Paxil and brain

I'm a 22 year old student that has been on paxil for three and a half years. Paxil changed my life--my anxiety was absolutely debilitating. But like a lot of you, I'm now facing a new problem: memory loss. I constantly 'misplace' words, forget appointments, and periodically even forget things like my age. My studies have suffered because of it, but again like a lot of you, the withdrawal symptoms and the potential of my anxiety returning is terrifying.

I'm not sure what I can do. I am physically addicted and emotionally dependent on this drug, yet I'm also a young man with a worsening memory and grad school ahead of me.

My sister had horrible side-effects.....she said her brain acted like it was trying to "turn off", skin-crawling, stomach pain, extreme restlessness, insomnia, short and long term memory loss, and more. I saw drastic changes in her behavior, that she didn't seem to be aware of herself. She became quite impulsive, aggressive, and exhibited very bizarre behavior. I blame the Paxil, and caregiver burnout for the tragedy that resulted in the tragic, untimely death of our mother(who was also on Paxil).

My mom, 72, has been sick for a year and a half now with drenching night sweats, chills, fatigue as well as some other symptoms. She has undergone every test imaginable and has been to tons of doctors. Every test is normal and the drs. don't know what is wrong. We recently came to the conclusion that she switched to a generic heart medicine at about the time she became ill as well as recently started to take generic paxil because she thought she was having a nervous breakdown. We have just switched her meds to all name brands to see if this will stop the sweats and her general ill feeling. Has anyone heard that taking generic drugs could do this? Specifically Verapamil and the generic paxil. Thanks.

I was on Paxil for 9yrs, but have been off it now for 8yrs. It was prescribed by my family Dr for extreme PMS. At the time, it was a new drug just on the market, and there were no boards like this to describe any side effects.
After I was on it for several years, I tried to come off it. But the side effects were so bad, every time I tried, I decided to stay on it. I realized I couldn't stay on it any longer when it was affecting everything in my life. Paxil was making me so exhausted I was sleeping up to 20 hours a day. It almost ruined my life. Because I couldn't get to work, I lost my job and was out of work for 2 years while I was trying to come off Paxil. Of course my Dr refused to believe I was going through withdrawl, because he said Paxil was not addictive. We all know now that is incorrect. I had to slowly wean myself off it 1/4 of a tablet at a time over several month, and I still had horrible, very scarry withdrawl symptoms. I suffered from vertigo, tremors, tingling throughout my body, numbness in my hands, feet and legs, brain shocks, vomiting, dizziness, slurred speach, memory loss, heart palpitations and the hallucinations were the worst. I became easily aggitated by everything, unable to stand up without losing my balance. I was seeing floating black waves across my vision when my eyes were open. I can say it was hell, and I wouldn't want anyone else to suffer through it. I'm writing this to warn others that if you are on it for a long time, and then come of it, some of the withdrawl effects never go away. So be very careful how long you stay on it. To this day, 8yrs later, I still get numbness and tingling in my legs and feet. I still get brain shocks every so often. I still get short-term memory loss. The worst part is Paxil ruined my digestive system. Before I was on it I had no problems, now there are only certain foods I can eat. Paxil effects the serotonin levels in your brain, but it also effects the serotonin levels in your stomach and intestines. I went through several thousand dollars worth of health tests only to discover it was caused by all my years on Paxil. So please be careful and only stay on this drug as long as need be. It may have a negative affect on the rest of your life.

