Posted by Cam W. on May 16, 2000, at 19:44:52
In reply to am now taking Paxil..., posted by Bonnie on May 16, 2000, at 18:24:45
> my pdoc prescribed me liquid paxil...has anyone ever taken Paxil? and good news or bad news about it?
Bonnie - Paxil is an antidepressant/anti-anxiety/antiobsessional medication in the SSRI family of mood modifiers (or more commonly - SSRI antidepressants). Paxil blocks the reuptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin (a chemical in the body that carries an electrical signal from one nerve cell to another). In many depressions, your level of serotonin is low and by blocking it's reuptake into the nerve cell that it was released from, you are, in essence, increasing the amount of serotonin available from transmitting the electrical signal.
You may notice some side effects (nausea, drowsiness, headache) when starting the Paxil, but these usually dissipate within the first couple of weeks, as your body adjusts to the drug. A couple of side effects that do persist in some people are decreased libido (&/or harder to reach orgasm) and delayed weight gain. The weight gain can occur about a month or two into therapy. I believe part of the reason why there is weight gain is that your depression is resolving and you feel like eating again. Weight gain may be minimized by watching your diet closely.
You may notice the Paxil to start to resolve your depressive symptoms as early as two weeks, but it may take eight weeks (sometimes more) to see it's full effects. I generally tell people that in two or three weeks other people begin to notice a change in you and in four to six weeks you begin to notice a change.
It is important to tell yourself to keep taking the Paxil through the side effects and through the seemingly lack of antidepressant effect, as it does take time to work.
Hope this helps - Cam
poster:Cam W.
thread:33678
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000508/msgs/33703.html