Question for readers about taking Paxil & it's side effects

[ChinaMike]

Hi Everyone,

I am new to this forum. I have mild to moderate anxiety that affects my moods, temperament (irritability) and especially my ability to work effectively. I have extreme difficulty concentrating on simple reading, typing and other computer related tasks. I can not focus on a computer screen for more than 10 minutes at a time without becoming confused and unfocused about the task at hand. Consequently I avoid computer work and procrastinate like crazy to avoid it at any cost. However this computer work is now essential to my job albeit it is less than 15% of the workload. I have been on a .20mg dose of Paxil, for the first month and now on a .30 dose of Paxil for the next three months. I have experienced many of the same side effects as everyone else has mentioned on this Site. Although there was some initial success after the first 2 1/2 weeks, now the progress is spotty at best after two months. I find I can read text books and technical reading materials but find working on the computer still frustrating. (I wear glasses and am very nearsighted). I take my glasses off to read books but can not do this at work as the computer screen would have to be 9 inches from my nose to see anything. lol.

But in reality, it is the other side effects I am more concerned about. At first my libido was great and the lower dose of Paxil was like taking Viagra.....(I've never taken it but can well imagine it's effect) But now this higher dose is killing my sex drive and I can not climax at all now. However this higher dose allows me to concentrate well performing hand to eye coordinated tasks and hard physical labour when needed. I don't mind this part but I quickly become frustrated and confused when sitting at the computer. My sleep is now worse off than ever (I fall asleep easily sitting at a desk) with the higher dose and I am putting on weight because my sweet tooth has returned. I feel buzzed an hour after taking my daily dose (9 to 10:00 p.m.) and again about 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. when it starts to decrease in level. I guess I could go back to the lower dose of Paxil or change jobs,(lol) but I was wondering if anyone else here has some advice before I go back to the doctors.

This is my first time using antidepressants and I am 54 years old and otherwise in good physical shape. Any comments or advice people?

P.S. I notice that the people here all seem to experience and share many of the same symptoms but just use different words to describe them depending on the severity of the symptoms and the severity of their reactions to the symptoms. I feel everyone on here is quite intelligent but perhaps we are all overly sensitive and highly aware of everything happening to us and around us and that this is what actually ails us. in otherwords, we think too much. Anyone agree or disagree with this obeservation.

Oh, another point I would like to make. I have visited many websites with forums. I get the feeling some people that come to a forum like this one are just scammers looking to make contacts and prey on vunerable people that they can easily manipulate and cheat. Please be careful if you make friends with others on sites like this, These scammers will stop at nothing to make a quick buck and they have little conscious or scruples about doing so. Take care everyone.

[Paxiled]

My own advice is to get off the Paxil quickly, before you've been on it a long time.  Paxil can be very hard to stop taking, and the longer you're on it the worse it can be.  They've already got you at a high dose.  What concerns me most is that you've described a mild problem and are treating it with a very heavy drug.  I can't understand how any antidepressant is going to help you concentrate unless your poor concentration is the result of depression or anxiety, and it doesn't sound like it is.  Did the psychiatrist tell you why Paxil?  I really can't say what's causing your attention problem. It could be you're just not a desk job type of person.  It could be some form of attention deficit. It could be you just don't like computers.  It could be lots of things, none of which Paxil was intended to treat.  So unless there's a lot more to this story about anxiety and depression, you're on one of the most difficult drugs in the arsenal that isn't intended for what's ailing you.  Why bother?  And if you do quit, taper down, don't do it cold turkey.  You warned us about scammers on websites; now I'll warn you about what idiots psychiatrists are and how little they know about the meds they prescribe, and pcps even less.  So be careful out there, too.  Good luck.

[tia77]

Hi I took paxil for a little bit and couldn't tolerate the side effects.  No sleep, stomach ach, headach ect.  It did make me feel normal when I took it mood wise.  I also took prozac about 17 or so years ago and I had the same sexual side effects as you with it.  Came off of it when it seemed like it was making my mood worse.  Can't give you any other advice because you and your partner have to decide if the sexual side effect is worth doing better on your daily living.  I think alot of the anxiety/depresston med do that.  Sorry and good luck.