Paxil Comments

I quit taking Paxil by switching to Prozac, which has a longer half-life, and then coming off the Prozac. As a result, I didn't have any withdrawal symptoms, whatsoever, and I'd been on 20 mg. of Paxil for over a year.

I'm so sick of hearing about tapering the drug. I'm a registered nurse and still can figure out what tapering is....1/2 tab for 1 month than 1/4 for 1 month?????or what. Need specifics for tapering.

All I wanted to do was get through menopause. Now I'm just trying to get through paxil withdrawals! Guess life is just one "get through" onto another!

(I don't think there is an exact formula that everyone can or should follow. It depends upon the individual. With paxil, you could try shaving a little off each pill, or you could take the liquid form of paxil, and gradually reduce the amount you consume.

How quickly - or slowly - you reduce the amount will depend upon how you feel. The safest way is to go as slowly as possible. - Mark)

I was on Paxil for 4 weeks only, some IGNORANT doctor (and greedy...they get major kickbacks for pushings those meds on us) put me on it after a death in my family. I tried getting off, it was bad. But then I was in a car accident and ended up addicted to opiates. Now THAT eliminated all withdrawals symptoms. I don't recommend it though: getting off opiates is MUCH MUCH MUCH worse. As a matter of fact, it's THE hardest detox to do EVER. So guys, be strong, it's not so bad and once you make it out, you'll be a stronger person than you were before.

When my husband left me after a thirty year marriage, I tried to cope with the changes in my life for eight months. When I could no longer eat, sleep or communicate without screaming at someone and was in danger of losing my job, I went to the doctor.

I didn't want to go on an antidepressant but I didn't want to live with anxiety and feelings that I was going to die. I would wake up at night after a dream and have feelings of terror. I was afraid to sleep because I knew it would keep happening. I lost alot of weight because I couldn't eat.

The doctor gave me Paxil and gradually I got better. I find what I read about post traumatic stress was happening to me, too much recall, everything reminded me of the (I thought) total destruction of my life. With Paxil I could think more clearly and do my job without a car accident. It was exactly what I needed.

I am still on Paxil after two years. I have social phobia also which it doesn't help all that well with but it has calmed me down alot. I still get nightmares the same, and I take an Ativan for that, but at least during the day I feel more normal. I take 30 mg.each morning and am getting through this divorce thing.

The doctor wants me to stay on it another year until certain things are settled and then try to come off of it.

The only side effect I can see from it is a buzz, like white noise when I go to bed. Other than that, it has done only good for me. I can focus on what I am doing, and have hardly any anxiety. My emotions are still there. I can laugh lots and yes, it still hurts somewhat, but I can put my loss and rejection in the background of my thoughts.

Before Paxil I could think of nothing else and it was very disruptive. I wanted to die and many people did not want to be with me because all and everything reminded me of him. It was like he was my entire life. So I can see things clearly now, how unhealthy the marriage was, how one sided it was. When the time comes for me to go off Paxil, I will and I will be grateful I had it to save my life.

Because I wanted to die, I was so afraid of being alone and felt so used and rejected. I have learned alot about myself while on Paxil. Without it I would still be spiralling out of control, going round and round covering the same groung over and over. A total nut.

I just wanted to write this to show another side of Paxil. Without it I wonder if I would have made it through this. I believe I would have wasted away from malnutrition, and gone off the deep end from lack of sleep. Maybe Paxil isn't for everyone but it has helped me to go on living. It is not a demon drug when the benefits outweigh the risks. Im glad it is available.

Nadine, I can not understand how can a doctor tell you to stop your pills because you were manic?!

I had that problem though long time ago! I went back in my old country and my best friend is psychiatrist. He told me I was to much manic so he prescribed me some antipasychotic and told me to stop taking efexor. So, I did that. Six weeks after I came back to Canada I had terrible bout of depression. I was told to start taking back efexor, but now it did not work at all. Finnally, I got paxil and very soon I was ok. I did not mention I take lithium for my manic disorder.

I have a problem with my libido and I know it is due to the paxil. My urologist told me to stop taking paxil few days before planned sexual activity, but I am afraid

I've been taking paxil since I was 18,now 27.Just recently wanted to change medicines,because It wasn't the anxiety anymore, I was feeling depressed? I didn't feel like the paxil was helping me anymore, so my dr. prescribed cymbalta. that made me cough and vomit- wasn't for me, so the dr put me on prozac whoa!!!!!!!! the experience was horrible,I don't know if it was because I was bouncing from one drug to another or it was potent. So I'm now back on paxilCR 12.5 mg.,low dose. I want to stop taking Ant-anxiety eventually in my life,the sooner the better,but I can't handle the withdraw symptoms! Been there done that. Is that something a person just has to deal with for a period of time or forever,those withdrawl symptoms are unbearable????If anyone has ever successfully succeeded going off Ant-depressents how did you manage please let me know. thanks,christina On Tue Dec 19 19:21:54 2006

I tried getting off paxil twice, along with my seroquel. Let me tell you, the first time I wound up in the hospital with severe dizziness and non alertness. after taking antivert, I was sent home and told to take a Paxil. Next day I was fine. My psychiarist says it is 'odd'.

So this time, he thought I was too manic and took me off both paxil and seroquel.

I have missed a whole week of work being dizzy. and sick. I took a paxil tonight and am feeling better. and i took a seroquel.

i am calling pdoc in morning to tell him I don't want off my current meds. I cannot take tegretol or any other antiziezure meds. If you only knew how sick I was.

Yes the withdrawls are horrific! Vertigo,night terrors,mood swings,brain Zaps,etc....I taper off slowly,even doing so you still have some withdrawl symptoms.This last time I was prescribed Elavil to counteract most of the side effects of withdrawl from Paxil....It worked great!!!

It made all the side effects of withdrawl so mild I was actually able to function.

Elavil is a non-narcotic medication that can be stopped at anytime without withdrawls.It really helps with sleeping also.I also found that I am very sensitive to SSRI's.Can you get permanent damage from taking them for prolonged amount of times? I feel of balance alot,not alert like I should be and have vision problems I cannot explain.

I have been on Paxil for 13 years. I was diagnosed with panic disorder and mild depression at age 17. I look back now and say "Hello! I was a teenager! Isn't that the life of a teenager??" Anyhow, I have tried unsuccessfully a couple times to stop taking it, because of the withdrawal, but this time I am determined. Not only do I want to have children but I don't feel that I need Paxil anymore- if I ever did. I started with 20mg and am currently down to 5mg- I have been weening myself off for a few months. Paxil took away my emotions and I STILL HAD PANIC ATTACKS!

The withdrawal is difficult to say the least. I feel electric shocks, nausea, dizziness, mood swings, anger, I want to cry all the time, nightmares (I never used to have nightmares), tinnitus, headaches, unsteadiness, and these horrible bouts of "inside" shivers- feels like my insides are shaking.

I am pushing on and ask my husband to bear with me through this. I question myself and say "Maybe I need to be on Paxil"- and the answer to that is NO. I quit smoking a year and a half ago and if I can do that I can push through this. But you must be seriously committed to stopping. I know I tried a few times before and went back on it because it was easier than dealing with all of this. I know that with God and the support of my husband and family, I can do this. God bless anyone trying to do this, it is NOT easy.

I cannot believe what I am hearing from each of you. Mark, I swear I have at one time said evry word you have written in these pages.I am elated, hopeful,(as much as one can be on Paxill) and terrified at what lies before me. I know I can do this, My life is conducive to it and I have always been on the 'front line' for others, but I have tasted withdrawals in small amounts and am not looking forward to this next step.

Thank you for being honest enough to get in people's faces and compassionate enough to do it for free. Your actions stand you above many others. My question is, please explain 'zaps'. I am sure I know what you mean but would like to be certain. Thank you so much

(Brain zaps are the electrical shocks that some people feel when they're going through SSRI withdrawal. They generally start in the head and can extend all the way through the body. Extremely disturbing and irritating, they don't seem to cause permanent damage. - Mark)

I wanted to give an update on my paxil withdrawal progress because today is the 6 week mark for being paxil free. I posted my first comment here three weeks ago, and I never thought I could make it to six weeks without having to go back on paxil.

