Paxil and dizziness

Please stay away from this drug if you are not already addicted to it. I have tried unsuccessfully to get off of it many times by "Weaning" into another drug, but the side effects are unbearable. I have memory loss too, but what really gets me is how physically sick I feel if I haven't taken it for 2-3 days. I get nauseous and VERY dizzy, to the point where it makes me sick to even turn my head too quickly. I've had to miss work/school until I had a prescription refill.

I didn't realize the memory loss I have been experiencing may be due to Paxil, but it makes sense. I have forgotten the year on numerous occasions, and cannot recall names of people I used to have no problem recalling. It seems to be getting worse. I am only 27 years old, and my friends don't seem to have these issues...

I have been on paxil for ten years . I decided after doing some research and talking to other people that I want to get off of this drug. I am tired of my doctor telling me that it is not addictive. I am seriously thinking on getting another dr.
It has been almost two weeks since I took any pill. My withdrawal seems to be getting worse but I read on one of these forums that withdrawal will not kill me and I keep plugging. I did give up anything with caffeine. I loved my coffee. I just switched to decaf tea or herbal tea. Sooner or later I figure I will start to feel better. It may take months though as i have been on ten mg for years. Then for about 6 months I took a half pill. Then I lowered it to a half pill every other day and then I went to when I could not stand the withdrawal. Now I just said the heck with it and quit. Any advice what I can do yet to help with the withdrawal. I hate the dizziness. That has got to be the worse. I feel like everything has gotten louder to me. And I snap everyone's head off. I hope this wont last much longer. Just need to vent.

I started on Paxil about 14 months ago for extreme panic attacks. The doctor first started me on Zoloft but it made me dizzy sick and I got off of it after 1 dose. So he switched me to Paxil. The Paxil helped a lot with the attacks but if I'm even 2 hours late taking my pill, I'm so dizzy I can't walk. I cannot focus on a book or the computer screen. The lights are way WAY too bright for me all of the sudden. Moving my eyes in my head makes me feel like I'm spinning in circles. I start sweating and have to go outside in the 30 degree weather in a T-shirt to cool off. After about 2 hours the pill gets in my system and I'm fine again. I can think clearly and see fine. My concentration is back and my ears stop ringing. The first 6-8 months of Paxil I lost weight, had gotten down to a very low weight. Then it turned around and I gained weight in the next 6-8 months. Paxil is wonderful at getting rid of anxiety/panic attacks or panic disorder. But it seems as though you must stay on this forever. I am terrified of coming off of this drug. My husband came off of it with a little dizziness. He just stopped one day and that was it. But me, knowing if I'm late with the pill I'll be ILL.. I just know it's going to be horrible coming off of Paxil. I'm only on 10 mg. Never more, never less. That's a fairly small dose compared to what I've been reading. But it has a large effect on me. Good luck to you all when trying to get off of this drug. Consider staying on a small dose for a while then very very slowly coming down from that.

I have been on Paxil off and on now for about 5 years.... the current length of treatment for the past 1 1/2 years. I need to be on it ( or something for that matter ) for my panic disorder. I am a 36 year old nurse/ manager and some days was almost debilitated by panic attacks. Depression was part of it, but not nearly as much as panic. I must say, that I have been experiencing memory loss now for about a year.... I thought maybe it was due to overwork/ stress...which I do understand it COULD be. However, I find it interesting that I am seeing so many more people with memory loss than I imagined. Is it due to stress in this type of people's lives, or is it in fact, the drug Paxil?
Keep in mind this is an SSRI ( Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor ) ~~ even though there is no solid evidence (YET!) this is a side effect of the drug, I would bet my license on the fact that that it is!
I have tried time and time again to wean myself off of Paxil.. ( with and without my Dr's advice )--- I did succeed for a few years to be without the medicine, however being on a slew of other meds in the interim did not help as much for the panic as does the Paxil. Paxil, honestly, scares the hell out of me!
Besides the "numb emotions", memory loss, sexual appetite decrease, yawning, lack of sleep, etc... the side effects of coming off of it are worse! As I read earlier, it IS addictive, indeed! The brain gets used to the drug being there ( as with any addiction ), and the "surges" of dizziness, sweats, and out-of-body-like experiences I experience coming off of the drug are excruciatingly harder to bare than the depression itself. Those above symptoms of withdrawal are just that....withdrawal!
Once your body is "allowed" to reuptake serotonin (as it is supposed to), this is when those symptoms raise their head...sometimes for weeks or months until they subside.
I would welcome anyone with help on this matter---is there another Drug out there that can help with anxiety/depression symptoms, and not cause the plethora of side effects we have all discussed here?
Diane

