r/paroxetine

I had been on Paxil for about 6 years for anxiety and OCD and I have to say it was very beneficial and helpful! However, I wanted to wean because I want to have another baby, I couldn't loose weight and felt like I had enough skills to be without it. My last dose was in the middle of March. My physical side effects were minimal but now at almost 4 months after, my anxiety and OCD are coming back full force :(

I keep telling myself it will get better but i am not sure anymore. I don't want to go on paxil in case I do get pregnant . When I was pregnant with my son, they put me on fluoxetine but my son was a bit shaky when he was born and I still feeel horrible about that ... what should I do? Go on fluoxetine? I also tried sertraline and it made me very panicky and shakey. I am also now worried fluoxetine won't be as effective as Paxil was. This is all taking a huge toll on me

I mentioned to my doctor I wasn’t sure if my lexapro was working anymore or something, and he sent in a script for paroxetine 40mg. I’ve been on Lexapro for probably a year or so now, but I’m nervous about swapping. I feel like my symptoms (I have major depression and generalized anxiety diagnosed, never been to a psych but sure there is more) aren’t as bad as they were without it, but I’m not sure if they’re any better either. It’s so hard to explain. Is 40mg a high dose? What can I expect on it? Did anyone swap from the same thing I was on and noticed improvements? I guess I just wanna hear some experiences because I have no clue about this and am scared to start it because of google.

Hi folks,

I'm currently taking 5mg of Paroxetine after being on 20mg for a couple of years and omg the mood swings are insane, feel like I have no control over what I'm saying and can't help but get so irritated over everything

Not to mention brain zaps

I have had severe agoraphobia for around 7 years now, it started when i was 15 years old. I have had ups and downs and was prescribed citalopram (20mg) when I was 19, it helped me when I was at my lowest and was able to make some progress. I was doing really well when I was 20 but have since relapsed and I am back to not leaving the house at all. My doctor decided to switch me to paroxetine. I haven’t started it yet as I am currently tapering off the citalopram. I wanted to know if paroxetine has helped anyone with their agoraphobia or panic attacks? I would really appreciate it as I think I might need some hope and encouragement to start taking it.

Lets discuss this. Thanks!

Hi , is here someone who have enough at 10mg?

I’ve been taking paroxetine 20mg for two weeks now and I’m still having lots of side effects. I’m very lethargic and unmotivated. I’m noticing an increase in my anxiety lately which is tough because I started taking it for anxiety. I also have had decreased appetite and trouble sleeping.

Anyone that is taking paroxetine had these side effects to start out? Do they go away soon? Im really struggling but I’m torn between holding out to get the full effects or talking with my provider to try something else.

Please let me know your experience and thoughts. Thanks

Comecei a tomar paroxetina pois minha ansiedade é alta e sofro muito com pensamentos catastróficos e o tempo inteiro, eu entendo que eles não são eu e que são criados pela minha cabeça, mas mesmo assim tem um poder grande sobre mim, meu humor e minha libido (que ja é ruim por causa da ansiedade)

Vocês que estão sentindo os efeitos benéficos, o remédio aliviou esses pensamentos de vocês?

Consumí Paroxetine por 3 meses y recién tuvo efectos para la fobia social y ansiedad como por una o dos semanas luego dejo de hacer “efecto”

Aumente la dosis a 30 mg y como 2 semanas después sentí que hizo efecto: un boom de energía, buen estado de animo, casi nada de ansiedad. Resultado: me comencé a mover para arreglar los problemas que tenía en mi vida y la ansiedad me paralizaba.

Luego de 1 o 2 semanas nuevamente dejo de hacer efecto y hubo una remisión parcial de la ansiedad y fobia social con el adicional de que comencé a sentirme con menor motivación (adhenoia).

Mi pregunta es si a alguien le paso lo mismo? porque puede ser? conviene cambiar a Escitalopram?

I've never been much of a person to share my thoughts with anyone. I have a billion thoughts a day, and it's crazy being inside my head, constantly thinking and rethinking things, along with some intrusive thoughts.

But today's topic is that I feel like Dexter Morgan (if you've watched the show, you'll get the reference). I took antidepressants for anxiety attacks for 8 years of my life, starting at a very young age, and I've tried several different types and dosages. I've been off these medications for 5 months now and I feel "better."

However, today I have zero libido (both in my sex life and for basic human pleasures) and zero feelings. I practically don't care about anything and remain neutral toward everything. I rarely get annoyed or bothered by things; I just pretend I am. I basically spend my time observing people and mirroring their words and opinions so that no one notices. It's like I feel disconnected from my own life, and the only thing that matters to me is not having another anxiety attack or being able to control them like I do now. I still have several symptoms, but they don't turn into full panic attacks like they used to.

