Started Paxil making panic attacks worse?

[FearofFear]

I've been on Paxil for 7 days and on the 5th day started really feeling highly anxious on things that didn't really make me feel that anxious then on 6th day had a really bad panic attack that I haven't ever experienced before havin panic disorder for three years, and since that attack have had a fast heart beat and feeling uneasy, probably traumatised to how bad that attack was even had to call the ambulance took few hours to calm me down, not once have I ever had an attack like that and I before I started Paxil I've been in more stressful situations in life and never had a panic attack that severe.
Went to the doctor and she doubts it's Paxil coz I'm only on a 10mg dose and she also gave me Valium too for the time being.
Do you think the Paxil caused that severe attack I never had before? Is the medicine just starting to adjust to me perhaps? Should I wait another week and see how it goes?

[moni1572]

Yes, I had really bad anxiety/panic attacks.  The Dr.called in the lexapro and said to take it the same time I was taking the prozac- I didn't stop in between.  So far I'm on day 6 with Lexapro- I get a little anxious at certain times of the day (mostly mornings) but once I get up and moving, I start to feel a little better.  I know what you mean, I missed over 1 week of work due to the crazy symptoms I experienced. I am going to TRY and go back to work on Monday and I'm trying not to get myself worked-up about it. How are you doing?

[Paxiled]

My honest opinion is to stop taking the Paxil, with a taper off it.  This and Effexor are the most difficult of all the ADs, so why start with this one?  Especially given you're having a stimulating effect from it.  I'd also probably see a psychiatrist, but your doc does have some advanced training, but it's not common these days to start a person on Paxil because of the very well known difficulties with it, especially trying to stop taking it.  I'd only take it as a last resort.  I also just wouldn't trust a doctor who questioned my experience -- it is your body, not hers.  And if you're worried about her being offended, you're looking at doctors wrong -- you wouldn't worry about offending a plumber who didn't fix your toilet properly, why worry about offending a doctor?  They work for you, not the other way around.

[FearofFear]

And sorry no,  I have never been on any medication before in regards to anti depressants

[FearofFear]

Thanks for your reply. She is just a gp with a masters in mental health. I definitely know it's the Paxil that's making me more anxious and having severe panic attacks because I don't feel myself and don't feel anxious about anything in my life right now. It really does get worse few hours after I've taken my dose. And during the day I sort of alternate to feeling uneasy nervous then feeling ok. She prescribed me Paxil because she said in her experience with previous patients it has worked the best for people with panic disorder. I have an appointment with her in a weeks time so I will give it another week and if I feel like this everyday til then il ask her to change it. She'l probably be offended because she believes it's just my disorder and not the meds. Do you think I should just stick it out and wait a few weeks? Or get it changed. I have had to take a week off from work/college since experiencing one of the severe attacks because it's left me scared and uneasy since.

[Paxiled]

Medication is difficult because individuals have different reactions.  But when the only new thing in your life is a new medication, knowing how reactions can vary, common sense would say suspect it's the new med.  Your doctor's reaction seems uneducated, as the dose isn't as important as how well a person metabolizes a drug.  There are many people for whom 10mg probably is enough and many for whom it isn't.  Trust your instinct, and if you feel your doctor isn't giving you good answers find another doctor.  By the way, is your doctor a psychiatrist?  And why Paxil?  Have you been on meds before, because if not, Paxil is a very difficult med to start with.  Whatever, I hope you feel better soon.

[FearofFear]

Thanks for Your reply. So were you also getting unusually strong anxiety as well? Like as if you were more nervous on the Prozac? And did the doctor change you straight from Prozac to lexapro or did he say to stop the tabs altogether for a few days then start lexapro? Or was it just continuation and you replaced Prozac with lexapro?
I feel so traumatised and uneasy from that severe attack I had I've had to take a week off work/university to sort of gather myself back up and build confidence in myself. At the moment I feel any little thing could make me over panic when it's not even a scary situation, even going to the gas station, how sad is that. Il hang on another week see how I go. And Goodluck to you let me know

[moni1572]

Hi,
I know exactly how you feel, my Dr. put me on Fluoxetine (generic prozac) and after 2 weeks, I couldn't stand it anymore- I read many forums stating that weeks 2-4 were the toughest and to hang on cause it levels itself out. I couldn't stand the thought of feeling so badly another 2-4 more weeks so I called my Dr. and he switched me to Lexapro 20mg- I'm only on day 2 with this one, so I'll let you know how it goes. Apparently all anti-depressants come with side effects and everyone reacts to them differently.  My Dr. also gave me Xanax for the rough days- I'm going to try the Lexapro and pray that I don't get the same results as with the Prozac. Hang in there!  I know how scary it is- here we are trying to find ways to feel better and our hopes get crushed when we don't get results we were hoping for.