wow, I'm officially terrified. I've been taking Paxil for 8 months now for chronic anxiety and panic attacks. Prior to paxil, my muscles became so tense, my entire body would seize up. Paxil has helped with that but left the rest of my life in shambles. Effexor used to work for me, but I tried to go off them then go back on and eventually effexor became ineffective. With the paxil I have night sweats (just learned that is a side effect from this website), dizziness, takes a couple hours to fall asleep and a couple hours to wake up, dreams that feel real, light sensitive, some days I shake so bad that I have broken glassware! What bothers me the most is my inability to read. Are there others who have this problem? I can't see the page properly, or I can't concentrate long enough to get through a page, and sometimes both. Is this a side effect of the drug?

When i was 13 i was put on paxil for major depression. I stayed on it till i was about 17 after a downward spiral of depression that lead to a suicide attempt. After that the doctors decided that Paxil wasn't benefiting me anymore and decided to take me off of it, cold turkey. At that time i was on 40mg.
I started getting zapping headaches, muscle spasms, i was sensitive to light, my body ached, i had hot flashes, pretty much anything over stimulated me... i was irritated with just hearing anyone talk, i was completely out of touch with anything around me and i didn't feel like i was real.. I basically shut myself in my room for over a month getting over paxil. My family was afraid i was planning suicide.
After that, it's made me afraid to take any of my prescribed antidepressants, but i just cannot go through that again. At the time they put me on it, there was nothing that said that it was addictive, i was even told that there was no proof that it was addictive.
Also, I still experience the headache zaps to this day, and im 22 now, and i never had those type of headaches before paxil. I really think my mental illness is a lot worse from paxil. I have depersonalization disorder now, my short-term memory's crap, im more uncoordinated, im a lot more depressed and social phobic.. i know part of it could be from not taking any meds at all.. but i know that paxils really screwed me up, and i would have been a lot better not taking it at all. I just wish they would have warned me before putting me on it, or warning me before taking me off.

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 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 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

This is to #31213. I too was on Paxil for 6 months. It took me 4 months to get off that damn pill. This is how I got off it.
_reduce dosage untill you get to lowest dosage.
_Then only take pill every other day or third day(few weeks)
_Then cut pill in half and take every other day or every day (what ever works) Try to go to every other day in some time
_Then cut the half pill into another half (take a few weeks)
_Continue to lower dosage this way until you are only able to lick the powder because the dosage is so low.

When living your days with those awful dizzy spells and brain attacks, Look forward and down throughout the day as much as possible. Try not to turn your head alot! This will help the dizzyness somewhat!

I had all the same effects your girlfriend did and my doctor also said to go to 0 dosage or stay on. That was bull ****! I found the right way from reading other storys! Good Luck!

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 on Paxil, 20mg then 30mg for about 2 years. My doctor took me off of it slowly, because he knew of the awful withdrawl effects. It took a month of tapering it off, and I still had withdrawl effects: Terrible dizziness, twitching of my legs and arms, itchyness of my feet when I tried to sleep, cold sweats, hot flashes, no appitite, and most scary of all was the nystagmus (uncontrollable jerks of the eye in horizontal directions when you move your eyes or head). My doctor said that not many people have this symptom, but that it was caused by the Paxil withdrawl. If anyone has jerky eyes they can't control while coming off paxil, mail me at ****** and I can tell you more, maybe reassure you that it will get better.
Long story short, about 2 weeks after coming off the last few milligrams of Paxil and everything (even the nystagmus) is gone.

This is both one of the BEST and WORST drugs for anxiety/depression. I was on Paxil CR 37.5mg for five years for moderate anx./dep., and yes, the weight gain (10-15 lbs.), vivid dreams, sweatiness, etc. were all side effects. But the Paxil so thoroughly balanced out my anxiety and depression that the side effects seemed a fair tradeoff.

(P.S. Nothing kills a libido like Paxil.)

And then, I went off the Paxil b/c I was changing insurance companies. Having read all of the terrible withdrawal symptoms, I scheduled myself a full four months to taper off. I lowered my dosage every week by only 2-3mg at most. (This involved cutting up the pill, which *they* say never to do, but of course *they* also claim that there are no withdrawal symptoms.) As a result, my withdrawal symptoms were negligible at best.

