Start up of Paxil, could use some encouragement

[miche31263]

I have a long history of GAD, panic, depression.  I used to take Lexapro many years ago, but after 3 years of not caring about anything went off, then after a relapse tried to go back on but that time didn't work.  So they tried Effexor (too agitated) Paxil (only took 5 days and got scared because of the horror stories) Zoloft (make me suicidal within 3 days, tried it two separate times over the years and same effect) Then was put on Celexa, which made me sleep non stop.  Then was diagnosed with fibromyalgia so Dr. put me on Cymbalta.  It worked very well. After 2 years though it just stopped; we kept going up in dose to see if it would work but did not.  So spent 6 months last year coming off Cymbalta (VERY difficult)  So then the psychiatrist begins again this winter with me. Prozac (made me mean after 4 hours of taking and extremely panicky, stayed on for a week to be sure, husband said to come off!) Savella (one dose was all it took, can't even begin to explain that horrible one) Well...so then we did a genetic test to see what meds I absorb, and would help.  It shows that I metabolize Paxil well, so she ordered that.  I have been on it for 5 days (along with my Xanax, because the anxiety is terrible before starting) and I am still having a hard time.  Super nauseous, tired but having a difficult time falling and staying asleep. I'm at 5m, trying to get up to 10mg, but I'm so sensitive that it's hard.  Does anyone have anything good to say?  I read all the side effects and the withdrawals and I'm just scared.  I was already before starting this too, so it doesn't help.  Thank you.

[miche31263]

Of course, after this Paxil, if it doesn't work, I'm looking at older AD, with a mixture.  But I guess add on to Paxil can be done as well.  I too am worried about the zombied state.  The Cymbalta definetely gave me more energy but then did not help the anxiety.  Wish the Dr.'s could figure this out.  
OH<  I was also diagnosed Monday with Esophagael Spasms, ...my esophagus keeps constricting and my throat won't swallow....I KNEW I wasn't making it up when I kept telling the Dr.'s my throat felt tight and I couldn't swallow....so that compounded my fears and now we begin a new road to fixing it.... My lifestyle, stress level and eating must get much better.  I do not choose to choke to death.  I've already lost 20 pounds in the last month from my throat.

[miche31263]

WELLLL..... after banging my head against a wall for a few days, and after meeting with the psych, counselor and GP, I will go back on and give it one more good try with the Paxil and try to ride out the side effects.  I will do what you did Paxiled, and do 5mg am and 5mg pm.  I am not sleeping more than 2 hours a night and riddled with panic/fear and in order to keep my butt out of a psyche ward I'll have to just keep on my xanax until the SE's wear off...
Not something I"m going into lightly, but given my history and my brain chemistry (which I believe once you start an AD it's damn hard to ever stay off them, tho there are a few lucky...I always recommend try the natural route first before an AD, I believe they alter our brain forever) I don't think this is something I can go a natural route.. I've been trying the past few days and just not working.  I just lost a sister in Jan and another sister who got over cancer last year to find out yesterday it's back.  So, I think I need to be on something in my case.  My sisters were also chemically inbalanced as are our children.  Tough road.  Thanks for letting me vent.  I'm sure I'll be on here asking for my own support.  I'm grateful for the internet to be able to have others to talk this throu.  Paxiled...what regime are you on now, if you dont mind my asking?  Michelle

[miche31263]

I'm most definitely trying to change the lifestyle and diet to treat the fibromyalgia instead of the pain pills and other meds they have given me.  It is hard to change a diet overnight unfortunately.  I am very open to a Naturopath, but they don't take insurance in my area, so I have to pay out of pocket, and they are costly.  Also, I don't know if they would be strong enough to help my brain.  But it is most definitely something I've looked into and still have not ruled out.
I know the Paxil didn't have much time to do anything in my brain, that is why I get frustrated that the side effects are so harsh...but then again, maybe it's a good thing to.  I don't know.

[Paxiled]

You've only been on it for 5 days, so it hasn't even started working yet -- side effects happen before the effects do.  So you shouldn't have a problem stopping it at this point.  It's very hard to do, but since you're having a terrible problem with drugs, have you ever considered trying a naturopath or practitioner of integrated medicine?  Certainly not as powerful as drugs, but if it works it's much gentler.  Combined with intensive therapy, maybe you can come out the other side.  You also say you have fibromyalgia, which usually also includes mental problems.  It's so hard to diagnose, maybe that's your whole problem -- if so, I used to manage health foods stores, and had several customers who had this disease and after failing miserable with allopathic medicine decided to treat it with diet and lifestyle changes.  It took awhile but all were pleased with the results -- not cured, but felt much better.  It takes a lot of discipline, but maybe it might help.  And have you looked into the tricyclics, an older antidepressant, such as imipramine?  Some bad side effects, such as headaches, constipation, and dry mouth, but for me it worked as well as Paxil did.  It just pooped out and so I ended up on Paxil, alas.