The way I put it, it might sound like I'm some antisocial person who barely leaves the house, but it's quite the opposite lol. I'm rarely home and technically have a lot of friends, but I essentially live inside my own head. I'm never truly living in the present moment, and I feel like no one will ever understand what I go through and feel. Going even further, I don't trust anyone enough to share these sensations and feelings.

It would be cool to hear from people who have gone through something similar and if you found any way to improve and get better in this regard.

Hi so I was on paroxetine for a few years and slowly tapered off from December last year and finally came off it completely in May this year and I started fluoxetine a few months before too and I’ve been struggling a lot. Some days are great and I get loads done and then some days I’m so tired and feel dizzy and nauseous and my anxiety gets really bad. I don’t know if there’s still side effects from coming off paroxetine (paxil) because I’ve heard it’s hard to come off or if the side effects are from the fluoxetine, I also get a lot of floaters in my vision since starting fluoxetine - has anyone had a similar experience and if so does it eventually get better

Been on and off Paxil and a couple other SSRI's a few times over my life for anxiety. Coming off, I've always tapered the dose of whatever down, but at various speeds. I've done it all in a week before (0/10 wouldn't recommend) and also over 1.5 years.

This latest time after being on Paxil for 15 years I figured 4 months would do it, planning on 40 to 0 in about 3 to 4 week intervals dropping 10mg at a time. 40 to 30 to 20 was actually not a problem, no withdrawals at all. 20 to 10 has been difficult, withdrawals started along with all the fun mental components, and they aren't exactly stopping 4 weeks on.

My question is, I know from experience that 10mg is not remotely a therapeutic dose for me, and I'm wondering if I'm just prolonging this nonsense by staying at 10 and having ongoing withdrawals instead of just going to zero and getting it over with.

All in all this sucks, but this isn't as bad as Effexor, that was horrific to come off.

Take care.

I have been worried for a while about whether paroxetine might cause brain damage. I am 25 years old and have been taking it for 6 years, 5.5 of which were at 20 mg. I am currently taking 10 mg. I went to the GP today and immediately asked if paroxetine really causes brain damage. They said that it is possible to affect your memory. I can't find anything about this online. I have a new job and conduct many formal conversations. Could the medication possibly affect my speech and language, and will I have problems with this forever, even after stopping? I am thinking about stopping completely in a few weeks.

I’ve been on Paxil for 8 months stabilized on 37.5 cr then i decided to get off it went down to 25mg stayed a month then 12.5mg stayed 3 weeks then 0. After 4 days of no Paxil I couldn’t take the withdrawal so went back to 12.5mg I stayed 2 weeks on 12.5mg I stabilized then symptoms of anxiety and depression came back so I went up to 25mg I just entered my 4th week on 25mg I see improvements in anxiety but still have trouble should I give 25mg more time or go up to 37.5? I have appointment with my doctor next week and I know she’s going to tell me to go up to 37.5? Please help I don’t know what to do anymore!!!

TIA.

Pessoal, tive uma possível reação ao voltar com paroxetina 20mg+ 50mg lisdexanfetamina? Aperto no peito sem dor, tremores, taquicardia e movimentos involuntários
Pessoal, não estou procurando diagnóstico fechado, só queria saber se alguém já passou por algo parecido com isso.
Eu usava antes desvenlafaxina + lisdexanfetamina 30mg. Parei os dois do nada por volta de janeiro. Alguns meses depois tentei metilfenidato por ser mais barato, mas achei muito instável e fraco. Agora em junho voltei ao tratamento com paroxetina 20mg + lisdexanfetamina 50mg.
Essa semana tive uma reação bem assustadora. Começou com sintomas físicos fortes: coração acelerando demais e deixando cansado até de falar, suor frio nas mãos e axilas, tremor no corpo inteiro, tontura mesmo deitado, vontade de vomitar, falta de apetite e uma sensação muito estranha no peito. Fora leves pontadas no lado direto e esquerdo do peito.
Não era dor. Era mais como uma opressão/aperto no peito sem dor, como se tivesse uma pressão ou inchaço por dentro, ou como se algo fosse subir/sair pelo pescoço. Também senti um negócio travado na garganta, tipo “bola na garganta”.
Tive também um pouco de confusão mental, moleza ou formigamento na região dos ombros/axilas, e qualquer esforço mínimo me deixava exausto, como se eu tivesse corrido. Quando eu tentava respirar fundo, às vezes dava tontura, o que piorava a sensação.
Uma coisa que me assustou foi que tive movimentos repetitivos e ritmados na perna/pé, como se ficasse “batendo” sozinho. Não se seria, tremor, ansiedade ou espasmo, mas parecia involuntário e ritmado.
Minha pressão em casa deu algumas vezes durante a semana que estava medindo a cada 2 dias ficava de 13/9 e uma vez 14/9. Fui ao hospital, na triagem deu perto de 11/9, mas mediram por cima do casaco. Fiz eletrocardiograma, mas não me explicaram o resultado. Me deram Rivotril/clonazepam, fiquei muito sedado, dormi por muitas horas e acordei melhor, mas ainda meio grogue.
Durante a semana, mesmo antes do Rivotril, os sintomas já estavam melhorando aos poucos, mas os primeiros dias foram horríveis.
Isso parece mais com ativação forte por estimulante, crise de pânico/hiperventilação, acatisia ou uma possível toxicidade serotoninérgica leve pela combinação paroxetina + lisdexanfetamina? Alguém já teve aperto/pressão no peito sem dor, tremores, suor frio, taquicardia e movimentos involuntários na perna depois de voltar com SSRI junto com lisdex/Vyvanse?
Vou tentar falar com médico/psiquiatra antes de seguir normalmente, mas queria ouvir relatos parecidos e saber como vocês passaram

