Depression Blog.com

Well I was on paxil for about 3 years,felt pretty good while I was on it,didnt give a shit about anything,but I just wanted to get off of it because the loss of my sex drive,I have been off of it for about 6 months now and it has been the worst 6 months of my life,it been that long since I been off of it and I still dont feel right,I feel messed up in the head all the time,I cant think straight,I feel like Im on some kind of crazy drug a lot of the time,my vision goes all crazy,I feel like Im goin to pass out,I get all dizzy when I try to read,I get muscle spasms,I feel pissed off a lot,my advice is to never go on the drug

I quit taking paxil about six months ago, after taking it off and on for the past few years. I got to certain points where I could no longer stand the depressed thoughts, anxiety, and the desire for withdrawl from social activites. I turned to legal drugs. When I took paxil I felt much more relaxed in social situations, worried less and felt an overall sense of happiness. After taking it for a while, my body got physically taxed from processing it. I also had digestive problems while using Paxil. The main reason I don't like taking it is the fact that it's just a synthetic drug that temporarily covers up the symptoms of something that is an ongoing problem. That in mind, I was extremely conflicted during the time I had been taking it.
Regardless of what doctors say, this is a physically and phychologically addictive drug; I still struggle with the cravings. Currently I am looking into a combonation of herbal supplements which will reduce depression and will be much more effective for long term overall health. I advise others to look into herbal medicines for depression as well.

I HAVE BEEN TAKING PAXIL CR FOR ABOUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS. IT'S KEPT ME OUT OF THE HOSPITAL AND GENERALLY HAVE FELT REALLY GOOD ON IT,BUT IT'S TIME HAS COME THE SEXUAL LIBIDO PROBLEMS AND NOT BEING ABLE TO ORGASAM ARE TAKING IT'S TOLL ON MY MARRIAGE.I'M 26 AND HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR 2 YEARS.I TOLD MY DOCTOR AND SHE AND I WORKED OUT A PLAN TO SWITCH ME TO WELLBUTRIN.WHILE THE PAXIL GOES DOWN THE WELLBUTRIN GOES UP.I AM NOW TAKING 25MG CR A NIGHT INSTEAD OF 37.5 A NIGHT, IT'S BEEN 3 DAYS AND I'M FEELING A LITTLE MORE DEPRESSED AND I'M STARTING TO REMEMBER THAT SCARY ANXIETY FEELING BECAUSE I'M STARTING TO FEEL THAT A LITTLE. I HAVEN'T STARTED THE WELLBUTRIN YET,SCARED I GUESS.I AM HOWEVER ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED OF COMING OFF THIS DRUG READING EVERYTHING ON HERE HAS MADE IT WORSE OF COURSE BUT I NEED TO BE PREPARED.I AM HOPING THAT BECAUSE I AM STARTING A NEW ANTI-DEPRESSANT AT THE SAME TIME THAT MY WITHDRAWL SYMPTOMS WILL BE MINIMAL.MY DOCTOR WANTS ME TO GO TO 12.5 FROM WHERE I'M AT NOW FOR A WEEK THEN STOP,THAT JUST DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT TO ME.I KEPT SAYING TO HER,ARE YOU SURE THIS WILL BE OK?SHE SAID YES THAT BECAUSE I'M ON THE CR IT MAKES WITHDRAWL ALOT EASIER.BEFORE IF I MISSED 24HRS OF THE STUFF I WAS DIZZY AND WORST OF ALL THIS STRANGE THUDDING OVER AND OVER IN MY HEAD AND IT FELT LIKE IN MY CHEST TOO ALSO A VERY DISCONNECTED FEELING.I WOULD SUGGEST TO ANYBODY CONSIDERING THIS DRUG THINK ABOUT THE HORRIBLE WITHDRAWL YOU MAY HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND THE WONDERFUL WEIGHT GAIN OF COURSE! ALSO IF YOU'RE A WOMAN MARRIED OR IN A SERIOUS RELATIONSHIP CONSIDER THE SEXUAL STRESS IT COULD POSSIBLY PUT ON YOUR RELATIONSHIP!MY HUSBAND HAS SCREAMED AT ME THAT HE WISHES I COULD JUST GET OFF THIS STUPDID MEDICATION BECAUSE TO BE BLUNT ON THIS PILL I RARELY EVER EVEN FELL LIKE HAVING SEX!OH WELL HOPEFULLY MY DOCTOR IS RIGHT OR I'M GONNA BE REALLY PISSED.GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL.

I'm a 37-year-old male, and I've been on 20mg of Paxil about 7 years, after struggling with clinical depression/anxiety since childhood. The side effects are not bad (dry mouth and occasional nausea are the worst). I've been able to function like a reasonably normal human being, something I wasn't doing before.

I've noticed no loss of sex drive, but it takes longer to achieve an orgasm. Sometimes I get into yawning fits. I tried to cut back to 10mg once and did it too quickly; you definitely have to taper off very slowly. Then my new job got very stressful and I had to go back to 20mg.

It's important that you really have *clinical* depression and/or anxiety (brain chemistry disorder); don't let a doctor prescribe it to you just because of something temporary going on in your life. Also, everyone's brain chemistry is different, and while the drug has worked well with me, it obviously doesn't with everyone. And I sure wouldn't mix it with alcohol or other meds.

I guess I should have posted that under 'Positive Feedback' - sorry.

