"Paxil worked wonders when I first started"

I have been on Paxil for 5 years now. It worked wonders when I first started. For the last two years I have been trying to get off it. Like some of you I tried to quit cold turkey. I ended up in the emergency room with a headache so severe, they thought I had ruptured a vessel in my brain. Depressed by the event, I went back to Paxil. Then I tried to taper it down, from 20mg to 10mg a day, and now I take half of that for last two months, when Itried to quit that, I fell into a depression so severe that I became suicidal, so I went back again. Now a friend (a psychiatrist friend of mine tells me that if I substituted it with Prozac, it will be easier to wean off Prozac. I havent tried because I am afraid of the side effects. I have gained 20lbs, and lost the motivation and spunk I had before. It is sad that the general practitioners dont know about the adverse effects.

I will be trying the Prozac maybe next month. If it works, I'll let you know. Good luck to you all. Whatever you do, NEVER quit suddenly, especially if you have been on it for more than a year.

-- submitted by Dr. Swadud, 39

"I had a sour stomach, and fatigue and reached a point that I could not get off the couch."

Now, to tell my story I have been on Paxil for 3 1/2 years and when I first started it felt an immediate improvement in my anxiety and depression. My attitude was a noticeable improvement to everyone around me. In the 3 years I tried to take myself off many times. I honestly don't remember all the physical side effects that alot of people have mentioned. But, I did experience extreme mood changes and extreme anxiety and depression. So, like everyone else I decided to go back on. Well, in the last 6 months I felt the PAXIL wasn't helping me. I felt I was (am) entering into a deeper depression. I have extreme fatigue, don't feel like working, much less taking care of my home and 3 children and HAVE NO SEXUAL DESIRE AT ALL. Oh, and not to mention the slow but steady weight gain.

One day I heard an ad on the radio saying "Do you want your sex life back" "Tried of feeling ...." The ad then when on to say that these are part of the long term effects of anti-depressants and gave an 800 number to call to see if you qualified to part of the study. Well, for some reason I did not qualify. But started believing that my lack of interest in sex was due to the Paxil. So in December I have slowly started to wean my self off. Again, I can't pinpoint the all the side effects like many people have mentioned. But, I can say that my depression and fatigue is so extreme all I want to do is sleep!

I have been completely off of Paxil the entire month of February and was forced to go t to my Doctor today and he told switched me to EFFEXOR. I now wonder that my feelings my all be part of the withdrawal problems.

I am remembered a period in December over the course of two weeks where I felt somewhat similar. It was December and that terrible flu was going around and I really thought it was that. But now that I am reading and remembering I don't think it was the flu and believe now it was the "withdrawals". I now remember telling my husband, God, if this is the flu why don't I have a fever like everyone else. I remembering one Monday I had such an extreme headache I took Excedrin PM and slept from 8:00am-3:00pm and the went to bed that evening at 7:00pm. And just like Friday, I had the same flu like symptoms. I had a sour stomach, and fatigue and reached a point that I could not get off the couch. I am getting worried that all these flu days were not flu days withdrawal side effects.

-- submitted Jane, 37

"Paxil was very beneficial in getting me through a rough patch"

I have been on paxil for over 2 years. At one point I self-upped my dose to 60mgs/day. Paxil was very beneficial in getting me through a rough patch but I don't need it anymore and am trying to wean off. I self weaned down to 30 successfully, but when I went down to 20 I started having mood swings, headache, flu/cold symptoms. I am an attorney and can't afford to not be sharp. I will probably go up to 25 and take it more slowly from here. It sucks that it could take another year before I am free of it.

I wonder if anyone has successfully used st. john's wort to help them wean. What about prozac? I had a friend get off paxil onto prozac with no problems. Is it possible to go to prozac and then get off prozac which doesn't have such terrible withdrawal?

-- submitted by John, 27

"I feel that Paxil saved my life"

Before anything I want to say that I feel that Paxil saved my life. It transformed my life- and got me out of a severe depression which I suffered for three years which one year of therapy alone was not able to cure.

However, now that five years later after taking 10 mg a day (initially I took 60 mg daily) I am having some withdrawal symptoms from trying to stop too quickly. My doctor says that I can successfully withdraw if I do it slowly enough. I realize there are some side effects, but I also experienced side effects for two weeks when I began, which eventually went away. SO I want to say while there are clearly side effects which are negative, I think this has been a very useful and positive medication, which helped me to return to my highest functioning, while I took it.

-- submitted by John, 31

"I've tried twice to get off of paxil"

I've tried twice to get off of paxil. The first time with the weaning process under a doctor's care. It didn't work and only after three weeks I was back on my full dose of 40mg. I then decide to stop completely, which was a bad choice. I went a total of five days and had to have my husband go to the drugstore and have it refilled. I seemed to be ok for the first two days, and then my husband and son would notice that I was talking a lot to myself, which I'm not in the happen of doing a lot of, especially if someone is around, and when they would bring it up to me, I didn't remember this. I just thought I was "thinking" to myself. Then there was the chest pains, the arm pains and the worst ever dizzy spells I have ever had! I was sick at my stomach, lost my appetite, I had chills one minute and the next I was burning up. I did take my temperature once during the period of have this hot flash and it was 96.1 I'm back on my 40mg. per day. I don't like the drug, feel even more depressed on it, and someday I will sleep 19 or more hours! And did wake up tired and sluggish. I was totally unsuccessful my two times getting off of this drug.

