New Paxil prescription for depression and anxiety

[MSW student]

My doctor just prescribed me Paxil to replace my Celexa.  I had recently started to have panic attacks, which I haven't had for years.  I'm a little nervous because I've heard so many scary things about Paxil, Paxil withdrawal, and weight gain as a side effect.

I was hoping you could tell me if I should really be concerned about trying Paxil.  I've had awful anxiety lately, and my heart rate keeps shooting up.  I also have mitral valve proplapse, which doesn't usually bother me, but lately I have been having a lot of arrythmic episodes.  I also have an ongoing problem with depression, and have been experiencing nearly unmanageable fatigue.   So, my questions are:  Would you recommend trying Paxil for the above symptoms?  What side effects should I be most concerned about?  And, due to the difficulties I have read about with withdrawal, should I even start this drug?  (I am planning to become pregnant in the next year, and would have to wean off the drug in about 9 months.)

Thank you.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Paxil is a good and well regarded medication but basically when you switch from Celexa to Paxil you are experimenting, since both of them usually cover about the same spectrum of symptoms. If you are switching because of panic attacks, you would be better off, if your doctor agrees, supplementing the Celexa with Klonopin or Xanax, which will have a more direct effect.  Paxil is good, but can also be stimulating to heart, as can Celexa.  Weight gain is real, but not a problem for everyone.  Withdrawal is manageable if done correctly over a three week period, and as always, you want to keep the dose as low as possible.

[ckel2632]

I don't know if gender makes any difference but I can give you a run down of what I was faced with, both from a symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and withdrawal..

Mine all started when i woke up one day and my heart was racing out of control and skipping beats (Actually had an extra beat that was building up pressure to make the next beat seem huge)anyway, the doctors came to the conclussion I had MVPS (S=Syndrom) and proscibed me with both Antenolol and Paxil (10mg).  That was 10 years ago!  I still got the heart palpitations every now and then and had a few severe panic attacks but for the most part was under control.  Over the past year the Paxil had become an issue, things you mentions such as weight gain as well as sexual side effects prompted me to go my doctor to see what could be done.  He prescribed me Wellbutrin and instructed me to begin weening off the Paxil (was up to taking 40mg/day), but at a fast rate of dropping down to 10mg for a week, then 5mg for another, then 5mg every thrid day for a week.  BAD IDEA!  Unbelievable side effects, Strong vertigo, wierd surges in my eyes and head, it was and STILL is something very hard to live with.  

I have weened myself down to 5mg per day so far, but I am still feeling the vertigo and some of the surges, not as much, but its still there.  I am assuming I will be looking at quite a few weeks to get my body used to that level before I go to the next step of dropping it further down and then finally getting off it! IT IS A NIGHTMARE to get off of... However, I was and have been on the stuff for 10 years.

The weight gain is there as well, I have heard of people gaining 20-30-40 pounds, I never realized it might be the medicine, but I have gained a significant amount of weight over the past years as well.  It DOES make you tired, I was to the point of taking naps everyday whenever I could! Now, while weening off and converting over to Wellbutrin, I have a lot more energy, almost to much!

Hope this info helps, Paxil served a purpose for me and worked for years, but getting off the stuff (Things the drug comapnies don't or won't tell you about)has been a nightmare due to the withdrawal symptoms...

[Aruba417]

Everyone reacts different to different meds. While Paxil can work wonders for one, it can be the wrong one for someone else. Sometimes you may have to try different meds until you find one that works. I took Paxil for about a year. It also made me extremely tired!!! I never had any energy and I was constantly yawning. Those side effects never went away. I came off of the Paxil and was also switched to Welbutrin. I had no problem with withdrawls, which surprised me. Once I was on the Welbutrin I felt great! I got all my energy back and felt normal again for about 6 months. Then all my anxiety/panic came back horrible. That's when I saw a psychiatrist (until that time my reg doc was prescribing the RX). She said that I should have ADDED the Welbutrin to the Paxil. I never tried it, instead I switched to Zoloft and Xanax, which also worked wonders, but the Zolof made me nausious at times. Then I had to get off it because I switched insurance companies. I am now on Effexor XR and Xanax which seems to be working. I've been on that for 7 months. Sometimes you find the right drug the first time, sometimes you have to try different things. Good Luck!

