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.
This medication is better than any of the other SSRI I've tried so far. It has given me very few side effects that slowly diminished. Paxil is better, it does give you a calming effect that helps me relax, and I don't feel empty.
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I've only been on Paxil for about two weeks, but I can already tell a significant difference. I'm feeling much more optimistic, and much more motivated than I was before going on the medication. That being said, my sex drive has dropped and I also have trouble urinating sometimes.
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Every person's experience may be different. I took Paxil for 14 years. SIGNIFICANT weight gain (over 100 pounds, before I realized it was the medication). In some people it suppresses the brain's ability to tell when one is full, so one feels hungry all the time. Left me void of emotions of any kind, more like just feeling completely numb. Weaning myself off of Paxil was very difficult - flu-like symptoms, clouded thinking, blurred vision, among other things. It was the first antidepressant that I had ever taken, so I didn't know that I wasn't supposed to feel numb. I'm sure it's a wonderful medicine for some people but it didn't work well for me.
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I was on Paxil when I was 15. I think for about a year it was okay because of the numbness but soon you start feeling horrible because you have no feelings at all. You can't cry or nothing. I don't think its a good medicine for depression. I think it's better for social anxiety since there is no feeling at all. The other worst part was the weight gain.
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My doctor started me on Paxil when I was 6 months pregnant. It made me emotionally numb. I kept taking it for about 3 years because the side effects of missing a dose were unbearable. I had to have the dose increased and eventually was on the highest dose and Xanax was added. I gained weight, was always tired, had a decreased sex drive and I couldn't cry when I needed to. I attempted to stop taking it 5 times before I was successful. I had horrible withdrawals for two months... sensitivity to light, nausea, a jolting sensation through my head and arms and uncontrollable crying. It was worth it. I am now taking Zoloft and finally feel normal. I lost the weight I gained while I was on Paxil and I cry when I need to.
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I was taking Paxil for 6 months for my depression. At first I felt a major difference with the chemicals in my brain. But then I felt sleepy ALL the time, it also made my appetite off the wall. I gained 40 pounds and was back at my ending pregnancy weight, which didn't help with my depression. I would suggest anyone who takes this drug to truly watch what you eat. Paxil made me feel like my "full signal" from my stomach to my brain was shut off.
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Significant weight gain experienced within a few months. VERY tough on the libido. Extremely difficult to get off this medication without significant side effects - dizziness, nausea. I was taking Celexa before and would definitely go back. For the purposes of banishing depression/anxiety, it worked, but not without side effects that make me want to stop taking it each day.
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I've tried three other anti-depressants, and this is the only one that actually works and the only one that didn't give me horrible side effects. Ladies, it also helps PMDD! I hadn't known that it would treat so many of my other problems. Asking my doctor to write me a prescription for this was the best idea I've had in years and I don't know why no other doctor gave me this before. Good luck finding your best antidepressant.
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This medication worked great for me in lifting my occasional depression and keeping me from slipping into a deep depression. However, if I missed a dose or tried to ween off, it made me feel really weird sort of like a bad drug withdrawal. I did not like this feeling.
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Paxil does help with depression, anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder. It makes you lose weight but the weight comes back fast when you stop taking it.
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I have been taking Paxil for 15 years now and it does the job most of the time. I still have bouts of depression when things in my life go sideways. The worst part is the weight gain and the lack of sex drive. It is a tough choice but without Paxil I was suicidal. It is a part of my life now.
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On it's own Wellbutrin SR 300mg/day didn't really do much for me. We then added Paxil 20mg and Klonopin 2mg along with the Wellbutrin and I have to say, this is a great combination. The Wellbutrin counteracts the sexual side-effects that go along with Paxil. Wellbutrin by itelf is okay but in combination with Paxil and Klonopin, helped immensely. Highly recommend. My mood is consistenly good, lots of energy. I feel social and light-hearted again. No side effects and I feel great.
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Paxil works consistently to alleviate my lifelong depression. I did have to bump up levels after the first 6 months of treatment. I have tried to stop treatment twice now but eventually overwhelming depression returns, particularly initiated by allergy seasons. So now , I will just take it for life or until the doctor and I decide otherwise. I am statistically at an elevated risk of reoccuring depression so I just take the medicine. Weight gain is a problem but at least that doesn't depress me.
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This was a good drug for the first couple of years of taking it. Unfortunately, I did not consult my doctor before I stopped taking it. Huge mistake! I highly recommend seeing your doctor before you stop taking this. DO NOT quit cold turkey like I did. I felt like I was going insane, had mood swings were horrible and couldn't sleep.
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I've been on Paxil for 2 weeks and can already notice a difference. I've been suffering from depression for 3 years now. I've tried lexapro, zoloft and effexor and none of them really worked for me. I'm feeling optimistic about Paxil. If you suffer from severe depression, even feeling a little bit better makes a huge difference.
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I have chronic mild depression and have been on Paroxetine for 5 years and it has the least side effects. Tried Prozac, Effexor, Wellbrutin and Lexapro. With Lexapro and Wellbrutrin, I had horrible insomnia, I was up all night. With Paroxetine (Paxil) I sleep like a baby.
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It worked great for 12 years. Than I decided to stop taking it and deal with some emotional issues. Bad idea. Incredibly difficult to get off of. Nausea for a month and after that I was dizzy for another month. Fell into a horrible depression, saw and felt the gates of hell. Ironically, I'm now taking 3 drugs to deal with my depression, lexapro, lamictal, and seroquel. Dealing with my emotional issues, but I definitley would do things differently if had to do it over.
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I am on Paxil for depression for the second time in my life. This last week I have had a lot of things going on and have missed taking all of my medicines, even Paxil, for several days. I have experienced a lot of side effects from these missed doses and did not put it together until today. Works great for the depression when I take it right.
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Paxil CR has been the most effective treatment of both my anxiety disorder and depession. Lexapro just made me much much worse - suicidal in fact with chest pain and edema. I have found I am alert and well balanced on Paxil CR w/out the side effects some encounter. 100% happy to be back on it.
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Excellent for depression. I took 20mg daily for 14 years but wanted to see if I could handle life without it. It took me three attempts to wean myself off of Paxil (with my physician's help). The last time I tried (successfully) by cutting the dosage in half for 4 weeks, then every other day for another month, then finally quit taking it. It's been 4 months now and I feel fine. But definitely DO NOT stop taking Paxil all at once - do it gradually. Paxil withdrawal problems are well documented!
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I have tried EFFEXOR, ZOLOFT, PROZAC, CELEXA, CYMBALTA and PAXIL was the best. I only take 5 mg once daily in the morning and am good all the day ! Really !
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This was the best medicine that covered a wide variety of mental disorders. I took this pill 60mg for 6 years. I was then hospitalized on an unrelated matter and the doctor had me taken off of this, abruptly. That was the wrong thing to do, I fell into a deep depression that stayed out of control for 3 weeks. The longest 3 weeks of my life, I could not function at all. BE CAREFUL WHEN STOPPING THIS PILL!!!!!!!!!
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This drug has been out there a long time, but it's tried and true. I've evened out my ups and downs and don't have as bad of temper as I did before starting Paxil. I've taken it for 4 years on the advice of my Gastro doctor. My daughter says that she has REALLY noticed a difference and I feel much better. I just wish I had found it earlier in life. No side effects unless I forget a dose and then I get a little achy.
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Friskymi said: 
Brians Mom said: 
