Paxil and Dizziness: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Hur...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 7, 2017

For Depression "My doctor weaned me off of Paxil a few weeks ago, as it wasn't working. Three days after the last dose was the start of the two worst weeks of my life. It included migraines, nausea, decreased vision. When I turned my head or moved my eyes, there was a whooshing sound in my head accompanied by extreme dizziness. Then there were the bouts of crying for no apparent reason. In summary, I would call this poison, not medicine."

• KKC...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 22, 2015

For Anxiety and Stress "I took the lowest dose, 10 mg. The first two days were great, I had zero anxiety and felt okay with no side effects but slight lightheadedness. The third day... I was putting on my makeup just before work, and all of a sudden, my pupils got huge, and my heart started beating a mile a minute. This calmed down but happened again five minutes later. It started happening every 3-5 minutes, and then my chest, feet, and armpits started burning. I started having a panic attack because I was so afraid of what was happening. I couldn't see right anymore, and I was very dizzy. On the way to the hospital, I thought I was going to die. My side effects were so severe. This happened for two days after. Doc flushed it out of my system. Beware of this medication."

• Anx...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 4, 2021

For Anxiety "I struggled with anxiety after high school. I worked in the process industry for 2 years, working shift work, and knew I was struggling with anxiety. I went to the ER multiple times, thinking I was sick or having a heart attack. I joined the service and served 4 years, and once I finished my service, my wife said I needed to talk with a doctor. After 6 years of putting it off, I finally did. The doctor first put me on buspirone. It was awful, I had night sweats, rapid heartbeat, restless nights, couldn't sleep, it was brutal. I switched doctors, and my new doctor said I should try Paxil (paroxetine). It has changed my life! I have minimal side effects (small dizzy spells and small anxiety spikes), but I am not going to the doctor every three months, I actually enjoy things again. I am more relaxed and not wound so tight. I hope this helps people that struggle with anxiety want to give it a try."

• Lin...
• October 14, 2015

For Anxiety "I was given Paxil by my doctor, and it works wonders. It is rare that I even feel most anxiety, and I haven't had an attack in months. I've been on it a couple of years and have yet to feel it stop working. But, do not take this if you aren't willing to have a long-time commitment with it. One thing the doctor won't tell you about straight up is the withdrawal. I've tried to come off of Paxil, out of frustration mostly at the withdrawal effects, and all I can describe it as is a living hell. Confusion, blurred vision, brain zaps, vertigo, nausea, depression, increased anxiety, etc. Not for the faint of heart. If you can, go with something else."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 24, 2019

For Anxiety "This is my first day of taking Paxil, and I'm on 20 milligrams. I'm still really dizzy and lightheaded and feel very weird since this morning. I called my doctor, she told me to take half of one in the morning. I pray it works for me."

• Kit...
• November 21, 2016

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Today is day three. I take 10 mg. I was told to take half a pill at night for seven days, then take the whole pill on day eight. I have to say, today is not a good day. I have been dizzy all morning. Will this ever go away? I am not feeling my best at all. When I take the pill, I am very dizzy before bed. Does anyone here have answers? How does this drug really work? I had a partial thyroid removal a year ago. I am constantly dizzy, my heart races, my pressure is up. Help anyone... Please."

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

For Depression "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?"

• pax...
• December 15, 2011

For Depression "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!"

• Nam...
• March 29, 2016

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "Great for sleeplessness. That being said, I am more anxious than I have ever been due to side effects. It is difficult to perform a high-stress sales job when you are dizzy and nauseous, much less try to cope with a headache on top of the other symptoms. All of the symptoms exacerbate the anxiety you are trying to combat. Seems a little counterintuitive to me."

• Anonymous
• March 10, 2009

For Depression "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."

• Joe...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 7, 2018

For Anxiety "I took Paxil for years for anxiety. The side effects got to the point I discussed with my doctor about getting off of it. He recommended tapering and starting Wellbutrin. I can say this: the Paxil withdrawal symptoms are purely awful. I would lie in bed for weeks. Couldn't stop vomiting. Dizziness still persists. While it did alleviate anxiety, I'd rather have anxiety than the awfulness it put me through. I would never recommend this to anybody."

• Mom...
• August 23, 2011

For Panic Disorder "Panic Disorder/Bipolar/Manic Depressive: Today will be my 7th dose. I am having a love-hate relationship with my Paxil, it made me EXTREMELY tired for the first 4 days, headaches on day 4 & 5, dizziness day 2-7. I feel spaced out, and every morning I wake up and want to stop taking the meds because of how I feel. I am not like 'myself,' BUT I didn't like myself to begin with. I suffered from panic attacks that last for days on end, with only relief from Xanax. I would have anger outbursts towards the ones I love the most. Now, although my world feels off balance, I have noticed less anger and more smiling. I am going to stick with it for another week, even though I know tomorrow I will want to stop again. Just hope side effects lessen."

• anx...
• November 11, 2009

For Anxiety "I've had anxiety for five years, and started taking Paxil since my first anxiety attack. In all this time I've been on Paxil, I only had about 2 to 3 attacks. The problem that I have is feeling dizzy or lightheaded since my first attack. It won't go away, and it makes me feel tired and lazy. Paxil has helped me with the attacks dramatically, but the light-headedness is still there."

• Anonymous
• May 24, 2011

For Social Anxiety Disorder "I have been on Paxil for 10 years now. I maxed out on the dosage at 60 mg/day. It served me well and improved my anxiety symptoms. Having gotten married 2 months ago and anticipating getting pregnant, I began to wean myself off. I went from 60 mg/day to 40, then to 20, then 10, and now 5 mg/day. Each time I started to feel better and adjusted to the lower dose, I lowered it again. The withdrawals have been awful. I have been so sick for the last several weeks. Nauseous, dizzy, insomnia, 'zaps', no appetite, no energy. Now at 5 mg/day, I feel better. The withdrawals are now quite tolerable. My next step is 2.5 mg/day, then done."

