New to Paxil and everything..

[Iris]

Hi, I'm new, stumbled across this forum yesterday. I started on Paxil on Friday and after reading a few things in here I'm really not sure what to expect or think. I'm not sure if it will be a long term affair or what. For me this was a last resort as therapy has never worked for me and over time I seem to be getting worse or showing symptoms of things I didn't have before. I'm 22 but I have regressed. I'm 5 again. So anyway I just wondered how long it would take to kick in, how much people are usually started on.. I start on my 20mg tomorrow, have been taking 10mg since Friday. I just feel so eurgh and I want to sleep all day and food repulses me. Is Paxil as efficient as they say it is? Sorry I'm not being very clear, today is not a day of clarity.
Iris.

[LCrawford67]

Welcome, Iris! Well, speaking from personal experience, Paxil worked wonders for me, until I wanted to quit. That's where the fun begins. My advice to you, if meds are truly your last resort, go to Prozac or something less addictive.

This stuff is horrible to get off of and the side effects, for some, are horrendous. Best of luck to you and we're here for you whenever you need us.

[imokay]

RUN IRIS RUN!!!
seriously.
what r u on it for? anxiety or depression?

[Iris]

Thank you so much for your fast reply. Do the side effects continue throughout? I was hoping my body would get used to it and after a few weeks no longer provide the side effects. The addiction part worries me as I've dabbled with drugs in the past and know how I always need to find a way to feel stable. I'll see how this goes but I'd rather cope without any drugs legal or not...

[Iris]

Originally Posted by cally9096

RUN IRIS RUN!!!
seriously.
what r u on it for? anxiety or depression?

Hi Cally, actually I went to the doctors, burst out crying, explained I was paranoid, afraid of leaving home, speaking, that I've lost my personality and that after therapy for a long time I wasn't sure what to do and I found Paxil in my hand. Definately anxiety. He was wondering if OCD was a problem but really I don't think so..

[punky]

Hi Iris and welcome. The 10mg of paxil won't reach its effectiveness until about four weeks or so. If your doc is increased it already she should really wait it out until you can see if the 10mgs is even going to help.

Paxil helped my panic attacks in the beginning and I didn't start having probs til about a year later and it was increased to 40mg. That didn't work out and found myself at 60mg. That didn't help so I went back to 40. It's a torrid affair to say the least.

With that being said, I wouldn't use it for the long term. I'd even consider other options such as therapy or supplements. Trying to come off of it once it's in your system can be an extremely difficult thing to do. In the meantime, do some more reading up here about it and maybe some internet searches or whatnot. Then you can make your decision and feel good about it.

I hate to be a broken record, but I don't recommend paxil to you or anyone else. Or any SSRI's for that matter. If I could go back six or so years, I wouldn't have started it. I would have explored therapy much more.

[Katesmom]

Here is a much requoted quote of my own that sums up the on-paxil experience pretty well. This speaks nothing of trying to get off of the drug (nightmare) or potential poop-out (I believe inevitable).

The most insidious thing about Paxil is that most people don't feel totally different after they take it. Unless you've been completely crippled with anxiety or depression, the change is very slow and subtle. One day you do realize that you feel good. You're not worried about anything anymore. You're not getting uptight about things that bug you, and you're not having road rage. Your appetite picks up and you start eating more, but that's just because you were too depressed or anxious to eat before, right? Then you start packing on the pounds, but you don't care that much, because you're happy. Well, maybe not joyous, but who is? You're placidly satisfied. And that is a desirous change from your pre-Paxil existence.

After a while, you start to think, maybe it's not healthy to have gained this 20-40 pounds, so you decide to start working out and watch what you eat. Only you can't muster the energy to work out. In fact, you can barely muster the energy to do what you need to do to get through the day. And you want to eat right, but you never feel full, and so you always feel deprived.

