PAXIL Reviews (PAROXETINE HYDROCHLORIDE)Average Rating: 2.9 (1022 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 52 |
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR PAXIL | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 4 | Social Anxiety Disorder | Initially a very odd type of yawn which occurred when changing activities. Wide wide yawns which tingle and feel somewhat good, but happened too often. Nauseous for the first 2 days, but not puke-worthy. Somewhat zombie-like, dilated pupils. Maybe a bit shaky. Difficulty ejaculating, even the first night I took 20 mg, but still possible. I went up to 40 mg at which time could not ejaculate for the life of me, regardless of how much porn and/or sex was involved. It seems that this side effect is dose-dependent. The drowsiness can be a big issue for some and might stick around, but it seems that this side effect can go away. I haven't noticed any weight gain yet. ***Recommendation for a smoother withdrawal: get a prescription for the liquid formulation. It makes it much much easier to taper off the drug in fine, tiny increments. Alternatively, ask your doctor if you can switch to an SSRI with a longer half life (fluoxetine is the one!) and taper coarsely off from that. The long half lif | I will go back down to 20 mg as studies apparently indicate that there is not much benefit beyond 20 mg for social anxiety at least. 20 mg is the reccomended starting dose, and also the maintenance dose. Very effective SSRI for me, more so than Lexapro. My hypothesis as to why it is indicated for social anxiety is because it is one of the more sedating SSRI's. Play around with the best time to take it - If you get drowsy from it, like I do, try taking it at night. If it keeps you up, take it in the morning. You may also want to take into account the usual time you are sexually active, try spacing the dose as far away from that time as possible (at least 12 hrs) i.e., if you are sexually active at night, try taking it in the morning so the drug level will be somewhat low in your system by nighttime. You can also try taking Wellbutrin in addition to the paxil. | M | 22 | 1 months 20-40 mg 1X day | 4/13/2013 Patient History | 1 | Anxiety | Increased anxiety, depression, weight gain, muscle problems, brain zaps, bad memory, other health problems. A consistent decline in overall mental and physical health. | Do not take this POISON!! It ruined my life. Still trying to heal from the damage of it after quite a long time. I wish I could give it a zero rating because that is what it deserves. Shame on GSK for putting this toxin out and destroying people's lives!!!! | F | 35 | 13 years 40 1X day | 4/8/2013 | 5 | Anxiety attacks | mild weight gain that I could control with diet and exercise and even weight watchers. I got my life back. | This drug worked wonders for me. I felt the need to post this as there has been so much negative feedback here. I really think you just have to find what works for you. I accept that I very well may be on this med for the rest of my life, but a diabetic will be on insulin? Or maybe some day I will try to wean off the med. I've tried a few times, but then something would happen in my life and I would feel like I'm not ready yet. I live a full happy life day to day. My weight is fine, my sex life is full, my moods are normal. I don't pretend to live in a fantasy land where my life is perfect. But I'm happy managing Christian woman, and I do believe in prayer and I pray daily for anyone that has anxiety/depression issues. | F | 41 | 10 years 10mg a day 1X day | 3/18/2013 | 4 | Panic disorder with agoraphobia | Weight gain | My doctor put me on Paxil to help with my diagnosed panic disorder and agoraphobia. The first few days of taking it, I didn't have any side effects or benefits. A month later, I was going around town to areas I hadn't been to in years. I re-enrolled in college and am currently attending. It actually increased my sex drive and I had the urge to have sex all the time. That still remains true to this day. However, from the start of February to now, which is March 16, I have put on 18 pounds. I have not been eating any differently than I did the first four months of taking Paxil, but now the weight just seems to be piling on daily. I was already overweight at 232. Now, I am 250 and none of my clothes fit me any more. I cannot explain how I could gain 18 pounds in 44 