Speaking of Paxil...

I've been on it for over 3 weeks now and feeling better for a week, then today was kind of an anxy-feeling day for me. What should I expect from Paxil in regards to feelings like this. I'm taking it for the anxiety...Help!
janet

Thanks, Michelle, for bumping it up!
janet

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=9&m=640611

Yes what to expect?
As it stands I have been better able to cope with my most annoying problem -heart palpitations, they have been smaller since first perscribed tho--and am waiting to see what happens when I get a bad day (violent palpitations or anx attack) but hopefully that won't happen-maybe I'm fooling myself but I can at least hope.

Hope you are well Janet. I am not taking paxil but am taking one of that same type....The meds aren't gonna cure you and you will still have anxiety prone days plus sometimes it takes up to eight weeks for the full effect of the stuff to be felt. Good luck with the paxil!

I've been on paxil for 10 years. When on a "full" dose, my symptoms pretty much disappeared. The panic attacks def did stop. Is the anxiety the same? Or is it easier to control? I'm only taking 10 mg/day now (for about 2-3 years) and I will get the anxiety sometimes, but it is MUCH easier to control.

I'd give it another couple weeks. If your symptoms come back just as bad as they used to be, then maybe you need to try something else. I first tried zoloft, which seemed to work for a few weeks, but then I started having full-blown panic attacks again. Thats when I switched to paxil. It really changed my life!

Good luck and dont give up!
Karen

janet,
I am not on Paxil now, but was a few years back. I know that when I started taking it, my anxiety actually got a bit worse before it got better. It does get better though, believe me! I was agoraphobic and terrified of everything!!!! Paxil gave me my life back - I also had to find the dose that was right for me - which ended up being 60 mg a day because my anxiety was so bad. But let me tell you, once it did take its full effect, I was able to do EVERYTHING I wanted to again, no worries! I hope this helps you a bit!!! Just give it a bit more time - also, maybe talk to your Dr. and see if he thinks you should increase a little bit. Hope you are feeling better!!
Sylkn

Hi Janet,

I know how you feel, I am taking 10mg of lexapro, first 2 weeks, than down to 5 because I felt more anxious than up to 7.5 and now back up to 10 for the last 5 days. I think I felt better last week on the 7.5 but I know they say every time you change dosage that it needs to level again, just not sure how long it takes each time. I have to say like you I feel better but also wake up with that icky feeling and still am struggling but not as bad as I was, I think we just need to be patient. I took this before a year and a half ago and it seemed like it worked alot quicker and I didn't have to play with the dosage as much, then again, maybe I wasn't expecting it to work as I had never taken them before so any improvement I thought was great where as this time I just want to feel like me again, it is like I forgot who I am, I don't even remember how to cook, afraid I will never remember. I forgot how to have fun and laugh at the very little things. I am usually really strong but just not htere yet, I think patience is key here. don't give up. it is like a scab that needs to heal, only worse and it will not heal overnite, just keep taking care of yourself, it WILL get better, so many people here can tell you that. I am just hoping for the best and keeping on trying to fight this. hopefully this will work, I think it is otherwise I will have to try something different but it did work so well last time, the only reaason I stopped was to try and have a baby. hopefully that will happen too.

best to you

scaredy

take care of you

janet,

I discontinued the Paxil because I was on it for 6 years (at 60 mg) and the effectiveness of it was wearing off since my body was building a tolerance to the medication.  My Dr. switched me from Paxil directly to Effexor which was a fairly easy transition...I was surprised.  I am still doing well - hope this helps ease your mind a bit more.  Also, if you are are on a low dose, take it one step at a time until you find the dose that works properly for your body!  If you have any other questions, feel free to ask me and if I can, I will answer them!!  Good luck and I hope you are finally starting to feel better!!

Sylkn

janet,

I was on .5 mg of Xanax for years.  I was still taking the Xanax up until I found out I was pregnant, but had to stop the Xanax cold turkey because it can cause birth defects.  I still get anxiety here and there and I am hoping that after the baby is born, I can just continue with my Effexor and not have to get back on the Xanax...time will tell though! 

I am so glad you are feeling better - it stinks that when we start medication it doesn't start to take effect immediately, but it does get better!  Hopefully that dose works for you, but if after a few more weeks you don't seem to have the relief you need, talk to your Dr. again...good luck at your next appointment, I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers that you continue to feel better!

Sylkn