Paxil and Tiredness: What Users Say (Page 3)

• 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."

• Anonymous
• January 8, 2011

For Anxiety "Tonight was only my 4th night on the pill. My doctor has me on 10 mg at night for the first week. So far, the side effects are very uncomfortable. I mostly feel them right after taking my dose. My mouth is so dry, I'm nauseous, gassy, I can't sleep, and I'm exhausted. I know the doctor said it could take weeks to work, so I'm not knocking it yet. Also, some reviews I have read say that some of the side effects disappear, and I am certainly counting on that. So far, I haven't seen much change in my anxiety, and hopefully it comes soon."

• Maz...
• January 16, 2017

For Anxiety and Stress "I was given 12.5 mg of generic Paxil 5 days ago. My anxiety started to manifest itself with uncontrollable crying. While it has been only 5 days, the crying has stopped. So I'm happy with that. However, I am experiencing side effects: lightheadedness, pinprick feelings in arms and legs, some joint pain, lower back pain, and lethargy that makes me feel like doing/caring about nothing. Because the side effects come and go, I'm willing to wait it out to see if everything mellows out."

• Rom...
• November 16, 2015

For Anxiety "My physician prescribed me 20mg of Paxil daily when I saw her for anxiety/depression. The first couple of days, I had trouble sleeping and had a lot of energy, but no anxiety. This drug definitely reduced my anxiety, and I felt more sociable, but after a month or so I noticed that I couldn't focus and I started to lose motivation to do anything and had no energy. I felt more depressed than before I had started the medication, and on my days off from work I would end up sleeping all day. I quit cold turkey while taking 5-HTP and experienced the brain zaps for a couple of days, but now I feel like myself again. I can't recommend this med. I think exercise and a good diet are more effective at improving my mood."

• 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."

• 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..."

• Lyn...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 1, 2018

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I have been on Paxil for 15 years (except when I was pregnant). It's been great for my OCD, but still makes me feel tired, and I've gained weight that's hard to lose on it. I'm switching to something else that might be more energizing and doesn't pile on the pounds. Overall, I think it can be an awesome drug for anxiety and OCD in my experience, but there are a lot of side effects compared to other SSRIs."

• Ser...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 18, 2019

For Social Anxiety Disorder "I'm one month now on Paxil, prescribed by my psychiatrist, as I almost always had social anxiety and phobia. I feel more anxious on it, but when I stop taking it, I feel good, but maybe is that because of medication, idk. I just hope that this one will work. I will give it a chance, and I tried Zoloft, which made me just tired."

• Mom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 9, 2018

For Panic Disorder "After the birth of my daughter, probably within hours, I experienced a panic attack. Months later, I was still having them every week, feeling worried and anxious about everything, having irrational thoughts that just wouldn’t budge. That’s when I was diagnosed with postpartum anxiety. I was prescribed Paxil (paroxetine 10 mg). I would cry every day before that, but it did kind of help with my crying spells. However, for my anxiety, I feel like it got worse. I know they say to give it 4-6 weeks, I gave it 5 1/2 on 10 mg. Side effects in the first 2 weeks were constant yawning and feeling heavy-eyed, similar to what allergies feel like in the eyes, and increased appetite, which was better than not eating at all. I did still have panic attacks and down days. So, I didn’t think it was the right fit for me and switched to something else."

• n0t...
• January 12, 2011

For Depression "I've now been on Paroxetine for about 10 years for severe, chronic depression. I was on Prozac for roughly 15 years before it appeared to lose its effectiveness, so I was prescribed this instead. My initial dose was 40 mg daily. It was initially extremely effective as an anti-depressant, and I went from being hospitalized for a week every year for my own safety to 6 years without a hospitalization. Just a 'blip' in mood every year instead of a crash. However, I'm now on 80 mg, and the side effects at this dose are appalling: chronic insomnia, 100 lb weight gain, constant tiredness, muscle aches, migraines, memory loss, zero libido, and all-around apathy. Attempting to drop my dosage results in uncontrollable weeping, numbness, and terror."

