Anxiety - Has anyone been on Paxil for 20+ years? I've been taking it for 26 years & am unable to?

Morning Steve yes I was on paxil for at least that long the main reason was it was one of the newest and best at the time but it was a struggle but my doctor had me taking xanax 0.5 mg 3 or 4 times a day it got me by but it never did seem to help depression I also suffer from a handful of things agoriphobia,ptsd and on and on but i have fought this most my life i feel we have also a chemical imbalance which you well read and it seems like every 10 to 20 years if we are lucky we need like a tune up looks like it just might be your time right now im on clonipin,and Effexor xr seems to be holding for some time... good luck and remember for some the holidays has a impact on our condition also... best of luck my friend

If you're saying you want to stop you will need the help of the prescribing Dr and with that help over the next 8 to 12 months (months) begin the process, may also be necessary for behavioral/emotional counseling/support as well. The longer the wean down period, the less ugliness.

Hi Seve72

I have been on Seroxat - UK name for Paxil - for 15 years and hit what is called 'poop-out'. I was more ill taking it than before I started taking it, with lots of symptoms I could never have imagined, they are so horrible. I am now on liquid Paxil, reducing by a tiny amount every 4 - 6 weeks then suffering withdrawal for a few weeks until I stabilise. I am down from 20mg to 5mg after 19 months, and will slowly continue until I'm free of this evil poison. You cannot rush this or you will simply give up, return to your high dose and feel demoralised. Get liquid Paxil from your doctor and drop by 1mg every4 - 6 weeks. If you are on Facebook get help from one of the Seroxat or Paxil sites, because nobody, not your doctor or psychiatrist will admit this drug is as awful as it is. Research it on Google but remember, your hormone receptors are badly damaged and will take two years minimum to heal, and you cannot rush it. Softly softly is the ONLY way for folk like you and I who are badly affected.

I have been on paxil for 22 years and have just recently decided to get off.Gonna be hard but i am getting my life back..I just really want to feel life again.

I have been taking paxil for 20.5 years. I have tried to get off of it twice and lasted 3 months both times. The withdrawals suck. I have accepted that I will need to be on antidepressants for the rest of my life. In the past couple of weeks I have started experiencing "poop out" symptoms. I'm hoping to change to a different category of antidepressants. Best wishes to you.

I have been on Paxil for about 25 years with occasional attempts a stopping it and occasional trials of other meds. I am off it now for a few weeks without tapering. I have experienced the negative withdrawal symptoms many times and know it for what it is. I intend to stick it out.

I am interested in finding out if I might actually begin to feel emotions one of these days.

Charmaine

Hi, I have been on Paxil for 24 years. I tried to tapper to eventually stop it, but was having bad insomnia and crying. Not sure if this would have gone away in the long term, but having little support around me I went back on it even if parts of me doubt that it's working as well as when I first started it. Like trying to find a lesser of two evil. I'd like your feedback very much.

I have been taking Paxil since it came out in the 1990s. I have depression anxiety and SAD. I have also taken Trazadone 50mg for sleep the entire time I’ve been on the Paxil. I too have tried getting off of it as well as switching to other antidepressants like Zoloft Effexor and Wellbutrin. I always go back to the Paxil because the other medications don’t produce that same sense of peace I feel on the Paxil. Although I do battle my weight on Paxil I have gotten a bachelor and masters degree while on the Paxil and gotten through the death of both of my parents and just recently my significant other of 14 years. In short I don’t see any reason to stop Paxil as long as it’s working and I can live with the side effects. Since it has gone generic it is also quite inexpensive. Hope this post helps those who are struggling with being on Paxil.

I too have been on Paxil for a long time, 23yrs for panic disorder and Xanax occasionally. I felt that Paxil stopped working and I explained this to my doctor and she started to ween me off (but I think she did it at too quick intervals)and started to introduce me to Lexapro. I was always against and scared to try new meds, but I felt I needed to because i really wasn't feeling good and after so long gave in. Oh boy! That didn't last too long! I couldnt deal with the nasty withdrawals and thought I was losing it and tried to hold out as much as I could. Back to Paxil it is. I am interested in taking something else together with Paxil to give it a kick boost

Hello everyone, I read through all your comments/responses and am relieved to know I'm not alone dealing with the withdrawal side effects. As of last week I was on 60mg of paxil for 6.5 years.

Kind of an odd time in my life when I started taking it; violent rage etc. Tried just about every AD I could and paxil was the only one that worked. The first time I dealt with the withdrawal symptoms was when I couldn't afford it.. The symptoms lasted 8 months until a kind friend helped me get me back on it. It wasn't until 2 weeks ago, when I was close to running out that I realized paxil hasn't worked for 3 months and I was only taking it out of habit in fear of the withdrawal symptoms. Talked to my head doc and I came to the conclusion that it's time to start a new pill. Prozac

I weened myself off the Paxil after being on it for 21 years. It was the best decision I ever made. Long process that involved dizziness and brain zaps for about 6 months. I have been med free for about 3 years now and am not the same person. That stuff controls your thoughts and emotions, and it should really be illegal. The doctor wanted me to keep taking it so he could keep getting paid so I got off it myself. Plenty of information online about getting off it. If you have any questions just ask me. Good luck finding the new you.