What can I expect with just being prescribed Paxil 10 mg?

[buckeyegirl]

Hi. I am new to Paxil. I actually have not taken my first dose yet, wanted to do a little research first. I have been prescibed 10mg for mild anxiety due to other health problems I am having. I am 27 years old and I do not like to take medication in general and I am hesitant to be on any anti-depressants. However my doctor feels it is for the best and asked me to atleast try the low dose for three months. I am just wondering what I can expect as far as possible side effects for the low dose? I was also wondering if it would be better to take before bed or in the morning before I go to work?My biggest concern is either not being able to sleep or becoming drowsy on the job. I am really not sure what to expect. I realize the effects will be differant for everyone so I know i'll have to try and find out for myself. I am also curious about the withdraw I have been reading about. My questions are will I become addicted to it at the low dose and how long does one have to take it for it to be habit forming? Is it okay to just stop it if you start having adverse side effects??? I was just hoping for some insight from someone who has taken it to ease my mind a bit. Thank you so much for your time.

[LCrawford67]

Welcome! Buckeyegirl! Can I assume you're from my neck of the woods???

Well, the Paxil experience is different for everyone. So, it's very difficult to give your questions definitive answers.

I'll say this though, if you're hesitant, there's a reason for that. I'd go with that feeling. There are other ways of dealing with mild anxiety and taking a pill isn't one of them.

Side effects vary from person to person, some experience very little, some become suicidal. No one can tell you what you'll feel.

Some people suffer withdrawal after just a few doses, but if you're planning on taking it for even three months, you'll have to taper fairly slow. If you have immediate adverse effects, stop it immediately.

You're going to be hard pressed to find anyone here who's going to ease your mind about Paxil, as we've all been through hell because of it and drugs like it.

Trust me, the hell I've been through trying to get off this stuff, is FAR, FAR worse than the reason I was given it.

Have you tried therapy? Omega 3 fish oil? Exercise? Change of diet? All these things are so much better than taking a pill for a quick fix.

[Songbird]

My question is, what are you hoping to achieve by taking it? Is your anxiety a long-term problem? Do you intend to take it for the rest of your life? Are you looking for a cure?

Here is some information:

Paxil doesn't cure, it only suppresses symptoms. That is, it only works as long as you keep taking it.

Eventually, after years of use, it will stop working. So even if you want to take it for the rest of your life, it probably won't actually work that long (unless you're already very old). When this happens, you might end up feeling much worse than before you started taking it in the first place.

If you only have mild anxiety, there are other (non-drug) treatments that are effective long-term. You could try CBT, breathing techniques, meditation, self-help books, supplements, herbs, and other things that don't involve medication. The advantage with psychological techniques is that you can make permanent changes, although it does take some effort and perserverance.

[buckeyegirl]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I am from the Buckeye State!!! Go Bucks! (It was a lovely rainy day today in Ohio huh!?!) My doctor really didn't offer any other suggestionsas far as how to cope with anxiety when it arises. I get occasional anxiety followed by other health problems I am having. (The doctors can't figure out what is going on with me. Test after test has been run yet I still am having serious problems, so it gets very frustrating.) I do not feel I need meds. to cope but apparently at the doctors office my chest broke out in a red rash and my palms were all sweaty so she is insisting I take this. I do not like any of the info. I have been reading on here. I am intrested in finding out more about suppliments and other alternatives to calm down! Thanks again!

[buckeyegirl]

[quote=Songbird;413740]My question is, what are you hoping to achieve by taking it? Is your anxiety a long-term problem? Do you intend to take it for the rest of your life? Are you looking for a cure?...

Thank you for your reply as well. Taking anxity medication was my doctors suggestion not mine. My main concern is other health problems I am having, however due to the seriousness of my situation my doctor says I need to remain as calm as possible. I didn't even realize that while in the office my chest got all red and palms got all sweaty, I didn't even feel anxious at the time, so she's insisting I take this to help with things. I do not want to be on any medication in the first palce, so def. nothing long term. I really am not sure what other things I can do to relax when I start getting anxious. How do you stop a panic attack after one starts? I've had a few here and there and would def. love to conquer them without drugs. Thanks again!

