Paxil for anxiety

[Dara]

Hello Doctor, I'm so happy to talk with you.  I have posted hear before when I was taking Celexa and Zoloft for anxiety.  Both worked great in the energy department, but seemed to aggrevate the anxiety.  I have since been switched to Paxil.  I have been on 10mg for 4-5 weeks now.  I still have tremors, serges of anxiety, burning and itching skin, dizziness, and strange sensations through my legs.  Is this within reason to still have these side effects in 4-5 weeks of taking it?  I also am concerned about the depressive mood it seems to keep me in, is the depression part of the journey and will it pass?  How long does it usually take where as I would notice a positive difference?  And as a Doctor, do you feel that Paxil is a safe drug (of coarse taken correctly) and one you could recommend?  Recovery from anxiety with meds seems so trial and error, in between with a lot of suffering and a lot of time wasted, so if I'm walking down the wrong road with Paxil I hope someone would tell me.   I value and respect your postings.  Thankyou for your time.

[vanhammersley]

Hello...

I have been on Paxil for 2 years, and am attempting to wean myself off (topped off at 30MG).

I encourage anyone thinking of taking this type of drug to think twice. I can say honestly it seemed to work, or 'numb' me so I could funcion in situations that I used to feel uncomfortable dealing with. But since deciding to get off the drug, I have discovered the 'hell' that it can put you through, regarding withdrawals.

I read other horror stories from Paxil users, similar to mine, and it's quite scary. My withdrawal symptoms are mostly the 'ZAPS' everyone seems to get, nausea, and I can easily fly off the handle. I hate it. The 'ZAPS' are the worst though. I can't even function some days because of constant ZAPS. I find that they subside after a couple days of reducing my dose (Im down to 12.5MG), but either way, I still get them. I hope I can find my way off this drug. I regret it so bad...Talking Therapy would have been a better choice I think...

Anyway, for those that are going through the same thing I am, I feel for you, and am right in the trenches with you. For those who are considering...don't!!!

[ecampbe3]

Hi all:

Just a note on Paxil, I suffered from a little anxiety, saw the commercial on TV, and went into my doctor and asked for Paxil.  I started on 10mg, and should have stopped right then and there.  Since it was the first time I have ever taken this type of med, I kept on going.  I even increased my dosage to 20mg.  Paxil changed my personality, made me "numb" emotionally, and made me sleep all of the time.  I finally changed the meds, upon recommendation of a new therapist.   She saw that I was not quite processing on Paxil, and it made me depressed.

After a about 8 months on the med, it took me over 6 months to get off of the Paxil (a 3 month cutting down the pill and about 3 months from there until I was back to myslef again).  Withdrawl was horrible (horrible thoughts of sucide, sweating, dizzy spells, etc).

I have heard other stories about Paxil.  I also heard that some people do fine on this.  Perhaps it is related to female chemistry as most of the horror stories were from women.  

I am not on 100mg of Effexor - which seems to be ok, I still have anxiety and am not quite sure how to stop it.  It gets worse 1 week prior to that time, and also when I am having pain due to my arthritis.

[Peagee]

Hi Metal - have popped in again (haven't been here for a few weeks) and seen your message. YES, it can be the drugs.  Not sure about one of them, but Paxil can cause extreme anger, irritability and particularly in withdrawal. You seem to have gone through withdrawal without zaps etc?  But you may still be having just one or two withdrawal symptoms, and aggressive feelings could be due to that.  

Suggest you do a search on Google or other engine.  Type in
Paxil side effects withdrawal symptoms
and research there, maybe it will help.

Could do the same for the other drug (sorry have forgotten which one you mention?) and see if that too has problems attached for some people.

Paxil (an SSRI) is a 'mind-altering' drug which affects serotonin, a neurotransmitter.  There is some evidence which implies that when neurotransmitters are fired at speed (LOL, for want of a more technical explanation - I'm trying to remember the best I can) then they are destroyed.  SSRIs make the neurotranmitters work too hard, hence kinda getting them fried eventually.  

