When changing generic paxils has anyone had a problem?

[colt56]

A few months ago I started a generic paxil from CVS. It is a different manufacturer than the generic I have been taking for about 3 years from Walmart. Since I have been taking the generic from CVS I have been extremely tired in the afternoons and now I don't feel well every afternoon like clockwork. I only take 15 milligrams of a 20 milligram pill and have been cutting it down for 2 years to only 15.Is this happening because the depression is coming on and the paxil is pooping out.? If so do I need to increase the paxil back to 20 like it was originally prescribed? Or do I need to find an alternative?

[colt56]

Thank you for your help. I would like to eventually get off this stuff

[colt56]

Thanks Paxiled That is a great idea. I might try that approach soon. I have been taking my 15 miligrams in the morning this week. It has been kinda rough bout it is getting better. If I take it in the morning and evening like you did does it have to be in equal quantities? Thank you for your help

[Paxiled]

I don't know if it has to, but that's how I was told to do it.  The thing to remember is that Paxil doesn't stay in the body all that long, so you don't want to be without it to avoid withdrawal problems.  But as long as you keep it in each day I didn't notice any change in action except it did reduce my sedation.  Paxil reduces metabolism for many people, and can be a big weight gainer for that reason -- I gained a lot on it -- which is why it probably produces so much sedation in some people.    

[Paxiled]

Paxil is a very difficult med to stop taking, perhaps the hardest (along with Effexor) of the antidepressants.  So it could be the reduced dosage causing some withdrawal effects.  It could also be, as you're mentioned, that the different manufacturer isn't as good as your old one.  This has been reported before on this forum, though usually with clonazepam, but generics are not exactly the same as brand names and different generics are not exactly the same either.  Some manufacturers of generics have had a lot of reported violations of standards.  It could also be the opposite, which is, your new manufacturer is better.  Walmart will use the lesser of everything -- it's all about the cheapest thing, not the best.  Sedation is a very common side effect of Paxil -- I had it big time when I started the drug -- so it could also be this drug is being metabolized by you better than your former generic.  Trust your intuition -- if you've been taking a drug for a long time and the only thing that's changed isn't the dosage but just the manufacturer, then that's probably the cause, but before you conclude that ask CVS and your former Walmart what generic manufacturer they're using -- it might be the same one, which would rule that out, but if it's different, it can be a cause for this.  

[colt56]

Thank you Paxiled. Today I started taking my paxil in the morning instead of at night to see if that helps with the being tired all the time thing. I will let you know how that goes. I appreciate anyone who has any comments on this stuff. Thank you

[Paxiled]

When I was on Paxil my psychiatrist had me take in divided doses, once in the morning, once in the evening.  Not an increased dose, just the same dose divided in two, to reduce sedation.