PAXIL Reviews (PAROXETINE HYDROCHLORIDE)Average Rating: 2.9 (1018 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare PAXIL with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by Date added. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 |
More on PAXIL: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR PAXIL | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 5 | anxiety | 20 mg prevents anxiety attacks. The side effect of prolonging orgasms is the most wonderful side effect I can imagine. I am 70 yrs old and my girl friend loves what Paxil does for me. More than 20 mg I cannot have an orgasm, so I stick with 20 mg. | M | 70 | 2 years | 1/16/2010 | 3 | Anxiety/OCD/Depression | Outrageous weight gain, lack of libido, lack of emotions, HORRENDOUS withdrawl side effects, to the point that I was seeing a neurologist and having brain MRI's to try to find out what was wrong. Later realized it was Paxil withdrawl... | I have 'quit' paxil 4 times now. Each time was HORRIBLE. The only good thing I can say is that this last time I quit, I actually knew why the things that were happening (brain zaps, dizziness, tingling in body, blurry vision, anger/rage, 'out of body' type experiences/irrational thoughts that made NO sense, suicidal thoughts, ect) because I had gone through it three other times. Paxil did change my life, in the begining and each time I got back on it. But all in all, I hate the emotionless feeling when on it. I feel like I am living in someone elses body and cant connect with my thoughts (sometimes good for someone with OCD - ha ha!). Unfourtunately I am scared to try anything else but feel like I need something to get my thougths and actions under control as well as "turning down the noise" in my head so I can focus. I have colonzapam on me at all times just incase the anxiety kicks out of control, but it still doesnt help me be where I need to. I am afraid my marriage will suffer because of these things. My husband is currently on paxil... his sex drive has suffered a bit and he can sleep for DAYS!!! If he misses a dose he instantly gets a migrain. You need to weigh the negatives with the positives with this drug. I personally find it terrifying, and Ihope I never have to go on it again. But, in its defense, I was able to leave my house and function in the world, which I couldnt do before. I HIGHLY suggest if you get on it, DO NOT GO OFF. It is PURE hell for you a | F | 31 | 14 years | 1/16/2010 | 4 | Social Anxiety/Panic | It would take me, if I was able at all, like 45 minutes+ to come. At the time, I was a 17 year old, easily aroused (and clinically legitimately depressed); the LAST THING I NEEDED. Whether with female or doing what adolescent guys do often on their free time. However, I would say after giving the med about 5 months, the sexual side effects abated and I noticed significant reduction in angst and sadness. | Overall, a tough bargain for me. I don't any longer take as high a dose but the Paxil truly did help my genuine psychiatric issues. The sexual thing was OBNOXIOUS...and for some reason, my doc was nervous about prescribing me Wellbutrin! It's not like I smoke cigarettes. I just wanted to pleasure myself like every other guy does around that age...but after the 6 months...I was a less inhibited (anxious)...raging virile teen again. Nothing I couldn't have, in hindsight, dealt with TEMPORARILY. | M | 20 | 18 months | 1/14/2010 | 3 | ANXIETY | TINGLY, WIERD NUMB FEELING AFTER STOPPING ONLY ONE DAY DUE TO MISSED DOSE | F | 25 | 6 months | 1/14/2010 | 3 | panic attacks | on paxil-decreased sex drive, frequent inability to orgasm, extreme lethargy and feeling of emptiness at onset of treatment, migraines. in the process of getting off paxil-hallucinations, nightmares, erratic behaviour, brain zaps, feeling of emptiness, lack of emotion, fatigue. | I started taking it when I was 15 due to panic attacks. I started at 10 mg, but by the time I was 24 I was up to 40 mg. I tried many times to get off of it, thinking I was doing better handling my anxiety, but the withdrawal symptoms would hit me harder than any panic related symptoms had. I made another attempt to get off paxil when I was 24, suffered severe withdrawal and subsequently went to my dr. to see about starting a low dose of a different SSRI that works in a methadone-like manner to help patients get off paxil. She insisted that my withdrawal symptoms were an indication that I needed paxil, and that they weren't withdrawal symptoms at all, but simply my behaviour without paxil (even though I certainly never