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Started Paxil last week

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Posted 7/20/2008 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,

My name is Catherine Lynn. I'm 25 years old.  I also have a post on the Ulcerative Colitis too.  I have been pretty much traumitized from my hospital experience with my UC, and for that, I have had bad anxiety and some PTSD and depression.  I was having crying spells, but had tried Ativan.  I don't have crying spells anymore. Now I take Ativan at night, but was trying to taper it down, 1/2 mg to 1 mg doses. I know you can't really stay on Ativan for long periods of time (atleast that's what doctors told me) . I had just started Paxil last week, and was wondering if anyone else is on that drug.  I had been on Prozac and Zoloft in the past, but the Prozac made me angry and the Zoloft made me too apethetic. My family has a history with anxiety, depression, panic, etc.  It's gotten worse for me recently. I'm currently on Predisone 20mg. plus the Paxil 20mg. plus Ativan....  and I can't sleep at night.  I don't know if it's from all the meds or what.  I'm even lightheaded and dizzy, don't know if it's side effects from Predisone or maybe Paxil, but I can't walk into a store without feeling like I'm going to pass out.  It's probably in part my anxiety, but I feel like I need to know where the exits are just in case I need to get out right at that moment. It's like my head is disconnected from my body. I don't feel like I'm all there.  I'm afraid now to walk into stores, because of the bright lights and floors, and openness, and the people. I feel like I'm going to pass out in the store and cause a scene. It's ruining my life, but I hope the Paxil will work.  Does anyone else feel that way about being out?  I'm also jittery and nervous... possibly more side effects?

Posted 7/20/2008 6:41 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Catherine. I dont know much about meds and their effects...best to ring your doctors nurse and ask her to look it up for you - but, the symptoms you have describe I have had at times of high anxiety/depression eg. lightheadedness, dizzy, lights being too bright etc... don't forget to breathe - this is really the key to combating anxiety moments...take one day at a time, little steps and you will come right before you know it - you have been thru soo much - don't be too rough on yourself ok.

Sista J.

Posted 7/20/2008 11:03 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Catherine,

I would suggest you call your physician and see what he thinks about the combo of meds you are taking.

Prednisone can cause you to feel euphoric which may affect the ability to sleep and rest well.

I am sorry you are having these issues.

Keep posting and let us know how you are.

Gentle Hugs
Kitt

Posted 7/20/2008 11:56 PM (GMT 0)

Catherine, Hello, welcome to A/P forum at HW.

I have been on Paxil and it made me so dizzy I fell off my treadmill! Ach! Thankfully it passed within ten days. I have the same problem in crowds/stores. I went to a huge market in our city centre last week and actually fainted from all the sounds, lights and crowds. I try and do my shopping early (6am) before the crowds start, and stay away from malls at all costs!! Be gentle, don't blame yourself..things will improve with time and a few small changes in lifestyle.

I wish you all the very best.

Meg

Posted 7/23/2008 1:12 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you to all whose replied. That's the scariest thing I feel before I go to a store... I think to myself " am I going to faint"? I have fainted before while in a pet store. I was holding a rabbit and I felt like I was under water all of a sudden. My ears felt like I couldn't hear right, and my vision was getting really screwed up. I felt very nauseus , hot and sweaty. I immediately put the bunny down, and told my boyfriend who was with me to get me outta here. He took my arm and I fainted right outside the petshop in the parking lot. I went to the ER after, because that's never happened to me before, but they said I had labyrinthitis ( inner ear thing). They gave me a perscription and I was fine after that.. I still remember the time though and it was very scary to me. It's when you feel like youre not in control. I just hope the Paxil works with that. I just want my life and my health back. I also have been feeling nauseus, but don't know if it's a side effect of Paxil, or because of the predisone and other meds I'm taking. I noticed the paxil's side effects say nausea/vomiting, but when I was on zoloft and prozac, there was no "vomiting" side effect. I have an extreme phobia of vomiting, (a huge part of my anxiety) but hoping these feelings will surpass.
Sorry so long!
Posted 7/23/2008 11:58 AM (GMT 0)
When I first started getting panic attacks I was afraid to go anywhere. I felt exactly like you do now. Hang in there, things will improve with time. I was on Paxil years ago. I helped me a lot with my PA, but the first month or so was rough. I remember feeling nauseas too and sooooo tired and spacey. After that I started to feel normal again. If Paxil doesn't work for you there are many other meds the doctors can try. You just have to find the right one for you. I would also suggest you start practicing deep breathing excercises if you aren't already. Whenever I start to feel panicky I breathe in deep through my nose and count to 4, then I breathe out through my mouth. It's the simpliest thing in the world, but has helped me the most since I was diagnosed 10 years ago. It keeps me from hyperventilating. I also make sure I bring a little bottle of water in my purse. If I start to feel like lightheaded and dizzy I take a couple sips. I hope you feel better soon.
Posted 7/24/2008 3:32 AM (GMT 0)
Hi paniccu,

