Does anyone know anything about this medication? I’m having a ton of trouble sleeping and concentrating, for reasons which are (hopefully) temporary and of which I’m fully aware, though I’d prefer not to get into them here… Anyway, this has been advised to me as a short term remedy (2 to 6 months, probably).
I don’t like drugs, as a general rule. I try to avoid them when possible, but when they are necessary, I will take them.
I’m advised that there are no side effects to this medication, it’s non-addictive, won’t mess me up, etc. etc. Does anyone here have any experience with this specific drug? If so, your input would be greatly appreciated.
Who told you that? My daughter was on Paxil for awhile. Put on by her pediatrician. When she eventually went to a psychiatrist I was told that Paxil was not a very good med for a 15 year old kid. It has withdrawl symptoms! If this medication is not working call your doctor right away and tell them. My daughter was changed to Welbutrin. And by the way…she off medication now too.
In order to answer your question, I consulted my own drug references and found them lacking Paxil. So I went to Yahoo and followed the links for Health and Drugs, finally clicking on Paxil. The generic drug is paroxetine - an antidepressive agent of the serotonin reuptake inhibitor type.
I suggest you follow the same route and you can read it all for yourself, then make up your own mind. Without being patronising, drug reactions vary from person to person, as a result of differing metabolisms, hypersensitivities, diet, other medical ailments, drug interactions etc.
At the end of the day, if you are still fearful of a negative reaction, don’t take the drug. It’s your body, you have a right to be informed as to what’s happening to it. You don’t actually need paroxetine to survive, but if your depression is seriously interfering with your ability to function, then I would give it a try.
Paxil is a serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Basically, you have neurochemicals in your brain. Lack of serotonin causes depression, and a slew of other problems. Too much causes manic episodes (sort of. Along with other chemicals.) When you are depressed, your neurotransmitters grab too much serotonin, thereby causing less of it to stay in the nerve synapses, where the seratonin can effect you. Paxil, and other reuptake inhibitors, slows the process of the neurotransmitters reusing the seratonin, thereby allowing it to stay in the synapses where it belongs. Does that make ANY sense at all?
I’ve never been on Paxil, but I was on amitriptyline for a while. It’s an anti-depressant and knocked me cold. I had that “I’m on cough medicine” feeling all the time. It was horrible. However, after some research, I found out that amitriptyline is actually a second-line medication, and I should have been started on Prozac or Paxil first. However, since not being able to sleep was my main complaint to my doctor, and I was sleeping 10-11 hours a night on the amitriptyline, I suppose it took care of the problem. :rolleyes:
Give it three weeks and see how you feel. Good luck, and let me know if you need to vent!
Yes, I am on a low dosage for panic attacks, anxiety, etc. Of course effects are different for everyone, so this is just me. I sleep a lot better but it also produces more vivid and realistic dreams (I’ve heard Prozac does too). It takes the edge off the anxiety but also dampens really happy feelings too. But overall I am more content. I also yawn a lot more during the day and have lost some short-term concentration. I think this is because it makes compulsions less strong and so makes your hold on details a little weaker. I haven’t had any of the gastrointestinal symptoms they say you might.
Overall it’s helpful for me and the negative effects are outweighed by the positive, but it’s something I re-evaluate from time to time.
If you go to paxil.com, you’ll find the prescription information for paxil (or go here.
From my understanding, the big thing with Paxil is not to take it with MAO inhibitors. Side effects include weight changes (usually a gain), lowered libido, gastric upset, increased restlessness (the site above goes through a bunch of them). But of course, not everyone experiences side-effects and for some, the experiences can be bad. I think the big thing is to continue to talk with your doctor so IF you might have problems with Paxil, the dosage can be adjusted or you can be taken of it entirely.
And if you start on it, remember that it can take a couple of weeks for the full effects to become apparent. Good luck.
Try webmd.com you might get a better all around description.
Isn’t it for those who can’t handle social situations? I see their ads on tv about that. I wonder how people get to the doctor for it if they don’t like social situations cause the doc is a social situation.
