Anxiety drugs and dizzy side effects

[wonked]

I have been officially diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (the sort that was originally called "pure obsessional") and Generalized Anxiety Disorder over the years. Over the last 6 months I have been experiencing a huge amount of financial and job stress, such that my doctor was concerned enough to put me on Paroxetine HCL (Paxil), starting at 25mg and now 30mg. It is the first drug I have taken for treatment of my issues since 1995 when I was on Xanax for 6 months.

I started forgetting to take my pill over the last week or two, and over last weekend just gave up on it, because I just don't feel it's doing anything productive. I don't feel less anxiety-ridden, I don't feel more confident, I don't feel any disappearance of the "unwanted thoughts" (the key trait of OCD). Things continue. But what I have been getting are these weird light-headed dizzy-like spells. Sort of like when you have a fever, but there is no fever... A flash of light-headedness when I move my head or eyeballs. Sometimes light, sometimes powerful (enough to send tingles through my face). After some research I realized that people may be describing this problem in different ways. On these boards I've been reading terms like "brain zaps" or "brain jolts" -- not sure if it's the same thing?

I have stopped taking the Paroxetine (Paxil) as of last week and the light-headed power-punches have persisted for 3 days straight now, to the point that I can just barely concentrate on my work. I went to the doctor today and he prescribed me Zoloft instead of Paxil... But to be honest I'm dubious about this helping my problem. Right now I just want the dizzy feeling to GO AWAY.

The anxieties and stress can be treated in more natural ways for me right now... Change jobs. That's what I'm working on very hard. The OCD I've lived with since I was 16, and I'd rather deal with that than walk around feeling like I'm going to faint any minute.

Any advice as to whether I should even bother with Zololft?

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Paxiled gave you the best advice.

[weescott]

lots of psyc drugs cause nasty side effects and nasty withdrawls. Ive been on zoloft for five years and have liked it because for me it had no side effects. these meds react with people differently. I have GAD and am getting off zoloft bc I need something stronger but it helped with low- moderate anxiety and my depression. hopefully you will do well with zoloft

[Paxiled]

You're suffering Paxil withdrawal.  You shouldn't stop this med abruptly.  You have two choices:  tough it out, or go back on the last dose at which you felt fine and taper off much more slowly.  If you choose to tough it out, some people have reported some relief from the head symptoms from a heft dose of fish oil every day.