My daughter committed suicide while taking paxil and welbutrin to treat depression. She was 19 years old. I want to warn everyone that before you consider any of these treatments make sure you are educated and counseled by health professionals that are not just there to write you a prescription, that is not the end all be all, as we have found out the hard way

I started taking paxil cr about a year ago and took it for about six months. During the time I took it I gained weight, but my biggest problem was these horrible nightmares. I quit taking the drug but I have had these dreams on and off now for six months. I knew this was a possible side effect of paxil but I didn't know that it would continue after stopping the medication. Has anyone else had this problem or am I really crazy.

I could not comprehend how tired I was because of the unconcerned feeling while taking paxil. I fell asleep while driving and flipped my car 2-3 times. Thank God my son and I were O.K. I spoke to a nurse who fell asleep driving while on Paxil also. It's not worth your life. I also had an unconcerned feeling about paying bills and let them pile up - I had the money - just didn't care.

About a year ago, i had something emotionally traumatic happen and became severely depressed. I couldnt get up in the mornings, i began failing my classes in school, my performance at work dropped, i would cry constantly day and nite, and worse of all... i wouldnt & couldnt talk to anyone. Finally i went to the doctor and she gave me Paxil. It stopped the crying and it really helped me get through the days but i began to feel more and more like a zombie... like i was walking thru life in a sleepy daze. I gained 20lbs (wasnt it bad enough that im depressed? the weight gain definately didnt help), and i became completely disinterested in sex. That was only after a month and a half... but that was enough for me to stop & i am glad i did. I now take a combo of St. John's Wort and 5-HTP and i feel it is a much better alternative. It has helped me in the same way Paxil did but without all those side effects -- i dont feel tired all day like i did on Paxil and im back at my normal weight... and i feel better knowing that i am no longer using synthetic or chemical products... and i have really felt a significant difference with my mood with these two products and i think i wont be needing that much longer.

Paxil levelled my emotions and was very instrumental in attaining sobriety however........
YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT ORGASMS!!It is even prescribed for premature ejaculation condition...can you imagine and ....do not try to give Paxil up, because you want to experience orgasms every so often; it is cunning, baffling and powerful and its revenge if you do is excruciating. I have had good results when my doctor put me one weekly Prozac and progressively diminishing Paxil from 37.5 down to 25 and then 12.5 (3 weeks process) Be careful....do not quit cold turkey. You can continue taking Paxil if it works for you and orgasms are not a priority

I HAVE BEEN TAKING PAXIL FOR MANY YEARS NOW, AND I MUST ADMIT THAT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO DO MUCH FOR ME. I HAVE HAD THE DOSE INCREASED SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS. EACH TIME I TRY TO STOP TAKING PAXIL I SUFFER HORRIBLE WITHDRAWL SYMPTOMS AS IF I AM COMING OFF A HARD CORE DRUG. I HAVE SUFFERED FROM NAUSEA, SEVERE MIGRAINS, AND TERRIBLE ANXIETY. I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYONE THINKING OF TAKING THIS DRUG TO CONSIDER ALL THE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS. TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT EVERY SINGLE MEDICAL CONDITION THAT MAY OCCUR AS A RESULT OF TAKINIG THIS MEDICINE.

I have been on Paxil since late 2001. I had some good times on it, but now I am weaning off it as we speak. Some of my symptoms had gotten better on Paxil but my life overall has not improved. Im coming off and already my dreams have come back. On Paxil I either didn't dream or was too numb to remember. I bought some books by Dr. Peter Breggin. He is one of a few doctors who wants to educate the public about psychiatric drugs and their withdrawals from them. Be Strong and be well.

I've been on Paxil for a couple of years and at first really helped me feel normal.Then eventually it would wear off and my doctor recommended another drug. During the in between phase i felt horrible, lightheaded, anxiety over everything.The other drug didn't make me feel better so i went to paxil cr instead. Felt better for a while but then it started wearing off again.Eventually i went to a bio chemist and herboligist and he said my liver was not working right. So i went on a liver detox for 15 days and cut off my paxil. First every other day then every 2 days then every 3 days. I felt great for a week or two. then i hit rock bottom.i havent felt so bad in my whole life...feelings of helplessness, depression, anxiety just thinking about doing something socially,constant lighthead feeling and my eyes couldn't focus..felt like my eyes were buggin out...then dizzy, stomach discomfort all the time...i honestly feel like im gonna have a melt down....I would constantly feel like i would fall over to the left when walking or driving a car...its been a month now....how much longer could this take??? I don't think i can take much more....

I have been having some strange symptoms since i started taking paxil, i am also new to the anxiety thing and i have only been taking it a little over a month now. I have had lower right abdominal pain since my first anxiety attack and i first thought it was nerves in my stomach. It comes and goes and some days it's worse than others. I though it was my ovary but had a pelvic exam and was told i was fine down there. the first couple of weeks on paxil my stomach was so upset that i began taking it at night to sleep through the side effects. The pain is dull and not really painfull, but rather, bothersome. Does this sound like anything to anyone? My digestion has not been the same since my anxiety attack. Another thing that has been happening is a numbness in my left arm similar to the feeling my arm had during my anxiety attack but to a lesser degree. I don't know if it is related to smaller anxiety attacks or what. Is this a side effect of paxil maybe?

I have been on Paxil for 5 years now and has worked incredible for my anxiety and ok for my depression. The worst side effect has been the loss of libido. I am 26 years old and have not had sex in 2.5 years....not right at all. It has been worth it so far, living with little anxiety and panic but I need to enjoy my 20's! A bit of advice, do not go off Paxil cold turkey. I get the most horrible "brain zaps" after 3 days of not taking my meds and usually cry over nothing (which is actually relieving, since I can not cry on Paxil nor show any emotion).
I'm going to the docotrs tomorrow and I am going to request Wellbutrin with my Paxil.

