"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 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

"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

"Zoloft seemed to suck the life out of me so she then switched me to paxil"

In the spring of 1999 I ran a marathon. I had a few weeks of anxiety and went to my doctor to see if this was an effect of the race. She decided to put me on zoloft which was an absolute nightmare. Zoloft seemed to suck the life out of me so she then switched me to paxil. The change over to paxil was pretty quick and the side effects kicked in fast. I was constantly irritated and very moody.I tried to ram my best friends head into a golf cart after he made a comment about changing the dosage of my meds (paxil) because of my attitude. I can relate to almost all of the comments listed. I have gained 20lbs. in the last 8 months and its really playing with my head. I want to get off of paxil and decided to check on the side effects before doing so.I am glad I did. My dosage has been 10 mgs. all along and wonder if I will have the same side effects you all have listed. If anyone has any advise please e-mail me with your comments.

-- submitted by ssatkoske, 32

"Paxil caused me to gain weight, and it causes me to not want to have sex with my husband"

I have been taking Paxil since I had my 2nd child in December of 1995. The recovery period from a C-section the 2nd time was tremendously different than the natural childbirth the 1st time. I also had a Colicky, cranky, never sleeping baby to deal with as well as a 18-month old. Since my 2nd baby had her days and nights reversed, she would not sleep at all during the night but would sleep from about 6:00a.m. until 11:00 a.m. This was her long sleep daily. I was spending all night awake and most of the day, so I quickly became very depressed. I was put on the Paxil for this and I saw results right away. However, this wonderful drug caused me to gain weight, and it causes me to not want to have sex with my husband. The weight gain isn't as much of a problem as the other. My husband could not deal with this at all. I tried going onto other meds but nothing works as well as the Paxil. When I am not on any medication I am extremely mean and evil. I want to throw things at my husband for almost nothing at all. He has to immediately get up when I ask him to do something or it puts me over the deep end. I would rather keep peace and harmony within my marriage and family so I keep taking the Paxil. If anyone has suggestions on the mood swings that I have when not on the Paxil I would love to hear them. The other meds that I have tried that do not work as well are Zoloft, Celexa, Wellbutrin, and Prozac.