Shown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Hildi on June 12, 2002, at 13:28:21
Can anyone tell me of their experiences with paxil? My zoloft isn't working anymore, my anxiety is terrible, and I just feel sick. I seem to hear more bad things about paxil than about lots of other AD's (or is it just my imagination?).
Posted by joy on June 12, 2002, at 17:59:53
In reply to paxil, posted by Hildi on June 12, 2002, at 13:28:21
I believe Paxil works better for anxiety than Zoloft for most people. However, there are side effects like constipation, sexual, and weight gain. Have you tried Xanax or another benzo on an as needed basis only? I am going back on Prozac and take generic Xanax as needed. Paxil worked well but the side effects were tough. You can also ask your doc about adding Buspar to your Zoloft to pep it up. Good luck.
Joy
Posted by Lita on June 14, 2002, at 16:21:04
In reply to paxil, posted by Hildi on June 12, 2002, at 13:28:21
I had the horrible side effect of disruption of R.E.M. sleep. I did not realize that was what was happening until I went off of Paxil (I was on it for 6 weeks). I started feeling GREAT once I went off of it. My doctor put me on Wellbutrin then and I'll never know if the Wellbutrin helped at all, or just going off Paxil did it. The doctor who gave me Paxil insisted I stay on it for 6 weeks to "give it a chance to work." Pfffffffft.
On Paxil, I was totally unable to concentrate or stay at task for more than 10 or 15 seconds. My mind would just wander off. My boss was angry at me because I wasn't getting my work done (writing up research). It was awful. My depression became much worse.
However, many more people are helped by Paxil than who have my experience. I know that I was in a small minority. I am pretty sure Prozac caused the same thing for me, but I took it a long time ago (when it first came out) and only for 2 weeks before I said, "This sucks!" and went off of it.
I have been having problems with my depression lately (dysthymia w/atypical depression), and my doctor is considering putting me on Wellbutrin with Zylexa, to counter the anxiety.
Posted by Hildi on June 14, 2002, at 17:36:51
In reply to Re: paxil, posted by joy on June 12, 2002, at 17:59:53
Thanks for the replys! I was afraid to go on the Paxil because I hear all the time about the trouble getting off of it and also because of a past experience a long time ago when I took paxil while I was drinking ALOT and I almost Killed myself- I almost OD'd. Very frightening experience that has 'distorted' my view of paxil. But I am interested in paxil because it seems geared towards treating anxiety. Anxiety is a major problem for me. It is ironic I was worrying about the Paxil withdrawal after what I just went through . . . I have depression with severe anxiety. I got in my head the notion that I was going to go natural- just St. JOhn's Wort or SAMe. I also think I need hormones and that I am in periomenopause but thats another story. I slowly tapered my Zoloft from my usual 50 mg. to 12.5 mg. and then tried St. John's Wort for a couple of days. Had a bad experience with that so then I tried SAMe for two or three days. I thought I was going to die! Couldn't sleep, jumpy, MAJOR anxiety, itchy, twitchy, confusion, blurred vision, restless exhaustion, achy, etc .. So, I let a day go by then took zoloft again, thinking it would calm me down- no luck, just more jumpy. At that point I called my Dr. and said to order me Buspar. At only 5 mg. it increased all the negative I was already feeling. I felt like I had been slipped some strange drug. I was in hell. Now, I think part of this was a reaction to all the different things I had taken and I know that the SAMe and SJW aslo target norepineprene, which probably increased my anxiety- but I think a lot of this was a withdrawal from the zoloft. I let two days go by to try to let all the neurotransmitters calm down and I even felt worse. Last night I started Celexa. Dr. said this is more calming than zoloft. I don't feel in hell anymore and was able to function today. I am scared because I never took this before. I really think the SSRI's help with my anxiety, big time. I cannot take benzos because I am a recovering alcoholic- benzos would be bad for me. After this recent experience with Buspar I am afraid to try it again. What is Zylexa?
Posted by Lita on June 14, 2002, at 17:40:24
In reply to Re: paxil, posted by Hildi on June 14, 2002, at 17:36:51
You asked, "What is Zylexa?"
Just plug it into the search engine for this board (all years). There have been quite a few discussions on it. Good luck...
This is the end of the thread.
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