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Should I take Paxil?

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Posted 9/28/2006 10:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi! New member here... I've been having dizziness, nausea, back pain, diarrhea for the past year.  My doc has ordered pretty much every test possible (blood tests, MRI, CAT scan, chest xrays, back xray) and everything is normal.  Even had a stress test because of having chest pains from time to time.  EKG is normal too.  Now, the conclusion is that it's anxiety.  I've been on Ativan for about 2 months, but I'm starting to taper off it because I don't like depending on meds.  I'm only taking .25 mg a day (in the morning since my symptoms are worse in the AM).  I'm seeing a therapist now and he recommended that I start taking Paxil 10mg every night.  I'm hesistant to take any other meds.  Heard that there are possible withdrawal symptoms with Paxil and it's just making more anxious thinking about the possibility of going through withdrawal.  I'd like to get over this anxiety without taking any meds and would like to know if anyone can give me some advice whether or not to take Paxil.
Posted 9/28/2006 10:37 PM (GMT 0)
Paxil has been known to help peeps but you really have to come to that decision with your doc /therapist we cannot tell you to not take it or to take it we can support your decision and let you know their are others here that have had great success with this med
I want ot Welcome you to HW and hope you will stick around and post often feel the community spirit here and the ability to know what you are going thru
Take care and welcome again I am sure more will post
Lyn
Posted 9/28/2006 10:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hi hopeful, and welcome! We are happy to have you. I know there are many people that do manage without meds, and power to them, but i would sure discuss this at length with your doc. There are others that will come along and give you some great advice on this, and if you go through the archives, you will find some excellent previous posts. Welcome again and keep posting ;)
shell
Posted 9/28/2006 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
Forgot to say that I tried Lexapro and had a pretty bad reaction to it... insomnia, burning chest pain, diarrhea, loss of apetite...and that is another reason why I don't really want to take anymore meds.

Posted 9/28/2006 10:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi again hopeful, i tried all diff meds and had horrible reactions to most of them, therefore they put me on klonopin instead (a benzo). I wish you the best of luck, i know its hard to get the right med and the right dosage. Hang in there, take care
shell
Posted 9/28/2006 11:15 PM (GMT 0)

to hopeful

lexapro and paxil are both prozac type meds, you would be better trying some other type of antidepressant such as effexor or mirtazepine

ativan as needed is helpful and safe

you also need to learn new ways of calming and relaxing yourself, exercise and long walks are very relaxing

Posted 9/28/2006 11:17 PM (GMT 0)
I've been reading some books about anxiety and I think finally accepting that I do have anxiety is a big step.
Took my kids to the beach this weekend and found myself more relaxed that I've ever been in the past year. Definitely will take your advice of taking long walks and start exercising again. Thanks!
Posted 9/29/2006 1:12 AM (GMT 0)
Everyone is different. What may work great for one person, may make someone else worse. Over time, your body will change - you may go off of meds for awhile - but find yourself needing them again. It's a journey - and one that I'd prefer not to have to deal with - but those are the cards I've been dealt.
I know someone that had great results with Paxil - for me, it was not so good.
I'm off meds at the moment (other than Xanax for times when I'm really wacko) but getting close to trying something new because the anxiety monster is after me again. Zoloft was a lifesaver, but the side effects (sexual) were really bad.
Posted 9/29/2006 2:36 AM (GMT 0)
I'm not a doctor, but my own experience with it has not been a good one. I have had better luck with Zoloft and Welbutrin (and Xanax for actual panic attacks) I wasn't informed prior to being started on Pexeva (Paxil) that it can be highly addictive, and some people experience a very severe withdrawal from it- regardless of whether or not they are weaned off it in steps. (which happened to me) Personally I'd recommend trying other anti-anx anti-depression meds FIRST. That is simply advice I wish I'd heard first.
Posted 9/29/2006 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
I think I'll talk to my doctor about trying therapy first and then decide if I should take Paxil.  Right now, I can manage and function with the .25mg of Ativan in the morning, so my anxiety is not that bad (at least I'd like to think so).  I'm really scared of depending on meds to make me feel better.  Has anyone ever heard of taking Vitamin C for anxiety?

