Drug Ratings for PAXIL CRAverage Rating: 3.3 (573 Ratings)
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Results are sorted by Age from oldest to youngest Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) |
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR PAXIL CR | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
  | F M | | | | |||
| 3 | depression/anxiety | some headaches; sleepiness | F | 72 | 7 days | 4/11/2003 | 5 | depression, anxiety, hopelessness, | Paxil was a life-saver back in December 1996. I was depressed, anxious, scared, lack of self-conference, driving my kids crazy, needy, going through menopause, rocky relationship, felt zero joy with living, felt like a loser, etc. etc.....within 48 hours of taking Paxil I was beginning to say to myself "this must be what it is like to be normal". My kids saw the change within 24 hours. I have tried going off Paxil but immediately feel myself falling back down that black hole. My question is: "Can I be on Paxil for the rest of my life? I am now almost 72 years old but doing ok. | F | 71 | 15 years 20 mg 1X D | 1/25/2012 | 3 | depression | anorgasmic | M | 68 | 4 months | 3/31/2007 | 5 | Depression | F | 63 | 15 years 5MG 1X D | 7/5/2011 | 5 | depression | Since going off of paxil cr I really feel funny, cant really explain it I would like to know if anyone feels this way | F | 60 | 2 years | 11/28/2004 | 3 | I was on regular paxil - it helped | can't sleep more than a few hours | have been feeling depressed and weepy all the time | M | 59 | 5 months | 4/26/2004 | 1 | fentanyl patch cancer caused panic | diarreah, constipation, vision fuzz, uncaring/unemotional | F | 59 | 4 years | 1/14/2005 | 4 | Depression, GAD | Cravings, wt gain, low libido( in fact no sexual interest at all), husband not to happy with this. | Did help me to sleep and get calmer. And helped to calm my GI disturbances. Was taking 12.5mg then was told that it was no longer being manufactured and had to go to Lexapro 10mg. With the 34lb. wt gain and above mentioned problems, told my dr. I wanted to quit taking the drug. He told me to stop taking it and I did. Now have a horrible taste in my mouth, no hunger and have lost 7 pounds in 1 week. Sexual feelings, will just have to wait and see. Otherwise, feel fine. Still get a little anxious, but I hope to overcome that God willing. I just don't want to go on medicine again. Take BP medicine,thyroid medication and take Prevacid for my GERDS. | F | 58 | 11 months | 8/27/2005 | 3 | panic attacks | bowel movements were constipated the first week or so causing a hemoroid ... then bowel movements changed to primarily diarrhea and has continued with diarrhea for the last six weeks. since it hasn't stopped, i will be discontinuing paxil cr for this reason. however, paxil cr did stop the panic attacks as did other ssri's i've taken over the years. but there's no sense in dealing with on a daily basis diarrhea, upset stomach, some nausea and some heartburn. i don't recall having any noticeable side effects with any of the other ssri's. besides, I think paxil cr may be the most or one of the most expensive of the ssri's. I have taken over the years different ssri's such as regular paxil, celexa and lexapro. all however, do still seem to be weight gainers. i think the difference with the paxil cr is the controlled release part which must upset my bowel system. | F | 58 | 6 weeks | 12/18/2005 | 5 | Anxiety & panic attacks | First couple of weeks slight nausea for approx. 1 hour after taking. Taking for 6 months now. Side effects: yawning, night sweat and sleeping in which I needed. Slight decrease in libido. | Suffered for 15 years not knowing what my problem was. Paxil lets me enjoy those things that make me happy. Side effects are nothing compared to the benefits! | M | 57 | 6 months | 6/9/2004 | 2 | panic- anxiety attacks | tired, not being able to FEEL anything emotionally, extremely unmotivated and lazy | I would not recommend this drug to anyone | F | 57 | 11 months | 1/30/2005 | 1 | anxiety/depression diagnosis | Weigh Gaining Drug can be replaced with Welbutrin, weight losing. Side effect severe with Paxil 1. Nausea for first week, then positive result 2. 