The following information is NOT intended to endorse drugs or recommend therapy. While these reviews might be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgement of healthcare practitioners in patient care.
I had anxiety that was getting more and more severe as the days went by. It was really hard to be around people. I would get nervous and stiffen up and also feel very paranoid that people noticed my discomfort. I started to take Paxil starting at 10 mg. For the first little while nothing was different about my anxiety but soon it was so amazing. I was talking so much without getting nervous. I could look people in the eye and could enjoy my life. All of a sudden things were much more bearable. The only bad part was that it made me kinda absent minded like I didn't really pay attention much, but overall was extremely happy with the results and am glad I only have to take 10 mg a day. Hope my entry helps.
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I have taken Paxil for about 4 years. It is a drug that I had to get used to for about 3 weeks each time the doctor increased the strength. At first, I felt "groggy" and "spacey". Over time, it helps sooooo much with anxiety, irritability, anger-intense reactions, organizing my mind and allowing me to RELAX. I have, at times, missed a day's dose and YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. The following day, I was very anxious and irritable until taking it again. I think it is a fantastic drug that has given me my life back. I think my kids and my husband have benefitted from me being calmer, happier and able to "roll with life" better. I take 40 mg. and it was initially prescribed by my gynocolgist for hormone based mood swings. Love it.!
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Paxil has changed my life for the better. My PCP switched me to Paxil after trying Zoloft first. Zoloft didn't help my anxiety and I still needed to take Xanax. I had immediate relief the first day on Paxil and haven't needed Xanax at all. And my hot flashes are gone. Life is beautiful!
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I have been on Paxil for 5 years now.
It has done wonders up until I had a baby a year ago and I just don't think it's working anymore. The only thing I hate about this drug is weight gain but other than that it has been a life saver for me and I would recommend it to anyone.
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I've been taking Paxil for 3 years. It has been the only medicine that has given long term relief from anxiety and stress, and occasional depression. I've had no drastic side effects to speak of. I take 60mg/day.
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Paxil really calms. No longer feel stressed and has completely controlled my anxiety. Only downfall is that my memory is not as sharp as it was prior to taking the medication.
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I was taking 40mg per day and it worked great for about 9 years then my system got immune to it. I had terrible panic attacks and after 2 weeks they completely stopped and I have not had one since. I recommend it for anyone suffering from panic attacks or anxiety. Experienced no bad side effects whatsoever other than weight gain.
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I completely stopped having panic attacks after taking this medication for a few months. I had become house-bound by several debilitating panic attacks every day. I have been on Paxil for close to a year, and it is still working. Side effects I experienced were bruising for the first few months. I also experienced numbness and tingling (my arms and legs started falling asleep all the time). I began taking magnesium supplements and the tingling stopped. I am still experiencing weight gain and tiredness and constant yawning, as well as decreased focus and memory. I am also unable to orgasm, which is strange for me because I used to be able to reach orgasm very easily. Overall, I can work and live again so it's worth the side effects.
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Worked great in reducing my panic attacks, almost down to none after a few short days of being started on it. However, it has drastically reduced my energy and it's side-effects can really be a pain if you've been on it for a long time (like me). Most commonly the small electrical shocks is rather annoying.
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I've been taking this for 6-7 years now (started at 20mg then to 40mg now back at 20mg) and I think its time for a change for me. It's stopped working for me in the past 1 year (my anxiety has come back). I also never liked the side effects, mainly: leg muscle spasms at night, easily electrically shocked, and drowsiness.
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I have been on Paxil for 3 months and had gained 6 pounds. Doesn't sound that bad, except I've been going to the gym like crazy to counteract this side effect and still the scale keeps creeping up. I have almost zero interest in having sex and when I do have sex, I cannot have an orgasm. Any interest in sex I do have is counteracted by the fact that I feel gross having gained extra weight. If I were single, I might not mind the sex issue as much, but if you are in a relationship, I would consider a different drug.
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Works great to keep me from being anxious. I take 40 mg daily for last 5 yrs. The only thing I don't like is the weight gain and I need lots of sleep. My leg also jerks when I sleep. Until I read the reviews I didn't think about Paxil causing it. It also keeps me from getting really angry easily. If I miss doses my family knows it immediately because I get very emotional, weepy or angry.
started on a low dose and became a zombie. All I wanted to do was sleep. I couldn't focus on anything, school, work. family. I know others it has worked for. My wiring doesn't seem to accept it.