Perdão pelo longo texto, tentei deixar tudo explicado ao máximo pra facilitar. Obrigado pela atenção!❤️

Hey all, 51 year old male here been on lots of different SRRI's/SNRI's/TCA's over the years. The one that worked well for a substantial time was venlafaxine (Effexor) for a good 10 years before it pooped out. Suffer from Chronic Anxiety with Panic Disorder with a touch of OCD/Agraphobia.

Not been on much meds recently after tapering off Duloxetine, Just on Pregabalin at present and not finding that much relief and have now developed a bit of a sleep insomnia which is driving me nuts.

My Psch has advocated for three other meds to get me functioning again, he is keen on Paroxetine as it is a newer med and they like the newer ones. I am not the best on starting SSRIs they kind of send me nuts for a few weeks if not longer I really really cannot tolerate the increase in anxiety panic and worsening of symptoms. However needs must and again at this old age will need to make a decision life or no life.

My question really is has anyone experienced the startup of both SSRI's/SNRi's TCA's, MAOi's and what is the easiest to get on. I know MAOI's are a bit of unfamiliar place for many these days but the path is ending a little on the regular ones and understand that experience between the three will be hard to find.

I know they all have different side effects and risks but the main questions out of all of these for me are

- How easy is Paroxetine(Paxil) to go on compared to other SSRi's rumour has it harder, and are the sexual side effects big for males on experience?

- How easy is Clomipramine(Anafranil) to go on compared to SSRi's rumour has it a little easier but bigger risk of sexual side effects.

- How easy is Phenelzine to get on compared to SSRis rumour has it easier but again bigger risks of sexual side effects.

As I said my Psch is really keen on Paroxetine as I have never been on that one but the rest of the SSRi's I found were not that great for Panic Disorder.

Really hope this can bring some experience to the foreground so I can make a decision

Thanks in advance really appreciate any comments I know everyone is different but similarities do exist.

Terrified Scottish Man struggling to live life at present.

F(29) When I was on Paxil CR 12.5, I lost weight, but when I increased my dose to CR 25, I started gaining weight. Is there anyone else who has experienced this, and why does it happen?

Hi all

I’ve been on 10 mg for one month now for bad anxiety. I’ve tried pretty much every other meds to no avail. I’ve definitely felt some relief but still struggling particularly at work. The doctor has said now it’s been a month to up to 20 mg. Day one of 20 mg I feel sick and eye strain. I’m also so so terrified of gaining weight I had a long standing eating disorder when younger so it’s a sensitive thing. Part of me is so fed up of the anxiety ruining my life but then I have this voice in my head worried about gaining 😔. It’s so hard both seem Loose loose situations.

Any advice appreciated thank you

Male in 20s. Been on paroxetine for about 3 years now, lots of social anxiety until about 19 years old, where out of nowhere I started having constant panic attacks, tremors and shivering after each panic attack, all day long, making me unable to sleep for days in a row which resulted into me finally being diagnosed with GAD/Panic disorder.

Went on paroxetine and felt amazing for about a year, tapered off in like only 4 months time with what I would call 0 withdrawal effects. I returned to the socially anxious self but had no panic attacks, after about 5 months had a huge panic attack out of nowhere and my body entered an intensely anxious state that I could not feel coming out of, I had no more panic attacks but heart palpitations and intense anxiety, this time I was able to sleep at nights. Thing is I once again entered Paxil and the anxiety disappeared, been feeling amazing for 2 years now, feeling that this is how other humans must feel in their daily lives, I'm so productive and active.

Last days though I started thinking, am I gonna take this medication forever? I would have no problem doing so but over time I've read people worrying about side effects from long term use etc. people say it might speed up stuff like Dementia or Osteoporosis, has me feeling kind of worried. I'm not asking for advice just personal experiences and a discussion, I feel like even if I stop successfully and not relapse to panic attacks, I will still return to my "normal" high anxiety levels, which will also end up being harmful for me in the long term, whether socially/mentally/physiologically. Once again I'm not asking for advice and in the end I will discuss with my psych and follow his guidance, just wanted to hear opinions!