Paroxetine and Dizziness: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Mom...
• August 23, 2011

Paroxetine 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."

• anx...
• November 11, 2009

Paroxetine for Anxiety "I've had anxiety for five years, and started taking Paxil since my first anxiety attack. In all this time I've been on Paxil, I only had about 2 to 3 attacks. The problem that I have is feeling dizzy or lightheaded since my first attack. It won't go away, and it makes me feel tired and lazy. Paxil has helped me with the attacks dramatically, but the light-headedness is still there."

• Anonymous
• May 24, 2011

Paroxetine for Social Anxiety Disorder "I have been on Paxil for 10 years now. I maxed out on the dosage at 60 mg/day. It served me well and improved my anxiety symptoms. Having gotten married 2 months ago and anticipating getting pregnant, I began to wean myself off. I went from 60 mg/day to 40, then to 20, then 10, and now 5 mg/day. Each time I started to feel better and adjusted to the lower dose, I lowered it again. The withdrawals have been awful. I have been so sick for the last several weeks. Nauseous, dizzy, insomnia, 'zaps', no appetite, no energy. Now at 5 mg/day, I feel better. The withdrawals are now quite tolerable. My next step is 2.5 mg/day, then done."

• anx...
• November 1, 2013

Paroxetine for Anxiety "Had severe panic attacks and agoraphobia out of nowhere. P doc put me on Paxil. Really rough startup symptoms. Dizzy, SUPER spacey, lethargic, bad sweats. After a week or two at 30 mg, I stabilized. Anxiety was a bit better, but still pretty bad. Eventually went off it because I was so lethargic and spacey. Felt depressed because I was such a zombie and didn't get excited or want to do anything."

• Pin...
• July 30, 2017

Paroxetine 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."

• Dre...
• August 14, 2016

Paroxetine for Social Anxiety Disorder "I have started taking Paxil CR 12.5 mg six months ago, for my stuttering and fear of talking. In the beginning, I felt slightly down and kind of panicky, but after one week, those bad feelings went away completely. It has helped me a lot. I can say that my stuttering has improved. I am 80% fluent most of the time, and even if I stutter, I don't care that much anymore. I also feel closer to people and more confident in general. I feel happier also and lost 4 kg due to the appetite loss and feeling full earlier. Sex drive has decreased a bit, but it does not interfere in my relationship. Some days I get bursts of anger over small things. It has also cured my insomnia. Sometimes I feel dizzy, but it is not bad and goes away fast."

• Anonymous
• April 30, 2011

Paroxetine for Depression "I have Bipolar 1 Disorder. Paxil is great! Mainly used for depression, also PTSD and anxiety. I take 40 mg a day for the last 4 or so years. Caution: do not abruptly stop Paxil if you've been on it for 2 months or more. Severe body shocks happen during withdrawal. They feel like electrical impulses throughout the body. My brain gets 'heavy' and 'dizzy,' and I can't stop it or concentrate on anything. I have gone off Paxil and have been to the ER for withdrawal. The shocks are the worst and unbearable for me. Four days without Paxil, I begin to get these 'shocks.' I take my Paxil daily, try not to skip doses, and I recommend you do the same. Doctors have told me it is one of the worst withdrawals, comparable to heroin withdrawals. Taper, taper, taper!"

• Jus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 10, 2019

Paroxetine for Anxiety "Resisted taking any antidepressant for my anxiety. Started paroxetine in July, 10 mg, 2-3 weeks. Stopped due to side effects. Restarted in August, (4 weeks) at 5 mg. Quit again due to getting hyper. Restarted again, slowly increasing dose 2.5 to 5 mg, worked up to 10 mg. Doctor said I need an antidepressant. I get panic attacks and OCD. I had a death in the family in March. It may relieve OCD and lessen panic. But I got very dizzy in the past. One vertigo attack I fell over. Still assessing if it's for me."

• Jus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 10, 2019

Paroxetine for Anxiety "Resisted taking any antidepressant for my anxiety. Started paroxetine in July, 10 mg, 2-3 weeks. Stopped due to side effects. Restarted in August, (4 weeks) at 5 mg. Quit again due to getting hyper. Restarted again, slowly increasing dose 2.5 to 5 mg, worked up to 10 mg. Doctor said I need an antidepressant. I get panic attacks and OCD. I had a death in the family in March. It may relieve OCD and lessen panic. But I got very dizzy in the past. One vertigo attack I fell over. Still assessing if it's for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 17, 2016

For Hot Flashes "This drug is awful. I have been thinking that I have been depressed for years after being prescribed this for hot flashes and the menopause. Every time I tried to stop, I had the most horrific withdrawal symptoms in the world: anger bordering on rage, vertigo and dizziness that make me feel I am going to pass out, sweats, bad dreams, depression, and suicidal thoughts off the scale. This drug is making someone a lot of money by underplaying how horrific the withdrawal symptoms are! It is highly addictive because you think you are ill when you try to stop taking it and go back on it! It's disgusting."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 17, 2016

For Hot Flashes "This drug is awful. I have been thinking that I have been depressed for years after being prescribed this for hot flashes and the menopause. Every time I tried to stop, I had the most horrific withdrawal symptoms in the world: anger bordering on rage, vertigo and dizziness that make me feel I am going to pass out, sweats, bad dreams, depression, and suicidal thoughts off the scale. This drug is making someone a lot of money by underplaying how horrific the withdrawal symptoms are! It is highly addictive because you think you are ill when you try to stop taking it and go back on it! It's disgusting."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 23, 2015

Paroxetine 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."

