I am 28 years old, and I have been on Paxil (paroxetine) since I was about 11. I did take a full 6 months off at age 19, it was awful. Not because of withdrawal, but because I really need an antidepressant to address my anxiety.
My psychiatrist and I decided to cross-taper me onto Lexapro (escitalopram). I have looked at a lot of the scientific literature, Lexapro does especially well in head-to-head trials of antidepressants. Several psychiatrists have said Lexapro and Prozac (fluoxetine) are their favorites.
I am on Day 5 now. I am still taking 40 mg / day of Paxil, as two divided doses, but I am also taking 2.5 mg of Lexapro at night. The first two days were hard, lots of nausea and a general feeling of being unwell and uneasy, but now I feel normal again.
I hope the Lexapro suits me better than Paxil, because I need to be at least a little more healthy, both mentally and physically.