[454]

I just started paxil about a week ago.  I had anxiety attacks due to obsessing with my heart because of PVC's.  Thank God, the PVC's were found to be benign after extensive cardiac testing.  Is it normal to get lightheaded on this medicine?  Also, I am on Toprol XL for mild HBP and for the PVC's which had my heart rate pretty consistently around 60-70bpm at rest.  Since I started the paxil, it is now averaging in the 50's at rest.  I do work out just about everyday with a 2 mile run/walk so I am in fairly good shape 6' 175lbs 31y/o.  I too have felt very tired since going on the paxil as well.  Also, last night I while driving I became lightheaded and started to sweat and just felt downright weird.  This happened about 40 or so minuted after taking the paxil.  Ever happen to anyone else?  Thanks for the help.

[ckel2632]

Keep an eye on the weight, Paxil is known to cause weight gain (In my case pretty extreme over the years).. I don't recall the dizzyness when I first started on Paxil, but have had many of the episodes you mention with lightheaded and sweating episodes.  It definetly makes you have a strange feeling.. The Paxil definelty helps the panic attacks caused from your MVP'S (I had the exact same thing)scares you to death when you have them.  Good luck, and just remember as your doctors have probally told you, the MVP'S won't hurt you!

[nesschoc]

Hi there i too have been taking paxil for just under ten years and i just cant go off them!
The affects are so horrible for me that i just give in and start again.
This is so crazy because i just dont need to be on them any more.
Im angry at the company who makes these horrid tables.
My advise to anyone thinking of starting paxil, "DONT DO IT

[HELPE UNDERSTAND]

PAXIL MAKES ME VERY TIRED BUT I CANT SLEEP THEY SAY IT WILL HELP BUT SO FAR IVE BEEN ON IT FOR 3 MONTHS AND THE ONLY CHANGE IVE SEEN IS IM NOT AS NERVOUS BUT I STILL CRY AND ALL OF THE ABOVE

[HELPE UNDERSTAND]

I HAVE PVC'S AND I WONDER SOMETIMES IF MY PAXIL IS THE CAUSE, DOCTORS TELL ME NO BUT THEY REALLY NEVER HAVE BEEN WHERE WE ARE.THEY DONT KNOW WHAT CAUSES THIS ANXIETY,DEPRESSION OR PANIC ATTACKS IVE HEARD THAT FROM SO MANY DOCTORS INCLUDING MY MENTAL DOCTORS,I GET CHEST PAINS AND I RUN TO THE HOSPITAL, I FEEL LIKE I CANT BREATH, THEN I GET SCARY THOUGHTS THAT IM GOING TO DIE.
DOCTORS ARE BEGGING TO THINK IM CRAZY BUT THESE ARE REAL FEELINGS AND THERE SCARY. I DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO GET ANSWERS ABOUT THIS BUT NO ONE REALLY KNOWS EXCEPT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IT EVERYDAY.I HAVE RAN UP ABOUT $10,000 IN MEDICAL BILLS TRYING TO FIND ANSWERS BUT THEY GIVE ME NOTHING, I WISH THERE WAS A SUPPORT GROUP TO HELP PEOPLE TO LEARN FROM OTHERS WHAT THEY HAVE EXSPERIENCED AND HOW EACH DEAL WITH IT BECAUSE ITS BEEN 6 MONTHS FOR ME AND I STILL AM UNABLE TO DEAL WITH IT BECAUSE IM AFRAID THE DOCTORS ARE MISSING SOMETHING.THERES NOT A DAY THAT GOES BY THAT I DONT FEEL SICK SOMEHOW AND TIRED ALL THE TIME BUT I CANT SLEEP.IVE TRIED EVERYTHING BUT A SLEEPING PILL AND I DONT WANT TO BECOME DEPENDANT ON PILLS TO GET THREW LIFE.

[momnurse]

I've been on Paxil for several years also. Started with 20mg due to stress with undiagnosed nerve demylinization in neck, which cause some weird symptoms. Anyway I felt better after a couple of months. Since though I have gained 40 lbs, spend too much and trying to wean of . I have been on 10mg for about a years and can't go further. I started Wellbutrin XL 4 days ago and stopped Paxil, but today noticed vertigo and zaps. I thought I wouldn't have to continue both. It is very disappointing, but I have nothing to be depressed about. I think I'm more compulsive and stay flipped out about matters that I shouldn't.

[HELPE UNDERSTAND]

has anyone taken paxil and trazodone together? i went from having anxiety attacks to a major depression. i don't know where to turn it's like all they want to do is pump me full of pills and i'm scared of taking any medicine. i know paxil really doesn't work for me but i hope it works for someone else because all of us are different.they said that trazodone will help my mood but in which way? if you have any answers please leet me know thanks!

