Long term use - side effects??

kapulica · 02-08-2009, 08:58 PM

Hello all!
I've been on Paxil for about 5-6 years straight now, with a 2 year stint before.

The level of sleepiness that I face in my day to day life is incredible! (I can easily sleep about 15hrs a day if I don't fight it off).

I did not have this symptom in the first few years however.

Is anyone else experiencing incredible sleepiness or other long-term side effects that did not exist earlier while taking the drug?

Thanks in advance for sharing!

scotty · 02-08-2009, 09:07 PM

Ryan slept through his Freshman year of High School on Paxil.

Songbird · 02-08-2009, 11:26 PM

Yes, I believe there are side effects that sneak up on you insidiously over time. I used to be a night owl, never in bed before about 11:00 or 11:30 pm. On Paxil I was often in bed by 8:30 or 9:00pm, which wasn't like me at all. There is also what is known as 'emotional blunting', my emotions were a lot less intense and I never felt very excited about anything. Also I used to be very creative with ideas popping into my head all the time, but on Paxil my mind became very empty and creative ideas didn't come very often any more. I found as I tapered down my dose, these effects actually reduced, I felt more emotions and began feeling excited about some things and started having creative ideas again.

NewQuestions · 02-09-2009, 10:53 AM

After 8 years on Zoloft, I started experiencing new side effects, including sleepiness, musche ache, and foggy brain. You may be in the beginning stages of poop out. It may be time to go off of it, or try a new drug. Your body is begginning to adapt. Note that if you go off of it, you may have trouble getting back on it, if that is what you want.

For me, I cycled through a series of drugs, trying to find a new one that worked, but they all had other side effects. Eventually, I decided I needed to go off all drugs and let me body heal.

LCrawford67 · 02-09-2009, 11:07 AM

I was on Paxil almost two years before the weight, lethargy, etc. all crept up on me. That's the insidiousness of this drug.

westeewoman · 02-09-2009, 11:15 AM

I found that the fatigue, lethargy, and apathy have gotten worse over time. I love the waking up aspect of tapering!

jrb2jab · 02-09-2009, 06:12 PM

I always look so forward to when my baby naps!!! Mommy can nap too!! LOL

kapulica · 02-09-2009, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by westeewoman

I found that the fatigue, lethargy, and apathy have gotten worse over time. I love the waking up aspect of tapering!

Thanks for the response! I have started tapering and I also feel like I'm waking up and feeling excited again! Love this part of it!

Iksfreundin · 02-09-2009, 11:08 PM

I suffered from severe insomnia for a very long time on paxil, induced by paxil (according to the doctors at the sleep clinic and my own psychiatrist). They said it was "very common": I would be intensely sleepy, but unable to sleep for days at a time. Also suffered lethargy, lack of empathy, and a very skewed self-image. I quit caring what others thought, and quit crying for a very long time.

02-08-2009, 08:58 PM	#1
kapulica Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 9	Long term use - side effects?? Hello all! I've been on Paxil for about 5-6 years straight now, with a 2 year stint before. The level of sleepiness that I face in my day to day life is incredible! (I can easily sleep about 15hrs a day if I don't fight it off). I did not have this symptom in the first few years however. Is anyone else experiencing incredible sleepiness or other long-term side effects that did not exist earlier while taking the drug? Thanks in advance for sharing! __________________ Anxiety/Depression Paxil 20mg 2000 - 2002 Quit cold turkey - 8 days of hell than fine Paxil 20mg 2004 - present

02-08-2009, 09:07 PM	#2
scotty Administrator & Advocate Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 38,590	Re: Long term use - side effects?? Ryan slept through his Freshman year of High School on Paxil. __________________ AKA Laurie "If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere." ~Frank A. Clark

