Depression Blog.com

It is now over one month since I stopped using Paxil and I am starting to feel
better but it has been a long haul. I still experience some zapping and
occassional headaches but nothing was as bad as I felt for the 8 weeks that I
was on Paxil and the first 2 weeks off of Paxil. My concentration is still not
quite back but I do see some improvement. I am still very angry but I also know
that is something I want to hold onto so that I can remember my terrible ordeal
on this drug and to let others know to investigate before using any prescribed
drugs. I wish I had done my homework before hand, I would never had taken Paxil
if I had. Thank you for posting my experience on your web site, I hope others
will read it and realize that there are many side effects to this drug and one
may not feel all the things I went through but it does give one the notion have
dangerous this drug can be. God Bless you for the work you are doing to help
others realize that natural is the best to use any medication.

I used paxil about two years ago for about two weeks. The first week the
Doctor told me to just take one pill a day at night. I felt great. It worked
so fast to help my moods. For the first time I thought this is how it must
be to be normal. I totally stopped worring about anything. The Doctor told
me to start taking two pillls the next week. The first night I did that was
like a nightmere. I awoke and it felt like my head was going to explode. I
was totally freaking out. I started hearing and seeing things. I call the
Doctor the next day and asked him if I should go back to taking one pill or
stop all together. He had no comment and gave me an appointmant in two
weeks. I was so afraid that what happen that night would happen again that I
stopped taking it completely. But the story doesn't stop there. About six
months later I stated having the same thing happen and I wasn't taking
anything. I had that happen four times in one month. I now take mild
sedatives instead and they work okay. I really wish this stuff would have
worked but I'm too afraid to try anything else. I can't believe I had side
effect that long after stopping

HELLO
I thought I would share my experience and thoughts with you..

I experienced a break down approximately 3 years ago.. It was a panic attack..body tingling, chest pain, nausea ..
Prior to this I was very irritable, no patience or tolerance for most anything.. Didn't look forward to anything.. it was all a great big effort... to do anything ..particularly on my days off.. Sleeping on the couch was my favourite pass time.. I was totally depressed!!!!!!

After it was determined that it wasn't a heart attack or that I was going to die in my sleep, my Dr. (family physician) put me on paxil a very small dose to start. I went to him once a week for a couple months. I took paxil for almost a year.. gained weight , didn't really get bothered by much, however, when I went back to work I couldn't function as I used to .. Poor memory, couldn't get organized...

I can relate to the lady who mentioned that the paxil is working for her husband but he doesn't care about much... and he is not the man she married.. . I then tried to wean myself from the paxil, had the zaps and I could actually hear my eyes blinking....I thought that was a strange one.. !!

I know now that if at anytime you go off almost any of the Seritonin inhibitors you must do it with Dr.s care.. make sure you are taking the right doses when going off.. It is just like when you start the drug, you start off slow (smaller doses) until you get to where it works for you...

I don't know why there are so many taboo's when it comes to taking medication that helps with your moods, emotions etc..
If you were diabetic you would take insulin, or if you had a thyroid problem you would take medicine to regulate that.. Not a second thought, however, when it is to do with a possible chemical imbalance of the brain where you need the Seritonin to help with your emotions and moods, you are either weak, or nuts.. or both..

I look at it as a way for me to function and enjoy life and get off the emotional roller coaster.. !!

Anyway.. I asked my Dr to change my medication .. I am on Efffexor XR (which is a time released drug) it works really well for me.. I am brighter.. sharper.. the only side effect for me is the hot flashes, however, I am at the age where hot flashes are normal.. hahhah!!!

Anyway for those of you that feel better but are not quite where they should be taking paxil, ask your Dr, about Effexor XR.. that might be an option for you..

ps.. I don't work in the drug industry..

Hi, I just saw the site on the side effects of Paxil. As was stated, each individuals reaction to medicine is different. The doctor diagnosed me with Social Anixety disorder among other things. I was given Paxil, I only took it for a week. I could not go through the way that it made me feel for 2-3 weeks to allow it to get into my system. The first couple of days that I took it, I started to loose my appetite. I did not think that it was the medicine, but I continued taking it. I lost my appetite, I was not very friendly at all, I lost about 5 pounds in 3 or 4 days (I cant afford to loose weight), I could not sleep well & I have insomnia, so Paxil did not help. I also had bouts of vomiting, nervousness, shaking. I guess I am lucky that I did not develop any of the addicting side effects that I read on your site. And I am glad that I had sense enough to stop taking it. While I am taking Remoron, I still need something else, I am able to sleep (with Ambien) and maintain my weight...I know others who took Paxil and it seemed to work for them with out problems. I do not know if this will be posted, but at least someone other than those local know about the issues I had with the little pink pill! Thank you.