I'm 16 years old and took Paxil for about 3 years. I started taking it for social anxiety disorder/sociophobia. For awhile I was on the normal clinical dose of 20 mg and was doing pretty well without much of this zombie side effect (but with mild weight gain) then my doctor thought maybe we could get more progress on 30 mg. Big mistake. I turned into a zombie and gained 20 pounds in 3 weeks, and was quickly put back to 20 mg. About 6 months or so later my doctor lowered my dose to 10 mg and I had the same effect. Over the course of the last year I slowly weaned myself off paxil on accident as I started forgetting to take it more and more often and eventually just stopped. I was fine for about 2 months after this, and just in these past few weeks I've been torn apart with thoughts along the lines of "What's the point of all this work I'm doing? Where is this gonna take me?"

Do not take paxil!!!!

As a Business man in my mid 20's I have issues with my anxiety and OCD for 10 years, last year I finally was put on Paxil, huge mistake, I graduated to 30mg and gained 25 pounds and became a zombie. I have been athletic all my life, coaching and playing in college, I lost control of my body and mind after being on Paxil for 7 months. After the doc said to stay on, I quit cold turkey and supplemented more cardio and weight training to release stress and anxiety. It worked I had one or two rough days which were helped by concentrateing on exercise and vitamins. Use your body to naturally regain control!!!!!!!! I have lost 15 pounds and will losethe rest within two months, naturally.

I have been paxil since 2001. I am no longer prescribing to that method. I am working through my withdrawals and determine to succeed.

My only concern is how long will I endure these horrible side effects.

I was put on paxil at the age of twenty-two after my mom died. It really seem to help for the first couple of years, but now that im trying to get of the drug; I feel worse than ever. I literally feel im going crazy. I never knew something that is supposed to make you feel better, in the end can destroy you. Everyday is a struggle.

WOW!!!!

I just found this blog and never realized that I'm not alone in my fight against this powerful drug. I have been on Paxil for 11 years after suffering through the loss of two very special people 7 months apart and having to under go a emergency surgery. I also quit smoking during this time after smoking for over 20 years. Needless to say I was a total mess. I started off with 40mg apx 6 years ago I weened myself slowly to 20 mg which is where I am today. I have tried to go off it with no sucess. My sex drive is non existant I have gained 70 lbs which I have lost 25 and it seems I will never loose any more. I'm now having break through depression I have no desire to do anything and feel totally alone. Thank god my husband of 23 years has put up with the lack of sexual desire sometimes you just have to through the motions to keep things on even keel. When i do have sex with my husband it takes me forever to reach orgasm with almost intense pain. I hate this damn drug it is holding me hostage and I want to be set free. Thanks for letting me vent my frustrations. -V-

I took paxil 5 mg for about a month. I took it at night with .25 mg of zanax and it made me slep good for a while but i'd wake up at 4:00 and would be wide awake. Made me have night sweats. When i went off it, it made me feel dizzy and have a little anxiety worse than usual for a few days. I went off it because it did nothing for me. Now it's 2 months later and i'm going to try effexor xr 37.5 mg. I hope it works!!! Good Luck

I took Paxil in the fall of September 1997. I was 18 years old. A doctor prescribed it for me, thinking I was depressed when I had just broken up with a boyfriend. Within 3 weeks I gained 25 lbs and felt more horrible. I was so angry. I quickly went off it to take another one stupidly Effector. I have now battled with my weight now for 10 yrs, going up and down. I have finally found now a nutrionist who said this has been the link to my problem. I eat healthly and teach fitness and there is no reason that this should have happened. Apparently Paxil alters your adrenal gland function.. I am now on rebuilding herbal vitamins to treat what that horrible drug did.

DON'T TAKE PAXIL, it will ruin your life.

I was put on paxil after suffering from panic attacks, suicide thoughts, and depression after my friend commited suicide. It really did very well for me while I was getting through everything...however I was on it for about 3 years and before that I was on wellbutrin. I'm only 23 years old and about to be married in 3 months. I decided to wean myself off the drug and have been doing so for the past 6 months or so. I have been paxil free for 6 days now. This past year while on the drug I started not being able to have a grasp on reality, Have blood sugar problems, no libido, vivid crazy dreams, memory loss, weight gain, and a fear that something bad was going to happen to me or the people I love. I have found faith in my life and I'm thankful for having paxil while I did, but I'm telling you if you can avoid taking this drug...PLEASE DO!!! This drug and others have messed me up so bad!!! I'm determined to never take another drug to affect my behavior and body again! I'm not the type to talk online or leave a message, but I just want to help others not to make this mistake!! I'm haveing terrible withdraws but I'm determined to fight through this! I hope this helps someone and I'm interested in natural alternatives if anyone has suggestions or knows how to take the edge off??

Anyone know of an effective way to quit paxil in a hurry.
I don't need it anymore but find it difficult, if not impossible to
quit so far.

Thanks!

Thank you Paxil! 7 years of having the inability to achieve an orgasm.

I am a 37 year old female that started on Paroxitine about 5 months ago. I was on 20mg a day. After hard work and getting my life back on track I decided to stop taking the drug. I took 1/2 a pill for about 4 days and then quit cold turkey. Well it is about a week now of cold turkey and I have had the horrible paxil withdrawl symptoms that many of you describe. I had the vivid 3 dimensional dreams, the swooshing sounds in my head and the cattle proding electrical shocks. Those have gone away, however the extreme dizzyness is still upon me. I have bad bowel problems and feel as if I am going to pass out from the light head. However it will be worth it to achieve an orgasm again that I have not had in 5 months. Quitting this drug cold turkey is not reccomended. What a nightmare!!!

