Paxil and Sexual Dysfunction: What Users Say (Page 4)

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

For Depression "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."

• Enc...
• January 21, 2017

For Depression "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?"

• jen...
• April 11, 2016

For Anxiety "I was put on this medication for anxiety that I experienced suddenly. My initial panic attack was so bad that I had throat paralysis. I could not make myself swallow, scariest thing ever. I was on Paxil 20 mg for 6 months before I stopped. The medication helped with the anxiety, but the zero sex drive, constant sleepy feeling, deep yawns with vivid crazy dreams, along with 15-pound weight gain was terrible and not worth it."

• Anonymous
• June 24, 2010

For Panic Disorder "Paxil has been providing pretty good relief at 30 mg - not as effective as benzodiazepines, but I was pretty surprised. I've had horrible trials with SSRIs/side effects for Panic Disorder, but Paxil hasn't been as bad - stomach upset for a month adjusting to it - some weight gain, sexual side effects... mostly gone now 5 months in. Rough guess, I'd say about 75% fewer Panic Attacks. I've a number of medical conditions, and some medicines will rock the boat, but I'm able to get through with Xanax 'as needed' - (used to be 'always' needed)."

• Ang...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 7, 2016

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "I was on this drug for a long time, and the only thing I can report is that I felt like a zombie most of the time, was so tired that I could barely function (lost my job as a result of it), and had absolutely no desire for sex whatsoever. I rarely felt that I was thoroughly enjoying anything that was going on in my life, it completely numbed me out to a traumatic experience that I should have been dealing with, and as a result of being on it, I did not fully process that experience until getting off of the medication. That and the withdrawal symptoms were debilitating and terrible. Brain zaps are not a fun experience, and they were bad with this one."

• Anonymous
• January 1, 2010

For Panic Disorder "I started taking Paxil 2 months ago. Since I started taking Paxil, my panic attacks stopped! I did have side effects of increased sweating, increased energy, inability to orgasm for the first month. The excess sweating and increased energy went away, however, I have no interest in sex anymore."

• Anonymous
• November 21, 2011

For Anxiety "I've been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and have been taking Paxil for about 3 months. When I first began the medication, I completely lost my appetite. I dropped 10 pounds within the first 2 weeks without even trying. After about a month, it leveled back out. However, even after 3 months, I still don't sleep well on it. It has also taken a toll on my sex drive. I'm in the process of quitting Paxil to try something new. You do not want to quit this medication suddenly. You will experience terrible withdrawal symptoms. Even though I am quitting gradually, they are still quite intense."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 20, 2021

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have been on Paxil for probably a year and a half now, and while it does cause some problems (sexual dysfunction, weight gain, bouts of depression, acne, dry mouth), it has really helped with my anxiety. I had really bad anxiety to the point I would hear things and see things. I felt crazy all of the time and almost had to be committed to a mental health hospital. But Paxil really helped for all of those thoughts to go away. Yeah, I have some side effects, but what do you expect? I would much rather have the side effects than feeling crazy all the time and being scared constantly. I give it an 8."

• Anx...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 24, 2021

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I took this when I was younger for extreme anxiety, and it really gave me my life back fairly quickly. I found the sexual side effects tolerable when I was younger, but as I got older, not. Getting off it was crazy, I felt brain zaps and a feeling like I was dropping on an elevator. It took weeks before these feelings went away. My sex life was never the same, although it did come back to near normal. Citalopram is better for me."

• Cra...
• December 31, 2016

For Anxiety and Stress "At first, I loved Paxil because I wasn't crying all the time, but even as I'm writing this, I feel like there are sprinklers going off in my head. I'm always forgetting things, 0 sex drive, either I'm in a euphoric state of mind or completely absent-minded. I constantly feel stoned (and not the good kind). I just started a new job, and I can hardly focus."

• 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."

