I just started taking Paxil a few days ago for anxiety and depression. 10 mg tab in the am. I was reluctant to start another anti-depressant as i didn't like the side effects of lexapro, prozac, and wellbutrin that i experienced when i was on them over the past few years. I haven't taken anything in about 8 mths. But I'm experiencing a recurrence of anxiety and depression. (if anyone cares, I already posted about this in the main depression central, "D*** meds again") . But my doctor, who is not a psychiatrist, but an osteopathic doctor thinks it could be helpful for a time and assured me that Paxil was of the more gentle kinds of AD's and a low dosage probably wouldn't cause many side effects.

Well last night i woke up in the middle of the night gasping for air. I think I stopped breathing and woke up with my mouth open wide trying to breath. I stayed awake thinking that it was the Paxil making me do this. I also sleep with those nose strips to help me breath thru my nose which i've always had difficulty with...but sometimes I still breath thru my mouth, I'm a mouth breather. I recall when taking lexapro I had the same reaction, waking up gasping for air, making a loud noise, scaring anyone in the room. Happened when taking naps when my neice was watching tv, scared her terribly. Anyhoo, at that time, the psychiatrist i was seeing insisted i had a sleep disorder not caused by the Lexapro, so ordered a sleep study. I went thru the study, which found nothing, because if you've ever been thru one, ...I could not fall asleep being hooked up to numerous things, camera over my head, person snoring in the room next door, noisy facility, etc...so much for the sleep study. So, it stopped once i came off Lexapro. I told my doctor all of this, but she still thought it was unrelated. Funny, now the same thing is happening and hasn't happened since I was on the Lexapro.

Besides this, I already am uncomfortable with Paxil after only a few days and wish I didn't have to take anything. Before I started taking it, I was feeling nauseous, lethargic, sleeping too much, unmotivated, anxious, crying spells.....NOW, everything is just worse...very nauseous, more anxious, haven't been crying or sleeping as much though....but it's now like I feel frozen, paralyzed....I cannot seem to get myself to do anything, not because i'm tired, but I just sit on this couch watching tv all day....with my head spinning, ...i get out to walk my dog every day for about 30 mins,...but I haven't much of an appetite, no desire to do much at all. I live alone, single, which adds to my depression....and work from home most of the time. But i haven't been able to get any work done. I'm writing and cannot focus, I feel nervous and irritable.

I don't know what is what. What is my anxiety and depression and what is Paxil. I know it takes weeks for it to take full effect, but if it's already making me feel worse, will it ever make me feel better??? Is it even worth when the side effects make me feel worse??

So just wondering if anyone else has had any experience with the breathing issues while sleeping??

I have breathing problems too. But I dont think its from the Paxil. I have to use nose strips and I put vicks vaporub under my nose and on my nostrils to help the breathing. It helps a lot. I was told I had sleep apnea. But, Im with you, the last sleep study I had done, I couldnt sleep to save my soul. What a waste that was. You need to go to a good place for a sleep study for it to work well. Can you think of some things in your life right now that could be causing the crummy feelings you are having? The best thing is to tell your doctor. Write down every day exactly how you feel and what is going on with you at the time (what you are doing, or thinking about) Also, when you took your Paxil. Give him the log (a week or so worth) and let him tell you what he thinks. Best to you!!!

GS

I'm sorry that you are struggling so much with your medications. Sometimes it does get worse before it gets better, hang in there... at least for the amount of time that it takes for your body to adjust to the medication 4-6 weeks. Gentle Sun already said it, write down you feel each day, what symptoms and side effects and talk with your Dr about them. I hope you will feel better soon and let us know how you are doing.

Did you eventually have a successful sleep study to diagnose the sleep apnea? Are you being treated for that specifically, with CPAP or something? I've always had a difficult time sleeping, usually excessive dreaming, sleeping longer than usual. I sometimes am dreaming so much I wake up exhausted, very real and vivid dreams, and sometimes I can't remember if I dreamnt something or if it really happened. Sometimes nightmares, waking up, but not all the time. But I remember one or more dreams every single night. So, i think there could be some sleep disorder with that alone. I'm not going thru all the normal cycles of sleep.

Things in my life that are causing my crummy feelings?...where to start? Most pressing is I've been dealing heavy grief but thought enough time had passed that I didn't need medication any longer...but grief knows nothing of time.

The first sleep study went real well. In fact, I slept better than usual!! It was a good set-up at a sleep center. They told me then that I had mild sleep apnea, that I quit breathing 11 times. Some people quit breathing 50 or more times! They didnt think I needed cpap at that time. They did tell me to quit smoking. The last one I had I didnt sleep a wink so I disregarded the whole thing - they wanted me to go again but Im not going there. It cost me enough without any true results! Waking up exhausted like you say, could be due to sleep apnea because you arent getting a full nights sleep. Vivid dreams can be due to anti-depressants possibly or just some things your unconscious is trying to deal with. Oh, sweetie, let me tell you - it takes a long time for grief to end. They say the more important the person, or pet was to you, the more you loved them or were close to them, the longer you will grieve. My mother died now 23 years ago. She was my best friend all my life, my support system. For one solid year I didnt smile. I thought I would never smile again. Then one day, someone said something in the lobby of the company I worked at and I laughed and that was my breakthrough ----but not my end of my grieving. It took years before I was able not to feel sad most of the time, missing her. You are absolutely right, grief knows nothing of time. You will be fine in time. You need time and maybe think about another sleep study done somewhere else.

I've decided not to take the Paxil any longer, I didn't take it today and since I've only been taking it for about 4 days, hoping that I can just go cold turkey. I take 10mg pills that cannot be cut in half anyway. I just can't take the side effects, I've been a zombie for the past 2-3 days, shaky, dizzy, cant sleep, can't eat. I don't remember waking up gasping for air last night, but just generally didn't sleep well. I'd rather feel how I was than deal wth this. I know it takes awhile and maybe the side effects will go away, but I don't feel like I'm even functioning and I need to. I don't think I could last like this for weeks waiting to see if the se's go away.

But, i made a therapy appt for tomorrow with someone new so that's a positive step. If I can't take medication, then I hope therapy will help.

I don't blame you for thinking the way you do after going through all that. But to be sure, contact your Dr... even though you were on it for a very small time frame he/she might still want you to wean off of it slowly to prevent any bad side effects. Never, ever cold turkey without the Dr consent !

I'm glad to hear you made an appointment with a therapist, let us know how it went, I'm sure it will help!

I just posted on another thread about "quitting Paxil after 4 days", sorry for multiple postings....I'll stick to the other one since that's the current situation...Thanks!

Based on my own experience with Paxil and other SSRI's, I highly suggest ramping up and/or down slowly rather than starting or stopping abruptly. I also experience bad side effects if I start or stop all at once (anxiety, restlessness, shakiness, racing thoughts, sleeplessness), but I do experience a lot of benefits from the medication if I ramp up/down slowly.

It really does reduce the side effects significantly, and it can turn a potentially bad experience into a good one.

This post has been edited by iowa: Nov 7 2009, 08:25 PM