Paroxetine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder User Reviews (Page 4)

• Anonymous
• May 8, 2016

Paroxetine "I was dealing with anxiety in college my junior year, so I decided to talk to my doctor about it, and he prescribed Paxil. When I started taking it, my appetite increased, energy went down, my emotions were just monotonous, like I couldn't feel anything. I also gained 15 pounds in 4 months, which is not normal for me, especially since I had been working out and hadn't changed my eating habits at all. After being on this drug for 5 months, I am weaning myself off it, and I am feeling a million times better. I would recommend a different drug if you are having problems with anxiety."

• Dem...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 20, 2019

"I had an awful experience. I thought I was dying, literally. Five days, 5 mg per day, started paroxetine. On the 5th night, I woke up like crazy. I was sweating, couldn’t breathe, never had such an anxiety attack in my life. I had to be hospitalized. Moreover, I became almost blind. Is this a poison? What is this??? Please stay away. I am on Lorazepam to calm down the aftereffects. The doctor told me to immediately quit paroxetine and never touch it again. OMG, I felt like I experienced something in between life and death that night. Worst night of my life."

• Dan...
• February 28, 2022

Paroxetine "I was on Paxil for many years and kept my anxiety stable while life was stable. I still couldn't get in an MRI or have dental work without sedation, I also have eye injections. I saw a psychiatrist who took me off it too quickly, developed tinnitus from the stress, and went onto sertraline. I came within a whisker of ending my life. Today I was put back on Paxil, it seemed the only option to keep me alive."

• Bre...
• December 12, 2014

"I started taking Prozac after failing to be able to deal with some traumatic events happening in my life over an extended period of time. The Prozac made me quite shaky and left me with a feeling of extreme nervousness. I kept imagining flying off my balcony (for real). My doctor said it was very rare to have this sort of reaction. I hired a therapist. I switched doctors. I was prescribed Paroxetine. It made me feel normal again. If you have a bad reaction to Prozac, don't be afraid to let your doctor know. People react differently to medicines, even when they're supposed to be close to the same thing."

• Gru...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 16, 2019

"I've been on Paxil for the past 10+ years. Started with 25 mg and just raised it to 37.5 mg CR. To me, it's been a lifesaver, without a doubt. It took 10 weeks to kick in, and I mean it kicked in as if a curtain was lifted. I'm an 82-year-old man. It worked 90% effective up until about 6 months ago when it started to 'poop' out, and I could feel myself slipping back. A 50% boost of 12.5 mg in meds to 37.5 mg got me straight again. Good luck, and I hope it works for you guys."

• Sou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 24, 2017

"Had withdrawal symptoms and interactions on other meds and had to come off. I had GAD but got panic attacks during that process that I could not shake off despite CBT helping somewhat. I was scared starting Paroxetine but had a good rapport with my doctor who thought it would help me after much discussion. I took Paroxetine with my breakfast, 10 mg at first, now 20 mg. The 20 mg after a few weeks helped switch panic attacks off and stopped me fixating on subjects. I still have my senses intact, am just not as anxious. I was considering a higher dose but prefer to stay low. I have my mojo back at last! Female, age 56."

• Wor...
• November 4, 2015

Paroxetine "PROS: relieved GAD symptoms, rested better at night, generally in a better mood most of the time. CONS: gas, bloating, erectile dysfunction. Stopped taking the med 10 days ago, and the withdrawal symptoms are awful! Vertigo, electric shock sensations throughout my body, dizziness, mood swings, etc. Coming off this is like trying to break a coke addiction. Antihistamines help with the vertigo. 0.5 mg of Klonopin helps with mood swings. L-Tyrosine and P-5-P are helping also to control symptoms. Find an alternative medication. Dr. will not tell you how hard it is to get off this crap."

• alw...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 29, 2021

Paroxetine "I was on Lexapro for about 8 years and was doing well until recently. I suffer from severe anxiety and depression. Lexapro had stopped working. I tried Zoloft, which made me super irritable and didn’t seem to help any, and then Buspar, which sent my panic and anxiety through the roof. I was then put on a low dose of Paxil, and it was horrible. (Severe stomach pains, vomiting, diarrhea, depersonalization, relentless brain zaps, mood swings, etc.) I know the initial side effects usually go away, but it was too bad I couldn’t even handle it. Everyone’s body is different, though! Some meds work well, and some don’t! I’m currently on Cymbalta, which usually gets a bad rap, and it’s been amazing for me. The day after taking it, my moodiness, brain zaps, and stomach issues were almost completely gone."

