Paxil and Weight Gain: What Users Say (Page 3)

• art...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 28, 2019

For Anxiety "It took a few days for the anxiety to lessen. That, with the major depression I suffer, took about two months to feel better. One note: My doctor added Pristiq about three weeks ago. This combination has worked for me, and today I'm on day six of minimal depression/anxiety. I feel normal. I feel like I'm myself again. Weight gain is my only concern, but compared to the hole I was in, it's not a big deal."

• JDa...
• July 5, 2018

For Anxiety and Stress "I started taking Paxil 3 years ago. I was changing jobs after 20 years, had a second child, and my wife and I were no longer close. I was angry and stressed out all the time and started having euphoric dizzy sensations, so I was put on 20 mg. What a life changer! I started to notice that the small things didn't bother me anymore, and a lot of the big things were manageable. I still got the dizzy sensations, but slowly over the next year, they went away. I'm 6'4" and weighed 250 lbs. when I started taking it and now weigh 300 lbs. now. I definitely suffered from weight gain. Also, if you miss taking one, you know it. That sucks. Take it at the same time every night. It evened everything out. I take it before bed, as I wasn't sure if it would make me tired or not. Also, as an occasional beer drinker, after one, I get REALLY sleepy. Despite these effects, Paxil has worked great for me. Would recommend."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 15, 2018

For Depression "While on the medication, everything seemed fine. I can see why people like to take it. It helps with anxiety and depression both. What the doctor didn’t tell me was that there’s a chance of gaining 20-50 pounds in the first 6 months. I gained a total of 18 pounds in the first 4 months. I had taken other SSRIs before and never experienced weight gain, so I thought, “Why take Paxil if I can take something else that doesn’t cause extreme weight gain?” I began tapering off like I always have when I wanted to stop a medication, and what I experienced was pretty awful. Let me just give you the breakdown: brain zaps (constantly), electric shocks going through my head (constantly), dizziness when standing, vertigo, diarrhea every single day, chills, insomnia (I didn’t sleep once for 4 days straight), outbursts of uncontrollable crying, mood swings (I literally had lost control of all my emotions)."

• Sam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 26, 2019

For Panic Disorder "This medication seems to work wonders for many people, but it's definitely not for everyone, and it's not the great and wonderful medication that doctors seem to believe it is. I was put on this medication in 2003 because my physician wanted to take me off of the 'evil' benzodiazepine I had been taking for years to help with panic attacks. My doctor also decided I was depressed, and since I had just gotten a divorce, I probably was. A few weeks in, I felt pretty good and was pleased except for gaining 20 lbs in one month. My doctor tested my thyroid, and there wasn't anything wrong with it, so I was told that weight gain is sometimes a side effect, but it would level off. By the time I was about 4 months in, I developed insomnia, by month 6, I was angry, smelly because I could barely get through a workday, bathing was overwhelming, as was cleaning my house. In the end, I was 40 lbs heavier and in a dark place."

• Pht...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 2, 2016

For Social Anxiety Disorder "I've recently gotten off a 2.5-year Paxil treatment for my social anxiety. My main issue was a sweaty face/body and a red face breakout. I was first prescribed 20 mg, but as nothing changed after 2 months, I was put on 40 mg. It certainly helped. I was quite tired in the beginning, but it got better. I felt the side effects as I gained over 10 kg in the past 1.5 years, and also I didn't have much of a sex drive and it was almost impossible to orgasm (I'm male). Regardless, though, it helped my life for the better. Unfortunately, stopping recently was a bad idea, my anxiety has returned along with a certain feeling of depression. I'll be returning to Paxil starting tomorrow with 20 mg and see how it goes. Regardless of the side effects, etc., it did help me in my life."

• 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."

• Nat...
• August 10, 2016

For Anxiety "I am 21 years old, and I have had severe anxiety and OCD for 5 years. I almost didn't graduate high school and almost lost my job because I couldn't even get out of bed or leave the comfort of my own home, so I resorted to medicine. I was also dealing with slight depression at the time, and so my doctor recommended Paxil to me. For 2 years, I have been on the 10 mg dose, and it works wonders! The only negative thing that I have to say about it is that I don't feel like I have a lot of energy, and it made me gain 50 lbs. I attempted to get off and, with counseling, deal with my anxiety on my own, and went through extreme withdrawals (brain spasms, mood swings, depression). I love this stuff, it changed my life, but it sucks coming off of it."