12.5 dosage wore off, couldn't sleep 3. Immediate weight gain, pains in arms subsided for awhile 4. Nausea, dizziness, fogginess, joint pain, legs weak when I tried to quit for one month (only had used 6-7 months) 5. Put on 30mg--heart palpitations, tightness in chest, huge weight gain, return of depression, lack of focus, extreme nausea New doctor put me on 12.5 Paxil to taper off, one per week, then half per week, in addition to taking Welbutrin. Paxil is NASTY and may take years to recover from adverse effects from withdrawal. | If you are overweight or have any cardiac issues, do NOT take this drug. | F | 57 | 10 months | 9/26/2004 | 4 | Depression and panic | No side effects | Paxil literally saved my life by lessening the severe depression I was having. I'm taking regular Paxil though, not Paxil CR. | F | 56 | 8 years 20mgs 1X D | 5/24/2010 | 3 | Panic atttacks | Inability to achieve erection,orgasm; weight gain | My doctor did not mention either the side effects or the issues with withdrawal at the time she started me on it. It has made me unable to achieve a full erection and I am unable to ejaculate. It has actually ended my sex life since I cannot achieve penetration and am no longer able to even masturbate. Be sure you ask your doctor about potential side effects before taking ANY drug. Use the net and do your homework!! My panic attacks were horrible, but now I worry that if I stop the Paxil, the withdrawal will be just as bad, and the attacks might return. Either way, losing your sex life is a high price to pay if there is another way. | M | 56 | 4 years | 2/9/2009 | 5 | Depression | Moderate headaches, minor constipation, fatigue during early days, some insomnia. | Side effects seem to be getting less, and taking trazodone at night solved the insomnia, which I expect to go away by itself. Made my libido STRONGER not weaker...:)) I have more energy, and am more optimistic....so far so good. | M | 55 | 14 days | 6/6/2002 | 4 | panic disorderand anxiety | slight tremors for a short time | F | 55 | 2 months | 8/11/2005 | 2 | Depression, anxiety | Vivid dreams, apathy, weight gain. | When I was first on Paxil CR, it was a godsend. It took about a week to kick in and with in a month I was myself again. After a year, I started getting depressed again, so my doc increased my dosage from 12.5mg to 25 mg. I gained 20 pounds in three months, I became totally uncaring and apathetic. It was as if I had no emotions at all. | F | 55 | 18 months | 3/16/2006 | 2 | depression/anxiety | Almost too many to mention. The worse was the COMPLETE loss of sex drive or ability to orgasm. Yawning, jaw clenching, EXTREME diarrhea.. basically pooped water all day. Depression lifted but came back worse than before. No energy. | The first two weeks the depression was gone and I felt happy despite the MANY side effects. I was worried because I had to decide if not feeling depressed was worth the side effects. I didn't have to worry long because the depression came back with gusto. I switched to Wellbutrin. I had taken Paxil for about 2 months and had no trouble getting off it. Took one every other day for about a week while taking 1/2 dose of Wellbutrin. No withdrawal symptoms. | F | 55 | 2 months | 10/13/2006 | 1 | depression | Weight gain, loss of libido, fatique, loss of emotions. | I tried to go off of this for over 30 days and the withdraw was pure hell! Your brain feels like it is being sqeezed by a vice. I would advise anyone to not take this drug! You can't laugh and you can't cry, like a teflon coating over your brain. Lexapro is much, much better | M | 55 | 5 years | 8/12/2004 | 4 | General Anxiety | None of which I am aware. | While I had severe issues with Lexapro, Paxil CR has been very effective. I've been on it for basically three years. I can identify no side effects, except for the fact that my pocketbook is a little lighter...once a month when I purchase the medication. | M | 54 | 3 years | 4/12/2008 | 5 | GAD, panic episodes | switched from 20mg paxil to 25mg paxil cr. initial effects - altered sleep routine, nausea