Hi, MM. My experience with paxil and paroxetine has only been about 3 mos.
1. What was your experience like taking Paxil?
I'm currently taking paroxetine 10mg/d. My experience has been an increased stability.
2. How long did it take until it "worked" for you?
I started having an improvement almost immediately, noticeable within hours.
3. What improvements did you notice?
I think more clearly, have more energy, especially by mid-day.
4. What were the side effects if any?
Not sure, haven't noticed any.
5. If you quit taking this drug what was the reason? And did you suffer from any withdrawals? Haven't quit.
Have a great day.
I have been taking the generic, paroxetine, for over two years now. I started to notice a difference very quickly, in about two or three days. The biggest improvement I noticed was the cessation of the negative mood downspins I experienced- it didn't make me feel "fine", but it did stop me from feeling so terribly "down".
I have not noticed any side effects at all, and I am afraid to stop taking it, as my previous depression was making me feel suicidal at times. No more, thanks to Paxil/paroxetine.
1. What was your experience like taking Paxil?
2. How long did it take until it "worked" for you?
I started Paxil after trying BuSpar in 2000 for Panic Disorder and OCD. At 10mg, I began noticing improvements after about 3 weeks. My Ilnesses had gon untreated for so many years that the improvements seemed drastic, but I was hesitent to go up to the standard 20mg. I took 10mg exclusively for several years and experienced very few side effects and about a 50-60% decrease in symptoms. The OCD and anxiety led me to fear an increase and I felt the relief I was experiencing was the best I could hope for. After an acute increase in panic attacks, both severity and intesity, I finally moved up to 20 mg in 2007. This worked even better and my symptoms were again decreased drastically. It never got rid of them, but it was a dramatic releif. In late 2009/early 2010, after a big move, I experienced another spike in symptoms, though not as severe as prior spikes. I began working with a different doctor, who urged me to increase to 30mg, which was a blessing. As we worked through my daily experiences and past experiences, he eventually put me on clonazepam (.5 mg) once daily in addition to the 30mg paroxetine. The combination has been an absolute blessing and both ELIMINATED my symptoms and decreased the side effects (dry mouth, gastrointestinal issues, etc). The only side effect i have now is occasional lethragy and anorgasmia. Compared to my ilness symptoms, these are a very acceptable trade off. I know paxil is not for everyone, and more likely, not right for most, but for me it has been quite literally a savior drug.
3. What improvements did you notice?
Currently a complete elimination of symptoms, both panic disorder and OCD. It took some time for the OCD habits to disapear, but I have learned to be normal for the first time. It has been about 3 years and I have no changes in effect whatsoever.
4. What were the side effects if any?
Dry mouth, nausea, lethragy, anorgasmia, slight "brain zaps" and headaches. Currently only having a true issue with the anorgasmia.
5. If you quit taking this drug what was the reason? And did you suffer from any withdrawals?
I did try to go off a year after starting paroxetine. I did this without medical guidence and went cold turkey. The withdrawl symptoms were unbearable and I was taking clonazepam to basically sleep through a two week period, while re-starting the paroxetine. The withdrawls were SEVERE and frequent panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, constant anxiety and abnormal thoughts/emotions.
Despite all the negative experiences others have had, paroxetine has been nothing but a benefit to me. Hope that helps.
My comments will be a little different since my husband is the one taking Paxil. The main difference that I can see as a spouse is that Paxil has improved his anger mode. He takes it at night, and the next morning I can tell if he had not taken it due to the nasty mood he has. I then ask him if he took his Paxil and he says NO! This med has saved our marriage. He now acts friendly & loving to me instead of being angry all the time.
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1. What was your experience like taking Paxil?
Taking Paxil for the first while was very uncomfortable it seemed to ramp up my already raw emotions and make them worse.
2. How long did it take until it "worked" for you?
It took about two months before things really calmed down
3. What improvements did you notice?
I had a lot more energy, I wanted to be out with friends, I could speak in front of larger groups, had a more balanced appetite.
4. What were the side effects if any?
-Nausea was a big side effect with me it didn't matter how much water I drank or if it was taken before or after food
- Does aftertaste count, because these pills had like an almost metallic aftertaste which combined with the nausea really turned my stomach
- A need to take them, that is what evidently led to me stopping with paxil, I felt this very real need like I'd be waiting for the next dose because there was no way in my mind that I could face the day on my own.
5. If you quit taking this drug what was the reason? And did you suffer from any withdrawals?
I quit taking Paxil because I felt too dependent on the drug, I felt like I was the key to my life and that scared me. I didn't want to be on a medication forever and just waiting for that "happy pill" to make life ok again. Withdrawals were bad I remember the withdrawals were worse than the time prior to adjusting to the drug. My mind was a wreck spinning constantly over the need for the drug, the fact that I was trying to attempt life without it seemed absurd. I recall that within a few days after taking my last pill I was and I will admit it suicidal I honestly had the panic attacks, the shakes, and the thoughts that I wanted to die, I'd even planned how I'd go about it.
For me this pill was not right, I never want the feeling of dependency to be present in my life, and while the withdraw was hell I still believe that I did the right thing.