• 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!!"

• Usn...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 15, 2016

For Social Anxiety Disorder "Started on 10 mg. It helped my anxiety a lot, but I would have to take naps during the day or I couldn't function. That improved after several months. I upped the dose to 20 mg. I forgot what it was like to have social anxiety. It was wonderful. The downside to this is that I gained 45 pounds in those 11 months. I'm 5'5. I went from 115 to 160. I've never had issues with weight. I've always had trouble gaining weight. I didn't want to gain this much. No change in my exercise routine or eating habits. I had to go off of it because it was destroying my self-esteem and causing depression. The withdrawals were hell, but I'm gradually losing the weight I gained now that I'm off of it. I'm so disappointed, but hopefully I can find another med."

• Anonymous
• December 9, 2008

For Depression "I have been taking Paxil for 15 years now, and it does the job most of the time. I still have bouts of depression when things in my life go sideways. The worst part is the weight gain and the lack of sex drive. It is a tough choice, but without Paxil, I was suicidal. It is a part of my life now."

• Joh...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 5, 2014

For Major Depressive Disorder "I have been on Paxil for over 20 years. I always hoped something better would come along, i.e., without side effects of weight gain and dry mouth. I have most of my back teeth crowned and have lost a few and have implants. It's a choice. Nothing is benign, but I have found this is the only medication that I can tolerate, and it does help. So, I guess I will stick it out and see. Good medication, not-so-good side effects."

• Anonymous
• October 19, 2010

For Anxiety and Stress "Works great to keep me from being anxious. I take 40 mg daily for the last 5 years. The only thing I don't like is the weight gain, and I need lots of sleep. My leg also jerks when I sleep. Until I read the reviews, I didn't think about Paxil causing it. It also keeps me from getting really angry easily. If I miss doses, my family knows it immediately because I get very emotional, weepy, or angry."

• Nat...
• October 26, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "Paxil literally saved my life. This fast-acting pill can get you feeling better in as little as a week. It helped me get completely stable, and after years, I finally felt what happiness was once again. I cannot rate this life-saving pill a 10 due to its side effects. Paxil 30mg helped me to reconnect with myself once again and feel at peace, but every single day I would wake up with serious nausea. Also, weight gain is a strong factor to look out for, as I gained 40 lbs in just one year on it. It also took a toll on my sex drive, but that wasn't a major problem since I was single at the moment. Although Paxil has its side effects, it's such a life-changing pill, I decided to deal with them. I then got switched to Effexor 150mg ER, yet it gave me a terrible relapse that I ended up in a psychiatric institution. I'm now on Wellbutrin XL 150mg and seem to be feeling fine, but thank you, Paxil, for saving my life in a time of desperate need."

• Gig...
• December 17, 2019

"I first started taking this medication in 2015 for Borderline Personality Disorder. It worked like a miracle, but not without side effects. I became a totally different person and didn’t suffer as much from all the BPD symptoms as I normally would. After gaining a ton of weight and making stupid decisions, I quit in 2016 (cold turkey, really tough). I decided to start again in 2019 because Prozac and Lexapro didn’t work. I went vegan as well, and I’m very careful with the amount of food I eat. That combined with being active made me not gain any weight. I will probably stay on this medication at a dose of 60 mg for the rest of my life. I can finally enjoy life without the fear of people leaving me, extreme insecurities, terrible mood swings, severe depression, and everything else that comes with BPD. I still have my ups and downs sometimes, but nothing compared to what it used to be. The constant cravings can be tough, and zero sex drive sucks, but the positives outweigh the negatives for me."

• Sli...
• May 27, 2017

For Anxiety "Here is my experience with 10+ years of taking Paxil. It did a good job controlling anxiety in combination with Lorazepam 4x daily. But there was a huge cost to taking Paxil. I gained 10 lbs for every 10 mg of Paxil I took for a total of 40 lbs gained slowly over the years. Also, erectile dysfunction became a problem. Finally, about 2 years ago, because of an insurance change, I had to change psychiatrists. My new psychiatrist asked me if I had noticed side effects of weight gain and sexual dysfunction while on Paxil. I had no idea my weight gain was related to Paxil. He weaned me off Paxil and onto Prozac. I lost 40 lbs in 6 months without trying. Prozac works just as well with my anxiety. Perhaps Paxil isn't the right choice for some people."