• Ili...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 15, 2020

"Since 2005, I am on SSRIs. I have tried various meds with no results, but a few years ago I went on paroxetine 20 mg daily. Within a month, I felt much better. After 18 months on paroxetine, I reduced to 10 mg. It worked for about 7 months, but then, within a month, my whole world came apart. It wasn’t the withdrawal because I cut it down pretty slowly. It was as if all symptoms came back in their worst. I took 20 mg again and kept it like this for 3 and a half years. I felt really well, but it took triple the time to make me feel human again. I went again on 10 mg for 6 months this time but it seemed that the drug couldn’t support me so I got back on 20 mg. After almost 3 months now on it and still haven’t felt at least well. I have tremor, crying, not sleeping, loss of interest, back pains as heart attack, gastrointestinal issues, chest pains. My doc increased to 30 mg since yesterday so now I pray for being well again. I also gained some weight in the first place - 10 kilos."

• gin...
• July 24, 2013

Paroxetine "I remember feeling weird on Paxil. I guess you can say it helped because I was so focused on that foggy feeling that I stopped thinking about feeling anxious! But, of course, that wasn't a reasonable or comfortable way to be treated, so I told the psychiatrist I didn't want the Paxil. And unlike what most folks here experienced, I became anorexic instead of gaining weight. I had no interest in eating at all. As a result, I lost about 10 lbs in 2 weeks, and I was only about 115 lbs to start. My pain doctor has just given me a sample of Cymbalta. He told me to wait till the weekend, in other words, not to take it and try to go to work until I knew how it would affect me."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 20, 2021

Paroxetine "Paxil 30 mg got me out of an acute panic/anxiety period that lasted a few months and resulted in very bad insomnia. It took several weeks to work, but it was well worth the wait. Some side effects, but I'm happy to put up with them for the time being."

• Ano...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 31, 2019

"I have been on paroxetine 10 mg on and off for almost a year now. Within the first couple of months, I gained a huge amount of weight, and that is the reason why I'd get off the medication for a couple of days in efforts to try to control the weight gain. I am now several months on the medication and have overall gained 40 lbs. It's very upsetting, but I do not want to get off of it only because it does actually help with my anxiety and panic attacks. As bad as gaining so much weight in such a short amount of time sounds, I'd rather not have anxiety back. It sucks, but I have realized I will just have to cut back on eating and work harder than the average person to prevent gaining more weight."

• Mon...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 21, 2019

"I’d like to share my opinion about this med. For me, it was a lifesaver. I was taking Paroxetine two times in my life. Every time, it worked amazingly. I didn’t believe it could help when I tried it the first time (I never tried antidepressants before), but it did help. Side effects for the first two weeks were bad - increased anxiety, derealization, nightmares, etc. After around three weeks, I felt better, and it was better and better with every week. I was happy again, and I could live my normal life. There were small ups and downs, but nothing really bad. I guess after a few months, I was completely stable like I never had anxiety. The only downside was constipation, and I put on weight about two to three kilograms, but it wasn’t a big deal really. I know there are people who don’t like this med, but I’d suggest waiting three to four weeks to find out if it’s for you. I’m currently on Escitalopram and it doesn’t work as well so far, and I’ve been taking it six weeks. So, it’s possible I’ll come back to Paroxetine."

• Dre...
• May 9, 2013

"I was angry all the time and feeling like crap about living with my parents well into my 40s. After trying Viibryd and getting no relief ($150 a month), my doctor switched me to a generic paroxetine ($10 a month), and I couldn't be better. I'm happy most of the time, and things which once set me off now no longer phase me. With Ambien to help me sleep, Paxil has made life not just livable but enjoyable."

• Key...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 7, 2016

Paroxetine "February 2015, I had an overdose due to depression. I still haven't admitted I was depressed, but the anxiety is real. I couldn't go to class when I did go to school. My stomach would go crazy, and my mind wouldn't stop racing. I was then put on Paxil. I have been on it for a year and a half now, and I'm trying to get off it. Not that it isn't working for my anxiety, but my emotions are uncontrollable when I try to get off it, and when I am on it, I feel like I'm just going. I find myself looking back on a week and not remembering a time I took to just chill and think because Paxil thinks for me. I don't like that, so I am trying to get off it."

• Nel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 14, 2019

Paroxetine "I took Paxil years ago for GAD and MDD, and it made me mean. I went from extreme bouts of crying from being depressed to making others cry by being mean to them. I didn't realize how mean it made me until my boyfriend and my best friend told me that I needed to get off of it. I was put on Celexa instead, and it worked very well."

