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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
HAVE NOT STARTED TAKING MY PAXEL YET
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
HAVE NOT STARTED TAKING MY PAXEL YET
by DALEXI, Aug 17, 2003 12:00AM
I WAS PRESCRIBED 12.5 OF PAXEL BY MY PCP LAST WEEK, HE GAVE ME 14 DAYS WORTH OF FREE SAMPLES TO START OUT WITH. I WENT TO SEE HIM BECAUSE I NOTICED SOME HAIR LOSS, LOST SOME WEIGHT, AND HAVE NOT BEEN SLEEPING WELL. I TAKE A LOW DOSE OF LEVOXYL FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW FOR MY THYROID. I THOGHT IT WAS THAT, BUT THE SYMPTOMS COULD BE STRESS, OR THYROID, MY BLOOD SHOWED MY THYROID LEVELS ARE OK, SO WE STOPPED MY LEVOXYL, IN CASE IT WAS THAT, (JUST TO SEE) AND HE GAVE ME THE PAXEL CR. I WEIGH ABOUT 105 LBS, FEMALE. I AM VERY NERVOUS TO TAKE THIS MEDICATION BECAUSE I HAVE READ SO MANY SIDE EFFECTS. IS CR BETTER THEN REGULAR?? IS 12.5 CONSIDERED A LOW DOSE?? AT THIS POINT I AM MORE STRESSED ABOUT STARTING THE MEDS, THEN THE STRESS I AM TAKING THE MEDS FOR!! (HA) ANY ADVISE, OR ASSURANCE YOU CAN GIVE ME WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. (I AM GOING THROUGH A DIVORCE, WHICH IS WHY MY DR. IS THINKING STRESS) LAST QUESTION, SHOULD I CONSIDER A DIFFERENT DRUG THAT IS USED MORE FOR STRESS?? I AM NOT DEPRESSED, NOR DO I HAVE PANIC ATTACKS, I DID HAVE SOME WHEN I WAS IN MY 20'S, BUT IT WENT AWAY ON IT'S OWN. I AM NOW 41. THANK YOU.
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Aug 19, 2003 12:00AM
, Aug 19, 2003 12:00AM
There are a number of other medications, including Buspar, that might also help. The 12.5mg cr is the standard starting dose and it is an easier start and easier to stop version of Paxil. As long as you keep the dose low and stop according to directions, it is a safe way of treating your stress. Are you in therapy? IF not, you could get some help online at www.masteringstress.com.
Member Comments (6)
by shubunkin, Aug 18, 2003 12:00AM
I know what you mean about the side effects but I started on 20 mg and I now take 37.65 mg because that is what it takes to control my anxiety. I have never had any sort of side effect from taking this. And it is a low dose you will be taking. Everyone reacts differently to it I guess.
by skagway, Aug 19, 2003 12:00AM
i am up to 60mg aday and have no side effects. it will take up to six weeks to be totaly effective. so try it and if you do have sides tell doc to try something else. roy
by StupidMe, Aug 22, 2003 12:00AM
The best way to kill stress, anxiety and depression is to talk to your confiding family, friends, psychotherapist and doctor. But if you find the progress is slow and your sufferings persist and the distress affects your work and life, you probably have to take some medications, e.g. clonazepam 0.5mg at night for stress and insomnia or Fluvoxamine 50mg or Remeron 30mg at night for depression and insomnia. These medications resume your work and life normally and buy time for the psychotherapy to work. As your problem resolves through ventilating to family and friends, you can discard your medicine slowly.
by StupidMe, Aug 22, 2003 12:00AM
The best way to kill stress, anxiety and depression is to talk to your confiding family, friends, psychotherapist and doctor. But if you find the progress is slow and your sufferings persist and the distress affects your work and life, you probably have to take some medications, e.g. clonazepam 0.5mg at night for stress and insomnia or Fluvoxamine 50mg or Remeron 30mg at night for depression and insomnia. These medications resume your work and life normally and buy time for the psychotherapy to work. As your problem resolves through ventilating to family and friends, you can discard your medicine slowly.
by DarleneL, Sep 05, 2003 12:00AM
A web address was given incorrectly in one of the archived threads here. I want to offer the correct address for those wanting it. It is: http://www.drugawareness.org/home.html