Thank you for your reply. I started the paxil alittle more than a week ago, so hopefully in a few more weeks I'll be back to myself! Thank you for making me optimistic. I wonder why Paxil makes people feel nauseus.... maybe with the chemical imbalances getting balanced, and something to do with the whole "seratonin" thing. I don't know. I've always been interested though in medications and drugs ( side effects, what they do, etc.) but I've recently had a really bad drug reaction to my ulcerative colitis drug. I was in the hospital for 3 weeks because of it, so nowadays I'm much more leary about medications in general. Doctors too! Yeah, I need to remember to breathe, lol. I guess I forget at times. I just hate the way I feel, and eversince I had this whole experience , I've never felt the same.
Posted 7/24/2008 6:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Catherine. I started Paxil two weeks ago and felt similar to you. Do you feel like its something between vertigo and the dizziness you would have with the flu? Anyway, my doctor changed me to something else when I told her I was dizzy/lightheaded. She had not heard of it being a side effect of Paxil.
Posted 7/24/2008 8:09 PM (GMT 0)

Hey Catherine,

This is Kitt, how are you doing on the new medication.  I hope things are calming down a bit for you.

Looks like you found another member that experienced the same symptoms you had.

Take care
Kitt

Posted 7/24/2008 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
Catherine,

 

 I am going to see my dr tomorrow to try another medication that I hope helps with my anxiety/dep.  I hope you feel better on the paxil you have started. Remember it takes several weeks to work fully.  I took paxil myself but I had to stop, I felt so  jittery and anxious on it.  I do have a friend who has been on paxil for many years now and doing real  good on it. (everyone is different when it comes to medications).

Hope it works well for you.

Posted 7/24/2008 11:40 PM (GMT 0)

hh527

Welcome to HealingWell. We love knew members.  We do have a new members thread if you would like to post a bit about yourself.  :-)

Sincerely

Kitt

Posted 7/28/2008 4:59 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Momoftwins,

Yes, I've felt dizzy, lightheaded feelings... I don't know, it could be a combonation of the medications. I'm also on predisone. I've slowly been decreasing that though. I just feel weird. I still get jittery too.
Posted 7/28/2008 5:01 AM (GMT 0)
Dear Skitt,

Thank you for asking how I've been. At least I'm not crying anymore. I was doing that real easily before starting the Paxil. Although, like I posted above, I feel jittery at times, as well as still dizzy/lightheaded. I don't feel it all the time but it happens especially when I try to go out to stores, public places. It's probably still just anxiety though. Just trying to feel like myself again, I still don't feel like the same old me.
Posted 7/28/2008 5:04 AM (GMT 0)
Dear hh527,

Thank you for your reply. Yeah, I guess it's just an individual thing with medications... I was angry on the Prozac, and apethetic on the Zoloft. I was on high doses of the Zoloft too. I think it was like 160mg? I don't remember, it was years ago. I just know the psychiatrist told me I needed to be on higher doses because of my OCD. I guess I'm just a mess of things, lol. Hopefully you get on a drug that works well for you too.
Posted 7/28/2008 7:30 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, Catherine
I've been on Paxil for the last five years and Xanax as needed (almost daily). I too suffered the crying spells, fear of
going out, could not even walk into a grocery store without feeling like "I was going to pass out or get sick". My life is
much better now. And like you, I have a phobia of vomiting, cannot stand perfumes, very loud music, bright lights. I always carry Xanax with me. I have accepted that I NEED to take medication. Give these meds. a chance.
Posted 7/30/2008 2:43 AM (GMT 0)
Hi jades75,

Thank you for reading my post and replying. It's comforting to know that I'm not the only one out there who experiences things like this. I'm sorry you have to go through them as well. I feel exactally like how you said about going into stores. That's so interesting that you also fear vomiting so much like I do! I thought I was a freak for being afraid as much as I am about seeing it, smelling it, doing it, etc. I was given Xanax in the hospital, although I don't quite remember the strength, I didn't thing it did much to me, although there were alot of moments I didn't remember when I was there, lol. I'm just glad I've lived through it.
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