Depression Blog.com

I was on paxil for years. I came of it and it was hard. But my o.c.d. started to act up, anyway i tried a new med. it didnt work so i went back on paxil and ended up in the pysche ward. this stuff is bad and unless the doctor realy knows about it, don`t take the stuff . o.c.d. is treatable but be careful of what meds you choose

I have been reading through these and felt compelled to leave my feedback. Since the age of 12 I suffered from severe deppression and for a young person have been on alot of antidepressants. I tried Zoloft for about 6 months but the only thing it did was break my face out (weird I know) then we moved on to welbutrin, again no change in the depression. Then I was put on Prozac but from the time I took it I felt like I was on speed and was unable to sleep at all, depression prevailed. When I turned 22 I had reached my lowest point, and my sister talked me into giving Paxil a try and I resisted doing so untill I found myself in the floor of my bathroom ready to slit my wrists. I made the decision to give the drug a try. I am not exaggerating when I say that within 2 days I felt better. People have told me thats not possible, that it was all in my head, but for someone who had been depressed and hopeless as long as I had it was like a miracle. I felt happy and energetic, people at work began to comment on the way I changed and my whole family could not believe it. I DID become the Paxil poster child. At that point in time I did not notice very many side effects. I decided I was ALL BETTER and didn't need these pills about 6 months into my treatment. BIG MISTAKE. The deppression found its way right back into my life. My family begged me to start back on my meds, which I gladly did. This time was the same as the first, almost immediate relief came, but this time it came with a price. I started having stomach aches-really bad ones and then came SEVERE constipation, and we're talking weeks here without a bowel movement. Then the little ZAP things,and weird seizure type things in the middle of the night, that were so powerful they would wake up me up from a sound sleep and sometimes wake up my boyfriend, and of course then the sexual side effects and bad started out weighing the good. I wish I had never stopped taking it in the first place because it has been nearly 2 years and I still have found nothing that gave me the relief that Paxill did. Everyone else I have ever known HATED this drug, but it sure was a breath of fresh air for me. thanks for letting me blab blab blab!

Paxil is a a terrible drug funded and promoted my the pharmaceutical reps that profit from them (and big time I might add) My doctor prescribed it to me when I told her of my high stress job and general stress level 24/7 - I think I am just that sort of person. Paxil made me gain 20 lbs and I became so "nothing" emotionally it actually made me depressed and literally feeling "nothing" - definitely not what I was looking for. A couple of years later I went to a new doc that prescribed me the mildest version of xanex and it is so much better - it helps me with my constant needless worries about life, ect. I still feel happy - as I am by nature. And I don't take it everyday only when I am stressed or worried. My sister inlaw took Paxil and she packed on 30 lbs. She has no job and doesn't leave the house.. it is my personal opinion that that stuff is dangerous and that it causes unhappiness and indifference in otherwise "normal" people with busy lives.

I was on Paxil for appoximately 5 years. It helped in social situations and public speaking engagements, for awhile. After about two years, I started getting panic and anxiety attacks. I bacame moody and lethargic during the day, couldn't sleep at night. Occassional rage attacks. The last year of use, I was using half a dose (5mg) just to maintain emotionally. I've been off of it for about a year and I'm spiralling into depression again. I'm looking through the web to find something to help without all the terrible side affects. Suggest, use if for several months, if it works great, but beware of the long term side effects. Coming off of it completely, well it's miserable. Be ready for a roll a coaster ride. Good Luck
John B.

my wife has been taking Paxil for over 2 years for anxiety and mild depression. At first, it seemed to work. But then she started acting not herself. she began having these moods where she'd start swearing profusely and acting irrationally. one time she tried to light the house on fire and broke dishes. she doesn't pay bills or care whether they're paid or not. everything seems to revolve around her when she gets in these weird moods, almost as if she's another person. normally, she's smiling and happy and kind and considerate. i wish she'd try something else. sometimes she thinks she should. but if i bring it up at the wrong time she wants to leave and starts yelling and acting out. she gets this faraway look in her eyes totally emotionless and does and says almost whatever she wants to me and the kids. I've been reading these posts and realize that Paxil IS the cause of this. I tried to tell her doctor but he just dismissed it. And she flies into these moods more and more often now. I don't know how much longer I can stay with this.

I am now 24 and have been taking Paxil since I was 17 for anxiety. I have gone from 25mg to CR 12.5 mg to now generic paxil at 10 mg. And I feel good. Now, my new doctor has made the suggestion of getting off it. He says you should only take it for a year or so! Well, it's been 7 and I've tried to get off once before and WILL NOT do that again! My question is is it okay to stay of Paxil indefinately?