I have been scheduled for an overnite sleep test at the hospital and was told I'd have to be off of Paxil for 3 weeks prior to the test. I tapered it down myself (now I know better) in what I thought was a reasonable period of 2 weeks. After reading all of the comments here I now know that I should have done this over months not days. I've been experiencing the "brain jolts" accompanied by the rapid distortion of vision for years and just assumed that it was another weird MS related symptom. Now I'm wondering if Paxil may have played a part in this all this time.
This morning I felt so much better about myself after reading all of the comments here. I was saying yes to all of the symptoms I've been having including dizzyness, extremes in emotions, nausea, less appetite, cold sweats, hot flashes, inability to concentrate, some paranoia, slurred speech, tinnitus, disorganized thoughts and disorganized physical space. I had no idea that Paxil was the cause of all of this. Not one clue.
Along with having less appetite I've noticed a change in tastes/flavors. I can taste really salty or really sweet and anything in the middle has almost no flavor. I also get a craving for something and finally make it, eat a bite and throw the rest away. The other thing going along with the LOUD tinnitus is that all sounds seem amplified. I don't know if anyone else has experienced these things. Thanks to all who have written because if not for this I would have continued to think I was losing my sanity.
I am supposed to go back on Paxil after the sleep test but have absolutely no intention of putting myself through this again. I haven't been able to work do to the crying at ever "Kodak moment" and really can't afford to miss this kind of time again. If only the doctor had told me what the withdrawal could be like at the time of prescribing it!

I have taken Paxil for several years for Fibro and Neuropathy. Since I am in constant pain, I get very agitated easily so I was given Paxil to help take the edge off my days. Yes it has helped.

But I have a terrible sweating problem. It has been going on for several years also and no one has ever mentioned it could be caused from the Paxil. I am embarrassed to even go out anymore because I have sweat rolling down my face and my hair gets wet. I know people are starring at me.

After reading all the side effects, which I have many but always just associated them to my other problems, I think I may also try to get off this drug and just see if the sweating stops. If I could go a day, out in public, without this sweating, it would be the happiest day in my life. I am almost to the point of being a recluse now. So keep your fingers crossed for me and a prayer wouldn't hurt also!

Thanks

I was on Paxil for 12 years.
The early years I struggled to stay awake then gradually over 4 ti 5yrs I developed a boundless energy, with a constant elated and irritable mood, my thoughts and behaviors leaned towards the aggressive while highly confident. Never used a winter coat with temps well below freezing, I was always warm. Never needed more than 2hrs sleep each night.
Developed muscle aches, rash on both cheeks and along bridge of nose.
I read up on Paxil and discovered that these symptoms were Paxil related. I took myself off of it. I was on 20mgs then one month of 10mgs after that I quit cold turkey. While withdrawing I felt like my head was in a wind tunnel, a constant whooshing sound going round with dizziness, brain jolts, agitation, anger and crying, After 1 month of being off I began to feel better. If you want to quit you just have to tough it out. Once you get passed the withdrawals it is well worth it. I understand the link between school shootings, criminal behavior and serotonin reuptake inhibitors. It is wonderful after quitting to be in control of your thoughts and actions once again. I suggest you never start taking this medicine as it will be a nightmare withdrawing from not to mention the psychotic behavior it is known to cause in some cases.

I feel like I am loosing my mind. I feel dizzy, wishy washy, cry a lot, irritated. like I am on a 3 sec delay in my brain. My boyfriend is tired of dealing with me. I don't know what zapped is but if this is the feeling drug addicts feel. I don't want to be apart of it. I may try a herbal cleanse to see if that helps. I have bipolar and that is why they gave it to me. I don't have the headaches yet.

I would like to stop taking paxil, I have been on it for 3 yrs. When I skip my medicine I get what feels like electrical shocks in my neck & head. I wasnt sure if I had a pinched nerve at 1st but began to associate this with the event that I had not taken my meds. I also have onset of panic attacks & rapid heart, & terrible terrible forgetfulness, as to even what cabinet I would like to open, I open the wrong one, go into the wrong doorway, wrong driveway. I am very concerned. I have told my Dr. that I would like to get off this Paxil but Ive been told that it would be best since I was suffering from anxiety attacks in past. I would like to be committed to be able to handle the withdrawls. If anyone has been successful in stopping Paxil and now feels pretty back to normal, please let me know. Thanks

I have been on Paxil for about 5 mo. Then it was discovered that I was miss diagnosed, I wonder how many people have heard that. It is very strange coming off Paxil. My side affects were the same but a little different. I am 34 and my sex drive went through the roof I mean from 1x a mo. to about 10-15. So I dont think that affects everyone. I had no appetite at all lost some weight down to 100. I went from 12.5 to 25mg in 5 mo. I feel better a little emotional and the brain shocks are scary at 1st but then when I learned about everyone had I feel better and they are kind of fun now. 3 more pills and I am done, and ready to take on side effects of my next medication.

this is the worst experience ever. I started Paxil C.R. for PMS about 4to5 yrs ago,,,it stopped working so I thought time to quit. I'm having shock waves in my brain,,feels like sand bags when I move my head,,,and I'm so ready to rage. I'm a very kind and loving person,,,I was not told this and I'm putting my anger to good use. I want a lawyer!!