There were so many times the withdrawal was so overwhelming, I didn't think I was going to make it. The anxiety rushes mixed with insane and irrational thoughts and feelings scared me more than I could ever imagine. I had body shakes (like I was connected to a jack hammer) in conjunction with terror and anxiety that made me feel like I was losing my mind. I still have them at times, even at six weeks, but they are getting more managable. The night sweats and zaps have completely subsided, but I still occasionally dry heave and have an upset stomach. Doctors do not have a clue that it could last this long.. but I am proof.

If I didn't have my family, I really don't think I could have come this far without immediatly going back on it. Just know that everything you are experiencing is directly related to paxil withdrawal. I reccommend getting a great therapist to help you process through it, as well as having an amazing support system. I know I wouldn't be where I am right now without mine.

Stay strong, stay positive, and know that six weeks paxil free is possible. I will continue to update you guys with my progress as I know this site helped me more than you can imagine. Thank you for allowing me to having a place to share here. Reading all of your stories helped me to understand what was happening to me. You are all in my prayers.

I have been on and off Paxil for 10 years. I would never go off it for more than 4 or 5 days due to the horrible withdrawal effects. I tried to go off it for 3 months about 3 years ago but felt like I was actually forced to go back on it. What drove me to go back on it were the symptoms of real clinical depression which I know I have had my entire life. Paxil was a MIRACLE drug for me and gave me the ability to simply enjoy life for the first time on a regular basis. I worshipped Paxil for a long time. It just seemed like all the things I had learned in counseling made complete sense and I was able to interact with people in a positive way I couldn't ever do before. I needed it. I really did.

BUT: Over the years I grew increasingly numb and nonchalant about life. I didn't care when bad things (or good things) happened to me or to other people. I couldn't care.

I was like an empty vessel - and the blackness of depression was comparable to this emptiness I felt.

It has been a love hate relationship with Paxil for me. It has rescued me and then abandoned me. Finally, this month, I gave in to the intense emptiness and lack of emotion and said enough is enough. I have been off Paxil about 3 weeks and although the physical withdrawal symptoms of horrible dizziness and nausea ended after about 10 days (for the most part) I am going through the next stage (went through it before) that drove me back on the drug.

It's the demons. Nightmares - I guess you could call them that. I call them attacks. Last night was a horrible night for me. I had this voice telling me in my dream that I ought to feel guilty about something and I said - oh no you don't - I am NOT ashamed and I should NOT feel guilty.

Then I was attacked. It's the only was I can explain it. I felt an instense chill go up my spine and then my body started to shudder and was vibrating intensely and it was like I was being shaken by some kind of machine like a jackhammer. I couldn't move - I wanted to cry out to my husband but I couldn't wake myself - I knew I was dreaming and tried deperately to wake up but couldn't. I went to sleep in another room after that and of course returned to hell. This time I felt like someone was holding a pillow over my face trying to suffocate me - I couldn't breathe, I couldn't move, I was fully aware it was happening in my sleep but again couldn't call out to my Husband for help nor move at all.

I am fearful of going to bed at night now and I have to be only in brightly lit rooms when the dark comes. My Husband works 4-midnight so I am alone during that time. I don't go to bed until he gets home - but obviously it doesn't make it any easier once I fall asleep.

This is horrible - I want to know if anyone else has gone through this during withdrawal. I do feel alone and I am afraid I am going to go insane

I am on day 3 of Paxil withdrawal, only side effects are nausea, and dizziness, some headache. I've been taking St. John's Wort.

I want to get the Paxil out of my system as I have read so many bad things about it. My brother is into herbal and alternative methods and suggested the SJW.

Check out this link. I have not yet got the chance to try these 'remedies' but it makes sense to me. It's how to lose weight on Paxil and why Paxil causes us to gain the weight, etc. Check it out. I hope this helps us both! And if it does, pass it on to others like I am. :) Good luck!

I quit paxil (after 15 years -- 13 on paxil, 2 before that on prozac) 8 days ago. Having a rough time. Had no idea the withdrawal would be this bad. I have muscular weakness, tiredness, profuse sweating, dizziness, sloshing in my head, headache, nausea, slurred speech, mental confusion and nightmares. I just keep hoping every day that it will get better and give me hope that I can get off of this horrid drug.

I want to inform you of an organization called Label Me Sane (www.labelmesane.com). I ordered their products in order to taper off Paxil (this was my 3rd attempt - I stumbled across their web-site in a desparate search for help) and it worked beautifully - for me and many, many others. They have come up with a proven method of safely tapering off anti-depressant, anti-anxiety drugs and sleeping pills. They have a complete line of natural products and workbook to follow. This was developed by doctors and experts. I was able to go to work and completely function very comfortably during the tapering. I had no withdrawal symptoms during the taper - just minor dizziness toward the end. I have been free of Paxil for almost three months now and feel great. Please, please, please, post this information on your web site as an option to help everyone out there who visits this site safely come off their medications.

Paxil withdrawal is a nightmare for me...literally. I am having sweats and night terrors every night. When I am awake, I can barely focus my eyes because everything seems so blurred. I feel like I will cry every second.

You know that feeling you get when the tears are about to come and you are holding them back? That is the way I feel constantly for no reason other than this damn paxil withdrawal.

Prescribing this stuff should be illegal because it becomes so addicting to the body that your body tries to force you to stay on it or suffer the horrible consequences of withdrawal. I pray for relief for me and anyone else who is suffering this way or in even worse ways from this terrible drug.

I have been crazy for the past week. I just became pregnant and wanted to get off of paxil. I was weening myself off of it, but when I stopped taking it altogether, I had almost all the symptoms. The dizziness, nausea, night sweats, sounds that hurt, zaps, were so bad that I missed work for a week. The doctor attributed it to pregnancy, but I knew it was beyond that. I'm so glad I found your site and know that I'm not crazy.

First, I would like to thank all of you that have shared your experiences as I would not have been able tolerate the distress and make it to 19 days paxil free.

My nightmare began two days after I decreased my Paxil from 15mg to 10mg. I was at work, and all of a sudden, I felt hot and dizzy and had to rush home to vommit. I thought that I was coming down with a flu, yet I did not have any fever. From then on, I felt so dizzy that I could not lift my head of my pillow and could not stop vommiting and sweating.

This went on for several days, and at this point, I really thought I might have a flu. So, I went to the doctor and did a full blood work up, everything came back normal. I didn't even think this could be the paxil as I had decreased it before from 30mg to 25mg, then to 20mg, and finally to 15mg. The most I ever experienced was minor dizziness and neausa, so I NEVER imagined that this would happen.

Well, three days later I had anxiety rushes, zaps in my brain, chronic vomitting, diarrhea, intense emotional outbursts, felt like I was going crazy, chills, nightsweats, and hallucinations. My mind was taking me to the darkest of places that I had never seen before.

By the grace of god, I somehow got myself on a plane to NY where my family resides and they took me to the neurologist who initially put me on this poison 6 yrs ago.

He then broke the news to me that this was a serotonergic response to withdrawing from paxil. He said it shouldn't last longer than another few days. Well, that was a bunch of BS!!

As I stated above, it has been offically 19 days with no paxil and I am still on the couch unable to work, go to school, or even walk the dog for more than five min. a day. It has been one of the worst expereinces of my life. I wish someone would have told me about this before I ever took it. Non addictive my A**!!

I feel a little better everyday, and the one thing that is keeping my going is knowing I will never be on meds again. I am feeling emotionally stronger than I have ever felt,and facing all of my fears that I used to want to numb out. Additionally,I am being more honest with myself and others. Paxil numbed me and made me feel like a liar. In fact, I used to call them my lie pills as I was able to lie to myself so easily.

I am hoping that all of my symptoms will subside within the next week, making it one month of HELL. For all of you who are at the beginning of your paxil withdrawal journy, just know if I can get through it, so can you!!!! Good luck and God Bless...

i have been taking paxil for seven years.for twenty years before this i had tried other medications and strategies to deal with depression and anxiety.paxil works really well for me and i have no side effects.

Does anyone know of any holistic way to help ease the withdrawals. I have been trying to do it for a year now and some days feel like i am losing my mind.

some days the anger from the withdrawals is hard to control and the "ZAPS" make me feel crazy.

I have been taking Paxil for 3 years this November. Over these past few weeks, my life has fallen apart, and I couldn't understand why.

I use to enjoy things, I played with my kids, I had a wonderful active relationship with my husband. But due to stress and just life, I became depressed and my Dr placed me on Paxil.