I was on Prozac 40mgs for 10 years I would party on that stuff drink beer fridays and saturdays finally after so many years i started going thru some withdrawal issues wich wer to serious to even get into 2 years later i still feel like im going thru withdrawal, jut recently i started Paxil at 20mgs it seemed likeit helped for 2 months and then i was still feeling majorly depressed, so i started to taper off of it, and felt better till 2 months later i started having major panic attacks still hearing my name called out and bunch of other crap, Ive been back on 20mgs for 1 month has not helped my depression at all, i feel like some ass hole so damn depressed i feel High like im in another sector or some shit, if anything I will give it one more month and if doesnt help Ill give Prozac a shot, anyone out there with OCD and major depression who wishes to talk feel free to email me at ezq2003@yahoo.com only people seriously suffering who may offere some help or I may help.

Im 24 years old and Ive been on Paxil 30mg for the past 11 years. Being on this medication is like riding a roller coaster. I have to admitt the first couple of years on paxil was ok, but now 11years later, its hell. I was up all night last night due to what I call disturbing dreams. Once awaken by my dreams I couldnt get back to sleep because everytime I would close my eyes something strange would happen in my head. I felt like a complete lunatic. I kept having to wake up my boyfriend so I didnt feel so alone. This morning I feel strange, I dont quiet feel like myself Im tired and just feel powerless.
Ive been wanting off these pills for a while now but reading peoples comments freaks me out a little. I feel like Im going to be on them forever, and I dont want t be I dont feel well I want to be me again. sometimes I have sooo much anger I can honestly hurt myself. Paxil took over my life and now I feel like im loosing the battle I dont know what to do. A part of me is petrified to get off them because I dont want my panick to be as bad as it was 11 years ago. Thats my fear and at the same time Im afraid Paxil will drive me to insanity. Waht am I to do??

I have been taking paxil since 1998 and I basically don't have any idea what feeling "normal" is any more. I want to start trying to come off of this stuff but I am currently dealing with anxiety/depression. Maybe I will just taper down "very slowly". I will probably freak out but whats new. Maybe I will just start running like Forest Gump.

Hi,
I'm a Registered Nurse currently writing a book about the negative (or possible positve) experience any of you may have had trying to come off of Paxil. There is not alot of research on this subject and the stories are amazing! If you are interested in having your story published (anomously) please e-mail me your personal story in 1000 words or less. I will get back with you if I plan on adding it to the book.
hart.shelly@yahoo.com

I started taking Paxil a couple of weeks ago. It's been working great for my depression and several family/friends have commented on what a difference they can see. Sounds great right, only I feel like crap. I have bad headaches daily and my sex drive is GONE like completely. And it's not like I just don't want it because we (me and my husband) have tried - it's literally like I don't feel "anything" when we are together. After reading all I have on different sites today I am getting off this stuff before I am screwed up forever.

Tha emergency room doc put me on paxil after my 3rd trip 2 tha ER within 1 week, I didn't kno that what I was experiencing was anxiety or panic, I thought I was really dying of something, so of course I gladly took it....man that was tha biggest mistake of my life! I only took it 4 one dat and I lost my mind, I was discombobulated, agitated, I heard voices like a frikkin schizophrenic, restless, I couldn't sit down, I panicked so my throat was closing, I wanted 2 commit suicide...now I am a sane god fearing person who would never in a million years even entertain that idea! But I wanted the palpitations 2 stop, my heart beat sooooo fast, my muscles hurt and I felt like I had 2 throw up...nutcase right?? Crazy pills r 4 ppl who r already crazy! All those side effects?! I think ill battle anxiety my own way, nething is betta than that!! STAY AWAY FROM IT!!!