Posted 9/29/2006 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
My psychiatrist put me on Paxil in June...started out with 10mg for a month then increased it to 20mg. He said Paxil is his favorite because it treats both anxiety and depression. So far so good for me........the only side effect I have had was a dull headache in the beginning. I must say I feel 100% better because of Paxil.
Posted 9/29/2006 6:53 PM (GMT 0)
Did your doctor tell you about possible withdrawal symptoms of Paxil? 
Posted 9/29/2006 11:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hopeful most docs dont go into the withdrawl part of meds until you and doc are working on a plan to come totally off them IMO

There is great thought in the fact that when you go away such as camping or vacation the a/p leaves you alone in almost all cases
I truly believe this I have had it happen to me and made me a believer
I believe the thread "changing routine" talks about all of this
Good luck with whateveryou decide
We will be here for you as Shell said
You be well
Lyn
Posted 9/29/2006 11:38 PM (GMT 0)
I'm on paxil 12.5mg now for about 2 weeks. Yes, there are possible withdrawal symptoms. In my case, I always try to take care of today and let tomorrow take care of itself if I can see no other alternative. If I were in your place, I'd ask the therapist WHY he wanted me on the Paxil, especially if you feel you are coping well enough w/o it. As has been brought out, only you can make the decision as to whether it's something you want to do or not. I was tried on Wellbutrin and after a week of it, I said "No More"! But a lot of folks have been helped a great deal by it. That's one reason I'd never try to tell someone to NOT try a med. We all respond so differently. Whatever you decide, make sure it is an informed decision. Gather as much insight about your condition, the therapist's reasoning, and the Paxil's "pros" and "cons". Then weigh them all in the balance. I wish you the best! :)
janet
Posted 10/2/2013 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
"I'm seeing a therapist now and he recommended that I start taking Paxil 10mg every night.  I'm hesistant to take any other meds."

I'm new here also and I'm in the exact same boat.  My therapist has prescribed 10mg of Paxil at night for my PTSD that was only recently diagnosed.  I even told him that I have a decades long history of avoiding meds, but he said that the Paxil will help with my anxiety attacks and insomnia.    I talked to my private doctor that I've known for 30 years and he said that 10mg isn't very much and that the chance of side effects at such a low dosage are rare.

I'll post how I'm doing with it in a couple of weeks.

Thomas

Posted 10/2/2013 5:17 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Thomas and welcome.

I wish you the best in your new Rx plan. I do think that you will be fine starting out at this very low dose.

I hope that you get all of the benefits, and no side effect issues.

Trying to stay positive, envisioning good results, and not anticipating bad ones will go along way towards your success.:)

We invite you to post with us anytime. (I do encourage you to start your own post however,as this one is old...and I don't want you to go unoticed as a new member!)

Support is key, so do keep us updated...and again, best wishes!

Scaredy Cat
Posted 10/30/2013 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
I love my paxil! I am on 40mg nightly as it does make me tired. Yes the withdrawals can be there but just as any med you have to taper. I have been on it 8 years and as long as I stay in theropy and use my tools to handle my stressors it works perfectly. The only thing you can do is try it.
Posted 6/4/2017 9:31 PM (GMT 0)
How are you all doing on Paxil? I just got it.
Posted 6/5/2017 6:56 PM (GMT 0)
I think this will be good for you. I have full trust in the SSRIs as they are the only thing that works for my anxiety/panic.

The only thing I didn't like about being on Paxil is it gave me very bad weight issues. Of course I have been the best at eating/exercising (although I am at a healthy weight now). I'm sure if you're exercising regularly and eating well that you should have an easier time with the weight issues. However, I have talked to more than one person who had trouble with the weight gain. I've steered clear from Paxil since. I'm currently on Zoloft. I've been on Zoloft once before and it doesn't give me weight issues.

Good news is, you have a handful of SSRIs to choose from if you can't deal with that side effect.
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