Paroxetine Experience 10 MG to 20 MG
I am a 26 year old female on paroxetine 20 mg. I first began paroxetine 10 mg when I was 17 due to severe panic attacks, depression, and agoraphobia. Before the stress, anxiety, and depression I was a very motivated student and aimed for the stars. It wasn’t until after my competition season of senior year that I began to experience severe anxiety and depression. I began to have panic attacks in the middle of class. I was so close to dropping out of high school until my doctor had prescribed me paroxetine 10 mg. I remember I had no symptoms from it but I do remember that the anxiety and panic attacks did not go away immediately. It took quite some time for the medications for me to be comfortable with being in large crowds. I’d say about 5-6 months with the help of my support system.
I had been taking 10 mg very consistently up until this year. I am now an elementary school teacher and last school year was extremely harsh on me. I felt like I was playing mommy instead of being the teacher to multiple students and I completely got burnt out and overwhelmed by it. I began to experience the anxiety and depression again in January of 2026 but tried my very best to get over it and remind myself that i’ve gone through tough situations before.
In May of this year I decided to seek help again as I was terrified that if I didn’t seek help, my career and love for teaching would end. I began therapy and also upped my dose from 10 to 20 MG and began taking 25 MG of hydroxyzine, Vitamin D, Magnesium Glycinate, and L-Theanine.
I will say the first few days felt like absolute bliss.. I felt like all of the voices and overthinking in my mind came to a halt.
Week 2-6 were extremely tough. I had experienced an increase in anxiety and agoraphobia. Hell, I was even afraid to drive on the road or stay home alone. I had grown extremely comfortable within the walls of my home that I began to fear what lies outside of these walls. So i spoke with my therapist and she suggested exposure therapy. After week 5 I immediately began to have at least 2 social events each week and tried driving in my neighborhood. It wasn’t easy but I forced myself to do it.
By the time week 7 rolled around I had no problem with reconnecting with my friends and making plans with them. I did still feel a bit anxious but it wasn’t as bad as before.
When I hit week 8 I noticed the depression subsided and despite the anxiety still being there, it wasn’t always a 10/10 but instead a 3 or 4/10 which is great progress!
Once summer was over it was time to go back to work. The morning anxieties weren’t as bad, I wasn’t waking up with a racing heart beat, or feeling like i have to throw up. On the first day of staff work day, I did feel a bit of anxiety during one of the meetings but I was able to take a few deep breaths and force myself into connecting with colleagues which made me feel better. (I also feel like I was anxious because I had only slept 4 hours the night before).
I am currently 11 weeks and 2 days into my 20 mg of paroxetine, 25 mg of hydroxyzine, Vitamin D, Magnesium Glycinate, and L-Theanine. I also had my first week of school this week. I will say I was nervous BUT zero panic attacks this week which is a plus. OH! I will say that I did cut out caffeine completely. I noticed this week I’d begin to get tired at around 12-2 PM so sometimes in the afternoons I’d have to tell myself that I’m just tired and not having a panic attack or anxious.
I feel like i’m slowly getting my life back on track!