Ok, just wanted to address some things. I've taken paxil for the past year off and on and here's what I've found. I began taking it because of social anxiety that was making me a hermit and this drug WORKED! I felt fine in whatever social setting I was in and the normal moody attitude was lifted from my shoulders. The bad part was that at first I was taking the 12.5 CR and I got consistent electrical shocks to the head, dizzyness, and complete loss of sex drive. Normally when a hot blonde with a large rack walks by, my evolutionary gear is up and running in a hearbeat, ready to do my part in multiplying the human species. Paxil left me feeling like I might as well be staring at a dude regardless how pretty a girl might be...WTF?!? Leave it to modern science to fix one thing only to break another. Also, I'm 29 and have a fast metabolism to the point where I've NEVER been able to weigh more than 130 even if eating all the fatty things in the world. I've never watched what I ate because I don't have to, to the point where I've tried to gain weight with protein shakes and fatty meat but to no avail. After 3 weeks of paxil I gained 15lb!!!! and I swear it left me with a LOSS in appetite so I'm not sure if it rearanged how my body stored fat or simply made me retain water but it was a shock to gain weight so easily like that. So after a couple of months of this, I decided the no sex drive and electrical shocks/dizzyness where too much and asked to switch to wellbutrin. I took the 75mg at first and felt good. It gave me more energy and enthusiasim to go out and do things but none of the clarity of mind that paxil gives you, kind of like a strong cup of coffee without any jittery effects. The wellbutrin seemed to kick in my emotional center big time and also enhanced any other drug I consumed with it. I soon found that I got the best results by taking 2 75mg and asked to up my dosage to 150mg this would soon be a BIG MISTAKE!
After taking 150mg wellbutrin for about a week, it seemed to build up in my system and I became HIGHLY SUICIDAL. It was to the point where I'd be crossing over a bridge in my car and I'd think to myself, 'just pull over the car and jump...be done with life, who cars...it's your choice, just do it.' I'd find myself slowing the car down and could practicly feel the electrical signal in my body charged up and ready to follow through with my desire to jump if only I let a small shred of doubt leave to put my actions into gear. luckily for me, I was living in a situation where I'd have felt terrible to commit suicide and have the people I was living with somehow think it was their fault so I hung on to that thought but kept telling myself that the moment I moved out of state and by myself, I would go through with it. Luckily for me, shortly before I moved out of state, I quit my job and with no health insurance, couldn't afford wellbutrin and only after stopping for about 15 days did I come to my senses and realize it was the drug making me so crazy. While on it I would litterally scream at the top of my lungs while driving because of feeling so agitated and after screaming be even more angry that screaming didn't release any of the emotion in me. Also note that I've NEVER screamed in my car before and as moody as I could be, I've always been of stable mind before I took wellbutrin. If your wondering why I didnt just stop taking wellbutrin, it's because I DID feel good in a way, it lift's your emotions up to feel happy/daring/risk taking in a way, but it also left me quick to enrage and angry at stupid things like why is a song playing on the radio that I didn't like!?! Why I didn't fully recognize that it was the drug doin this to me, I can't answer, I was simply more emotional about everything while reason and logic took a back seat. Anyway, to finish up here, I went back on paxil and took the 10mg from walmart that is not the cr version since they have it for $5 without healthcare. The normal non cr version works MUCH better for me because my body seems to be able to handle the effects easier. I take it only ever other day or maybe 3days on and 2days off. This works for me to keep me mental alert and happy in social settings and I get to keep my sex drive and I have NO zaps to the head. Although if you tell your doctor you take it like this, the'll say it's wrong or not the way it's meant to work..... do what works for you! I also eat lots of eggs and RED meat which helps boast my sex drive. Last thing I'd like to mention is that it has also helped with regulating my digestive system. I've always had problems with constipation and I quickly noticed after a week of taking paxil that my system randomly started working 'normaly'. I asked the doc about this and apparently what regulates your digestive system is serotonin in the gut and in fact they had marketed paxil or something similar a few years back with a different name to treat digestive disorders. So my thougths, paxil's great as long as you stick to the low doses and NON CR version. Let your body build up then use it every other day or 2. Stay away from wellbutrin unless you like feeling crazy or at least stick to the low doses and don't be tempted to up it. And if you truly want to find the most amazing anti-depressant on earth, go get your wisdom teeth pulled....the percocet made for a deliriously happy 2 weeks of my life aside from the annoying cold packs and puffy cheeks. :)

Ive taken other antidepressants before, as well as paxil. Had bad experience while drinking at a bar, only 3 or 4 beers, cold sweat and threw up on way home. decided no drinking! stopped with meds for few years, but after breaking down in tears at a doctors office decided paxil had helped the most and started taking again. Feeling little better, but may be psychological because I had finally decided to do something about my problems... Noticed that I am feeling impulsive, and craving alchohol. This time when I drink I can drink alot more than before and do not get sick but will drink till I fall down drunk. Ive always been responsible before about drinking and would limit to 1 or 2. now I will pour a drink, drink it down, and make another right away. Ive fallen down leaving a bar, and would never have done that before. Still not sure if I am better off with Paxil than before. Dont feel like crying at the drop of a hat like before. I know about the "zaps" cuz ive had em before, the phenomenon is real but does go away after a while. Just want to tell people to be very careful with paxil and alcohol. I hope anyone who reads this finds something that works for them. Keep trying to be happy. Be stubborn about it. You deserve to be happy and have a good life! Good luck.

WELL I CAN SAY THAT PAXIL CR WORK FOR ME I STATED WILL 12.5 AT THE TIME FOR ABOUT 1MOUTH 1/2 AND THE STUPIT DOC INCRESED IT FOR 12.5 CR 20 MG HUG MISTAKE MY BODY WENT OUT of WACK I HAD A SET BK FOR 7 MOUTH FORM THAT CHANGE . REMBER U CAN NOT GO FROM A CR MED TO A REGLER ME BECAUSE THE CR NEED TO BE THER SO WHEN YR BOBY NEED IT IN SIDE OF YR SITEAM SO THIS HOW UGO UP THE CR 12.5 WHEN THE DOC TELL OK LETS BUMP 12.5CR 25 CR UDO THIS TAKE YR 12.5 CR CUT ANOTHER 12.5 IN 1/2 WHICH =6 1/4 SO U TAKE 12.5 AND and 6 1/4 togther for 2 wks WHICH MAKES 18 3/4 so your body take it very sloW REMBER SAME WAYU GO UP SAME WAY DOWN GIVE YR SELF TIME OF TWO THERE WHEN INC AND DEC MEDS THEN AFTER 2 1/2 WKS U CAN START THE 25CR AMD WHEN U GET OFF PLEASE DO THE SAME WAY TAKE FOR ME I HAD REAL BAD GOOD LUCK TO ALL I HOP U LEARN FOR ALL THIS ..

I am an actor. I have never taken paxil for more than a couple of months at a time. I usually stop taking it because I think "I dont want to be medicated... I can handle things myself." My reasons for getting on Paxil were panic attacks. One on an airplane and one before a theater performance. The first time my dr. put me on paxil, I was going through a rough spot... I literally thought I was loosing my mind. I do remember that over time the medication helped me.

I eventually stopped cold turkey... for the reasons that I already mentioned. I decided that i simply will not have any more panic attacks. I got advice from a friend... she said "If I were you, I would get pissed off at your anxiety... since it is keeping you from living life." That advice helped me a lot.

