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 |
| 1 | Anxiety | I blacked out in the shower after one pill at 10 mg. Woke up to muscle weakness, shakiness, extreme vertigo and nausea. | I'm just glad I'm still alive after taking this stuff. I can't believe the FDA approved it. | F | 28 | 1 days | 10/13/2004 | 3 | anxiety and panic disorder | Paxil definently helped with my anxiety, In general I felt 'calmer' inside and the panic attacks and overwhelming anxiety were less often. The down side is that after 8 years on Paxil I have gained more than 80 lbs. I've recognized for many years that Paxil was causing my weight gain, over active appetite and carb cravings, but with the Paxil I just wasn't stressed about it. In fact with Paxil, I wasn't stressed about much. I now recognize that feeling as apathy and believe it is a very real side effect of Paxil. I began tapering off Paxil about 3 weeks ago and have every negative withdrawal symptom already noted in the other reviews here. Terrible dreams, neausea, flu-like symptoms, wierd eye tracking problems, etc, etc. But I am convinced I need to get off this medication to bring my spirit back and care about myself again. | While Paxil was very helpful for me - it is now also very hurtful to me. Do your research before taking this drug. It may be worth the risk for you, but you should be informed first. | F | 52 | 8 years | 10/9/2004 | 1 | anxiety/depression | dilated pupils, heart racing-feeling, nervousness | Started on 20 mg for 5 weeks, along with ativan 1mg a day. Paxil immediately caused my pupils to dilate and heart to pound. After 5 weeks depression was worse, anxiety not a problem because my emotions were blunted, concentration and memory were MUCH worse than before. I do not recommend Paxil to be initiated at 20 mg., which is the typical dose. I was informed recently that my symptoms (emotional blunting,concentration/memory problems) were most likely from the too large (for me) starting dose. Currently only taking amitriptyline (VERY sedating, don't take in daytime) and hoping for improvement. Best wishes to all of you. | F | 45 | 5 weeks | 10/9/2004 | 5 | migraines | abdominal cramping and diahhrea and WEIGHT GAIN | but it has worked wonders. I am extremely bothered by the weight gain,if not for that, it is a wonder drug. Has helped occurrence of headaces 90%!!!and has helped anxiety | F | 46 | | 10/6/2004 | 3 | migraines | WEIGHT GAIN, no matter what i do. Exercise 1 to 2 hrs a day and still gaining weight... But works great for the headaches... | will try to get off of it and switch to Effexor to try to lose the weight | M | 45 | 2 days | 10/6/2004 | 2 | GAD. Depression | Sleepy , less motivated, loss of interest , dry mouth, | I am not sure if it is Paxil or just me but after 3 weeks on Paxil I feel almost more isolated and in a fog then before. I have less anxiety but still depressed. I fall a sleep in the afternoons and general loss of motivation. I would think it would be the opposite ..Is it only me? | M | 35 | 21 days | 10/4/2004 | 5 | depression and anxiety | weight gain, blurred vission, | relieved anxiety, still was depressed, | F | 47 | 7 years | 10/3/2004 | 2 | Anxiety | No bad side effects for the first week. After the second week the headaches were horrible. I also felt depressed, blurry vision,loss of concentration.I was also taking Xanax to help with the major panic attacks. | Still seeing side effects after 5 days off. The headaches are not nearly as bad. My ears feel clogged and still can't concentrate well. | M | 28 | 17 days | 10/3/2004 | 4 | depression | extreme sleepiness & weight gain (25 lbs); if I miss even 1 day - excessive lightheadednesss, vertigo | F | 41 | 6 years | 9/30/2004 | 5 | GAD | Slight constipation, dry mouth, low libido, sleep disturbances, | At 14 days at 20 mg I think I feel a little better in terms of anxiety but my depression still comes and goes..I am not like any new person but maybe it does not intend to change me. The lump I had in my stomach feels like it is gone..So maybe that was depression feeling? I guess I will ask my friends if they think I am better, | M | 14 days | 9/28/2004 | 1 | Depression, Anxiety, Panic Attacks | Sweating, dry mouth, constipation, sleeplessness. However, the worst side effect was joint pains, especially in my jaw and mouth. I would wake up every night with severe pain in my mouth. Spent lots of money going to different dentists & specialists, thinking it was my teeth. After very slowing stopping the paxil (which was a nightmare), the pains went away. | At first I thought this was helping. I was able to socialize more and was able to drive anywhere without worry. I was willing to deal with side effects, but when the bad pains started in my mouth, I didn't know what was happening. It took a long time and a lot of money to connect these pains with the paxil. | F | 46 | 10 months | 9/28/2004 | 3 | mood swings/anger/depression | For the first couple weeks I had what felt like the flu.