This past year, I went back on the Paxil CR 37.5mg and for a short while it worked again. And then it suddenly STOPPED. *They* don't want us to know that once you've been on, then off, Paxil, when you return to it, its chances of working again are slim to none. I took less time (only 2 months) to withdraw this time around, and the withdrawal symptoms were HIDEOUS. I've never felt so scared of what my body exhibited--unbelievable dizziness, terrible electric "shocks," headaches. And abject rage that I've never experienced before in my life. So much incredible nervous energy that I couldn't sit still. A rotten memory and confusion. Horrible symptoms. And yet, while I was withdrawing, I could see my body improving in other areas--far less appetite, for one, far less need for sleep, and less exhaustion.

While my anxiety and depression have returned, and while I'll probably need to be put on a different pill, I now at least know to research not just "official" medication Web sites but also patients' anecdotes. If I'd done so the first time around, I never would have stopped the Paxil at all. Pharmaceutical companies are just pimps who own doctors, so drs. are never going to warn you about the bad side effects of what they prescribe!!

I HAVE RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT I AM EXPERIENCING ANXIETY AND MY DOCTOR HAD ME TRY A TRIAL BASIS OF LEXAPRO. I SEEM TO DO WELL ON IT ALMOST AS IF I WASN'T TAKING IT. WELL I HAD TO STOP THAT BECAUSE I RAN OUT WELL HE PRESCRIBED ME 11 MONTHS OF IT AND I COULDN'T AFFORD IT SO HE HAD HIS ASSISTANT CALL IN PAROXETINE (PAXILL) AND I TOOK IT FOR 3 DAYS AND I STARTED GETTING DIZZY AND FELT LIKE A ZOMBIE DIDN'T INTERRUPT MY SLEEPING HABITS BUT DID NOT LIKE THE WAY I FELT ON IT. WE I ALSO HAVE AN EAR PROBLEM AND MY DOC THOUGHT I MIGHT HAVE VERTIGO IN RESULT OF THE DIZZINESS. TOLD ME TO GET OFF PAROXETINE FOR NOW TO SEE IF SYMPTOMS GO AWAY THEN CALL HIM BACK AND QUITE POSSIBLY START BACK ON PAROXETINE BUT CUTTING THE DOSAGE IN HALF. HE PRESCRIBED ME 40MG THAT'S A LOT IN MY BOOK. MY MOM TAKES CELEXA 20MG AND FROM WHAT MY DOCTOR TOLD ME WAS THAT CELEXAS LIKE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TOTUM POLE FOR ANTI-DEPRESSANTS. CELEXA/LEXAPRO/PAXIL . SO I DON'T KNOW. I DIDN'T TAKE MY LAST DOSAGE WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN LAST NIGHT AND I FEEL A HELL OF A LOT BETTER TODAY THAN I HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST FEW DAYS. I WISH MYSELF AND EVERYONE ELSE LUCK WITH THE ISSUES WE ARE ALL ENDURING. GOD BLESS.

I went on Paxil CR (12.5 mg) because of constant panic attacks that lasted for about 1 month. I was so anxious for this period of time that I rapidly started losing weight, broke out in hives and eventually couldn't trust myself to function normally in common situations (i.e. work, driving, etc.). I was on it for 1 year and noticed a significant difference within 2 weeks. The panic attacks stopped, I returned to my normal weight and remained there, and I had an overall feeling of contentment. I went off of it 2 months ago because it was making me feel too content and I was starting to make bad choices (some anxiety is a good thing). I just want all of you to know that it can be used as a tool to help you get back on track, it should never be the solution. I had a few side effects coming off of it (dizziness, feeling electric-like shocks), but have not had any panic attacks or unusual anxiety. It sounds as if a lot of the side effects listed here could be a symptom of anxiety itself. If you make changes to your lifestyle, and are confident in your decision, you can leave Paxil behind.

I began taking paxil 30mg for anxiety attacks with xanax to help with the breakthroughs. Then it was upped to 40mg but that made me very aggitated, so it was reduced to 30mg again. I've been on Paxil since 1996. Recently, my dr. increased it to paxil cr...with this I havee moments of dizziness and dis-connected feeling even if I'm just sitting still. I worry about the side effects and wonder if I am doomed to stay on this forever. I have had to add valium and geodon for auditory voices,and now a stomach pill to help the stomach pain all these drugs cause. At first, I thought this drug was a life-saver, but now I'm not so sure,especially at 40 pounds heavier.