• anx...
• November 1, 2013

For Anxiety "Had severe panic attacks and agoraphobia out of nowhere. P doc put me on Paxil. Really rough startup symptoms. Dizzy, SUPER spacey, lethargic, bad sweats. After a week or two at 30 mg, I stabilized. Anxiety was a bit better, but still pretty bad. Eventually went off it because I was so lethargic and spacey. Felt depressed because I was such a zombie and didn't get excited or want to do anything."

• Pin...
• July 30, 2017

For Anxiety and Stress "Taken off Escitalopram 10 mg, which I was on for years, and put onto Paroxetine 20 mg for generalized anxiety and sleep disorder. Experienced terrible side effects-dizziness and almost fainting, headache, tingling extremities, nausea, weight loss. I was feeling like a whole different person in general. But nothing was worse than the withdrawal effects. I basically felt like a walking dead person-all of the above plus severe flu-like symptoms-I literally couldn't leave bed for days. Took a couple of weeks to feel good again, but had to start taking Escitalopram again to get there."

• Anonymous
• April 30, 2011

For Depression "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!"

• Jus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 10, 2019

For Anxiety "Resisted taking any antidepressant for my anxiety. Started paroxetine in July, 10 mg, 2-3 weeks. Stopped due to side effects. Restarted in August, (4 weeks) at 5 mg. Quit again due to getting hyper. Restarted again, slowly increasing dose 2.5 to 5 mg, worked up to 10 mg. Doctor said I need an antidepressant. I get panic attacks and OCD. I had a death in the family in March. It may relieve OCD and lessen panic. But I got very dizzy in the past. One vertigo attack I fell over. Still assessing if it's for me."

• Jus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 10, 2019

For Anxiety "Resisted taking any antidepressant for my anxiety. Started paroxetine in July, 10 mg, 2-3 weeks. Stopped due to side effects. Restarted in August, (4 weeks) at 5 mg. Quit again due to getting hyper. Restarted again, slowly increasing dose 2.5 to 5 mg, worked up to 10 mg. Doctor said I need an antidepressant. I get panic attacks and OCD. I had a death in the family in March. It may relieve OCD and lessen panic. But I got very dizzy in the past. One vertigo attack I fell over. Still assessing if it's for me."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 23, 2015

For Anxiety "This drug had some terrible side effects: loss of sex drive, appetite increase (gained 40 lbs), and I was falling asleep all the time. I could also drink staggering amounts of alcohol but never feel very drunk. Paxil also made me unemotional to other people's needs - flattening my personality. The best thing I ever did was get off this drug; eventually curing myself of the anxiety that was causing dizzy spells."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 7, 2018

For Anxiety and Stress "I have been on Paxil for over three months. I stopped taking it 2 weeks ago (cold turkey) and since then, I am dealing with the withdrawal effects. I experienced brain zaps, vertigo, severe anxiety like I never had before. Although the medication worked instantly at first, it stopped working (anxiety was worse than pre-medication intake), and this is the reason I stopped taking it. In these 3 months, I gained 30 (thirty) pounds and I am still gaining despite the fact that I have been off it for two weeks now. Before taking them, I was 100 pounds. I have flu-like symptoms including severe sinus infection, dizziness, headache, lack of appetite, etc. Not worth taking it. If it doesn't fix the problem, what is the purpose of taking it?! If you absolutely have to take SSRIs, consider other medication that has fewer side effects. Coming off of it is awful. Worst possible side effects."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 7, 2018

For Anxiety and Stress "I have been on Paxil for over three months. I stopped taking it 2 weeks ago (cold turkey) and since then, I am dealing with the withdrawal effects. I experienced brain zaps, vertigo, severe anxiety like I never had before. Although the medication worked instantly at first, it stopped working (anxiety was worse than pre-medication intake), and this is the reason I stopped taking it. In these 3 months, I gained 30 (thirty) pounds and I am still gaining despite the fact that I have been off it for two weeks now. Before taking them, I was 100 pounds. I have flu-like symptoms including severe sinus infection, dizziness, headache, lack of appetite, etc. Not worth taking it. If it doesn't fix the problem, what is the purpose of taking it?! If you absolutely have to take SSRIs, consider other medication that has fewer side effects. Coming off of it is awful. Worst possible side effects."

• A N...
• February 13, 2010

For Depression "After reaching a plateau on Prozac, my doctor switched me to Paxil. My dosage was increased several times, but I felt great while I was on it. After about 18 months, I decided to quit taking it. The effects of trying to quit this drug on your own are horrible: extreme nausea and dizziness, headaches, inability to eat, all of which rapidly increased. After 2 weeks, I had to resume taking it. After speaking with at least three different doctors and many pharmacists, they advised me it would take at least a month to wean off the Paxil and onto a new antidepressant. It was a rough transition, but I am so glad to no longer be taking this medication. I wish I had never started in the first place and hated feeling addicted to it."

• jB_...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 23, 2023

For Major Depressive Disorder "Will not take this again ever. It made me feel like a zombie, dreary and horrible. I also had dizziness, nausea, and migraines. I stopped taking it but have had a depressive episode that is lingering for a long time. It is not a good medication."

• cup...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 17, 2018

For Anxiety "I was given Paxil for my anxiety and panic attacks. The first day I took this medicine, I was feeling great, then the past few days I have had really bad side effects. Headache, dizziness, feeling faint, very nauseous, and my anxiety and panic attacks came back with a vengeance. Severe anxiety and 3 panic attacks, not to mention it looked like I got sunburn, but it is another reaction to the medicine."