• JC6...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 14, 2020

For Major Depressive Disorder "Paxil has some side effects like ED and sexual dysfunction that I don't like, as well as weight gain. But I recently discovered that adding Pristiq or Effexor helps a lot with depression when Paxil alone isn't enough, and it somewhat helps with sexual disorders. Still, ask your doctor if this combination is right for you because it doesn't help everyone. Start slow, and you don't need a high dose either. Paxil is effective for anxiety, and Pristiq is effective for depression. The combo works for me."

• dis...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 31, 2012

For Depression "I was prescribed this medication initially for depression and then, along with another medication, for atypical depression and panic disorder. I had to give it some stars because it did help with the anxiety. The problem was I had no life. No sex drive. Emotionally flat. Slept 12-16 hours a day (I craved sleep all the time) and ate nonstop, eventually gaining 80 lbs. Finally, my husband encouraged me to go off it. I tapered the dose and experienced brain zaps and generally weird feelings for several weeks."

• Eli...
• August 16, 2016

For Postmenopausal Symptoms "51 yo healthy female. Minor premenopausal signs, periodic mood swings, tiredness. Prescribed Paxil 10 mgs. Severe bouts of exhaustion, heart palpitations, breathing anomalies, sexual dysfunction, felt like a zombie. Slept 2 days. Quit meds day 6. 16 days from quitting, feel horrible. Severely depressed, anxious, tired (never have felt anxious or depressed prior). Still sleep too much, experience outrageous, wildly abnormal mood swings, have neglected my work, my house, my pets, my friends, and exercise (was running 5 miles daily prior, now do nothing). Still experience breathing abnormalities. Better each day, yet unable to function normally. Life and business in ruins, cry constantly. Nightmarish experience. Feel like I may never be the same again."

• Dee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 16, 2021

For Depression "I've had insomnia for almost 5 years after a stressful event in my life. The stress passed, but the insomnia stayed. I've tried sleep meds and off-label antidepressants for sleep, but nothing ever really worked. I always wake up after 3-4 hours without being able to fall asleep again. Mind racing with catchy lyrics over and over. My life was a mess, and I became depressed. I finally tried a daytime antidepressant for actual depression, and it was Paxil. After 3 days, I felt so much better, even though I wasn't sleeping better. My mood was elevated, and I just saw the positive in life. I forgot how that felt. Sadly, I stopped the meds due to sexual side effects. I couldn't get an erection or orgasm even if I masturbated. That was a no for me, so now I'm on Wellbutrin with no side effects at all. Still not sleeping better, but I feel good and less worried about not sleeping. Hopefully, that helps my insomnia eventually."

• wor...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 12, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "If you are male and over the age of 40 and have any sex drive, stay away from Paxil. It is male birth control. It is the worst medicine to get off of. It took me 3 weeks of weaning with smaller and less each day to get off it, and it didn't do anything to control depression or anxiety. I don't know why I took it almost a year before I said NO MORE. I could still kick my doctor's behind for talking me into trying it."

• Jen...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 26, 2018

For Depression "I took this medication for depression and anxiety, it worked like a charm. However, the side effects were pretty crazy - firstly, I had trouble urinating on this medication, I had to concentrate really hard to pee, had sexual problems, couldn't get 'off.' I also gained 15-20 pounds in 3 months, had a dry mouth, and once I got off the medication, the withdrawals were really bad. Brain zaps, ringing in ears for 2-3 weeks after stopping the medication. Oh, and this medication caused me to get sleep paralysis. Never had this condition before getting on Paxil."

• Sar...
• January 26, 2018

For Major Depressive Disorder "Paxil has been very effective for my anxiety. Within a couple of months of starting, I was able to get a job, something I couldn't do before. I found myself feeling more confident and caring less about things that used to worry me. However, Paxil unfortunately hasn't helped with my depression. And while the side effects I have experienced (sexual dysfunction, vivid dreams, drowsiness) are pretty minor, the withdrawals are insane. My insurance screwed up, and I missed my meds for a couple of days, and it was a nightmare. I was angry, anxious, suicidal. I had constant brain zaps and could hardly sleep. So be careful with this one. Don't miss any doses, and try to take it at the same time every day. And if you want to quit, TAKE IT SLOW."

