Paxil: Anyone On This or Were You at One Time?

• wls_color

  I was suffering (as many already know) from a bad bout with anxiety about a year and a half ago. My doctor put me on 30 MG of Paxil per day. Well, over the past 3 weeks he has weened me off of it, deciding that it was time to move on.
  
  Has anyone else been on or been taken off of this drug?
  
  I'm experiencing dizziness and been extremely lightheaded over the past 3 weeks. I went off completely on Friday and can't concentrate at work, can barely walk without running into walls and feel like I could collapse at any given time. I also get sudden rushes of what feels like blood rushing in and out of my head....putting pressure on my sinuses, etc.
  
  I know that not too many of you have probably ever experienced this or taken this drug...but wanted some advise prior to going to the doctor. I'm sure this is all withdrawal from the drug, I've researched it. But has anyone else had anything similar and how freaking long will it last????
• Fab1b

  

  No meds for me, except the occasional pain killer when I break something which happens from time to time. THC is the only good drug!!
• snyds113

  Yes well my wife went off of it about 5 years ago.She was taking it for about three years.The side affects mirror her side affects.You will feel much better in about a week or so.
• Society

  Alcohol, and lots of it. Make sure to mix in a pain killer.
• wls_color

  ^^^
  Hahaha....who allowed this douchebag to join?
  
  (I actually did laugh at your dickheaded-ness)
• kritzell

  

  I've been on Paxil for 3 years now(20MG) You need to get back to your Dr soon if you're having that much trouble. There's a lot of info on this drug on google. My best wishes to you for a speedy recovery!
  
  http://www.quitpaxil.org/Main/symptoms.htm
• wls_color

  kritzell wrote: I've been on Paxil for 3 years now(20MG) You need to get back to your Dr soon if you're having that much trouble. There's a lot of info on this drug on google. My best wishes to you for a speedy recovery!
  
  http://www.quitpaxil.org/Main/symptoms.htm

  Thanks Kritzell. I am planning on going to my physician tomorrow. However, I will add that I had these same "similar" symptoms when starting the drug. However, it seemed a little worse and I broke down emotionally a few times because I had the light head and dizziness on top of the anxiety. Now, my withdrawal seems to be more focused on everything but the anxiety as I haven't had that for a long time now....
  
  Grrr.....I hate drugs.
  
  PS- Thanks for that link. It answered my question...6 weeks is probably about the worst case I have to put up with this BS. Just in time for Xmas!
• Chesapeake

  

  I took Paxil for about 2 weeks but it eliminated the finishing move in a certain room of the house.
• wls_color

  Chesapeake wrote: I took Paxil for about 2 weeks but it eliminated the finishing move in a certain room of the house.

  Haha....I hear you there. I haven't been able to perform that finishing move very well for about a year and a half. Saturday, my mother-in-law came and took the kids for the afternoon....I was able to perform the finishing move (in EXPLOSIVE fashion) in about 30 seconds. Good thing my wife was able to have her "finishing move" prior due to my selfishness and crazy skills....or she might have killed me.
• wls_color

  Okay...maybe that was a little TMI.....
  
  Eh, I'll leave it though...in the word's of a cheating ghetto sista on Maury Povich..."you-doan-ow-me!"
• Chesapeake

  

  wls_color wrote:

  Chesapeake wrote: I took Paxil for about 2 weeks but it eliminated the finishing move in a certain room of the house.

  Haha....I hear you there. I haven't been able to perform that finishing move very well for about a year and a half. Saturday, my mother-in-law came and took the kids for the afternoon....I was able to perform the finishing move (in EXPLOSIVE fashion) in about 30 seconds. Good thing my wife was able to have her "finishing move" prior due to my selfishness and crazy skills....or she might have killed me.

  LOL!
• unique_67

  I have taken Paxil in the past, as I suffer from severe anxiety, OCD and depression, along with a bit of paranoia at times.
  
  I am no longer on Paxil, but at the present time take clonazepam(1mg, times per day) and Effexor XR(150 mg, 1 time per day.
  
  I'm 42, have been in counseling and on medicine since age 21, and had my first panic attacks at age 13. And, age 13 is actually the first time I saw a Psychologist. I was also hospitalized at age 13 for panic attacks, but was not admitted to the Psych Unit.
  
  My first trip to the psych unit was in 1989 at age 21, and I have been in the psych unit a total of 5-6 times, with the most recent being in 2002.
• wls_color

  Wow..unique; I wasn't going to post on here any longer, but after reading that I wanted to tell you that at your expense, I feel a little better. I took it solely for the purpose of my anxiety. It sounds like you have had a rough battle over the better part of 3 decades and I wish you nothing but the best. I couldn't even imagine and feel stupid for complaining about the small issues I've had caused by it....
  
  Anyway, good luck.
• friendfromlowry

  I've also have problems with depression/social anxiety over the past year. I was taking Zoloft for about five months, then started to feel better so was weened off. I went on Paxil for the anxiety, and probably only took about two-three doses before quitting. The damn side effects -- what you mentioned above, along with the random nausea/headaches, and worst was probably insomnia.
  Hell, sleep was what I did best to cope with the depression, now these meds were taking that away.
  
  I don't know...the last year has been a struggle, but I never wanted to go back on any meds. I use to talk to counselors and talked with family daily about it. But I've even lost the desire to talk about it. I still talk to my family obviously, but not about that. I learned that no matter who you talk to, they themselves cannot say or do anything to help much. It's just something you have to learn to cope with.
• Chesapeake

  

  friendfromlowry wrote: I've also have problems with depression/social anxiety over the past year. I was taking Zoloft for about five months, then started to feel better so was weened off. I went on Paxil for the anxiety, and probably only took about two-three doses before quitting. The damn side effects -- what you mentioned above, along with the random nausea/headaches, and worst was probably insomnia.
  Hell, sleep was what I did best to cope with the depression, now these meds were taking that away.
  
  I don't know...the last year has been a struggle, but I never wanted to go back on any meds. I use to talk to counselors and talked with family daily about it. But I've even lost the desire to talk about it. I still talk to my family obviously, but not about that. I learned that no matter who you talk to, they themselves cannot say or do anything to help much. It's just something you have to learn to cope with.

  I've learned that these medications do help but the side effects on all of them always outweigh the benefits.
• Chesapeake

  

  I'll just stay crazy!
  
  *jumps out the winda*
• friendfromlowry

  Yeah Zoloft I think did help me out a bit, the struggle was getting there though. Most of these meds take at least 3-5 weeks to fully kick in, and during that time you're just getting screwed with by the side-effects. And don't even think about drinking while on these meds, either.
• wls_color

  friendfromlowry wrote:And don't even think about drinking while on these meds, either.

  Ha...learned that the hard way. No I'm the resident douche of message boards.