I was so happy when I started Paxil. No more crying outbursts, I was no longer yelling at the kids. Now I see that I don't do anything. I don't care, I don't feel. Does that make any sense? I can't remember the last time I felt something for my husband. And that is scarring me. Were talking divorce because I no longer "feel".

So I am here, looking for answers. Should I ask the dosage to be upped? What? But after reading all these posts, and other articles on the Internet, I see that I need to get off this stuff.

I am going to start by decreasing the dose, I pray my marriage can withstand this time period. i plan to keep checking in here. If anyone has any words of wisdom I would appreciate hearing them.

(I believe most people who take antidepressants have no business being on them. You sound like a textbook example of that. - Mark)

I agree with this web site completely. The depression I suffered was never as bad as PAXIL WITHDRAWAL.

My wife of ten years left me for a friend of ours. I was devestated. Couldnt sleep, eat or concentrate, felt like I was ready to do myself in. Doctor prescribed PAXIL and all was fine with the world. I felt great and I believe PAXIL gave me the strength to get through our divorce.

Was on 20mg of PAXIL for almost 4 years. The first time I suffered withdrawal was by accident, forgot to take it one day. That 24 hours was from hell...vomiting, diziness, zaps, couldnt stand up for fear of fainting.

Three months ago I started weaning myself off paxil. I am now down to one 20mg every three days, I still get dizzy and feel like puke by 72 hours but originally I would get that same feeling after 24 hours. I think I am making progress, my next step is go four days on 20mgs....I want to get off PAXIL completely but I am afraid I would end up getting sick and miss too much work.

PAXIL did help me, but if I had known it was this hard to get off of it, I may not have taken it at all.

I went off Paxil and it was some of the worst experiences in my life. I had the brain zaps and dizziness. I was supposed to be off it in 6 weeks, but b/c of the side effects I took a lower dose for about 2 more weeks. Going slowly helped a lot. Finally, after about 6 weeks the brain zaps stopped and I have been free from any withdrawal symptoms now for over a year. I will NEVER go back on Paxil or recommend it to anyone! It is horrible to get off - but possible!!!

I posted here quite awhile back,ready to give up with this devil drug I had been on for 9 years. I tried so many times to get off or step down the dose but too many withdrawal symptoms.

Finally the doctor and I worked out a plan to gradually lower the dose of Paxil while introducing the same amount I was lowering of Effexor, took me about 6 months but I had NO BAD EFFECTS from getting off the Paxil. I AM FINALLY FREE, not really as I am still on Effexor but what a difference! Before I could hardly wake up in the morning, like being in a fog but now my mind feels much clearer.

Please listen to me that the ONLY way to get off Paxil is a very gradual decrease. I do need the Effexor because of things in my life going on, but do not lose hope. There is a way out and I wish everyone the very best in their quest to get off this POISON!

I have taken both of these at a medium dosage level and have experienced the brain zaps. Especially when I suddenly quite using the Paxil. They lasted for about 5-6 weeks. My family doctor ended up having me get an cranial MRI and an EEG to check my brain anatomy/physiology functions. The results were normal but I sure did not feel normal.

I did some research and found that these drugs are later developments of the original Prozac. However, prozac gets into the body and ends up forming similar ,or relative, compounds in the body that stick around for several weeks. These compounds act similarly to the original Prozac compound. They seem to be helpful when trying to quite taking the Prozac because by staying in the body for a while these related compounds actually wean you off of the drug.

Paxil, on the other requires that you actually wean off of it by reducing the dosage over a number of weeks. I wish that I had known this when I first quite the drug.

I've been on paxil now for almost 4 years. My Dr. recently increased my dose to 60mg daily. So me being only 5'2" 105 lbs I'm on 60mg of paxil, 30 of buspar, and 1.5 mg of xanax a day. I've been trying congnitive therapy and going to church. This had made me feel a little better. Oh lord if I would have known that before the Dr. gave me this wonderful daily cocktail. The longer I'm on paxil, the worse I start feeling emotionally and physically.

After reading these stories and experiencing my own withdrawal after the mail lost my meds and I went 6 days with out it, I'm absolutely scared to stay on it.....I'm also terrified of coming off of it. Since the increase from 40 to 60 mg, it almost feels like withdrawal symptoms. I'm going to start tapering off my meds tonight by only 5mg, but I figure it is a start. I am emotionally numb and I have troubles caring about things I used to be so passionate about. It's almost like having depression with a side of depression and anxiety for dessert.

I'm so glad I found this site. I don't nearly feel as alone as I have. I have had great support, but it's so much better to know that there are people out there that know your pain. If anyone has any advise on the best way of going about this, please let me know. safielder@yahoo.com

I've decided that if the withdrawal symptoms get too bad I'm going to request the liquid paxil from my dr. That way I can go down 1mg at a time if I need to. Since I do have a new doctor and not the pill happy bastard that I used to..(he switched or changed 3 different meds in one appointment. If I could I would have him arrested for crimes against humanity. No telling how many people he's doing that to)

So please if there is anyone out there that could make this a little easier, please let me know.

I just want to say that I am thankful I found this site. I starting having withdrawl symptoms a few days ago not understanding what was going on. I did't even realize that it was withdrawl symptoms. I was having dizzyness, headaches and feeling of being shocked. I was also feeling sick to my stomach.

I went to the doctor and when asked if I was on any medication I did't say paxil because I had gone off it for about 4-5 days. They could't find anything wrong with me. I got home and was still having the same problems only sronger.

I then decided to find out if I was having withdrawl sypmtoms just out of curisoty and WOW what I fouund out was amazing. It would have been nice if my doctor had told me about any of this stuff. I am going to make an attempt to get off these pills. I have been on 20mg for almost a year now and will try to wean myself off.

Hopefully with the love and support of my family and friends it will happn soon. Thank you for your support. and letting me vent.

I was furloughed from my company 3 years ago and went into a deep depression. My doctor put me onto paxil and up until recently I was taking the 37.5mgs CR version.

Approx three weeks ago I nearly committed suicide and up until that time I really had been doing well.

Went back to the DR., that was on a Wednesday, a day after I had fully planned my departure from this world,and he suggested changing to another form of anti-depressent and perhaps seeing a psych..which I had resisted up until this point as I feel once you are in their hands you may well be lost forever, just a personal feeling.

On the Friday, that is three days later, I received a letter in my regualr postal mail. This letter stated that SmithKline had made a batch of 37.5 CR Paxil with NO active ingredient. I read it and dismissed it, such was my frame of mind. Then like a bolt of lightening I realized that potentially I had been taking a placebo for a period of time, in fact three weeks.

I phoned the pharmacy concerned and they indeed confirmed that the batch of medication i had received was in fact one of the NON active ingredient batches.

I searched the Internet, no inofrmation on this lack of medication NOTHING!!!!!!!!

Now that I knew the reason why I was feeling like I was I was almost ELATED. I wasn't going nuts, I just hadn't been taking the medication.

Now I haven't gone back to Paxil nor any other antidepressant and surprise surprise I am mentally feeling significantly better Huhhhhhhh.

I am still feeling dreadful withdrawals, nasea, dizziness etc but I mentally feel like a giant.

Of course this doesn't, at the moment, make too much sense to me as to why coming off medication that is supposed to make me feel better has made me feel better.

I hope many people read this and understand that if they are feeling yukky that the reason may well be that they are taking a placebo and nothing else.

I was prescribed paxil because of depression due to the sudden death of my 27 year old brother due to an overdose of methodone, after one month I stared having headaches and then neck pain which turned into torticollis, which my mother found on the internet.

After 5 months later I am still dealing with this. I found side effects due to paxil that included tortocollis, I was never warned of this and my doctor had no idea, I switched to a differ physician and am now getting injections of steroids in my neck and doing my therpy it has only been 24 hours and the intense pain has let up, I keep hoping and praying that this will help me get my life back.

I am only 29 and I feel like I have been 80 physically. I was wondering if anybody else out there has had this problem with paxil? NO MORE PAXIL FOR ME

Iam currently weaning off genric Paxil went from 20mg to 10mg. It has been almost 3 weeks since I have lowered my dose and I do skip a couple doses during the week. I just wanted to say Iam having no problems at all.

Iam not sure if it has anything to do with I have only been on them 4 mths or not. I just thought I would post my comments and give some people some hope that I have not had any withdrawals at least that Iam aware of.

