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!

Been on Paxil CR on and off for 4 years and am again coming off of it and I feel brain zaps, muscle fatigue, sleeping issues, and moments of feeling like I am coming out of my skin. Started coming off by tgaking 12.5 every other day for the past week and now I am completely off. Wondering how long this is gonna take? Ready to live my life anxiety free without medication just need to move on from these side affects of coming off.

ive been taking paxil for about 7 years now for being nervous and general anxiety.im trying to get off the drug due to my lack of concentration and crappy sex life.i was taking 20mg a day and down to 2.5 now but the side effects are terrible im extremely dizzy and nausious and generally just feel like shit.im wondering if anyone else has been on it this long and how long should i expect to feel like this

I have been on Paxil 12.5 mg CR for only 15 days. I have not been able to sleep and have constant anxiety since starting Paxil. I suffered from anxiety and depression before starting Paxil. I am also on Ativan, 0.5 mg 3x/day. I asked my psychiatrist (MD) about coming off Paxil because I thought it was not helping the anxiety and the not sleeping issue is much worse than before Paxil; no response yet. She always says,"take your medications as prescribed". Does anyone have any experience with how hard stopping Paxil will be after this short 15 day period? I asked to go on Paxil initially because I wasn't feeling good most of the time. I wish I had been told about how hard it is to get off of it before I started. The withdrawal descriptions are scary.

Getting off Ativan is another issue. I've been on Ativan for one month so far.

I went through a horrible situation at work causing extreme stress and anxiety. I had already had sleep problems, waking up five or six times a night and not being able to get back to sleep. I was prescribed paxil 20mg a day. After a few days as the serum levels got up to were they should be I was feeling great. The anxiety was under control but the big change has been in my ability to get a good nights sleep. Now if I wake up in the middle of the night I don't have a million ideas rushing through my head, I gently fall back to sleep and in the morning I feel all cozy and happy. I love this stuff! Been using it about four years and the only side effects are when I forget to take it I get the usual tremors. Paxil has helped my life a lot and I recommend it to all my friends.

I was put on Paxil recently-20 mg the first dose messed my whole world up!I had Diarrhea,vomiting, dizziness & did not feel right the whole day!Yes, I know that it does help some people but I think this drug is horrible!!!!

I was taking Paxil 20mg to 40mg for the past 10+ years. I also was drinking and smoking (green stuff) for quite awhile with the Paxil. I recently went through a program and have stopped my drug usage (alcohol included) and decided I have been numb long enough and just stopped taking Paxil. As most of you have said, headaches, light-headedness, uncontrollable crying, up for 3 to 4 days at a time etc. It has been about 3 weeks now and I still am having some slight issues. But glad I can actually feel emotions like a so called normal person would. One weird thing is though...I have some tingling / numbness in my lower left leg. Anybody else ever experience this when coming off Paxil? Thx, God Bless!

Well, Ive been taking paxil for a good period of time. My docter started me on about 2 years ago. At that time i was going through other problems with my drinking. It made me binge drink more. My mood, and confidence were sky high, but it felt as if my health was the worst its been. I was getting a shock feeling down my spine. I was extremely irretable. Snapping on everyone, and everything. I was emotional, and if people new me before, they new i was not an emotional guy. After, things seemed to get back to normal, thats when i wanted to try to wean off it. Oh my god. I am so depressed like never before. Im am 3 times irretable as before. And it feels like things aren not going to change. Paxil has put me into a world were it feels as if it confusing and dark. Im not suicidal or even close, but it feels like the depression is the worst its ever been. I just want to know if this is normal, cuz the hell im going through right now, i will never, ever touch another anti-depressent.

I have been trying to get off of Paxil for well over 2 years now, I go from 30mg for 2 weeks, to 20mg for 2 weeks to ten...to 5...to 2.5...the first day off is no problem, I actually have more energy than normal and almost feel a sense of freedom...by the second day, the side effects start.
The (((woh woh))) effect every time I turn my head, the tingling, nagging shooting electrical impulses that run from my chest, up my arms and straight to the center of my brain.
The longest I have been able to go before running back to end the unbearable-ness, (as if that's even a word...), was one week.
I planned it for pretty much all of 2008, a few months at 30mg and so on and so on...I took my week vacation scheduled to coincide with the first day completely off; I spent the entire week going from the couch, to my bedroom, to the front porch, to the shower...back to the couch...etc. So restless, irritated and out of my mind from the dizziness and buzzing, that I wanted to literally stab a screwdriver into my temple to stop it and each day just got worse and worse.
Finally at the end of my "vacation" and in the interest of self preservation and career obligations, I reluctantly took a 10mg and within the hour the symptoms started to fade.
I don't know if paxil has actually helped me over the past 10 years I have been on it, but I think in hind sight, I would rather have just let my OCD insanity consume me, rather than have to feel like a drug addict if I can't make it to the pharmacy in time to pick up my stupid prescription.
I would like to know if the rumors that, "The creators of Paxil KNEW of these side effects and still released it anyway", were true...if they are, i would love nothing more than to read in the paper tomorrow morning that every exec that allowed it was required to spend the next 2 years on it and than had to go cold turkey getting off. (If the rumors are not true, please disregard the previous tyraid)
My only purpose in even posting this, is in hopes that someone happens to read here, in contemplation of starting a Paxil regiment...my advice is DON'T DO IT!!
Best of luck to my fellow commrades on this page and elsewhere trying to kick this crap, in the mean time...I am scheduled for my morning fix at 8:15 tomorrow morning...

