Paxil for Depression User Reviews (Page 5)

• Gri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 27, 2021

"Perhaps this med might work for anyone who can take SSRI antidepressants, but I cannot. Even though I clearly informed my doctor of this fact, he prescribed it in its generic form. I did not recognize the name, but he told me it is not an SSRI antidepressant. After only the second day, my reactions were so severe (dizziness, shaking, feeling weird) that I looked up the generic name and quickly learned it is the same as the SSRI antidepressant Paxil. Immediately, I discontinued its use, but after 2 days I still had the strong reaction. How can I counteract these horrible effects?"

• Gir...
• November 11, 2008

"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 that were horrible, and couldn't sleep."

• pax...
• December 15, 2011

"Thanks to Paxil, I'm still here to type this comment, it saved my life. I was started on 20 mg but had to go up to 40 mg (max dose) for about 3 years, after which I was slowly dropped down to 20 mg, then right down to 10 mg, which I was on for a while, then down to 5 mg and eventually went off the medication. The times I did miss my dosage, it was usually the second day when the zaps started along with the feeling of vertigo. The half-life of this medicine is very short, about 3 days, that's why people feel withdrawal symptoms so quickly, but I've found it quite tolerable for the good it has done for me. A wonderful medication!"

• aut...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 11, 2022

"On Paxil for borderline personality disorder. I've been on a variation of dosages from 20 mg to 40 mg and to 30 mg. It worked really well. The first two weeks, I had a sodium crave! Pickles and mustard, anything to get more salt. I had no weight gain aside from the birth control I also started. And it self-reminds you to take it daily! With that being said, it’s a great drug but difficult to get off of. I’m currently taking my last 2.5 mg chip, trying to get off this drug without severe withdrawals. Brain zaps, always hot and sweaty… I’d wake up with my hair sopping wet like I just stood in the shower. I’d recommend being super cautious and slightly lower it (2.5-5 mg) bi-weekly for the least amount of side effects. I dropped from 30 mg to 20 mg and experienced those nasty symptoms. Trying out a different med to see if my borderline personality disorder symptoms lessen."

• rox...
• December 13, 2009

"I started to take Paxil 12 years ago. I was getting depressed because of my panic disorder. I have been on Xanax for many, many years, and my doctor added Paxil. 30 mg a day in the morning. I have never had a side effect, not even weight gain, and I know this can cause weight gain. It works great for me for my depression and my panic attacks. Would highly recommend this drug. I am a skinny person anyway, because of my panic, but I never had any side effects. Good luck all."

• Anonymous
• March 10, 2009

"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."

• Anonymous
• May 9, 2009

"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."

• cou...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 29, 2015

"I've taken Paxil in the early 90s. After a bad relationship and drinking lots. It has helped with social anxiety to a point. But I have gone through crying periods that didn't seem right. It's soon to be Jan 1, 2016, and I have noticed these electric shocks if I miss a day or two. And also my memory has gone to crap as well. Is this drug habit forming? Yes, I'm a recovering cocaine addict and freebase addict. I got off that, but this plays with your brain worse! We should be compensated for the use as guinea pigs and the torture we face to get off this medicine. It does work, but too much is unknown."

• Pix...
• November 7, 2017

"I've been on it for about 15 years. It was exactly what I needed to combat depression and the behavior that went with it. These days, however, I find it makes me very tired. I can spend my entire day off just sleeping and retreating into dreams, almost like hiding. Maybe it's time to find a different drug."

• Anonymous
• May 29, 2009

"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."

• Giz...
• July 14, 2009

"This medication is better than any of the other SSRIs 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."

• dep...
• April 7, 2010

"I have taken Paxil for about 6 months. I have not had any weight gain as I had previously with other medications. I feel emotionally much more stable, and the side effects have been minimal. I still feel tired occasionally and have some trouble with my short-term memory, but my overall quality of life seems to be better, and although I still feel mildly blue at times, the feeling is not as intense and doesn't linger for weeks. Happy with the medicine."

• Rap...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 8, 2012

"I went to my primary doctor for a check-up. I told him that I just was not feeling right. He referred me to the mental health clinic. The doctor there asked me a lot of questions about how I felt, was I suicidal. Discussed my military life and any combat experience. That was to check on PTSD. She started me on Paxil. I had the usual side effects of dry mouth, couldn't sleep, excessive urination, constipation, and diarrhea. But I got over the side effects when my body got used to the medication. One of the main problems with this medication is that I cannot get an erection and cannot orgasm."

• Naw...
• December 3, 2010

"Suicidal, depressed, and anxious for 9 years, finally decided I could not handle it on my own anymore and decided to seek help. My doctor prescribed me Paxil, and 20 minutes after I took it, I no longer wanted to kill myself (this feeling was often, all day, every day almost). It's now been 3 days, and still going good. There are, however, side effects: loss of appetite (not good, I'm too thin already), blurred vision (very difficult for an artist), insomnia, impossible to reach ejaculation, also have experienced some increased anxiety. Despite these side effects, I'm faced with a choice: accept the side effects or continue to live my life feeling sad and lonely."

• Enc...
• January 21, 2017

"My depression is weird, mostly due to tapering off of and recovering from benzodiazepine dependency. I have awful anhedonia and have been watching my life crumble in slow motion over the past year. I know I needed to do something. The Paxil is a stopgap solution, but so far I'm starting to climb my way out. I can't really attest to side effects. The worst I guess is a dry mouth and fuzzy thinking, but honestly, I've been depressed for so long, I can't say my thinking has been that great to begin with. I was afraid it would lower my libido and I'd have anorgasmia, but so far, no. My logic is thusly, I may end up losing my job because of 'personal problems.' Won't it be nice if I can actually handle such an eventuality instead of giving up?"

