Paxil and Headaches: What Users Say

• Hop...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2013

For Anxiety "About 6-8 weeks ago my doc prescribed 10 mg Paxil (Now up to 20 mg) & 0.25 Xanax. The first few weeks I was very, very fatigued! But since I was depressed, I was okay with sleeping the rest of the day after returning home from school. I did experience headaches, nausea, increased anxiety (Xanax helped alleviate anxiety). Within the last 2 weeks, I haven't taken Xanax, my anxiety has dramatically decreased! Depression has also decreased. A few months ago I was scared to leave the house, be around people, an emotional wreck, no motivation to work out. Now I'm happy to go to school, exercise, and be social again. Keep praying and hang in there!"

• Col...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2012

For Social Anxiety Disorder "Paxil has changed my life! Before: paranoia about people watching me, extreme anxiety walking or being in public places, such as cafeterias, college campus, small groups of people. Mind blankness during conversations, or 'social lock up' - inability to interact with others due to severe anxiety. Always woke up feeling tired even if I had a full night's sleep. Side Effects (lasted 2 weeks): 20mg daily. Severe fatigue/sleepiness. A little dizziness if dose was taken late. Headache the 1st two days. Now: Began working really well 7-8 weeks in. No more social anxiety, I feel normal walking around & talking to people. Also I sleep better than ever. Overall anxiety level has gone down & I no longer ruminate/worry constantly! Paxil rocks!"

• Emi...
• December 28, 2014

For Anxiety and Stress "There is a lot of other reviews that I have read that sums a lot of it up. Yes, you will most likely experience yawning, nausea, and headaches at first. It does go away! At first I also noticed a change in my sex life. I could still get in the mood but found it near impossible to orgasm. Also, with sleep, I did feel tired for a bit, but I think it was because I experienced trouble sleeping at first. I found some things that helped fix some of this: I went from 20mg to 10mg a day. I took it right after breakfast. This one is important! Exercise! I started running again and I found that it had an extremely positive effect and it went well with the medication. A lot of the jitters I got at first went away, it helped me sleep better, and more!"

• Anonymous
• September 29, 2011

For Anxiety and Stress "I suffered with pretty severe anxiety, stress, and depression. Took Paxil 4 days ago and honestly I feel great. It already started working. A lot of it could be in my head, but trust me all my symptoms disappeared. Side effects: from day one I had a light headache, day two - a little harder headache, day three - unbearable headache, day four (now) no headache, feeling perfectly fine, great mood, even though it's raining and dark outside. GREAT medicine. Also, it's worth to add, it worked the same wonders for me about 8 years ago when I had it for the last time. I was on Paxil for 6 months and it healed me. I had 7 years of a great life and suddenly 6-7 months ago this thing attacked me again. Paxil works again, the same way."

• Whi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 4, 2016

For Anxiety "* Reminder, everyone's experience is different, and you won't know how this medication works for you until you try it.* I'm 18 and used to suffer from severe social and general anxiety, and mild depression. I've had a bad past with antidepressants, but I decided to try Paxil (20mg) because I was desperate. My anxiety is 95% gone, I'm wanting to be more social, and I'm happy all of the time! I don't worry anymore, and it's amazing. There are some side effects (which were terrible the first week but reduced with time): headaches, reduced libido, tiredness, smaller appetite {I'm thankful for this one}, and insomnia. Paxil works amazingly for my anxiety, and I'm so happy I tried it. I'm making new friends, and I think I'll secure a job soon :)."

• jmo...
• July 1, 2013

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I am 41 and have had all manner of anxiety for most of my life. Usually this worsens as my self-esteem drops. I have taken it twice in the past, once for about 3 years, and recently for about a year. I stopped taking it almost 8 months ago and I just went back on it yesterday. 20 mg and yesterday was the worst I ever remember feeling. Headache, restlessness, dry mouth (flu-like symptoms), and I ate only because I needed to. I was not hungry. Couldn't sleep last night so I took 50 mg of diphenhydramine and slept well. Today I feel much better! I am cutting to only 10 mg for a week and then back to the 20 mg. I have to say that when you are calling out from your job and afraid to go in stores, like myself, this medicine works!"

