can paxil, lorazapam and buspar cause major personality changes?

[cacy]

My husband started taking 30mg of paxil, buspar and 1 mg of lorazapam 3 times a day in October.  Since then life has been
insane.  He says he isn't addicted, but continues to take all of these drugs prescribed by a psychiatrist with only 3 month checks.  We have separated and he denies anything is wrong.  After all of the research I have done, this is scary..Why isn't anyone informed of the dangers of these drugs??  What is the possibility of stopping these...He says he is perfectly normal and everyone says he isn't.  What can be done...He is a drastically different person than before and I seem to be the only one very concerned...He also drinks 2-3 drinks a night and says I am over reacting to the change of personality.  
What is the logical step trying to convince him it is addictive.
What can be done to get his psychiatrist to stop this?? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
CACY

[IrishRose]

Hi Cacy,

Currently there are some class action lawsuits springing up against the pharmaceutical company that makes Paxil. I can't think of the name of it right, now, but I am checking into this as I have a 23 year old son addicted to Paxil. The drug company deliberately concealed the addictive nature and other problems with this drug. My son started taking it a little over a year ago after becoming depressed following the end of a relationship. He was seen in an emergency room, the psych doc on call prescribed it and my son's regular family practice doc continued it. He was seen by a psychologist only once and never by a psychiatrist other than the ER guy on call. I have been after him to get some help, but he doesn't listen to me. The Paxil changed his personality remarkably. He was always a quiet, kind of shy kid, very creative and smart. He is still smart I guess but he is very outgoing now, which for him has been good in some ways but the few times he has tried to go off it he has experienced horrible symptoms, dizziness, nausea, extreme mood swings. He is seeing a different MD now with a plan to taper him off but I am really afraid for him. Ultimately the use of this drug is his responsibility, but obviously he and many others who have had it prescribed have not had the whole story prior to getting on it or they might not have.

[Danielincc]

I had to comment on your behaviour sir. Why don't you offer some genuine help to the addicts that come here for legitimate help? Instead like the dope fiend you are, you revel in your drug use! You are one sick man and need professional help ASAP. Your techniques your share for preventing withdrawal is further signs of how sick you are. You should offer help to no one until you have proven that you keep your disease in remission.  Sir, you have a serious yet treatable disease! So be a man and get some help! Do not become defensive! Just go deep down inside beyond the DENIAL  do what you know you must do! Get some real help before it is to late! Be Spiritual!(your higher power is waiting) Good Luck!

[J.B. to Brian and Vicky]

I know that you were not attacking Thomas in any way...just giving some helpful advice as a fellow addict.  Well, he does at least make me laugh with some of his honest talk!  Nobody loves opiates as much as he does, it's not humanly possible.  Thomas, me and a lot of other folks here have been through "the mill", so to speak, and are quite used to comments like yours.

When someone asks for advice from a specific person here, they will get it, warts and all. J.B.

[CASEY]

Thomas' ability to laugh at himself and admit his weaknesses don't detract from his sincerity in trying to help others. Anyone in AA or NA knows how destructive it is to judge others. Thomas is finding his own way,and shouldn't be judged and dictated to by the person who reamed him. Regarding Paxil, my son was given it in the er also, following a drug overdose. It is commonly given because it goes into the system more quickly than Prozac or Zoloft, so has quicker effects. However, it also goes out of the system extremely quickly and can cause horrific emotional plummeting if discontinued too quickly. Celexa or Wellbutrin are much less catastrophic if one forgets a dose which depressed people are wont to do. My son almost died when he decided to quit the Paxil. He crashed emotionally, despired, went back to the streets. We were called to the ER at 3:00 am to witness him hallucinating and writhing in emotional pain.. Encourage your son to explore alternatives, please.

[jule1]

I had to respond to your comments to Thomas.  Maybe you do not realize the withdrawls that people can go through once they stop using opiates.  I do not know what your situation is I am not sure if you have shared it or not.  Thomas has helped so many people here who have tried over and over again to withdrawl and finally made it because of him.  What exactly do yo find wrong with that? If it helps people stop using then what is wrong with it?  I truly do not understand what you find offensive.  I hope you find whatever help you need by coming here there is a lot to give and to take.

[cindi]

I was not going to say a word on this one,,,but I had to read what Thomas wrote and follow under my buddy JB,,,,,Thoams has been an opiate addict for many many years by his own admission.....and his ability to find humor in his own faults and weaknesses seem more positive than anything else to me would be more along the lines of denial which is not the image that Thomas has portrayed on this forum as you have indicated.   He is far from being in denail.....His recipe for detox is genuine as he has the tried and true rmemedy to alleviate the uncomfortable symptoms that peopel go through when detoxing,,what is so wrong with trying to help someone out,,,he never told anyone to run from their problems and use...he has never justified his using,,by saying he loves opiates is not really justifying anything...he has never glorified using..what he does with his own being is his business and I see nothing wrong with still being able to offer his timeless insight and genuine concern to those still suffering ,,,and Thomas shows no indication to me that he is truly suffering himself.....he knows what he needs to do....he knows how to do it and he has been here for me and several other members of this forum from what seems the beginning of time for me  (sorry Thomas) and I have him as well as the others for helping to pull me out of the pits of grief and pain several long months ago.......love to all  cin