I have been reading a lot about some of the side-effects of coming off paxil. My girlfriend is attempting to do the same right now. Her withdrawal seems to be in line with some of the worse descriptions that I find on the net, and she is starting to question her ability to successfully come off the drug. I support her either way - on or off - but she really wants to come off for at least long enough to evaluate if she actually needs it any more (she has been on it for 7+ years).

She has had dizziness, nausea, and reported "shocks inside her brain" for the past 3 weeks while reducing her dose. Last weekend we went away, and she forgot her medication. In the past, we would have resolved the situation, but since she is in the process of reducing her dose (she went from 30->20->10) and was feeling OK, she decided to go from 10->0. At the end of 3 days, she is crashing hard!! Very distraught, emotional, slurred speach. Really having a rough time. She has gone back to 5 mg, which seems to have helped the physical symptoms a bit, but that is only 1 day after being off for 3. We will see... the emotional/self-questioning is the toughest part right now.

I think it would be good if I could pass along a "success" story... so many people have shared their problems online, which goes a long ways toward her feeling like she is not "going crazy". However, most people don't follow through when they get through it. I think she needs to hear that it is not all just trouble, and that there is an end to it (if, in fact, there is).

Just for the record... her doctor told her that she would be fine to reduce her dose to 0 over the course of 7 days... it was her own research that lead to her decision to try to do it over the course of 30 days instead. I can't imagine how she would have gotten through it if she had been so naive as to have followed his instructions!

Thanks for sharing...

I was taken off Paxil per my request 3 weeks ago. The last 3 weeks have been the WORST ever. I was in so much pain, mental and physical. I could not work, sleep, drive, eat, walk, or even form words to talk. It was like my brain was mush. The only thought i could ever understand in my head was to go ahead and kill myself to get rid of the pain. I almost got fired from work, I had electric shocks up and down my body, I was always dizzy and could not walk with out help from someone. I was numb all over, for some reason, numbnees was the worst in my lips. I had to go to the ER where i was put on Valium to help with the withdrawls. I just started getting better last week, I still get dizzy and have numbness in my lips. The DR prescribed me Lexapro to replace the paxil but i have not taken it for fear that i will not be able to come off it without enduring absolute hell like i did with paxil. I have made several postings on this site about how great paxil was.. to began with... I wished i would have done some research before taking this med..DR's are so fast to prescribe it.. beware of what it can really do to you.

VERY STRANGE SIDE EFFECT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANYTHING SIMILAR HAS HAPPENED TO YOU. I cannot find anything like it in the available literature.

I had forgotten to take my paxil the night before. I had about 3 cups of coffee about 5:30am. This side effect occurred about 10:00am. I was driving in bright sunlight into the sun. Suddenly, there was a strain in my brain and a loud snap or pop in my brain and sudden flashes of light like a strobe or lightning. It went away as soon as it was over (.25 seconds) and did not occur again.

I think my psychiatrist thinks I am crazy. She is asking now if I am hearing voices.

Where can I get some confirmation on this side effect?

PLEASE HELP!

James

I have been on seroxat now for about three months after an unsuccessful stint with cipramill. I accidentally missed a dose, I was dizzy like my eyes were 4 seconds faster than my brain when I turned my head, ringing in my ears, couldnt sleep and sweated and incredible amount. It frightened me is this happening to other people or just me?

When I was first put on Paxil because I was doing bad in school, it made me run around the house all the time, then I started having night terrors when I stopped using it, basically I saw the same thing as in the movie.."Darkness Falls"....the face at least I began having these lucid dreams then and totaly lose touch with reality, I havent been on paxil for 4 years now and my brain is still permanintally changed....I know paxil caused this to happen and I want to know why, if anyone knows please email me at matt_andy_12@hotmail.com