hallucinated before treatment). Finally, about 7 months into it, I had enough. I had the rx filled as a liquid instead of a pill and slowly started decreasing my dose, 1 mg per week. I'm now 4 weeks into being "clean". Paxil helped initially, and may have saved my life at the beginning, but it is so hard to get off of. I spent far too long curled up in a ball crying, terrified I was losing my mind as I saw hallucinations of Kurt Cobian shooting himself, dark figures standing over my bed with swords, and various other incarnations due to this drug. If you plan on staying on it for the rest of your life, great. If you plan on getting pregnant, (not advisable to do on paxil), or need it short term, be prepared for what could be a long, ugly journey to get | F | 25 | 10 years | 1/6/2010 | 5 | bipolar depression | lost a stone in the first month, slightly upset stomach. | my absolute favourite drug in the world ever. it worked wonders for the depression. i felt good i could sleep i could get up i didnt self harm i didnt feel suicidal. i had no anxiety problems no ocd problems best thing i ever took. although now i've been downgraded to fluoxetine because they were worried that paroxetine would spark another manic episode like the last one. | F | 24 | 6 months | 1/5/2010 | 1 | depression and OCD. | any possible, in particular brain zaps. | it was a poison for my brain. | M | 23 | 4 weeks | 12/28/2009 | 2 | Severe depression | None to begin with. Then a feeling like I had the flu all the time, headache and my stomach felt like it was knotted up in a ball | I took Paxil because I could no longer tolerate the side effects of Effexor. It worked ok for the first month or so, then I began to develop flu-like symptoms, headache and a knot at the top of my stomach that seemed to press on my vagal nerve. After a bout of severe nausea and a fainting spell complete with paramedics et al, I took myself off the Paxil and felt better within a day. | M | 69 | 2 months | 12/15/2009 | 3 | panic attacks,anxiety | I felt numb, no feelings about anything,nauseated, hot flashs,weight gain | I switched from Paxil to celexa with some withdawl symptoms. | F | 40 | 5 months | 12/10/2009 | 4 | Severe Anxiety Disorder | Side effect I notice the most is sometimes not being able to reach orgasm. This occurs maybe 20% of the time. But when reaching orgasm they are greatly intense. Other side effects are a slight decrease in strength and slight tiredness. | Paxil honestly helped me big time. I was having severe anxiety and could not stand it any longer. I started feeling better in just a few days after starting on 20 mg and have adjusted it up to 30 mg. | M | 51 | 5 years | 12/8/2009 | 4 | Panic Disorder, GAD, PMDD | Fatigue, sleepiness, somnolence, weight-gain, low libido (Caused horrible withdrawal symptoms such as the infamous brain zaps) | Paxil works. If you are suffering from debilatating panic attacks, it will save your life. Just don't plan on getting off the drug because it's tough... | F | 25 | 6 months | 12/8/2009 | 1 | Depression | Severe headache | Seemed to work fine for the depression. Then a stabbing pain, as though someone had just driven a spike through my head, woke me up in the middle of the night. The doctor said it probably happens all the time and I just never noticed it before. Right. | F | 33 | 10 days | 12/8/2009 | 5 | social anxiety, dysthymia | difficulty with orgasm (difficult but still possible). Decreased libido (once again, decreased but still present). Initially I had some impulsivity, but that dissipated after about a month. I've gained weight, but I don't think I can blame the Paxil for that. My weight was consistent for many years, but I've put on a few pounds as I get closer to 30. | Paxil changed my life. I was an anxiety ridden wreck; every single family member on my mother's side (both men and women) experienced severe anxiety, so I'm certain my anxiety has a strong genetic component. My father is an alcoholic and an extreme introvert, so no favors on that side either. My childhood was extremely isolated due to poverty and my mother's own persistent agoraphobia, which lasted most of my childhood. Paxil solved my anxiety problems. I take 40mg every day, and xanax as needed (usually for important presentations, exams, etc). It's amazing how confident I am now that I don't have to worry about anxiety. Or worry about anything for that matter. I am currently earning a PhD, which is an incredibly stressful endeavor - but the Paxil helps me manage the stress. There was a time gap in my use, and while I still did