02-08-2009, 11:26 PM	#3
Songbird Join Date: May 2007 Location: New Zealand Posts: 7,046	Re: Long term use - side effects?? Yes, I believe there are side effects that sneak up on you insidiously over time. I used to be a night owl, never in bed before about 11:00 or 11:30 pm. On Paxil I was often in bed by 8:30 or 9:00pm, which wasn't like me at all. There is also what is known as 'emotional blunting', my emotions were a lot less intense and I never felt very excited about anything. Also I used to be very creative with ideas popping into my head all the time, but on Paxil my mind became very empty and creative ideas didn't come very often any more. I found as I tapered down my dose, these effects actually reduced, I felt more emotions and began feeling excited about some things and started having creative ideas again. __________________ Jul 01-Feb 02 Aropax Feb - Dec 03 Citalopram Jul 04 Aropax Jan 07 - Feb 08 20mg - 5mg Apr 4.5mg 5mg Jun 10mg zopiclone > seroquel Jul 20mg Aug + methionine Oct aropax > loxamine Dec off seroquel 7 Dec 17.5mg 30 Dec 15mg 24 Jan 12.5mg 16 Feb 10mg 10 May 9mg 30 May 8mg 5 July 7.5mg 2 Aug 7.25mg 1 Sep 7mg 9 Oct 6.75mg 8 Nov 6.5mg Appreciation is the antidote to stress - Trust is the antidote to fear

02-09-2009, 10:53 AM	#4
NewQuestions Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 219	Re: Long term use - side effects?? After 8 years on Zoloft, I started experiencing new side effects, including sleepiness, musche ache, and foggy brain. You may be in the beginning stages of poop out. It may be time to go off of it, or try a new drug. Your body is begginning to adapt. Note that if you go off of it, you may have trouble getting back on it, if that is what you want. For me, I cycled through a series of drugs, trying to find a new one that worked, but they all had other side effects. Eventually, I decided I needed to go off all drugs and let me body heal.

02-09-2009, 11:07 AM	#5
LCrawford67 Moderator "Everybody poops" Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 26,493	Re: Long term use - side effects?? I was on Paxil almost two years before the weight, lethargy, etc. all crept up on me. That's the insidiousness of this drug. __________________ aka LC aka Laurie C. Paxil, 20 mg since 1997, for IBS Two unsuccessful attempts to quit. Started tapering 11/27/06 PAXIL FREE 12/29/07 If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice. ~Meister Eckhart Thanksgiving, man. Not a good day to be my pants. ~Kevin James

02-09-2009, 11:15 AM	#6
westeewoman Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 945	Re: Long term use - side effects?? I found that the fatigue, lethargy, and apathy have gotten worse over time. I love the waking up aspect of tapering! __________________ [size="1"]Paxil 1993-1998 poop-out/ct Celexa 1998-2005 poop-out/ct Cymbalta 60 mg July, 2005 last propranolol 15 mg/day April 6, 2007 last Serax 10 mg/day April 6, 2007 Cymbalta 60 mg 8/23/07 to 50.5 mg on 2/24/08 in six drops Cymbalta 49.0mg 3/26/2008 to 40mg 2/6/2009 in nine drops Cymbalta 38.5mg 4/15/2009 Cymbalta 36.0 5/15/2009 Cymbalta 35.6. 9/15/2009[ Cymbalta 35.0 10/15/2009 /SIZE]

02-09-2009, 06:12 PM	#7
jrb2jab Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 100	Re: Long term use - side effects?? I always look so forward to when my baby naps!!! Mommy can nap too!! LOL __________________ 25mg in April 2006 c/t 10/07 (pregnancy) crashed c/t 12/08 crashed found PP Back on 12.5

02-09-2009, 11:08 PM	#9
Iksfreundin "Dancing Queen" Join Date: May 2006 Location: USA Posts: 3,572	Re: Long term use - side effects?? I suffered from severe insomnia for a very long time on paxil, induced by paxil (according to the doctors at the sleep clinic and my own psychiatrist). They said it was "very common": I would be intensely sleepy, but unable to sleep for days at a time. Also suffered lethargy, lack of empathy, and a very skewed self-image. I quit caring what others thought, and quit crying for a very long time. __________________ 95' - started paxil, 20 mgs; up to 30. two ct's, then 60 mgs for years. 40 mgs in '02, poop-out in '05 start taper= 5/8/06 at 20 = 6/17/06 at 15 = 8/8/06 at 10 = 10/15/06 at 5 = 12/14/06 Paxil free as of 3/8/08 (drops were done gradually - not from 20 to 15 and so on) Smoke-free as of 2/27/08 Still doing well, no smoking yet and I haven't been hospitalized - 10/2/09 "You, however, smear me with lies; you are worthless physicians, all of you!" Job 13:4, KJV Bible

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