Paxil and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 2)

• wan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 28, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "Paxil is making me calmer, but not lessening depression. However, I have only been on it one week. I will give it more time. Side effects are fatigue, weight gain, and headache. I feel that this drug would be best for someone with aggression. I also take 1 mg Klonopin, which is also sedating. Paxil and alcohol don't mix well."

• Anonymous
• September 2, 2010

For Anxiety and Stress "I am so happy to have found this board. These success stories are amazing. I've been taking Paxil for about 2 weeks and 2 days and have experienced some tough side effects, lots of trouble sleeping, headaches, mood swings, but it seems a lot of people seem to really do well after getting through those first few weeks. I think I want to try and stick with this. It's also helped ease a lot of pain and stress I experienced from a brutal gallbladder surgery."

• 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."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• January 11, 2012

For Anxiety "Paroxetine worked absolute wonders for me when I first started paroxetine 6 years ago. My mood elevated so high to the point of work colleagues questioning my 'nightclub activities.' The 'serotonin high' also made me aggressively confident and involved a few flashpoints, including a physical fight-my first in 15 years. While it worked, it was GREAT. However, it lost its efficacy suddenly a few months ago, and I was prescribed sertraline/Zoloft, which was a disaster. Headaches, nausea, and insomnia were my body's reaction to this medicine. Have now been put on citalopram and hoping this will be effective. My doctor suggested I may try paroxetine again if I don't respond to citalopram."

• Hap...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 17, 2019

For Panic Disorder "Amazing pill! Only took 10 mg in the morning and already feel a big difference! One thing to note, it can give you headaches and make you fidgety. But apart from that, so far, works great! Better than benzos."

• 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."

• DPO...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 6, 2022

For Panic Disorder "I have had panic attacks and panic disorder for 2 years. I visited the doctor, and he gave me Paxil 25 mg. My first week was a nightmare, I had headaches, nausea, cramping, and heart palpitations. I was literally in another world. After one month, my symptoms started to subside, and my life was back up so I could go out of the house normally. Paxil + therapy session saved my life. I am waiting to get more benefits as time goes on. Don't be afraid, life is beautiful!"

• Ada...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 13, 2021

For Anxiety "It really helped me. I've been functioning with anxiety for a while, but it has always held me back from major life goals. I used to take Effexor, but it turned me into a zombie. Years later, I went on 20 mg of Paxil, and it's like I'm becoming a better person. I'm more outgoing, I have the energy to do things and pursue my passions. I actually enjoy going out and living life in general. I did have some side effects like nausea, upset stomach, and headaches, but it went away the first week."

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

For Depression "I used this antidepressant for 12 months. It definitely improved my mood and helped my anxiety. It also took away menopausal hot flushes. The downside, however, was that after taking it for about a month, I became constantly hungry and have put on about 8 kg of weight. The weight was mainly in the stomach area. I recently came off paroxetine by cutting the 20 mg tablet in half for a week, then stopping it and going on to 20 mg of Lexapro. Within a few days, my appetite was under control, and I am able to eat a lot less. The side effects when I stopped taking it were headaches every morning, however, this may be because I have a few issues with my neck. I also got hot and cold sensations. Overall, it was a good medicine for me."

• Los...
• June 2, 2016

For Anxiety "Okay, so I started taking Paxil a few months ago for anxiety, only 10 mg. For the first little bit, it was weird, my body felt different and I couldn't eat much. My bowel movements became very irregular. I felt like it was maybe working. I became very tired (I've always been a late sleeper), but it was hard to get out of bed, my thoughts were constantly negative, especially when I would be alone or driving alone. I had a constant headache. I didn't want to do anything. I worked out a little bit during the duration, but not much. I couldn't decide whether I should stop or take more, and I stopped. It's been about 2 weeks now, and I'm starting to feel better and more positive, but still anxious."

• 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."

• FNY...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 15, 2015

For Depression "After going through a hurtful breakup and losing my job, I fell into darkness, life lost interest. I decided to try antidepressants. Doc prescribed Paxil. I read the reviews, most say it helps after taking it for a while. Yesterday, I took it at night. I couldn't sleep at all, after 3 hours, I started to feel very weak, my head was heavy, I had an urge to stretch my whole body, lost my appetite, but I did feel happier. Because it affects your serotonin, I started to think about my relationship more. All day, I couldn't get out of bed, felt very weak, couldn't even walk, sleepy but can't sleep. Horrific feeling. Although I hear it helps eventually, I don't think it's worth the side effects. Bad experience."

• 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."