Try here for some information if you like, but also try search engines as there's SO much info out there its almost impossible to put it all on one site :)

http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/182310

Hope the above helps and that you feel a little better soon.
Best wishes
Peagee

[live4metal]

I've suffered from depression since my teens and was on Zoloft for about 3 years until it became ineffective and was switched to Paxil.I took the Paxil for a year or so and it zapped me of my energy and sex drive so when I lost my health insurance I opted to stop on my own since I could not afford the expensive Dr. visits and outragious prescription costs.I did'nt really have a hard time stopping but one thing has concerned me,I am constantly angry and on edge.I've been off all meds for at least 2 months so this can't possibly be a side effect of the drugs could it?Have these drugs done permanent damage to my brain?I'm becoming verbally abusive to those around me and fear a loss of self control may lead to violence.Has anyone else experieced these symptoms?

[butterfly31]

Hello to everyone out there that is taking Paxil, I have been taking Paxil for well over 2 months now, at first I was taking 10 mg which then went to 20 mg after a week,, Now I have to take 40 mg because the 20 wasnt enough, I have severe axiety attacks to the point, at times that I wished I was dying just to get over them. It hasnt gotten to the point of not wanting to leave my house yet, I have been on several long trips which have really exhausted me to the point I dont want to travel while taking the meds,, but to miss a dose would be worse than not taking it. My doctor has done several tests on me wondering why my anxiety is so severe, and all but come up empty handed.
I was also told that I should be taking another med along with Paxil being that the attacks are that severe whether that is true or not I dont know,, being my dr hasnt said anything about that. I am a single mother of an 11 year old daughter and sometimes feel that I am not doing my best to get better so that way she can be taken care of the proper way. Being I know I do the best that I can with her with the problems that I have.
What I dont understand is if Paxil is such a great short term use drug why it takes so much to try and get you to the point that you can try and get through a day without feeling like your dying to the point you wished you were,, I am sure there are many more people out there that feel like I do,, is there an end in sight for this?? The Paxil I take makes me very tired to the point I want to sleep alot,, which is not usually me,, but now if I dont sleep I can seem to function,, my finace' is very worried, he says he could deal with the attacks,, but with me sleeping all the time he is worried that it could be more wrong,, Could someone please tell me what is going on,, or why do I feel so tired?? I have even went to drinking energy drinks to make it where I can get through a day without sleeping and that is not even working now,, I have lost alot of weight since being on Paxil,, 35 pounds within a 3 week period, which I like, but I dont like being tired all the time, I would like to know if anyone else can help me with this,, Thank you,,

[Keegan]

hi, i'm on 20mg of paxil. when i was on ten mg i felt nothing so, that is why my dr put me on 20.  I feel like myself again. we all get nervous so, make sure not to mix up your real feelings with anxiety. best wishes!!

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Paxil is a very good drug, as good as the two others you mentioned.  The side effects should be gone by now, or at least soon.  If not, talk to your doctor about going back to zoloft and taking a second medication, like Klonopin or serax, to help with the anxiety.

[amk627]

Hi DARA.

I am still on Buspar with Zoloft and have found this this combination really is working wonderfully for me. Buspar has been my safe haven. It really has. I take 15 mg. Buspar in the morning, 50 mg. of zoloft at lunch and 15 mg. of Buspar before bed. No more major anxiety rushes and just for the record I tried Celexa and Welbutrin. Celexa made me soooooooooo bloated and felt generally sick to my stomach and the Welbutrin kept me up like a zombie. Major insomnia. Just thought you would like to know. I have now taken the Buspar for over a year and the zoloft since Christmas time. So far so good, I wish you well!

[Suntan]

Just FYI!  I tried Paxil and Zoloft and both made me feel like I was buzzed out on cafine.  I didn't like the feeling at all and neither helped.  I am now taking Buspar again and it is much better.  I took it before for many years without any side effects.  Everything else bothers me alot.  Just an idea.  I am certainly not a doctor.  Just letting you know what works for me.

[Peagee]

Its certainly going to be trial and error with paxil.  And its likely that at some point in the future you'll find it a huge trial unless your very fortunate.  There are several posts packed with information on the SSRIs including Paxil (with the worst withdrawal record to date of them all) a little lower down the board. I hope, for your sake, that you take the trouble to read them rather than trusting medical opinion and TRULY regretting it later.

Whatever you decide to do, best wishes.