feeling, slight headache; did try to withdraw from it - way too intense for me. | took paxil 20 (at nighttime since it made me really sleepy) for years with no other negative effects. switched to cr for evening agitation and anxiety. have been panic free the whole duration using paxil and paxil cr, no pms, and definitely have been able to improve my ability to deal with anxiety provoking situations. | F | 53 | 6 years | 1/24/2006 | 2 | panic attacks anxiety | I have take zooloft, celexa, buspar over a period of a year and just took my first paxil today.. being an anxious person may have contibuted to the side effect I feel today, dizziness, shaking... Ihad to take xanax to keep me from feeling like I was going out of my mind..which usually happens when I am having panic attacks... I hope this goes away and the drug begins to help..all the others did not. hence the xanax. | F | 52 | 1 days | 6/30/2004 | 2 | panic attacks anxiety | I have take zooloft, celexa, buspar over a period of a year and just took my first paxil today.. being an anxious person may have contibuted to the side effect I feel today, dizziness, shaking... Ihad to take xanax to keep me from feeling like I was going out of my mind..which usually happens when I am having panic attacks... I hope this goes away and the drug begins to help..all the others did not. hence the xanax. | F | 52 | 1 days | 6/30/2004 | 1 | Depression | Started with Paxil CR 12.5 for one week and it was good. then I switched to 25 and started to feel strange. Been taking 25 for 1 week. Panic attack for absolutely nothing, symptoms like a heart attack led me to the emergency room for nothing, yawning, having to sleep in the afternoon (I take the medication at noon because I also take Prevacid in the morning), flushing a bit like when taking niacin for circulation, depression is worst. I just hate the feeling of this product and after reading all of this, I will stop this. | Product is damn expensive even in Canada and not covered by my insurance plan. The cost is 3$ Can a pill. | M | 52 | 14 days | 11/20/2004 | 1 | social anxiety | withdrawl symptoms were a nightmare and I just wanted to die! The worst feeling in my life. I even got into an auto accident during the withdrawl period. I was so dizzy and disoriented@ | F | 52 | 2 years | 2/15/2005 | 4 | Slight OCD, depression | slightly thirsty, decreased libido but it is not a problem. | It has helped a lot, I am enjoying my life a little more. Probably decrease in emotion, which may be good for me. | F | 51 | 3 weeks | 6/21/2007 | 4 | Panic Disorder | Headache, scalp tingling, fatigue, sleepiness, sexual dysfunction | Began experiencing severe panic attacks, which escalated to the point of complete dysfunction. Doctor blamed hypothyrodism and increased Synthroid dosage. When panic symptoms did not abate, doctor prescribed Paxil CR. Though my panic symptoms have disappeared, the side effects of the Paxil are somewhat debilitating. However, I am afraid to discontinue the Paxil due to fear of withdrawal symptoms and/or return of panic attacks. | F | 51 | 6 months | 10/10/2004 | 5 | Panic/Generalized anxiety disorder | During the first few days I experienced some lightheadedness when first getting up in the morning. And..my sexual desire is nothing like it was before taking this medicine. | It helped me tremendously after about 3 weeks of starting it. It's been years now, and I'm still taking the same dosage. So I really wonder if, at this point, it's still effective or if it's just in my head. Either way, I guess it's working! Also, my Dr. doubles my prescription and I cut them in half. That way, even though I have insurance, I pay for one month and it lasts two. I have also gained weight while taking Paxil. My Dr. has mentioned changing med. but I'm a little leary of it. | F | 50 | 6 years | 10/5/2008 | 5 | ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION | NONE | F | 50 | 10 years | 9/13/2004 | 5 | major depression | Nausea first week, but went away, constipation, weight gain | Paxil CR has made me feel so much better and made me a nicer person to be around but I have gained 25 