Paroxetine and Tiredness: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Ble...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 25, 2024

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I’ve been on this medication for 5 years now, and it’s helped me so much. Started with 10 mg and got up to 40 within 3 months. Was also prescribed Klonopin at the same time to help with panic disorder, and increasing my dose of Paxil helped taper me off the Klonopin. This was the first anxiety medication I’ve ever tried, and I’m glad it helped immediately because I’ve heard of people trying multiple medications before finding one that worked. Some side effects I noticed when first starting the medication were nausea, headaches, and feeling tired all the time, but that wore off within 2 weeks to a month."

• Spe...
• June 25, 2017

For Panic Disorder "I just started taking Paxil 10 mg (I'm on day 11), and I feel amazing and have no side effects. Before Paxil, I wouldn't leave my house, and if I had to, I would stay within a 15-minute radius from my house. I had crippling panic attacks and nervousness all day long. I lost my job, my 10-year relationship suffered, I gained weight, and lost contact with myself and everything I used to enjoy. Today I decided to up my dose to 20 mg. It made me tired but extremely calm. I'm able to drive, run errands, keep up with housework, and I am in control of my anxiety with some help from Ativan 1 mg if needed. Paxil saved my life, and I suggest anyone with GAD, OCD, PTSD, and depression seriously consider this drug. God is good, and I feel blessed."

• dep...
• April 7, 2010

Paroxetine for Depression "I have taken Paxil for about 6 months. I have not had any weight gain as I had previously with other medications. I feel emotionally much more stable, and the side effects have been minimal. I still feel tired occasionally and have some trouble with my short-term memory, but my overall quality of life seems to be better, and although I still feel mildly blue at times, the feeling is not as intense and doesn't linger for weeks. Happy with the medicine."

• 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."

• Nik...
• August 31, 2010

Paroxetine for Anxiety and Stress "I have been off and on Paxil about 3 times in the last 2 years. I start on 20 mg and am told the first week to start with a half a pill once a day. I have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and mild anxiety. I could not stop yawning. I felt tired all the time. I didn't notice any weight gain like others that have taken the medicine, but I could not deal with the extreme euphoria. I felt like I was floating through life in a bubble, if that makes any sense."

• Nik...
• August 31, 2010

Paroxetine for Anxiety and Stress "I have been off and on Paxil about 3 times in the last 2 years. I start on 20 mg and am told the first week to start with a half a pill once a day. I have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and mild anxiety. I could not stop yawning. I felt tired all the time. I didn't notice any weight gain like others that have taken the medicine, but I could not deal with the extreme euphoria. I felt like I was floating through life in a bubble, if that makes any sense."

• 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."

• sun...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 4, 2025

Paroxetine for Anxiety "At age 30, I developed severe anxiety, panic, and almost agoraphobia. I was put on Prozac, and it worked for almost 20 years. I regained about 70% of the life I once had. Could never fly again or drive long distances myself. But could enjoy most things, be productive at work, and have friends. I lived in my own small world. Prozac worked pretty well until one day it just stopped working. I then spent 2 years trying Lexapro, Wellbutrin, Celexa, and many other drugs, which made me worse. I found a new doctor, and he recommended Paxil. I started to feel better almost immediately. I was able to get my life back with no anxiety or panic. I would say I was 80% back to who I once was, but I gained 30 lbs (while exercising and eating healthy), more importantly, I was tired a lot, and my personality felt flat. My doctor suggested I wean myself off Paxil and try Viibryd 10 mg to start. My anxiety and panic have come back, and I feel racy and annoyed all the time. I am only on day 13 of Viibryd with no Paxil."

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

Paroxetine 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."

• Bra...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 18, 2020

For Anxiety "I was persuaded by my GP that I would be 'a new man' if I went on 20 mg paroxetine daily for my long-standing health anxiety. This did happen, but not in the way I hoped. I did feel better initially and anxiety decreased, but at what a cost! I became lethargic and changed to a sleep cycle from 7 am to 3 pm, and seemed to have a permanent brain fog, and the dreaded 'brain zaps' were my constant companion. After a long and unpleasant withdrawal, I am free of this horrible drug. If you are thinking of going on it, my advice is don't!"

• 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."

• DGo...
• November 11, 2017

For Hot Flashes "Condition: Severe Hot Flashes Rx: Paroxetine 10mg (aka Paxil) by Mylan. Two weeks (14 days) into first time taking paroxetine 10mg (aka Paxil), and working great for me! No more hot flashes. Started gradual use at one tablet every other day while weaning off Rx Estradiol 2mg. After two weeks, dosage is daily. Taken at bedtime. The only negative side effect experienced with the first pill was waking up drowsy and lethargic, lasting throughout the day. This was quickly remedied by cutting the pill in half; taking half at bedtime, and half the next day at noon with food. The 7.5mg Brisdelle brand is very costly and out of my budget. The Paroxetine 10mg is covered by insurance. Practical to cut in half, then other half in half = @7.5mg."

• Bre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 18, 2015

Paroxetine for Anxiety "First antidepressant I tried after my first panic attack (which eventually turned into GAD-based depression). This med didn't seem to help at all. Made me super somnolent, yet I couldn't sleep without the aid of a benzo. My brain just felt overactive. The first time I took it was for about 2 and 1/2 weeks, hated how I felt, got off, and was fine. Second time, a few months later, feelings came back. I decided to try this one more time. Again, worse sleep and just made me feel super disconnected and tired all the time. Mind you, I originally tried at night, and after no success with sleep, switched to morning. After a month, I stopped it. It wasn't helping at all. Heard this is the most sedating of SSRIs, but wasn't for me."

• Eli...
• August 16, 2016

Paroxetine 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."

• Eli...
• August 16, 2016

Paroxetine 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."

• Los...
• June 2, 2016

Paroxetine 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."

• Sta...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 29, 2015

For Hot Flashes "I had a hysterectomy in 2002 and went on hormones for a few years, then quit and had no problems. This year, night sweats started really bad, waking 5-10 times a night. This drug stopped the night sweats within 3 days, but depression, no motivation, being tired all day, and being very irritable. I made the decision to wean myself off after 3 weeks. Now, after 5 days off, I am beginning to feel human again. Side effects weren't worth it for me."

• Ros...
• November 19, 2019

For Hot Flashes "52-year-old female, hot flashes are kicking my butt. Doctor put me on Brisdell 7.5 mg, i.e., Paroxetine. Took one tablet per day for two weeks... I'm literally exhausted and want to sleep all the time, no energy, farting all day long, yawning, and heartburn. NOT taking this drug anymore, will just have to deal with the hot flashes."

• Ros...
• November 19, 2019

For Hot Flashes "52-year-old female, hot flashes are kicking my butt. Doctor put me on Brisdell 7.5 mg, i.e., Paroxetine. Took one tablet per day for two weeks... I'm literally exhausted and want to sleep all the time, no energy, farting all day long, yawning, and heartburn. NOT taking this drug anymore, will just have to deal with the hot flashes."

• Ros...
• November 19, 2019

For Hot Flashes "52-year-old female, hot flashes are kicking my butt. Doctor put me on Brisdell 7.5 mg, i.e., Paroxetine. Took one tablet per day for two weeks... I'm literally exhausted and want to sleep all the time, no energy, farting all day long, yawning, and heartburn. NOT taking this drug anymore, will just have to deal with the hot flashes."

• Anonymous
• January 8, 2011

Paroxetine 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

Paroxetine 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

Paroxetine 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."

• 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."