New to the forum and Paxil question

I am new to posting here and have been reading lots. You guys are great and just reading the posts make me feel like I am not so alone. I have had FM for over 10 yrs and was first diagnosed by a chiropractor. My doctor at the time and the docs since had all said FM was not a condition/illness/disease, just a catch-all phrase for people that have arthritis and additional unexplained problems. I got a new doctor this year, a D.O. who ran a bunch of tests and along with my arthritis spreading and herniated discs in my mid-back and neck, I definitely have fibro and she is well informed on it. At first I argued with her explaining what the other doctors had told me, lol! My symptoms have been so bad for the last year or so. I have been over-sensitive to everything, including meds. I have tried effexor, cymbalta, lexapro, lyrica and tramadol all with bad side-effects. My stomach is bad from all the ibuprofen I have taken over the years and cannot take NSAIDs. So for now I take darvocet or tylenol and flexeril. Ususally I can only take a 1/2 dose of meds since my body is over-reacting. I also take 1/2 ativan at night to sleep which helps.

I went to the doctors yesterday and she really felt I needed serotonin in my system and prescribed me Paxil, 20 mg. She told me to first try 1/2 at bedtime for a couple days and then go to 1 a day, at bedtime. When I filled my Rx the pharmacist said to take it in the morning even though the doc said at night. She said it would make me jittery and hard to sleep?

Does anyone take Paxil? Any comments on this drug, side-effects of taking at night or morning? Any suggestions. I am willing to try anything at this point. I walk every day no matter the pain, pray and try to always stay as positive as possible too (which is why I like this forum!)

Thanks for being here and giving me a place to belong!!

Hi, Smiling, and welcome!  I'm glad you have joined our family.  We do have a great group here that love to help each other and really do care about each other, too. 

Be sure to check out the Fibro 101 thread...the second thread on the forum.  There are links to good information about fibro and you will learn a lot.

I can't help you with the Paxil.  I don't take an anti depressant.  I do know people that have taken Paxil for depression and it has helped them.  That's the extent of my knowledge of this drug.  Sorry.

If you are having pain and fatigue, you might try malic acid/magnesium supplements.  These don't help everyone but many have gotten some help from these.  There is a link all about them in the Fibro 101 thread and how they work in the body.  Many with fibro seem to be deficient in these nutrients.

Another thing that can cause some pain and fatigue is a deficiency in vitamin D.  There are quite a few fibromites that have this problem, too.  I live in Florida and, believe it or not, I am still deficient in D.  I am presently taking 3,500 IU of vitamin D3 a day to try to get me in the normal range.  I just had more bloodwork done yesterday to see how I'm coming along.  So, it might be good to ask your doctor about these things.

Meanwhile, read back posts and ask questions.  We are here to help you.  I'm so glad you are here and I hope to hear more from you soon.

Sherrine

Welcome to our family!!

I have tried several antidpressants and am currently on Effexor. I can handle a small dose due to side effects but without it life is so much worse. My comment on who to listen to...always your doctor. Then if you find you are too jittery or too sleepy, call you doc and ask if it's OK to take at a different kind. The MD behind their name gives them the responsibility and experience. My thoughts are pharmacists read the literature but doctors see how the drugs truly effect each patient. Your doc seemed to think it would be better for you to take it at night so that's what I would do.

Please do come join our Koffee Klatch each day. It's a small bit of time we can laugh and have some fun.

Chutz

I took a low dose of Paxil several years ago as a prophylactic for Migraine. I had really bad psychotic side effects from it. Paranoia, social anxiety up the wahoo... I was really screwed up from it. Won't ever go near that stuff again. :-S