The only thing I can say is Iam losing weight at a good pace which is good because I did gain 12 lbs from the Paxil. I have lots of energy maybe more now than ever.

I wish everyone luck with success of getting off Paxil and maybe try to find litature about successes that people have had with Paxil.

good luck and my email is karkacz@verizon if anyone would like to discuss more on paxil and getting to be paxil free.

After reading the stories of side effects and withdrawal symptoms published on this site: I feel obligated to share mine. I followed the advice and procedures published freely at theroadback.com. It's been 2 months now - cold turkey from paxil after 9 years. I had some rocky days but I believe the supplements made a huge difference.

Hi, I just want to say that I fully agree with what this site says about paxil and emotions.

They block emotions, and the user feels relief because the negative emotions are no longer felt. But this means that our emotions are neutralised and therefore the positive ones also get blocked.

I have personal experience of all this stuff and I recommend that you feel your emotions and go through the pain of negative emotions and you will find your way back to sanity.

I was only on 30 mg. (for 6 years) but I had a TERRIBLE experience. Hang in there, it gets better.

DO NOT wean down to 10 mg. daily and then go back up to 20 like I did because the terrible feelings WILL pass and you'll just prolong the withdrawal period.

I had lots of trouble sleeping, extreme feelings of panic and terror, I was woken up with panic attacks, and was very short fused. I assumed this was just me without the Paxil, but it ISN'T-it's your brain thinking it neeeds that Paxil!! Be patient with yourself and you'll be rewarded!

I recently just stopped taking paxil and despite the horrible side effects i am feelings, which i will get to later, i feel like such a different person.i actually feel more mature and grown up. i feel like i can handle situations better then when i was on the medication. i used to think tom cruise was a nut case but i think i agree with him now.

I just wanted to say that my mom suffers badly with anxiety and recently had to go off her Paxil because her Dr. was to busy to see her, causing her to go into a serious state of depression, all she did was cry for days and days. Finally being a daughter that can't sit by and watch her mom feel insane, I made her go to the emergency room hoping they would help her. The Dr. there told her that she can not come off meds like that and gave her a persription to renew her Paxil.(Thank God).

Anyway, I was searching through the computer to find things to help har out in times of need because she always says she needs to talk to others, when I came across this site. She read everything and started crying again, but this time it was thankful tears, just finding out that she really isn't alone.

I wanted to say thank you very much for having this site for people, it really helped her to read all the information along with others stories. THANKS AGAIN,
by Crissy On Sun Sep 17 11:09:43 2006

i have a family membe experiencing every 'classic' terrible withdrawal symptom and therefore has had difficulty discontinuing her Paxil.

She wanted to try a different med. but could never get off Paxil due to the side effects....I am a nurse, I spoke to her primary physician and we began a TRIAL PLAN.

As she weaned slowly off Paxil, she gradually started on Zoloft. both meds are SSRI's (they work in the same pathway in the brain).

She has experienced some symptoms of withdrawal, but NOTHING like it has been in the past!!!!! She is now almost completely off Paxil and now we will see what dose of Zoloft may be best. If Zoloft isn't the 'right drug', it certainly doesn't have the same withdrawal symptoms as Paxil!

So at the very least, she is successfully off Paxil without all the terrible symptoms!!!!

Paxil CR was a great help to me at a very very bad time in my life. It was prescribed with Xanx and trazadone. That was nine months ago. I have come a long way in therapy and have learned to monitor my life in a much different way. I exercise, eat right, pamper myself after a hard day, and have found much comfort in a relationshop with God.

I am now on my sixth day since stopping paxil and I feel crazy. One minute I feel agitiated, the next so sleepy I can barely keep my eyes open. No sleep for me unless it is plaqued by horrible dreams. I keep bumping into things at work.

Yesterday I was depserate so I worked out really hard and that took away the symptoms for a couple of hours. What I desperately need to know is how much longer before these feelings go away. I am going to stick this out but if I just knew how much longer before I feel relieve it would help so much.

My son became ill in the Fall of 2005. My doctor recommened I go on Paxil. I have always been in great shape. I made heathy eating choices and had incredible self control when it came to food.

Since going on Paxil. I have gained 25lbs. My body has completly changed. I am never satisfied! I also had absolutely NO sex drive. I couln't understand what was happening. Finally, a light-bulb went off. This drug is the devil.

I was depressed before but never as much as since I have been on this drug. I am only on 10mg. I am slowly weaning myself off by taking it every other day for 2 weeks then every other 3rd day.

The withdraw is pretty bad. I have an extremly short fuse. I have been trying not to take it out on my kids but my poor husband. My husband has been very supportive but I know he is losing it a bit. I break down in tears and I don't want to get out of bed. I hate this drug!

I went on Paxil almost 3 years ago and I am disgusted by my weight gain. I have gained 40 pounds......I am always hungry. It is horrible. I went on Paxil by recommendations by my doctor and family therapist to deal with my husband's alcohol addiction and family problems. I felt that this was bad advice. I have tried getting off the Paxil before and have too had to deal with the crap that everyone else has spoken about. The withdrawl is pure hell, it is like a never ending flu. I am ready to try to go off it again.....this time I will taper off slowly instead of trying cold turkey. It will be a slow process but I hope it will work this time.

If you're going to go off paxil go SLOWLY! If you're considering taking Paxil DON'T!

I've read many of the comments left on this page regarding coming off paxil, and how people are having crazy side effects when coming off the drug. I recently stopped taking paxil and I believe it was the hardest 6 months of my life. People on the site mention weaning off 25mg or more in a matter of 2 weeks. Which is crazy!!!

I went from 30 down in gradual doses of 5 mg every 2 or 3 weeks when I started to feel semi normal again. Each drop was an emotional rollercoaster of mood swings and weird eating habits which would last for a week/week and a half. I would eat and never feel full, I'd eat and eat and then be sick.

For anyone to think about droping anymore than 5mg at time would be extrememly hard. I had periods where I doubted my choice of going off, and craved the drug. No wonder doctors don't mention going off, pretty sure paxil was designed as an addictive forever kind of drug.

I got through by knowing I wanted off, that was my goal. Getting through each day at a time by just getting things done that needed to be done (I was in school so getting assignments done without thinking too much about how I felt). Accepting the fact that I knew I felt like crap now, but it had to get better.

I had a boyfriend who helped me more than I can ever have expected. My mood swings and drepression crushed him but he stood by, after the thick of it though, when things were getting better, I had hurt him to the point of no return. He loved me so much, and I was numb and in pain and couldn't love him the way he needed. Paxil ruined the best relationship of my life (so far [hear the hope in me, that's sure sign of paxil free])

It took 6 months, and it's been 9 now since I decided to quit, and I still feel sad every once in a while, but I believe the sadness I feel is still boarderline drepressed, but it better than not feeling anything like how I was on paxil. I probably didn't need paxil in the first place, so I'm disappointed that the doctor who was temping for my doctor so readily precribed it to me.

When I went off paxil the doctor and the college clinic said there were no side effects of going off antidepressants. So as ill advised by doctors as it may be, I went off paxil on my own. SLOWLY. I lived and have my life back. Feels good to feel.

This is my 5th day without taking Paxil. I was on the antidepressant for 6+ years and started tapering off about one month ago. After the physical side effects subsided I am now suffering emotional side effects. is this normal? I find myself sobbing non-stop, I'm extremely moody and I snap at people for no apparent reason. Will this ever end? Please respond if this is normal....I sometimes wonder if it was better to be on Paxil.... my emotions are out of control

I studied cocaine in graduate school. Unhappily for those who use it, the drug vitiates the natural neuro-transmission and reception of norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin and replaces it with the artificial effects of Concaine. After cocaine use is stopped, the natural neural stinuli and resonses do not return. The cocaine user is handicapped for life, unable to feel contentment and a sense of well-being. [my rebutle]

I was the guy who got arrested in the comment I find after Bobs comment,,[Above]

my paxil gal; She told me that before we met that she did have a cocaine habbitt but managed to loose it. I would imagine that was just before she started 7 yrs of paxil trying to find the lost contentment? Over the years ;Ive seen alot of my friends do the coke and other chemicals,,Ive always passed on it. They all said the same thing " I wont get hooked on it" but they did ,,alot of them are dead now and alot are just bearly hanging on. One person who progressed to "ICE" [christal Death] still to this day [10yrs later] he has 100 to 300 mini segures a day , and has to consume "DYLANTIN' to controll it. This is a pro truck driver.

