Paroxetine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder User Reviews (Page 5)

• Man...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 21, 2019

"I've only been on it for 3 days. It made all my muscles hurt. I have a really bad headache, it made my pupils huge. It kept me awake all night! It made me randomly shaky or hot or cold, just a lot of side effects. So it makes it not even worth taking. I hate this stuff, I'm never taking it again."

• Con...
• June 8, 2017

"I was prescribed paroxetine for general anxiety disorder, paranoia, and depression. The drug didn't take effect until about 2 weeks, which I quickly was relieved from my symptoms. However, I spent a further 2 weeks feeling severe side effects: dizziness, further anxiety, difficulty sleeping and waking up, vivid dreams, lack of orgasm during sex, blurred vision, and almost grinning as if I was on uppers. Though these side effects did pass, I now only have vivid dreams and occasional nightmares. This drug has worked so well for me, and I now feel back to my old self again, happy every day. My anxiety and paranoia have completely gone. I strongly suggest giving it a go, but it may not work for everyone, as you can read. LOVE LIFE!!!"

• KMH...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 19, 2016

"I am taking 20 mg of paroxetine a day. I have only been taking it for one week, but I am starting to feel a lot more positive. I don't feel as tired, I'm not comfort eating, and I find myself in a better mood. I understand it has only been a week, but I haven't felt this 'up' on other SSRIs, my previous one being sertraline, which did not agree with me. My side effects have been a headache (for the first three days), constant dry mouth, trouble sleeping through the night, my jaw feels tight, and lack of appetite. I also suffer from trichotillomania, I have still found myself pulling eyelashes. It has only been a week, so I hope I continue to improve."

• Anx...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 13, 2024

"I took paroxetine for 6 years before switching to Sertraline because of bad sexual side effects from Paroxetine. I had GAD and OCD, and 20mg of Paroxetine, which was given to me at the hospital where I was recovering, did alleviate the symptoms quite well and kept me from falling into benzodiazepines addiction that was starting. I started sensing the effect from week 2 and it only kept getting better. I experienced severe constipation and mild nausea at the beginning, which subsided at week 4. No downside to this medication apart from sexual side effects, which are particularly bad and frequent for men and keep one from having romantic and sexual relationships. Its efficacy at low doses for anxiety and OCD sets it apart from the other SSRIs. Make sure to pair your SSRI treatment with CBT with a trusted and kind mental health professional and add in regular physical activity, whichever feels best for you. Remember, anxiety is treatable and you will get better with time."

• bee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 29, 2021

"Life-changing. I was terrified of taking psychoactive medication. I was in the darkest place of my life with anxiety and depression when I went for my last resort: medication. My doctor recommended a low dose of paroxetine. It only took 5 days, and my mood, outlook, and anxiety went from black to white. This isn't placebo because I was hopeless before it started working. I'm lucky to have a quick response. The 5 days were miserable in terms of my anxiety and mood, but worth it. I can now drive again, leave the house, be alone. I have hope again. The first month, I had annoying side effects: brain fog, drowsiness, sleepiness, forgetfulness. After a while, it went away. The only side effect I have now is hypersomnia, but I don't mind it at all. I actually read a peer-reviewed article saying people who experience hypersomnia on paroxetine have a better response to the drug."

• Anonymous
• July 23, 2017

"I've been taking Paxil 20 mg, but I just started. I'm in five days, and I only take 1/2 before bed. At first, it was great, now I'm still experiencing panic attacks and finding myself crying and seeing and hearing things. Why did it stop working, or what should I do? I'm supposed to take 1/2 for seven days, then after, take the whole one every night. Do I need a higher dose, or is it not for me? I don't know what to do. Someone, please let me know what to do."

• Zan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 3, 2019

"I feel like this medication increased my instability, which is not an even trade for getting rid of my trichotillomania, that I didn't even know it treated until tonight. I thought I'd just managed that one on my own. My mood swings are worse, my anxiety is unchanged, I have almost constant rage now, and I split a lot more than I was (BPD diagnosis here). I want to stop taking it but no insurance and you don't want to work off this one by yourself. I had a near-suicide attempt that my boyfriend stopped while without this medication for 5 days because of an error at the one clinic I can go to a couple of times a year. I wanted Abilify, which I knew worked based on previous experience, but it's too expensive without insurance, and the generic Paxil is on the Walmart $4 list. So, here we are because my doctor didn't listen to me."

• Anx...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 16, 2021

Paroxetine "Before I took Paxil, I never knew what a calm mind felt like! I always felt as though instead of me controlling my thoughts, my thoughts would control me. I couldn’t stand another day feeling this constant apprehension, so I started on 10 mg and I started to feel a difference in my anxiety around week 3-4. Although my symptoms had decreased, I experienced a whole lot of side effects. To name a few: anhedonia, indifference (apathy), emotional numbness, derealization, depersonalization, dry mouth, diarrhea, low sex drive, increased appetite, changes in taste, yawning, drowsiness, mild sore throat, etc. I increased from 10 mg to 20 mg in order to treat the anhedonia, it did relieve it to an extent, but I then felt too apathetic. I went back down to 10 mg and eventually discontinued due to other lingering side effects. Although this medication did calm me down and reduce my anxiety, I’d recommend trying this medication as a last resort! Try Lexapro before trying this one."

