"accumulative effects of the drug (30 mg/day) had me sleeping most of my life away"

I began taking Paxil in 1996. It seemed like a God-send at the time. Last year, the accumulative effects of the drug (30 mg/day) had me sleeping most of my life away. With a 6 year old daughter, I felt very guilty about not spending enough time with her. I also had to quit my job because I could not get enough sleep to function. My house was a disaster area- laundry piled up, dishes piled up, dirty clothes piled up, what's worse is that I didn't even care! So I've tried several times to wein myself off the drug. I would like to be drug free in order to have a second child. However, every time I've tried I get off the medication, the exact same types of hellish withdrawal symptoms as described in your story occur within 3 days. Ironically, I'm more depressed now, losing the battle against this addiction. I feel defeated and robbed of the blessing of ever being able to have another baby! So far I'm unsuccessful. Right now I'm at 5mg/day and too afraid to cut it off for fear of the horrible withdrawal symptoms. My prescribing doctor says "just quit now" Yeah easy for her to say! The sickness is just as you described!!!! Aren't doctors aware of this or are they? I feel like I'm the victim of a guinea pig experiment.

-- submitted by traci, 32