PAXIL

[XKARMAX08]

So almost two weeks ago, I was perscribed Paxil.
After reading all of the horror stories, I am so scared to take it.
I am nervous at how it will make me feel.

The doctor that gave me the perscription to take the meds,
told me that the medication can make you feel worse for the first two weeks or so.

I ABSOLUTELY don't want to feel worse than how I already feel.
I just am so confused on what to do.

A lady that works with me is on it, she used to get panic attacks and she has been on Paxil for 15 years.
She told me that she had no side effects from it and after about three weeks, she felt great again, like "herself"

I long to feel like that again too, but I am so nervous about medication!!!! I just cannot stress it enough.
I know that I need help and I thought I could teach myself to get over it, but it seems like the meds are my only other option.

I guess I am looking for re-assurance like most people that are in these forums are looking for.
Its just that we all need people to understand and relate to what we are going thru.

My aunt was also on Paxil and she said that she did great.
Other people and online stories, I hear some bad things about it.
I am supposed to go to the doctors for a follow up to this medication,
little does she know, the bottle of paxil has been in my purse for almost two weeks and everyday,
I struggle to get the courage to take a pill.
I am so lost.

Please, give me advice.
I know that everything works deifferently for everyone but this is getting ridiculous!!!!!

Thanks,
Denise =/

[cj29]

I am probably echoing many other peoples' opinions but the answer to how certain medications affect people is..."it depends."  But when I first went through this, I was EXTREMELY against ANY forms of medication whatsoever because of all the horror stories I had heard and what I had read.  Now I am a very staunch supporter of medications as long as they are combined with talk therapy; some choose not to use medication, which is another alternative as well.  I started to realize that for every horror story out there, there were literally hundreds of good stories; when we search the internet and other places, we often get the worst case scenario.  Heck, I get more side effects from taking a Claritan than any SSRI.  So, I know it can be very scary in the beginning, but as long as it is prescribed and taken the correct way, in my opinion you are not doing anything wrong.  Please keep us posted!

[suzi-q]

I have been on paxil for 13 years.  It is fine by me.  

All SSRIs effect people differently.  Worse case senario:  you don't like the way you feel and you go off of it.  And, the good news is, is that if it doesn't help you, there are many others to try.  

You do have to give it 2 weeks or so.  I do not remember if I had side effects.  But I was in such bad shape to  begin with that I wouldn't have even noticed!

Best to you.

[Jikan]

Namaste,

Your doctor prescribed that particular medication to you for a specific reason. Not taking it is not going to help you at all.

If negative side effects occur, you can always consult with your doctor and attempt a different course of therapy.

I hope you find the fortitude to just take your medication. The sooner you start, the sooner you may start to feel better.

Michael

[Autumnx1003]

I just want you to know that I totally understand how you feel, and I am pretty much in the same boat.  I have suffered with GAd my whole life, but I had always been able to manage it without medication.  In fact, I scoffed at anyone who said that they were so anxious that they needed meds. "Not me!" I always proclaimed proudly.  Then in March of this year, at the ripe old age of 29, I had a bad incident of tachycardia that took me to the ER.  Everything looked fine after extensive medical tests, and turns out that my GAD has now morphed into panic attacks.  I have never suffered panic attacks before now.  Since that fateful day, my whole life has changed.  I wake up every day with my heart beating fast, and I cannot seem to shake my anxious feeling, morning to night.  It is relentless and has drastically reduced my quality of life.  I have a teenage cousin who has suffered just like me, and after a year or two of therapy, her pediatrician decided to put her on 20mg of Prozac (fluoxetine).  In about 2 weeks, this gilr who had been previously so anxious that she almost quit school, completely changed back into the bubbly teenager she was before anxiety struck.  She ony stayed on the meds for a few months, and since then she has been absolutely fine (she is presently off the meds).  With her success, I have decided to try Prozac myself, although I cannot seem to muster up the guts to take a full 20mg.  I'm currently taking 5mg. I'm going to see a psychiatrist in about 2 weeks and I want to see what he thinks about my medication.  Like you, I am such a skeptical and easily firghtened consumer, and it has taken me a lot of anguish to make this decision to try meds.  But, if I can get only a fraction of the relief my cousin did, I'm willing to risk the side effects (I think anyway).  

I realize that my cousin's success is probalby not the norm, but I have been doing extensive personal research about SSRI's, and the only bad stores i have found are online.  I actually have my MA in mental health, and I have spoken to several colleagues who have said that they have never had a client who had bad experiences on SSRIs.  And if they did, it was minor.  Also, some of friends and peers actually take SSRIs and they, too, have reported success, rather than failure.  So, I have been weighing these things, and it seems like, for me anyway, medication may be worth a shot.

Everyone IS different, though, and ultimately, no matter what you read or hear about, your experience with medication will be very personal to YOU.  Please let us know your decision, though...that is what is great about being on this forum--all the support! :)

Take care!

[Suzyq0826]

When I was first prescribed meds for my anxiety we went through several...Started with prozac, (which only made me a zombie), then zoloft, then paxil and finally Xanax. The Xanax works for me because it doesn't take several weeks to become effective, and I don't have to take it every day, only when I need it.

You're right, everyone reacts to the numerous available medications differently, I did not feel worse from taking Paxil, I just didn't feel better.

Like the people you mention in your post, Paxil works great for many people, but you'll never know until you try it. You are under a doctor's care, you need to trust him or her, or find another doctor that you do trust.
Good luck!
Suzy

[Trillium_Fae]

The worst thing that could happen to us anxiety sufferers is the internet! It's also the best thing too... so there's a double edged blade for you. If there's one thing I've learned from my trials on all these horrible meds, its that all medications work differently for everyone.

I was never tested for anything. My doctor just put on his "Let me think..." face and then pulled a prescription out of his pocket. After 6 of these and no tests or anything, I've had it with the meds.

I was on Paxil. Paxil put loads of weight on me, made me nauseous and never really took away my anxiety. I was very very sick coming off it. I was also on Effexor which completely took away my anxiety for about a year at the highest dose. With the exception of the HUGE weight gain, both meds were OK when I was on them... coming off them is Hell on earth. (mind you, I got to lose the 60 lbs I gained on them when I came off).

I wouldn't recommend Paxil or Effexor to my worst enemies... but that is all based on My experiences. It sounds to me that if it works with the others in your family, you should be fine too. A lot of these side effects seem to affect family the same. Just keep aware.

I wish you the best of luck. As for me, after recently (6 months now) coming off the effexor very slowly, I'm trying everything else under the sun not to go through that ride again.

You're not alone! Good luck! And don't forget to look for the good posts when you search the net, not just the bad.