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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 GinoVA on August 16, 2007, at 11:39:30
HEllo- new here, so bear with me. I have been battling depression, aka fribromyalgia, uncontrolled High BP, insomnia, etal, for most of my life. At one point, my GP had me on 5 different BP meds, and made a zombie out of me. Which probably gave rise to the fibromyalgia diagnosis. Years ago I was on 20mg of Paxil, and was on it for a couple years, no side effects, no weight gain, great sex life. This past year, a new GP took me off all the BP meds, except two, and is weaning me off those, but put me on Effexor XR. UP went the BP immediately. Took me off it and put me on Paxil XR 37mg. Works great, but I am still tired, my weight went up 15 lbs without any change (*in fact reduction) in eating, and my libido is virtually non-existent. I'm not sure where to go from here - back to anxiety and shortness of focus, etal, or search for another SSRI?? I can't function with the level of fatique this brings, and life is certainly not going in the direction I want as I get chubbier and have no sex drive. I've heard there are natural supplements that can mimic SSRIs, without the side effects also - not sure what is real anymore. I am on a drive to get off meds as much as possible, but finding the right one that controls the anxiety / depression problem seems to be the pivotal one for all the other perceived ailments. Anybody here have any kind of similar problems? any solutions?
Posted by Racer on August 16, 2007, at 14:33:47
In reply to Paxil, posted by GinoVA on August 16, 2007, at 11:39:30
Out of all the SSRIs, Paxil is pretty much known as the worst in terms of side effects such as you mention. Effexor is known for raising blood pressure, so I'm not sure why your doctor would try it with your history.
Meanwhile, you could try the other SSRIs. Lexapro is helpful for a lot of people, as is Zoloft -- really, all the SSRIs are helpful for someone, it's just a matter of figuring out which is most helpful for you. Since you have anxiety issues, I'd start by trying Celexa or Lexapro, but I've liked Zoloft best -- despite my own anxiety. It's individual, though.
Good luck.
Posted by belljar on August 17, 2007, at 19:54:30
In reply to Re: Paxil, posted by Racer on August 16, 2007, at 14:33:47
Hi GinoVA
As a past "paxil prisoner" I must say, if it isn't working for you get off it ASAP - the longer you're on it, the worse it gets. It has taken me 15 years now - I am finally getting rid of it (been clean 6 weeks or so, now).
I don't know what you should try, but I wanted to warn you about what paxil can do to you if you let it...Belljar
Posted by Girlnterrupted78 on August 18, 2007, at 8:34:11
In reply to Re: Paxil, posted by belljar on August 17, 2007, at 19:54:30
What do you mean a "Paxil prisoner", belljar? Was Paxil actually working for you? Or why would you have stayed on it so long if it wasn't?
What is the actual warning you're giving? If she stays too long on Paxil, what could happen? I mean, if it's working, I don't see why not stay on it. If it's not, then just quit it.
Sorry, I guess I didn't really get what you were trying to say about Paxil. You said it gets worse the longer you stay on it, but why is that? If you could explain a little what you meant, I'd appreciate it.
Thank you
GI78
Posted by belljar on August 21, 2007, at 9:44:35
In reply to Re: Paxil » belljar, posted by Girlnterrupted78 on August 18, 2007, at 8:34:11
> What do you mean a "Paxil prisoner", belljar? Was Paxil actually working for you? Or why would you have stayed on it so long if it wasn't?
>
By Paxil prisoner I was describing... how I could never leave it even though ti wasn't working. I was put on it in 1992 because the doctor said it would help with my "curling iron being unplugged" obsession. Up until then I was kind, happy, friendly, patient, always wanted to help people, just had a lot of rituals.Paxil - I because superwoman. No more rituals. Angry. violent. bulldozer at work. Huge success. Took on amazing projects. lots of glory. Irritable. no patience. temper tantrums. Ground my teeth down to nothing (now saving money to get crowns !). I asked about it and was told to stick with it, that it would calm down. After several years tried to come off it so that I could have a sex life ! hallucinations. spins, head snaps, nighmares, anxiety , panic attacks. Once the crazies ended, the fear set in. Afraid to leave my bed. crying. Noises / tics constantly. I'd thought that once the paxil was gone I'd be like I was before. Nogo. lasted several months. ended up in the hospital. Back on paxil. SUPERWOMAN came back.
Been down that road a few times. This time I will find something else - NOT paxil. Mind you, this time 2007 - 15 years later ! I'm feeling not bad after 6 weeks. I am reading other people's experiences and using that to reassure myself. I am determined this time.
I do not beleive that paxil is evil - for some it is probably a miracle cure. But I do believe that if it is clear that it isn't working for you, you should stop taking it early on rather that wait years and allow a ll the negative effects to affect your life. "just quit it" as you say, isn't quite that simple. Or wasn't for me. I responded to GinoVA in case my experience could save him/her the pain I went through. and I only did because he/she said that it wasn't working. I don't have an agenda at all, only that I don't want people to hurt like I do.
> What is the actual warning you're giving? If she stays too long on Paxil, what could happen? I mean, if it's working, I don't see why not stay on it. If it's not, then just quit it.
>
> Sorry, I guess I didn't really get what you were trying to say about Paxil. You said it gets worse the longer you stay on it, but why is that? If you could explain a little what you meant, I'd appreciate it.
>
> Thank you
> GI78
Posted by jhj on August 23, 2007, at 8:05:50
In reply to Paxil, posted by GinoVA on August 16, 2007, at 11:39:30
Among all the SSRI drugs paroxetine is the worst in terms of side effect profile and pdoctors take you to the dose of 50 mg/day,then should be ready to see nightmares during the sleep. There is no difference in terms of any SSRI be that paroxetine,fluoxetine,citalopram,sertraline or escitalopram in a way that they do not have any positive effect on the symptoms.They are all dummy pills with side effects and paroxetine is the worst among them.Thanks.
Posted by fuzz54 on August 24, 2007, at 18:08:48
In reply to Re: Paxil, posted by jhj on August 23, 2007, at 8:05:50
>
> Among all the SSRI drugs paroxetine is the worst in terms of side effect profile and pdoctors take you to the dose of 50 mg/day,then should be ready to see nightmares during the sleep. There is no difference in terms of any SSRI be that paroxetine,fluoxetine,citalopram,sertraline or escitalopram in a way that they do not have any positive effect on the symptoms.They are all dummy pills with side effects and paroxetine is the worst among them.Thanks.For me this was not the case. The SSRI's did lower my anxiety and lift my depression to a once a week thing instead of an all week thing. That being said, I do believe that SSRI's don't work for some people. There's no way of knowing if you are one of those people.
Posted by jhj on August 25, 2007, at 2:14:13
In reply to Re: Paxil, posted by fuzz54 on August 24, 2007, at 18:08:48
There is always a way.I am always quite certain when new drug of any class is given that it will not work for me.So far,i have not been proved wrong even once.Thanks.
This is the end of the thread.
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