-- submitted by Crrickkett, 37

"I am taking 15-30mg. of paxil per day for severe depression and OCD."

I am taking 15-30mg. of paxil per day for severe depression and OCD. Mentally, I feel great. Physically, I'm in good health, but have gained 30 pounds while taking paxil. My docotr explained that I could get off paxil after taking it from 6months to a year. Well, last month was 6 months and I felt great-so I tried to get off it. My docotr explained that some people need to be weined off and others can just quit taking it. I tried to just stop taking it. This was a bad idea. I felt those same electrical pulses you described. It was too weird. I also started crying a lot-not sure if this was from PMS, the depression returning, or from withdrawal. I have read that withdrawal from paxil can cause "alcohol withdrawal" like symptoms. For two weeks, I endured these electrical pulses, night sweats, and extreme nightmares. I didn't want to take it anymore, but my husband begged me to get back on it and try weining myself off. A few weeks ago, I started taking 15mg a day again. Now, I feel fine. I still want to get off this stuff. I'm interested to know how to get off it?

-- submitted by Amanda, 27

"I tried to describe to my doctor the electrical zaps I have been feeling."

Wow. About a month ago, I began decreasing my Paxil does of 20mgs. daily. I've been on Paxil for about 2 years and before that I was taking 150 mgs. of Imipramine (Tofranil). Most recently, I tried to describe to my doctor the electrical zaps I have been feeling. She attributed it to pre-menopause stuff. Mainly because I told her that my menstrual cycle, which is normally like clockwork, has been highly irregular. I got my period THREE times in January. I am now thinking that this is one of the withdrawal symptoms of Paxil. I also suddenly have terrible water retention. After reading the other posts, I am convinced that the electrical "surges" as I call them are a direct result of me weaning off Paxil. I hate this. Will I have to spend the rest of my life feeling these "surges?" A couple years ago, there was an article in the Pacific Sun, a Marin County California publication about the lifelong side effects of antidepressants. I will have to dig that out and read it again. Otherwise, I think the Paxil did me some good. However, I feel happy and content enough with myself to try life without it.

-- submitted by Ede, 45

"I was diagnosed with clinical depression three years ago"

I hope that all of you that have written in are feeling better. I was diagnosed with clinical depression three years ago. My doctor at the time perscribed Paxil. I was on the drug for two and a half years at 20mg and experienced all the usual side effects, weight gain(20 lbs) and a general feeling of laziness being the most prominent. My mood greatly improved and I was finally able to function as a normal human being. When it came time to go off Paxil, my doctor instructed me to drop down to 10mg for a week and then down to 5mg for another week. After being on 5mg for a week, I would take one on Monday and then skip Tuesday and then take one on Wednesday and so forth for a couple of weeks. This method of weining seemed to work. Though I did experience some side effects(Brain Buzzing and sleep disorders) all of which were gone after a week or so after completely going off Paxil. In short, I feel that Paxil did indeed change my life for the better. There is a light at the end of all tunnels.

-- submitted by Dan, 25

"I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE ABOUT 5 - 6 PANIC ATTACKS A DAY"

I WAS PUT ON PAXIL IN JULY 1999 , I WAS ON 20 MG UNTIL I TOOK MY LAST DOSE ON JAN 1 2000 IT TOOK ME AWHILE TO GO OFF OF IT. I HAVE BEEN OFF FOR ABOUT 6 WEEKS AND I FEEL BETTER, BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT I WILL NEVER GO ON IT AGAIN. I GOT MARRIED ON JUNE 11 1999 A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER, I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE ABOUT 5 - 6 PANIC ATTACKS A DAY, I THINK THAT IT WAS JUST A CHANGE OF LIFESTYLE THAT PUT STRESS ON MYSELF, I WENT TO THE DOCTOR AND HE PRESCRIBED ME PAXIL, AND THAT IS WHEN MY NIGHTMARE STARTED. I GAINED ABOUT 40 LBS AND I WAS ALWAYS TIRED AND LOST ALL INITIATIVE TO DO ANYTHING AND I LOST ALL SEXUAL DESIRE. IT DID STOP THE PANIC ATTACKS, BUT IT ALSO MADE ME FEEL THINGS THAT I NEVER FELT BRFORE EITHER. THE WITHDRAWALS WERE HORRIBLE, AND I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THE DRUG TO ANYONE.

-- submitted by DAWN, 24

"I have gotten extremely dizzy, lightheaded and have bad headaches and pains in my neck and shoulders."