I am taking Paxil for approx. 5 years-20mg. as prescribed my my doctor. I am currently being weaned off this medication at my request for approx. 5 months now (Slow) taking 20m.g. every 4 days. Well, I am experiencing all kinds of side effects e.g. shakiness, tremor, dizziness, headaches, big time insomnia, coming down my stairs, I have to hold on the rail, pains in my back, legs, neck, lack of judement, concentration and the list goes on. But my goal is to fight this and move on without any drugs. But I am struggling at the moment.

In my opinion Paxil was only a coverup for me, it did more harm than good. It seems like you have to use it for the rest of your life.

I began taking Paxil CR for postpartum related panic attacks in January of 2004. By mid February I began to really struggle with terrible memory loss. It was impossible for me to leave one room and go to another without forgetting why...My healthy libido was down the tubes, I have gained about 10 pounds and my whole body aches. I honestly wish I would have put more thought and research into taking Paxil CR. However, my panic attacks were so terrible that I would not sleep for days on end. At the time it was so necessary for me to get as much sleep as possible while caring for my newborn. I spoke with my MD in March, during one of my monthly appointments, and she said that the side effects were more related to "being a new mother" than anything. Translation, your nuts! Little did she know I was not a new mom...this was my second child. My first is in his teens. It was at that point I realized I needed to be referred to a specialist. I also attempted to discontinue the medication over a 2 week period of time. That was a big mistake. The dizziness and out of body like experiences were way to horrible. I went back on the meds and made an appointment to see a psychiatrist. After months of this I now believe it is very important to see an MD that specializes in prescribing medications like Paxil. One who understands the side effects and can prepare you for what to expect. I don't believe Paxil CR is a bad medication. It is just like anything else, it works for some but not for others.

I WAS ON PAXIL CR FOR ABOUT 7MOS. FOR ANXIETY. I HAD 20MG PER DAY. I EXPEIRENCED DREAMS, INSOMNIA, DIZZINESS AND LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, WEIGHT GAIN. I PUT ON 24 POUNDS WITHIN THE LAST MONTH. MY ANXIETY WAS BETTER BUT THE DREAMS AND DIZZINESS WAS VERY HARD TO COPE WITH. MY DR. TOOK ME OFF THEM AND I AM CURRENTLY TRYING ZOLOF. FOR THE LAST WEEK DURING THE CHANGE OVER I WAS EXTREMELY DIZZY. I DO FEEL BETTER WITH THIS DRUG. I AM SLEEPING BETTER AND FEEL CALMER. THE DIZZINESS IS GETTING BETTER. MY HUSBAND IS ON LEXAPRO AND SEEMS TO BE HANDLING THAT FINE. THAT MADE ME VERY ILL. I'M GLAD TO KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT JUST ME.

This drug should have been researched more before dr. prescribed it. Paxil has ruined my life. I have been on paxil for two years now not only do i have strange dreams i still have panic atttacks, weight gain no trouble with sex and three attempted suicides. I have tried to stop cold turky and the dizzyness, sleepiness and out-of body feeling was too hard to bere. So I am still on it and am searching for relife. I despriatly want my life back that this drug stole from me.

I have been taking Paxil CR 25 mg. now for about 3 months. I don't really see any change and still have the anxiety, night sweats, no sex drive, dizziness, headaches, insomnia and a lot of other things. I am not sure what to do at this point. I was on Prozac before and felt kind of the same, maybe not as anxious. Zoloft did not work for me at all. I know for sure, you have to wean off of these drugs you cannot just stop taking it or the side effects get worse. I am going to talk to my doctor about something else. I know they do not like to give out Xanax unless it is on a short term basis.

I just recently stopped taking paxil and man am I dizzy!! Does this ever go away? Sure wish someone could tell how long I have to suffer with dizziness!!

I have been on Paxil since March 7th and i will tell you this is the best thing that has happened to me-i have no more confusion and dizziness and less panic attacks-i am only taking 12.5mg at this time-i do however have some night sweats on occasion. I actually have lost like 3 pounds since i have been on it weird? since everyone has been gaining weight??