[miche31263]

The nurse called back and said the psyche wants me me to stop, get it out of my system, then see her in three weeks to discuss next option.  The next three weeks should be fun :(

[miche31263]

Thank you for your comments.  I had to out a call into my psychs nurse this morning.  I just don't think I can't ride out these severe side effects.  I haven't eaten the entire last couple days, and yesterday, when I tried, I threw up.  I'm having to take xanax almost every 2-4 hours to ride out the anxiety, and this is only on 5mg.  It am very med sensitive.  The nurse said I shouldn't be this bad with the Paxil so she will be talking to the psych and calling me back,  I just want to feel a little normal :( I am pretty sure that SSRIs do not work for me.  I'm so tired of being a lab rat

[Paxiled]

Oh, one more thing.  Paxil is known for causing a lot of weight gain, and it doesn't happen all at once, it goes on for as long as you're on it a little at a time.  Prepare for that and be prepared to change your diet if you start to gain weight, such as cutting out simple carbs and being very careful to get proper exercise insofar as you are able.  Also know that the ssris don't have the pain reducing properties that snris such as Cymbalta claim to have, though I think the real situation is that it just makes you not care as much.  If your pain increases it might be a magnesium problem, so that's something else to think about as these meds use the same pathway to the brain as magnesium takes and therefore can interfere with magnesium's muscle relaxing and nerve relaxing properties and vice versa.

[Paxiled]

I was on Paxil for years.  I'm the person Blu Crystal mistakenly says would say to never take Paxil, but she's also a person who tells everyone to not read up on the meds they take and learn anything about them and to trust doctors, who have definitely proven that most can't be trusted when it comes to meds because they don't do their homework either.  What happened to me with Paxil won't happen to very many people, but if I had done my homework and known about the med, as you have done, I would have been prepared and it wouldn't have done to me what it did.  But you are prepared, and you are the exact person I would say to go ahead and try Paxil, the one who has tried everything else, I'm hoping including therapy and non-medication modalities, and you're left with Paxil.  So now that I've corrected the record, Paxil isn't much different than other meds when it comes to start-up problems for some people -- some find it easy, some find it hard.  You're sensitive, which means you find it hard, but being sensitive has a good side as well, which is that it usually means a lower dose works.  What Paxil did to me was make me sedated, and it does have a tendency to give people obsessive thoughts at bedtime which for some people can make it hard to sleep.  What my psychiatrist did in the beginning because of the side effects was to have me divide the dose into two, once in the morning, once at dinner time, and that helped.  I was also on clonazepam, and the dose was halved -- fortunately I didn't suffer a withdrawal, which could have happened.  It never stopped giving me obsessive thoughts or sedation, but I was very active and a meditator, so I got used to it.  I didn't quit it because I was mad at it, but because it had changed my personality a little bit, making me more aggressive and angry, which felt pretty good after years of phobias but when I returned to writing fiction full time my writing just wasn't as good.  Because I didn't know, had never been told and didn't do my homework, I didn't know how to properly stop the medication and the psychiatrist I had then was a quack.  That won't happen to you.  You're aware.  What I would advise is if Paxil works and you settle down so you can tolerate it, stay on it forever if staying on a drug is what you intend, and given you're history, it seems you do intend to stay on drugs forever.  It's a hard drug to quit and can make other drugs hard to work once you've been on it for awhile, but you've already been through Cymbalta and that's also a very difficult drug so you're probably okay.  I say relax, you're reasons are good, you're educated about it, and try to let it settle in -- it takes time -- and I hope it works for you.

[miche31263]

Thank you so much for replying.  I know that there are people who could not take Paxil.  But I know there some that can.  Just like you with Zoloft, it made me major suicidal...they even tried me two separate times to be sure....and I have heard it's a great drug.
I already read on the internet, part of the anxiety disorder.  I guess I will just continue on and see how it goes.  It's just so hard the start up effects.  And all the pills are hard to stop.  I went through severe withdrawal on Lexapro, Celexa, Cymbalta.  So I know Paxil is just the same.  I just want to get better :(

[BluCrystal]

I don;t think I know an anxious person who ISN'T nervous about new meds.  I have the same problems you do, and for a very long time, like you.  YOU KNOW when a med isn't working for you.  I have never taken paxil, but if it will work for  you, I say give it a chance.  Fair warning, and with all due respect, there is a gentleman on here who will tell you NOT to take it under any circumstances - just because he had a bad experience with it.  Read what he will have to say about it, then decide for YOURSELF.  Remember, everyone has different reactions to different med-mixes.  My own med mix is Zoloft, Seroquel, Klonopin, and Vistiril, plus Tramadol as-need for pain (i only take the tramadol when tylenol won't work).  This particular combo works well FOR ME.  But it may be awful for someone else.  A word to the wise: DO NOT 'read up' about meds, just ask your docor or pharmacist any questions you have.  Those papers that come with your meds, and googling them, ONLY serve to scare you.  Trust your doctor and your pharmacist, and don't go by anything else.  Take the med and see how you feel.  Keep a med-log: what med, how much, what time, and how you feel after it's been in your system for awhile.  If you have side-effects, and cannot tolerate them, call your doc asap.  NEVER STOP taking a med without your doctor's consent, as this alone can cause nasty effects.  My own doctor has told me that I can take a lower dose on any of my meds, but not to take less than half.  Ask your doc about this, as if you are always 'meddling' with them, the meds are not at a constant level in your blood and can cause 'roller-coaster' effects.  I Hope I have been helpful. - Blu