"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

"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

"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

"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

"My symptoms involve anxiety, depression, mood swings, appetite changes, in varying levels 7 - 10 days before my menstrual cycle"

I was about to partake in a controlled study to investigate the efficacy of the treatment of paxil (10-20 mg) in patients with premenstrual syndrome. I suffer from PMS, as millions of women do across the world. My symptoms involve anxiety, depression, mood swings, appetite changes, etc., in varying levels 7 - 10 days before my menstrual cycle. I have never subjected myself to prescribed drugs as I am an advocate of cognitive and/or herbal therapy over chemical therapy, however I was curious as to the effects of such chemical therapy and decided to volunteer as a candidate for this study.

Well I'm glad I did my research before starting the program!!! There seems to be an overwhelming majority whom have experienced negative effects and results from PAXIL! I am grateful for your responses as it warned me of the detrimental effects that this drug can cause, and as a result I have decided not to be a mule for the pharmaceutical companies!

An interesting fact...The sponsor behind this PMS study is the pharmaceutical maker SmithKline Beecham. They provide the doctors with the funding to do the research, knowing that if the results prove beneficial (even slight and/or short-term) then this drug will be overly prescribed to the millions of women who suffer from PMS, thus making the pharmaceutical company millions and millions of dollars in profit, and we will have a society of drug dependent women!!!!!!!!!!

There seems to be a cultural crusade to medicalize any trait - physical or behavioral - that does not measure up to the elusive ideals generated by pop culture, advertising, and the shifting moral and political norms. We have become a society that runs for a chemical relief for any little idiosyncrasy that we experience!

What do we do and where do we turn?

-- submitted by natalie, 32