Hi everyone,

My doctor just prescribed paxil and I'm a little hesitant to start using it because I've read a bit too much on the Internet. I would like to read some feedback/input from any of you who are using or have used paxil. Did it work? Side effects? How long does it take to work? Is it difficult to stop using? etc. Has anyone had a good experience with this medication? Please let me know. I really need some reassurance and information from real people.

Sometimes I hate the internet. Every time I go on a new antidepressant I read everything there is about it and convince myself I am having every side effect there is!! I have been on Prozac, Paxil, Celexa, Prozac again and now Zoloft (almost one week). Except for this last time with Prozac, every one of those medications helped me with little or no side effects. Until this last time, the doctors took me off the meds due to improvement. I weaned myself off the Celexa on my own in Feb. 2004 had panic in June and started on Prozac. This last time, Prozac made my anxiety very bad, and after a month with little improvement, a new doctor put me on Zoloft.
Paxil -- I had no major side effects except some muscle twitching every now and again. I may have gained weight on it, but then again my eating habits were terrible and no exercise to speak of. One thing I noticed on Paxil -- which you hear about now -- is that when I skipped a dose -- my brain was extremely foggy and it was hard to concentrate. Now, we know that you never stop any of these abruptly, but ween off of them.

If it is any comfort to you, when I was having such a tough time with my doctor (family practice), and his lack of knowledge about anxiety and meds, my psychologist did say that Paxil is one of the best meds for anxiety/depression that she has seen.

Sorry this was so long. You can email me if you like at any time -- sstahelin@hotmail.com. It helps to have someone you feel comfortable running "side effects" by with, since we tend to dwell.

I took Paxil for awhile and it worked wonderfully for me. I had side effects only in the beginning which went away. Mostly insomnia then drowsiness (go figure) a bit of nausea. I did gain weight but like mentioned, I didn't excercise or eat well either. I'm now on Lexapro and doing well also. Good luck.

when i first started having panic attacks and anxiety my doc put me on paxil. for me it worked amazing. i had no side effects whatsoever. it completely took away the panic and 90% of the anxiety. eventually i weaned myself off and everything was fine til i had major stress in my life again. i just started taking it again about 3 weeks ago. ive already noticed some improvement, as i was having nearly 6 panic attacks a day. now i have a small one once every few days but deffinately not full blown. they say it takes about a month to get in to your system fully.
hope this helps you

Brigitte and anyone else who had success with paxil,

How long did it take before you started noticing some improvement with the med. I know they say it can take up to a month, but did you see any results sooner. Also how long did it take for the side effects to stop?

I started seeing improvement in about a month and the side effects went away after a couple of weeks. You should feel comfortable talking to your prescribing doctor about any side effects that cause you concern, that is what they are there for.

I'd say the same.

After reading the replies it looksliek Im the onlyone that had bad side effects. Paxil helped me once it was finally in my system(at least a month) I did 1/4 for a week...then a 1/2 for another week...then 3/4...then finally the full. If I hadnt know it helped from using it before I never would make it through the adjustment time. It seemed to bring on my atttacks worse than ever. I had the worst attacks while trying to get the paxil balanced in my system. But...once it was...it helped. I was hoping in the responses maybe Id find soemthing with less side effects. I need ot get back on meds but scared . I cant go through a month of that again. I work full tiem now and need my job and my family needs me too. Anyone have better luck with anything else?
Serenity2

Serenity2,
I believe that meds work different for everyone. What one person can take without side effects another could have side effects. I have never tried paxil so I can't comment on it. I just started taking meds after 10 years of trying everything else. My dr. put me on Celexa. I started at the lowest possible dose which is only 2 mg. I up a mg once a week. Im on 5 this week and I feel great. I have had no side effects as of yet. And I feel glimses of the old me coming through. It feels kinda strange really. I can't explain it. Its been so long since I felt "normal" so to speak. I will keep uping my dose until I get to 10mg and or lower depending on how I feel. I must tell you though don't just rely on the meds. I am taking cbt as well as listening to the program tapes when needed. Take Care
Blessings
Kimberlee

Hi-Paxil worked great for me when I was on it. The only side effect I had was weight gain and it takes about 4 weeks for it to get in your system. Now I had one heck of a time getting off it in fact it took me 7 months to wean off 20mg-apparently about 10 to 20% of people who take SSRI'S can have trouble getting off them. Paxil has been getting coverage I know about people having trouble getting off it and there are Doctors who do not believe this to be true. My first attempt at weaning was terrible and I thought I had regressed- no it was the paxil side effects which mimic all the reasons you went on it and more. Now remember it is only a small number of people who have trouble getting off Paxil. I am Paxil free since May 2003 and even with what I know about the drug I do not regret taking it cause I really needed medication at that time. The only aspect that annoyed me was that I was not aware that some people have trouble getting off Paxil cause if I had of known I would have been more prepared when going off it. All the Best Timber

i just wanted to say i took paxil for about 2 years it worked wonderfully. dont really remember any side affects. but i had to staop takin it because i was bein takin off my moms insurance. and i had bad side affects from it i felt really sick.shacky dizzy,lightheaded,had tremors and this when on for about 2 to 3 weeks. and still every now and then i will feel the tremors and the dizziness. but i wouldnt tell anyone to take paxil. bit that is my personal experiance. u might not feel that way everyone is different. i guess i was just one of the lucky ones to have withdrawls from it. i would just talk to your doctor a little bit more about it. but like i said it really worked. but then when i got off it is when i felt really bad. so i hope this helps. and i hope everything works out for u .

Serenity, you are asking the precise questions for a psychiatrist. Not general MD, but a psychiatrist. That's what they specialize in. There are numerous SSRI's. One that will work for you and it won't be the one that works for me or him or her, it will be the one that works for you. I am currently on Lexapro which is knows for it's not having as many side effects. I hardly had any and am doing well on it. May want to ask about it.

I was on Paxil for a few years and it has helped alot! In may a new doctor moved me to Celexa, It was a gradual move, but a bad move. Celexa made my a millon times worse. I am back on Paxil and stable. So of all the meds I have taken Paxil has been the best, I still have work to do, but it has help alot.

I was on Paxil for a few years and it has helped alot! In May a new doctor moved me to Celexa, It was a gradual move, but a bad move. Celexa made my a million times worse. I am back on Paxil and stable. So of all the meds I have taken Paxil has been the best, I still have work to do, but it has help alot.
Anthony
E-Mail always welcomed !!!
Anot3@aol.com

This just goes to show that meds work differently for different people. I was on Paxil, only for one week, but it is one week I would never want to live again. It made me feel psychotic. My MD told me that was the worst medicine to be on for anyone who was feeling the way I was...very anxious, etc. From reading others' responses, it obviously works different for each person. I would never recommend it, but that was MY experience. It has helped others and that is wonderful! My MD put me on Risperdal. It is a mood stabilizer, and seems to be working okay for me. It is actually used to treat bipolar, which I don't have, but I needed a mood stabilizer more than an antianxiety drug though. We are all so very unique. I hope you find one that works for you, though I'm sure many of us would like it if we could not take any meds at all.