Posted by Cam W. on August 16, 2001, at 11:08:10
In reply to Re: started paxil two days ago, feel sick, can I stop?, posted by noah4321 on August 16, 2001, at 8:32:28
Noah - Anxiety and stomach upset are two common start-up side effects of Paxil. For the stomach upset, you can try taking the drug with a meal and sucking on peppermints or sipping flat ginger ale. These should help.
As for the anxiety, perhaps you can ask your doctor for a benzodiazepine for short-term use (max. 3 weeks should be plenty). As your body adjusts to the Paxil, the anxiety will lessen, and by 3 or 4 weeks you should start to notice the drug's anti-anxiety effects kick in.
Like I've said, these side effects are only short term, as your body adjusts to the drug. Any similar medication (ie. SSRI) will cause similar start-up side effects, so you may as well give the Paxil an adequate trial. It would be a shame to give up on a potentially useful drug.
Give your doc a call about the anxiety and see if he thinks a benzodiazepine is warranted. Another way to approach the side effects is to lower the Paxil dose, but this can prolong the side effects, in some cases. See what your doc says.
Good luck - Cam
poster:Cam W.
thread:75183
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010814/msgs/75279.html