pounds in 9 months. I just can't control my eating! My doctor says to try to make better food choices (lower calorie) but it is so difficult when you you CRAVING certain things.I am going to try to wean off gradually, to see how I do without the drug. | F | 50 | 9 days | 7/20/2004 | 4 | anxiety | F | 50 | 3 years | 3/21/2005 | 4 | panic attacks,depression | Weight gain...And always sleepy. | I felt great the first 7 years.I had my life back.however starting to have a few more attacks when out.dr wants to up med.but I am afarid I won't be able to stay awake at work. | F | 50 | 7 years | 5/26/2009 | 3 | Panic attacks; OCD | weight gain; loss of libido; unable to orgasm; profuse and continuous sweating. | Paxil was extremely effective as far as my panic attacks. They were debilitating. OCD has not improved. The side effects have been an equal trade for the panic attacks. The sweating is the most bothersome to me. | M | 50 | 4 years | 7/19/2007 | 1 | DEPRESSION | FIRST THREE DAYS I DID NOT DREAM, WHICH FOR ME WAS STRANGE. THEN DAY 5 THE ANGER, DESPAIR, AND VIOLENT BEHAVIOR STARTED. I AM BY NATURE A SWEET CALM PERSON, BUT I EXPLODED EVERY FEW MINUTES. I THREW THINGS, I CRIED, I CURSED (WHICH I DON'T DO) I THOUGHT ABOUT SUICIDE WHICH I DID NOT DO WHILE ON ZOLOFT OR LEXAPRO. I SWEAR THAT IF I COULD HAVE GOTTEN A GUN I WOULD HAVE USED IT. THAT IS HOW OUT OF CONTROL THIS STUFF MADE ME. I AM A QUIET 50 YEAR OLD LADY WITH NO VIOLENT PAST OR TEDNDENCIES. I THREW BY BOTTLE AWAY AND CALLED MY DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY. SHE SAID SHE HAD NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A REACTION. AT LEAST WITH ZOLOFT ALL I DID WAS HAVE NOSE BLEEDS (WHICH I WAS TOLD THAT IS UNUSUAL FOR A SIDE EFFECT TOO) I AM HOPING THAT NO ONE ELSE EVER SUFFERS THIS WAY. | F | 50 | 5 days | 6/1/2006 | 5 | panic attacks | Slight sexual difficulties (I am female) | I feel it saved my life. | F | 49 | 2 years | 1/23/2005 | 1 | Generalized Anxiety Disorder | Profound sexual dysfunction -- impotence, could not reach orgasm, no desire. It helped me feel calmer in general but raised my worry about my sex life being obliterated. Took 25 mg. for 4 months. When I got off it, I experienced the absolute worst withdrawal symtoms I've ever experienced -- vertigo, dizziness, tinnitus, nausea for 2 weeks. I would advise you to stay away from this potent and possibly dangerous drug. | Bad news all around!! | M | 49 | 4 months | 1/9/2004 | 1 | Anxiety | I was FINE, 10 mg per day a touch over three years, having NO bothersome side effects until after three years, then slight side effects. Last fall I fell apart, and I found out the CAUSE, Caremark changed the generic I was using. The last change caused my body to react HORRIBLY, and I have spent two grand on doctor bills trying to figure out what was wrong with me. I am done with Paxil and any generic form of it. | Vivid dreams, heart palpitations, horrid night sweats, swelling, joint PAIN, headaches, HAIR LOSS BY THE HAND FULLS, gastric upset and bloating, vertigo, dizziness and FALLING with injury. DO NOT believe your mail order prescription providers nonsense about "monitoring" for drug interactions. Caremark changed my generic WHILE I was taking THREE other medications that were prescribed due to side effects of Paxil. All three meds were on the "watch" list with Paxil. Still yet, they changed my generic AGAIN, and this time my negative side effects went full blown to all the "haywire" listed. They changed generics to save THEM money. Prescription Companies should NOT be allowed to up and change change a generic because it is cheaper for them, especially an SSRI med being taken with "watch list" meds. Caviet Emptor, if Paxil or your generic works, do NOT let your provider change it without your Doctors permission. | F | 49 | 3.5 years | 8/2/2008 | 1 | anxiety | Mind racing - day 2 cold turkey | Day 2 of going cold turkey, mind racing, no sleep but I will persist. Happiness is not obesity that is causing my depression | F | 49 | 240 days 40mg 1X D | 9/2/2010 History | 4 | panic attack | Weight gain (40 lbs), and dizziness. | Paxil CR has