I think that if you are wary of taking drugs you are doing the right thing, lots of info. There are a number of herbal remedies that will help you to sleep better, depending on the degree of your problems. Sometimes a mug of warm milk with honey (heated in Microwave) will help. I forgee the chemical, but something in milk makes you sleepy. I would go in to a RESPECTED health food store and ask them about it. Often you can find an easier, less expensive option with out the drug risks like withdrawl, etc. Good luck with it, and whatever is keeping you up.
It is, among other things too. I was given some free samples of Paxil from a doctor for mild stress induced depression. I only stayed on it for a month or so. For me, I didnt feel depressed, but I didnt feel happy either. It was wierd, there was just a lack of any emotion. I suppose for someone in a deep clinical depression that would be better. I didnt like it however. It also took heightened sensation away from sex, I could go forever, but the feeling just wasnt their.
I didnt like it however. It also took heightened sensation away from sex, I could go forever, but the feeling just wasnt their.
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I’ve typically tried to keep personal details of my life private from the board (OK, I made an exception when I started a thread of what happens when I’m scratching my ass…) but I have some experience here.
I’ve been taking Paxil for a few months because of an anxiety/depression problem I was having, which is much better now. This could be due to changing situations, and have little to do with the Paxil (or it might totally be because of the Paxil. It’s hard to say).
I started on a particular dose (I think it was 20mg) and had no effect for a while, long enough for the Dr to recommend I double the dose. After that, I was feeling much better emotionally, but I had basically the same sexual side effect as described above. No problem getting an erection, but couldn’t get anywhere near an orgasm, no matter how long I tried. Frustrating? Boy-howdy.
We reduced the dose to the original, and that’s worked well. The anxiety/depression is managable, and I can “launch the rocket” when I want to.
Another side effect: I’ve gained weight, maybe 10-20lbs. I can’t totally blame the Paxil on this (maybe not at all), I’ve also been less active.
I’ve been on Paxil for almost a year now. Before that I was on Prozac for a year. I take 30mg a day to control my depression, and for me, it was a godsend. (Several posters here know what I get like when I forget to take it for a few days…)
Like everyone else is saying, the side effects are going to vary for every person. I’ve had some sexual side effects - it’s harder for me to orgasm now. However, I haven’t lost ALL interest in sex, so I deal. Also, I’m curious about the people who said they gained weight…one of the side effects of ANY SSRI is a reduction in appetite. I know this because my medication is helping with my binge eating too, although that might be a side effect of the depression getting better. Finally, I’m having concentration problems like gigi. I used to have a really great memory, and now I’m a bit more absent minded, especially when trying to remember what someone said.
My advice would be to read up on all the drugs available, including the herbal ones, and discuss it with your doctor. He/she will help you find out what drug will help you the most. (Fair warning - the dosage may have to be adjusted for a while…)
It has a lot of people’s experiences about Paxil, Xanax, Valium, Prozac and the like.
I have seen ads for Paxil and was interested, but my doctor just put me on Prozac yesterday. I had been on it about 5 years ago and never had a problem with it–even dropped weight. But everyone reacts differently to different drugs. I think it’s just a matter of you and your doctor “experimenting” with different meds until you find one that works.
Good luck!
P.S. I’m not good at providing links. If it doesn’t work, I can try again.
About five years ago, I was on Paxil for only a couple months due to panic attacks. It REALLY helped put some pieces of my life back together, but like you, I wasn’t interested in becoming addicted to a psychotropic drug. Long term there are many more side effects than short term, though…Of course, lack of sleep is one of the short term ones. I remember I was in High School at the time, and that staying up all night was to my advantage. (sneaking in and out of the house for parties, etc…) After 6-8 weeks, you should know how your body is going to react with the medication, and it does have the potential to help.
I was on paxil for a while 2 summers ago. It helped me get to sleep. With my lack of sleep I would become tired and depressed, and it did seem to help. However, I am 15 so I guess your mileage may vary from what I experienced.
Sorry to be gone so long… I’m a network engineer in Detroit, as some of you know, and the power just came back on in two of my biggest buildings. I’ve been running my ass off.
Right now I am taking St. John’s Wort, and it is helping. I wasn’t sure the SJW was the actual change - thought maybe my mindset had improved - so to make sure, I did stop taking it briefly. The mood swings, primarily irritation and depression, returned with a vengeance, so I started it up again. However, the depression and anxiety have increased lately - they are due to environmental factors, which I am also working on changing.
