ZOLOFT OR PAXIL

[girlwithhope]

i am now ready to start taking meds after almost 4 years of anxiety  and been having anxiety everyday for the last 2 years.I cannot live like this not able to function at all always scared to go anywhere n hate driving still.my question is which meds works well for mainly anxiety paxil or zoloft.I took paxil before but didnt stay on it that long .So please whoever has experience taking these 2 meds what is ur opinion? thanks.

[blsdnsvd]

During my suffering days of Anxiety...I was at a lost not knowing what was wrong and neither did the doc's even after being hospitalized for almost 1 week and finally about 1mo after that, went to visit the Neurologist that saw me in the hospital and he gave me two scripts and sent me home and of course i was thinking: oh here we go again, the guessing game!..I filled the med's (Zoloft (long term) and Aprazalam (short term)...and starting taking them. Low and Behold, my horrible symptoms started to fade one by one...they were (feeling faint, heart palps, blurred vision, hot flashes, feeling of wooziness (not dizzy), wobbly knees when walking, depression, agrophobia (fear of driving, walking, and everything), feeling of zombiness in my head.....I had to take a leave from work and about 4weeks after taking the med's i was able to go back after finally finding a diagnosis. I took zoloft for 1 1/2 yrs and had to stop due to pregnancy and that was 16years ago, I still have anxiety/panic attacks and even moreso due to having my thyroid removed recently but i have control....

[Paxiled]

If you find that magic pill, let us all know.  But CJ gives the right advice here, if you need medication, it is trial and error, but talk therapy is essential as well.  And we're all looking for that magic pill but it doesn't exist, but there might be something that isn't magic but does help.    For me, Paxil helped but certainly didn't cure, but as I said it tends to have more difficulties, and Zoloft is the one that the many psychiatrists I've seen over the years (you have many when you're on health insurance) seem to feel works the best for anxiety, but that doesn't mean it will for you and it certainly didn't do anything for me but it very well might for you.  If the ssris don't help, there are still the tricylics to try.  You gotta keep hoping, and don't overestimate what medication is designed to do.  

[mama23babies]

That is a nice dream! I wish they would make one magic cure for all of us that didnt involve all the bad side effects and worsening anxiety. I hope you find something that works for you!

[girlwithhope]

i did try lexapro it gave me 2 weeks straight of panic attacks.And i also tried prozac and after a month on it it made me dizzy and angry .Thats why i really needed some input on these meds cuz people here are the one's taking it not the doctors they just wanna prescribe meds n get u out of their office.I just can't live in fear anymore always thinking this is it i'm really dying this time.I don't even want to take meds but i can't even function on a daily basis.I have to try something just to see how it feels to not have these CRAZY body symptoms and enjoy doing things.But i'm also scared about the withdrawls and not able to get off meds or even worst they have to keep upping the meds.SIGH i hate this why can't their be 1 magic pill with all the severe side affects for 1 day and after taking it it will make all your symptoms go away forever.Wow that is a nice dream huh.lol...Thanks so much guys for getting back to me so soon.

[cj29]

I prefer Zoloft, however, meds can affect us all in different ways.  While some may prefer one, others may have had a bad experience with them.  I am a proponent of medications like these if they are combined with talk therapy.  In my experience with this, these pills will not cure anything, but can be a big help while learning to confront and deal with your anxiety....keep us posted!

[Paxiled]

Given the problems associated with the various meds, I'd probably try Prozac first, Lexapro second, then Zoloft, then Celexa, and man, I'd wait on the Paxil for last resort.  But from my years of going through this, shrinks seem to think Zoloft is the best for anxiety.