My doctor prescribed Paxil at the time my husband had terminal brain cancer. I DID NOT request medication and did not feel I was depressed..sad, yes, but NOT depressed. This was about five years ago and I have tried unsuccessfully more than once to withdraw from the Paxil. Every time, I have gotten extremely dizzy, lightheaded and have bad headaches and pains in my neck and shoulders. Each time, I have reduced the dosage slowly but still have the systems and each time, I have resumed the medication of 10mg rather than continue withdrawal. Last week, I discussed this with my doctor when I went for my annual physical and he seemed totally disinterested. He said I "need" to take it and it is doing me no harm. (How the heck does anyone know what long-term effects it will have!) I am now happily remarried and as far as I can tell, have no adverse reaction to Paxil such as sleeplessness, sexual dysfunction, etc. The positive effect is that I do feel more organized and not quite so "hyper."

-- submitted jchimsef, 54

"The anxiety was situational. My situation changed, I stopped taking it and the third day I was very ill."

This was the second time I took Paxil. This time 30mg. for anxiety, last time 20mg.for depression. The anxiety was situational. My situation changed, I stopped taking it and the third day I was very ill. I thought I had a stomach virus at first then I found out what it was. PAXIL WITHDRAWAL! I called the doctor and asked for some 20 mg. so I could taper off. She recommended. One a day for a week, then one every other day for a week, then one 3 times a week. Today I went back to the doctor because I have felt so bad. I didn't get much help there. I appreciate everyone that posted here because it validated my illness. I have several(most) of the symptoms posted here. I told someone today that I felt like I had a migrane without a headache. (Thank God) the nausea comes and goes but mainly on the 2nd day of no Paxil. I am going to start 10mg. everyday and see if that is any better. People need to be warned of the withdrawal. The first time I took Paxil, it was worth it because I was so depressed, but there was no withdrawal. Please help get the word out. I feel emotionally better because I know now that is not in my head.

-- submitted by forkers, 34

"This is my 3rd attempt to get off the paxil"

This is my 3rd attempt to get off the paxil. I wonder if I'll be successful? I believe I will (also did the other times). It's now been a year that I was prescribed paxil for panic attacks. Let me tell you that most doctors do not inform us well at all. If I had known there were so many withdrawal syptoms, I would have chosen something else. I can say the paxil at a proper dose really helped me. But when I first started on the paxil it didn't work. The doctors said it was going to be a gradual improvment. A month and 1\2 passed and I wasn't better. (I took 10mg for 3weeks and then 20mg) I was only better 2 to 3 days after the increase but for only a couple of days. I still had to go to the emergency many times, cause the panic attacks persisted uncontrollably. So between the hospital, my GP and the psychiatrist everything got mixed up. The hospital put my dosage up to 30mg. (good for a few days) Then I was worst. Now not only panic attacks but obsessive suicidal flashes. (which I feared tremendously cause I did not want to do that) So again to the emergency room for a huge panic attack and confusion. My dosage was put up to 40mg. What a mistake. It got worse after a few days of feeling good. With the panic attacks and suicidal flashes, add lots of ups and downs (laughing then crying 10-15 times a day). Also the shakes and increased occurrences of the attacks. So my GP put the paxil up to 50mg. What an overdose. You figure between them they would know the increase is worst. So this time the emergency admitted me for a week. I automatically refused to take that high of a dose of paxil. With lots of pushing they agreed to reduce it to 30mg and they gave me some ativan. I felt great after two days and then even better after a week. I say I felt great cause it was really hell before. so when I left the hospital we reduced it to 20mg with regular intake of ativans(ativans for about 1 month). It worked wonders. Panic attacks were controlled and not as frequent. Like once or twice a day instead of 10-12 times. And improving to only a few controlled ones a week to almost nothing. Now 9 months had past. I was well so decided to quit the paxil. Big mistake. I stopped cold turkey. It feels really great for a few days but then it's hell. I experienced major dizziness, being like off balance, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, being light headed, major tingling and vibrating and numbness in my arms, hands, legs and feet, lack of energy. I coulldn't stand cause I would be sick and I was weak almost not able to move around. I forgot to add the major heart palpitations. fast regular fast regular... After a week I couldn't take it anymore and went back on the paxil at 20mg. a few weeks later I attempted to do it the right way and reduce the dosage slowly to 10mg and the 5mg. But I felt bad everytime I reduced. There's this high everytime for about two days and then it's hell. So I went back to 10mg and stayed at that for a few weeks. I didn't feel good but I wanted off so bad. So I managed to regulate my system at 10mg. Wow. I took it for about 15days after that then reduced it to 5mg for a week and then a few days of every other day. Today I did not take the 5mg and all the withdrawal symptoms came back. I'm so upset. But I'm also determined to get off. I'm taking my last 5mg tomorrow. My doctor said that the withdrawal symptoms would last about 2 weeks and fade away. He said that the symptoms were well documented. Yah right, WHERE? I can someone have access to this info before taking the medication in the first place. I'm pretty frustrated by my experience and the lack of knowledge of the doctors regarding paxil. It almost feels like were rats. Well I'll let you know if I last and how long it took for the syptoms to go away . (if I succeed) Good luck to all of you out there. We'll find what works.

