Paxil Addiction

[jebat]

was only on Paxil for about 6 months before trying to quit.  I wanted to try a different anti-depressant/anti-anxiety medication.  It was then that I realized how dependent I was on Paxil.  I tried several meds and felt like I had turned into a monster.  I became extremely short tempered, moody and even violent.  I did not experience the physical withdrawal symptoms, but I did experience emmotional ones.  I started taking the drug Paxil because it was a tough time in my life and my doctor thought it would take the edge off.  My first concern was whether it was habit-forming.  That would be a mild way of putting it.  He said it wasn't, so I stopped 6 months later, as I felt my situation was more managable.  I felt about ten times more immotionally disfunctional than I was before I started Paxil.  If I had any idea I would depend on it each day, I would have just pulled my way through the tough time.  I am the primary caregiver of my 5 children and am terrified to get off of the drug.  It keeps me level headed, strong, confident and patient with my daily responsibilities.  Its been about two years now that I have been taking it and I feel that if I don't try to get off of it now, it will only get more difficult.  I do not have a good support system right now and am really on my own in this, so my natural desire is just to stick with the Paxil until I have people in my life who can help me through the withdrawals.  The stories I have heard about withdrawals from this drug are nightmares.  For the few weeks I stopped taking it I became a monster that I never want to be or have my kids see in me ever again.  Help!?!?!  Do I postpone the inevitable knowing that it will only be harder to quit?  Or do I continue to stay with Paxil so I can be the confident, healthy, loving mother that I know God created me to be?

[Venora Moonwind]

If the paxil is helping why do you need to quit? clinicla depression is for life and the med does for us what our body cant.I am bi polar and thryoidless and I take 3 meds and I feel great. Its not so bad to take a pill if it helps you feel better which is the whole point.I feel better than I ever have If you were diabetic you would take your insulin. its the same with us.take it and enjoyu the benefits.
Love Venora

[jmana]

I understand where you are coming from. I have been on paxil for 8yrs for Anxiety/ocd/depression. I had just hit rock bottom. I couldn't eat or sleep so I went to see a physc Dr who told me I need Paxil. And after 2 solid months I was a new person. No more depression, anxiety, my ocd is under control. But now after 8yrs I want off. I want to see how I do without it. I may not even need it anymore. And if I do then I will try Prozac. Because I have gained 50lbs on paxil and have no sex drive at all. I say all this to tell you I am coming off paxil very very slow. Like 2mgs every two weeks. Im on 20mg and this process will probably take a least 1 year to do. But it has to be done this way without feeling those horrible withdrawels. And feeling all that anger is one of the withdrawels. If you ever try coming off again talk to your Dr. and do it very very very slow.

Blessings,

Jmana

[katemom]

I've never really thought much about it, but I've been taking 40 mg of Paxil at night for a long time, along with 12 mg Klonopin, and 150 mg Trazadone. Seriously, if I stopped taking these meds, I'd have withdrawals?