Power Surge Forums > Paxil for flashes

Power Surge Forums > Board Discussions > Power Surges / Hot Flashes / Cold Flashes / Hot Flushes

Gran

Aug 12 2002, 09:06 PM

My gyn prescribed Paxil for serve hot flashes and sweats. Has anyone else taken Paxil?

Dec 20 2002, 03:48 PM

My night sweats didn't even start until I was taking Paxil. Everyone I know who is on Paxil, no matter what their age is, has night sweats. Not a good option for night sweats but it sure helps with the anxiety.

Gran

Sep 28 2002, 03:59 PM

Is anyone else taking paxil for hot flashes?

Suseyq

Sep 28 2002, 04:19 PM

Gran: I'm so anti-meds. (I know they are needed sometimes) Why would you even think of using Paxil for hot flashes? I'm not even convinced it is good medicine for what it is marketed for: anxiety. If you believe the commercials, we are all a wreck and need medicating!

tbonewitz

Nov 1 2002, 08:41 PM

I am taking Paxil right now, but not for hot flashes. I can tell you i still get hot flashes during the day and night sweats at night. But then again i'm only taking 10 mgs a day. I don't know if that matters or not. A few years ago i was taking Effexor XR and i was still having night sweats then too. Hope this helps.

sfpuffjockey

Jan 27 2003, 04:24 PM

I made the mistake of being talked into taking Paxil CR for the moderate depression, weepiness and high anxiety I have been experiencing recently.

I expressed concerns about it repeatedly, to this and another doctor, but the last one really told me he was confident this medication would be a good choice for me and said he was confident I notice an improvement in as little as four days.

Well....

I started it at 25mgs on Friday afternoon (you're supposed to take it in the mornings) and had a hard time stayingawake -- I could feel it keeping the panic at bay, but it was still there. Hots flashes were fast and furious all day. Had a TERRIBLE time going to sleep that night (was agitated and needed benzies to get a few hours sleep), and was hit badly by the runs

Saturday I was "buzzing" and extremely tired -- started having mild panic attacks doing things that I've never had a problem with. Also, I wanted to yell at everyon -- I was VEFRY hostile. I then opted to take the lower dose med (12.5mgs) he had offered towards the evening since I'd had such a sleepy response to it.

Absolute disaster.

I was speeding like a freight train (my thoughts, my heart), so hot I was hanging out my window tryingto get cool and my panic was almost full blown -- I ended up getting only two hours of very restless sleep after taking more benzies than I ever have.

Sunday was much the same -- wildly anxious, the runs, hostile, unable to sleep, hot flashes for days.

Needless to say I am NOT taking that med again -- I've since done some more research and found that increased anxiety, insomia and body heating are common side effects.

USE WITH CAUTION and do your research.

Joline

Jan 27 2003, 05:37 PM

I remember complaining to my dr. approx. 4 years ago of having severe pms so he gave me a presc. for paxil. Took it twice and had a similar reaction as you mentioned......never took it again!!!!

Dearest

Jan 30 2003, 10:30 AM

I'm in the middle of a big mailing for tonight's guest chat, but I was looking for a link on the boards and came across this topic. I have some very important things I'd like to say about Paxil, in general, and other medications of this nature, SSRI's, et al, being prescribed for women's hot flashes.

It makes my blood boil to see how doctors are so quickly prescribing STRONG MEDICINE for treating hot flashes when there are so many viable, effective, non-addictive, and SAFE remedies available.

I will return later to post more.

Dearest

Jan 30 2003, 11:20 AM

I have been on 15 mg of Paxil for three years now. I've always had trouble with panic attacks but as I entered peri- they started getting worse. The Paxil has helped me immensely with the depression and panic but it has increased my night sweats. One of the side effects of Paxil is increased sweating. I don't understand why doctors would even suggest taking Paxil for hot flashes and night sweats

(Edited by JC at 10:22 am on Jan. 30, 2003)

Suzie

Jan 30 2003, 11:56 AM

Paxil does increase anxiety until the body adjusts to it. My dr. prescriped klonipin( not sure of the spelling) for the first 3 weeks while taking the paxil. After that , you 're not supposed to get the anxiety. I did go off the paxil for other reasons and because of it's dependancy side effects .I did get alot of sweating night and day while taking it. Doesn't seem like it would help with the hot flashes either because I was usuallly hot when I was on it.Suzie

Suseyq

Jan 31 2003, 01:57 PM

You know, Paxil, and other similar drugs, are used (and were developed for) severe depression. They are very effective when other drugs have not been. However, I repeat, for severe cases. Where physicians got the impression they were for such things as hot flashes, I can only guess. We have to start being our own advocates. Not only do you jeapardize your health, you add to the growing cost of health care in this country, overuse of prescription drugs.

IreneCrites

Feb 1 2003, 11:06 AM

Suseyq.......Bravo...well said. I totally agree with everything you posted. So many times drugs that are in and of themselves very effective for what they were designed for are misused by physicians. The why of it is in my opinion, a combination of ignorance and financial kick backs. I am a nurse of 40 years and it saddens me to even think that of my profession but alas I know it to be true in many cases....not all for sure...but certainly more than we would wish if this was a perfect world. Our need to be educated and empowered advocates for our own healthcare as well as the healthcare of our loved ones is absolutely a must...as you said Susey. The growing cost of healthcare is another story...yikes.

Thanks for your insight and honesty Susey.

Blessings and peace

Feb 18 2003, 04:07 PM

I am glad to see the honest, open responses here. I know we would like to hear that something IS the answer or the cure-all.

It also irks me that docs are so quick to prescribe meds. My body finally did a shut down this past December. I was taken to hospital for a few days. The FIRST morning the nurse comes in with meds, one is Paxil. I asked why, but was so sick didn't fight it. I was given Paxil for the days I was there and prescribed for home. Began taking it, then thought WHY??? Doc said it looked like I was depressed.

ALSO, while in hospital, I started having hot flashes. I've had a few now and again, but had them quite frequently. Mentioned to my doc in hospital, next day nurse comes with not only Paxil, but hormone pill!!! Just because I mentioned hot flashes to him. UGH. Come to find out, flushness/hot flashes is symptom of Paxil.

I agree, what are they thinking and doing. A lot of what we go through is not comfortable, and for some disrupts way of life, it's hard to know what to do. But docs go too far the other way, in my opinion.

I REALLY appreciate the support and encouragement I have found on this site. THANKS.

tiamaria

Feb 18 2003, 05:47 PM

Agree about the many dangers of Paxil and other similar meds being overprescribed. You might want to be aware that there is a lawsuit pending against this company right now saying it *is* addicting, aggression and hostility are side effects, as well as suicide or violence, when trying to withdraw. Don't try it on your own, without a doctor's help. Try not to start on it, in the first place, if you can help it.

Sometimes the easy fixes can leave us dead as doornails so let's always ask questions, do a little research on the internet for ten or fifteen minutes before taking anything, and take responsibility for our own well beings. Some of these doctors are getting kickbacks from pharmaceutical companies, too, that is true!

This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.