Ive always thought there was a connection between cocaine users and depresionary drugs

I have been on 20mg for 7 years. About a month ago I decided to get off the drug. I cut down to 10 mgs for aabout three weeks and then stopped altogether. The only things I've noticed is kind of a dizzy headache now and then and strange dreams (no nightmares). I am wondering how some of you have been feeling after being off Paxil long enough to get it out of your system.

Thank god someone else knows what it is like. I started taking paxil a couple years ago because of an extremely stressful situation in my life. I figured the weight gain was worth it cause I am overweight to begin with and the peace it gave me out weighted the side effects. I now look back and am wondering if this situation would have turned out beter if I was able to think clearly.

One of the biggest symptom is APATHY in capital letters. Not reacting at all. Not seeing what approiate measures to take that would have helped me deal with my life at the time. I decided recently to get off this stuff. I now am on my first day without paxil. I weaned myself over the last 2 months. I somehow thought I would feel better but the withdraw forced me to look up symptoms and here I am. I thank all of you who have shared. I have wondered why I have lost my taste for veggies and fruit. I have this thing that happens at night. I fall asleep and in the middle of the night physically am woken up by shooting jolts down my arms and legs. Almost like I could go out and run for 2 miles. I cant get back to sleep.Then the mood swings, then the jumping thoughts and not getting anything done for days, then the just laying in bed and wondering why I wasted hours doing nothing.

This is sick sick stuff. I believe we are all being tested in a big experiment by these drug companys. And that is NOT a parinoid thought. A theory ceases to become a conspirothy when there are facts to back it up. Just research some of it. Gary Null's web site offers a lot of articles that are worth reading. Of course that is when you can have a consistant thought in your head and your eyes and brain work right again. stay strong and know you can get throught this.

I believe the same may be true of Paxil (Paroxetine), known as 5-HT, and its efects on the hypothalamus and basal metabolism. Little is known about the long term effects of serotonin re-uptake inhibition, and, in particular, its potential permanent effects on metabolism. It is possible, perhaps probable, that the metabolic reduction caused in some patients taking 5-TH (as it modifies seroronin levels in the hypothalamus) are irreversible. That is, significant weight gain cannot be reversed using the "normal" prescribed regimen of caloric reduction with significant exercise. This means that Paxil users who gain weight (nominally 15-25% of presenting body weight) and quit the drug may not be able to lose the weight. Call it he cocaine syndrome.

(Thanks for your comments, Bob, but most people I've been in contact with have lost the extra weight. Thank goodness, huh?

Also, I'm happy to report that what you were told in school may not be entirely accurate since I did an enormous amount of coke in the 1980's and recovered completely. I couldn't imagine a happier or healthier person than I am right now. I will say that it took a solid year before the cravings for coke went away. I guess it took that long for my brain to recover.

Maybe you went to school before they discovered the phenomenon of brain plasticity. Brain research has come a long way in the last few years. - Mark)

I met what I thought was a real nice gal.we slowly and carefuly started a relationship.

She told me that she suffered from depretion. I did not know what that REALLY ment.

We had so much fun and fell deeply in love.After not too long , I notice some rapid mood swings in her. She would become seriously confrontational and when this would happen I would do my best to calm her down, and then I would get accused of what she had just done.This would happen every 6-8 weeks.

She had a habbit of starting this while I was in bed sleeping.[I do shift work and sleep during daylight hrs] she has Come into my room GUNS BLAZING and go hysterical. After this happened twice, I started asking questions about her depression and what meds her doc had her on. PAXIL was her answer.300mg a day After talking to a Pharmacist [They know more about drugs than doctors do,300 mg a day is a megga dose as it turned out]I told her it was the drugs or me!

She had been on it for some 7 years.6 months is more of a normal time period I was told.She quit taking them and informed me she'd be fine in 2 weeks hahaha she was put on something else for a while and supposedly stopped all drugs since then.

But the 6-8 week cycle continued.And so did the habbit of attacking me while Im asleep.She would sneek my spare keys from me and if I wanted a battle I could ask for them back.

One sunday after noon she did it again and I lost it and tried to throw her out of my house. she took a fall and called the police and had me arrested.I was convicted of spousal abuse and went through 9 months of Probation.During the corse of this I was forced to take a Resectful relationshipds course.What a great couse and full of useful ways to handle an abusive partner.But it dont really work on a paxil user.

Even though I had only agreed to try again with her IF. "Any more problems would arise then we would just walk away friends and say we gave it a good try" She agreed to that too. But when the chips fell she had no controll of her temper and viciously verbally attacked. For 2 hours I took it one night.Constanly asking her to just go away and just forget me , us , It dont work.During this time I tried all the tools I had learned about and she kept making moves that she would just leave me in peace but; then would come back even angrier.I finally lost it and loaded her in her car and sent her on her way.

She has not spoken to me since and could charge me again.[I'd get another 9 months probation] Nobody in the criminal justice system was interested in listening to the truth.It did not matter unless I had the money to hire a lawyer,, maybe then she would get some help.

She has since given me a letter ;Reversing all the blame on me and even accusing me of planning the whole thing out.I'd never even imagine doing something like that, let alone accusing some one else of it.But I see now that maybe thats what she did. Ive been feeling the pressure of this blame and started looking around on the internet.Fortunatly I was able to remeber the name of the drug she was or is on.[I dont know]And I found this site, Im feeling a bit of relief to find out Im not loosing it.

And I can imagine a lot of guys out there, who have less self controll than I Are incarserated because of a girl friend or wife on this disaterious blameless drug.

I was looking around to see how long the side effects last.But for all I know she could still be on it, or some other chemical shit.Supposedly she quit 1 1/2 years ago,,,[long withdrawl] So people out there be ware of the Paxil user.It may cause permanent problems.

by kenny On Tue Aug 29 08:51:12 2006

I went to the doctor to see if i could get something for Anxiety. I wanted something I could take whenever I felt the need to chill out... as in Valium or something like it.

I told her I took Ritalin and Norpramin When I was a child and that it made me very aggressive and mean. She said Paxil would help my anxiety and without the problems related to amphetamines.

I took 25mg of Paxil a day for 9months. Some days I felt I needed it, Other days definitly not. This last month finally got to the point where I decided to quit. I took half a dose for 5 days straight, then quit altogether. These Zaps felt more like a dizzy headrush. Same thing I guess. Would have them every ten minutes or so for about two weeks straight. If I moved fast would make it worse. Any sort of physical exertion or exercise messed me up bad. I felt like i was going to pass out at any minute. It wouldn't take much.

Its been about a month now and am getting better. Sometimes I still get the overwhelming head rushes. My sex has suffered I think from stopping the medication. Also now when I have a beer, the anxiety kicks up. Not a big drinker but there's no fun in it anymore. We'll see in a couple more weeks.

I have been off paxil for 10 days after weaning myself down from 40mg/day to 5mg. Last Saturday I was at an event and everyone there who knows me kept asking me if I was okay. I was unaware that I had said things they knew were not true-I don't remember saying any of the comments they refer to-I thought that I had driven to the event, but my husband dropped me off and picked me up.

The next day is a complete blank to me as I don't remember a thing I did at home all day. I constantly have vertigo and head shocks, sleep a lot, can't eat, have diarrhea and came close to commiting suicide. I felt like a zombie as I stared at a bottle of tranquilizers without thoughts of what the end of my life might do to my family. All I cared about was to fall asleep and never wake up to fight this pain.

I originally took Paxil two years ago for anxiety. When or if these symptoms subside, I will tell everyone I know about this dangerous chemical and to avoid it at all costs. How dare the FDA approved this poison and promote it so heavily after 9/11 to convince us that we needed Paxil to relieve the anxiety and fear associated with that tragic event.

I am going to a naturopath, as accupuncture has helped me already with my side effects. Also, I will use GABA-an amino acid used for stress-and 5HTP which is a precurser to trytophan along with Ginko Biloba which is a natural antidepressant and should be used as auch for anyone over forty.

Please consult with a naturopath before trying OTC remedies. I'm only mentioning these items as an option to feel whole and healthy again. And do your own research. There are many books on natural alternatives which you can find in health food stores. I reccomend "5HTP" and "YOUR DRUG MAY BE YOUR PROBLEM".