[LCrawford67]

Originally Posted by buckeyegirl

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I am from the Buckeye State!!! Go Bucks! (It was a lovely rainy day today in Ohio huh!?!) My doctor really didn't offer any other suggestionsas far as how to cope with anxiety when it arises. I get occasional anxiety followed by other health problems I am having. (The doctors can't figure out what is going on with me. Test after test has been run yet I still am having serious problems, so it gets very frustrating.) I do not feel I need meds. to cope but apparently at the doctors office my chest broke out in a red rash and my palms were all sweaty so she is insisting I take this. I do not like any of the info. I have been reading on here. I am intrested in finding out more about suppliments and other alternatives to calm down! Thanks again!

GO BUCKS!!!

You know, you've got the right idea, now the thing to remember is this....THE DOCTOR WORKS FOR YOU, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND! If you don't feel comfortable taking ANY medication, don't! It makes me furious that doctors "insist" on a patient taking something. I don't think so, mister!

If you don't feel you need the meds, you know your body better than anyone else! Sometimes, weird things happend to us, maybe because of a stressful time in our lives, which may be the case with you. After the stressful time passes, so do the symptoms.

If you're not getting the results you want, go to another doctor. I left my doctor, after 10 years (even though I really liked him) because he was just clueless as far as how I wanted to taper from Paxil.

So, I found another doctor and although it's never something we really like to do, I'm very glad I did!

I go to an doctor of internal medicine, maybe you should, if you don't already. You may get better answers to your health concerns.

Are you in the central Ohio area too?

[Songbird]

Laurie is right, they can't insist that you take something. I would be wary of any doctor who insisted that I take something.

I would recommend the book 'Breathe to Succeed' by Tania Clifton-Smith. This explains how breathing the wrong way without realising it can bring on anixety and panic attacks, and gives techniques for preventing this by breathing correctly.

[Songbird]

Originally Posted by buckeyegirl

I really am not sure what other things I can do to relax when I start getting anxious. How do you stop a panic attack after one starts? I've had a few here and there and would def. love to conquer them without drugs.

Yes, you can stop them with breathing techniques, and psychological techniques. There are relaxation techniques that can be used when starting to get anxious. It is all achievable without requiring medication.

[scotty]

Did this doctor draw blood to check thyroid hormones?

[Katesmom]

Welcome! Start with self-help books about anxiety and cognitive behavioral therapy and consider going to a therapist for cognitive behavioral therapy. It will help you identify that triggers for your anxiety and teach you to cope with it.

Your story with your doctor confirms my long-held belief that antidepressants are often given as a 'just shut 'em up drug.' When doctors are unable to find evidence of a physical issue, they finally decide that it's all in your head and that you need an AD. The result is that the AD will make you emotionally numb enough to not care about your issue anymore and you stop complaining. This reinforces the idea to doctors that it was all mental and was never physical. Ironically, time and again, we hear about people who later finally do get a physical diagnosis for their problem after all.

[buckeyegirl]

Originally Posted by scotty

Did this doctor draw blood to check thyroid hormones?

Yes my doctor has checked my throid levels. The problems I am having are I see persistant flashes of light and spots in my eyes daily. I also get pins and needle sensations in my my fingertips, wrist,and legs sometimes. Now I have been to all kinds of eye specialists, had a ct scan and 2 MRI's all which revealed nothing. My bloodwork has reveiled nothing as well. It has been going on 3 years now and is getting worse all the time. So naturally it is very frustrating and is causing me anxiety because I am getting nowhere with the doctors. However I have only had 3 major panic attacks in this whole period so I do not feel I need meds. to control it. This past weekend I had a "mini stroke" (I didn't even know a 27 year old could have a stroke) which has me extra anxious now, which is why I am being told I have to take the Paxil. Luckily I am a smart girl and like to eduactate myself on things before hand. I want to find other ways to relax and cope with my situation. I know as a soon as they figure out what is wrong with me I will go back to the way I was. The anxiety is out of frustration with the medical field! Anyways other than these "mystery problems" I am having I have always been generally healthy and pretty stress free over all. I agree anti-depressants shouldn't be used to shut a patient up.. Thank you for all your replys! Still trying to figure out everything on this site!

