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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by noah4321 on August 15, 2001, at 17:38:36
I just started paxil two days ago and now I feel sick. Is it ok for me to stop or do I have to keep taking it? Will I suffer withdrawal symptoms or will I be ok since it has only been two days?
Posted by Janelle on August 15, 2001, at 17:46:28
In reply to started paxil two days ago, feel sick, can I stop?, posted by noah4321 on August 15, 2001, at 17:38:36
This is just my humble opinion, but since you just started Paxil (what dosage by the way??) two days ago, it WOULD indeed be okay for you to stop. By all means, if you are sure that the Paxil is what is making you feel sick, call your pdoc.
I highly doubt, but again, this is only a guess, you would have withdrawal after just two days. I went off Celexa after just a few days and did not have any withdrawal, although Paxil is far more notorious for withdrawal (and after being on it for like 7 years, I went through HORRIBLE withdrawal symptoms).
Good luck and let us know how you fare.
-Janelle
Posted by adamie on August 15, 2001, at 17:59:43
In reply to Re: started paxil two days ago, feel sick, can I stop? » noah4321, posted by Janelle on August 15, 2001, at 17:46:28
> This is just my humble opinion, but since you just started Paxil (what dosage by the way??) two days ago, it WOULD indeed be okay for you to stop. By all means, if you are sure that the Paxil is what is making you feel sick, call your pdoc.
>
> I highly doubt, but again, this is only a guess, you would have withdrawal after just two days. I went off Celexa after just a few days and did not have any withdrawal, although Paxil is far more notorious for withdrawal (and after being on it for like 7 years, I went through HORRIBLE withdrawal symptoms).
>
> Good luck and let us know how you fare.
> -JanelleI took paxil for 24 days and tapering only 2 days gave me no withdrawl at all. At least none that I knew of. Although for me paxil had pretty much no effects in general.
Posted by gdog on August 15, 2001, at 18:15:40
In reply to started paxil two days ago, feel sick, can I stop?, posted by noah4321 on August 15, 2001, at 17:38:36
> i was on paxil for 2 weeks with intolerable side affects. i tapered down over a period of a week (out of an abundance of caution) and didn't suffer any type of withdrawals. good luck!
> I just started paxil two days ago and now I feel sick. Is it ok for me to stop or do I have to keep taking it? Will I suffer withdrawal symptoms or will I be ok since it has only been two days?
Posted by noah4321 on August 15, 2001, at 20:42:59
In reply to Re: started paxil two days ago, feel sick, can I stop?, posted by gdog on August 15, 2001, at 18:15:40
Thanks for your help, I will let you know how I feel in the next couple of days.
Posted by Cam W. on August 15, 2001, at 21:06:13
In reply to Re: started paxil two days ago, feel sick, can I stop?, posted by noah4321 on August 15, 2001, at 20:42:59
Noah - The horrible feelings that you are feeling are probably the start-up side effects, and these will decrease in intensity for 2 to 3 weeks, and then most, if not all, will be gone. Can you describe what your side effects are? We will be able to tell you if they are the disappearing start-up side effects or not. We may be able to give you hints on how to ease these start-up side effects. Could you also tell us why your doctor started you on Paxil?
Also, it would be a shame to stop the Paxil so soon, as you may not feel it's medicinal effects for 4 to 8 weeks (sometimes longer, depending on what you are using the Paxil to treat). What if the Paxil is the right medication for you? If you stop taking it before it has a chance to work, you will never know if it was the right drug.
Perhaps you are starting on too high a dose. Ask your doctor about this. A lower dose for a week or two may decrease the intensity of the start-up side effects, and ease you into this drug.
Also, before stopping any medication, you should at least call your doctor and tell him/her your concerns with the drug.
My 2¢ - Cam
Posted by noah4321 on August 16, 2001, at 8:32:28
In reply to Re: started paxil two days ago, feel sick, can I stop? » noah4321, posted by Cam W. on August 15, 2001, at 21:06:13
I feel terribly anxious and my stomach gets upset because of it. What should I do?
Posted by Cam W. on August 16, 2001, at 11:08:10
In reply to Re: started paxil two days ago, feel sick, can I stop?, posted by noah4321 on August 16, 2001, at 8:32:28
Noah - Anxiety and stomach upset are two common start-up side effects of Paxil. For the stomach upset, you can try taking the drug with a meal and sucking on peppermints or sipping flat ginger ale. These should help.
As for the anxiety, perhaps you can ask your doctor for a benzodiazepine for short-term use (max. 3 weeks should be plenty). As your body adjusts to the Paxil, the anxiety will lessen, and by 3 or 4 weeks you should start to notice the drug's anti-anxiety effects kick in.
Like I've said, these side effects are only short term, as your body adjusts to the drug. Any similar medication (ie. SSRI) will cause similar start-up side effects, so you may as well give the Paxil an adequate trial. It would be a shame to give up on a potentially useful drug.
Give your doc a call about the anxiety and see if he thinks a benzodiazepine is warranted. Another way to approach the side effects is to lower the Paxil dose, but this can prolong the side effects, in some cases. See what your doc says.
Good luck - Cam
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