Paxil and prozac

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

I've been taking Paxil 30mgs and Elavil (first 10 mgs then switched to 25mgs) for the past 12 years. I was diagnosed with depression at age 16, 18 years ago. First I was on Norpramine, then Deserel, then Prozac. I was put on Paxil and Elavil because of horrific migraines where nothing worked to help them, at one point I could not open my eyes. Occasionally I experience not being able to urinate as quickly as usual but I really haven't had much else. If I were to go off it, the first side effect I get is terrible itching on my back, then trouble breathing, like there is a weight on my chest. Right now I'm trying to get off Nuerontin, and hopefully some day both the depressants but I'm not optimistic since no doctor ever has been able to explain why the horrific migraines are there.

I have not had any side effects from paxil. the dr I worked with looked at prozac etc and felt that paxil was the best. I met with the doc at www.modernlifestylemeds.com

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.

Experienced the side effect of llightheadedness, dizzy, fuzz like not all there when out. Xanax is the best drug for me for panic and anxiety attacks but doctors don't like to give it, it can be habit forming. 1/4 of a mg twice a day works for me, so why should I take Paxil or Prozac, Prozac had the same side effect as Paxillll, those mind altering drugs are drugs are just what the are called. Mind altering, lost sex drive, gained weight. Having problem with rapid pulse, have been off for 6 months now, will never go back. I have friends that use Prozac or Paxil and swear by them. These drugs are just what they are called drugs.