I've read a lot of the paxil feedback, and see that this drug is definately not for everyone. But it's the best thing that ever happened to me. I think the people who are happy with the way it works probably aren't as motivated to write about it. I definately recommend this drug if you have symptoms like I had. I was in a bad way with social anxiety and depression. My world had "raw edges". Everything was so difficult, and I had to feel my way through every little decision, weighing the consequenses, and wondering how other people would view me for my choices. If you feel like this, paxil is just wonderful. Now I know what I want, and I do it. I still have plenty of regard for how others feel, but I'm seperate from it now. I think a person should be at least 30 before taking it though, because I think you gotta know yourself really well. I understand some of the problems people are having. If you aren't naturally inhibited, like I am, don't take paxil! It makes you know what you want, and not think as much about the consequenses. Anyway, the stuff is awesome. I feel normal! I haven't felt so good and stable since I was a kid.

I've been on Paxil for 6 years - helped me when I needed it but, the withdrawals are horrible. Take something else if possible

I switched to praxil after using immpramine (tofranil) for 5 years. Everything went even better! Tofranil had already saved my life, this new drug is getting me to like it!
But, as time goes by (almost a year) I notice more clearly some side symptoms. I'm developping violent feelings, excess of energy (even though I try to get rid of it by one hour non-stop swimming or jogging daily), and I really feel I want to break everything. I don't get suicide thoughts anymore and my last depression (if that's the way we have to call this state of absolute non-sens of everything around) was the first one in my life that shed no tears. I was very irritable and mad, almost crazy, very nervous. I haven't cried since, don't even felt near it,and violence is growing inside me.
I really don't know what to think about this. My psy sais it's a good evolution, violence is no more directed towards myself (suicide) but towards the world. I'm not sure if it's better (for the world), and I feel very excited (in the past, I was mostly "down").
By the way, my libido is great, too much actually, very hard to behave like a good girl...
L, 28 years

I was on praxil for about 6 months.. after about 2 weeks I started noticing changes. I wasn't troubled as much by my anxiety of depressed feelings. after a few months I really noticed myself changed.. I even started taking alcohol and smoking pot, and It didn't effect me like it did before.. but unfortunatly I suddenly decided to go off them.. I suddenly stopped taking them, which was a big mistake.. I felt very aggressive and had lots of anxious thoughts.. but now, a month later, I find myself sinking back into anxiety and depression.. I haven't got as much lust for life anymore. when on the drug I wanted to do things.. I could enjoy things.. So today I just got a new prescription. I've just read a lot of negative side effects here, which accually makes me doubt taking it again.. but then I think, that just like any antidepressant, it works differently with anyone..

here's what it did with me:

positive: slept like a baby.. more control over emotions.. more energy/less anxiety

negative: decreased sexual drive - about 50% less
dreams every night (which started to decrease after about 5 months

I am a mother of a beautiful daughter in her early 30"s Paxil has been a God sent for her,& now with the cahange in the cr to regular we have spent many frustrating months trying to regulate the new am'ts for the same results.
I realize all medications do not react the same on people with depression, but with a family history on both sides of the family and many challenging months, medications such as these are a blessing!
When my daughter tries to go off her meds. we all can see it even in her face before we know for sure she's tried to go without.For many people who can't take it please be gentle to those who have great results. We are a very faithful family, no skeltons in the closets, no trumas,hardships, no black-cloud daily living, so to tell these hurting people to pull up their bootstraps, love the Lord & enjoy the sunshine is not the cure or only help they may need!
All these wonderful gifts work together feeling added guilt for having to take medicine is the last thing one suffering needs.
Hurrah for help any way God puts it before you, we are thankful, just some advice on the conversion please, the dr.s& pharmacy seem to be guessing, only you who have experienced the change know.
Thank you

I'm able to use Aropax more successfully due to two things I discovered for myself by experience that neither my doctor or the drug company's info booklets told me about:

1). Starting to take the drug (in my case Zoloft) and within a few hours having incredibly bad side effects doesn't always mean you're overreacting to the side effects or 'have to get used to' the drug. It's very possible you're having an allergic reation to one of the chemicals in it. See your doctor ASAP, if you're really worried go to the emergency room.

2). THERE IS ALWAYS MORE THAN ONE WAY TO USE ANTI-DEPRESSANT DRUGS. After talking to my doctor about my concerns over my bad reaction to Zoloft, she researched Aropax and found it had a different chemical makeup, and agreed that I could start on a much lower dose - 1/4 tablet instead of a whole. I had slight nausea for a few days but none of the horrible effects from the whole Zoloft tablet. (Over the months she slowly increased the dosage as I needed to.)

Don't just take what you're given - ask about it. If the drugs make you feel so much worse that you felt better without them, ask your doctor if you can try a different brand, or a smaller dose, or councelling or exercise or a combination of these things instead. If you have a bad, or strange side effect, look it up - odds are that someone else has had it and described it on a webpage somewhere. If your doctor refuses to listen to your concerns, try another doctor. THERE IS ALWAYS ANOTHER WAY TO FIGHT DEPRESSION. Read as much as you can about other people's experiences, and it'll help your own.

I wish everyone the best with their own fight.

