Hi all, I'm a newbie to this forum.

I am 36 and have had depressive/manic episodes since my early 20's. I was diagnosed type 2 Bi-polar in when I was 30. After trying various medications to control severe depression, I ended up on Paxil 20mg, and have been feeling great for 4 years.

However, about 1 month ago I began noticing signs of the beginnings of a depressive episode. This appears to have been triggered by work stress. Things got worse and my doctor increased my dose to 40mg. After a week at 40mg, I was admitted in hospital with very high blood pressure and unusual aural sensations - luckily these symtoms passed quite quickly and my dose was returned to 20mg. Presently I find myself in a depressive episode, with extreme fatigue and general unhappiness. I'm attempting to work for a couple of hours a day but my concentration is pretty shot.

My questions:

1. Has anybody experienced depressive episodes afters years of Paxil use, without adjusting their dose?
2. Has anybody had unusual symptoms (described above) after increasing their dose?

Thank you,

Ed.