On February 16, 2000, I walked into a doctor's office with anxiety symptoms and depression that I had dealt with for most of my life. At the age of 3, I had my first panic attack. I remember it VERY well. Between then and the age of 21 I had many other anxiety disorders. I tried to hide most of what I felt until then. (My family didn't talk about such things.) At 21 I was rushed to the ER because my heart was pounding so hard, my chest was aching, I could not get a full breath, and I really believed I was having a heart attack. I was diagnosed with anxiety. That was in 1981. The doctor gave me an injection of seconal (which didn't affect me in the least), Vitamin C tablets, and a prescription for sleeping pills. Over the next 19 yrs., I suffered one anxiety disorder after another. The depression symptoms came in 1997. The inability to sleep for more than an hour or two a night (sometimes not being able to sleep for days) began soon after. In January, 2000, my throat began to close up and I constantly felt as if I were going to choke. Finally, I decided to find a doctor who might be able to help me with these problems. He prescribed 20 mg. of Paxil daily. Within a week I felt completely alive for the first time in my life! Everything was vibrant and nothing could make me sad or afraid again. I slept like a log! Three hour afternoon naps, 14 hour nightly sleeping. My libido completely disappeared (much to my husband's dismay as we had enjoyed a very happy sex life until then) but I didn't care. I felt wonderful for the first time in my life! No anxiety! No depression! I was alive and happy! Forward to May, 2009. A few panic symptoms began to reappear. I told my doctor (new doctor by this time) that the paxil didn't seem to be working as well. She felt it was time to switch meds. We tried the 20 mg. to 10 mg., to 5 mg. (weekly intervals). By the 10 mg. drop I was 'zapping' all over the place, barely able to walk without fear of falling over. I began to develop horrible flu-like symptoms (the worst joint and muscle aches imaginable). My doctor suggested I take the weaning slower. From 10 mg. to 15 mg. The "flu" was gone by that very afternoon. Forward to June, 2009. I dropped my 15 mg. dose to 10 mg. The zaps began the second day. By the second week of 10 mg., the flu-like symptoms hit full force. I decided to fight through it. I noticed that I was crying for no reason and at the most odd times - while washing dishes, folding clothes, trying to decide which toilet paper to buy at the store, for example. I was finding it more difficult to fall asleep, lying in bed for hours waiting. The flu-like symptoms worsened with each day. I began to think of suicide. I was never suicidal before but now it seemed like I might be capable of that. I didn't want to die, but I suddenly realized that killing myself wouldn't be impossible. Just random thoughts of that. Forward to July,2009. I decreased from 10 mg. to 5 mg. The "flu" worsened. The zaps became more like seizures. I described it to my husband as "passing out for a few seconds but still being awake the whole time." Sleep was getting more difficult. Awful dreams. Only 5 or 6 hours of sleeping a night. Crying more and more. I began to feel like impending doom was awaiting me at every corner. Suicide seemed quite logical but I didn't WANT to die. Forward to August 10, 2009. After 3 days of locking myself in a totally dark bedroom, refusing to eat or drink, crying CONSTANTLY, feeling as if my head were exploding (Tylenol didn't touch the pain),unable to sleep at all, shaking so hard I could barely move, halucinating (I saw my dead grandfather who had killed himself nearly 20 yrs. ago), I believed that God wanted to kill me. I hid in my bedroom closet for the entire afternoon, convinced He was coming for me. I scratched deep scratches into my right arm until it bled and then continued to scratch until the blood began to drop from my arm. I have no explanation for this. It was as if my left hand had a mind of its own and it seemed logical to me as I watched it scratch deeper and deeper. I decided that it was time to die. I removed the blades from razors and hid them around my bedroom. I 'stole' my husband's pocket knife and placed it behind a family picture on my bedstand. Just in case. I decided to not eat or drink ever again until blissful death came and ended this