Paxil and drugs

I went on Paxil for 7 months. It worked great and took away my anxiety but I was engaging in dangerous behaviors--casual sex with multiple partners, drug and alcohol use and neglecting my job and relationships. I had a pretty good withdrawal. Had some head zaps, got a really nasty sinus infection and fever and experienced mania and rage for the first two weeks. I'd say it takes a good year for your body to come back to stabilization. ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION are survival mechanisms that your body uses to tell you that something is wrong in your life. It's a warning sign that something needs to change--you are on the wrong path. Once I started addressing my life issues, the anxiety slowly disappeared. The thing is that people are lazy. They don't want to change how the eat, their exercise, their jobs, their life, and the way that they view the world. This is the hard way. The pill is the easy way, but ironically the hardest way in the long run. Our modern world makes us sick. My advice--get off the couch, eat some vegetables and get moving. Meditation is a GREAT way to get the same effect as the SSRIs. Until you try all that and still haven't gotten anywhere, stay off the drugs.

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 am on 10 mg. of paxil and have been on it for about 4-5 years. I would like to come off but am worried about all these crazy withdrawal symptoms everyone talks about. I have gone as many as 3 nights without takiing any and never experienced "jolts", maybe a little jittery and confused. I am thinking about doing 7.5 mg. for about a month, then go down to 5 for a month, then 2.5 for a month.

I hear all these stories and wonder if the people who have all these bad withdrawls were on high does and if they weaned themselves off.

PLEASE HELP.

Thanks.

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'm 40 and was on Paxil about a year and off now 3+ years. I gained 32 pounds- from a sz.2 all my life naturally because I'm just petite, to size 8!!!!! While on Paxil I did not care about anything, it was not like being depressed but I was totally mentally numb. I use to keep things tidy, and really care about how I looked, and be ambitious and creative. Yes, it took my stress away and that was good, but not for the trade offs! If I could go back I would never have taken it! I even started drinking a bottle of wine a night! It also made me vomit 6 + times in that year when I would drink too much, and I could drink plenty because I was SO numb! (I haven't puked from drinking since highschool) I briefly tapered off after a year of taking it with no side effects that I recall. I've just read several articles about lawsuits of those who commited suicide connected to Paxil and some killing others too - like the stories we hear all too often. The biggest advertisers in the TV & newspaper are PHARMA, so do you think we will hear any news on drugs like Paxil being linked to these stories, that are tradagies of real peoples lives!!!!! No.
I recently saw a billboard stating Paxil has caused LUNG & HEART DEFECTS! Which prompted me to start research and got me to this site. Turns out I have had several test on my lungs and heart over the last few years, cause I have an unexplained chest discomfort. I was diag. w/ mitro valve prolapse and have a spot on my lung?! So this is ALL now making me wonder if it's a side effect to that dam PAXIL. LIFE has stress, we all have to learn to cope by using psycho therapy or perhaps having our hormone and other levels checked in the body. Paxil is NOT a cure, it's HIGH RISK, and not worth it, drugs like this only MASK the real problem that still needs to be resolved, and there's not been enough long-term studies on all these drugs! I have wondered for a long time what side-effects I've had from it that I"m not even aware of. I've never felt the same as I did prior to taking it, my mind just doesn't seem as sharp. I never had SEVERE depression, HIGH anxiety, and suicidal thoughts until AFTER I quit taking Paxil. I got on it because my "family practice" Dr. like all of them was too quick to perscribe it when I told her I was having stress because of life changes having moved and just married and career changes.. normal life stress we all have to work THROUGH! I needed a therapist and maybe some valium, but NOT PAXIL!
I plead with you to do more exploration w/ natural approaches, excercise, and therapy don't just POP A PILL for your problems! The risk are too high.

I'm 40 and was on Paxil about a year and off now 3+ years. I gained 32 pounds- from a sz.2 all my life naturally because I'm just petite, to size 8!!!!! While on Paxil I did not care about anything, it was not like being depressed but I was totally mentally numb. I use to keep things tidy, and really care about how I looked, and be ambitious and creative. Yes, it took my stress away and that was good, but not for the trade offs! If I could go back I would never have taken it! I even started drinking a bottle of wine a night! It also made me vomit 6 + times in that year when I would drink too much, and I could drink plenty because I was SO numb! (I haven't puked from drinking since highschool) I briefly tapered off after a year of taking it with no side effects that I recall. I've just read several articles about lawsuits of those who commited suicide connected to Paxil and some killing others too - like the stories we hear all too often. The biggest advertisers in the TV & newspaper are PHARMA, so do you think we will hear any news on drugs like Paxil being linked to these stories, that are tradagies of real peoples lives!!!!! No.
I recently saw a billboard stating Paxil has caused LUNG & HEART DEFECTS! Which prompted me to start research and got me to this site. Turns out I have had several test on my lungs and heart over the last few years, cause I have an unexplained chest discomfort. I was diag. w/ mitro valve prolapse and have a spot on my lung?! So this is ALL now making me wonder if it's a side effect to that dam PAXIL. LIFE has stress, we all have to learn to cope by using psycho therapy or perhaps having our hormone and other levels checked in the body. Paxil is NOT a cure, it's HIGH RISK, and not worth it, drugs like this only MASK the real problem that still needs to be resolved, and there's not been enough long-term studies on all these drugs! I have wondered for a long time what side-effects I've had from it that I"m not even aware of. I've never felt the same as I did prior to taking it, my mind just doesn't seem as sharp. I never had SEVERE depression, HIGH anxiety, and suicidal thoughts until AFTER I quit taking Paxil. I got on it because my "family practice" Dr. like all of them was too quick to perscribe it when I told her I was having stress because of life changes having moved and just married and career changes.. normal life stress we all have to work THROUGH! I needed a therapist and maybe some valium, but NOT PAXIL!
I plead with you to do more exploration w/ natural approaches, exercise, and therapy don't just POP A PILL for your problems! The risk are too high.

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 was put on Paxil about 3 months ago and was recently switched to Paxil CR. Neither one has given me any bad side effects other than the ones I was told were common. One being a low sex drive, or when coming off the pill, having extreme sick feelings of nausea and dizziness. I would much rather deal with these side effects, than having the kind of attacks I would get before taking this drug. Eveyone should know that before taking ANY drugs, you should do research and make sure that you are willing to deal with the side effects that are listed...........otherwise you are wasting your time and your Doctors.

I've read all the good and the bad,mostly bad but I guess I'm
the only one who has ended up with myoclonic dystonia and
paroysmal dystonia from this nightmare drug, now I'm on so
many drugs like girl interupted, I have to worry about other
health problems to keep me going. Doctors aren't always right
research your drugs it's your health not theres! please respond if you've had same adverse reaction.

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 have lost a large portion of my sexual desire. I'm very much in love and attracted to mu husband but the sex isn't there like it use to be. However I'm not "suacidle" or a "bitch" anymore so he'd rather me be happy with myself and the world than have sex. So it has it's pro's and it's con's. For those of you who think sex is everything then don't take it. But I think that love is more important as well as patience so I'm sticking with it. I haven't tried coming off. If I did try I'm afraid I might go insane in the most literal sense. So I WOULD recommend doing some serious thinking and research before talking to your doctor about what you want to take. Maybe even try therapy before drugs especially if you have kids! Good Luck!