Just got prescribed Paxil...questions...

[Lewis19]

Not sure if this post will work cause the last time it didn't.
Anyways....

My psychatrist prescribed me paxil recently and I'm scared to take it. I suffer from anxiety for over a year now. I take lybriam for anxiety and restoil for sleep. Also take Tricor for cholesterol.
I also have been hooked on pain killers off and on for about 4 yrs. Not good....I know. It's actually the only thing that takes my mind off the anxiety. My symptoms include shakiness, fast heart rate feeling even though it's not, fear of heart attack, bad thoughts, periods of dizziness, etc....

He says anxiety leads into depression which I was a little. I smoke and drink coffee which doesn't help. The only thing that does help are the painkillers. I need to quit all my bad habits. My psychatrist is persistant on me taking this Paxil....

Did paxil help anyone here?

[dsab7]

It did help me for 6 years until it stopped working 2 months ago.I couldnt leave the house I was dizzy crying and shaking.I still am feeling bad so Im going to try prozac.

[texgirl]

You don't need Paxil. You need to quit smoking, caffeine, and taking painkillers. Dollars to doughnuts those are the main cause of your anxiety. Librium and Restoril are powerful drugs too and may be contributing to your difficulties. Throwing Paxil into the mix is just going to add more chaos and give you one more addiction to beat.

[scotty]

What else have you done to deal with your anxiety? Therapy?

Librium is a very, very old, early benzo. I didn't think anyone was even prescribing this anymore. It is addictive and can cause rebound anxiety just like other benzos.

[Lewis19]

I have not got therapy. Just seeing the psychiatrist...I told him upfront that xanax makes me tired. I assume that's why he prescribed me librium.
Sad thing is..this all started over a year ago on a boys night out...I did ecstasy with a friend..I was nervous about it having taken pain killers for 2 yrs. I took 1...felt fine..then took a half.. and later got real dehydrated (even though I drank a craplooad of water and gatorade). Then I started freaking out thinking I overdosed. I went to the hospital and waited it out. Then i had to tell the wife what happened...
i felt okay the next 2 days...then started getting tingling, numbness, anxious, paranoid, etc...That's where it started....
I was stupid...wish I could take that day back. Anyone thinking about ecstacy...stay away...it's bad news.

[altostrata]

Withdrawal from painkillers can itself cause anxiety. Then benzos, etc. can cause rebound anxiety.

In other words, you may be on a merry-go-round (should be tragedy-go-round) of drugs and withdrawal symptoms.

If I were you, I would look for a drug withdrawal specialist.

For God's sake, do not take Paxil. It will only add to your problems.

[scotty]

Originally Posted by altostrata

If I were you, I would look for a drug withdrawal specialist.

For God's sake, do not take Paxil. It will only add to your problems.

Couldn't agree more. There are to many things going on here to determine what the cause is. BUT adding paxil isn't going to make the situation any better...it's just adding another drug to an already mind altering mix. What pain killers are you taking..and who is prescribing pain killers for anxiety? Interesting side note...the chemical formula for ssri's have been compared to ectasy.

[Determined]

Please don't take it.

[pax80]

dont take it.

[Katesmom]

Originally Posted by scotty

Couldn't agree more. There are to many things going on here to determine what the cause is. BUT adding paxil isn't going to make the situation any better...it's just adding another drug to an already mind altering mix. What pain killers are you taking..and who is prescribing pain killers for anxiety? Interesting side note...the chemical formula for ssri's have been compared to ectasy.

All of this is exactly what I was going to say. Particularly the part about ecstasy.

I would highly recommend that you get on here and google the name of the drugs you are already taking and anxiety and see what you come up with. This could be a side effect of meds you are already taking. Taking a secondary med to deal with a side effect is always a bad idea. That's when it is time to try another med for you issues.

As for you lifestyle, giving up the cigs, coffee, chemical additives like sweeteners and MSG are some of the things I always recommend to people considering paxil. It's shocking how those things can effect our minds!

