"After two years I was weaned off the Prozac, but my Panic Attacks started again"

I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder 5 years ago. I was first treated with Prozac and Xanax. After two years I was weaned off the Prozac, but my Panic Attacks started again. I was then put on Paxil 40 mg per day. I felt wonderful on the Paxil and the Panic Attacks stopped. After a year I was weaned off the Paxil. With each decrease in dosage I suffered terrible withdrawal symptoms, from trembling, nausea, spacey feelings,anxiety etc. It has taken me three years to be at 10 mg and I have stopped there. I'm not ready to deal with the withdrawal again! I must say Paxil was very helpful with my disorder and without it I may have been a prisoner of my house. I have spoken to several doctors about this medication and none of them are aware of the withdrawal symptoms. Many times the symptoms of withdrawal are the same as the symptoms of our disorder so even the patient may be fooled. I'm trying my best to educate my doctors, but it is a slow process.

-- submitted by myers

"I was so addicted to xanax which i was put on by my gp for anxiety disorder"

I've been on paxil for approximate 4months, I started on 20mgs.and was increased by therapist to 30mgs, this all came about in oct.99 I was so addicted to xanax which i was put on by my gp for anxiety disorder. I was on 2mgs of xanax a day. which is not that much but then i got used to it so I kept increasing my dose, I had got refills so often from my gp and other doctors that i would see. I crashed in oct. with an accidental overdose and placed in the psychiatric dept. I went through complete hell withdrawing from that crap, I had the shakes ,feeling of dizziness and sweating my head felt like i wasn't there it was so much hell i couldn't sleep and didn't have any support from my husband. It was so bad and i wasn't getting any better after about 3weeks in hospital and i had lots of therapist observing me,so i was proof that being taken of medication cold turkey was not successful. On the third week they put me on paxil to get me straightened out again. And within 2 days I was feeling totally normal, that should of been my q that this was another addictive med. but my therapist said it wasn't. After reading the other addictive paxil stories this scares me to tears and my heart goes out to you. I'm only 32 years old i don't want to be dependent on med. But I'm scared to go off this medication for fear of that terrible withdrawal. If there is anyone out there that this little note reaches I hope you will really educate yourself on the medication before you too will get addicted without knowing it. I'm a married 32 year old mother of 2 boys, and definitely not a drug addict. I thought. What I wouldn't do to be "normal" without medication.

-- submitted by Jim, 32

"back at the doctors office with nausea extreme tiredness and electrical charges"

I am so frightened, sometimes I don't know what to do. I was put on paxil in november 1999, after going to the doctor for nervousness over a bad break up. Everything in my life was great until I decided I didn't want to take any type of drugs any more. I had met someone and we discussed having children. It was then I discovered I have a very bad problem. I took myself off the medicine feb, 1 2000. I was fine until about the third day, it was then, I found myself back at the doctors office with nausea extreme tiredness and electrical charges. He said I would be fine if I halved the dose making it 10mg for a week and the next week a quarter making it 5mg. 10 days ago I tried to quit. I gave in after the 2nd day . I then found myself calling the doctors office explaining to him the way I feel. He tells me I will be fine and wrote me a prescription for Xanax which is studied to cause birth defects. I refuse to take it under the circumstances. Nothing seems to help. I'm losing my life as I know it. I have quit my job after 11 years and am physically miserable, I feel sick, tired,dizzy,electrical charges,shaky,and totally miserable. I am very frightened, the doctor seems to ignore what I am describing like I am making it up. I need help.

-- submitted foreverluvme, 37