-- submitted by cveer, 27

"withdrawal symptoms are incredibly awful"

if someone would like to respond, pleas do so!!

I must be on day 11 now, paxil free. i am so proud, these withdrawal symptoms are incredibly awful. But i need to change the subject here...

Has anyone been to a doctor and discussed this with them. I went to three different doctors last week and got the run around?? why?? is this a conspiracy?? do the doctors get "kick backs" from giving this drug to us?? i don't understand.!

What's funny is, i am going to my doctors office tomorrow and requesting a copy of my medical files for the period of time i was on paxil, as i sit here and think about it, i think i was having more side effects than i realized. I feel like a detective right now, and i need to get to the bottom of this.

I think people should obviously be made more aware of the options they have before going on a drug. I think consoling is the way to go..

-- submitted by Tristan, 27

"I have been taking an SSRI similar to Paxil, called Zoloft, for over a year"

I have been taking an SSRI similar to Paxil, called Zoloft, for over a year. Curiously, I've experienced every negative symptom described by the participants of this web site, all of whom were using Paxil.

Believe me, Zoloft can be every bit as terrible to drop.

My doc suggested switching from Zoloft to Paxil; the idea being that a person must try a few anti-depressants to find the one most effective for him or herself.

But after researching on this site and others, the withdrawal symptoms associated with Paxil, no way will I get on Paxil.

Which leaves me with a lot of thinking to do about next steps...

-- submitted by LM, 29

"I began taking paxil for anxiety and since have encountered a new host of difficulties"

I began taking paxil for anxiety and since have encountered a new host of difficulties: I am so dizzy as I am writing this that I will make it as brief as possible. I experienced extreme tiredness for months, on paxil, I feel that my whole system has gone into slow motion and I have gained almost thirty pounds, has anyone else experienced this? I am now seeing a homeopathic medical doctor and have been easing off the drug, I am now going through the withdrawals I am beginning to hear others are experiencing such as; extreme dizziness, headaches, more tiredness, feelings of anxiety, disorientation or blurriness and I relate to what one man referred to as brain shocks. I also feel that my heart is beating funny even though my pulse doesn't seem to reflect this. I also feel like I am out of breath some times. My moods have been WILD as well. I am interested to know if anyone feels that this drug has slowed their metabolism down, this was supposed to be an anti-depressant, but gaining weight has not helped my self image very much. I am angry to discover how many others are going through the same things, no doctor ever warned me about all of this!!! Did this drug help me at ALL?

-- submitted by oldjed, 25

"i have watched my wife spiral completely out of control"

i am the spouse of the person taking this damn drug paxil - and i want to tell you i am at my wits end with all this - this is really a long story ill try and compress it - i live in canada and am moving to san francisco - have been spending lots of time here in san fran where my parents live - my dad is dieing - my mom got fleeced by some con men for a lot of money - my brother in law tried to grab the estate etc - am now 3 days from taking oath for us citizenship - my wife who is in canada right now had started on paxil after i came here in july and she has gradually increased the dosage to i believe some where in the neighborhood of 40-50 mg - also she is taking atavan and drinking - everything has been ok between us and we have been together for about 10 years - we were looking forward to moving to the us and she had taken stress leave from work back in july and the damn doctor had prescribed this to make her feel better - yeah right - i have watched my wife spiral completely out of control - we have been visiting as she would come here or i would go there to see each other - so i was not completely tuned in to what was happening - i am horrified from the things i have been reading about here and in other places on the net - and i am mad as hell that this doctor prescribed this stuff to her - the absolute least he should have done was to inform me of what was happening

well monday night i spoke to her on the phone and all i can say is "this is not my wife" - she told me among other things that she wanted a divorce - never wanted to see me again - never wanted to speak to me again - and that she was going to mail my personal possessions to me and she was going to see a lawyer etc etc - for about 45 minutes of screaming yelling and crying - for the next 4 days i have been a complete wreck - i can not leave here to go back there until after the oath taking ceremony for citizenship on tuesday - i will be leaving right after that - yesterday was the first time i was able to put this whole thing together - i now feel as though my wife is suffering from some kind of paxil induced psychosis but none of our friends want to hear that - they are all convinced that she wants a divorce and thats that - i have just heard today that she has stopped taking this paxil cold turkey - but i dont know if thats true or if she stopped last week and this is withdrawl

at this point my life is going down the toilet and i am not the one taking this damn drug - i am so mad at the doctor and at the medical establishment in general also pissed off with her family and friends as everyone thinks she just wants a divorce - maybe she does i dont know - 3 weeks ago when she was here which was a few days before my citizenship interview she told me she was hearing voices - i asked her directly if she was really hearing voices and she said no so i thought she had been joking - now i know and i feel very guilty for not having realized that she was out of control

what in gods name has happened - i am a wreck - she must be a lot worse but i didnt realize this til yesterday when i put it all together and started reading about paxil - im afraid that now its too late to salvage my marriage

i dont know what to do - i need to talk to someone - no one (our friends) seems to understand the dangers of this drug - im positive this is all due to the drug or her withdrawal from it

-- submitted by Chris, 44

"I have been feeling boosted like hell for 2 or 3 months, though side effects were still there."