helped me very much, I am pleased with it. I do not like the weight gain, I have never weighed this much in my life. But, I have no panic attacks. Soon, I will be weened from the paxil, I hope all goes well. The paxil has also helped my stomach problems. I was diagnosed with IBS due to stress. I can eat again without having digestive problems. Paxil is great, weight gain is not. | F | 48 | 3 years | 11/2/2004 | 3 | jor depressive dissorder | sexual feelings were non exenct,did not seem to help my depressiq | no | M | 48 | 450 days | 11/4/2004 | 1 | it messed me up - warn others | If you think sitting in a closet with your head messed up is a great way to spend your life go ahead take this drug....look out for withdrawal you will be very FAT | sexless raving lunatic at least I was | F | 48 | 10 months | 9/3/2008 | 5 | PMS | weight gain and bloating | F | 47 | 6 months | 7/31/2004 | 4 | Avoidant Paruresis (shy bladder) | Taking 30mg dose. My sides effects are 1)libido has diminished somewhat, 2)constipation, 3)ejaculatory delay (good and bad), short term memory issues (more forgetful with dates, things to do). | Paxil has helped me with using public restrooms more easily, which is nice after 15 years of dealing with this issue. It has also has helped with anxiety with public speaking and related performance issues. Paxil will definitely put you into this | M | 47 | 3 months | 4/5/2005 | 4 | panic attacks | F | 47 | 1 years | 1/4/2004 | 4 | anxiety | M | 47 | | 7/30/2003 | 3 | Anxiety, Depression, OCD | lethargic, craving for carbohydrates, weight gain | Though letargic, better than the regular Paxil, which gives you a wallop in the morning when you take it. Paxil CR also seems to have less sexual side effects than regular Paxil, but does have the same overwhelming urge for eating, especially carbs. | M | 47 | 2 months | 3/7/2005 | 3 | Stress-related anxiety/depression | For a couple of days I've had nausea, but overwhelmingly it's the GROGGINESS! The first day, my coworker said I looked like a zombie. This is the 5th day, and I'm going to switch to taking this at night and see if that makes a difference. | I'm typically a pretty well-balanced person, although I have a terrible temper and lately, I've been juggling a number of high-stress situations. I asked for Paxil in order to control depression and anxiety at work (praying not to get laid off), but this first week has been rough. My sister has taken it for a long time, and she said for 2 weeks she was very sleepy, but then woke up feeling "normal", which I take to mean good. I'm going to give it another week or two. | F | 47 | 5 days | 5/14/2009 | 1 | Paxil 40mg | I have been on paxil 40mg for 10 years. My dr. prescribed this drug when I came to his office in tears and could not even tell him why I was crying. There were several outside issues going on in my life including panic attacks (severe) depression, angry all of the time, defensive. This drug changed my life and I considered it a wonder drug for years! I still do for the (brain aspect) However, I gained weight over the period of these years to the tune of 100lbs and have tried to go cold turkey on my own. I am dizzy, can't concentrate, cry and feel completely unhappy. I have had nightmares and the dreams are vivid. The constant dizzy in my head is driving me nuts! I bark at my children and cry - feel hopeless and like I want to die. I am finding out that I am a hostage of the drug Paxil. How do I get off of this nightmare? There has to be a normal balance. HELP! | F | 47 | 10 years | 9/5/2004 | 1 | depression | to many side affects that i am reading don't like them the withdrawls they have are terrible someone said you might as will be taking crack so i no i will have to be depress and trust in god to help me through | F | 47 | 1 days | 4/8/2004 | 1 | depression | to many side affects that i am reading don't like them the withdrawls they have are terrible someone said you might as will be taking crack so i no i will have to be depress and trust in god to help me through | F | 47 | 1 days | 4/8/2004 | 1 | gained 60 pounds | I gained 60 pound in a shoet period of time