Newbie needs help!

[PaxilPit2011]

Hi this is my first time posting. I have been on Paxil for a little less than a year and I think I need to get off. I have never tried to quit before but did have a few days where I couldn't afford my refill and it was horrible. The reason I am posting is because I am trying to figure out of I need to get off or of maybe there is something different effecting me.

Over the past few months I feel as though my health is declining. I went to the doctor and had blood work done and everything came back normal. I feel exhausted all of the time, my vision seems off, I have been having joint pain and muscle aches, the feeling you get when you have a fever (cold sweats) but my temp is never over 99, I am VERY shaky all the time, sometimes I get this thumping feeling in my chest like my heart is pounding but it doesn't always match my heart rate.

Is it possible that these things I am feeling are a result of te Paxil? I cannot remember for the life of me when I started feeling like this. I hate this feeling. It's like I never have energy or emotion. I need advise from people that have been on Paxil. Thank you all

[LCrawford67]

Welcome!

It took about a year for all the side effects of Paxil to hit me, too. I was fine on it, then the weight gain came, the dizziness, lethargy, fuzzy vision and night sweats. I didn't have aches and pains.

Paxil is notorious for lethargy and blunting emotions (actually, most people have blunted, or no emotions while on SSRIs).

If you decide to taper, please read the tapering guidelines we have posted:

http://new.paxilprogress.org/forums/...ad.php?t=41850

http://new.paxilprogress.org/forums/...ad.php?t=40020

We'll be here for you every step of the way!

[PaxilPit2011]

Thank you! I didn't even think about the night sweats... My room is really hot so I just assumed it was from that but they are really bad at night. I am scared to get off of it with how I felt before I was on it but at the same time I feel like I have more control over myself at this point and know what makes me happy and who I am an want to be. I just don't want to lose that if I stop the Paxil though.

[LCrawford67]

Well, I don't know what brought you to Paxil, but are there other non medication ways of coping with it?

[PaxilPit2011]

I am on 20mg for anxiety. I tried inderal (spelling might be wrong) its a blood pressure med to control my heart during an anxiety attack but it don't help. The doctor that prescribed that to me was against any Paxil type meds (he was also a big jerk so I stopped seeing him haha) my mother is a nurse practitioner and knows me better then pretty much anyone. She is the one that got me on the Paxil which makes it very uncomfortable to speak to any other doctors about it because they usually frown upon my mom giving me any medical advise.

I did go to the dr a few weeks ago like I stated before because the muscle aches and fever feeling got unbearable. She wanted to test for lupus and RA but the blood work came back normal and I wasn't asked to come in for a follow up so I am guessing it's neither one of those.... So Paxil is my next best answer. The dr asked me how long I have been experiencing the issues and I thought it was over a year but with my foggyness maybe I was wrong and it is the Paxil. I hate the dr and would rather get off of it on my own, is that just crazy

[Backtopaxil]

hi welcome,

I am tapering off because of the same issue, muscle aches, cramps and joint pain. You may want to be safe and check with your doctor, but if the tests come back clean, you know that it is paxil.

[scotty]

If all this started after a year on paxil and all testing is negative, it's a good bet that this is the paxil. Those symptoms are pretty much classic. Have to say it...good for your doc for not prescribing it, now you can understand his reasons.

Taper slow!

[PaxilPit2011]

Yeah I totally understand why he was against it now. (he was a jerk for other reasons...)

[PaxilPit2011]

Thank you all for your posts. I am so glad I found this site I don't have anyone that really knows what I am going through so to have support from people who have been in my shoes is so inspirational

[scotty]

Originally Posted by PaxilPit2011

Thank you all for your posts. I am so glad I found this site I don't have anyone that really knows what I am going through so to have support from people who have been in my shoes is so inspirational

Glad you found us! We'll walk you through this.

[obliviousjo]

I Was never on paxil but have been on several other anti depresants...I developed a long....I mean long list of health problems after starting these stupid scripts....I have been tested for RA, lupus, thyroid, had several brain scans, bla bla bla...most came back negative so now I'm stuck in an old ladies body....Do yourself a HUGE favor and go back and read those pages upon pages of side affects and warnings that we all toss in the garbage..(me included of course) and really weigh the alternatives...eventually these drugs just poop out anyway, than ur stuck going off them on a schedule that you cannot control....
Sorry if this sounds harsh but I'm 100% NOW against all anti depressants UNLESS every other option is NO longer an option...I belive they suck ur life and ur health right up from underneath you Eventually....we are left to go find alternative routes or what have you...that I NOW wish I would have explored in the first place....grrr....
You have certainly came to the right place if ur looking for answers or help getting off these AD's tho and not everyone is a complete hater of them like me...lol..
I Wish you all the best wishes in the world....Welcome aboard!!!!

[rose32]

Hi PaxilPit2011

Welcome to the board. I was like you I had symptoms right away, however I had no idea what was happening to me. I just kept going to the dr , never once did I realize my problems were the medicine I was taking I just kept asking the dr for more help (medicines) which I got.

Keep posting and READ READ READ you will find the answers here. A lot of good people here to help you.

It takes time. But time will pass anyway may as well be benefitting yourself along the way.

Best wishes in your taper.

Rose32