I am not yet about to stop. I am taking 10mg a day since 6 months. My experience isn't very positive so far. I was very unwell during the two first weeks of treatment. I quickly realized that the medicine I was taking was not an "innocent" one. Part of the numerous side effects disappeared after 3 weeks. I have been feeling boosted like hell for 2 or 3 months, though side effects were still there. Some remain today and do not evolve anymore. One of the most intrusive is sexual (in first instance difficulty to have an orgasm (while erection was no problem), later significant decrease of the sexual desire. Another side effect I can't ge rid off is a kind of internal vibration. And finally I can't really sleep for a whole night. Falling asleep is no problem but after an hour or two I get awake and remain awake for hours. I can't have a really nice night with the feel that I recover some energy. The boost I got is gone and I merely feel any positive effect anymore (energy is low, I am always tired). Considering the low dose (10mg) I would not be surprised that my doctor would increase it. But when I read the problems you got to withdraw ... then I really get scared.

-- submitted by Pierre Becquart Av. de Tancarville, 18 1410 Wareloo Belgium

"I have been having panic attacks since I was 14 or 15."

I have been having panic attacks since I was 14 or 15. Finally, I went to a doctor a year ago and he diagnosed me with social phobia/generalized anxiety disorder. I waited a year to see another doctor. That was Thursday. It's Saturday now. I was prescribed paxil, without knowing anything about it, except the doctor said "it can be weird at first, but stick with it". I am very grateful for this website, because, after only taking it for 2 days, I am not going to take it again, I don't think. I hate it. I feel very weird. I was usually awkward around people, but know I am paranoid. I feel like I am floating. I feel either apathetic or emotional. I can't even listen to music I usually like. I woke up the first morning and looked in the mirror. My pupils were huge and I felt like I was looking at someone else. My jaw started shaking and chattering. This is unlike me. I am only awkward in social situations. I was in my own bathroom and felt very, very strange. I started crying, thinking "this is not me..." Do NOT listen to people who try and say that your withdrawal is because you are "so depressed". Get real, it is no coincidence that so many people experience weird feelings, immediately after they quit. That is weird and messed up. I think all of these new "cures" for depression and anxiety and all, are weird as hell. I have also noticed that doctors do not take people with mental ilness very seriously. For example, one of my first concerns was "Don't even mention Prozac, because I know a girl who took it and and it made her really weird. She was bipolar and she said she felt better when she forgot to take it." The doctor laughed and said "Ha, well, most bipolar people do feel better when they don't take their medicine". He kind of chuckled again. I was thinking, this is my friend, that was rude. Do not let some doctor tell you why you feel the way you do. They might have more insight than you do into the brain, but you know how you feel. They don't. Anyway, thanks a lot for the information. I was looking earlier, and all I saw was : "May cause drowsiness, constipation, decreased sex drive". I wanted to hear something real. They forget to mention that the drug makes you feel insane. Another good example of the weirdness - I am a cashier, and last night when i was working, I became totally paranoid. I thought everyone was laughing at me, and that they knew I was on Paxil. Weird, huh? Oh, finally, I find it impossible to study like this (the major reason I'm not taking it anymore).

-- submitted by page, 20

"I was prescribed paxil for panic disorder related to post traumatic disorder."

I was prescribed paxil for panic disorder related to post traumatic disorder. I was on 40mg of Paxil for one year. I decided to go off the medication because I believe it was making me lethargic and lazy. I also believed that it was causing more anxiety accompanied with heart palpitations. I began reducing the dose by 1mg weekly. I have been off the medication totally for three weeks. I continue to experience withdrawal symptoms which include: dizziness, anxiety, head and facial "jolts". I have also been very emotional. I am easily angered which is not in my character. I wish I could rid myself of these irritating withdrawal symptoms.

-- submitted by monkeyboyt, 29

"I was having a very difficult time sleeping, and didn't have any energy. I was extremely lazy.."

Been taking paxil for 3.5 yrs. Last week i decided that paxil wasn't doing anything for me, that i didn't need to take it. I was having a very difficult time sleeping, and didn't have any energy. I was extremely lazy.. So on Thursday, i stopped taking paxil cold turkey. I was feeling fine over the weekend, i still couldn't sleep, but on sunday night i was feeling "crabby", monday i had a horrible day at work, felt very moody. Tuesday was the worst day of my life. My hands and fingers felt numb, my legs felt odd. My mind was cloudy. like i was in a haze. hard to explain how i felt, and how i am still feeling. I became very emotional. started crying a couple of times. which is not a characteristic of mine. so i can to the internet and i was honestly surprised at the other responses i read.. It seems like a lot of people describe the same feelings toward paxil.. why is that?? because its a sham?? it made me feel better to know that others were feeling the same way i was, that i wasn't alone. I went to a psychologist yesterday, explained the way i was feeling, and his response was: Thats the depression kicking in without paxil... That made me mad, because of all the people that are talking about its ineffectiveness. I know i am fine, i just need that drug out of my body. I feel paxil was making me sleeplessness, i believe it was zapping my energy, making me lazy.. Whatever it is, i can control it myself, as soon as i rid myself of Paxil. thank you.