horror. I was born and raised Catholic. Suicide is considered 'the big sin.' My grandfather's suicide brought much pain for our family. I believed that God was evil so killing myself couldn't be wrong. I truly believed He was causing all my suffering now to torment me and would eventually kill me because I now knew the truth about Him. I found myself thinking that the Paxil had dulled me to the 'truth' and now that I was weaning I could see that He was evil and He wanted to kill me to keep me from telling anyone. My husband realized that something was VERY wrong once he returned home that afternoon. I couldn't talk. I could barely move. I was dehydrated and starving. I refused to drink when he tried to make me. He threatened to take me to the hospital and I told him I would be dead before he got me to the car. I knew where the blades were and was fully prepared to use them on myself. He called our 2 sons into the room so that I could tell them that their mother had decided to give up on life and end it all. He phoned our older son and put him on speaker phone so I could tell him, too. (I guess this is what's called an 'intervention.') I didn't care. I told them goodbye and that I couldn't go on anymore. This went on for over an hour. By the grace of God Himself, I finally agreed to take 15mg. of Paxil. Within an hour, I realized that I hadn't been thinking clearly at all. I realized that I DID NOT WANT TO DIE. God was not trying to kill me. I wanted help! I desperately needed help! When my mind cleared enough, I realized what I'd just put my husband and children through and I was so ashamed and shocked that I could possibly be capable of this! I'm a strong person, always have been. I'm the one my friends comes to for help and advice. My husband and our children call me their 'rock.' My husband credits me for everything he has in life. He took me to my doctor the very next day. I couldn't talk because I was still shaky from the events from the night before and I was so shocked and ashamed at what had happened. (I simply couldn't believe I was that person.) I sat in the corner of the office while the doctor and my husband discussed the last 3 days and my final meltdown. She actually asked my husband if he wanted to have me 'committed' for inpatient treatment! Those words hit me like bricks! Oh my God! How had I come to this point?? I kept waiting to wake up from this nightmare.This could not have possibly all happened. It was so far away from who and what I am and have been. My husband explained to my doctor that I did not need to be committed, I needed help with the withdrawals! She told me to immediately throw away the Paxil I had left and begin Buspar with klonopin at night to sleep. The zaps are still here, mild compared to the way I was feeling before. I'm terrified now that I might end up on that slope of doom again. Terrified. I never dreamed such a thing was possible with me, never even entered my mind ever, but it happened. It actually happened. My husband and I have made a pact that if he sees any symptoms (even the slightest indication of my 'slipping' in anyway) he will take me to the ER immediately. I refuse to go through that horror again! I refuse to put my family through that ever again! Today is August 12, 2009. I am desperately trying to only think positive thoughts and determined to put what happened behind me and move forward. I know it will take a very long time to heal and I'm sure I will never forget. Now I'm desperate for answers...How long will the zaps go on? How long will I feel drained from withdrawing? When will Paxil be completely out of my system and when will my brain heal? As I sit here now, I regret seeking help for my anxiety and depression problems in February, 2000. I deeply regret that now. Those were so much easier than what I've gone through these last months withdrawing from this poison. I now have to take the Buspar and klonopin to try and recover from Paxil. I don't like the idea of being medicated, considering what's happened. But the alternative is unbearable. I dare the makers of Paxil to take their own medication for a year then stop.I'd like to see this done on live, national television, too. Evidence of whether Paxil withdrawals actually exist, since so many professionals are still in denial. Walk in my shoes, oh 'wise ones,' THEN tell me there's no such thing!