I had a few big acting jobs and a lot of travel that I completed while NOT on paxil. I flew from LA to Tokyo to Guam to Cairns to Sydney... worked on a job with Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks... rode in cars to and from set, talked to many people, rode in elevators... and I never had a problem with anxiety.

Now however... for some reason... I was feeling anxious about a performance I have coming up. I decided to start on paxil again. It started with a couple of days of feeling a little nervous... and now, after starting on paxil, I am considering getting off again.
The reason... SIDE EFFECTS. It has been 7 days since I have been on it... and now I am doing simple things like going to wardrobe or going on simple auditions... and I am getting nervous and even throwing up just before these various activities. I know that it takes paxil a while to work... but it has me feeling so bad right now that I dont know if it is worth it. I am experiencing head aches... stomach cramps... a little dizzyness (maybe because I dont have an appitite) I am forcing myself to eat... and when I do eat, I fear that I might get sick from the food.

I have a shoot tomorrow... I have no idea how i am going to feel. I will try and post here again afterwards. I dont remember being this nervous and sick the first time I took paxil... maybe I was and I simply cant remember.

Anyone else feel this way when they start taking it? Let me know...

I took Paxil CR for about a year when we moved fron Arizona to Califoria. I didn't want to move and was very depressed. It helped at first but then I got tired of not feeling anything at all and not enjoying sex at all so I weaned myself off of it. This was 5 years ago and I went on it again briefly after another move got me down 3 years ago. My problem is my sexual response never has returned to what it used to be before the Paxil. I can get excited and have an orgasm but it is a very weak and unsatisfying one. I don't know if the Paxil is to blame or maybe it is because I am getting older. I will be 42 next month. I wish I could find someone with a similar problem and some advice on how to get the old zing back because I sure do miss it!

I am going CRAZY since I stopped taking paxil. I was on 40 mg a day. I tappered myself down extremely slowly for 2 months. After getting down to about 30 mg, I started feeling side effects, which I felt all the way until I stopped; now, after being off of it for a week, i'm still feeling them.

Constant diahrea, and this extreme "nerve malfunction" I don't know what it's called. Whenever I look from left to right, or vise versa, it feels like my entire mind just "shocks!" Like my neurons are misfiring or somethign. IT Is driving me crazy! I can't look anywhere, and it's not getting any better. Also, I have nightmares every night, and wake up in sweat.

I TOOK PAXIL FOR 12YRS. I AM NOW OFF IT AND I HAVE HORRIBLE SYMPTOMS THAT WONT GO AWAY. I HAVE DAILY HEART PALPITATIONS, TREMORS, HOT FLASHES, FATIGUE AND MORE. ALL VERY SEVERE. I FELL LIKE I AM DYING. I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO OR WHERE TO START. I HAVE SEVERE NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEMS. I WILL SEE A NEUROLOGIST SOON BUT I FELL HOPELESS. I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS HAS HAPPENED. I AM NO LONGER MYSELF I AM CONSTANTLY FATIGUED. PLEASE HELP. THANKS

I have been taking paxil for about a year now but ive decided i want off the drug. I stoped taking it a few days ago and now i feel like im going crazy or somthing. My mind doesnt seem right and im getting extreme jolts/thumps in my head and chest. Anyone know when this will go away??

Boy, I am dead meat I am sitting at my computer with a loaded gun at my head. A gun I want to DIE. In 2007 I was put on Hep C treatment. They gave me Paxil. I made it through Interferon but do not know if I will make throuhg Paxil. This is my second time trying to get this shit out.It has been 4 weeks with out Paxil sleep is a nightmare night time is a nightmare. GOD please give me the strainght to kill myself. They give this to childern. have not slept for 4 days death would be a blessing.

I feel your frustrations. I have been on Paxil on and off for about 10 years now. I suffered my first major depression and panic attacks about 10 years ago when I was 27, just after I had my first child. I personally, think that the birth control pills that I took afterward and the lack of sleep and the stress contributed to my condition. I had terrible nightmares and panic attacks and couldn't leave the house. And I felt like the room was spinning and the walls were closing in around me. I couldn't function at all. My doctor prescribed 20 mg of Paxil, and I felt fine in about a month. I felt normal again. I stayed on the meds for about 2 years. But I had no sex drive and my husband left me for another woman. I met my second husband and decided to wean myself off. Everything went fine. But then after the birth of my second child, I started having panic attacks again, so I got back on the meds. But this time, 20 mg didn't work, so the doctor upped it to 30 mg, and I felt fine and normal again. This time I switched to the generic paroxetine and had no loss of sex drive! But now I am pregnant with my third child, and I tried weaning myself off the meds, but had migraines and muscle spasms! I'm sure the nausea is from morning sickness, but it doesn't help! I wasn't sure if I wanted to get off the meds this time, cause the doctor said it was okay to take Paxil during pregnancy. But I want my baby to be safe, so I am just going to have to suffer! And I'm glad I did after reading about Shelly Hart's story. By the way, my heart goes out to her and her family. It is so sad that they have to suffer because of the negligence of these pharmaceutical companies. My withdrawal symptoms are not as bad as some peoples, so I count myself lucky! Too often doctors prescribe these meds for people who don't actually need them, and the effects of the meds increases anxiety and depression. People like myself who suffer from a chemical imbalance do benefit from them and regain a sense of normalcy. I think that a lot of the side effects of weaning off the meds are actually symptoms of anxiety and depression returning. Because I've had these symptoms before I even started my meds. Anyway, I'm going to try diet and exercise and vitamins during my pregnancy. Maybe that will help. I don't like having to take the meds, but it is the only way that I can function.

I have been on paxil for 13 years and it has stopped my anxiety, panic attacks. I have not had one panic attack nor felt any unexplainable anxiety since. I do notice mood changes from 1minute to the next at times. Anyone have any similar experiences with mood changes?