I took paxil for a few years because my emotions were out of control. It resulted in a too-high sex drive and acting out irrisponsible behaviours without worrying about consequences. I had serious weight gain and to be honest, paxil did make me feel better, in the sense that I was not very emotional anymore.
My boyfriend started taking it, and after a year or so, his doctor told him it was poisoning his blood and he needed to quit paxil right away. His withdrawl symptoms lasted 2-3 months.
My own withdrawl symptoms from paxil included vomiting, dizziness, electric-shocks, and feelings of desperation.
I would advise anyone trying to get off paxil to ask their doctor for lexpro. I had no problems quitting lexpro, and now I feel ok to be medication-free.
I realize others have more of a genuine issue with clynical depression, but my doctor mis-diagnosed me when he perscribed paxil, so I really thought I needed it at the time.

I was prescribed Paxil after the untimely death of my wife. I took it for six months and then got off it. I think in the short run, it helped me cope with the many decisions and issues I had to deal with in the chaotic aftermath of her passing. I had kids to deal with, a job, insurance issues, etc., and to handle all these things without falling apart was, to be sure, a blessing.

However, I also believe the Paxil actively interfered with the grieving process. It shaves off the highs and lows. You can't bring yourself to cry on this drug, even in the face of terrible sadness. And those moments of elation were also lost. I was always just even-steven.

Sexually, I felt dead. Obviously, I wasn't actively searching for a sex partner immediately after my wife's death, but even my previously normal response to women I found attractive, Playboy nudes, memories of sex with my late wife, etc. was just gone--I simply could not get aroused, could not masturbate, never got an erection. That was very strange. And it lingered long after I stopped taking the drug! Eventually I did enter into a friendly sort of sexual relationship with a woman, and found that I needed viagra for the first time in my life in order to get an erection. Yes, some of that was just being freaked out in general, but it took a good year or more after stopping the paxil for me to feel normal sexually again.

From reading all the other comments, my recommendation is this: If you are in a crisis and nothing else works, go ahead and take paxil. It is effective in reigning in your emotions and allowing you to function. The tradeoffs might make it worth it. But if your problem is less severe, start with something else and only go to paxil if you have to.

Proceed with caution. My usage of Paxil seemed at first (several months) very productive. The side effects were manageable -- body temperature led to constant sweating, sexual performance inhibited but not impossible, dreams very vivid... The only downside was on the occasion that I could not refill a script on time and would miss a day, leaving me with the electric shocks sensation in the brain. However, gradually I stopped noticing the benefits. I was no longer happy just to not be sad, my counseling was not taking any particular advantage of my being on medicine, and before I knew it, I was as depressed, alienated and non-functioning as imagineable -- suicidal, leaning back on illegal drugs, out of counseling and then into unsupervised and sudden withdrawl -- about two weeks of excruciating brain shocks, unsleepable sleep, and utter despair, followed by the three worst years of my life -- lucky to be alive territory... I don't know what role Paxil played in all of this, exactly; but I would advise that it won't solve your problems without a great doctor to oversee its use and your therapy, and there are negative side-effects that while bearable for a time will eventually catch up to you, at the very least in the form of withdrawl; even patients properly weaned I have heard complain of the withdrawl. I don't know. Be careful. And if someone goes class-action on Glaxo, send me a form to sign.

I HAVE JUST BEEN PRESCRIBED PAROXETINE FROM MY DOCTOR AND AFTER READING ALL THE COMMENTS I AM TOO AFRAID NOW. BUT I HAVE BEEN LIVING WITH SEVERE PANIC ATTACKS FOR 14 YRS NOW AND I AM TOTALLY HOUSEBOUND NOW. UNLESS SOMEONE IS WITH ME OUTSIDE ALL OF THE TIME, PLEASE HELP

I took paxil because my insuranse wanted me to try it before Lexapro. Lexapro is more expensive. I knew the lexapro worked. I attempted to take the paxil like I was told and hated it! I felt horrible. I have been on Zoloft before. I did not like it, but it seemed like a piece of cake compared to paxil. I then got to try the lexapro and it works great!

first time i was prescribed paxil it worked well. However the second time it made things worse.

Coming off Paxil is tough. I get what I call the head flips. Feels like I'm falling asleep. Even after being off it for 2 months, my skin continues to crawl. The sexual side effects (no ejaculation) was horrendous. But now, I'm feeling extremely depressed and just want the pain to go away. I hate overreacting to everything. I hate being mad at everyone. I hate putting up a "front" for everyone. I hate that my personal, profession, and home life suck because of depression. NO ONE seems to understand...except for those of us that suffer from it. And Jack London...please hang in there - I'm in the same spot you are. I have this pact with myself to live life more dangerously and maybe I'll die by accident that only involves me...

I started taking Paxil in June of 2003 on the advice of my doctor. I didn't ask for it, I didn't tell him I needed anything like it. I did tell him about my past diagnosis of ADHD for which he gave me Ritalin. He decided in addition to the ADHD that I had OCD that needed treating. The only OCD symptom I had before he diagnosed me was a tendency to do things in a certain order because if I didn't I would lose track of where I was because of my ADHD, duh!

Two months later I was taken to the ER three weekends in a row for severe anxiety, uncontrolled moaning and weeping and uncontrolled rocking movements. The people in the ER were certain that I was on street drugs and no one questioned my recently being put on Paxil. I was humiliated and absolutely terrified.