And then one day you realize that it's great to not have road rage, but it really sucks to not be able to cry when your child is born or to feel grief when a loved one dies. To not be thrilled when your favorite team wins the championship (but then again, you haven't had the attention span to follow a single game all season). You no longer belly-laugh at your favorite comedian. You have emotionally flat-lined

Paxil is a trickster. At first, it seems like it's nothing. Then is seems great. The negatives come on so slowly that you might not even see them until someone else points them out to you. I didn't. .

[LCrawford67]

Well, they usually do go away, but for some, they don't. The s/e usually last a few weeks and subside.

The addiction is nothing like, say, a herion addiction where you're going to go knock off a 7-11 to get a fix. It's a physical addiction where you're sicker than a dog without it. And the very thing you're taking it for, the w/d will amplify ten fold.

I can't stress enough how you shouldn't be on this drug. Again, if drugs are truly your last option, this ain't the one to take. But, keep in mind, there are a couple worse out there, and one is Effexor. Cymbalta has a very short half life too, so I wouldn't recommend that either.

Have you tried Cognative Behavorial Therapy?

[Katesmom]

Oh, and one more thing. If you are a young woman who thinks she would like to have children one day, read the pregnancy warnings on this site. It is a no go if there is any chance at all that you could become pregnant.

[Iris]

I wish therapy worked but I think I'm perhaps to stubborn or afraid to change or feel better. This is all I have known or can remember. Sometimes yes i did come out of therapy feeling wonderful but then those bits inbetween threw me off track. I've always perhaps been a little hysterical but this past year anything that makes me nervous ends up in broken household items and a headache lol. It makes me laugh but I know it's a serious matter.

[punky]

Originally Posted by Katesmom

Oh, and one more thing. If you are a young woman who thinks she would like to have children one day, read the pregnancy warnings on this site. It is a no go if there is any chance at all that you could become pregnant.

That is a great point, Kim. I can't imagine finding out I was gonna have a baby and be on this junk.

[Iris]

Originally Posted by lcrawford67

Well, they usually do go away, but for some, they don't. The s/e usually last a few weeks and subside.

The addiction is nothing like, say, a herion addiction where you're going to go knock off a 7-11 to get a fix. It's a physical addiction where you're sicker than a dog without it. And the very thing you're taking it for, the w/d will amplify ten fold.

I can't stress enough how you shouldn't be on this drug. Again, if drugs are truly your last option, this ain't the one to take. But, keep in mind, there are a couple worse out there, and one is Effexor. Cymbalta has a very short half life too, so I wouldn't recommend that either.

Have you tried Cognative Behavorial Therapy?

No I haven't, to be honest no one has really been helpful at all.
Thank you to all of you, I'm really going to continue thinking this over. I'm not sure I'd cope if while withdrawal everything got worse. It frightens me..

[Katesmom]

Iris-

Have you tried multiple therapists/styles of therapy? Have you read many books about anxiety? Have you added exercise to your lifestyle? Have you done journaling/yoga/meditation/prayer? Have you changed your diet to eat more nutrient-rich food and ditched the chemicals/artificial sweeteners/caffiene? Have you tried supplements specifically magnesium or fish oil? You say you have tried everything, but have you really?

[punky]

Originally Posted by Iris

I wish therapy worked but I think I'm perhaps to stubborn or afraid to change or feel better. This is all I have known or can remember. Sometimes yes i did come out of therapy feeling wonderful but then those bits inbetween threw me off track. I've always perhaps been a little hysterical but this past year anything that makes me nervous ends up in broken household items and a headache lol. It makes me laugh but I know it's a serious matter.

Therapy can really help ya to get to the bottom of what is causing your anger, anxiety or panic attacks or whatever your symptoms are. I know ya said it hasn't worked for you. I am sorry to hear that.

I attend classes offered by my psych doc office called DBT. I've also heard of people here that have used CBT...they are both behaviour therapy classes. I can't speak much of CBT, but with the DBT, we are taught how to deal with everyday things that seem overwhelming. They teach us techniques or skills. The DBT is for people that are bipolar or borderline or just have implusive issues that can include anger or rage or just spending too much money. I think ya get what I'm saying? Maybe those could be an option for you?