• JNo...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 18, 2014

For Anxiety "I took Paxil for 5 years for severe panic attacks and anxiety. I got to the point where I could barely leave the house without anxiety. I was on 20 mg once a day and it worked wonders for me. I felt 'normal' for the first time in years. HOWEVER... I gained 50 lbs. I decided to get off and weaned myself very slowly but still had withdrawal symptoms: brain zaps, severe headaches, dizzy, restless, faint, weak, and the list goes on. I have been off for 5 months now and still have symptoms."

• Opa...
• July 2, 2011

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I am 23 years old and I have been taking Paxil since I was 11. It has worked extremely well for me over the years and I have had little to no problems with my OCD. When I was 17, I tried to go off the medication (with the help of my doctor) and it was extremely hard. I became really depressed and had horrible headaches and nausea. I decided to go back on the medication because it wasn't the right time in my life to deal with so much stress. FYI, if I skip/forget a pill, I get really bad nausea and I tend to bruise and scar very easily. If you are looking for something to treat your OCD, this might be the medicine for you."

• Kya...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 28, 2020

For Major Depressive Disorder "I've been on almost every antidepressant out there (save for some tricyclics) for major depressive disorder, and none helped enough to justify the side effects. I was on Paxil briefly when I was 14, but stopped it due to insurance problems. I started it again a couple of months ago, and it has been incredible. I started out at a dose of 10 mg, had some nausea, but nothing major, and it went away after a couple of weeks. I've now been on a 20 mg dose for almost three weeks and am experiencing some nausea again and headaches, but emotionally, I feel fantastic. I didn't have a severe PTSD anniversary reaction this year, thanks to this medication. I feel good. I care about things. I feel like I can handle setbacks without wanting to just give up. This has truly been a miracle for me so far."

• Mr ...
• August 11, 2015

For Anxiety "I began taking Paxil for my depression and anxiety. I started at 10 mg. The first night I took it, I had horrible dizziness, headache, sickness, and felt weak. The next night I felt fine. Now it is 3 months later, and I feel wonderful! No side effects, and I can get through the day without anxiety being the focal point. I am now up to 30 mg."

• Sar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 9, 2022

For Anxiety "A couple of months ago, my anxiety became life-consuming. It came on very suddenly. I was having panic attacks, waking up in a panic, couldn't eat, had diarrhea, couldn't sleep, didn't want to travel, didn't want to do anything social, couldn't work, was weepy all the time, and I ended up in the ER twice. I tried Lexapro for one day and had a terrible reaction. I started on Paxil 10 mg, upped to 15, then 20, and now I'm on 25 mg. I've been on it for 10 weeks now. I just want to share that I'm no longer experiencing panic attacks. I don't wake up in a panic, my appetite is back, no more crying, I'm productive, etc. I'm in a MUCH better place now. I'm seeing a therapist, and Hydroxyzine is also helping. My Paxil side effects were headaches, sleepiness, and crazy dreams. All of those have gone away. I'm not 100% back to myself, but I'm feeling a lot of relief. I'm calm and rational. I'm seeing a big difference. Give it time! Hang in there. Stay up through the struggles."

• Nhc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 18, 2013

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "I have been on Paxil now for 10 months. I am on a high dose of 40 mg. However, it is working wonders for me. I love how I feel, and my anxiety is a lot lower than it used to be. I feel like I can operate in a normal fashion, be it at work or out in a social situation. The drawback is do not run out of your prescription, always be on top of it. I ran out of it, and the withdrawal side effects are not fun. For me, I got really depressed and crying, and the headaches are horrible. I realize I will be on this prescription for a very long time. But for those who may not be, make sure you listen to your doctor when getting off of it. It is not fun when it is not in your system. Again, love, love how I feel."