Both of my parents were mentally ill and I spent time in shelter care because of their insanity and inability to care for a child. I grew up on my own and made a really good life for myself, great job with civic responsibility, healthy and successful children, interesting hobbies, a home worth more than double the national average. I had beaten all the odds. Then this. I couldn’t believe that after all these years and all of my progress I was now losing all I had gained for no reason that I could understand.

I became a zombie at work and was “put out to pasture” after a stellar career. All I could do was stare out of the window. At least I still had enough clout to have a nice place to sit. My husband would look at pictures of me from a few years ago and almost start crying. He would tell me over and over how much he missed me and I would just stare at him.

In the following six months I crashed my motorcycle going 5 miles an hour and I tripped on the bus and blew out my knee which required surgery and three months in a wheel chair, both because of blurry vision. I got my hand stuck in the garage door and broke two fingers and tore the nail off another one because I was manic and frantic. I got up one morning and shaved my head. I had thick blond hair that came half way down my back that I could do anything with. I gained 30 pounds. Am I having fun yet?

Evidentially not enough because then my doctor offered me Ambien because I wasn’t sleeping well for some reason. I don’t even remember anymore when that was.

I finally decided I had to get off all these meds. I started by dropping the Ambien which was pretty easy all things considered. Three days of crappy sleep with night terrors and it was over. I had already dropped down on the Paxil from 50 mg a day to 40 mg, long story, can’t figure out how to tell it. Something to do with the FDA raid and what doses were and were not available anymore. Two weeks ago I started cutting the 40’s down by 1/3. A week ago I started just taking the smaller pieces and today is my first day at zero. I am hoping that wasn’t too fast, but I am desperate to be off of these drugs.

I am scared out of my wits by what I have learned in the last few days. This is a total crap shoot for the rest of my life now. After every thing I have been through to get well and then one slightly sloppy decision to assume that a doctor I have seen for years might have done his research before so casually giving me this drug. How can these companies be so evil to prey on folks who are in need. I can’t focus on that, I can only focus on getting well. I have been sick all week with nausea, fatigue, zaps, severe headaches and chills.

Sorry this is so long. Once I started I just had to keep writing. I will make it through this, I have made it through so very many things. My best to you all who are struggling to be well. If you weren't you wouldn't be reading this.

DO NOT take paxil unless you are planning on taking it forever, you will have the most extreme moodswings when weening off even if you ween off with the smallest incriments. It is awful! Im just warning you unless you want to be at home in fits of hysterical, crying-laughing- screaming emotions i wouldnt try it.

One week at zero mgs. Day two was horrible, days three, four, and five ROCKED. I felt like I could run a marathon. Day sixs and seven have been HELL on EARTH. Endless weeping, zaps, panic, nightmares, nausea. On the good side I had to take my wedding ring off because before the week was even up I have slimmed down so much I was afraid it would slip off and I wouldn't notice. Almost worth it. Just kidding.

I am going to check into class action suits next week. I feel so victimized and violated for the profit of the drug co. execs.

A year ago I would have been writing the glowing reports others have written. Now I am saying if I put on more mg of Paxil in me I might as well shoot myself because my life will never be my own again. I am hanging on by sheer will at this point, and the brutally stubborn idea that I would rather suffer for the rest of my life than give that company one more dime for the privilege of destroying my mind, body, health and happiness.

I am starting magnesium today, and praying that will help.

18 days at zero mgs, and my life has NEVER been better!!! I can't believe how much better it is than even before at full dosage. Yes it was hell, yes I barely made it through not killing myself or someone else. The symptoms were ALMOST unbearable, but I did bear them, and I am on the other side. I still have a few zaps and night terrors and dreams are kicking my ass. OCD symptoms are starting back in but I would a billion times rather deal with them on my own than to go back to being the zombie I was on Paxil. My emotions are still almost out of control and I am a bit manic, but I will take that ANY day!!!

My poo is normal for the first time in three years, I have more energy that I can use. The house is clean, the garden is ready for spring, I am caught up at work.

WHATEVER YOU NEED TO GET THROUGH IT KEEP GOING!!! I had to stop all caffiene and alcohol, my system wouldn't tolerate it. I have been eating a lot of fruits and vegies, lots of warm tea and good snacks. Also warm baths twice a day, candles, anything that is comforting. I ate pudding for a whole day. This is life and death we are dealing with here, who cares if I eat pudding for a whole day!!!!

I screamed and cried and threw up, and one day I had to walk around the house in my PJs with my eyes closed the zaps were so bad. If I opened my eyes I threw up.

I don't know what my travels will take me from here, but I do know that MY LIFE IS MY OWN AGAIN!!!! I feel like running down the street and yelling it out to everyone.

