiness deserves a direct conversation with the prescriber. Timing of the dose, a dose adjustment, or reviewing whether amisulpride is still needed are all options, and a psychiatrist can plan a slower, structured taper when the time is right.
What often makes the biggest difference for cardiophobia is learning why the body's alarm keeps firing even when the heart is healthy, and retraining that response. Medication calms the symptoms, and therapy such as CBT works on the fear cycle underneath, which is what makes future tapering safer. As a medical student, you may also be caught in a loop of over-monitoring your own body, and that is worth exploring gently. A therapy session can help you build those skills and reduce your dependence on medication over time. If panic ever feels unmanageable, or you have thoughts of harming yourself, please reach out for help right away. Call or WhatsApp: nine two six six seven two six zero six five.
Answered2026-09-30 13:17:11
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