Hi
My boyfriend started Paxil in the beginning of January. It was fine in the beginning. But when we first met he was a loving and caring person would call me and text me all the time. Well he has changed so much since starting this med. The situation is he raised his daughters from little up until 16 and 14. Then they decided they wanted to live with their mother. Their mother is to be a recovering meth user. Well he just laid and cried all the time because the girls were his life. I recommended that he go to the doctor and they put him on Paxil. Well I kick myself every day for doing so because he isn't the same person I fell in love with and I have tried to point this out to him but he just doesn't see it. He has not feelings or cares about much at all. HELP what to do

i had a lawsuit on paxil never heard from the lawer-linda parsley 417dansbranchroad-borderland wva25661

i would like to if eaing a lot of food if it causes side effect even after i take the paxil

why do I have a low sex drive is it because I am on Paxil? I have been on about 6 months

my sister was on paxil for 9+ years. they kept upping her dosage and her body was going through the withdrawal symptoms when not taking it.
in the past 3 years she has deteriorated and some-days cannot read, remember things, loses her balance and there are numerous other things and has lost her job in the medical field. she has since stopped taking the medication. she has been to neurologists has scans done and they tell her nothing is wrong with her brain???? has anyone else else had or knew of someone who has experienced the same things??? please email me
Kawainio@gmail.com thanks a bunch
k

Paxil will ruin your life at first its all good it untill it blinds you from what your really feeling while I was on paxil only for 2 months I got into more fights than i had my whole life i shot up heroin which absolutely discuses me to this day and pisses me off that I did that, It gave me sleep insomnia I got very easily confused and lulled into do things i would never do even if i was shit faced drunk it did have some good side effects like it increased my energy and made me want to work but it also gives you the feeling that your like a king and anything you do wont have any negative side effects all in all in turned me into a pyscho drug user Thank god i stopped taking it before it was to late and my life is back to normal now I remember going to my followup 2 months after starting to take it and as soon my doctor seen me he started crying cuz he knew i was fucked up and he asked why i never called him to tell him well the thing is paxil blurs your perception and i felt like nothing was wrong

I am a nurse who took paxil for about a year and a half nearly 8 years ago.

Getting off the drug was pure hell. I literally thought I was going to die for about 2 weeks.

I just found out my wife has been cheating on me for the last two years of our 11 year marriage.

I found no choice but to start taking Paxil again despite its horrible sexual side effects and the withrawal symptoms when trying to get off it.

I already cannot achieve orgasm and my balls are freaking killing me after just one week. And honestly, I haven't really had the desire too, but I wanted to make sure I still could. Well, I've tried and tried...and it ain't happenin'.

BUT...I'm pretty sure it's helping me through the most painful days of my entire life, so we'll see if it's worth it again.

After suffering a stress induced heart attack back in 2000 at the age of 40, I was placed on Paxil. Besides the inability to climax during sex, I also noticed "fleeting eye movements." I weened myself off Paxil after a little more than 6 months on the drug. It has now been almost 11 years since I stopped taking Paxil, and I still suffer from the fleeting eye movements, and rather than not being able to climax during sex, I now have no sex drive at all. My wife cannot understand how an otherwise healthy male has no desire for sex, and the girlfriend I had prior to my marriage left me for the exact same reason. Are there any legal drugs out there that can repair the damage that Paxil has caused? I want my life back!

Hello, I am 50+ woman, a great lady really, and I live with depression and anxiety. I am on Paxil and have taken 40mgs every day for 3 years. I suffer daily with anxiety, heart palpitaions and some days I am so sad all I can do is cry. I have no insurance so I pay as I go to a GP who mainly just keeps me on the Paxil. He knows I am stressed and depressed and all of it, but he acts like I am just pitiful and he writes my perscription and lives the room. I feel I am being stigmitised for having these issues, however, I know I am not alone. My father was a Doctor and he was a very caring soul, but the doctors I am seeing hurt my feelings and make me feel even worse. i have been to lots of docs and shrinks and therapists and my education is in psychology and counseling. Even one of my professors has seen my in her private practice and I understand anxiety, panic, and depression I just can not get mine under control.
I am sure the paxil has only ruined my life now. No way to get off, and no way I can stand any more of this pain. I don't know what to do. Hopeless, help?

my doctor prescribed me with paxil 4 weeks ago, but he failed to tell me that id gain weight. i have already gained weight since, but i havnt changed my eating habits or exercise regime. i ecxercise almost everyday and eat super healthy like i did before paxil, but i still gained weight. i researched it, and the reason is an enzyme in your liver that is called leptin. leptin naturally controls your metabolism, but on the drug it slows it down. that means that you gain weight very easily and without any control. since finding this out, ive stopped right away. i dont want to gain weight, i feel like that would make me feel even worse. i refuse to take a drug that can screw me up like that. i researched all the different physcotic SSRI drugs, and sadly all of them have weight gain as a side effect because they all effect your leptin levels. Ive only heard of a few storys about people who actually LOST weight on the drug,and thats probably only due to the side effects of nausea and diahhrea which only last the first week at the most. The only way ive heard that you can counter the weight gain, is to take OMEGA 3 and VITAMIN E (naturally in fish and green vegtables) that could boost your metabalism, but im not taking the risk. For some people, the weight gain might be worth it if it works for their deppression or anxiety.

I have been off of Paxil for over a year and I still have trouble having an orgasm. Does anyone else have this problem and what can I do to help the situation?