I took Paxil for nearly two years and I stopped taking it in the late summer of
1996. After two weeks (period of washout) I began to have extremely powerful panic
attacks while I was sleeping. I thought my heart had stopped and I would wake up
breathless as if I had stopped breathing. I was exhausted and I was afraid to go
back to sleep for fear that I would stop breathing again. I was going nuts, but my
counselor told me that this was impossible because there were no addiction issues or
withdrawal symptoms associated with Paxil. The panic attacks (which, by the way, I
never experienced before in my life) ceased as soon as I reassumed the usual dosage.
I then tried to wean myself from the drug in 10-mg steps, two weeks per reduction.
As soon as I reached zero mgs., I experienced a good period for about 2 weeks, then
it all came back as soon as the washout period ended. This time, I was up in the
mountains of Colorado and you can imagine how altitude sickness compounded with
anxiety attacks went over on our summer vacation. I again resumed the prescribed
dosage. This time, I waited a month and then reduced the dosage by 10-mg's a month.
This time, I experienced minor reactions after washout, but I was able to stick
with the program. I have been paxil-free for the past 6 years, but I still have
minor bouts of unexplained anxiety, breathlessness in the middle of deep sleep, and
I don't know if it will ever stop. TO this day, I have yet to be approached by my
former counselor or their psychiatrist to offer explanations for my negative
experiences. Reading what others have experienced-- now I know that I was not
losing my mind, but I am still trying to sort out what is a product of my traumatic
experiences and what is due to the drug, paxil. I would warn anyone considering
this drug to weigh the benefits against the dangers. I believe that this drug may
have potential benefits for some people but the side-effects were very much
downplayed and it was pushed on to many patients who never really needed it in the
first place. I love capitalism, but there should be some ethical guidelines for
drugs like these.

To cut a long story short, i was on paxil for about 3 years before i weaned myself off the drug. The symptoms are bad, a shocking feeling in the head, dizziness, headaches, etc. Anyway, i weaned myself off and the side effects went away, life was great again. Had a panic attack about 6 months ago and was put back on paxil, now i'm experiencing some of the worser side effects of the drug. Tightness in the face muscles, that burning sensation all over, etc. I didn't realize it was the medication that was causing the problems, anyway, i weaned myself down to 10mg a day, some of the effects went away after about a week. Anyway, i had had seen the doctor and he recommended raising the dose to 30mg day, cool. I take the medicine the first day, guess what, the same symptoms came back. Now i'm setting here all jittery and writing this. I think i'm going to get off it completely and just cope with my panic attacks. I've learned some breathing techniques and how to calm myself when rough waters come along, so maybe i'll get through it.

I too decided to take myself off of paxil,and did I ever have a rough time of it. I had the zapping of my face mainly, vertigo, nausea, visual disturbances, lack of concentration, nightmares, palpitations and I actually thought that I was having mini seizures. This drug is the most awful thing anyone can do for onself.

I have only been taking Paxil CR for about 4 mths,the only side effect I can say I experinced from taking the drug was excessive yawning and going from having a very healthy sex drive to having none at all. Right before the Christmas
Holidays, my precription ran out and I decided not to worry about it because my husband thinks that the drug was effecting our sex life (I have no sex drive anymore) so I told him I would stop taking it to see if it worked and besides I
couldnt get it filled because my doctor's office is closed due to the holidays. I have been 4 days without the drug, I have started having real bad headaches, chills (no fever) and feeling dizzy while I am sitting down! Tunnel vision, my whole body itches and the nausea is so bad.. I also found myself getting VERY
ANGRY over nothing today, I almost hurt my little boy today! So I decided to go online to see if my NOT taking the paxil was the problem, BOY WAS I AMAZED!! I am so MAD at my doctor for putting me on this drug. The drug actually helped with the problems I was having to cause me to take the drug, angry outburst, road rage, depression, ect. Now I know it is the withdrawels from this drug that is causing me to feel this way, the withdrawels are horriable! From what I have read tonight, I am not so sure if I should quit taking the drug. My symtoms are only going to get worse. I only wish I would
have asked more questions about this drug before I started taking it. I am really scared. Please advise me of what I should do, thank you for your time

I was on Paxil the first time about 2 years ago. My Dr. advised at the beginning to wean myself off if I was ever going to stop taking it. I got back on it in the fall of 2003 and am now starting to wean myself off. I have been experiencing tiredness and a little nausea. I was on 25mg a day and am now doing 25mg every other day (per my Dr.) I must admit the stories from everyone are scary. When I got off the first time I don't remember experiencing any side effects - I weaned myself to half a pill a day, down to half a pill every other day and did not have problems. Maybe i should try the same. Why do Dr.'s keep prescribing if it's so dangerous?