I did not over eat os be lazy I went on this to feel better about myself now I hate myself. I have read alot of reports about people gaining ALOT of weight. I don`t have the energy now to help me. | I tried to go off this It is an addictive drug I have major side effects Throwing up, hot & cold sweats all over body aches Stomache and intestine pains head aches female organs hurting too. This is every day. and I went off of it 2 months ago. | F | 47 | 1 years | 10/7/2005 | 5 | OCD/Panic Disorder | WEIGHT GAIN!!!! Gained 20 pounds easily within 2 years. Don't let anyone tell you it's not the Paxil CR. I was a competitive runner and STILL gained weight. I went on a 1,200 calorie diet for over a month and exercised 6x a week. I wrote down everything I ate and DIDN'T LOSE ONE POUND! Stopped taking Paxil CR and lost 2 pounds in one week while eating anything I wanted. | With that said, Paxil CR eliminated my OCD symptoms. It was wonderful in that regards but I ended up feeling depressed when month after month I kept on gaining weight. I stopped taking it for that reason alone. I am now on Villbryd and trying to see if I can lose this weight. | F | 46 | 2 years 37.5 1X D | 6/11/2012 | 4 | For Anxiety, and Panic Attacks | Dry Mouth, Slight Dizziness, & Slight headaches. I am having problems sleeping, but think I will ask the doc if I can take the medication in the morning instead of night. | I started out with regular Paxil, from my general doctor. Then went to a Physciatrist and he recommended CR. It is a great medication | F | 46 | 3 weeks | 3/31/2003 | 4 | depression/anxiety | dizzy,headache | Worked immediately and it changed my life,however, I question the drugs continued effectiveness over time as some old symptoms seem to be returning. | M | 46 | 15 months | 1/3/2004 | 2 | no, just regular paxil | Very lethargic and tired all the time. It was prescribed for anxiety when I began menopause. It relieved the anxiety but in the process made me feel like a zombie. I felt depressed and unmotivated, not to mention the 15lbs I gained. Didn't work for me. Switched to 20 mg of Prozac and feel great! | F | 46 | 365 days 30 1X D | 9/14/2010 | 1 | Anxiety | Muscle tremors, spaced out feeling, shaky all the time. Unexplained weight gain. Lost my appetite for Chocolate and 6 mos after quitting I still have an aversion to certain foods. | Paxil helped with the initial anxiety but the side effects were just too weird. Quitting was very difficult, I was sick as a dog off and on for 2 months. Flu like symptoms, hot flashes, shaking. I was afraid to go out in public never knew when the symptoms would hit me. After alot of post paxil research I think some people are very sensitive to side effects and I am one of those people. I will never again take an antidepressant. | F | 46 | 4 months | 10/18/2005 | 1 | depression/anxiety | constant headache,increased anxiety,felt like I was completely losing control of everything. Made everything alot worse when taking it. | I was on 25mgs. once a day. after 3 days I couldnt take the side effects. have been off for awhile and am already feeling better. | M | 46 | 3 days | 11/23/2002 | 1 | depression | WEIGHT GAIN, Bouts of depression and anxiety. STRANGE, VIVID DREAMS. | Weight gain was depressing. Withdrawal from Paxil CR very uncomfortable. Tried to stop....SEVERE, most unpleasant dizziness. Lowered dose week by week and stopped again. Still experiencing SEVERE dizziness for past three days. Do not even think about drinking any amount of alcohol while using this med. Not considering taking any other type of med. | F | 46 | 5 months | 8/29/2003 | 5 | anxiety | very few, slight weight gain,delayed ejaculation :) ocassional tiredness ... | it works ! was on zoloft which landed me in jail made me freak'n psycotic unable to back down from any confrontation actually hit someone for first time in my life ! but Paxil works great relaxed and happy , but not numb .. FEEL NORMAL ! | M | 45 | 6 months | 5/28/2009 | 5 | severe depression | Paxil CR fits me like a glove. The CR helps with premenstrual insomnia better then the non-CR Paxil. | F | 45 | 5 years | 1/9/2008 |