Does paxil make a person feel more relaxed, laidback, lazy?
Question posted by jn121 on 23 Oct 2011
Last updated on 22 April 2018
I'm not sure if I described that right but I am on paxil 30mg for about 4 months now. And I have had a feeling of just pure laziness ever since I switched from zoloft to paxil. I have read stories of people taking paxil and having problems in their life but to them, its all fine.
I'm in my last semester of college and my grades are not so hot because I don't have the motivation to study, or for some classes - to even go to them. When an assignment is due, ill do it at the last second.
In the past if I had homework or long term homework (papers, presentations, etc) I would get them all done ahead of time. But that was back when I was on nothing or small dose of citalopram (then zoloft, then paxil).
If this is the case then I am coming off paxil.
(I was prescribed paxil and previous ssri's for anxiety (GAD) and some depression.)
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7 Answers
WI
WildcatVet
19 March 2018
I agree with Laurie. This sounds more like an inadequate dosage or response to the medication that's not controlling the symptoms of her depression.
Votes: +0
BI
bintuae
22 April 2018
No, it's the medication. I was prescribed Paxil for my social anxiety. I don't have depression. When I was on Paxil, I felt very laid back. procrastinated a lot (a lot of times even gave my assignments for another person to complete) and did not care about most things. I didn't even know the med was causing it until I got off of it. It makes sense if you think about it. When anxiety lessens of course you'd feel laid back relaxed thus care less.
WI
WildcatVet
22 April 2018
Laid back, relaxed = yes. Care less = no. That's not a side effect of antidepressants/anxiolytics.
JS
jstormbreaker
19 March 2018
I know this question was asked in 2011, but for those who are finding it later, like myself, this might be a helpful response: I started taking this about 6 weeks ago after not taking it for 17 years. I don't remember being tired and fatigued taking this as a teenager, but then again, I WAS A TEENAGER, and probably had so much testosterone coursing through my veins that I didn't even feel it. That being said, at twice that age I am now fighting this fatigue on a daily basis; however, I have noticed that it has subsided and I've grown more used to it over time.
One thing to consider is that this medicine is for treating ANXIETY, which usually gives you a lot of restless "energy" due to lack of a better term. I have noticed that I am not nearly as fatigued if I get a full night's sleep (8-10 hours) as I am if I only get 4 or 5 hours of sleep. In my non-medical opinion, the medicine is doing its job and if I only get 5 hours of sleep then I FEEL like I only got 5 hours of sleep because I'm not so bound up with anxiety that my eyeballs are twitching. Coffee helps and exercise helps. I work in a large warehouse that I know is 1000 feet long. My desk is at one extreme end of the building, so I started using a step counter app and walking to the other end and back several times a day. I can feel my mood and fatigue dramatically improve every time after doing that even with as little as a 2000-foot walk (that's just under half a mile or about 6.5 American football fields). Good luck to you all! A balanced life is possible! Just don't give up!
Votes: +0
TR
Trinabell
21 Oct 2014
Hello jn121. I was prescribed Paxil to treat postpartum depression. I was overly emotional & having mood swings but I was not unmotivated, overly fatigued or lazy until I started the Paxil. I was just so tired once I started taking it & it literally felt like my body was weighted down in lead. Just simply getting up & using the restroom took all I had it seemed. The Paxil did stop the emotional roller coaster though. I quit using it after 6wks. My husband used Paxil for 5yrs though & his Dr prescribed Provigil with the Paxil to counteract the fatigue & lack of motivation/concentration. It was a good combo for him. Talk to your Dr about what you're feeling & see what he can do to help. Good luck
Votes: +0
RO
rondandy
21 Oct 2014
Yesssssss,th this drug made me so lazy I dident work for 4 years. Had to sell everything including my harley moter cykel witch I loved more then anything. But then the real hell started when I tryed to stop taking them. On the bright side they say only betwene 20-48%of users have this kind of experevce. Paxil is not as inascent as they appear
Votes: +0
YH
yhwh11
25 Oct 2011
I also feel lazy on Paxil. Been on it for 34 days. Put off things like grocery shopping for the last 3 days. I planned on going today but layed on the couch instead. My motivation to study has disappeared. It is on my mind, but I get distracted easily and then lay on the couch. What a crazy feeling. SO I simpathize with your situation. My sister responded differently to it, she loved it and she said she was happy. I have no anxious feelings anymore thow. Talk to your Dr. before you go cold turkey. I am just hoping the tired feeling will go away.
Votes: +0
JN
jn121
25 Oct 2011
Same comment for studying. Instead of couch tho, its my bed lol.
IN
Inactive
24 Oct 2011
hello jn121. I caurrently take paxil, and nope, none of the above, symptons you mentioned. It eases my anxiety and can give me the feeling of being tired best wishes to you.pledge, but aside from that, its a fairly comfortable drug in my case to be on.
Votes: +0
LA
LaurieShay
23 Oct 2011
Hey jn,
Sounds to me more like depression than being laid back or lazy. The antidepressants can make you tired, but not procrastinate. Depression can make one less motivated, less able to concentrate and feeling of just not caring.
Might want to talk to your doctor about your symptoms and see what he thinks. Could be that you need to increase the Paxil or try a different antidepressant.