I've been taking Paxil for roughly 4 months. I started on a low dose of 10mg per day then my doctor increased that to 20mg per day. I started taking Paxil because I began having panic attacks. At first I really didn't notice a big difference, but as the weeks went along, I stopped having panic attacks. Additionally, Paxil has been very helpful with controlling my mood swings. In the past I've been known to get a little agitated quickly and often. That has ceased as well.
Side effects: At first I was tired, but this is no longer an issue. I feel fine in that regard. The sexual side effects are minor. I don't think about sex as much, but getting in the mood has not been an issue. It does take longer to have an orgasm.
I have been off and on Paxil about 3 times in the last 2 years. I start on 20mg and am told the first week to start with a half a pill once a day. I have been diagnosed with bipolar disease and mild anxiety. I could not stop yawning. I felt tired all the time. I didn't notice any weight gain like others that have taken the medicine, but I could not deal with the extreme euphoria. I felt like I was floating through life in bubble if that makes any sense.
I have taken Paxil on and off for about five years. I started to take it after suffering from overwhelming anxiety and panic around the time that my marriage fell apart. My GP put me on this medicine instead of Xanax (which was working) because it was not addictive, etc. And indeed, taking Paxil most decidedly reduces my anxiety and gives me a better quality of life. I stopped taking it about a year ago, and have noticed an exponential growth in stress the last few months. I've decided to start taking it again, and was doing some online reading when I came across this site. And so I decided to put my two cents in the bucket.
1st week: Paxil worked for my depression and anxiety instantly which is out of the norm. I was nauseous all the time and experienced yawning quite frequently, this went away as time went on. Paxil had an almost euphoric feel for me, I was laughing at everything and enjoying life.
1st month: Yawning still exists, euphoria has worn off as well as any anti-depressant effect. However still for works for anxiety.
3rd month and beyond: Outside of excessive sleeping and somewhat fatigue feeling Paxil is awesome for anxiety, but the antidepressant effect wore off rather quickly for me.
Recommend for anxiety, not recommended for depression.
It's working. I haven't had any panic attacks since I started about 3-4 months ago, but my memory was bad before and still is bad. I've been getting constipated, decreased sexual desire and ability. I'm only 19. I have to fix that. I am always tired randomly and need a coffee. I can't stop yawning all the time.
Increased mine & my childrens anxiety to the point we were violent with one another. I ended up on the pshyc ward and lost my home. I was a single mom of three with a 40 hour week job. Was the 3rd anti-depressant we tried.
I have been on Paxil a little over a month now. Before I started taking it I had terrible anxiety, stress and depression. Since I've been taking it I've felt happy and stress free. The only problem I've had is that it can work a little too well. My grandpa went into hospice care and we knew he would die but I was still happy and stress free. I ran out of my Paxil and that's when it hit me that he's dying, then he died and I reacted as I should have, sad/depressed. I refilled my prescription its been less than 2 days since he died. While it is great I feel so much better, I wish I could feel the sadness I should be feeling.
I suffered with a pretty severe anxiety, stress and depression. Took Paxil 4 days ago and honestly I feel great. It already started working. Lot of it could be in my head but trust me all my symptoms disappeared. Side effects: from day one I had a light headache, day two -a little harder headache, day three unbearable headache, day four(now) no headache, feeling perfectly fine, great mood, even though its raining and dark outside. GREAT medicine. Also its worth to add, it worked the same wonders for me about 8 years ago when I had it for the last time. I was on Paxil for 6 months and it healed me. I had 7 years of great life and suddenly 6-7 months ago this thing attacked me again. Paxil works again, same way.
I was on Paxil since I was 16. I didn't know how good it was until I went off of it 16 years later. Major panic attacks and life felt like it was not worth living! Tried other SSRI's which didn't work and made me feel worse! (Zoloft and Pristiq were the worst!) Going back to Paxil. Never should have quit it in the first place! I hope to get the joy I once had back!
Generalized anxiety disorder - 22 year old male.
Paxil did help with my anxiety however, it made things seem more dull. The things I used to enjoy became boring. I stopped taking it after 2 months. I'm now starting Effexor XR. No other side effects.
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