-- submitted by Tristan, 27

"...severe problems with concentration, became very antisocial, had hallucinations and could not sleep well"

My 17 year old daughter was taking 10mgs and then 20mgs paxil for 2 months and had severe problems with concentration, became very antisocial, had hallucinations and could not sleep well. I took her off of the drug cold turkey and she got so depressed she became suicidal, I put her back on at 10mgs for 2 days then 5 then 2&one half every other day and then every three days and then off. She seems to be fine now and cannot believe the nightmare we went through she remembers the withdrawal more than the the months on the medication. It was like a DR. Jeklyl -Mr. Hyde show. Paxil is not for everyone-it can be a dangerous drug to the wrong people. I wonder if people that react so badly to it are allergic to the drug as I have a psychotic allergic reaction to the drug codiene.

-- submitted by Sue, 47

"I have been taking Paxil for two and one half months now for situational depression"

I have been taking Paxil for two and one half months now for situational depression. I recently missed 4 doses due to illness. Since then,I have been experiencing dizziness to the point of not being able to drive or play with my children.

I made an appointment with my Doctor, who prescribed yet another drug to take care of the dizziness. Meclizine is a generic antivertigo drug and the pharmacist explained to me that it should help take the edge off, but if I plan to continue not taking the Paxil, I can look forward to 3 - 9 days of this.

He suggested that I go cold turkey with the Paxil and get it over with. He said that people who taper off the drug still get the side effects, they just last longer.

I am going to try to keep going. I am on day 4 and counting.

-- submitted by berzins, 31

"While treating me for migratory arthritis (the dr. THINKS), and depression, I was given 20 mgs of paxil."

While treating me for migratory arthritis (the dr. THINKS), and depression, I was given 20 mgs of paxil. After taking it for a few weeks, my arthritis subsided (was absolutely TERRIBLE - joint swelling and severe pain). I have been taking paxil now since 1998 (10mgs daily) and although if I "overdo a joint", I will get swelling, I no longer have the severe pain.

PS: I am currently in the process of quitting taking paxil due to finances and no insurance. I am anticipating hopefully, that my joint swelling/pain and depression does not return. No money - No Dr. - No Meds. I'm going to give it 6 months or (if the pain returns) 3 months before I attempt to restart taking the paxil.

-- submitted by DL, 39

"Paxil was prescribed for situational depression"

Since I've been taking it, I do not sleep. Others seem to indicate that it helps them relax, but I am drowsy all day at work, so I fall right to sleep at night. I sleep about 2 hours, and then I'm wide awake. I just wondered if the "happy" part of the drug wasn't an upper since I'm very, very sensitive to uppers. I can't take diet pills for the same reason, and I have to limit my caffeine intake.

-- submitted by Donna, 48

"On Paxil, I was always sleepy, and would constantly have to take naps."

I spent about 13 months on Paxil and have just switched to Effexor XR. On Paxil, I was always sleepy, and would constantly have to take naps. It was an irresistible urge to lie down and sleep, and really got in the way of a normal daily life. I could no longer drive for more than an hour or two without having to pull over for a nap, and I spent most of my days off on the couch, too tired to go out and do anything. The other main effect I suffered was weight gain -- 30 pounds' worth. Unfortunately, I had mononucleosis when I began taking Paxil for depression, and since mono's symptoms include fatigue and possible weight gain due to less exercise and a slowed-down metabolism, it took my family doctor and myself a long time after my recovery from mono to determine that Paxil might be the culprit causing the weight gain and continuing fatigue. My psychiatrist (who initially prescribed the Paxil and whom I no longer see) dismissed my concerns that I was rapidly gaining weight, even though this had never happened to me before in 30 years. He said Paxil rarely causes weight gain and was more likely to cause weight loss. Skimming through the Disease Management Forum paints a different story. My family doctor has run a battery of tests and ruled out pretty much anything he can think of that would cause this weight gain and fatigue (thyroid, anemia, hepatitis, ect.). That's why he has switched me to Effexor XR, which he says may improve my condition. To be fair, Paxil did get rid of my depression, mood swings and temper, and the only other side effect I experienced, mild sexual dysfunction, was not serious. However, after months of convincing myself that Paxil was a wonder drug (in that it improved my mood so much) I decided I was not willing to continue with the drug if the tradeoff was constant fatigue and steady weight gain. I am now going to Weight Watchers to get rid of those 30 pounds, and after just five days on Effexor, I already more energy and my head is a lot clearer.

