PAXIL POOP OUT,SWITCHING SSRIS

[jonnypm]

HI THERE, I WAS PUT ON PAXIL FOR ANXIETY/PANIC/DEPRESSION,APPROX. 11 YEARS AGO!ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO ALL MY SYMPTOMS RETURNED.I WENT TO COUNSILING,AND IT WORKED WELL FOR ME,LEARNING WAYS OF COPING..AS OF LATE ALL IS RETURNED ONCE AGAIN!!!EXTREME ANXIETY,PANIC,RACING THOUGHTS,DEPRESSION,POOR SLEEP HABITS.WELL I SAW MY PCP.AND HE WANTS ME TO STOP TAKING MY 40MG OF PAXIL,AND START TAKING 20MG,OF CELEXA!  I WANTED TO KNOW IF THIS IS NORMAL PROCEDURE,I AM A LITTLE SCEPTICAL BECAUSE  WITH MY ANXIETY COMES FEAR OF MEDICATION!!PLEASE ADVISE,IF THIS IS A WISE MOVE JUST TO SWITCH,FOR I HAVE HEARD SO MANY BAD THINGS ABOUT PAXIL....AND GOOD TOO! NOT SURE IF I SHOULD MAKE THE MOVE,BUT I DO KNOW PAXIL IS ALL DONE FOR ME IT DOESNT WORK.....THANKS JON

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Changing antidepressants is a common method if the depression continues.  Changing Paxil to Celexa is reasonable.   Celexa and Paxil are in the same class of medication, but some may respond better to one than the other.

Another option would be to add another medication from a differing class - such as Wellbutrin to the regimen.  

I would discuss these options with a psychiatrist.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_

[nsalvofam]

I have been on several anti-depressants over the past 20 years. They really do stop working after a while & that is totally normal. What is not normal is what happens after being on them for many years. All I can say is, if it isn't life or death, don't get started. I understand this may sound controversial, but for medication that is not supposed to be addicting, I am undeniably addicted. I experience horrible withdrawl without them. It used to be I could go 3 or 4 days without them, if I was on vacation & forgot my meds or if I ran low on money & had to wait a few days before I refilled. Now, I can't go more than 30 hours without them or I begin the ugly withdrawl symptoms. Tingling, numbness, headaches, & the WORST is feeling electric shocks thoughout my head, in my mouth, & then all over my body when I make even the slightest movement. I tried to withdraw slowly many times, but couldn't take the symptoms.
I wish I had never started. My doctor used to tell me that I couldn't possibly be experiencing withdrawl symptoms so quickly because of the medications half-life. PHOOEY!!

[Mikko22]

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[Mikko22]

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