[BxrMom]

Has anyone here noticed that when you started paxil that you got alcohol cravings? I am drinking heavy on a nightly basis with no hangover whatsoever. It is scary, but I dont want to stop... I drink myself into black out state! Can anyone relate???? Please help this is bad!

[karazy]

oh my God....I just got off the phone with my sister talking about this very thing. I was on paxil and trazadone for depression and anxiety...trazadone at night to help me sleep...which I didnt need later on because all I did on Paxil is sleep. All, that is except, drink drink drink day to night, was not drunk and no hang over.  And that is not all, I started the Paxil at 33 right...didnt used to drink at all nor smoke....get this I started smoking at 34 and couldnt stop...smoking for God's sake, I hate cigarettes....but I smoked and drank like a bar trooper for almost 11 years and would panic at the thought of even trying to give up my destructive routine....my has doctor switched me to Wellbutrin in the daytime and 10 mgs of Paxil at night because Wellbutrin does not do much for anxiety.....and we all now what a ***** it is to get off Paxil...buzz buzz zing zing.  Within one week I no longer even had the thought of drinking, and smoking tasted awful I couldnt finish a cig. I havent had a cig or drink in two weeks and not even a craving or a thought for either one. It's funny I will instinctively reach for my bag to get my cigerettes when I have a cappucino or coffee,and then I stop myself remembering oh yeah I dont smoke. Talk to you doctor about this as an alternative, it really worked wonders for me...good luck

[Nezirov]

Check this out

http://ssri-side-effects.com/

Nezirov

[NugzMan]

I wish i never started !!

[PEPPERCHICK]

I HAVE TAKEN PAXIL FOR ABOUT 5 YEARS NOW AND I THINK IT IS A WONDERFUL DRUG I HAVE LOVED IT. EXCEPT UP UNTIL RECENTLY I HAVE FEALT LIKE I NEED TO UP MY DOSAGE TO LIKE 40 MG. I DID NOT HAVE MY PILLS FOR ONE DAY AND I WILL FEELING THE SURGES THROUGH MY HEAD THE TOTAL WITHDRAWLS FROM IT IT IS MAKING ME FEEL LIKE I AM LOSING MY MIND I MEAN I WORK IN A VERY HIGH STRESS JOB AND BEING LIKE THIS AT WORK IS JUST NOT EXCEPTABLE AND WHEN I STARTED TAKING PAXIL THEY NEVER TOLD MET HAT I WOULD HAVE THESE SIDE EFFECTS. NOW GRANTED I HAVE BEEN LUCKY I HAVE NOT HAD THE WEIGHT GAIN AND DEFINATELY NO SEXUAL SIDE EFFECTS BUT THE WAY I FEEL WHEN I MISS A PILL IS OUTIRGHT WRONG I CAN NOT EVEN FUNCTION I FEEL LIKE I AM JUST NOT NORMAL HAS ANYONE JUST WONDERED WHY THEY CANT HAVE A NORMAL LIFE I FEEL LIKE THE DEPRESSION IS GETTING WORSE AND I CANT HANDLE EVERYDAY STRESSES DO YOU THINK INEED TO UP MY MEDS PLEASE SOME ONE GIVE ME SOME ADVISE IS IT THE PAXIL OR AM I LOSING IT COMPLETELY.

[Want2befree]

If you do go on Paxil work with your doctor VERY closely.  I would suggest starting a journal to track changes you notice or just day to day stuff like how you feel, your reactions to certain situations, and the like.  I have been on Paxil for six years and was not told about just how bad the side effects were.  Paxil is an extremely difficult drug to come off of. I've been trying for two years.  YOU also need to be the one who makes decisions on whether you feel it is time to come off. My doctor just kept giving it to me with literally no questions asked.  After I missed a few dosages I was on the worst kind of roler coaster ride for a week.  You literally think and feel like you're going insane.  I was suicidal.  Please consider every story you've heard and do as much research as you can.  The Doctors that give this stuff to you and say it'll be fine have never been on Paxil and don't know what it is like.  You may have to consider that fact that getting pregnant in the next year might get pushed back if you do go on this medication and have the same difficulties as many of us have.
I don't want to scare you.  I just wish someone would hav told me these things, that I had done some homework.  If I had known the withdrawel effects were worse than the place I was in when I went on the meds, I wouldn't have done it.
Good Luck!