New to Paxil

[Gail Kelleher]

Hello all - I have just begun taking paxil, 10mg. I have had the worst diarrhea ever since. Any one else have this side effect? Other than that I just feel a little brain fog.

[lavamama]

Welcome Gail. I wish I could reassure you that continuing to take Paxil is the right thing, but I would be lying. I would quit while you are ahead. Oh and diarrhea is a common side effect. Read a lot and educate yourself so you know what lies ahead.

I'm glad you found this site so soon on your Paxil journey.

[babs]

Gail, I hope you decide to stop the Paxil before it has a chance to mess your brain up. Most of us here have suffered immensely because of that pill, whether from an adverse reaction, side effects, or protracted withdrawal. Paxil made me feel great at first but over the years I gained 50 pounds, lost my libido and felt sedated 24/7. It took three attempts to get off the stuff and I suffered for 18 months afterward with the worst depression of my life. It's not worth it! Whatever your issues are, they can be dealt with without this poison.

[LCrawford67]

Originally Posted by Gail Kelleher

Hello all - I have just begun taking paxil, 10mg. I have had the worst diarrhea ever since. Any one else have this side effect? Other than that I just feel a little brain fog.

Welcome Gail!

Any pill you take that gives you bain fog and horrible diarrhea, especially after just beginning it, you should run from immediately.

I only wish I had those symptoms when I first started. If you're feeling this now on only 10 mgs, that's a big red flag.

[scotty]

Ryan had this very bad on start up. It did calm, but then the rest of the side effects kicked in. I wish we had seen the writing on the wall when it was just diarrhea.

[Gail Kelleher]

Thanks for your input. I just can't believe that after 1/2 hour of taking my first pill that I had such horrible diarrhea...and again today.. maybe it's just a stomach thing...I was on Nortryptyline for 5 years - they took me off of it because my blood levels were dangerously high...so I have had nothing since last July.. I have lost 22 lbs. The withdrawal from the Nortryptyline was horrendous....I was sick for three weeks. What other SSRI's are there that don't give you such side effects? Has anyone had good results with Paxil? Thanks again for answering me so quickly. Any web sites I should be looking at regarding this? I've never been in a forum like this so bear with me...not sure how to navigate it well yet.

[iwowi]

Hello Gail.

It is great to have you here with us on PaxilProgress.
You are doing very well on this forum. All you have to do is to write and that is exactly what you are doing.

I am so sorry that you suffered so badly withdrawing form Nortriptyline. The withdrawal you went through is unfortunately a part of every antidepressant withdrawal. If you mean by high blood levels -> high blood pressure, it is also quite often caused by SSRIs too. I guess what I am trying to tell you that there are no good antidepressants. They all work very temporarily and cause many side effects. To top it off withdrawal form any one of them is a horrifying experience. There are many ways to deal with depression without drugs. I would recommend therapy, exercising and plenty of sunshine.

[scotty]

Gail, few here have much good to say about Paxil. Most were on it for years and are now dealing with the withdrawal(which can last for years) that they were never warned about.
Some admit to good results in the "honeymoon" period of paxil use(the first three months) but knowing what they know now, would never have started it in the first place.
What are you taking Paxil for?

[mslitterbox]

Dear Gail,
The only person I might reccomend this drug to is a convicted child molester. Does that give you an idea of how I feel about Paxil?

Let me tell you what 8 yrs on Paxil has done to me. I can no longer cry or laugh. Literally. Paxil took those rights away. I can spend weeks locked up in the house with no desire to leave or be with people. Paxil took away ALL my fears! Not just the ones I wanted to be ridded of. Now I have no fear of getting bills paid. Many of my fears about general safety are gone. I stopped going to the dentist, now my mouth looks like one of those inserts you can buy at Halloween. After retirement, I lost my dental insurance.

I stopped caring about anything. My house before the grandkids moved closer and starting helping me out was FILTHY. My cats used the entire house as a litterbox. (Hence the username "mslitterbox"). Paxil takes away all the good feelings. I feel no sense of joy or anticipation. I am not the physically affectionate Grandmother I used to be.
My car has gone to hell. Before Paxil I was constantly washing, waxing and vaccuming it. Now I don't even keep up the neccessary maintenance.

I don't know if you are taking Paxil for depression, but what you might be looking at down the road is a whole new depression.

Gail, I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea. I wish so much, not only for myself, but for thousands of others, that they could come up with a completely safe antidepressant.

I take Klonopin for anxiety, but benzos can be tough to go off too. I've been fortunate to be able to continue to taper very slowly with little or no side effects. But I think I also owe it to the Klonopin for finally removing all those horrible phobias I used to have.

I wish you well.

BTW, be sure to check out the wellbeing forum here and read all you can about supplements. I'm just starting out on fish oil, but so many others have great information and experience to share with you.

[AussieGirl]

Hi Gail You are truly blessed to have found this site so early in your paxil journey. Yes paxil can make you feel better temporary but after years of this poison and now trying to get off it , if I had the knowledge back then I have today I would NOT have ever taken paxil.

Please read the many, many posts on this site . i encourage you to reconsdier this medication and look at more natural alternatives.

PLEASE keep us updated and good luck with it all.

[MariahJanes]

Hi Gail! Stop now while you still can.

I'm new to this forum also. Wish I had found it years ago, but Paxil took away all my initiative and drive to do anything at all, much less learn how to use a list like this. I am just now getting to the point where I can learn new tasks and figure things out again. My house was also a mess by the time my life started falling apart, and I realized it was the Paxil. I'm gradually getting my life back together. It has been 7 years since I took Paxil.

I now do not believe in a medical model of mental illness.There is totally no such thing as a chemical imbalance in the brain(yes, there are extreme states of emotional distress, with numerous causes, and unfortunately effective resources for one experiencing these extreme states of mind may not available). I do believe in the fraud of big pharma. I'll never forget how my jaw dropped when I found a psychologist who told me the truth about how most psychiatrists are unethical and how the psych drugs don't work. I could not believe that a doctor would give us something harmful. Now I not only believe it I know it to be true. Some docs don't know the harm they are doing. Some do. The science is there. Psych drugs (especially Paxil) don't work. Period. The docs are at the mercy of the drug reps filling them with fraudulent information (its about money), and at the mercy of their patients who usually just want a quick fix.

It is my sincere belief that anyone who takes any psych medication is headed for trouble, since eventually the 'high' will go away, and 'hell' takes over.

Sincerely,

[been there done that]

Gail please do not take this drug. Buy some fish oil get a therapist talk to your family and friends...anything leave the antidepressants alone. You cannot trust these drugs they are deceptive and have the ability to change who you are heart and soul gone my dear do not mess with them. They are far too dangerous mentally physically and spriritually. Don't take them. If your doctor is recommending them and says he has nothing else get a new doctor or search our help form a church. Not that I ever did but now I wish did. please don't let regret and hind sight be what runs your life in 10 years that is where I am and would not wish this on anyone dont' take it.