"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