Paxil and Fibromyalgia

gruvingal · 12-07-2005, 12:39 PM

I have taken Paxil for about ten years and am now in the process of weaning off of it. I was originally prescribed for depression and then the dose was doubled when I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I decided to get off of it after reading some very disturbing things on the internet about side effects from taking it. Now I am experiencing all of the lovely withdrawal symptoms, but it's certainly woth it. I am no longer experiencing the all over body pain and other symptoms I was having supposedly from fibro. I have lost 15 lbs in 2 weeks without even trying, and my energy level has gone up and my appetite has come back! I can't believe I spent ten years of my life feeling the way I did. I now just want to get on with my life and also let people know that it really pays to read everything you can about what you are taking. I'm not just talking about the patient information, but the more in depth pharmacology and list of side effects etc. Unfourtunately these weren't available because of GSK not releasing this info when Paxil first came out. But even after it did, my doctors and pharmacists made no mention of it. Oh well, life goes on!

mach3939 · 12-08-2005, 12:03 AM

I don't know anything about fibromyalgia, but am tickled for you and the progress that you have made in your withdrawal!

Hang in there!
Debbie

rdjanis · 12-08-2005, 06:03 AM

Welcome Gruvingal, good luck with the withdrawal!! You have been on paxil a very long time so withdrawal very slowly. Read the faq page here and download a copy of the withdrawal guide. Both are full of info based on others experience in withdrawal which I am sure will help you.

Take care!

scotty · 12-08-2005, 10:21 AM

Welcome! Fibromyalgia symptoms are VERY common with ssri use. The disconnect in medicine comes when they increase the drug to deal with a side effect of the drug.

zappelina · 12-11-2005, 09:56 AM

Welcome gruvingal! I got something fibromyalgia-like when I started to react badly to Zoloft after having taken it for some time. One day at work I suddenly felt a burning sensation running through my body, it came very quickly, and after that I had lots of pain in my shoulders, upper back and neck and under my feet. When I started to reduce the dose I got other kinds of muscle problems. Glad to see you seem to tolerate the withdrawal quite well but go slowly so you don´t get the very worst problems!

12-07-2005, 12:39 PM	#1
gruvingal Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 54	Paxil and Fibromyalgia I have taken Paxil for about ten years and am now in the process of weaning off of it. I was originally prescribed for depression and then the dose was doubled when I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I decided to get off of it after reading some very disturbing things on the internet about side effects from taking it. Now I am experiencing all of the lovely withdrawal symptoms, but it's certainly woth it. I am no longer experiencing the all over body pain and other symptoms I was having supposedly from fibro. I have lost 15 lbs in 2 weeks without even trying, and my energy level has gone up and my appetite has come back! I can't believe I spent ten years of my life feeling the way I did. I now just want to get on with my life and also let people know that it really pays to read everything you can about what you are taking. I'm not just talking about the patient information, but the more in depth pharmacology and list of side effects etc. Unfourtunately these weren't available because of GSK not releasing this info when Paxil first came out. But even after it did, my doctors and pharmacists made no mention of it. Oh well, life goes on!

12-08-2005, 12:03 AM	#2
mach3939 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Romulus, Michigan Posts: 1,088	Re: Paxil and Fibromyalgia I don't know anything about fibromyalgia, but am tickled for you and the progress that you have made in your withdrawal! Hang in there! Debbie

12-08-2005, 06:03 AM	#3
rdjanis "has a lavender scented keyboard" Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ontario Posts: 22,214	Re: Paxil and Fibromyalgia Welcome Gruvingal, good luck with the withdrawal!! You have been on paxil a very long time so withdrawal very slowly. Read the faq page here and download a copy of the withdrawal guide. Both are full of info based on others experience in withdrawal which I am sure will help you. Take care! __________________ Rita

12-08-2005, 10:21 AM	#4
scotty Administrator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 47,007	Re: Paxil and Fibromyalgia Welcome! Fibromyalgia symptoms are VERY common with ssri use. The disconnect in medicine comes when they increase the drug to deal with a side effect of the drug. __________________ AKA Laurie "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." MLK

12-11-2005, 09:56 AM	#5
zappelina Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 2,387	Re: Paxil and Fibromyalgia Welcome gruvingal! I got something fibromyalgia-like when I started to react badly to Zoloft after having taken it for some time. One day at work I suddenly felt a burning sensation running through my body, it came very quickly, and after that I had lots of pain in my shoulders, upper back and neck and under my feet. When I started to reduce the dose I got other kinds of muscle problems. Glad to see you seem to tolerate the withdrawal quite well but go slowly so you don´t get the very worst problems! __________________ AD history: Celexa 20 mg 1997-98. Quit CT, no WD problems. Paxil/Seroxat 20 mg 2001-2003 then switched to 50 mg Zoloft without any WD problems after the switch. Zoloft later increased to 75 mg. 2004 tapered Zoloft too quickly after sudden onset of muscle stiffness and extreme restlessness on full dose. Severe and prolonged WD problem with a long list of symptoms. Considerable mental but very little physical improvement so far. Last Zoloft dose April 18 2004.

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