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Posted 1/5/2006 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
My husband has been diagnosed with clinical depression.  Ive posted here before but an update on my situation.  He moved out right after Christmas because he needed space. Its supposed to be only temporary and he wants to come by the house on the weekends......to take care of things like the pool and the lawn.  (alot of mixed messages here)  He is still seeing a therapist and taking effexor.    I too have been seeing a therapist so I can learn how to deal with all this.  Im not really depressed, but my therapist senses some anxiety and suggested seeing my PCP to take an antidepressant.  She feels that even though I am handling myself well, it is possible to slip into a "situational depression" because of my husband leaving.  My PCP agreed and suggested Paxil.  

I researched side effects and although all of them scare you with side effects, my PCP says she likes this one because most of her patients dont complain of the GI problems from taking others.   I have not started it yet, but have read that appetite loss and sexual side effects are common.    I can easily drop a few pounds, so the apetite loss does not bother me, and even though my husband is gone and there is nothing going on in that dept right now, I dont want the sexual side affects either.   I will be taking 25mg. 

Anyone have any problems with paxil? 

Posted 1/5/2006 8:06 PM (GMT 0)
I took Paxil previously for 2 years for General Anxiety and Social Anxiety. It worked really well for me the first time for my anxiety. I am currently on it again as an supplement to my other meds for depression. I was/am taking the regular Paxil not the CR version because of money - it's generic.

All SSRI's have similar side effects with the biggest complaint probably being for all of them sexual side effects. For me Prozac was worse than Paxil but everyone is different so YMMV (your mileage may vary). I was going to suggest the Multiple Reuptake Inhibitor Wellbutrin XL because of the low risk of sexual side effects (everyone has seen that commercial), but if you are having any anxiety, it sometimes/usually will increase it. (The reason I had to stop taking it.)

The only problem that I had when taking Paxil, was trying to quit taking it. If you take it for any length of time, you have to wean yourself off slowly, you can't just decide one day to just quit it. It took me a total of 5 months to wean off and my GP had switched me to Paxil CR to make it easier.
Posted 1/11/2006 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
Paxil made me gain a lot of weight when I took it, but after I went on prozac, I lost it again. At least that was the only side effect. The effects of paxil were pretty good though; it helps a lot with sleep and really lowers symptoms. The only problem is that you're tired during the day.
Posted 1/11/2006 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
i took paxil for 6 months, not really any side effects except loss of appetite and weight loss which i couldnt afford to lose, and i had no emotions at all. Talked to my doctor about it, cause i was like a zombie, and he took me off. But i know many people who have had great success with it. Never hurts to try, Sorry about your situation and wish you and your husband best of luck.
Posted 6/11/2006 12:57 PM (GMT 0)

Atthebeach,

I read your original post and tried to contact your e-mail.  The things that you said are exactly what my husband said this week.  The only thing is he doesn't think he is depressed.  He has moved out.  Unlike you though we have 3 children ages 8, 5, and 3.  He had an affair before he left and he told our 5-year-old that "Daddy did a bad thing and doesn't deserve to be married to Mommy."  How are things now with your husband?  I filed for divorce becasue that is what he said that he wanted but now I am wondering if it isn't just the depression talking.  I will take any suggestions that I can get.

Thanks,

stahrfisher

Posted 6/11/2006 8:21 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Stahrfisher,  I wanted to welcome you to healing well forum...I am so sorry that it is under these conditions.  I have had depression for a very long time and am divorced myself for almost two years now.  There were many reasons that precipitated the end of my marriage and the first of that would be that I probably shouldn't of married him to begin with.  But that is a whole other story for another day.  Someone who has depression can often feel numb to family, friends, work and things they normally enjoy.  I read some of your other posts and it seems that your husband is denying feeling depressed and also that your pastor just suggested he may be depressed.  If I am wrong please do correct me.  Not denying or negating what your pastor has done for you or his qualifications in this area but for someone to be diagnosed as depressed or with depression you really have to be evaluated by a psychiatrist or someone who has extensive clinical experience in the psychiatric field.  There are self questionnaires that you can take on-line now from major drug companies if you Google it "Depression questionnaire" print one out and ask him to take it if he is agreeable to do so.  But it almost sounds to me that he is being defiant in a way as you said that he stated that he liked doing those things with this other woman and playing laser tag.  You may not want to continue with the divorce but I would strongly recommend seeking professional counseling for yourself and if he will go with you then hopefully you will be able to repair the damage that has been done.  I know you will not be able to forget and it would be hard to forgive but that comes in time.  Please do feel free to continue to post.  Healing well is a wonderful place for information and support from real people who have been in the same position.  Take care.
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