• SF...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 5, 2017

"I've been on Paxil for about 30 days. The change in my mood has been positive and very gradual. Currently, I take Latuda with Paxil at night. I'm not buzzing with joy, but my outlook is positive, so I think the Paxil is doing its job... I'm just not sure."

• Per...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 22, 2013

"I went on Paxil a year after my father died 15 years ago. I was told it was non-addictive and started on a low-mid dosage, 20 mg. It helped, and I was on it for about 10-12 years. I just accepted that I needed it. Everyone is correct about not missing doses - if I missed 2-3 days, I'd get very emotional, cry at the drop of a hat, etc. - which I unfortunately took as proof that I needed to stay on it - I didn't understand it was the withdrawal effects! Over time, with ups and downs in my career, I gradually increased dosages, going to 40 mg/day. In late 2010, after being out of work for 2-3 years, I went back to my general doctor, and he prescribed 60 mg/day. Within a couple of months, I was in a downward spiral."

• flo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 15, 2022

"Paxil took my feelings away. It didn't feel normal for me to not be sad about my sons' deaths. They died 15 months apart from each other, in their mid-20s in motorcycle accidents. I couldn't even cry while I took Paxil. I stopped taking it, gradually, of course. Withdrawal made me feel strange - I know that doesn't exactly describe how I felt, but it is the only description I can think of. Now I can cry, which is normal."

• Amb...
• December 9, 2017

"I was on Paxil for a little over a year and am currently weaning off. I suffer from depression, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and generalized anxiety. I started Paxil at 10 mg and went all the way up to 40 mg within the first couple of months. This drug did wonders for my panic disorder, PTSD, and anxiety, but made my depression worse! The reason I decided to stop taking it is that I didn't want to get out of bed anymore, and I gained about 60 lbs since I started taking it. Funny they call it an antidepressant when, in the end, it made my depression worse. I am trying Wellbutrin now, but I won't know how well that works until I'm completely off the Paxil in a couple of weeks. The withdrawal is awful, even while weaning."

• For...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 29, 2016

"I was prescribed Paxil for anxiety and depression when I was 13. Initially, it did all it was promised with few side effects. Over the years, it seemed to lose its effectiveness, but I was afraid to come off it for fear I would be worse off. Finally, I started the process of weaning myself off it when multiple reports came out saying it was DANGEROUS and had multiple long-term effects on teenagers. I had been taking it for nearly a decade. The withdrawals were the worst thing I have experienced in my life. Thought I was dying. My face and limbs didn't feel real. The 'zaps.' I was nonfunctional, and this lasted months. Please use extreme caution and have someone closely monitor you when you decide to wean off this medication."

• use...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 3, 2022

"Man, what a journey. Went on Paxil for depression and anxiety. It made my depression lesser for sure, but robbed me of so much more. I literally no longer could enjoy anything. I turned to alcohol to deal with the all-encompassing boredom. I literally lost all interest in anything from hobbies, achievements, and sex. I did this for 4 years and finally made a switch to Lexapro. My God, the difference. Alcohol is still an issue, but at least I can enjoy things again. What a messed-up ride."

• Bol...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 24, 2021

"Unfortunately, my doctor prescribed paroxetine 20 mg for over 39 years when I decided to stop and slowly lower from 20 to 0. I had to do it alone because the doctor did not agree. It took me a year to wean down, but then I had a severe panic attack (never had that) and irritation started, as well as overall being very emotional. It has been 6 months since I stopped, and I still battle through every day, fighting my negative thoughts. But I am convinced I will win this. Unfortunately, I cannot find any info on this subject... Does anybody know about the effects on your brain after using paroxetine for 30+ years and then stopping? Thanks."

• jja...
• January 24, 2010

"I started Paxil in 2000, I was depressed. I stopped drinking vodka, no desire. I was not cured instantly, but have never wanted a 'drink' since April 2000. I recently started talk therapy and have been satisfied thus far. It is really letting all the wires connect better. Life will always be a challenge. BEST... January 2010."

• 7mi...
• March 3, 2015

"I was wondering why I had irregular bowel movements for quite some time. I went to Dr. after Dr. explaining my symptoms (constipation, bloating, back pain, dark stool). Most of them thought I had IBS or an allergy to gluten. I had these symptoms from 2009 till recently. After some thought, I decided to switch my medication. My psychologist wrote me a new prescription, and I started to wean off the Paxil. Two weeks into my new medication schedule, I started to feel 1,000 times better! I go to the bathroom daily now, just as a healthy person should. In fact, it seems like my body is trying to make up for lost time. Needless to say, Paxil, I feel, is the cause of my extreme constipation."

• Anonymous
• April 30, 2011

"I have Bipolar 1 Disorder. Paxil is great! Mainly used for depression, also PTSD and anxiety. I take 40 mg a day for the last 4 or so years. Caution: do not abruptly stop Paxil if you've been on it for 2 months or more. Severe body shocks happen during withdrawal. They feel like electrical impulses throughout the body. My brain gets 'heavy' and 'dizzy,' and I can't stop it or concentrate on anything. I have gone off Paxil and have been to the ER for withdrawal. The shocks are the worst and unbearable for me. Four days without Paxil, I begin to get these 'shocks.' I take my Paxil daily, try not to skip doses, and I recommend you do the same. Doctors have told me it is one of the worst withdrawals, comparable to heroin withdrawals. Taper, taper, taper!"