Everyone is against Paxil but I'm desperate

[Vita89]

I need a non-stimulating anti-depressant because I don't have depression, but I have severe, debilitating anxiety. The anxiety causes racing thoughts which causes insomnia, anxiety is making me lose my job. I am to the point where I don't care if I gain weight, I don't care if I have horrible withdrawl, those things mean nothing to me because I am so desperate to lose my anxiety.

I have tried all the anti-depressants in the older generation and I have tried SNRI. I am back to SSRI, I took cipralex and Zoloft each for about 3 weeks but they both caused extreme insomnia and worse anxiety. Everything I take makes my anxiety worse. My doctor just prescribed Prozac and I am in hell with insomnia, it is way to stimulating.

I have the biggest feeling paxil is the only one that's going to be sedating ssri that I can try. And I've read all the withdrawl stories and yes they are scary, but I don't care I am in hell with my anxiety. Please what should I do

[michigan07]

Paxil is a double edge sword. For some it works well, for others it does not and can be a pain in the butt to come off of. I personally am still on it but debating if a higher dose will help with my anxiety, which can be quite severe. I never found the drug to be sedating personally. If anything it assisted in making my anxiety more manageable without the sedating side effects of drugs like Xanax or Klonopin. If you find that most other drugs have not worked and you are aware of the pros and cons it might not be a bad idea to try it. If it doesn't work, I stand behind what Paxiled said in getting off of it sooner than later.

[Paxiled]

I just responded to your PM, but Paxil isn't necessarily sedating.  It was for me, but it's not only very hard to quit, it tends to make you gain a lot of weight over time and it's so strong in its affinity for neurotransmitters and choline that often if you have to stop taking it other drugs don't work.  But as a last resort, and all natural medicine, other meds, therapy and relaxation techniques didn't work, it can be a very effective medication.  It destroyed my life, but that's because I didn't know anything about the downsides.  If you go in with your homework done, as you have done, I think you'll know how to slowly go off it if you ever decide to stop so if that's the only choice left it's the only choice left.  Just this -- if it doesn't work, quit sooner rather than later -- the longer you're on it makes it harder and harder when you stop.  I was on it for several years and was never told about the problems, and the psychiatrist I had when I chose to stop it didn't tell me about it even when it happened.  That won't happen to you, as you're prepared, but the best it did for me was freeze my phobias in place -- it never got rid of the old ones I already had and didn't get rid of my anxiety disorder.  Drugs treat symptoms, they don't cure, so don't expect more than they can deliver.  At some point you've got to try and find a CBT therapist who might help you help yourself get over it.