days. I started noticing I felt more bloated than usual around the end of February and checked my (normally consistent) weight and found I had gained 10 pounds. Since then I have consistently checked it and it just keeps piling on to the point that I am now 18 pounds heavier. My belly feels bloated all the time and I have had to buy XXL shirts as opposed to the XL ones I was wearing two months ago. It is embarrassing. I have implemented changes to my diet and am planning on exercising next week, so hopefully this steady gain stops. If I get any bigger, I may have to talk to my doctor about other options. I guess at this point I am reluctantly thanking the medication while being pissed with it at the same time. | M | 28 | 5 months 10 1X day | 3/16/2013 | 1 | Panic Disorder | Loss of libido, suicidal thoughts | I took this over a year ago, but for some reason it has been weighing on my mind to inform people of my experience with this drug. I was on 10mg once a day everyday, along with klonopin about 1mg to help with panic attacks. I stopped taking klonopin because I could not function on it, I was drowsy all the time and fell asleep at the dinner table one night from it. But anyway, back to the paxil. It took me at least 30 minutes to reach an orgasm during intercourse and that alone was enough to send me over the edge. I wanted OFF of this medicine as soon as possible and my quack doctor said "it's not the best decision for you right now." so...I stopped taking it myself slowly. I cut my pills in half and after about a week I was taking 1/4th of a pill. Paxil literally ruined my moods, libido, and I was hospitalized for suicidal thoughts. I have always been an upbeat but anxious person, and while taking paxil I feel like it made my panic attacks worse. I was having them a lot more frequently than I was before even starting the medication. Do yourself a favor and try Celexa (old school drug but the best out there) for depression/anxiety/panic disorder. | F | 4 months 20mg 1X day | 2/22/2013 | 5 | Anxiety Attacks | Weight gain & low libido | I found this site and decided to comment on this drug. I used to have panic attacks. (From 2003-2007). I started out taking Xanax (addictive) which only masked the symptoms. Then, my doctor prescribed Ativan which basically masked the symptoms. Both are addictive. Because panic attacks are caused by a chemical imbalance, you need a drug that will adjust this. So, I started on a low dosage of Paxil. The first dose made me feel higher than a kite. I couldn't even hold a fork to eat and I was very dizzy. My panic attacks were worse for the first week, but I continued to take Ativan at the same time to help. So, I actually used Paxil to help me get off Ativan. It takes about 3 weeks for this medicine to work. I continued taking them for 4 years. I gained about 20 pounds, but I felt great and could function normally again. In 2007, I decided to go off them. However, it took me from March to July to totally stop them. DON'T stop cold turkey because it's very dangerous. I cut my pill in half for a few weeks and then to a 1/4 and an 1/8. This sounds silly, but when I started feeling dizzy, the 1/8 took the edge off. I have had a few anxiety attacks since 2007, but nothing like I used to have. I know that I won't die from them and have learned breathing techniques to manage this disorder and have taken a less stressful job. I would take Paxil again, but also some Ativan at the same time for the first week or two until the Paxil worked. | F | 40 | 4 years 10 1X day | 2/2/2013 | 5 | Anxiety attacks and depression | At 10mg a pleasant effect, at 20mg a little more. Now up to 30mg daily and diminished libido. No other side effects. | This is an update to my comment on 7/23/2008. Almost 5 yrs. later I am taking 30mgs. daily and I still give Paxil(I am taking the generic and can't tell the difference) 5 rating. For me, it smooths my emotions. Give it a try, it may work for you. | M | 60 | 10 years 30 mg 1X day | 1/26/2013 | 4 | ANXIETY | After 15 yrs, almost no side effects. But if you plan to get off, good luck. Almost impossible!!! But this drug has saved me from HORRIBLE anxiety. | F | 15 years 40 1X day | 1/18/2013 | 1 | Depression, SAD/OCD | Stoppedafter just two weeks due to total anorgasmia | Did nothing to help in two weeks, although prob unfair to judge efficacy on such a short trial. | M | 18 | 2 weeks 10 MG 1X day | 1/1/2013 | 5 | OCD and depression | Withdrawal symptoms | F | 29 | 10 years 40 mg | 12/19/2012 | 1 | OCD; deppresion | tired, lazy, mood-nothing, gain 30lbs, never wanted to even kiss my husban | I started the off brand off Paxil (Paroxetine) at 20MG once a day 6 months ago, didnt help. Then my doctor put me to 2 pills a day at 20Mg, didn't help. Now as of a month ago I am taking 2 pills a day at 30Mg. Has only helped me a fews days then i went back down. I just stoped taking it and i'm haveing the worst withdaws ever!!!!! I'm so sick. I wished i never got put on Paxil. But do remember it may work differently for you. | F | 20 | 6 months 30mg 2X day | 12/17/2012 | 5 | Panic disorder | None. | I am so glad I got on Paxil. I had panic disorder that developed into agoraphobia and I couldn't leave my house. Now, four months after starting Paxil, I am making out of town day trips for fun and have even registered for college next semester. I went from being a total recluse to actually getting out and getting things done for once. I am so proud of myself. I have gained 5 pounds since starting the Paxil but I have also stopped exercising and I eat like crap because I'm happier. I think the 5 pounds would have come on regardless. There has been no change in my sexual performance. I'm still as horny as ever and I can "get off." I can't think of any side effects. | M | 27 | 4 months 10 MG 1X day | 11/27/2012 | 5 | Anxiety | Side effects that taper off. Headache, Tingling, Warm feeling. Side effects that last. Ear ringing. (you get used to it and don't notice it as much) Higher frequency of passing gas. | Don't skip a medication because of any particular rating. I have tried prozac ( horrible for me) . Celexia (Made my mind foggy) Zoloft (Made me withdrawn) Wellbutrin (made me angry).. What's good for one, is bad for another. With the exception of Prozac, I have tried all the above mentioned SSRI's for over a year, and i came to the conclusion that Paxil was the best for me. I switched off from it because of the inability to orgasm. I had the same problem with all the SSRI's with exception to Zoloft. It cured the anxiety, but, made me withdrawn, I didn't want to have sex. Prozac and Wellbutrin made my anxiety worse. Celexia worked as well as the Paxil for Anxiety but i felt like my IQ dropped by 30. After all that, i returned to Paxil. The negatives with any SSRI are the transition periods. It can take me about 2 weeks to adjust, 30 days for me to see full benefits and a year to notice the subtle changes and differences in my behavior. Any SSRI, you need to stick it out atleast 30 days to see if its helping. I suggest having some Lorazipan or Xanax to help with that difficult time. If/when you decide to discontinue Paxil, Cut it off 5 mg at a time. Regular (not CR), you can cut up the pill. In 3-6 months you can ween yourself off from it without the HELL it is by just stopping cold. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. I had to endure it once because i ran out of pills. Hell begins with Paxil on about the 3rd day of missing it. | M | 41 | 3 years 20mg 1X day | 11/16/2012 | 1 | Anxiety GAD/PTSD | Delusionaly happy with psychotic effects. No ability or desire to perform sexually and emotionally flat, never slept while on it I would just collapse into a psychotic state every now and then. Lost all ability to tell right from wrong, and was oblivious to the fact that I was manic and psychotic the entire time, and as a result I made lot's of bad decisions. I lost my job and got arrested for bad behavior many times on this med. Getting off of it was hell, I'm permanently emotionally impaired from it, and may never be capable of holding a job again. I can experience limited emotions sometimes now but most of the time they are no longer present. I still have difficulty distinguishing whether or not I'm awake or in a dream. I did not experience any conscious signs of anxiety while on this drug but developed much more extreme physical symptoms, that will not respond to medications. Now that I can no longer take it my original problems are many times worse and can not be treated effective | If you live in a state that allows medical marijuana try it first. I was miserable before this medication now I'm more miserably and have no ability to function normally in society. I live with my parents now, when they are gone I'll be a vagrant and die on the streets. Paxil did