PAXIL ( paroxetine )
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following an acute distressing period in my life that I found hard to deal with I saw my GP. He diagnosed depression and prescribed Paroxitine. Initially I found the side effects uncomfortable but persevered because I felt so very low and believed my GP diagnosis. I was assured anti-depressents were not addictive. There was an initial follow up with my GP three months later when my dose was increased from 15mgs to 30mgs. For two years thereater I obtained my medication on repeat prescription. I gained three stone in weight over a 15 month period and found this difficult to deal with. I had never gained weight at such a rate before. I researched the medication I had been prescribed and found it may be a contributing factor. I decided not to take it anymore. within a few days I was very ill. Short term memory loss, electric shot sensations, numbness of extremities, loss of balance, nausea.

I researched further on the medication I had decided to stop. I was horrified to discover that not only I suffered these debilitatiing symptoms but that it was well recognised that withdrawl from this medication was a very slow, difficult and painful experience.

I feel let down by my GP, the health service and more especially the FDA.

My relationship is suffering, my career is suffering and the relationship I have with my child is also suffering. I do of course have a choice. I can stay on this medication with all the implications that also has (as my research has discovered) or I can continue to bite the bullet for the next year or so and see what is left in my life. After that I will have to pick up the pieces myself.

for 8 months i had been having prolems with anxiety and panic attacks. i didnt necessarily feel depressed, but just a great amount of anxiety. i was having a hard time in my life, but i didn't feel like it warranted all of that anxiety... it was really scary. so 8 months after my first panic attack, my doctor perscribed paroxetine . i have only been on it for 7 days but some of the side effects im having are trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, weird dreams and nightmares, sleepiness during the day. lack of emotions, lack of ability to achieve orgasm, muscle tension in my jaw and face area, constant yawning. all of the side effects are very annoying and i hope they go away because the medicine is helping to control my anxiety. but i am concerned about the side effects of discontinuing the medication. im hoping that im one of the lucky ones that doesn't suffer to badly from withdrawl of paroxetine.

When I was in college, I was diagnosed as depresed and placed on Paxil. Prior to that, I was a straight A student with a very successful career and family. About a month after staring the med, I began sleeping all the time and had a who cares attitude. I dropped out of school and lost everything. A year later, when I tried to come off of the medication, the problems really began. Feelings of numbness and tingling, confusion, extreme sleepiness, difficulty with vision, dizzy spells, and severe depression, unlike anything I had ever experienced. It eventually took my GP and two different psychiatrist to slowly wean me off of the medication, and onto another SSRI that didn't have such horrific side effects. Since then, I have been on celexa, and don't suffer the same side effects. However, when I decided to try and stop the celexa, I started experiencing the same withdrawl symptoms, though not as intense. My GP explained that I had probably developed a seratonin disorder from the paxil use, and that I would have to remain on an SSRI for life. If I had only know before hand!

While on the paxil I felt like it was working. Everybody aroungd me noticed that I was acting different. I was having strange urges to get tattoos, have affairs, get piercing, etc. I have always been extremely shy and all of a sudden I could and would talk to anyone anywhere. Everybody thought that i was going through a phase and it ultimatley caused me to do some really bad stuff that could have destroyed my life. I ended up in the emergency room and then was sent to the physc ward. There I was told to stop taking my paxil all together. I knew nothing of the withdrawls. After this I almost killed myself. I started having severe panic attacks and could not control my thoughts. I felt like I was in a dream all the time and felt no love or anything. The paxil almost took my life from me in more ways then one. I am now working. Please be very careful with this drug.

I started paxil yesterday. The 20mg pills. I took my one last night the first night i got them and i felt great. I was prescribed them for panic attacks. I woke up this morning and oh my god. I cant believe how bad i felt. It was worse than being drunk. I got out of my bed fell twice walking to my door and and i was so dizzy and nauseous i couldn't stand. I started dry heaving and still cant stop. I'm going to murder my doctor. I'm going to his house to slit his throat. What a dick he knew i was having a terrible time in my life and he gives me this shit too. Id have been just fine with some xanax. I'm going to the doctor later to throw the pills at his stupid fucking ass.