• Joe...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 22, 2022

Paroxetine "I’m a 26-year-old male who is into fitness and bodybuilding. I’ve been on Paxil for 11 years now for anxiety and depression at the time. I recently tried weaning off it and had all the side effects everyone on here is talking about: brain zaps, severe anxiety, bad depression. I didn’t really know that was part of the withdrawal process, I just thought it was my depression. I was put back on it, and ever since I was put back on it, I feel small-boned, my joints feel small, I feel like my structure shrunk and feel sucked up. I went to see an endocrinologist. Please, if anyone else has anything that can relate to this or help, let me know."

• JJ1...
• November 11, 2017

"I started taking 20 mg 6 weeks ago for depression and horrible anxiety. After 2 weeks, I began to feel less anxious and less depressed. My doctor then added 20 mg of Latuda. I continue to improve, and after 6 weeks, my anxiety is minimal, and my depression has greatly decreased. This combo has been great. I do experience reduced sex drive, though. I hope this dissipates in time. I take both in the evening and sleep great."

• Lal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 23, 2021

"I’ve been on paroxetine for about 2 weeks now, and I have to say it’s been an experience. I cannot comment on long-term use, but I would like to share my symptom experience as it’s been a wild ride. Firstly, my anxiety has heightened tenfold, I find myself having panic attacks in public and frequently shaking involuntarily, mainly in my hands. I also experienced an extremely tense jaw and facial muscles to the point where it would make me more anxious that I was making weird faces. Generally restless and feel very, very weird, as if I’m having an out-of-body experience. I have brief moments of calmness where I feel my anxiety has lessened to an extent where I can deal with it, but then I take it again, and symptoms come back. I also experience auditory hallucinations. The doctor has told me this is not a normal symptom and may stem from my younger age, where I did used to have these severely. She has said that the drug may have triggered them to reappear, which is concerning."

• bec...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 9, 2022

"Paroxetine (40 mg) helped me while I was taking it. When I started taking it, I was sick for the first 3 weeks, but overall it helped ease my anxiety and depression. I gained 15 kg on it, which was horrible. Also, my sex drive disappeared completely, which sucked. Then, once I tried to stop taking it (with help from my doctor), it became a literal nightmare. I quit a couple weeks ago, and I've been having severe withdrawal symptoms. I have been experiencing severe nausea, nonstop, can't keep food down, sweating, brain zaps, overall, it feels like I have the worst flu. Now the only options are going back on the meds or switching to a different antidepressant that will eventually have less withdrawal symptoms. Overall, kind of a crappy experience."

• Due...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 10, 2018

"I was just prescribed this medicine to start taking for my anxiety. After reading these reviews, I am terrified. Weight gain? I eat really well and work out every day, and I am still going to gain weight? Not to mention the brain zaps? The nausea and the dizziness? Come on, people. Thanks for terrifying me."

• Anx...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 16, 2014

Paroxetine "Paxil is very effective. I struggled with anxiety for a year and Paxil is the only thing that helped."

• Jea...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 7, 2024

Paroxetine "Just saved my life. From anxiety, major depression, OCD, DR/DS from anxiety. I love you, Paxil."

• Hap...
• January 29, 2009

Paroxetine "Paxil is the best thing that has happened to me. Sometimes I wonder if I could be too happy. It's great!"

• Wor...
• April 23, 2010

Paroxetine "I'm 15 and have GAD. It got so bad that I missed a month and a half of school in my freshman year. Paxil has helped me so much. I'm able to go to school and function normally."

• Tmv...
• November 24, 2016

Paroxetine "I started Paxil a month ago. I had no effects. I'm on 40 mg. It made me feel good, after two weeks, I was a lot happier."

• tok...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 4, 2015

Paroxetine "I had anxiety all of my life, and I didn't even know it until 2012, and Paxil changed my life. Now I'm back to my old self. And I only took it for two months thanks to my doctor giving it to me."

• imo...
• October 20, 2010

Paroxetine "Started Paxil 15 some years ago for anxiety and depression. I'm on the clinical maximum dosage of 75 mg CR. I had no side effects, and it has helped me greatly. I also take Xanax."

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 7, 2014

Paroxetine "My anxiety skyrocketed while on this medication so much that my doctor prescribed Xanax. I was terrified and unable to sleep for more than a couple hours."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 1, 2020

Paroxetine "Trying to come off Paxil must be like coming off heroin! It’s not possible."

• tka...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 6, 2020

"I've been on paroxetine since 2006, and I am able to live a normal life. I am extremely happy for it, it was my fourth SSRI to try, and the previous three failed to work."

• gru...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 13, 2019

"I've been on Paxil/paroxetine for about 13 years. It's really helped me. I'm 82 years old now and enjoying life."

• Zad...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 20, 2016

Paroxetine "Prior to getting on the Aropax 12.5, I started having anxiety symptoms from nowhere. The meds have improved my quality of life quite a bit."