There were times when I thought I went off too fast, and I probably did, but here I am feeling awesome. I know it seems like you will never make it through, but I am here to tell you there is light at the end of the tunnel and it is a big, bright happy SUN :-)

Just cruising through looking to see what else is to come from the withdrawal process. Was on Aropax( as paroxetine is called in Aus)for 2 1/2 years found the clouds have cleared and its time to get back myself before I destroy everything around me. It helped i suppose but was never told that there were withdrawal symptoms and now I have found that also going on the shit could cause symptoms (arrythmias, palps, sweating & hot flushes)this actually helped me believe there really was something wrong with me and when they subsided well I thought it was because I needed the nasty little white pill and really had been suffereing panic attacks. Helped me keep on them too as every time I missed one or tried to stop back they came with a vengeance. Loss of sex drive? sure thing its only to pee out of anyway. Not able to string a conversation together, of course. Cant get out because you have become an unsafe driver, yes that too. Feel like youre looking through water? Yelling at everyone and feeling victimised or as people are keeping secrets. A lot of the withdrawal symptoms really do make me feel like I do have a psych illness but the walking has resolved the weight gain, a great husband has renewed my libido, headaches -paracetamol, anger - chill out, intolerance to noise, paranoia, dizziness, heartburn, suicidal thoughts will pass. Be strong find someone to lean on and life will return hopefully you will not have lost too much while in the haze. I could go on and on but it is now about 8 weeks since I knew enough was enough and I had to stop or there would be nothing left for me to return to. It does get better

I do not know what the deal is with all of this nagative feedback on paxil. My daughter started taking paxil about 2 yrs ago and he is doing great on it. She is definitly so much better than she was before she started.

I have been on paxil for about 2 years now and for the most part it works GREAT! I sleep better, I eat better, I have gained no weight with it, I love it, BUT...When I miss a dose or two, I feel horrible! I get naseua, dizziness, and just feel like crap!

I knwo eventually I HAVE to get off this medication, but after reading just a few things online today, I am scared to death!

Why didn't my doctor tell me about the coming off of it before he put me on it?????

Paxil is TERRIBLE! Do not take it ever! Try an alternative natural therapy if at all possible. I took Paxil back in 1999 and 2000. It is now 6 years later and the toxic effects are STILL messing with my body. If I didn't find a reputable physician with a firm belief in natural/behavioral therapy I never would've been able to escape the clutches of Paxil.
BTW, in case you didn't know it already, the pharm co's are mostly interested in your $'s...not your health...you must believe there is help out there, and you won't find it in a bottle of anti-depressants.

medicine you cant take with paxil

I took Paxil a few years ago for depression with anxiety. I had to get off it because the drug actually made me feel anxious. It worked pretty well for my depression.

Other anti-depressants have done the same thing to me so I've quit taking anti-depressants and have learned to live with anxiety. Luckily, I haven't had major depressive episodes in the last few years. If I did I would have no choice but go back on antidepressants.

I took Paxil a few years ago for depression with anxiety. I had to get off it because the drug actually made me feel anxious. It worked pretty well for my depression.

Other anti-depressants have done the same thing to me so I've quit taking anti-depressants and have learned to live with anxiety. Luckily, I haven't had major depressive episodes in the last few years. If I did I would have no choice but go back on antidepressants.

Yes it does effect your sexual drive, and some lose weight but I have gained weight! I do not feel like my nerves have gotten any better Im still scared about certain things, don't feel relaxed either.

I am suffering from LACK OF EMOTIONS. I dont cry, I dont feel nervous, I dont feel angry, I dont fall in love. I dont feel anything in my heart. I hate myself so much. I isolate myself from ppl bcoz of this problem. I feel so embarassed if an emotion is expected from me like when someone yells at me bad words like FUCK YOU YOU SON OF A BITCH! I cant even react. I give no reactions or emotions. and I look stupid bcoz I dont even show any emotions even in intense situations like this. When my grandmother died I did not even cry. When everyone else around me is bursting into tears, even the men, and even the non-relatives cried, except for me. I was just so emotionless as if it was an everyday situation that was occuring. Nothing in my heart that I felt. I felt no pain, no nervousness, nothing. Something is terribly wrong with me and it affects my personal life. It depresses me so much. Even now that im writing this. I want to cry so bad. I want to burst into tears. But nothing comes out of my emotions. Im like a robot. Nothing. Whenever I need to cry and I do not cry, it manifests all over my body. I get dehydrated, headaches. Its all physical pain. I get taken advantage of every situation bcoz ppl think that im numb and insensitive. When my bf left me for another girl, I did not even cry. But I was so affected, mentally and psychologically that it affected my whole body. I got really dehydrated and depressed (but i did not cry). I was just so empty. I dont know what to do. I searched all over the net but i did not find any treatment for this condition. There is no such thing as "drug to boost emotions". I feel that my heart is paralyzed. My emotions are paralyzed. I always pray to god to give me emotions. Please doctors, please do something about this kind of disorder. It is really hell. If only you could imagine.