• Duc...
• January 19, 2020

"I've been on and off paroxetine for a couple of years. Out of all the medications I've been on, it’s been the best! Apart from the weight gain that caused me to have high blood pressure and headaches, I suffer from anxiety, depression, OCD, and panic disorder. It helped a lot with the symptoms, but I weaned myself off as I didn’t want to keep having blood pressure problems. One thing with Paxil (paroxetine) is it’s one of the hardest to come off. Make sure you taper off it slowly with your doctor's permission, unless it’s another medication that you are allowed to suddenly swap to, but the doctor will still have to tell you how to start it. I’m currently on sertraline, but I’m finding it’s making me feel depressed, and panic attacks are starting to become more frequent. Not sure if it’s because of my OCD."

• Lea...
• March 13, 2015

"My experience has been a positive one, the start-up of this drug was a little difficult to get through, but after about 8 weeks, wow. I noticed that certain scenarios that would cause obsessive thoughts and anxiety were not happening as frequently, and if they did, I let them go easily. I began little by little to be brave again, and it feels great. I am very sleepy, but once I get started, it's fine, and I have increased sweating, which is a pain, but a lot better than how I was before I started."

• kid...
• April 10, 2009

"This generic works, but it sure doesn't work as well as Paxil CR. The generic isn't as potent. But it's less expensive. Paroxetine seems to work for O.C.D. very well, but the weight gain sure can be a bummer. You can be tired after taking it too; so I take it at night to help me get a good sleep."

• Bri...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 7, 2021

"I have been taking paroxetine for about 7 months, and I am beyond pleased! The first 3 weeks were, in fact, a nightmare on wheels (nausea, short-winded, fatigue, low concentration), but soon after those 3 weeks, I noticed that constant mind stress didn't cause anymore of my panic attacks. My appetite came in full effect (started at 108, currently at 143). One thing I will say is, not all medicines are for everyone. Took me 9 years to finally find something that truly helps!"

• KGa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 9, 2016

"I was originally put on Paxil 2 years ago in order to help me gain weight. After taking it for two weeks, with no noticeable effects (good or bad), I went to light a cigarette and almost threw up. It made me nauseous to even think about smoking. It also seemed to 'cancel out' my ADHD medication, Vyvanse. However, I still felt alert and awake without the stimulant Vyvanse. I stupidly quit taking it after two weeks. I got back on it three weeks ago. So far, it greatly helps with anxiety but kills my appetite. Not an ounce of weight gain. Side effects have been night sweats and jaw clenching, teeth grinding. It has not helped me feel alert and awake this second time around at all. Not sure why that is."

• dud...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 10, 2018

"It helps, but the side effects, the damn side effects... my vision became tired, I felt weak, and my stomach went crazy. When I stopped, I sometimes felt like a shock wave came out of my brain, and it just confused me, and I got so scared. It did not work for me."

• EmJ...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 15, 2017

"Paxil definitely works... but I went from 120 lbs to 148 lbs in 6 months... for some, this may not bother them since the medicine does actually work. But for me, I can't deal with it! I've never changed my eating habits, and I get plenty of exercise. My weight has never changed besides a lb here and there for YEARS. It's no doubt this medicine will make you gain weight... you just have to choose whether this side effect outweighs the benefits or not."

• Mel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 12, 2022

Paroxetine "20 mg daily. I took it for 4 months before changing to new meds. The first week (which I know is the most intense for all SSRIs) was just so hard. My jaw was shaking uncontrollably, I was extremely tired, and I would fall asleep almost anywhere. I had extreme anxiety and sweating. However, I spoke to my psychiatrist, who told me to continue as the side effects would subside. So I kept on, and yes, the side effects did subside, but 4 months in, I still felt extremely fatigued. I was a long-distance runner, and even going for a walk became a challenge for me. I would sleep 8-9 hours a night and still found it incredibly difficult to wake up, and I'd need a 2-hour nap in the day (thankfully I work from home). It was difficult for me to socialize, put on clothes, and perform other basic day-to-day tasks. My jaw was also still shaking, and in 4 months, I had gained weight (lack of movement, I assume). I do believe the anxiety subsided, but the side effects themselves gave me anxiety, especially the fatigue."

• Mar...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 17, 2019

"In short: Pros: Truly helped with my anxiety. Cons: Caused jaw clenching and nasty side effects when trying to quit. Here's the full story: I took Paxil and then the generic form, Paroxetine, for about 15 years. It worked wonderfully for my anxiety. I had some mild side effects in the beginning - sleepiness mostly (which was a good side effect for me). Once I was on it for a few years, I started waking with headaches and noticed I was clenching my jaw quite a bit. I got a dental device to help with the jaw clenching, which helped temporarily. Then I tried a lower dose, which helped for a while, but then my anxiety would get worse, I'd up the med and the clenching increased. Ultimately, I decided to switch to Lexapro, which I've been on for about 7 years now. Side effects of tapering off the Paxil were awful - major increase in anxiety, inability to sleep, and when I did sleep, I had very vivid dreams which exhausted me."