My doctor Rx me Paxil today, and I came here to read up on the experiences that some folks have had with it. Seems no one has said anything good about Paxil, and I am having a particularly tough time finding any success stories for sufferers of OCD with Paxil.

My doc recommended Prozac, Paxil, and zoloft for my OCD. I have never taken an SSRI before and now I am feeling a bit panic attack-y about the side effects, the withdraws, and especially the weight-gain. I did fill the Rx, but Im wondering now if I should call my doc tomorrow and have him re-write a script for prozac instead.

Can anyone shed some light on this topic for me? I am supposed to start taking it tonight or tomorrow. yikes.

I can only give you my personal experience. My Dad and I both suffer from depression and OCD. My Dad finds Paxil very helpful. I tried Paxil but it made me overwhelmingly lethargic. I tried Prozac and have found 10mg to be just enough to help. Most people need at least 20mg. (Shows how different we all can be when it comes to meds) Try it. It might work for you and if not you can always try another. All the best whatever route you choose.

thanks! I tend to be very sensitive to meds, so my pdoc Rx'd 10mg and I am to halve them for 2 weeks and then work up to the 10mg.

Right now, I am having a terrible time with an anxiety attack over the meds. I have pretty much talked myself out of taking them at all because I am so scared that I will become this heavy-headed, non feeling zombie that gains 30 lbs, and then has horrible withdrawls and anxiety when I decide the paxil isn't right for me and decide to come off.

wow. how OCD is that? hah. I will stress myself out over anything.

You may find 10mg of Paxil is the perfect dose. I am sensitive to meds also but with a slow taper, no problem. I tapered off Prozac slowly. (Fast was not so good) The only reason I am back on it, we were in the direct path of a tornado last year and well, it’s been challenging to say the least. I was and intend to keep learning new skills to cope with both the depression and OCD and taper off again. I think you might find that 10mg is just enough to help without major side effects especially if you are med sensitive like me. Come to think of it I never did try a low dose of Paxil and that might be the reason it didn’t work. I was on something like 60mg. Honestly think you will find it helpful. Good luck!

thank you, again.

I wonder if anyone is using SSRI's as precautionary meds. I find that I can go months without having a spike, or bout of anxiety and constant obsessing, but once it hits, it hits HARD. I'm curious to know how helpful the paxil will actually be for something like that in the long-run. I may just be better suited to take the klonopin as needed when I have a spike until the episode runs it's course? I really have no idea. I guess I should just call the doc?

I am a tad OCD. I do not take an SSRI now. (When I did I found Prozac to be the best one for me, again everyone is different, but I do take Klonopin as needed when my anxiety runs haywire.
Why don't you do just that and call your pDoc and tell him of your concerns before taking Paxil?
Whatever you decide, I wish you all the best.

~Lindsay

As for my experience--(Not totally OCD but a bit perfectionistic) Paxil (40mg) has worked very well for me! I've been taking it for five years and I've never been a zombie or gained tons of weight.
(Actually, when I'm depressed--I'm much more like a zombie....)

Dear Sistersibling,

I have been on almost all the ssri's for ocd and prozac made me nervous and jumpy, paxil didn't help me much. I will tell you what has helped me the most: luvox. I had TERRIBLE spikes where I thought I didn't want to live anymore if it meant a life like that. Luvox has worked WONDERS. It is specifically for ocd and I am on 100mg. I am going to try luvox cr (controlled-release) as I am depressed and am social phobic. It helps for social phobia too!! It says there is no significant weight gain or loss and low incidence of sexual adverse events. The only thing it that it is probably more expensive. But at this point, I don't care.

If you can't do the luvox cr, and the other pills aren't helping, I would REALLY suggest luvox. Take care!!

Hey Sister,

I was on Paxil years back and it was my wonder drug. I have BAD Anxiety, OCD and depression. I found Paxil kept my head nice and quiet! I wasn't having racing thoughts anymore and never got anxious. I was put on it for social anxiety and I was able to interact with people socially again. Sadly Paxil made me gain a TON of weight and I became so depressed about it that I stopped. But everyone is defferent right? I haven't been on anything since then that worked as well as Paxil. Just started Zoloft so I've got my fingers crossed!

Good Luck!!!!




Tink

20mg/day Lexapro is working for me at this time. The side effects for Lexapro are not too bad. I know that it may not be highly recommended for ocd(don't know why it wouldn't)...it works for me!

Sistersibling,

Citalopram is a great med that covers depression and OCD very well. I was on it for years and my OCD behaviour vanished.