• Pam...
• May 20, 2015

For Anxiety and Stress "This was prescribed for anxiety. I had recently been diagnosed with several sleep-related issues, as well as my asthma increasing. I have a long-standing problem with recurrent bouts of depression, which I treat when they are present. I have a history of antidepressants causing an increase in depression. Since beginning Paxil as directed by my doctor two months ago at 10 mg daily, I have noticed a gradual increase in both my depressive episodes as well as my headaches... I do have a history of migraines for 20 years due to a head injury."

• Lel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 10, 2017

For Anxiety "WORST DRUG EVER! Side effects were body shocks, headaches, worse anxiety, etc. I only took it for three weeks, and it caused me to feel numb mentally and emotionally. Drove me nuts! So I went off it, and let me tell you... WORST withdrawals ever! Lethargy, bad thoughts, apathy, brain zaps, mood swings, depression, etc. Before you take it, which I DON'T recommend as there are other options, read stories about the withdrawals. There's so many lawsuits against it. Oh, and it induced a mania in me, and now I'm stuck on antipsychotics..."

• 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."

• Dis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 18, 2017

For Anxiety "I started taking Paxil for anxiety and depression and started feeling sick on the first pill. Nauseous, headaches, trembling, body shocks, etc. After the second pill, I found it was starting to get hard to orgasm. By the fourth pill, I couldn't orgasm and quit taking it at that point. Not ready to give up sex to possibly get over some anxiety and depression, but seriously if the side effects are this bad after 4 pills, what would a month be like? Then after stopping after 4 days, it was like the whole process in reverse, as I had gotten over the headaches and sickness after 2 days, it took another 2 days to get over it once stopping. I am going to try something else or just go back to self-medication, at least the side effects are more manageable."

• Anonymous
• February 14, 2011

For Panic Disorder "I've been experiencing panic attacks for over a year. At first, I thought maybe it was a phase that would pass, but they have become constant and are really affecting my life. My doctor prescribed a 10mg dosage for the first 2 weeks, then 20mg from then on, and I take them before bed. I've been on it for a week and 3 days and am experiencing headaches, and when I wake up too fast, I feel like the room is moving and I can't focus my vision. Hopefully, the side effects go away and I can experience the benefits. I've been reading lots of different opinions, mostly about the withdrawal symptoms. I'm 18, so I don't want to be hooked on it forever. Then again, if it helps my panic disorder and doesn't cause any major health issues, why not?"

• Tor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 5, 2022

For Major Depressive Disorder "Just don’t. It wasn’t hard to get off. My doctor prescribed it, and at first, it went well. No anxiety, depression, and I was getting a bit better. Then, suddenly after two months, the depression came back. Anxiety gone still. Horrible, horrible thoughts came out of nowhere as well! I talked to another doctor, and she said she rarely, if ever, prescribes this. She basically said it shouldn’t be prescribed. Side effects after getting off were some weird head feeling, headache for a day, continuous weird dreams for a few days, and stomachache, nausea for one day. Not bad. I wished meds doctors won’t even prescribe would be taken off the market. There is a reason they don’t."

• Min...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 21, 2021

For Panic Disorder "Started on Oct. 14, 2021, to take Paxil 10 mg. I’ve been dealing with panic attacks since 2014, but never got medication for it till now. For the first week on it has been a rollercoaster. First 2 days I was doing fine, till Sunday I started to have a feeling of coldness in the back of my head that went down my whole body, palpitations, dizziness, and a headache. I got scared that I even called my mom. Those symptoms followed up the next day. Tuesday I felt like I was choking to a point that I had a panic attack. My body felt numb and cold. I was sweating a lot too. Thank God we got home. On Wednesday I felt emotionless and went to the doctor to let her know the side effects. She said they can put me on another medication, but I said no. I didn’t want to go through another symptom, so I stuck with Paxil. Now I woke up to shortness of breath and again had a panic attack. I felt chest pain, headache, and trouble sleeping. And I have the common side effects. Just hope for the best!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2018

For Anxiety "Paxil is very effective, but it has way too many negative side effects. When I was on Paxil, I experienced nausea, headaches, fatigue, and a burning sensation in the stomach. I literally felt like a zombie that had zero energy. I’m glad I was not on it for too long, which made me get zero withdrawals, but it did keep me from getting anxiety or feeling depressed because I felt sick the entire time."

• Anonymous
• June 9, 2010

For Anxiety "I have been on Paxil for 2 weeks. If you have anxiety, please try this drug. The first week was hell. I had headaches and mood swings. Then my whole life slowed down so I could catch up. Good luck!"

• asd...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 6, 2018

For Major Depressive Disorder "Bad headache. I drove a truck, and daydreams and racing thoughts were making me miss my turns or go past my stops. I also stopped taking it because of the headaches."

• Mag...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 14, 2020

For Panic Disorder "I don't feel good on this medicine, I have panic attacks and headaches."