• kad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 25, 2016

For Panic Disorder "I've been on this medication for 2 weeks. I take 10 mgs once a day. The first week was kind of rough. Headaches, nausea, teeth clenching, extreme fatigue, blurry vision, things like that. The second week has been much better. I'm able to leave my house to go do things. I actually have been going to the gym and spending over an hour working out. After struggling to find the proper medication and being terrified to live my life since 2014, this medicine has truly helped me. I feel confident that I am on the road to recovery. The only complaint that I have is that my memory is still a bit foggy. I hope that in time that will clear up as well. SSRIs can be scary and have rough side effects, but hang in there. It gets better."

• Ash...
• April 19, 2016

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have been taking Paxil since December of 2015. I started out on 10 mg, which didn't do much for me, and then my doctor increased it to 20 mg, which still was not enough to cease my anxiety. I have been taking 30 mg of Paxil for about 4 months now, and it has been great. My mood is extremely better, and all of my friends and family notice a huge change. I'm a more pleasant person to be around, I don't have panic/anxiety attacks anymore, and I am able to do things that my anxiety didn't allow me to do before. However, when I first started taking Paxil, it gave me a lot of headaches, but they went away as I got used to it. Also, I have been having night sweats, and it is hard for me to sleep sometimes, but other than that, it is a great medication."

• Dan...
• January 8, 2017

For Anxiety "Been on Paxil for 17 years, started with 10 mg, stayed with that dosage for about 10 years. Loved it in the beginning, slept great and mood improved a bunch. Eventually, I went to 20 mg. It's worked okay over the years. I noticed some improvement with the increase, but never really significant. The transition from 10 to 20 was seamless. Over the years, I have tried to switch to other SSRIs as it seems the Paxil just wasn't doing it anymore. But none have made me sleep better than Paxil, so I always go back. After a miserable attempt with Celexa, I'm now trying 30 mg of Paxil. I never thought my dose would get so high. I'm on Day 4, and other than a constant headache, I feel no changes. Hoping my mood and outlook improves one of these days."

• MZa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 8, 2020

For Anxiety and Stress "I just started a new job, all the stress turned into anxiety to the point I would get dizzy, heat strokes, and be close to passing out. My doctor started me with Paxil 20 mg, after a month, he increased my dose to 30 mg once a day, every day. I also take Buspirone twice a day. I still have a personality and feel extremely better than a few months ago. Please be patient, it takes a month to kick in-side effects are minor and last for a week. Taking Paxil after lunch instead of in the morning really helped manage the side effects. Hang in there, everyone! Side effects for the first week: 1. Sleepy after taking 2. Blurred vision 3. Headaches 4. Increased appetite."

• WJa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 28, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "Worst AD I have ever tried. The medication actually magnified my anxiety to the point of madness. My brain was out of control. Body pain, cramping, muscle tension, blurred vision, headache, severe back, spine, and stomach pain. If you're a male, do not take Paxil. It will destroy your libido, and as far as male working parts, it will strip you of your manhood. Nothing will work if you're sexually active. This medication is awful. As soon as I stopped taking it, the side effects disappeared. Doctors are over-prescribing ADs. If you suffer from pain, they take you off pain meds and create a new set of problems with ADs."

• KLM...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 12, 2022

For Anxiety "I rely so heavily on these reviews, so I wanted to come back and contribute my own! I started on 10 mg of Paxil daily three weeks ago for severe general anxiety and frequent panic attacks. I have suffered from mild anxiety off and on my entire life, but for whatever reason, it struck tenfold this July and hasn’t let up since. I suddenly began experiencing frequent panic attacks when feeling 'trapped' in places like the car, work meetings, church, etc. I canceled a Disney trip for my son last month because I couldn’t bear the thought of being on a plane. Paxil is working wonders for me! Three weeks in, and I no longer feel scared and shaky all of the time, I have energy and am motivated, I can focus, and my appetite has actually decreased (I’ve lost 5 lbs!). Push through the headaches and dizziness that the first couple of weeks will bring, it’s worth it."

• Bee...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 29, 2018

For Anxiety "I've been on this drug for 3 years. It's really effective, but if you are prone to weight gain, BOY will you put on weight! The biggest con is coming off them. I'm currently going from Paxil to Prozac. Paxil withdrawal includes insomnia, dizziness, headaches, feeling faint, itchy skin (like you are being covered in ants), and sweating. I've come off many antidepressants in the past, and this is the worst withdrawal I've had."

