Hi all-

I'm going back on Paxil for depression/generalized anxiety/panic disorder. I went on this medication 5 years ago but don't remember what the start-up effects were.

Anyway, I took my first 10 mg dose last night and woke up with a panic attack, which bummed me out since I haven't had once at night in such a long time. Does anyone know if starting Paxil can actually increase panic attacks and anxiety at first?

Thanks for your help...I'm just freaking out here and could use some reassurance - Paxil is the third med I've tried in a montha nd half and I really want it to work again for me.

((Galatea))

Paxil can increase your anxiety / panic attacks at first. It takes a couple (2-6) of weeks (most of the time) to get used to the medication and ones you start feeling better your side effects usually disappear.


~adorabelle

Thank you so much for your prompt reply...I really appreciate it.

you're welcome.

HEY SWEETIE. dreaded panic attacks god i wouldn't wish them on the devil. i sufferd with them so bad that i actually became agoraphobic at one point but all better now. just was wondering what have u actually tried. also xanax was my best friend with them. i know people say oh don't take them there addictive but i say this i have been on them for 5 yrs and i never have abused them. i suppose to take 3 a day and i take a half one. if i am having a bad day i migh take another half later that night but they have worked well for me. paxil didn't work for me. it increased my anxiety to much. celexa did great that is what i am still on but every person is differnt i guess that is why they have so many huh. lol.. but yes it will increase please let us know how you are doing... thanks and god bless...tonya. p.s just rember with anxiety attacks to not fight them float through them and talk yourslef out of it. or counting is great you need something to make you switch you brain receptors . if u ever need someone to talk to i am here sweetie...

Thanks for the advice! The doc prescribed me some xanax to help through some of the tougher moments while the Paxil kicks in. I've been taking .5 to 1 mg a day depending on how bad the day is. I've never been any good at "talking" myself out of panic attacks. That's why the xanax has really helped me out.

I tried Lexapro and Effexor in the last couple of months, but neither of them worked for me. Paxil was the onlt thing that worked for me in the past, so I'm praying it works again. I just needed some reassurance that the I wasn't going crazy, that in fact the Paxil can make the anxiety worse before it gets better.

I've been out of work on medical leave for the last month for depression and severe anxiety and I'm just ready to get better. My life has become so small and limited - I've had to move out of my house into my parents' because I've become basically non-functional. The only times I've made it out of the house is to see the doctor and the therapist and even with the xanax, it's been hell.

I'm just so exhausted and tired of this.

I just started taking it and from the very first pill I felt completelty emotionless. I feel apthetic to everythign and everyone. I hate it becuase I love my girlfirend. I was diagnosed with anxirty and depression and it took the sadness and anxiety away but now i feel nothing which is worse than what I was feeling before. Atleast I could cry before. I feel no pleasure. Ive only taken 3 10 mg pills and im not taking my fourth tonight. Hopefully i dont go through the bad withdrawal symtoms.

miguy24,

i know how you feel, i felt like that when i started paxil. it does take 2-4 weeks for the full effects to kick in and that is when those side effects fade. i know it is not easy but try to hang in there. did you talk to your doc about these feelings? please don't stop taking your pills unless you talked to your doctor about that, you want to make sure you don't harm yourself.


~adorabelle

So it is possible for the feelings to come back? Ive heard some stories of many people who took it for years and they felt numb the wholw time. Plus the countless accounts ive read about try to get off the pill are horryfying. I could deal with the anxiety and depression prior to this and Ill gladly go back and try something else later, atleast something that isnt nightmarish to get off of. The more pills i take the harder it will b e to get off of it. As of now Ive only taken 3 pills.

yes it is possible for the feelings to come back (if you do decide to stay on it and give it a month, a month and a half). that is where you should start feeling better and the numbness fades... but if it doesn't or you feel numb to the point where you can't take it anymore.. make sure that you will contact your doc. it is horrible if you take paxil for a year and quit cold turkey (don't ever do that unless your doctor tells you to). they wean you off the drug lil by lil which will minimize the withdrawal effects + there are prescriptions your doc can give you to help deal you with the withdrawal symptoms if they get to a point where you feel really really sick. your doc and the meds are there to make you feel better not worse but if you have such doubts about paxil, have you considered talking to you doc about it? because if you don't like taking what you got right now you'll probably end up not taking anything and in the long run that probably won't fix anything. we want you to get better and feel better


~adorabelle

This post has been edited by adorabelle: Feb 23 2007, 09:20 PM

First of all, thx for the help adorabelle, i appreciate it. I didnt take my pill last night. I woke up i few times and got a little anxiety because I was expecting to feel some withdrawal symptoms but I realized I wasnt and fell back to sleep. The emotional numbness is just a symptom I absolutely cannot take. The first pill I took was lexapro and it made me extremely shaky, extremely nervous, and numbness and tingliness in my arms and fingers. This pill also made me nevous and shaky but to a much lesser degree. I'm starting to think maybe SSRI's maybe arent for me. I'm planning on just going with therapy for now and If that doesnt work or if I feel like I need antidepressants I will certainly keep shopping around for a suitable one. I am currently on Ativan for the anxiety and will continue to take that.

your welcome miguy24,

make sure that you do stay in contact with your doc and make him aware that you stopped taking paxil.

good luck with your therapy, it is hard work but well worth it!
make sure you take good care of yourself, and let us know how you are doing



~adorabelle

thanks. will do. :)

at one point i became housebound for 2 yrs over panic attacks so if u ever need to talk just message me. remember u got through it before and u will again.... we are here sweetie

hey miguy
im on my first week right now..i had ur feelings as well..i might still have them soon or later
but ya..paxil has helped somewhat..but i guess ill wait another week'its a bad pain but its good as well cuz ever since ive noticedim gettin more social and relaxed
just cant play much physical activity becuz i get bad head ache but overall its doin fine for me
good luck though..and im around ur age..im 23..so i guess me n u could have similar problems

I just wanted to say something positive about Paxil, i was on it about 4 years ago for over a year, i didnt experience any side effects, what it done for me was to take the edge of the lows so they weren't so low, i never put on weight with paxil either. I have since tried effexor which i was shocked by how bad it suited me after having no problems with Paxil, and am now trying prozac. So dont panic about taking it, it might suit you as well as it did me.

rubytap

thank you so much for sharing your positive experience with us!!
good luck with the new meds, i hope they will help you as much as paxil did.

Sleepiness and a dry mouth. That's it for me.

It gave me the Worst Panic Attack of my life one night, that I never took it again. I also, was very numb, and emotionless.