So far so good!

[Kanz612]

Hello all,
I have wrestled with anxiety and depression for the past 5 years and it was causing some serious problems in my life. I have alienated myself and cut off friends and family. While I was hesitant to try medication I finally felt like it was time to give it a shot. Within the short time I have been on Paxil I feel less stressed. I used to lie in bed worrying about things I couldn't control for hours, this has already begun to go away! I am only on 10mg, but the effects are noticeable. I workout consistently and haven't gained any weight yet, hopefully I can maintain this. I also suffered from premature ejaculation (which is a reason I chose to try Paxil first). I have noticed an increase in how long I can last during masturbation, which is a plus. However, I have noticed that my penis is a little less sensitive, but I have no problems getting or maintaining an erection. I have also noticed that I am a little more tired, but I hear that this can sometimes dissipate once you are fully adjusted to Paxil. I am very happy with my experience with Paxil thus far, hopefully things stay this way. If anyone has any tips, advice, or warnings for me please let me know! Also, my doctor has considered moving me up to 20mg in time. If you have any thoughts on this please let me know.
Thanks,
JK

[Betsy]

Keep reading this site and you'll get all the warnings you need to choose another method to deal with anxiety. I don't think many on this site will be supportive of staying on it. The paxil progress we talk about is the PROGRESS of getting OFF the med. Everyone has a "honeymoon period" with paxil when they think it's better than sliced bread, and then the reality of what the med has done to you sets in.

Get off while you can do it more easily and learn techniques to cope with and cure the anxiety.
Some suggestions:
Check the www.controllinganxiety.com website, and listen to the audios there.
Purchase the book "When Panic Attacks" by David Burns - it has great techniques to disarm depression and anxiety as well as teaches you the tools of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to lessen the anxiety and depression. It gives you non-med skills your docs don't know about or have time to teach you, unless you go to counseling, which an also be helpful, if they teach the CBT methods.

The "problem" you speak of, from my understanding from things on this site, only gets worse as you stay on paxil....sorry.

Good luck to you,
Betsy

[Katesmom]

If you have a positive effect from 10mg, don't go up anymore. Make an exit strategy from this drug now so that you don't get stuck with poop out down the line. This is not a forever drug and it won't work forever. However, if you make a plan to get yourself out of a hole over the next 6 months and get into therapy and add supplements and change your diet, then it could remain a positive choice for yourself. If not, in a year, it won't matter if you don't have PE anymore because you won't give a damn about having sex anyway.

[scotty]

Originally Posted by Katesmom

If you have a positive effect from 10mg, don't go up anymore. Make an exit strategy from this drug now so that you don't get stuck with poop out down the line. This is not a forever drug and it won't work forever. However, if you make a plan to get yourself out of a hole over the next 6 months and get into therapy and add supplements and change your diet, then it could remain a positive choice for yourself. If not, in a year, it won't matter if you don't have PE anymore because you won't give a damn about having sex anyway.

Can't add much more than that! Everyone here reports the "honeymoon" period, when they sang the praises of paxil, then reality, or non reality, set in. Read the posts here so you are getting the whole story on paxil..it's not the miracle, happy pill that it's been advertised as.

[carolyn]

Originally Posted by Katesmom

However, if you make a plan to get yourself out of a hole over the next 6 months and get into therapy and add supplements and change your diet, then it could remain a positive choice for yourself.

+1!

I had a very positive experience on Paxil up until it pooped out on me (about 5.5 years after starting to take it).

Taking the drug did keep me stable enough to go to CBT therapy and learn to deal with my panic disorder, though, so now that I'm tapering off the Paxil, I still have those tools in my arsenal.

Definitely use your time on Paxil to get a "game plan" together, like Katesmom said, and you'll be well-equipped for a smooth, functional, taper.

[scotslass]

Originally Posted by Katesmom

If you have a positive effect from 10mg, don't go up anymore. Make an exit strategy from this drug now so that you don't get stuck with poop out down the line. This is not a forever drug and it won't work forever. However, if you make a plan to get yourself out of a hole over the next 6 months and get into therapy and add supplements and change your diet, then it could remain a positive choice for yourself. If not, in a year, it won't matter if you don't have PE anymore because you won't give a damn about having sex anyway.

I also have to agree 100% with Kim.I thought it was great in the beginning but it didn't last and I had to keep upping my dosage.In short I wish I had tapered right after therapy but I didn't know then what I know now.This is not a good drug for long-term use(none of them are!)so seeking out alternative therapy and ways to deal with your issues without this drug is definately your best choice!

Good luck to you and keep us posted

[scotia21]

Yep - Paxil quit us long before we decided to quit Paxil. I had no idea what was going on when I hit poop-out and had horrible, uncontrollable crying fits and would have rage so intense that I threw things at people. Everybody just talked about how crazy I was but I didn't have a clue.

[Kanz612]

Thanks for all the input. While I am still adjusting to it, it seems to be helping so far. I will try to make sure that I get stuff figured out while the Paxil is doing well for me. Do you think that a psychiatrist would be a good idea? I had a psychologist in the past and got no where. I actually felt worse because I wasn't feeling better, which added to my depression. Thanks for any further advice.

[scotty]

Few psychiatrists offer therapy...they have limited their practices to medication management. Sometimes you have to shop around for a therapist that "fits"...it can take some trial and error. Make an appointment with someone new and make it clear that it's an interview to check that fit. You don't have to stay with someone who you aren't clicking with.

[Songbird]

There is a lot you can do that doesn't involve taking drugs. I recommend the book 'Healing without Freud or Prozac' by David Servan-Schreiber. He describes a number of alternative approaches to treating anxiety and depression. Also look into nutritional treatments such as EPA/DHA (omega-3), methionine, vitamin B6, vitamin D, and so on. There are also herbs that can help. Check out the controllinganxiety.com website and the work of Dr. Claire Weekes. Get into some good self-help books such as 'You Can Heal Your Life' by Louise Hay, and 'Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway' by Susan Jeffers. When you start looking for answers, you might be surprised how much you can find. Everything doesn't work for everybody, but you'll find plenty of things to try and you might find some things that work well for you.

[Betsy]

Also, "When Panic Attacks" by David Burns is great for anxiety and depression combined. He is one of the well known authors that writes books about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

There are LOTS of options for us out there, Yeah hooray for that!
Betsy