I hate Paxil. I really am struggling with getting off of it. I've finally managed to get down from 20 to 5 mg, but that took about 2 months of headaches, dizziness, crabbyness and more. I will be off of the stuff finally in another week. The withdrawl process was especially hard of my family because I fell apart, over reacted and burst out crying multiple times.
I've gained weight from the stuff and have finally begun to lose some weight. My sex drive disappeared for a time, but is back now. Anyway, if you are trying to get off, don't give up, take it slow and tell your friends and family you will be a basket case for two months and to please ignore you and overlook it. I'm finally at the end of the tunnel and am thrilled! I also believe one of the main factors that has helped me get off it and feel happier without it is excercise. I've consistantly gone to the gym for 6 months and it has helped so excercise and think positive, even though you may feel negative things, push through to the other side.

Hi I am currently taking Paxil. I feel suddenlyy in one weeks time that I wan to hurt myself. I have already cut my arm in many places. I don't know what to do. Am I goimg nuts???????? PLease write back to me. I feel very alone!

I'm curious as to how many of you were on Paxil CR when this happened. I was put on the regular Paxil two years ago, felt I didn't need it, and quit, and really didn't seem to have any trouble. Yet this spring, I was stressed again so I decided to ask for it again, and I was given Paxil CR. Many of the symptoms you have all described I've gone through, and I've been off of the medication for a month and a half after having had taken it for about 4 mths (12.5mg,CR).

Here's one odd question for all of you, the only explanation I may have with it, personally. Do any of you drink large amounts of caffeine, and/or asparateme(Nutrasweet)?

It's been a little over two months since I've been off the drug, and VERY slowly but surely I'm improving. My appetite is back, my irregular heartbeat has gone away, and the racing mind seems to be slowing down, and the delirium is lessening very gradually. I think you can get off of these w/o any lasting problems, but it may take as much as four months to arrive at total detox from them. I was actually drinking about a case of that diet pepsi per day for a little over a year, which is why I asked. Odds are that probably had a bit more to do with this go around than Paxil did, lol, but nonetheless, these drugs shouldn't be taken by anyone.

I have only been off of Paxil for four days now... I'm suffering from night terrors, extreme nausea, zapping, and extreme sweating... I also passed out for the first time this afternoon... I was on the 40 mg Paxil... Does anyone know how long these withdrawel symptoms will go? Or if there is anyway to ease the severeness of it?

Hi, found this site and figured I'd give a post. I've been on 2 psych meds, zoloft and paxil. A year or two after stopping zoloft I started getting social anxiety and severe panic attacks..I was put on Paxil. For me the drug was amazing, gave me back my social life, made the attacks almost to 0. After being on it for over 4 years I wanted off it, felt like I didnt need to be on it anymore and I hate taking drugs. A few times I tried stopping it myself and couldnt, the withdrawels were to hard to handle, especially the spins and the zapping. I worked with my doctor and went from 20mg down very slowly. I still got withdrawls for about 3-4 weeks..it was the worst month ever. The zapping was terrible and I coudlndt drive. After that I was fine, and have been off paxil for almost a year this May..now my anxiety and social phobia is coming back slowly but surely..I am really hoping there is an alternative to Paxil again.

I forgot to take my paxil for about 3 days, on the 4th day I was dizzy and sick to my stomach. I felt like I was getting the flu. I never knew that forgetting to take it would give such side affects. I started taking paxil to deal with stress and issues at home that since have been resolved. My Dr wants me to stay on it a while longer, but after the episode last week w/the withdrawls being so bad, I'm wondering what this is really doing my body any good. I don't want to just stop taking it because I don't want to feel ill all the time. I have thought about weaning myself off by taking one every other day, but do I want to risk the chance of that making me feel ill as well.

i have been on paxil at least 8 yrs. i've been off completely a month. i am having stomach and head problems since. gastritis,weird dreams, dizziness,balance problems etc. does anyone know up to how long this will last tried coming off this past jan, and had gastritis.

does being off paxil,leave lasting effects to the brain. does it destroy a part of the brain.

I have bee taking paxil for one month. Can I just stop it. 40 miligrama

I have had anxiety since I was five years old. When I went into a major depression as an adult I went to see a psychiatrist and she prescribed Paxil along with therapy. If you are taking psychiatric drugs you need to get them from a psychiatrist. They know about side effects, how to wean yourself and all the things your regular doctor may not know. Sometimes your dose is too high and that is what will cause a bad reaction. As bad as my anxiety got I only needed 10mg/day to be well. You must find a doctor who listens to you. I have been on and came off Paxil twice know with some side effects, but nothing that kept me from work or activities. Exercise helps with anxiety and depression a lot!