• bec...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 25, 2016

For Anxiety "Panic attacks and anxiety were completely gone, but with that came tons of side effects. I gained over 40 pounds, and it was impossible to lose until getting off of Paxil. No sex drive and couldn't orgasm at all while on it. It made me a little zombie-like, I didn't have any low emotions, but not any high ones either. Coming off of it gave me extreme symptoms like headaches, loss of appetite, sore muscles, insomnia, mood swings, and weird violent thoughts. Will all be worth it though once I'm over the withdrawal period. Positive withdrawal symptom: weight loss!!"

• DWh...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 27, 2015

For Anxiety and Stress "I had a headache 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for a little over 4 months. I saw a neurologist who told me that it was tension causing my headaches and that it was all in my head. He put me on Paxil, and it was, without exception, the single worst experience of my life. I had never been depressed before, never been diagnosed with anxiety, and nothing to suggest any mental health issues whatsoever, and I was prescribed Paxil. This drug nearly killed me. As I said, no history of mental illness or suicidal thoughts in my entire life, and when I was put on this drug, it made me feel suicidal. I felt like I was better off dead than alive. I was only 15 years old at the time, I'm now 16. I don't think you should take this if you are under 18 years old!"

• Sta...
• September 29, 2019

For Depression "A few months ago, I was given this medication by my doctor because I was going through severe depression. I took it for 4 days, and I couldn’t deal anymore. After 30 mins of taking it, I went numb. I then started to cry uncontrollably for about half an hour for no reason. When I went to sleep, I started to have brain zaps every time I was falling asleep. My eyes started to roll back, and I stopped taking it. 2-3 months later, and my anxiety is now way worse. I started having out-of-body experiences. I am now numb even when working out. I have severe headaches. I regret ever taking this. My brain will never be the same! It caused problems I didn’t even have."

• Mis...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 22, 2021

For Panic Disorder "I took it for 1 year and a half. At first, it seemed to work, but then it caused 20 kg weight gain, nightmares, general weakness, fibromyalgia, not being able to even get out of bed, always angry and agitated, chest pain, shivering, restless legs, paranoia, depersonalization, feeling faint, always feeling hungry, gastritis, IBS, shivering, headaches, tinnitus, seeing blurry, feeling like throwing up, suicidal thoughts, hypersensitivity to sound and light, being violent. It was like torture. I felt like my body was chained. I still kept taking it because my doctor said it was me just worrying. But one day, I had a gut feeling and stopped taking it slowly over time. Now I can walk again and I feel so much better than when I was taking it. I lost the weight that I had gained and feel happier. Stopping it was hard, but it was worth it. If you read this, I understand your suffering, I know it’s hard, just don't give up.❤️"

• Fre...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 12, 2019

For Depression "If you have depression, do yourself a favor and avoid this medication at all costs. I am 1 week into withdrawals (this isn't the first time I've tried to discontinue paroxetine), and it's basically the worst. I was on Paxil for years, it made me gain so much weight, and it didn't even help that much with my depression. In some ways, it made my depression worse. For me, Lexapro is a much better choice, so much more effective. Not only are the emotional withdrawals worse than you could imagine, but it's physical as well. It's hard for me to move my hands, arms, and fingers, it's as if they are numb. I'm also getting headaches and brain zaps, but nothing beats this depression. I think it is not worth it."

• Jam...
• November 17, 2013

For Anxiety "This is my second time taking Paxil. For me, it is the only medication that has been effective in treating my anxiety. I've taken just about every medication for anxiety over the past 10 years. In my early 20s, I took Paxil for about 6 months and experienced sexual side effects but only gained about 5 lbs. It was horrible to come off of Paxil, and I experienced dizziness, headaches, and nausea. I am currently 29, and I started taking Paxil again about 5 months ago due to increased anxiety. While it has been effective in helping me to lead a normal life with minimal anxiety, it has caused horrible weight gain. I gained 15 lbs in the past 3 months, which is a lot for my petite frame at 5'1". Due to the weight gain, I am currently attempting to stop."