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Off Paxil looking for something else
Hello. I was on Paxil for a few years with great results - overnight the clouds parted- but I gained weight and felt bloated and went off twice because of the discomfort (currently off over a year). Coming off was traumatic- hot flashes, anxiety for several months and enough to fear going on again. I am currently doing okay but struggling with some depression- crankiness, loneliness, irritability, trouble focusing, complaining all the time, worried, sad. I just feel generally unpleasant to be around. I'm thinking of going back on something but am concerned about 1) weight gain/bloating and 2) pregnancy (newly married and want to start a family soon). Paxil made me gain weight and I know is a no no for pregnancy. Any recommendations? Stay off and just be somewhat unpleasant / unhappy? Any good drugs that don't have those side effects and aren't scary to come off of?
Often times, it can be very difficult to go back on an SSRI after having been on it and d/c'ed it. There's a theory the brain has a sort of memory, and when the med is reintroduced, it can cause more significant side effects than the first time. You may be perfectly fine, but that's something you should keep in mind. A lot of people have trouble tolerating a med the second, or third time around that they did well on initially.
If you decide to try it again, ask your doc to start you on a low dose and gradually step up the dose, to minimize any side effects. Also, have you ever tried therapy? If not, that's a must. You could even give therapy a shot before deciding to restart a med again.
There's no straightforward easy answer unfortunately. What's important is, that you address how you're feeling in some way...and if you find a med that works again, my advice would be to stick to it. Personally, I'd rather be chubby and happy than thin and depressed and anxious. For me, it's a worthy trade off!
Please let us know how you're doing.
If you decide to try it again, ask your doc to start you on a low dose and gradually step up the dose, to minimize any side effects. Also, have you ever tried therapy? If not, that's a must. You could even give therapy a shot before deciding to restart a med again.
There's no straightforward easy answer unfortunately. What's important is, that you address how you're feeling in some way...and if you find a med that works again, my advice would be to stick to it. Personally, I'd rather be chubby and happy than thin and depressed and anxious. For me, it's a worthy trade off!
Please let us know how you're doing.
Alot of SSRIs make people gain weight but if paxil worked for you then go with it because if it aint broke don't fix it.
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