[mstimc]

Ditto what Katesmom said. I have been working with a therapist who uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for anxiety. its really helped me. I've been using Paxil since late 1999 for occasional situational anxiety. Coming off it has exacerbated my anxiety way beyond what I experienced beyond it. I really think effective therapy is the only long-range solution. One book my therapist recommended is called "The Feeling Good handbook" by Dr. Stephen Burns. It really helped me, and I still turn to it often.

[jeanie]

I am happy to hear you are educating yourself about this awful drug before taking it. I wish I had done the same! I had one major panic attack before I started Paxil, since being off I have had numerous panic atracks and a plethora of other symptoms.

[buckeyegirl]

Originally Posted by mstimc

Ditto what Katesmom said. I have been working with a therapist who uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for anxiety. its really helped me. I've been using Paxil since late 1999 for occasional situational anxiety. Coming off it has exacerbated my anxiety way beyond what I experienced beyond it. I really think effective therapy is the only long-range solution. One book my therapist recommended is called "The Feeling Good handbook" by Dr. Stephen Burns. It really helped me, and I still turn to it often.

Thanks I will add that to my Christmas wish list right now!!! I really appreciate all the information I am receiving. I am really glad I found this site! It is very kind of people who don't even know you to reach out and take the time to share what they know with you. It really makes my heart smile!

[mstimc]

This site has been a tremendous resource for me--not just for information on Paxil but I believe I've made some great friends through this site. No matter what you've experienced or may experience, there is always someone who has gone through it and can give you some great advice.

[jeanie]

I was so overjoyed to have found this site. also. I wanted off Paxil and my doctor said I should just stay on it forever. I wasn't about to accept that advice, so I started googling how to withdraw from it...and I found this wonderful site.

[Katesmom]

Originally Posted by buckeyegirl

Thanks I will add that to my Christmas wish list right now!!! I really appreciate all the information I am receiving. I am really glad I found this site! It is very kind of people who don't even know you to reach out and take the time to share what they know with you. It really makes my heart smile!

Here's my recommendation--give yourself this gift today. Check out the library if money is an issue, but don't put off till tomorrow what could mean feeling better today.

[jeanie]

Tim, do you mean David Burns?

[mstimc]

Originally Posted by jeanie

Tim, do you mean David Burns?

I do that every time! Thanks Jeanie!

[jeanie]

I just went to Amazon and ordered the book. Thanks Tim!

[mstimc]

No problem, jeanie. Its a great book!

[buckeyegirl]

Originally Posted by jeanie

I am happy to hear you are educating yourself about this awful drug before taking it. I wish I had done the same! I had one major panic attack before I started Paxil, since being off I have had numerous panic atracks and a plethora of other symptoms.

I am glad I decided to educate myself first too! I feel more anxiety about having to take Paxil then not taking it, if that makes since. I am not going to take it, atleast not at this time. I have been seeing so many suppliments people are taking. Any idea whats for what or what I should try? Also I am very sorry to here about your panic attacks. Have they subsided? I know I had a few and for me I'd always panic at first when they came on but if I throw myself into something else right away I can usually make it go away fairly quickly. I try to call someone and talk about something else. It seems taking your mind off of it is the ONLY way to make it go away. How was your expreiances?

[altostrata]

I took 10mg of Paxil for 3 years for menopausal depression. It's taken me 3 years to recover from severe withdrawal syndrome, and I haven't fully recovered yet.

While I was taking it I experienced the side effects weight gain, sluggishness, lack of motivation, and adverse sexual effects.

A "low dose" of Paxil is no guarantee you won't experience long-term harm from it. That doctors are prescribing it for everything from hangnails to menopause doesn't mean it's safe.

If I had it to do all over again, I'd go to a naturopath and deal with my symptoms via vitamins, supplements, and diet. Cognitive behavior therapy has been found to be as effective as drugs for mild-to-moderate symptoms.

I'd do anything but take Paxil.

[buckeyegirl]

Originally Posted by Katesmom

Here's my recommendation--give yourself this gift today. Check out the library if money is an issue, but don't put off till tomorrow what could mean feeling better today.

Thank you for your advice!

[buckeyegirl]

Originally Posted by mstimc

This site has been a tremendous resource for me--not just for information on Paxil but I believe I've made some great friends through this site. No matter what you've experienced or may experience, there is always someone who has gone through it and can give you some great advice.

Thank you for your thoughts! I will go look for the book tom.