Paxil Stimulation....ughhh!! Help???

[michelleanne]

Hi all, well, it's been 2.5 months of Paxil, and about 2 months of it on 20mg.  I take about .5mg Klonopin with it, but lately, that's increased to .75mg.

Please help (b/c my OB-gyn doesn't quite get it I guess, and in the military, you can't see a reg doc if your preggers, just your OB)....WHY am I still feeling anxious/jittery after I take my Paxil????  Klonopin helps, so that's nice, but gosh this ***** a$$.

I've been self-medicating lately, going down to 10mg Paxil everyday/every other day, and still .5mg Klonopin (or .75mg) - - hoping that will help.  It's been a few days, but who knows.

Anyone on here (Ryan...) having similar issues that can help or try to explain what the heck is going on????  ps:  the Paxil is for panic attacks.

AND, one more q...what would the affects be if I took my 20mg Paxil, .5mg Klonopin, and 1mg Ativan?

Thanks to all =)

[michelleanne]

Anyone...?

[suzi-q]

I am not quite sure about your meds.  I do take paxil also, but I don't remember it ever making me jittery like you.  It sounds like you may need MORE, not less, of the paxil.  OR THE PAXIL doesnot agree with you.  Many times a person has to try more than one med to get it right.  I wouldn't combine the ativan with the klonopin.  

Hopefully Ryan or someone else will post regarding your medication issue.  Maybe post your question under another topic like "Medication Question" this way, nursegirl, ryan and others who are more familiar will definitely read it.

I wish you the best.  It is a shame that you can't get to a regular MD for this.  Any chance of a Psychiatrist? or is that a no-no on a military base????

[suzi-q]

BTW....I take 50 mg of Paxil daily and 30 mg of Buspar (anti-anxiety med)...I know my meds are high...but that is what I needed. I found the combo of the buspar with my paxil did the trick to take away those morning and daily "jitters" I would get.  Not 100% but enough so I can function and not have to deal with the dry heaves in the morning.

I also have Klonopin that I take on an "as-needed" basis.

[remar]

i take paxil, a very low dose, 10mg. because 20mg made me so tired and i gained weight. i agree with suzi-q maybe you need to up your dose or maybe you need a different med. i've heard that paxil makes some people jittery. we're all different and medication effects us in different ways. i hope you start feeling better. take care. remar

[GoldSilver33]

I haven't taken Paxil in years, but I did get jittery and anxious on it.  For me, it wouldn't go away until I switched medicine.  In addition, you may check if you have eaten well while on it.  I noticed when I was in an empty stomach the medicine made me more jittery.  Although, the drug worked very well intially.  I never got more than 20MG per day.
You may try something like Lexapro or Celexa.

I am not sure why your doc will put you on three meds?  Taking three may cause excess sedation.  He or She may give you low dosages of all three to reduce interaction or side effects.

[nursegirl6572]

Being that you are pregnant complicates things of course.  Youch.

I don't know what you mean by your OB not "getting it"....you mean he/she is not recpetive to your concerns?  If that is the case....you need to be firm, demand an appt to discuss these issues.  I would suggest changing docs all together, but I don't know if that is an option for you or not, with the military component?

Of course, a lot of SSRI's cause an initial spike in anxiety and that "jittery" feeling, but IMO, you have given it ample time to resolve....almost 3 months?  It should be improving by now.  You just may not be able to tolerate the Paxil...you may need a totally different medication.

Also, just FYI....messing around with the doses as you have been doing is most certainly adding to your symptoms.  With SSRI's, there needs to be a daily dose of the same amount, preferrably at the same time.

Call your doc asap, tell the receptionist that you have a lot of concerns and are NOT tolerating the meds well at all and that you would like to be seen.  Until you get to the appt...take the meds exactly as prescribed.  With you being pregnant, really....your OB *is* the best person to handle this for you, vs like a family doc.

Good Luck...let us know how it turns out ok?  Best wishes.