nothing but give me more problems and make me permanently disabled. Don't say you weren't warned. It's a form of chemical lobotomy and in my case its permanent. | 3 years 30 MG 1X day | 11/16/2012 | 4 | Anxiety chronic pain and depression | Long time to climax during sex, side effects for over 2 years after stopping. Although I stopped cold turkey I have heard similar to those that weaned but too quickly. | All or nothing, meaning if you start it its lifelong if you stop its almost regrettable and the cycle continues because what it helped comes back quickly and seems to not be as strong each time you quit and restart. | M | 40 | 14 years 10 MG 1X day | 10/26/2012 | 5 | Anxiety. | Loss of libido. | When it worked it was FANTASTIC. Stabilised for 8 years before 'pooping out' last year. | M | 42 | 8 years 20 1X day | 10/18/2012 | 3 | IBS | sexual side effects, vivid dreams, weight gain | Working for my IBS and probably helping with anxiety too. I will probably ask for a change because the weight gain and sexual side effects are quite disturbing to my life. | F | 37 | 4 months 20 1X day | 10/5/2012 | 1 | Generalized Anxiety Disorder | At low doses (10 mg)-sleepiness, not many side effects. At high doses (30 mg)-extreme anxiety, irritability, sleeplessness, hallucinations, suicidal thoughts, feeling as if I was going crazy. | I took paxil 10mg for a year and a half with no side effects. After experiencing some significant life stressors my dose was increased to 20 mg. I felt normal on that dosage for about 2-3 months. However, soon my anxiety started worsening again because of work-related issues and I was increased to 30 mg daily. I took this dosage for two weeks. One week after increasing the dosage I sincerely believe this medication caused me to become manic-didn't sleep for days on end, extreme irritability and anger/hostility, hallucinations (visual AND auditory), feelings of paranoia, psychotic symptoms-including a couple bouts of hysterical laughter. I believe this drug induced serotonin syndrome. My primary care doc didn't think this drug was causing hallucinations and slapped me on seroquel (an antipsychotic). I ended up taking two and a half weeks of medical leave from work trying to withdraw from this drug. Luckily I got off paxil and will NEVER ever go back on it again. I ended up having to see a psychiatrist to help me get off of this awful drug. I considered checking in to a mental hospital while I was on the 30mg per day dosage. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone! | F | 25 | 2 weeks 30 MG 1X day | 9/29/2012 | 1 | mild depressiom | sexual indifference, weight gain, tendency to abuse alcohol, nicotine, narcotics, lethargy, lack of emotions. | I quit 4 months ago after a 4 week taper and have had horrible withdrawal symptoms ever since. Constant nausea, inability to eat, crawling sensations inside my body, constant adrenaline surges, suicidal thoughts, intense depression, desperation, insomnia. I had none of these problems prior to taking the drug. Do not take this drug unless all options have been eliminated and plan to stay on for life if you start. | F | 62 | 12 years 10 mg 1X day | 9/22/2012 | 1 | Mild Depression | Alcohol cravings, loss of all emotions, completely uninhibited, suggestibility (would find it impossible to say no), flu like symptoms every morning that would subside after taking another dose, violent rages, blackouts with and without alcohol, confusion, insomnia and highly delusional. | I had almost no emotional responsiveness but would have told you that I felt great while taking Paxil, and never noticed that anything was out of the ordinary, until I got off of it. Even with Dr. supervised taper I experienced psychosis and had to spend 3 days in a psychiatric facility. Took approximately 9 months to return to a functional state. I had a great career, perfect legal record before Paxil. Now I have no job legal problems, and will never again be able to perform work at the level I was at previously. Also I now have severe generalized anxiety disorder, Asperger's like symptoms, and am told that this is going to be permanent. Yes my depression returned after cessation also. I would not recommend this medication to anyone unless it was a life threatening condition, such as coping with a terminal illness or repeated suicide attempts and everything else had been tried first. | M | 36 | 3 years 30 1X day | 9/12/2012 |