Coming off Paxil is the most debilitating thing ever. I have been off of it for 5 days and I feel like death. Headache, can't sit still, no energy, sweeting, cry, ill, feeling of not being important to others. While on it I didn't care, I was emotionless, never cried, just plain hard! This was not me. I am a loving caring person. I wouldn't suggest Paxil for anybody never ever.... it's horrible!!! I am praying and seeking God in this adventure and knowing he's going to see me through this. Prayers for all who are dealing with these withdrawals.

I was on Paxil for over 3 years taking 60 mgs. for PMD. I liked how well it worked the first 3 months then the problems started coming back and the med increased till I was taking 60 Mgs. I lost my sex drive. I started having partial seizures (shaking really bad but aware) I went back to my Dr and he cut me down to 20 mgs. and the shaking eased up all but when my body was at rest, so I stopped taking all of it. Thne shaking stopped but I still don't feel like my normal self. and I have been off of the medicine for approx. 2 years now. I don't recommend anybody taking this medicine.

I absolutely hate Paxil!!! I started taking it for postpartum depression after my third child was born. I asked for something that wouldn't make loosing weight difficult and that wasn't hard to get off of. We'll that's not what I got with paxil!😠 I now realize that it never really did much for me except make me feel like I'm floating aimless through my life. Not very engaged. After a while it seems normal . But it's not! My baby is now 19 months old. I'm 30 lbs heavier than after my baby was born. I talked with my doctor about getting off. I had no idea what I was headed for. It has been awful!! Too many horrible symptoms to list. I hate myself for putting my family through this. I'm certainly not the mama me kids are used too. I feel sick mentally and physically. I spend most of the day crying. I have these horrible bombing feelings in my head. I feel sick to my stomach. I feel like I'm constantly waiting for some terrible doom to happen in my life. I'm scared that I'm horribly sick. My nerves feel raw and I'm angry at everything. I just want to feel good again and I wonder if that will ever happen. I hate Paxil! 😠

I started taking Paxil about 20 years ago. I started at 10 and went up to 20 after a while. It has worked wonderfully for me. I had severe panic attacks, and post traumatic stress. My heart felt like it was coming out of my chest all day long, and my docfor said we had to stop that . If we didnt it could become an irregular heart beat. He asked if I thought it was anxiety and I knew it was. I had been living with stress for a long time. At first it made me sleepy too. But that eventually went away and I started taking it at bedtime. Recently I switched because of operation depressions. The doctor said maybe it wasnt working anymore since I was on it so long. Yeah, I
switched to gwo other drugs and they made me feel like everyone is saying sbout Paxil. I asked to be put back on. Switching wasnt
bad. I guess its all about your brain chemistry. But Paxil has been a life saver for me. You do get nightmares if you forget to take it
for a couple of days. I've done that too..And sex hasnt been a problem if you take it at night. Or not for me..

First I want to thank those that have taken Paxil and took the time to post positive results. Especially Donna Jean; as I can relate to her story well. Also; I can relate to those who feel the need to use natural treatments and not use these 'legal' drugs. I too have been there. I never took any medicine for depression or anxiety until I was 40 years old. Those remedies failed and wore out my natural paths-who eventually agreed I needed to go back on the paxil - clinical depression can't be fixed with a vitamin. BUT; looking back I wish I had begun taking it earlier in my life. I would have been a healthier woman in mind and spirit. I spent my whole life living in depression and anxiety; but never new it. I could have made better judgements if I wasn't on edge all of the time with racing thoughts, panic and re-ocurring hopelessness. I began paxil after a non stop panic attack. I had spent years trying to help my two sons with their own depression and anxiety but never new I had it too. I kept it covered trying to fix everyone else. So when that debilitating panic hit 15 years ago I practically begged for the medicine. I noticed the panic disappear immediately in that first day. I do think that though I was on 20 mgs and didn't titrate slowly I did have some moody side effects after a week or two. But they disappeared as quickly as they came. After two years on it and feeling wonderful aside from the weight gain; I decided to wean off of it. I got down to 10 mg's with no side effects. But after that the panic and anxiety slowly came back came back. I remedied it with supplements. Eventually I did get off of it but in the dead of winter; and slowly fell into a horrendous depression and panic state. I eventually got back on it and stabalized months later. But foolishly kept getting better and again trying to stop the medicine because of weight gain. I really never had any physical side effects coming off until I got off of it and my depression panic returned.I had so much panic that I couldn't eat or sleep I used to blame those feelings on the paxil withdrawal. But I have since successfully gotten off of it and tried other medicines for my clinical depression. I have been clean from it and tried supplements again and survived but lived in a nightmare of anxiety and panic. I really believe I just felt what I always had felt before medicine and could no longer deal with it since having felt the peace without those feelings. I never regained the well being with other medicines or supplements as on the paxil. I spent the past seven years doing that until I was so exhausted from trying to fix myself that I finally said 'please put me back on the paxil'. My new doctor was very resistant because of of these types of negative posts. Eventually he went on a vacation and I fell to pieces and begged my PCP to get me back on it. She felt that at that point I even needed to be in the hospital for the severity of my depression. Long story short now-I had no problem going back on it and feel much better than in the past seven years. I am on 25 mgs. But I am older now and in menopause so I will most likely need to go up at least to the 30 and am also considering the time release; as I seem to have my anxiety returning before my next dose on many occasions.

My partner started taking paxil, in 3 months he left me and the kids, he started cheating on me whilst begging me to take him back,I knew this man like the back off my hand and he was a complete stranger to me, compulsively lieing manipulating id get calls of sobbing. He swears now black and blue the paxil changed him and he couldn't control himself, iv heard horrible things about what it can do to people but I don't know if I can believe him.any help?