As a child, I was the shy introverted type without any friends at the corner of a classroom. I did not join any clubs, any groups. Whenever there'd be a field trip or a program id make an alibi to my mom that there's no school that day or that that day is not important so that I wont have to go to school on events like those. I was ultra quiet. My words were very limited and soft. But that was in school. At home I was the happy, family-oriented child. I was the youngest of 4 and I was the baby. I was very sensitive to my emotions. When someone raises a voice, Id burst into tears in a snap. My emotions were very high. Id feel intense jealousy if my mom sleeps beside my other sister. I was very emotional at that time. As I was growing up, still I had no friends. No bestfriends, no shallow friends, nothing. I was alone. During lunch time Id wait inside the classroom for the bell to ring while everyone else is enjoying outside. My classmates were trying to befriend me but I was just too introverted that I felt like I had no stories to share. I felt like I was always left out. So what would happen is that Id just isolate myself again. People had the impression of me as the most quiet student. Whenever Id speak out even a little everyone wld simply pay attention to me and it wld thus make me feel the more awkward. So the time came when my family became different. We were not the same old sweet and happy people. For whatever reason, it simply changed. Maybe bcoz we were growing up. We did not give as much respect to our parents as before. And of cors I was not anymore a baby but just one of my siblings (we only have an age gap of 1 or 2 years apart from each other) so basically, our maturity levels are just the same. My sisters had their own group of friends from school. And me, in school, I was still the same. School was hell for me. I had no one to talk to for the whole day. And break time was even worse bcoz Id look stupid on one corner of the classroom, eating alone, while everyone had their own groups. I wld just pretend to be taking a nap on the table so that I wld have an excuse why I was alone. It was very embarassing for me especially that I was already in high school at that time. Still, I was still in denial. I was still hopeful that by next year, Id be more talkative and have friends. By next year I'll get a makeover, a new me. When I get to college, Id be popular and stuffs like those. But nothing ever changed. All my life I never had friends. My only friends are my siblings. (Im already 24). Whenver I'd go out, it would be with my siblings or with my mom. Id also join my siblings and their friends in going out. Even if I felt a little "out of place" still, I hang out with them coz I have no choice. I have no friends. I got used to the feeling of being "out of the circle" and it was normal for me. I couldnt form relationships. I was always a shool dropout bcoz I didnt go to school. Now I just finished my course bcoz my brother is my classmate so we go to school together. I hate it that Im always with my siblings specially with my brother but again I have no choice.

There was a time when I was still in high school my sisters were yelling at my mom and I was very pitiful to her. My mom loaned money from the bank, to invest in a million worth business but the business was a racket. My mom stuck herself up on the room just so to shut herself from any blames but my sisters still went up to her to shout at her, to kick her, and my mom was just crying and begging them to stop and saying she just wants to die. I did not see the scenario but I was hearing them from the first floor of the house. It was too mentally torturing. But then I knew that I could not do anything to stop them coz my opinions wld not matter to them. Im just me. So what I did was just to shut myself and pretend as if nothing's happening. Things like those always happened. I was shocked to myself when a scenario happened, my child cousin was throwing tantrums and he got a knife from the kitchen. He ran towards his mom and so they were running around. I was taking a bath all those times but I could hear what was happening. I could hear there was panic in the voices of the people outside. And I knew that my cousin was catching his mom with a knife. But me, I just continued taking a bath and was like very cool and calm as if nothing was going on. When I got out my brother told me that our cousin was about to stab my aunt and I was like "ya I heard" and went to my room like nothing. At first I found it cool. I thought I was just too calm and cool. But later on I realized Its more than just that. Im not anymore human. I dont have emotions anymore. I dont get angry, I dont feel nervous, I dont cry. As in... nothing. I dont feel anything in my chest or in my heart. I dont fall in love anymore like normal people.

I had a boyfriend bcoz I wanted to.. not bcoz I fell in love. I had him at age 21. I isolated myself from him. I put a barrier between us. We were together for slightly more than a year but evrything only seemed like 3 weeks, or even less. We'd only seen each other once a month. We would only text each other. He wanted to meet my family but I was always afraid. I was afraid for him to find out the real me, an emotionless me. I was afraid that he'll be with me during a situation that I need to react but id still have flat affect, expressionless. I was even afraid that when anyone of my family dies right in front of me and everyone, even the maids cry, and me, as still as a stone. I was afraid to let him know that I had no emotions. I would accept to myself if im depressed, which i am. i wake up each day feeling very very empty. but i can accept that. What i cant accept is this emotionless state of mine. Sometimes when a sad situation happens and my heart would not feel anything, Id self-mutilate to feel some pain. Not too much self-mutilation. Im not suicidal. Just to prick myself. Sometimes Id even punch my chest as if triggering my emotions but nothing happens. Im afraid that what a psychiatrist might offer me is just an antidepressant bcoz Ive tried that. I was feeling happy with prozac, but the emotional numbness was still there. I searched all over the net but I found no drug that triggers the emotions. It's just so unfair. There's a drug that stops the depression but there's no drug that triggers the emotions. Everyday I practice crying or triggering my emotions but then a tear doesnt even drop. I am so depressed, very very depressed, yet I cant even express the depression. As much as I want to burst out, as in burst out into tears, but my emotions dont respond. I feel like my chest is paralyzed. Im so helpless. I dont know if I should go to a neurologist or a psychiatrist.