• Anonymous
• May 16, 2010

For Anxiety and Stress "It's working. I haven't had any panic attacks since I started about 3-4 months ago, but my memory was bad before and still is bad. I've been getting constipated, decreased sexual desire, and ability. I'm only 19. I have to fix that. I am always tired randomly and need a coffee. I can't stop yawning all the time."

• Anonymous
• May 16, 2010

For Anxiety and Stress "It's working. I haven't had any panic attacks since I started about 3-4 months ago, but my memory was bad before and still is bad. I've been getting constipated, decreased sexual desire, and ability. I'm only 19. I have to fix that. I am always tired randomly and need a coffee. I can't stop yawning all the time."

• Mel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 12, 2022

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "20 mg daily. I took it for 4 months before changing to new meds. The first week (which I know is the most intense for all SSRIs) was just so hard. My jaw was shaking uncontrollably, I was extremely tired, and I would fall asleep almost anywhere. I had extreme anxiety and sweating. However, I spoke to my psychiatrist, who told me to continue as the side effects would subside. So I kept on, and yes, the side effects did subside, but 4 months in, I still felt extremely fatigued. I was a long-distance runner, and even going for a walk became a challenge for me. I would sleep 8-9 hours a night and still found it incredibly difficult to wake up, and I'd need a 2-hour nap in the day (thankfully I work from home). It was difficult for me to socialize, put on clothes, and perform other basic day-to-day tasks. My jaw was also still shaking, and in 4 months, I had gained weight (lack of movement, I assume). I do believe the anxiety subsided, but the side effects themselves gave me anxiety, especially the fatigue."

• Big...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 8, 2022

"I have been taking Paxil for over 20 years, it ended the bipolar depression for a time, but at a terrible cost. I lost my creativity, became tired, and lacked ambition. Since the pandemic, Paxil stopped working. It made me sleep 15 hours a day and wish I was dead. I had to go cold turkey on it about three weeks ago because my doctor would have taken too long to help me. Going off it was all positive for me - but may be a foolish decision for others."

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

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Before I took Paxil, I never knew what a calm mind felt like! I always felt as though instead of me controlling my thoughts, my thoughts would control me. I couldn’t stand another day feeling this constant apprehension, so I started on 10 mg and I started to feel a difference in my anxiety around week 3-4. Although my symptoms had decreased, I experienced a whole lot of side effects. To name a few: anhedonia, indifference (apathy), emotional numbness, derealization, depersonalization, dry mouth, diarrhea, low sex drive, increased appetite, changes in taste, yawning, drowsiness, mild sore throat, etc. I increased from 10 mg to 20 mg in order to treat the anhedonia, it did relieve it to an extent, but I then felt too apathetic. I went back down to 10 mg and eventually discontinued due to other lingering side effects. Although this medication did calm me down and reduce my anxiety, I’d recommend trying this medication as a last resort! Try Lexapro before trying this one."

• Cry...
• November 12, 2016

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Paxil made me gain 5 lbs. I noticed most of it was in my abdomen. It also made me very tired. I gained 15 lbs. overall. I was taken off it, but my energy wasn't coming back. It turned out I had a thyroid problem due to my carbamazepine, which controls my epileptic seizures."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 27, 2012

For Social Anxiety Disorder "I don't think Paxil ever worked for me, and it always made me feel really bad, but I think my social anxiety was a lot better. I feel much better now without Paxil, and I'm on Zeldox and Lamictal, but I'm getting pretty bad anxiety, so I'm trying to find a good medication for anxiety, and especially social anxiety because it makes me feel really bad at university. I was on Paxil, Risperdal, Lamictal, and Zeldox before, and I was always extremely tired. I think I'm less tired now, but I can't remember how tired I was before. I was on Paxil when I was 13, and it also made me feel really bad and didn't do anything for my depression, and it didn't help. I'm 24 now."

• Cop...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 6, 2017

For Anxiety "I was skeptical at first, but just after the first week, I feel a huge difference. I have slight nausea, dry mouth, and yawning, but they are getting better. The world is a much better place now."

• Ale...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 6, 2017

For Depression "Got headaches and felt tired constantly, so I switched to Prozac."