Hi Everyone


Last week I went to my Psy Doc and he wants me to try Paxil.
I have been taking Wellbutrin XL - 300mgs for over a year now - he just increased it to 450mgs.
I have suffered from Chronic Depression, Panic disorder and Social Anxiety as well as PTSD for over 2 years now!!!!

I have tried most of the SSRI Antidepressants at least once.
They all worked - at least for a while.
But I had some side effects with each.
Everything from sexual side effects to anger and aggression and always...... WEIGHT GAIN!!!!!!!!!!!

But I have never tried Paxil. But I have read quite a bit about Paxil - but it always helps to know someone who will tell you about their personal experience with a medication.
I really do not want to add any medications at all right now -
not until I really know how the HRT (Vivelle-Dot) is going.


I would love some insight.



Thanks,
Donna

Donna

I just started taking Paxil a few weeks ago. So far I can say that I don't feel as stressed as I had. Of course there is still anxiety with all this hormonal stuff going on but it doesn't reach the panic attack level that I had been getting. Sleep is a little better. It has not been a cure all by any means but I don't think anything can be at this time in our lives. I so far have not noticed any side effects. I took Paxil a couple of years ago for about a year and the only side effect I noticed then was fluid retention. When I went off them I did not have any trouble. I cut back and slowly weaned myself off of them. I had a friend who also took them. She decided to stop and just stopped without cutting back the dosage and had a very hard withrawal. I wish you well and hope you find something to help you find that peace we all want and deserve.

love and hugs
Cathy

I took Paxil for almost a year. It was very helpful with my anxiety and panic attacks as well as getting me out of a deep depression. The worst side effect was zero sex drive and the inability to orgasm. It did come back after about 6 months. I started to gain weight in about 9 months. I gained 15 pounds in 3 weeks and decided that I needed to get off the drug. I tapered very very slowly and it wasn't very difficult.

Hi Donna ~

I am taking Wellbutrin (150 mg twice daily) for several years now. For the first year I just took the Wellbutrin - when I was 50 but... I noticed that my sleeping was off. I seemed to wake up four or five times a nite. Not to where I'd get up but enough to wake up and interrupt my sleep. I probably let this go on for too long before taking it up with my doctor during an annual exam. I was, at that time, beginning to experience some 'free floating anxiety" - just out of no where it would just creep up on me. So I discussed both with my doctor and she added Buspar twice a day. That helped but... it just did not totally relieve this sleep difficulty. A year later, at my next annual exam, I again brought this up with my doctor. She is a very understanding doctor but she is my HMO primary care doctor - a family medicine doctor. She referred me to a psychiatrist to discuss my medication. That was about 4 months ago. The psychiatrist upped my Buspar to three times daily and kept my Wellbutrin the same. I want to tell you that that lil extra Buspar has truly done amazing things for me. I now sleep through the nite and have less anxiety. I'd like to be anxiety free for life but that isn't realistic - anxiety/stress... I've always known that comes with the territory known as life. Just thought I'd pass this on to you.

It was the sleeping difficulty that really took a toll on me - on the week ends I'd sleep until noon just to catch up but I never did catch up because I was ALWAYS waking up during the nite. It was absolutely exhausting and probably was not helping me any in the anxiety department cuz I was just too tired to handle anything. It was all I could do to get up and make it to work on time monday - friday.

Now, I feel like a new person. Last month I wanted to stop the meds cuz I felt so good but my doctors have asked me to continue them for a bit longer. I have had just a heap of major transitions during the last 7 years and they both think continuing the meds a bit longer will help. The psychiatrist even told me that the Wellbutrin helps one focus more clearly.

Oh sheez, I forgot to mention that I could not even read through a book for several years. I just dunno - just couldn't manage it at all. Now - low and behold - I am not only reading but I am back to reeading two books at a time Oh what a joy!

I've heard you mention you lack of desire to keep the house clean and being quite bothered by it. Up until a few months ago that was me. Not that I have any great desire to keep the place clean but... I'm just not such a drill sargent with myself about it any more.

Maybe it is the change in meds, I dunno. but I am slowly able to think more clearly and see - just see for once in my life - what is and what is not essential/important to my happiness. As a Southern Belle who once prided herself in a clean and orderly household, I am becoming more and more able to settle for somewhat clean and somewhat orderly. My hubby has always claimed he can never see the dirt I am able to see anyway -

I dunno if this helps you or not. I dunno about Paxil other than what I've read. I just hated to switch to something else and finally decided to take my meds as prescribed... I was trying to take less than prescribed for a bit but... I dont have an MD and it just became so bothersome that I finally relented and am following docotr's orders. THAT IS A LOT FOR A CAJUN TO DO - I TELL YOU THAT MUCH!

My best to you and hope you find relief soon ~

Liz (not checking for spelling company at the door)

Thanks to All for sharing your experiences with me............................................. I'm still not sure if I want to start another SSRI - since I know that everyone that I have tried in the past had at least one very undesirable side effect.

dicannon I know all about the zero sex drive and the inability to orgasm......... Celexa and Lexapro both did a number on me. As well as the weight gain ...... that is my fear - I do not want those side effect again!

As far as the loss of my house cleaning OCD - I think the Wellbutrin XL may be the reason for that. Lizi you may want to ask your doctor about changing your prescription to Wellbutrin XL 300 mgs. It is time released and you only have to take it once daily........ I liked the idea of taking 1 pill rather than 2 and getting the same doseage and results. My doctor changed me from 150 mgs twice a day right after Wellbutrin XL was released to the market - he has now changed all of his patient over to the XL. I have never taken Buspar but I will research it - and see if it could be an option.


Cathy ---- I have enough fluid retention to float a boat right now - ever since I started the Vivelle-Dot .............. I don't need any more or I will have to swim everywhere I go!

Thanks

Donna

The decision has been made - by Me - No to Paxil -

I am going to try things my way - no more ADs

After three years of the doctor's way (all 5 of them) and no CURE!!!!!!!!

I will try No More Magic PILLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ROLFMAO

I will go the natural way - I have set up an appointment with a

Clinical Herbalist --- I will keep you all informed.


Donna

Hi Donna,

FWIW, I was on Zoloft for 18 months after my husband died 9 years ago and it stopped working. My doc put me on Paxil and after 2 weeks I gained 8 lbs...knew that I'd REALLY be depressed if that upward spiral continued, so I quit cold turkey (I didn't know you weren't supposed to do that). I had some weird experiences for about 3 days--and then all was fine.

I recently read some interesting info about magnesium and how lowered levels of this can cause or increase depression. Do a google search on magnesium and depression or just magnesium alone and see what comes up. I take 800 mg a day and I do believe it has helped moods and anxiety tremendously.

I stopped taking the SSRI's because I just felt they were delaying the inevitable--the fact that eventually I'd need to feel and walk through the grief of losing my husband. I knew that sooner or later I'd need to feel it to get through it, so I quit the meds and walked through the grief and loss and I survived. I'll always miss him and always I'll feel the sting but I'm remarried and life goes on--and it's pretty good these days.

Good luck with your treatment whatever you choose....

Riv