I'm still crying a lot one minute then yelling at my husband the next. I know that this will end and in a week or two will start jogging again to lose the thirty pounds Paxil encouraged my body to gain.

Please feel free to contact me. It helps to have someone else around who's going through these ugly symptoms.

I was perscribed Paxil 4 mo ago, after I had my first child, as a way to cope with post-pardom depression. Though I was very unsure about it I decided to go ahead and take the meds, in just a few days I felt a little better, and started to think I was wrong about the fear I originaly had of depression medication.

About one month later I realized that the weight I had lost right away was coming back, I also felt less ambition then I did (even when I was pregnant). During the day I felt so "foggy", and deffinately not like myself,

With this site I find it to make such sence now, I used to love fruits and veggies,eating healthy felt good! Aswell as excersising, but not being on THE DRUG. 4 mo after starting paxil I decided to wean off slowly (not knowing what the effects would be).

Its been a week and a half, now I am feeling like I can't see straight! (do to some crazy dizziness)That makes it nearly impossible to walk/drive/work. I cant think straight, Im having weird dreams. I really feel like I am losing my mind. I pray that it ends SOON, Its awful!

However, the weirdest part to me is the fact that the doctor that perscribed this drug NEVER informed (warned) me of the possible weight gain,foggyness,low ambition or any of the terrible withdrawl symtoms.? I will make sure that I tell anyone and everyone -I absolutely do not reccomend this poison to anyone. To everyone already suffering -Im so sorry,Thank You for sharing! Be Strong!!

I had been taking Paxil for about 4 months and I gained 14 pounds. I never really felt comfortable with taking it but my doctor thought that it was best for me.

I finally got fed up and stopped taking it cold turkey. The withdrawal has been horrible the extreme nausea, headaches, nightmares and just feeling worthless and out of your mind.

I am trying to take care of my 8 month old son and work full time. It has been 7 days now and I just really want to know how long I must endure this horrid withdrawal?

I am afraid I am going to get fired because my boss asked me why I wasn't myself lately? So everyone is noticing. I just want to cry. Listen to me if you are thinking of taking this. Don't! It only makes things ten times worse!

Can mixing these two cause fever. I was at the beach for a week and everybody drank and so did I.2 drinks a night. On the way home after a week I felt bad and that night I ran a temperature of 101.

I have been on and off Paxil for years. I initially began taking Paxil as a result of having "Post traumatic stress syndrome" following major heart surgery following a heart attack. The paxil stopped the Panic attacks. The pain had stopped. I felt great. Than I began pouring on weight. Finally I said I need to wean myself off of this stuff, as the Physicians made it very clear that Yes, Paxil will cause weight gain.

A few years later, I am back on it. I guess I thought bottom line I felt better on Paxil than off Paxil. But now my weight has ballooned up again to the point where I am buying new slacks monthly. I am the largest I have ever been, and despite all of my dieting and eating habits, the weight continues to pour on. I am now only on 10mg of Paxil. I was on 20mg. The MD is weaning me off it again. But how long do I have to take the 10mg Paxil? Forever. When can I stop taking the drug altogether??

I just know that I feel horrible, I can't breath right, I can barely walk, and I get out of breath, all because of Weight gain.

I was prescribed Paxil by my physician about two weeks ago for anxiety attacks. By the 7th day I couldn't get out of bed, much less take care of my two young children.

3 emergency room visits later it was determined that the Paxil was the culprit. I had a terrible reaction to it. It made me so weak (at 12.5 mg) that I had to crawl to the bathroom.

Associated with the symptoms were non relief of my anxiety symptoms and nausea. I lost 20 lbs in these past two weeks and am slowly getting my appetite back.

I recommend serious thought before trying this medication. I do know a few people that have had successful trials with this med. I'm one of the unlucky ones.

By the way, I'm 36 years old and really thought that this was it. I was dying. Thank you to the ER doctors that took such wonderful care to figure out why I was in such bad shape. Happiness and health to all that read this. I love you all though I don't know you.

When I was sixteen my mom (who decided to take paxil), decided she wanted me on it also. After she got on it she went wierd. She never cried, she would loose control, and more than anything her already pre existing pain pill addiction turned frightning.

She left my dad of 18 years ( they loved each other sooooo much before theese pills started to control all of our lives.) She got three DUIs in one year.

When I was on paxil (and I only took it for 2 months) I felt so numb and I lost weight, my115 lb and 5ft 5 in turned into 95 lbs. I have struggled with sucidal tendancies since I was 12 years old, but nothing felt worse than not being able to cry, I would pierce myself with thumb tacks all over my body to feel pain.

I was smart enough to get off of the crap(cold turkey) but wholly hell, the withdraws were insaine. I had no Idea it was this poison causeing the side effects, I told my dad that my mom had me on it and he told me he looked up the side effects and I had almost all of them.

I thought I would die. It sounded like a fog horn was going off in my head. And the world was black and white. I seriously lost color for a few days. My mom began getting seizures from the drugs she was on and she died only 1 and a half years after taking paxil.

she died from a seizure. She choked on her touge, she vomited and emacieted from it.

These chemical poisions have ruined my family. My sister killed herself at sixteen years by hanging herself beacause she hated my dad and could never let go of my mother's death.

My father became a seiver addict after my mom died. It satarted with valium and loratabs, then it was oxycodone and ambiem and soma, and now it is phentinol and morphine (he cuts up the patches and sucks on them).

In may of 2005 he went crazy from taking ambiem and severly hallucinated on it for 48 hours, during that time he stabbed himself in the throat 10 times with poultry sheers, my youngest sister walked in on the scene and he was hanging on by a thread.

He bleed so much they had to rip the carpet out of the house. He was covered from head to toe with his blood. Miraculasly he lived, missing his main artary by an eighth of an inch. He now lives with his mother, free loading, he hasn't had a job in almost 3 years, and I know that the drugs will eventually (and soon ) take his life also. I just pray to god he dosen't loose it again and kill someone else.

My remaining brother and little sis. are both addicted to anything and everthing (heroin, coke, oxys, meth, what ever they can get there hands on.)

I am married and have two kids, the stress of all this has caused me to have severe painic dissorder (we're talking attacks that go on 3-5 days, no sleep no eat, going out of my mind feeling).I have begged my hubby to take me to an institution.

But I refuse to "fix" myself with a chemical, it sure the hell isn't going to fix my family or life by resorting to chemicals, I choose to learn from the lessons of my past, someone has to break the cycle.

I choose to thank god for the experience I had with paxil because if I had not experienced what hell it was when I was 16, I probably would have resorted to it at this point.

And somewere in my heart I know I would have lost it on that stuff and probably would have pulled an Andria Yeats.

I have had some pretty good help with the panic stuff and anxiety with diet and exersize, b-vitamins, calcium, st.john's, and a amino acid called GABA, it takes a few months to notice a big difference but it is worth being dilligent and to be chemical free is freedom in itself.

The testimomials in this web site have touched me. You guys are not alone, be stong, don't give up. Try hypno- therapy. there are no magic bullets or quick fixs, beware of the forked tonged physician who is so quick to hand out poison like it is candy.

Unlike everyone else, I was prescribed Paxil (20mg) by my cardiologist. Yup, for my heart. It keeps me calm and my heart from over working. When I was a baby I had heart surgery and this keeps the values from working too hard. I really don't know the details, but it works.

I have been on it for 4 years now. I too, have gained 20lbs. I am 5 feet tall and have always weighed around 112-115. I exercise, eat right, and I have always been curvy (large breasts and hips). However, I can't seem to lose the 20lbs.

I have tried to stop with my doctor's advice, but I would get these horrible headaches, shake, and get depressed just because my head would pound. So, I stayed on it. There are days that I forget to take it, I have even missed an entire week with no major problems. However, I will be on this drug for the rest of my life. I take the generic and that seems to work for me.

I wondering if I should begin serious dieting (which I have never had to do) or get a trainer, because I would like to keep the weight off for my heart. The less it has to work seems to be the best.

Does the electric shock stop? It can make me want to scream all day and night. Too bad there is nothing to stop the shocks. I am quitting at the same time I am recovering from major surgery. This is a real downer in itself but I am not about to take another Paxil!!!

The side effect that seems to be a constant bother is the electric shock through my brain and body. It is like nothing else and seems to never stop or go away. I feel it, hear it, and hate it. I am not depressed and never was but I do want this awful electric shock to stop.