• Ner...
• January 23, 2015

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I have had anxiety all my life but refused medications. I had my second child in 2013 and had postpartum depression and anxiety attacks really bad in November of the same year. I tried Lexapro, but I had a bad reaction to it. My depression and panic attacks got so bad that I quit cold turkey. I went on a few more months without meds, just cried a lot, prayed, and one day while in church, I had the worst panic attack ever. I thought I was going to die, and the thought of leaving behind children made me scared. I decided I have suffered too long and I was going to get on medication. My doctor started me on 10 mg of paroxetine, I had dizziness and increased panic attacks, but a low dose of Valium helped. I upped the dose to 20 mg, and what a difference! I feel joy again."

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

Paroxetine 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."

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

Paroxetine 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."

• Dav...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 10, 2021

For Anxiety "I was prescribed paroxetine following bouts of severe anxiety, which rendered me housebound. Initially, I had some really bad side effects on 20 mg, including headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and worsening of the anxiety. I stuck with them, and at about week three, I began to notice improvements, the anxiety reduced as did the side effects. You need to stick with the medication in the early days, as if, like me, the side effects were quite bad. Now I’m a hell of a lot better, the anxiety has reduced significantly, and I’m functioning again. There are long-term side effects, which include weight gain, and I’ve noticed this, but I addressed this with exercise, and I’m back to my normal weight. These are my experiences, and everybody is different with their journey on this medication, but for me, they are lifesavers."

• Eri...
• August 31, 2016

Paroxetine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I was prescribed Paxil CR 12.5 for GAD, which was mostly situational. I cannot tell you how awful of an experience it was for me. My anxiety went through the roof to the point I didn't want to leave home, which is not like me at all. I became very depressed, which I wasn't to start out with. Crying uncontrollably. Pacing and restless, could NOT sit still. Went from 140 pounds to 124 in 3 weeks. No appetite, intrusive/racing/all negative thoughts, couldn't sleep for more than an hour or two at a time, paranoid, confused, no concentration, no motivation, sweating, constant diarrhea, jaw clenching, stomach pains, body aches, dry mouth, yawning, and dizziness. After 25 days on this med, my doctor pulled the plug because I was better before it."

• A N...
• February 13, 2010

Paroxetine 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."

• jB_...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 23, 2023

Paroxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "Will not take this again ever. It made me feel like a zombie, dreary and horrible. I also had dizziness, nausea, and migraines. I stopped taking it but have had a depressive episode that is lingering for a long time. It is not a good medication."

• hib...
• September 22, 2015

Paroxetine for Depression "It was pretty efficient. Within 3 months, I had been out of my acute depressive episode and full of life. I hadn't experienced any increase in appetite, as I was warned, and in fact, it helped with my IBS a lot. I was started on 25 mg/day, then 37.5 mg/day for around 8 months, after which I sought my doctor for mania symptoms I was experiencing: very talkative, juggling thoughts, very rapid tone and rush of ideas when speaking, and most importantly, insomnia! Anyhow, we had to emergency stop it: 25 mg for 3 weeks, then 12.5 mg for one, and then nothing. Worst experience in the world, it's very physically debilitating: nausea, dizziness, weird feeling on my head. Had to take Xanax to combat the withdrawal symptoms, couldn't leave the house for 2 months!"

• cup...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 17, 2018

Paroxetine 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."

• Ant...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 18, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "Started taking 25 mg daily middle of 2018. It's been making my anxiety worse. I quit taking it for a few days, and I had to leave work because I was super dizzy and nauseous. Also felt tingling throughout my arms. I started cutting the pill in half and have been 'fine' ever since. I want to try and get off of it. It makes my whole body feel weird, and my head gets all groggy, like I'm in a dream."

• Des...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 24, 2020

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I'm using paroxetine for almost 2 months. It was given to me for OCD. My doctor told me to use half of a 20 mg dose every day for one week, and after that, take a complete 20 mg each day. I couldn't tolerate the complete one, so I continued to use half each day. It helped me with obsessive thinking and anxiety, but I also suffer from side effects such as constipation and difficulties in orgasm. I tried to quit, but I was awfully dizzy for two days. Now I started using it again. In fact, it helped me in one way but ruined me in another way. Thank you, paroxetine!"

• Wor...
• November 4, 2015

Paroxetine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "PROS: relieved GAD symptoms, rested better at night, generally in a better mood most of the time. CONS: gas, bloating, erectile dysfunction. Stopped taking the med 10 days ago, and the withdrawal symptoms are awful! Vertigo, electric shock sensations throughout my body, dizziness, mood swings, etc. Coming off this is like trying to break a coke addiction. Antihistamines help with the vertigo. 0.5 mg of Klonopin helps with mood swings. L-Tyrosine and P-5-P are helping also to control symptoms. Find an alternative medication. Dr. will not tell you how hard it is to get off this crap."

• Wor...
• November 4, 2015

Paroxetine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "PROS: relieved GAD symptoms, rested better at night, generally in a better mood most of the time. CONS: gas, bloating, erectile dysfunction. Stopped taking the med 10 days ago, and the withdrawal symptoms are awful! Vertigo, electric shock sensations throughout my body, dizziness, mood swings, etc. Coming off this is like trying to break a coke addiction. Antihistamines help with the vertigo. 0.5 mg of Klonopin helps with mood swings. L-Tyrosine and P-5-P are helping also to control symptoms. Find an alternative medication. Dr. will not tell you how hard it is to get off this crap."