(Doctor said, nothing to do with paxil, Yeah right.) I was also MORE depressed than I was to begin with. I couldn't function well. I was yawning and tired for the first month or so. Occassional diarreah. Now after 6 months my teeth are hurting me. That's how I found this site, I'm not sure if the teeth are related. I am trying to wean off now and am constantly dizzy and feel these weird rushes in my head from time to time. (They are hard to describe) I feel nausea on and off. About 1 week after I started to wean off, I got some kind of virus, sore throat, sweating, head feels congested. (I'm not sure if this is really sickness) | It helped me a little. My symptoms subsided a great deal. Didn't always feel great but didn't want to keep trying one drug after another. I'm so nervous to completely stop this drug. If I make it thru this and there are no future repercussions then I will say it was worth it for me. I heard however that these drugs get stored in fat cells and when these fat cells get disturbed ie: losing weight, exercising, you get a burst of the medicine which causes a side effect. I did try Zoloft a few years back but because I really didn't want to depend on a drug, I stopped cold turkey 2 months later. I did get residual side effects occassionally for about the next 6 months. | F | 46 | 6 months | 9/26/2004 | 5 | depression / social anxiety | first few days some constipation, dry mouth, weird urination problems, loss of desire for sex. Helped with pre -mature ejaculation.I'm no longer a 2 minute man..:) Maybe 15 minute now..GREAT! | I feel normal again, the World does not look darka nd gloomy anymore. I only wish I could always feel like this. I'll be afraid to get off this as I feel good and normal aagin..Have not fealt like this in years. | M | 35 | 3 weeks | 9/24/2004 | 3 | anxiety social anxiety bi-polar OCB | taking 1 20mg a day at supper time. the first week it bugs you out, you wake up every 2 hours at night, go to the bathroom nonstop and it makes you more depressed and sometimes suicidal. its been 3 weeks now and i got no side effects and i do feel it slowly working each day. | give it a shot for a month or two. if you dont like it, get some xanax. if you have any questions i have alot of knowledge. feel free to e-mail me. | M | 21 | 3 weeks | 9/23/2004 | 3 | Severe Depression AND anxiety | Initially: Dry mouth and sleepiness. Long-term: Sexual dysfunction, 30lb weight gain. | Paxil was very effective for my symptoms during the first two years that I took it. However, it is only now that I realize how much of my life I slept away in the last six years. Also, long-term use WILL create anhedonia, a feeling of no interest in ANYTHING. I was an avid kayaker and photographer before I took Paxil, yet over the years I let these hobbies and so many others fall by the wayside. I got to a point where I couldn't feel ANYTHING! That's when I knew I had to get off this medicine. Withdraw from Paxil was the hardest 3 months of my life. I think going off of heroin would be easier! I'm glad I'm finally off this emotion-robbing drug! | M | 34 | 8 years | 9/22/2004 | 4 | Panic attacks | Initially headache, agitated state, inability to concentrate, increased sexual desire but difficulty to reach orgasm. Medium and long term - weight gain (30 lbs), lack of general interest, careless attitude, extreme risk taking behaviour, hair loss, difficulty to start/maintain relationships | I used Ativan for acute anxiety attacks. My best dosage strategy is to start with 10mg (20mg resulted in severe headache). Gradually increased dosage after 12 weeks. It took 3 weeks to feel free from state of anxiety. Difficulty in sexual functions was directly related to dosage. Actually, SSRI's have been prescribed to treat premature ejaculation as an off label prescription. Could not ejacultate with 20 mg. It took a long time to ejaculate with 10mg. Normal ejaculation with 5mg. I did not experience loss of libido but ejaculatory disturbance sometimes led to frustrated experience | M | 38 | 2 years | 9/21/2004 | 5 | depression | slight sleep disturbances, lower libdo, less sexual sensitivity (+ for me), dry mouth first few days, more nervous first few days, slight weight loss. | feel so much better now. I ahve used before and had no problem getting off..Just went slowly..Like 2-3 weeks down. | M | 37 | 2 years | 9/20/2004 | 5 | depression | sleepiness the first week, weight gain after | Paxil has really helped me - i have been on lithium, prozac and others and they did not help me at all. I don't get as down/angry as I used to and if I do, it doesn't last as long as before. I am probably going to try to lower the dosage though as I have gained 15lbs in 9 months - if it weren't for that, I would be totally happy with the effects. | F | 32 | 9 months | 9/20/2004 | 4 | depressed /socail anxiety | first few days dry moth, constipation, problems with sleep, tiredness | Has helped me out in life and has had litle side effects..All of them have gone away. I really do not see how some have these huge effects and I have none..I guess we are all diffeent though. I have used before and eased of slowly and no problems. | M | 37 | 1 years | 9/18/2004 | 2 | Generalized Anxiety Disorder | Stomach Problems such as constipation, being irritable, hostile, being forgetful, and living life in a haze. It also makes you to the point where you feel emotionless. | This medicine almost ruined my life. I could've lost the best thing that has happened to me, | F | 24 | 2 years | 9/14/2004 |