I guess this is probably a loaded question, but does anyone have any experience with Paxil? I was thinking of asking my GP for a prescription to deal with some anxiety issues. Of course, I'm worried about long and short term side effects, and the like. I've read some reviews (from the manufacturer's site) saying that it is one of the safer anti-depressants/anti-anxiety medications with minimal side effects. Does anyone have any real world experience with it? If you would rather talk privately about it, feel free to PM me.

Thanks,
Justin

Well, speaking from experience, Prozac was definitely an anti-depressant that gave me very little side effects when I was taking it. However, I haven't taken Paxil (my brother did, though). But, yeah, Prozac helped a lot (I'm not on it anymore due to insurance issues).

I take Paxil. The biggest side effect I think is that during the first few weeks of taking it, it will make you really sick until your body becomes used to the medication. It has worked really well for me.

i took it when i was twelve until i was thirteen, or was it fourteen? anyway, it made me faint and i got addicted to it and almost killed myself when i tried to cut it cold turkey.

Every day for the past 4 years. :) It really is one of the safer anti-anxiety agents out there in terms of side effects, long term effects, etc. I've heard of people who have gained weight on it, but personally, if I have, it wasn't enough to notice. I also don't really exercise, so there's probably most of my problem.

It comes in generic now too, so it won't cost $90/a bottle. And SSRI's are kind of like ibuprofen in the sense that if one doesn't work, another might. So if you got Paxil and didn't see it working in a month or two, your doctor could give you Lexapro, or Prozac (though I'd think that would be more for depression), or Zoloft.

Only bad thing I can say about Paxil (and any SSRI) is that you CANNOT just stop taking it. I've gone without it for a couple days waiting for a refill appointment, and by the second day, my head felt so heavy, and yet I felt dizzy. Not fun. But your doctor would put you on a gradual step down, should you decide your life is great and you want to try life without it.

Just be completely honest with your doctor about how you feel, what you do to avoid things, etc, so that they can give you the correct dose (regular Paxil comes in 10mg up to 60mg). I happen to be on 30mg.

If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask!

I take Paxil. The biggest side effect I think is that during the first few weeks of taking it, it will make you really sick until your body becomes used to the medication. It has worked really well for me.
It didn't do that to me. I felt fine.

antidepressants did not help me.

It didn't do that to me. I felt fine.


It made me really sick for like two weeks. Really tired too. :(

It made me really sick for like two weeks. Really tired too. :(
That stinks! Souns like it was good that you stayed with it though.


lol....I sound like Tom Cruise's exact opposite. Yay antidepressants! :lol:

That stinks! Souns like it was good that you stayed with it though.



Oh yeah. Though there were a few times that I felt well enough to believe that I didn't need to take it anymore. And I think you know what happened then.:eek:

Oh yeah. Though there were a few times that I felt well enough to believe that I didn't need to take it anymore. And I think you know what happened then.:eek:
That's what scares me....the downfall I might suffer.

That's what scares me....the downfall I might suffer.

Yeah, don't ever go cold turkey.

Just a quick update on my situation -

I went to the doctor today and he prescribed Zoloft. He explained that the most common side effects are weight gain, sexual side effects, and upset stomach (if the pill isn't taken with food as it should). However, he also said that such side effects are rare, and he seemed willing to allow me to try other meds if the Zoloft doesn't agree with me. I have a followup appointment in 3 weeks.

Thanks to all who responded.

Justin

I took Paxil one night and slept fine, the next morning my eyes looked like they were ready to come out of their sockets. It was a terrible feeling. :eek:
Other anti-depressants made the muscles of my face tighten up; it was like someone had injected Botox on me, constipation and no arousal (TMI).

Anti-depressents weird me out. I'm not against them, but I think it's too easily distributed, it's a serious medication with side effects.

question to the people on it, what exactly was the proccess for being put on it?

Just a quick update on my situation -

I went to the doctor today and he prescribed Zoloft. He explained that the most common side effects are weight gain, sexual side effects, and upset stomach (if the pill isn't taken with food as it should). However, he also said that such side effects are rare, and he seemed willing to allow me to try other meds if the Zoloft doesn't agree with me. I have a followup appointment in 3 weeks.

Thanks to all who responded.

Justin

I guess you never saw my PM? Anyways, good luck with that.

I'm not against them, but I think it's too easily distributed, it's a serious medication with side effects.


I totally agree. I think they're great for some people. But they can be over-prescribed.

Just a quick update on my situation -

I went to the doctor today and he prescribed Zoloft. He explained that the most common side effects are weight gain, sexual side effects, and upset stomach (if the pill isn't taken with food as it should). However, he also said that such side effects are rare, and he seemed willing to allow me to try other meds if the Zoloft doesn't agree with me. I have a followup appointment in 3 weeks.

Thanks to all who responded.

Justin

I take Zoloft and it really works well for me. I've tried all the rest and this one seems to really work.

question to the people on it, what exactly was the proccess for being put on it?

I just went to my GP and explained how I felt. Though now I'm with a psychiatrist who monitors the drug.

My mom took it and all I know is don't quit it cold turkey. My mom did that because no one told her not to and a few days later, she had a seizure. No one knew for sure if the seizure was related to the medication, but she read a whole bunch of stories online about people who experienced the same thing.