I have been on paxil for 6 yrs. now and will probably be on it the rest of my life. Unitl I was 49 yrs. old, I suffered with extreme anxiety and from panic attacks. I ended up in ER one night thinking I was having a heart attack. Spent 3 days there only to find it was the anxiety. Paxil has completely changed my life. My family likes me now. I'm not a screaming, insame person; difficult at every turn. I was almost completely housebound; unable to even move unless necessary. No friends; no life. After beginning Paxil, I started volunteering at our library; have made several friends; and generally have a life. I do sleep a lot but I did before. The drug does have is downsides, but I never want to experience those panic attacks again. I once tried, amidst an attack, to beat my way through a glass sliding door in a hotel about 14 floors up. When you have a panic attack, you think you're dying, can't breath, have to outside in the fresh air at any cost. So my life is slower now but happier. After almost 50 yrs. of living a miserable anxiety-ridden life, I now have a peaceful one.

This thread is a prime example for why we have doctors in the first place. I can't believe the number of people here who have said they quit taking it after a couple days or weeks without consulting their doctors first.

If Paxil makes your anxiety worse, that means it's working! Paxil is supposed to make you feel worse for the first 2 or 3 weeks, but after that, you will start to feel better. This is how the drug works.

After the first couple weeks, you will start to feel normal again (normal as in pre-paxil), and then you will slowly start to feel better (better as in pre-depression/anxiety).

It takes time to work and unfortunately, things get a little worse before they get better, but if you give it enough time, they WILL get better.

People are coming here for feedback on paxil use and all they're getting are a bunch of a fearmongering scare stories from people who didn't even give the drug a chance to work.

This is like getting a 12 day supply of antibiotics, taking 2 pills then throwing the rest out and screaming about how it didn't work. Of course it didn't work! You didn't give it a chance to!

I first started taking Paxil in 1994 for anxiety. I was having horrible panic attacks - about 4 a day. I lost over 25 pounds (I was skinny to start with). I was on the verge of killing myself. Paxil SAVED my life! It took about 2 weeks to work, but once it kicked in I was back to myself again. Yes, there are some side effects from it, but the mild effects were worth it. I also went off of it 3 years later with no problems. You just have to slowly ween yourself instead of going cold turkey. Don't be scared to try it. Your doctor prescribed it to you because he/she felt the positive effects of the medication outweigh the negative.

I'm in my 30's & have taken Paxil for 7 years. Prior to taking meds, I had often felt needy & very anxious. First I started with 20 mgs which caused me to feel no emotion. I decided to tell my doctor that I'd like to try 1/2 of the dose, which made me feel great. Then, like many I thought I could just ween myself off. I felt good about myself for a while, then 6 weeks later I felt anxious, depressed, miserable, again. I tried Effexor & Paxil CR...both did not work for me (I was unable to remain patient to see if they would work). I asked my doctor to please put me back on regular Paxil (generic), I felt immediate results. Yes, I've had to increase my dosage (appx every year), but I will continue to take this medication until science discovers a better way. My entire life has been better ever since I've taken this med.
By the way, it's not our fault that we feel what we feel. My grandmother was highly anxious & her former husband committed suicide. Maybe that's why I have felt the way I have. It's my genetic makeup. I'm not ashamed nor should anyone else feel ashamed. If someone has high blood pressure, they take medicine to lower their pressure. If you are anxious, depressed, ocd, etc. tell someone you trust to keep an eye on you while you find what treatment works best for you. Keep a journal to monitor your behavior. Don't try to wish IT away...it doesn't work that way.

I have read and read and read all these messages and just wanted to throw my two cents worth in. I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder back in 1999 after going to jail for beating up my FIFTH husband at the age of 33.....YEAH.... well the Judge let me pled No Lo and ordered me to seek professional help. I was diagnosed with Bipolar/Manic Depressive and put on Paxil, Depakote & Xanax. IT WORKED GREAT....I did gain about 30 lbs and that is what prompted me to get off the meds. So I quit cold turkey and went through all the withdrawals and THEN..... went through two more marriages and am now 40 years old...been married 7 times and about three months ago my latest husband who had never lived a life of Bipolar told me (after I put us $3500 in debt in two weeks time WITHOUT asking him) that it was either that I got help or he got out....WELL I REALLY LOVE HIM...and want this marriage to last so I opted for the help. My Doctor (who knows all about me) told me she would help me ONLY if I admitted that I had a problem and would take the meds as prescribed. I did...she started with 20 mgs of Paxil and 500 mgs of Depakote then added 2 mgs of Xanax to be taken in half four times a day. After the follow up visit I told her that my sex life wasn't the best and she changed the Paxil to Lexapro.....OH MY GOD!!!!! what a nightmare.... I became agitated....heart palps....and so on and so forth...then my agitation level started rising AGAIN.... so I called my Doc went back on the Paxil and am doing great. We MUST believe that we have problems like someone with Diabetes, Heart Disease and such. I had to admit that I had a problem before I could fix the problem and now I am on top of my game....:).....but the point I am trying to make is don't be so hard on Paxil. I have tried Buspar, Lexapro, Effexor, and all that but nothing helps me like Paxil. Yes it does make me gain weight but it is so nice to "fill up the recliner" and have a NICE conversation with my husband than to be thinner and jump from the ceiling trying to find things to throw.