-- submitted by anouk, 30

"I am doing OK but I am addicted to Paxil"

I was diagnosed as bi-polar in my second year of university. I had been suffering with it for many years previous but was good at hiding it. I saw a university therapist for 2 years during which time I tried many different medications. I was on zoloft for over two years. But when the zoloft decreased its effectiveness I was eventually put on paxil which helped me remain relatively stable for over 4 years. But when I moved cities and started a new job I was finding that I was getting panic attacks and having major trouble sleeping. I went to this doctor who told me I should try and decrease my dose. When that did not work I went back and he told me to go off the paxil for 2 weeks to clean out my system and then I should try this other drug. I trusted him. I knew I would get off centre if I went off my drug but I thought if I was careful and did not let myself get out of control I would be OK. I can't tell you how wrong I was!

Day one: I was OK. A bit "high" if anything.

Day two: I was very unstable, crying and shaking like a leaf (I thought it would be the worst of it).

Day three: I was violently ill for three hours straight, I could barely see, move, or function. My mood was beyond low, I was almost ready to jump out my window to make it all stop). A friend came over and helped me to calm down.

Day four: I slept for 12 hours straight. I thought I was just tired from the craziness of the night before. But later in the night I became almost hysterical, I could not sit still, I was sick again for hours, and the incredible feeling of dizziness (almost like you are in another dimension). I eventually ended up in the hospital because I was unable to control anything going on with me and I needed to get help before it was too late. They gave me drugs to calm me and put me asleep so I made it through the night but the next day I was no better.

By this time I had this incredible dizziness, nauseousness, exhaustion, and shakiness. I went to this doctor who originally told me to go off the medication. He did not believe me when i told him what I was experiencing and he gave me valium and told me to leave. Obviously, that was of no help. I had to call my parents from out of town to come and take care of me because there was no way I was able to function.

My break came because of my hospital visit. I got a referral to the psychiatric assessment team. I got in a couple days later and they started to try and help me. They agreed that what was going on was a withdrawal from paxil. I was prescribed Wellabutrin. As it is a drug in the same genre as paxil he thought it was stop the withdrawal symptoms. He was wrong. Five days later (I was at home all this time, missing work, hardly able to function), he put me back on 10 mg of paxil (he hoped that it would decrease the side effects while the other drug started working). On the 10 mg of paxil I was OK. I actually felt beter for the first time in weeks. I was still not feeling good but I could do simple things like dishes and walks. But as I tried, again, to wein myself off it, I got worse. Anything under 10 mgs and I had all the effects again.

Eventually, my doctor put me back on paxil (30 mg) and gave me another drug to stop the panic attacks and help me sleep.

SO I am left here. I am doing OK but I am addicted to Paxil. I know the only way I will ever get off it is in a supervised hospital setting (if that will even work?). I hate this feeling of being stuck on it, like I have lost control over a part of my life. (and yes, I still have the other side effects like weight gain, but I have given up worrying about that).

I was interviewed over the phone for the 20/20 story though I never did see if it was aired. (Does anyone have a copy, or was it even shown?)

I would like to participate in some sort of legal action. Not because I want anything, but because I want people to know about this! I want them to know that it is a good drug while you are on it, but not if you ever need to get off it.

-- submitted by LLB35, 24

"I am so dizzy and nauseous all I can do is lie down."

After reading this I am so shocked! I have been dying for over a week, getting worse, trying to figure out what I have and bingo everyone here is experiencing the same thing! I am so dizzy and nauseous all I can do is lie down. I have a 2 year old and a 6 year old and they just don't understand why mommy is sick. I have gone to bed the last few nights at 7:30 and slept till 6:30 the next morning, napping every chance I get just to get some relief. Now I need to decide if I should take another pill and wean myself slowly, instead of the cold turkey I've been trying. I was misdiagnosed with bi polar disorder about two years ago, now they say I am insulin intolerant and have hormonal problems! Paxil and Wellbutrin are the last two drugs I've been on. I've been feeling better, so I quit. If anyone out there has been successful please email me. I'm desperate.

-- submitted by Klhardin, 30

"I was put on Paxil for a panic disorder"

I was put on Paxil for a panic disorder and I have to say it did work well for that. While on Paxil I put on 50 pounds and was tired all of the time. After being on it for 15 months I started to have flu like symptoms, severe joint pain, night sweats and zaps. My doctor ran numerous tests to find out the source and never came up with anything. I started looking on the internet and that was were I found out that it was probably this medication giving me all these problems. My doctor started weaning me off of Paxil last Sept. and was finally off completely in the middle of November. Even though I was down to only 5 mg. at that time the withdrawals were horrible. The first two weeks were the worse with all of the above symptoms I mentioned only magnified much worse and also severe depression which I had never experienced. It has now been about 12 weeks being off of Paxil and it is much better but I am still suffering from some joint pain but nothing like what it was. I have only taken off 10 pounds so far and I am still tired a lot.