[imokay]

iris before taking paxil go to the library and take out 2 b ooks
(or go to amazon.com and buy them) one is Don t Panic and the other one is From Panic to Power they are FILLED with great information on how to get through anxiety without taking drugs pppppllllllleeeeeeeaaaaassseee try those first i have been on paxil since 1999 and i wish i could go back and NEVER take it. I am also on it for anxiety (i couldnt leave my house for a month at the beginning of my anxiety attacks) and if you want your personality back then paxil will NOT help it will make it worse u will get to the point where you dont have emotions any more even the good ones like love and happiness will be sucked out of you

p.s. sorry for spelling typing w/1 hand sucks

[Iris]

Thank you lots and lots. I don't want to lose what I've got left lol. I've tried changing my diet, I've read books, tried breathing exercises but with that I just ended up not breathing. This whole anxiety thing for me has just really kicked in these last few months. Before it was depression and as I grew things left me behind, I moved country, felt better, felt sh*t, got a job and panicked. I'd love to try yoga but just going to a class or seeing people scares me. Motivation is what I lack. I really wasn't hoping to be on Paxil or anything ever and now that I am I was hoping it wouldn't be for long. To be honest at first I didn't know it was paxil because I live in Spain and the names change. It was only yesterday I realised.
Also what happens if you know why you're anxious but really don't know what to do about it? I know the why but not the how..

[punky]

Gosh, I wish I could be of more help to you. The "how" comes in with me with therapy and DBT classes. It takes a lot of effort to do therapy and DBT. You have to look at it like you are studying for a huge test that you have to pass because it really is your life that is depending on it. Not life in the literal sense, but the quality of your life. I can only think of one more thing right now... Have you read the Antidepressant Fact Book by Dr. Breggin? Before you continue on with paxil, I think ya should really check it out. It's an eye opener.

[LCrawford67]

Iris, you have to do what you feel necessary. I just don't believe Paxil is the solution. I can't speak for other drugs, but you can read other stories here regarding that. You've only been on a few days, I'd just stop, right now, do some research, and try an alternative.

I'm just afraid, later down the line, you'll regret being on the drug, just like me (and and just about everyone else here who's taken it.)

[Gottabestrong]

you should NOT take this medication, AT ALL, please reconsider taking this med especially now since it is early, find alternate methods to deal with your problems, you can do it! pray, eat healthy, and be active, look for support and visit this site! =)

[Homerbcool]

I got to agree with the DONT TAKE IT anymore..but that is me...and a gabillion others..paxil is a defective drug..go abck to your doctor and ask hm why he perscribed paxil, a drug hat was brought to market under false pretenses, the manufacturer lied and kept test results hidden form FDA..so why paxil, why not prozac..

You say therapy will not work for you,,,then are you prepared for a LIFE TIME, which is from now until the doctor says ..time of deth...", are you willing to take this drug forever..are you ready for the potential massive weight gain, the masive build up of anger..rage..even derprsssion, suicidal thoughts..homicidal thoughts....what will you do when in time the drug stops working for you..becuase it will..so..are you ready for all this..or do you want to conntinue to check out thereapy..diet change..exercise routine..drinking tons tons of water...

Oh and th 10mg is a starting dose to see if you have any initial reactions to the drug..which you did not so up to 20mgs you go...then perpare for constant increases as the drug starts to stopp working in a few years...

[elisa]

Irirs, been there, done that.

I understand that you're desperate for some relief. Just remember that these meds don't "cure", they just "manage". That is... if they work. If you decide at some time in the future to get off them, you'll be back at square one. Or the med will poop out on you. Or you end up in a merry-go-round of meds, just like me, due to side-effects and whatnot.

If you prefer to see some pro"s and cons of these AD's, please visit www.crazymeds.org

You got some excellent feedback here. Good luck with whatever direction you choose.

[rain]

Listen to what people are saying and don't take the Paxil! Find a new therapist, try the other options you've read here - and if you still feel you need a drug, take the older ones - maybe Prozac - if you have to take anything at all. Good luck!