Who's been on Paxil?

[Lokahanawan]

I saw my MD today & he prescribed Paxil for my anxiety. Has anyone tried this medication? What were your side effects if any & how did you feel?

[KLT]

Hi there,
I was on Paxil for a number of years. It worked fairly well for me the first few years but, then I needed to switch to something else. As for side effects, I really didn't have any. I've learned throughout the years that medication is something you need to work closely with your doctor on. First, you need to give it a couple of weeks to "kick in" and then you need to see if you need it increased. You may find it doesn't work well for you and need to try something else. Or, you may find it works great. Just give it time and see how you feel. But, if you don't feel it's helping, be sure to get back in touch with your doctor. Different people get different results from medication. I've been dealing with panic attacks for 30 years and have taken a few different meds over this time and honestly, the side effects from any of them have been very minimal.

[bhamlaxy]

I've heard paxil is on the heavy end as far as side effects go. It is also very effective once it kicks in. Here are some basic tips.

1. Take it before you go to bed. Many side effects will happen as you sleep and won't wake you.
2. Have a benzo on hand (ativan, klonopin, xanax etc.) in case things get bad. Sometimes AD's can "activate" your system a bit as they kick in and put you a little on edge.
3. Slowly raise the dose. Start at 1/4 or 1/2 of your planned dose. Take that for a few days, or even a week, and slowly raise the dose. Discuss this with your psychiatrist.
4. The side effects WILL subside. Get through it and they will go away soon.

[alexandras11]

I was put on Paxil 20 mg and boy I tell ya it was the worst feeling ever . My gp said he would never recommend it to anyone.. I was giving it in the er due to my bad anxiety
But the side effects I had were

Shaky
Lost of appetite
Insomnia
Rapid heart beat
Couldn't think right

. But it effects everyone different . So it might work for you .. Who knows unless you try it?
Good luck
And let us know how it goes

[Lokahanawan]

Thank you both! My MD started me on 10mg. I still have to pick it up from my pharmacy. I also have Lorazepam 0.5mg on hand too. So I should take it at night huh? I read a drug book that said to take it in the morning but I think you're right. If the side effects are like that then taking it at night would be the way to go.

[ova'it]

Omg paxil was aweful for me once i got ova the effects of going on it infelt gud. Put on heaps of weight! Terrible tonget of took 18 mths. Try celepram its was what the dr swapped me to and said irs easier to get off. Ultimatly the choice is yrs and all bodies r different! Good luck

[bhamlaxy]

Thank you both! My MD started me on 10mg. I still have to pick it up from my pharmacy. I also have Lorazepam 0.5mg on hand too. So I should take it at night huh? I read a drug book that said to take it in the morning but I think you're right. If the side effects are like that then taking it at night would be the way to go.
Taking my lexapro at night was what my doc heavily recommended.

For the first 2 nights I started (and for a single night when I increased my dose) I would wake up around 5am and not be able to fall back asleep- Would NOT feel anxious, just wide awake. I would just wait to fall back asleep, but a lorazepam would knock you right back out.

Just remember- the side effects can be rough, but it's not going to hurt or kill you. Just get through it and they will go away. Feel free to lean heavily on that lorazepam when you get anxious- I took mine daily for months, just .5mg. When the lexapro kicked in I immediately stopped needing it. Haven't taken any in a month!

[Fashoom]

Are you having depression as well as anxiety? Then Paxil might be a reasonable choice. I took it in the morning and enjoyed the lift it gave me, so that would be my suggestion. If you're not satisfied with the results you get with the initial dosage - I strongly suggest that rather than increase the dose, to tell your MD you are not happy and want to try another medicine. To be perfectly honest, there are much better alternatives to Paxil. One of Paxil's biggest problems is the difficulty of withdrawal - hence my suggestion.

[Lokahanawan]

Fashoom, I believe I do because I've been more weepy of late but still able to function though like right now, we're supposed to attend a dinner tonight & I don't feel like going. So you think I should take the Paxil in the morning? I'm concerned it might make me drowsy that's why I started my dose at night. I started at 5mg. My internist started me on 10mg but I wanted to start slow so as to avoid bad side effects, if I ever have any. As much as possible I want to get off it soon. I will be starting therapy on Monday so I'll see how that 1st session goes. I am also reading the other threads about natural methods to help with anxiety. Thanks!

[Fashoom]

Experiment and see what works best for you. You can also split the dose and take half at night, half in the morning.

[jeremyfresno]

Hey

I wanted to reply because I was real skeptical about Paxil for my anxiety I started it in march on 10mg for the first week and starting the 2nd week increase to 20mg which is what I'm still on right now...I have to tell you Paxil has worked great for me! I mean I still feel underlying anxiety a bit at times but nothing you can't handle cause it feels like its way under control compare to how I was unmedicated.....

As far as side effects you will feel a slight of anxiety increase the first week perhaps but ride it out. Things will get better and the anxiety will fade before you know it. You cant feel any worse prior to Paxil....I noticed a lot of yawning a bit of nausea and that's probably it....

I also take mine at night no reason to that just when I picked it up from the pharmacy I wanted to start it immediately so I Just took it right away and it was nighttime....

Paxil has made my days way better compared to how I was. I was a wreck at the beginning but now I'm better....I used to always be on this forum looking for answers and now I come once in a while. Stick with the Paxil ride out the first 2 weeks and by the 3rd week you'll start feeling better....feel free to message me anytime

~Jeremy

[Lokahanawan]

Thank you Jeremy! I have Lorazepam 0.5mg on hand and I just took one pill now because I felt panicky. My internist prescribed 10mg for me but I decided to start with half then go to 10mg. I am new to medications although I vaguely recall a time in my life in my 20s when I was prescribed Propranolol for "rapid heart beats".

[jeremyfresno]

You're welcome!

I have alprazolam 0.25 on hand just in case but I haven't taken one of those since January...10 mg is not very strong so starting immediately on 10 wouldn't be bad....I started on 10mg right away then to 20mg....but whatever helps you....just remember don't stop Paxil immediately you have to taper off slowly

[Lokahanawan]

You're welcome!

I have alprazolam 0.25 on hand just in case but I haven't taken one of those since January...10 mg is not very strong so starting immediately on 10 wouldn't be bad....I started on 10mg right away then to 20mg....but whatever helps you....just remember don't stop Paxil immediately you have to taper off slowly

Thanks again! Will keep the tapering off thing in mind.

[Lokahanawan]

Alas after a week on Paxil I've been waking up early in the morning (around 3am) and this pressure on my nape. I went to our urgent care clinic and the MD switched my med to Lexapro. She also said I could start the Lexapro without tapering the Paxil. I need advice. Should I just stay on Paxil? If I start the Lexapro do I still need to taper off the Paxil? I still take my Ativan 0.5mg btw but only when I REALLY need it. My next session with my therapist will be on Thursday.

[AnxiousAubs]

I just got OFF Paxil. Worst idea ever. I took it for two weeks and all it did was worsen my anxiety and make my attacks more frequent. It also made me feel unconscious like I was just a floating head walking around which just freaked me out and it made me lose my appetite completely which only caused more anxiety!

[Lokahanawan]

I just got OFF Paxil. Worst idea ever. I took it for two weeks and all it did was worsen my anxiety and make my attacks more frequent. It also made me feel unconscious like I was just a floating head walking around which just freaked me out and it made me lose my appetite completely which only caused more anxiety!

I took it for only a week and yes, I felt I had lost my appetite too. The "floating" feeling was minimal. It was the nausea that got to me and always early in the morning.