Started on Paxil and was wondering

[chinook2]

if anyone has experienced anxiety at the beginning of taking it? It seemed like I had my anxiety under control with Bupropion and lamictal but never quite cleared up the depression. So now Paxil. It has been 10 days at 20 mg.

I did have a few headaches and have not had a libido in a while so I wont notice this.Just wondering aboun the increase in anxiety.

thanks.

[metacomet]

Dear Dave,

Paxil use to increase your Blood Pressure and Hearth rate, so this might trigger your survival instinct of "fight or scape" and caused a panic attack. Just try to control your blood pressure and tachycardia too, cause sometimes this sensations (if these are first time ones) could be misunderstood by your brain.

Stay calm, and wait for paxil to do its job, you will feel better in 2 weeks or so. Try to keep busy and not keep thinking in whats going on with your mind or body.

DON'T STOP DOING WHAT YOU ALWAYS DO.

Blessings

[Paxiled]

I'm curious if you're seeing a psychiatrist or a regular doc?  Any anti-depressant can cause a manic reaction or cause anxiety if it overstimulates, but Wellbutrin is a pure anti-depressant, known for being stimulating, and isn't generally used as a primary tool against anxiety.  I think you need to investigate this further.

[Davezgrl05]

I was perscribed Paxil for GAD and Panic Disorder, I took it for two days and on the third morning after taking it, I was at work and had the BIGGEST panic attack that I have ever had in my life. I thought that I was literally dying and had to be rushed out of work in an ambulance. I had the worst sensations that ran up my back and throughout the back of my head and everything around me starting spinning. My eyes even got blurry, I was sooooo scared out of my mind that my doctor to discontinue using it and switched me to Wellbutrin but I can't even take this right now because I am so nervous about what happened to me!! That was 9 days ago and still wicked stressed.

[metacomet]

Yeah, Paxiled is right, and once you start taking it, is like you were married with it...

Try to evaluate the dimension of your disorder and see if really worth it to take this med.

In my case my doctor told me that I will have to take it for life... so...  And if you start taking it don't ever risk an accidental abrupt stop of the intake cause is like starting over and the day 4 or 5 "zaps" will visit you.

[Paxiled]

Most of the problems with Paxil come when you try to stop taking it, although any medication will pose different side effects to different people.  My own recommendation would have been to definitely try Lexapro first and save Paxil for last because it does have a lot more reported problems than other ssris but it can also be very effective.  I can only tell you that for me it was very sedating until after a few years it gave me insomnia.  Weird, eh?

[chinook2]

Thank you

I can not imagine why we started with this med. I have read 80% bad things about it and its side effects. I am thinking I should use lexpro.  thoughts?

[metacomet]

Dear friend,

Paxil take its full effect at the second week of been taken. All this symptoms you're feeling are "normal" that means your body is getting used to it. Anyway, Paxil use to higher your blood pressure and hearth beat, so It will be good for you to go on a routine medical check for your pressure and heath rate in case of some tachycardia or hypertension, if so, you will have to take some light meds to control this secondary effect of paxil. In some time later your body will get use to it and will get adapted perfectly to the substance. Just never mix Paxil with other nervous system related meds, if so check this with your Doctor. Interactions with other drugs are so delicate so take care. But everything will be fine in some days, don't worry.

Finally if you feel like very accelerated, or irritating, or your mood get worse then this means that your kind of sensible to the substance and maybe you should start with a lower dose. Check this with your doctor too.

Good luck!,

Metacomet