-- submitted by Linda, 51

"Diagnosed for bipolar 7 years ago - was put on prozac, zoloft, lithium, depakote, ritalin and other drugs over a four year period"

Diagnosed for bipolar 7 years ago - was put on prozac, zoloft, lithium, depakote, ritalin and other drugs over a four year period - all with side effects. Did the normal 6-8 week withdrawal and became suicidal. Last medication the pdoc gave was paxil. One evening I forgot to take dosage, woke up in the morning with hand paralysis (I am a professional violinist, BIG TERROR). Took paxil and within 20 minutes could bend fingers. Rapid and mixed cycling became worse to the point that I finally told the pdoc I wanted off - he agreed that I was having an extreme reaction to this drug. After a month the depression got worse and then had a major rapid cycling event in an hour - knew that this drug was bad news. That night began night terrors, slept 1.5-3 hours per night for a month. GI tract stopped functioning, had to eat rice, broth, steamed veggies. If I ate anything solid, it came through the intestines solid (sorry for the graphic detail but true). Would wake up in the middle of the night in hysteria. Then my legs would feel as if they were hooked up to an electrical battery - could feel energy going down legs like what you would see in the old Frankenstein movies. I knew this was dangerous because my mother, who was also bipolar, died in withdrawal from other medications in the early 80's and had the same reactions the month before she died (heart stopped from exhaustion). Worst part was, because of exhaustion, lost temper with colleague because of my terror and his insensitivity to how sick I was (he had been support person). He filed grievance, suspended from work, had breakdown while pdoc out of country. This was all 2 years ago in February. I am just now starting to be "normal" though the pdoc now has diagnosed me as having Postraumatic Stress Disorder from what I experienced. I am using bodywork/massage therapy, polarity therapy, ayurvedic medicine all under the supervision of the same pdoc. He has told me that I am doing incredibly well. I actually think that I am LESS depressed than ever!

-- submitted by Orty, 47

"It was like electricity running through my body, and major anxiety attack and hyperventilation"

I have taken Paxil for 5 years and before that Imipramine for 8 years for a severe anxiety disorder. I was completely house bound, I didn't go out of my home for 6 months. I went to see a psychiatrist as this disorder ran in my family, and was put on Imipramine It was amazing how fast and well this medication worked. I was back to my normal self within a week. Over the next 5 years I would still have episodes of anxiety so I went to a clinic in California (I am from Washington State) that I saw an advertisement for. They were successfully treating anxiety patients by figuring out what chemical it was your brain was not producing enough of, in turn causing anxiety. I tested several different drugs and Paxil worked the best for me. It wasn't until about 3 years after that that I began hearing all the side effects of this drug. I never realized I had side effects until I heard what they were. I am always tired, I mean I could sleep 12 hours and still feel exhausted. I also gained alot of weight and basically had no energy at all. I decided I wanted off the Paxil and I new you couldn't just stop all at once. I started out cutting my dosing from 20 mg to 10 mg for about 2 weeks then I went to 5 mg for a week. This is when the withdraw hit me! It was like electricity running through my body, and major anxiety attack and hyperventilation. Of course this freaked me out and I went right back to 20 mg. I tried 2 more times unsuccessfully. Currently I have cut my dose down to 10 mg w/o any side effects, it has been about 2 weeks since I did it. I did have a period in which I felt extremely agitated, like I was going through major withdraw. This lasted about a week and now I feel fine. My plan is to stay at 10 mg's for 3 months and then go to 5 mg's for about 3 months and then completely go off. I think the main thing I realized is that no matter what you are going to have withdraw symptoms of some sort when you quit taking his medication, especially for the length of time I have. You have to mentally prepare yourself for it and not panic when you start feeling weird things happen. I find that when I start feeling anxious or panicky if I just stop whatever I am doing and completely relax my body and take deep breaths that I can usually deal with it. Another thing to tell yourself is that this isn't gonna kill you or injure you it is temporary and you can overcome it, lot's of self talk is very important.

-- submitted by Sara, 30

"I lost weight on Paxil and my sex drive went through the roof."

I was one of the first to post here so I thought I would comment on some other posts.

I went through major twitching episodes which lasted OVER A YEAR (I was on SSRI's over a 4 year period). Eastern medicine (such as Chinese and Indian [ayurvedic]) explain that the drug may be out of your blood but not out of the organs. Yes 4-6 weeks to be able to switch drugs but the remainder stays in your liver, spleen, kidneys, and BRAIN for up to a year. Therefore, the longer you are on these drugs, the more ingrained they become with the organs in your body and the longer it takes to get out.

My experience with Paxil was atypical. I have been turned into a rapid cycling Bipolar because of the SSRI's. I lost weight on them and my sex drive went through the roof. I feel like I am getting back to normal (after TWO AND A HALF YEARS since my last dose). Yes, I am a bipolar controlling it without medications. What am I using? Polarity Therapy, Ayurvedic medicine, Therapeutic Body Massage (this is INCREDIBLE for those energy twitches and headaches), and orthomolecular medicine (see this month's "Natural Health" magazine for the article on Margot Kidder for further information.

As in other posts, remember that your doctors can't POSSIBLY know everything about everything. They are seeing patients all day and don't have the time to do updated research on EVERY medication that is out on the market. It is up to US to be vigilant and tell our doctors about things like this web page to get the word out. Don't let a doctor talk you out of what your intuition is telling you. THEY are NOT the ones experiencing what you are. You know what your body did before you were on this medication and it is up to you to insist that there is a problem.

-- submitted by Orty, 47