• Fem...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 19, 2014

For Major Depressive Disorder "Have been on Paxil 20-60 mg for 11 years and have found that while I still experience depressive episodes, occasionally suicidal ideas, I tend to recover faster-weeks instead of months. I've also experienced weight gain (30+ lbs), high blood pressure, constant dry mouth, lack of libido, and difficulty with orgasms. These side effects have affected my marriage and self-esteem, and I am currently slowly weaning off Paxil."

• Anonymous
• July 21, 2011

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Paxil not only helped with panic attacks, it cured me of my fear of heights! The downside was the 40-pound weight gain over 3 months (exercise didn't help). Vivid dreams, and it took over 40 minutes to achieve orgasm (no complaints from the wife!),"

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 9, 2016

For Depression "I personally will never recommend Paxil to anyone. It literally ruined my life. At first, I felt that it was okay. But, quickly and suddenly, I started gaining weight. A lot of weight. Literally, my pants fit one week and did not fit the next week. And that wasn't all. I was feeling much worse. I was very manic. So depressed that I could not get out of bed. My life was work, eat, and sleep. I had no motivation, and I started fixating on thoughts of suicide. It wasn't until the unexplained rapid weight gain that I started to ask myself what had changed in my routine. That's when I realized that Paxil was the newest addition to my life, and I began doing research. I've been off of it for about 2 months, and I still can't lose the weight."

• Lin...
• June 18, 2019

For Depression "I struggle with depression and OCD. This medication has helped me tremendously with my depression and OCD. I have so many fewer suicidal thoughts now that I am back on this medicine; I don’t even want to commit suicide. I still have problems, but they are much less severe. The only thing I really do not like about this medication is what it has done to my body. I am naturally thin, but this medication has made me gain weight, about 10 pounds. And the worst part is that I have bloating in my stomach area. The rest of my body is fine, still thin, but my stomach sticks out to the point where people have asked me if I’m pregnant. I’m sure a good bit of my belly fat is a result of me drinking so much soda and not eating the best foods, but when I was off this medicine, my stomach was a lot less fat. Literally it’s just my stomach that is fat, not the rest of my body. This medication does also increase your appetite. Still, it’s a great medicine for depression and OCD."

• 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.❤️"

• Lad...
• July 11, 2017

For Major Depressive Disorder "I've been on Paxil 11 years. It's the only thing that helped my depression and social anxiety disorder. The only side effect I have is weight gain. It will cause withdrawal if you stop taking it for a week, which happened once when I didn't get my script refilled. But all in all, it's helped me greatly. I'd rather have weight gain than severe depression, anxiety, and fear of crowds. I give it a 10 for my case."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• August 7, 2010

For Anxiety and Stress "I completely stopped having panic attacks after taking this medication for a few months. I had become housebound by several debilitating panic attacks every day. I have been on Paxil for close to a year, and it is still working. Side effects I experienced were bruising for the first few months. I also experienced numbness and tingling (my arms and legs started falling asleep all the time). I began taking magnesium supplements, and the tingling stopped. I am still experiencing weight gain and tiredness and constant yawning, as well as decreased focus and memory. I am also unable to orgasm, which is strange for me because I used to be able to reach orgasm very easily. Overall, I can work and live again, so it's worth the side effects."

• 46y...
• August 18, 2016

For Depression "I was prescribed Paxil for situational depression that was pretty severe, merging on PTSD. (I went through a really bad relationship breakup that was traumatic.) I also had GAD (general anxiety). I took Paxil for about 8 weeks. It started working right away and I felt so much better, I'd say within a day or two. I slept better and woke in the morning without massive anxiety and intrusive thoughts, and my depression began to lift. BUT I gained a whopping 20 pounds in the 8 weeks I was on Paxil. It was so awful that I had the doctor wean me off of it. I thought once it was out of my system that the weight would slowly come off, but it didn't - I gained another 10 lbs. I think Paxil messes with your metabolism. Will NEVER take it again."