I have been on paxil for 9 years and have dealt with the side effects of weight gain, sweating, no sex drive, etc. I have tried several times to try to get off by cutting the doseage but felt dizzy, nauseous, all over the map so I continued on it.

This year I separated from my husband and I decided I wanted to get off Paxil to lose the weight for one thing. My doctor suggested we gradually wean off Paxil and replace with Celexa. I have been doing that but lately am feeling so depressed, emotional, detached, lost, fed up with everyone and everything.

I don't know how to act, have been cutting myself off socially. I am thinking it is the Paxil that has alot to do with my moods, especially after reading other people's comments. I don't know what to do. I was down to 2.5 mg of Paxil and 20mg of Celexa but this last week has been terrible for me.

I wonder by changing to Celexa, is it just prolonging the agony? My doctor says it will be easier to wean off of than Paxil. I hate my life right now and need some help or direction of what to do.

If anyone has suggestions, please let me know. I don't think the doctor "gets it" how viscious this drug really is. After reading the other posts, I don't feel so alone in all this.

For the past few weeks I have been seriously considering getting off Paxil. Found this site and hoped to find some good remarks from others about withdrawal. Now from what I read I am scared to death to even start to taper off, but like most others here; I cant stand the weight gain.

And as most of you have stated, its the carbs, sugar and lots of it. My usual eating habits have changed dramatically, I have no desire for fruit and vegies the way I used to. Does anyone have a "good" story about getting off this drug???

I have been taking Paxil for 2 years and have gained 30 pounds from it. I recently decided I can no longer deal with the weight gain and I am weaning myself off of paxil.

I am down to 5 mg a day and am feeling horrible. My symptoms started about 3 days ago. I am dizzy, nauseated, have no energy and at times feel like I am out of my body.

I am just wondering how long all these symptoms will last. Is there anything that eased your symptoms during this horrible time? Any information would be greatly appreciated. To any one reading this that is deciding whether or not to take Paxil, absolutely do not!!

Hi there,
I started taking Paxil on Dec. 12 2005. It is now Aug. 3, 2006. I haven't been taking it long but about 4 months after starting treatment I realized that I didn't want to be taking a drug to help me through my problems.

I went from 30mg to 20mg, that wasn't too bad. I was doing that for about a month and then felt ready to come down another 10mg. I've been doing this for about 3 or 4 days now.

This is the worst feeling I've ever experience in my life. I'm so tempted to get back on it but my will power is still strong so I'm hangin in. It just seems that with each passing day, the side effects are getting worse. Diarrhea, stomache cramps and the "zaps" in my head and mouth are nearly driving me to my insanity.

I want this all to end and I just wish I knew how long before it does go away and I wish I knew whether I should just stop taking it all together. I don't think that the side effects could possibly be any worse than they already are.

I have been off of paxil cold turkey without my Doctors knowledge. It started because the benefits no longer paid for it but wanted to pay for prozac (suicidal med for me).

After four days off of the paxil I noticed that I had terrible withdrawals such as sweating, nausea, flu like symptoms, crying spells, anger, suicidal thoughts and severe mood swings, and flashing tones in my head.

If I had of known that this medicine would have been worse than the attacks themselves, I would have never taken them. I have been on them for seven years now, and I refuse to take them anymore.

All I think about is divorcing my husband and getting away from my family. They don't understand what I am going through at this time and I really need some help in finding out what I can take to get through this tough time. Help, Help, Help.

Oh, by the way I have only gained 30 pounds since taking paxil and now I have no energy to exercise and want to take any diet pill available. How about being 5"3 and now weighing in at 183 pounds and feeling ugly and fat. What a wonderful drug (really).

Ive always been a part of message boards, I put off finding one like this far too long (The most important I should add)

I've had panic attacks and very heavy anxiety since I was about 5 years old (Im 27 now) they were as bad as could be.

Thinking I had heart problems, breathing problems, asthma, some kind of brain disfunction, I used to sit in the hallway by myself when I was 5 thinking my throat was closing up and I couldnt breath.

They fizzled out a little but came back strong when I was about 16, I went into independent study and had a pretty rocky job history because of this. Time rolls around and I start taking paxil around 2000.

Ohhh exciting the panic attacks are gone, covered by this brown tar blanket known as Paxil.

The first time I had taken Paxil I didnt experience side effects too extreme, I got off of it after about 1.5 yr. Made it clean for about 2 years (A little less) and I felt the anxiety and panic coming back but didnt treat it and still stayed away from Paxil because I felt fake and un-natural, artificial maybe.

So anyways the attacks are coming back slowly and I avoid it, one day I get slammed, literally like the entire sky is a huge blanket falls on top of me, I cant breath, my heart is totally screwed up, pins in my feet, my hands, my back (which is also numb and a new experience for me)

I was replaced at work and went on disability, sucked down paxil and xanax to be funtional once again. I went to the ER twice thinking I was going to die, had an EKG and etc. everyting checked out... big suprise.

I am still supposed to be taking 20mg of Paxil daily and have weaned down to 10mg a day for the past 4-6 weeks. (I have been back on since March 2006 by the way) I feel like hell (not since I started weaning off) but since March this year.

My sex drive has dropped from a 10 to about .5, I get annoyed really easily and feel violent sometimes (Ive never been violent)

Its without a doubt a disgusting chemical, it's a poison, it's a rotten brown blanket placed over your life.

Destroy it and stay away. I am currently weaning towards a heavy dosage of St. Johns Wart which I have not yet taken, and kava kava. I have not had caffiene in almost 5 years, I am a vegetarian.

Anyways, thats my story. Hope it made sense. Go organic! Go clean! Poison Free! Move away if you have to! Wish me luck on going poison free. Thanks.

This site gave me more information on Paxil and withdrawal symptoms than any other site.

My Doctor has made me go off of Paxil cold turkey. I feel like I'm totaly losing it up stairs. I am very angry and can be nice one moment, then just one word can set me off.

My girls think that I'm going F...ing crazy!!! They want me to go back on the Paxil. They think that I would better on it.

My girl friend told me that while being on the Paxil I have just been numb, empty inside and out showing no feelings. I have not been happy, sad, ect. I don't feel.

I lost my 13 year old nephew and felt nothing and still don't as of yet, I showed no emotions. He was a lovely child and I always took him with me when I went places. I have still not cried over his death.

Being on Paxil I have let everyone run over me. The Doctor put me on it 1 year ago for I had gone through a divorce 3 years ago and was have anger management problems. It helped to repress all feelings, but that was all.

I wanted the divorce but he made me feel bad about it and still does. He was a lazy SOB. I worked 2 jobs 7 days a week and still did all the chores inside and out by myself and took care of the girls and all of their activities without his help. The SOB still won't leave me alone. He wants me to support him in everything he does and financially. My sister is on his side, she wants me to let him back into my life even though they always ran together and she supplied him with drugs, that I did not know about. He always told me he was working when he was with her. I was taking their calls and listening to them both and feeling sorry for them, and trying to help them out with expenses, food, ect. but now I'm angry when I see their number come up. 99% of the time I don't answer it.

Paxil has not helped me in anyway to help myself to feel good about me. The weight gain is horrible. I went from 105 to 180 at 5ft tall that is way too much. I work out but it won't come off. Hopefully it will after it gets out of my system.

It has only been a week and I hope the anger gets better. My friend has told me that it is time to find out who I am, what I want out of life. It is hard to do that for I have always done for everyone else and put myself on the back burner. I would not recommend this drug to anyone. The side effect are just not worth it.

It affected gastrointestinal, sweating, sexual ( I lost my girlfriend of 5 years ) THANKS GLAXO PAXIL - for your dope -thanks for wreaking my life with a chemical that has caused me so much pain -

I have more control of myself now and am ' alive ' again hence my email name the phoenix rising from the ashes -- yes lots of fucking ashes of what paxil has wreaked - all the antidepressannts area crap I have had them all - the only things good for you are natural made by god - like st johns wart which I have taken a little of and it has helped alot.