• Kay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 18, 2015

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I've been on Paxil for about two months. The first two weeks I was on 10 mg, and I could feel a big change. My pupils would dilate huge, which I read was because my brain was finally being flooded with serotonin. I actually would relate the side effects I felt as similar to MDMA (I spent from 19-23 as an avid drug user...have been clean now for 4 years). I felt awesome, but it didn't last. Two weeks in, my doctor increased my dose to 20 mg. Since the increase, the 'good feeling' has kind of gone away. I feel how I did before I started Paxil, PLUS it's hard to think clearly & feels like something is pressing on my chest at night. I have absolutely no sex drive and have lost more than 20 lbs due to not eating. It's done nothing for my anxiety yet."

• Anonymous
• November 16, 2010

For Anxiety "I have had anxiety all of my life. Didn't know until I finally took a serious look with my wife. Doctor prescribed 10 mg. Had muscle restlessness, chattering teeth, and insomnia, which I already had, and Paxil made it worse. I've had sex for a while with no orgasm and no ejaculation. Additionally, Paxil makes me have the urge to drink alcohol where there was none before. Going to my doctor to get something else."

• hls...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 9, 2022

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "There are a lot of negative reviews of Paxil floating around in cyberspace, but I can confidently say that it saved my life. Eight years ago, I was going through an incredibly stressful period, resulting in a nervous breakdown. I had always been an anxious person, but my OCD became unmanageable at this point. I was suffering from violent intrusive thoughts and lived in a near constant state of panic. My mother had been prescribed Paxil for similar issues, so with the help of my psychiatrist, I decided to give it a try. Within weeks, my intrusive thoughts had lessened, and I felt true peace for the first time in months. I remained on a tiny dose of 10 mg for seven years until recent circumstances required me to switch to Zoloft. However, I am actually thinking about going back to Paxil at some point as I prefer its more sedating effects. The only reason I'm not rating it 10/10 is because of the side effects: I did experience a significant decrease in my sex drive and gained some weight."

• blo...
• July 25, 2019

For Depression "I have depression with anxiety on top. Paxil did help calm my anxiety but also made me very lazy and lethargic and didn't really help the depression totally. + weight gain + zero libido and no ability to orgasm, no sensation at all. So my overall quality of life didn't improve as much as I would have liked on this med. I feel like this might be a better med for just anxiety than depression for some people? But try something else first if you can. This is the worst medication for sexual side effects I've tried."

• Mar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 24, 2015

For Major Depressive Disorder "I tried Paxil in 2000 when I had unstoppable panic attacks. I had been dealing with anxiety all of my life, and those years I had constant panic over a teen addict and a son with learning disabilities and marital issues. This was the first time I had ever taken an AD. The very first day I felt relief from it. However, looking back, the start-up dose of 20 mg caused me to be a bit withdrawn and weirdly unresponsive to my family after that first day. As time went on, though, I began to feel much better and happier. I will say the dose was probably too high, as I did make some regretful decisions from not thinking things through. I gained several extra pounds, and I 'thought' I had sexual side effects; it could have been situational. Not well since stopping."

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

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Took this drug for around 6 months for severe OCD, as well as panic attacks and depersonalization, and it helped a lot. Got my anxiety and obsessive thoughts under control and made it easier to deal with them. There were plenty of side effects, such as sexual dysfunction, weight gain, increased apathy, drowsiness/tiredness, etc., however, most of them have subsided after quitting the drug, and the withdrawal was not that bad either because I tapered slowly."

• DDa...
• August 8, 2019

For Social Anxiety Disorder "My review is kind of short and sweet. I've been on Paxil for about 10 years. No sex drive at all, still anxiety, but a few weeks ago I had forgotten to take it for about 4 days, cried uncontrollably until I realized. Is this drug just suppressing my feelings deep down? Maybe that's why I still have extreme anxiety? Just a thought."