I took Paxil for 2 years. I was a zombie for the first 3 months, but then things changed. I stopped having anxiety attacks every day, and I felt more confident about myself. Only real side affects for me were dry mouth (which I may have had before), and weight gain (which I DID have before anyway). I only stopped Paxil b/c it started to stop working. I started having anxiety attacks again, and I started to cry multiple times a day. I'm in the process of trying something new out while quitting the Paxil slowly. I honestly have nothing against Paxil. I just think some people out there aren't made for SSRI's, and any of those meds could potentially harm them.

I have been on Paxil for about 10 years now. At the start of it all it really worked well. I am up to 40 mg a day. Now I am going to see my family doctor because I feel that the side effects out stand up way the benefits. I find that I have nasty thoughts (i.e.) violent feelings against others, doing things that I would never do. Dizziness, like a severe ear infection or like the world is spinning, loss of vision in one eye that comes and goes. Nightmares and disjointed dreams. Oh, lets not forget can't sleep at night and lethargic during the day and last but not least I have a hard time holding a conversation because I simply can't remember words. My memory is shot. I feel so stupid. If anyone has similar problems please send me an e-mail, it would be nice to know that I am not alone. Brucetc@telus.net

I think Paxil is worthless, and the withdrawal sypmtoms are horrible. I would HIGHLY recommend never taking this medication. GSK should have to answer for this bull crap. The company is all about the money, but they could care less about the devestation that it causes people.

I took Paxel 20mg for 2yrs. After the 1st year on the drug, I started getting heat intolerance, therefore I discontinued it.

After discontinuing the medication, the heat intolerance subsided, however, I've since been suseptable to heat intolerance when exherting myself in higher temperatures, but not on a regular daily basis as when I was on the medication.

I've since been told by several psychiatrists that if Paxel stimulated this response, most other SSRI's of the same type (i.e., zoloft, etc.) will probably stimulate the same side effect.

It was a horrible experience for me to be on Paxil because in my mind, I thought the more I took, the better I'd feel. I was taking 90 mg's and when I went back to the doctor, she urged me to get it off completely. I didn't find it to do absolutely anything but more hopeless that the depression would ever go away.

I just wish i could come off of this drug. I have never been a drug user, drinker , smoker, or anything of that matter. I have been trying to wean myself from paxil, and I just can't seem to do it. I get so sick, and these sensations in the head they feel like little shocks and the nausated and just all over feeling like I am going to die.

I HAVE BEEN TAKING PAXIL CR FOR ABOUT 3 YRS. NOW AND I WOULD LIKE TO JUST GET OFF OF IT COMPLETELY, IS THERE ANY WAY

they claim it is not addictive. that is not true. my withdrawl from paxil is severe physically and emotionally. withdrawn symptons include nasuea, dizziness, thick tongue, headache, and sleeplessness. these withdrawl symptons have been going on for about 7-8 days so far. I've tried coming off paxil 5-6 times and the withdrawals are so extreme I usually go back on it again. I can only hope I make it this time. be careful, it's addictive. It helped with my depression when I needed it but I'm wondering if it was worth the price I have to pay to get off it.

when i took paxil it made me worse i was jumping up out of my sleep and i was having bad panic attacks and i could'nt be still i had rasing thought's so it did'nt work for me i only took it for three days.

I am a mental health professional that has utlizied just about all the SSRIs over several years to deal with my depression. If there is one medication that I would suggest no one EVER take it is Paxil CR. From my experience it was a very dangerous medication leading to mood lability that was frightening, particularly the lows. Don't do it. If you have another choice take it. This medication will be pulled off the market eventually, I am confident of it.

jodi are you a real mental health professional or is that a word you use for yourself becuz u took almost every med out thair? becuz i am a person wit a lot of phobias and meds are one of them and i need advice!

Jodi, exactly what makes Paxil CR so dangerous? I have been on it for one year- and I have felt fine. I have not felt the need to fly into uncontrolled rages, or anything of that nature. Can you please elaborate? Thanks

hi i was just wondering if anyone else is taking more than onepaxil a day im taking one 20mg in morning and another 20 mg after dinner plus i take valium

My wife has been on paxil for about 3 years now and I find that she has become very distant, that is, she seems to have very little emotion towards me, as if she lost interest in me. I feel that this is not the real her, not the same person I married several years ago. I have become very dissatisfied with our marriage, yet I believe that this medication is causing this behaviour. I believe she still cares for me but cannot express her feelings towards me. The paxil definitely helped her with her anxiety, although it wasn't severe, but it has taken its toll on our relationship. I have been as patient as I can hoping she will choose to stop taking the paxil. Nonetheless this has lead to an unhappy marriage, particularly in my view. I'm not sure she really feels or cares how our marriage is going. Please help me understand if this is just my situation or if you or someone else has experienced what I have.