I dont put on a ' PHONEY PAXIL SMILE ; anymore a doped one and anyone that does not like it I just cut off anyway - alot of the things are just normal life and people take the dope to escape it the good or the BAD people that cause you anxiety and depression just go on being themselves - I say deal with it chemical free - find the control - deal with them when you have to and close off from the rest - I shut my mind off now whenever I need to - I learned to after all the suffering I endured the last two years on paxil -

Paxil Withdrawal is the most frightening experience I have ever been thru. I've tried several attempts but the night terrors and a zap sensation in my head usually have me start the paxil again. I am scared, confused, sick and what my life back. I don't want to be alone in this. I truly want to beat this and survive it.

i've been on many different anti depressants over the years, including zoloft, celexa, effexor xr, and prozac. When I stopped, or weaned off, the only symptom was slight dizziness and head zaps for about a week.

I took 20 mg. paxil for 8 months and weaned off in 2 weeks. First I took 10 mg a day for a week, then every other day for a week.

A day after I totally quit I had severe symptoms, mostly nausea and dizziness. I had NO appetite and constant nausea for 3 weeks, when I returned to my Dr. He wanted to put me back on. I said, no, I would not go though this again, it was already hell. He said I should have weaned over 2 mo. not 2 weeks.

I also had hot flashes, rapid heartbeat, headaches, and head zaps-a swishing sound in my head when I turned my head or eyes. I would not wish this on anyone. this med. is poison.

I have to completely agree with Sherry's comments regarding weight gain with Paxil.

Due to OCD/depression, I was prescribed Paxil CR by my physician at the age of 23. Within a 18 months, I gained 68 pounds. As a 5'4" girl who usually weighed around 120, the massive weight gain was really noticeable.

I will be the first to admit that I was eating constantly as I found with the paxil, I was starving all of the time. The only way to describe how I felt is by comparing it to the horrible, nausea that one gets if they're really hungrey. That awful sickly feeling in your mouth never went away unless...I ate! It was only certain foods like bread, pasta or sandwiches that helped make the feeling go away too. So vegetables, fruit...NOPE!

Some things like drinking lots of Pepto Bismal would help subside the feeling but that wore off - I don't know if I became immune to PB but it just didn't work anymore. My doctor wasn't super keen on my drinking so much of it though so I wouldn't necessarily reccommend it!

I've since gone off the medication and am a lot better. I exercise constantly with a trainer and eat a diet of low GI foods. Six small meals every day and I've managed to loose some weight - low GI foods are by nature slow release carbs so you feel less hungrey.

It's hard there's no doubt about it. It's such a catch 22 because on one hand you need paxil to function but the weight gain is immense. And it's not a vanity thing either, everyone knows that being obese is SO bad for your health!

I just hope that this helps someone or makes you feel like you're not alone if you've gained weight. Stay strong! :D

Ok, it took me almost 40 years of my life and the threat of running off my new (2nd) husband to get help in the first place. So life is good for a while until 70 pounds find their way onto my normally slender, accustomed to getting lots of attention for its shape, and now horribly disgusting and disfigured frame.

I tried to switch to Effexor. Tears and the return of the Bitch from Hell. No thanks. Back to Paxil. Finally can't take the comments from my boss, co-workers and claims to love me forever, no matter what, husband.

So I try quitting gradually on my own. Nast Bitch returns and kids want to go live with their Dad. Great. I convince myself fat is better than out of control emotions. Then my horse throws me and the weight of my enormous body shatters my knee into itty bitty pieces that will never find each other in a massive balloon of swelling.

I'm in such terrible physical condition I can no longer enjoy the hobbies that once carried me through the dark times. My Mother, who disgusts me with her overweight picture of who I am becoming, suggests that we try to lose weight together. I am mortified. I have never been able to tell her I have problems with depression.

So I call my doctor and tell him I can't stay on Paxil any more. He prescribes Wellbutrin, which he assures me works in a different way and won't effect my raging appetite like Paxil.

He puts me on a very gradual schedule of switching and all is well for the first 3 weeks. I am less emotionally stable, but also less RAVENOUS and feel like walking and eating right will get me through this. WRONG.

One week after my last measly dose of Paxil, I can't see straight, feel like vomiting and can't remember what I did for the whole 8 hours I spent at work today. I'm aware that I'm losing it, but can't figure out if my kids have just simultaneously turned into hellions or if it's just me.

Now the amount of alcohol my husband consumes seems outrageous and I wonder if the Paxil has been dulling my senses to other dangers all these years or if I'm just overreacting now. I'm second guessing every thought.

My doctor is on vacation and I'm panicky about how long I've felt this bad and how long it might continue, so I stop taking the Wellbutrin, thinking it may be causing the lingering dizziness and foggy brain. It does say it might cause that on the label. That doesn't help. But surprisingly, I don't feel any worse emotionally.

I study up on Paxil withdrawal online and become more panicked. I can barely function at work. I feel like I may burst into tears every time I answer the phone. I can't remember driving across town or home at night. All I want to do is go home and sleep.

I've withdrawn from my family because I'm afraid I'll bark at them. The worst part is I KNOW the way I'm reacting to stress in my life is skewed by my depression and withdrawal symptoms, but I can't stop it. I hope this goes away soon!!!

I just decided that the new problems created by Paxil were greater then what I was dealing with prior to taking it. It was a cold drop and I have gradually felt the withdrawal symptoms coming on. Luckily, I am off from work during this time otherwise I think I would have chewed someone's head off.

The evenings have been the worst with headaches and what I refer to as "Jolts". These are the electric shocks that occur. I was having them while taking Paxil and now have them more regularly and in greater strength.

Ocassional feelings of nausea have occurred but I have been able to work through them so far. My concentration has been all over the place though and it has been quite disturbing.

By the way, my doctor is unaware that I have quit. He told me that if I ever wanted to quit to do it gradually. I find that doesn't work for me and I have to go the cold turkey routte or I will end up right back on it.

Physcally I have become quite week with no endurance. I have been doing some work around the house and find it difficult to do too much before I am exhausted. The may also be due to the fact that I gained 40 pounds while taking this God foresaken drug.

I would love to hear from anyone else going through this as I feel somewhat alone in dealing with this. I have the support of my wife and family but they do not quite understand the nature of what I am dealing with and can only do so much in the way of support.

If my e-mail address does not show, I will look for replies/responses and post my e-mail address in my next post.

I am coming down from Paxil for the 3rd time now. Each time I did just quit taking it rather than wean off. Also I have had awful withdrawal when coming off of Effexor. By far the worst feelings I have ever experienced.

But one thing I do to help with some symptoms are to wear Seabands. They are just little cloth bands that use a pressurepoint to relieve nausea/motion sickness. I find the nausea to be the worst to deal with because if there is one thing I cannot do it is physical+mental illness. It makes it so much harder =/

It is something to try! Maybe it will help someone out. I have to say though they are used to treat motion sickness and in no way does this help with the dizzy spells

i started taking paxil 2 months ago. it took about that amount of time for me to actually feel i was benefitting from it.

i ran out and since it was thursday and couldn't make an appointment w/ my doctor until the follwing week, i called the pharmacy hoping that i could get a refill. the pharmacy called the dr. for a verbal order and he said no!

i was angry because he knew my situation and it appeared as though he just wanted the high fee that he charges. so i waited until the next week and in the mean time experienced EXTREME dizziness, shocks and profuse sweating. my incredibly wierd dreams would last for an hour, i would wake up and then have another wierd dream.(they weren't nightmares and i laugh at the obsurdity of them.)

i was able to see my dr. who immediately corrected me by saying i'm not experiencing withdrawals but am experiencing "side effects." well, all i know is that i didn't experience anything like this before i stopped.

i think my doctor was irresponsible for not giving the prescription over the phone. if he knew i would experience side effects and still didn't give me a prescription he is unethical. if he didn;t know about the side effects then he shouldn't be practicing medicine.if someone was having an asthmatic attack, any ethical physician would not hesitate to phone one in, knowing the pain he would inflict if he didn't.

In addition to reading these paxil comments, it's also important to understand the underlying causes that would lead someone to such a painful place.

I almost feel guilty because my life has become so enjoyable and so easy. Especially since I remember how miserable I used to be.

Basically it comes down to making one slight shift in what you do everyday, and you can watch in amazement as your life slowly begins to start working out in almost every way.

It's such an important change that I've written a complete e-book about it. And I'd like to give you a copy for free. All you have to do is write your first name and primary email address into the space below, and you'll be receiving a link to download the e-book right away.

Free e-book reveals exactly what to do right now, starting today, to feel better.

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Paxil comments - read what others are saying about paxil.