Try everything before you hop on paxil. Lifestyle changes, adding exercise and talk therapy are far more effective with zero side effects!

[paxilgirl]

That was my question....why are you on painkillers.

So far you are on four types of drugs with no positive effects...adding a 5th will not help your situation.

As others have said, benzos cause rebound anxiety....you haven't had talk therapy, you obviously need to quit the smoking, drinking and caffeine as well and change your lifestyle to a more positive and healthier one....but you need to start somewhere and adding Paxil isn't it.

[Johnnny off Paxil]

If you had a bad experience with XTC..then just wait , Paxil is the fast track to Hell.... it will be like throwing fat on the fire.

Your doctor has absolutely no clue how how much damnage he is on the verge of doing to you if you take this drug.
As stated SSRI's and XTC have very, very similar chemistry...

Best to look to changing your diet, eat healthy whole foods, stay away form the "sugar/caffeine" loop and look to therapy to help you out.

This will take some time to iron out, so be patient, but , for the Love of God..stay away form Paxil if you value your sanity and health.

Regards, Johnny

[Samalabear]

You've gotten great advice here and if you follow it you'll save yourself a world of pain. I think your doctor has already done you a disservice and he's just adding to the pain. The drug merry-go-round, it's not a pretty thing.

I'll only add that if you can quit the smoking stay away from a drug called Chantix, which is being pushed to quit smoking. Just in case you mention to a doc that you want to quit smoking, they're pushing this stuff on people. Dangerous.

As far as the caffeine cut back slowly because if you've got a bad caffeine habit and you stop suddenly you can get monster headaches.

There are so many of us going through withdrawal and now we have to heal the severe depression and anxiety caused by Paxil and other SSRIs. It's a tough road but this time it will be real healing for the long term.

[runtime89]

SSRIs could destroy you.

[Lewis19]

Thx for the advice folks....

I started painkillers (percoset) for a previous upper back injury. needless to say I liked the high that came with it. But they work perfect for back pain...I normally take about 2 to 3 a day. I get them from a friend who has a script for them. I stop taking them now and then and go thru a terrible withdrawal. so i get back on them. They're friggin evil!
When my anxiety gets worse I try to cut down on them. I know they are part of the problem...as is smoking and coffee...I do try to eat healthy but sometimes I just gotta have some junk food.

I told the psychiatrist secretary I'm not taking the Paxil. He tells her to call me and start anyways...I'm thinking this guy is just a pill pusher. I'm gonna find another one. Meanwhile I have cut way down on the coffee and percoset. Smoking is gonna be hard.

Is it dangerous to quit smoking cold turkey? I'm afraid of the patch but may try the gum.

Thx everyone...I'm gonna stay far away from Paxil. I'm not a deeply religious guy, but I believe...and I'm gonna pray for everyone here.

[scotty]

Lewis, time to find someone to help you get off the percocet. You'll probably find that is at the root of what you are going through now.

[Samalabear]

I was going to echo what Scotty said. Your biggest problem at this time looks like the percoset and then tackle the other things. But I would try to cut down on the caffeine at least as much as possible.

Cutting out the smoking cold turkey, my son's father did that and stayed "clean" for five years. Sadly, not anymore. But everyone is different and I'm not a smoker. I just think the painkiller should be the first thing you should work on.

Yes, the doc is just a pill pusher. You have a problem which is most likely caused by the addiction to the painkiller and all he wants to do is hand you another pill to treat a symptom, not the cause. That's how so many people end up taking so many drugs in this country. It's really sick thing, when you really come to think about it.

[Katesmom]

Originally Posted by scotty

Lewis, time to find someone to help you get off the percocet. You'll probably find that is at the root of what you are going through now.

Worry about the addictions one at a time. You don't have to do all of this today. Scotty is absolutely right here. You need to deal with the percocet first and you need an addiction specialist to do that.