Thanks to everyone for your comments. I have been to many websites, and am aware of the clinical description of the drug - majored in Psych, too, so I know what all the gobbledy gook descriptions mean - but I wanted to hear from REAL PEOPLE how it affected them. Thanks especially to those of you who have experienced it.
Hmmm… a little more personal…
I’ve already lost a bit of interest in sex… depression alone will do that to ya… the main things are the anxiety, which keeps me from sleeping at night, and the depression, which makes me not want to get out of bed in the morning. Side effects don’t sound too awful, provided I pay close attention to them as they happen.
Thanks again for all of your input… I still haven’t decided, but knowing how other have been affected by this is very helpful to me in making my decision.
Paxil is, as has been previously stated, a seratonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI). I don’t have the time or patience to read all of this thread, so I’ll just tell you what I know about this stuff as someone who used to be on Zoloft, another SRI.
Zoloft can make you more sleepy. It can also make you more awake. It’s something that varies from person to person. It can decrease your eagerness and enjoyment regarding sex.
I would not, if I were you (you all in general), take any SRI for sleep problems. Try to figure out why you’re not sleeping well, and resolve it that way.
Paxil’s commercial states that it’s essentially for shy people. It’s used technically for “social anxiety disorders.” This description runs the gamut of emotions from being shy to breaking out in hives when in public, to worse. I doubt an agoraphobe would have much success with this drug.
When I was on Zoloft, it took 12.5 mgs (if that) to cut my depression in half. That’s essentially going from feeling suicidal to occasionally liking my life. In one day. that was just for me. I would not, if I were you, take an SRI if you were under 18. Especially do not take something that can be addictive.
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On a similar note: there was a child who was prescribed some form of an anti-depressive for bed-wetting. I believe the child was five. The dose was four times the recommended for his age and he died shortly thereafter. Guys, an SRI is not what you need for bed-wetting. Especially in kindergarten.
I also don’t recommend taking an SRI or other antidepressant if you’re not depressed. They can mess with your system. The human body is imperfect enough without hving to worry about unneeded drugs.
Kimkatt: have some warm milk. read a nice, calm book. Listen to music. Do something to calm yourself down. Or go for some exercise 5-6 hours before sleep. Do something so you’re tired when you go to bed. But don’t mess with drugs when all you need is more sleep (or possibly less).
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’ For me, I didnt feel depressed, but I didnt
feel happy either. It was wierd, there was just a lack of any emotion.’
That’s really spooky the first time. Later I figured it was just a blissful state of peacefulness. Although doing it with drugs, I don’t think that its quite the same.
Didn’t read all the above responses. But drugs affect people differently. I hit the blues bad for awhile. Little motivation for about a year. Tried Zoloft, made me feel weird. Tried prozac, felt weird but kinda ok. With drugs like these it takes a little while to get the full effects. But Prozac did a lot of good in a tight period in life.
Thanks for all the info. I am depressed, and having anxiety attacks as well. From what I have read up on this so far, it does sound like a medication suited to what I am experiencing. I sleep - falling asleep is not a problem, I am tired all of the time, even as I type this - but I don’t stay asleep. I wake up fifty, sixty times a night with my mind racing, and get up in the morning still exhausted. Used to deal with occasional sleeplessness with chamomile tea and aromatherapy. They’ve always worked until recently.
I did a depression scale. Came up moderate to severe. This wasn’t a bullshit web scale, but done by my licensed therapist, who is also the one who recommended the med.
I’m concerned about getting hooked on something, and having it make it worse. What I was looking for here is the signs - what it has done for other people, what negative side effects to watch out for. My husband will be watching for these for me.
Problem with depression is snapping out of the slump. I know exercise will help me, but by the end of a day at work I am too mentally and physically burned out to do it.
Also, I’m curious about the people who said they gained weight…one of the side effects of ANY SSRI is a reduction in appetite. I know this because my medication is helping with my binge eating too, although that might be a side effect of the depression getting better. Finally, I’m having concentration problems like gigi. I used to have a really great memory, and now I’m a bit more absent minded, especially when trying to remember what someone said.