well, I do much better with Paxil (without all the stress!). I am a more confident, self-assured, and assertive person on Paxil. | F | 29 | 5 years | 12/3/2009 | 1 | Panic Disorder | Irrational behavior, no sex drive, difficulty focusing, loss of patience,severe apathy, unmotivated, tired, increased urge to drink alcohol (WHICH DOES NOT MIX WELL...) | I can't deal with this any longer. I don't know who I've become, but I don't like her. My family and friends are slowly beginning to look into Psych wards for me, I think. I feel so much worse than I did before I started taking Paxil; I'd rather have panic attacks and deal with them on my own than take this drug and lose my poise and good natured spirit. I am so happy for all of you who are doing well on this drug. For those of you just starting out on Paxil--DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL--And for those of you like me, I'm with ya, take care, and good luck! | F | 27 | 10 months | 11/5/2009 | 1 | Depression | After one 20mg dose: Vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, fainting, difficulty breathing, tingling sensations, loud ringing in ears, muscle weakness, pounding/racing heart, tremors, severe dizziness, severe-anxiety and suffered my first panic attack. | The worst day of my life, this has honestly convinced me to never take a SSRI again. | F | 20 | 1 days | 11/4/2009 | 5 | suicidal thoughts, depression | Initially a lack of libido but it came back. | This drug saved my life. After decades of living in the hell of extreme depression, feelings of worthlessness, lack of any hope whatsoever, suicidal thoughts, etc., my doctor put me on this. Life is good! Depression runs in my family and I lost a dear one to suicide last year. It would have been me if Paxil weren't around. | F | 47 | 15 years | 11/3/2009 | 4 | Anxiety/Panic Disorder | Insomnia and slight diarrhea (but only at beginning of treatment). SIDE EFFECTS OF PAXIL WITHDRAWAL: Extreme dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, muddled thinking, depersonalization, violent mood swings. These symptoms begin with ONE missed dosage. BEWARE. | Although the withdrawal side effects are pretty horrible, Paxil saved my life. I would either be dead or in a mental hospital without it. My life had become completely unlivable because of intense anxiety and panic attacks, and Paxil changed all that... within the first month of treatment. I know there's a lot of negativity out there about SSRIs right now, but if you are in a terrible place, the benefits definitely exceed the drawbacks. | M | 38 | 5 years | 11/3/2009 | 5 | Acute Anxiety | Repressed ejaculation (which can be a good thing); clenching teeth night and day; in the first few months massive sweating and lots of yawning. | Very wierd drug in that it seems no one person has the same reaction to it. I've been taking it for over two years and love what it's done for me. My quality of sleep is the best of my post-pubescent life. I still have plenty of libido, erections are no problem at all, but I can last longer for my wife's sake! Little shit in life doesn't scare me or make me angry. I take 5-10 mg/day depending on the weather -- seriously -- if it's low pressure, stormy/rainy/snowy I don't need as much because my serotonin is naturally elevated. I would take more, but the one problematic side effect -- clenching teeth gets to be painful. | M | 50 | 2 years | 10/30/2009 | 3 | GAD, OCD | made me tired and depressed for about a week each time I increased my dose, but that went away completely after that first week. Weight gain that would not budge despite a strict diet and exercise routine. Complete loss of sex drive and ability to have orgasm. Towards the end felt very flat and uninterested in anything. | For anxiety Paxil is the bomb -- it helped me at work, relationships, validated my belief that my mood issues are chemical and not due to being a rotten person. Unfortunately, the side effects got to be too much for me and I decided to try other meds. If you are debilitated by anxiety Paxil could be the drug to improve your quality of life. But there are no free rides, and you'll need to figure out how to deal with the side effects with your doc. | F | 45 | 18 months | 10/30/2009 | 1 | Severe Depression | Spaciness. HORRIFYING withdrawal! | Does not make you feel happier or healthier, instead just numbs your brain so you can trail through your life without any interest. All creativity leaves your mind. The withdrawal was severe hell with vomiting, brain zaps, sweats, dizziness.... | F | 38 | 4 months | 10/30/2009 |