My God, I took Paxil for the first time yesterday at around 4:oo pm and its now 8:47 am the next day and I still feel like I'm coming down off of LSD or Ecstasy. My vision is blurred and I keep having these weird yawns that make me shiver just like when I came down off hallucinogens when I was younger. My doctor didn't tell me I'd feel like this. I didnt want to take Xanex because I have friends who take the drug and watching them fall asleep at dinner and have terrible mood swings if their prescription runs out wasn't attractive to me. However, Paxil is addictive and from what I've read the withdraw symptoms are horrible. I've decided to stop taking it and just deal with life's problems like a man. Like my father and his fathers before him. Life sucks sometimes, get a helmet.

I have been on Paxil once before. I had a basic nervous break down. I was just put back on it for what seems to be post pardom depression. I have been taking it now for about 2 months. At first I felt great. I slept all night and got up and played with my son, we go for walks, go to the park, ect. Now, I still do all those things but I drink every night. And all I want is beer. I can't sleep without totally passing out. Odviously I didn't drink when I was pregnant but even for the months after I was fine, never a craving at all. Now, I am obsessed with it. I can't sleep without a good buzz. WTF? I just don't know what to do.

When i started 3 years ago on paxil it was given to me to help deal with the death of my spouse and it helped me stay on the grond instead of under the ground but damn these side efects getting off of it. I didnt know what that filling was till i came to this site and some one said little electric shocks and bingo that was the filling so now i can dismiss heart attack and sugar diabeties from my way out brain and head forward...thanks joe

i have been taking paxil cr 25 mg for 8 years now it has never really worked for me but i was afraid to go off of it but last year i got so bad i had to i was put on pristig the withdrawl was like i was coming off of crack or something the worst week of my life head buzzes constent gagging panic attacks none stop crying i couldnt stand it anymore so i went back on it bad idea so now i find myself going on luvox i was weaned off the paxil slowly last time this time my new docter told me just to stop the paxil and start luvox today i do not think that is a good idea but im doing it anyway might be in the physc ward next time you here from me hope not i just need something to work need my life back im only 26 and it has wasted 8 years of my life

accidently didnt take paxi for 3 days, had an animal emergency. anyway i went throggh horrible
withdrawels, just took one now, how long before i feel better

I was prescribed Paxil for severe depression and anxiety. I started at 10mg. and took it for only two weeks. This drug has been a nightmare for me. I felt like I was dead in my own body. When I first started taking it I had some bad panic attacks and felt extremely weird. I switched from Paxil to Celexa five days ago and have not gotten out of bed since. I don't know what is what but I feel very weird and extremely dizzy. I hope this goes away and the Celexa works. I do know that even 10mg can cause bad side effects and a hellish withdrawal.

I do not know if I was lied to but I have this strange thing that happens with the last tree toes on my right foot.Every so often Iget this almost knife sharp stabbing pain in those toes. THE PAIN IS ALSO LIKE A NERVE Pain and it so strong I scream. Iam on the largest dose you can be on because my dr says you need to be when you have OCD. I also have major depression and have for many years of my life. meds have helped me in the past.If anyone else has had this side affect or or simalar please post it . I would appreciate it.

I hope someone else has had this happen to them. I've been on Paxil for years. I just recently changed to Paxil Cr and the last couple of weeks, twice I have experienced something very strange. I will wake up in the middle of the night with buzzing in my ears. I am paralyzed like I am still in a deep sleep, but have part consciousness. My head is usually pounding, but my heart rate and breathing are really slow like I'm asleep but I am aware of it. I tried to explain it to my wife, probably thinks I'm crazy. Please email me if this has happened to you. At least that way I know someone understands.

i am in a very difficult crossraod. i have been married right at a year. my wife started taking small dosage of zoloft during the planning stages of the wedding etc, to get through "the stress" one year later she has been through Prozac, Zoloft higher doses, Quanipin, now on wellbutrin, and just last week the added Paxil. she is very irradic in thinking and actions. she taouts suicide multiple times and plays on my emotions without end. i feel as though i do not know what to do. i have it throwed up in my face to honor the wedding vows. i am fearful for her that she will just become a pill head and have to have something coarsing through her veins just to function. she left work saying she did not like th eenvironment. although she had an excellent job, pay, benefits etc. i do not believe in alot of the medical commuinty and what they tell you or convince you of needing. her response is that she will whatever it takes to get better no matter what. but i do not see that when all that is done is anothr pill added to the mix. i want and trying to be supportive. but as eash day passes, i feel myself getting down and pulling away. anybody had the same scenerio. i cant live like this forevr.....

I take 20mg of Paxil and have started geting back pain when I walk a shot distance, is this a side effect and will it go away?

I've taken paxil for a while. and in 7 mounth I gained 75 pounds. I was 142pounds before I started paxil wearing a size 7/8 now I'm in a size 14/15. I will have to stop takeingg the paxil it has put to much weight on me.

hi im just trying to find out some information on something.my husband is on paxil his doctor wants to switch him to a different one called cymbalta.my question is can you just switch from one to the other or does he have to wean himself of first

i been on paxil 6 months now n it helped me a lot .. relief fr ocd n guilt n sadness n lower my anxiety,,i no need to stop it coz am afraid to relapse n zat will b worse ,,i can't took z pain again,,i better live wz paxil 20 mg a day,,helped a lot

I've been on paxil for 19yrs .I hated it I bagged the doctor I didn't want to take it. It made my body and mind feel like I was not on this earth a nightmare .He told me if I stopped I would get in a wreck and die .he destroyed my life .I can't get off or I go crazy .Inever fill narmal again !! So sad and lost.he made me take it .

I'm 27 years old and was prescribed paxil after I had my daughter 2 years ago. It generally works but my problem is the withdrawls. The body zaps, crying for nothing, worsened depression,vivid dreams,head aches,nausea, and more. I wish I never started taking it, and I wish I was informed of how powerful the withdrawls would be before I ever started taking them.