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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by cab on October 14, 2002, at 16:54:36
I just searched this board for "paxil," and of all the hundreds of messages, I couldn't find a single positive one. I've just started taking it (switching from effexor), and the fact that no one seems to have anything good to say aout it makes me a little apprehensive. Is my doctor who prescribed it crazy, or are there people out there who have been helped by Paxil? I could use a little encouragement. By the way, I'm taking it for BPII, along with lithium and a little zyprexa. Thanks for your help.
Posted by amy_oz on October 14, 2002, at 18:38:58
In reply to positive paxil experiences?, posted by cab on October 14, 2002, at 16:54:36
Hi,
There are many, many people with positive Paxil experiences. Please remember that people tend to come to this board for help when medications haven't worked and are looking for alternatives. I am currently on 20mg Paxil a day. Paxil was chosen as I had a dx of anxiety/severe depression with psychosis and Paxil tends to work a bit better for those with anxiety/depression. Also a few people in my family have responded well to it.
The first month was hellish cause I was getting panic attacks from the side effects (you can use bzd's with SSRI's if you have this problem). Also the apathy side effect reared its ugly head and with my other problems I just completely detached from life for a little while. My family were incredibly supportive though and I kept going.3 months later I've changed my lifestyle completely with healthy food, exercise, vitamins, fish oil, a little SAM-e and the Paxil. I'm back at work, living a close to full life and feel something close to content. and yes I have problems with less sex drive but it is nothing compared to what I was going through.
Other people with positive paxil experiences include my sister (7 years on) and my cousins (3 of them on Paxil for at least 2 years.) All the people I know who had the best experiences seem to be women...one of my male cousins switched to Prozac after he had sexual dysfunction woth the Paxil (it did work for him AD wise).
You will always find a mix of people who do well on it and other people who have bad experiences (I have a friend who literally couldn't stand up while she was on it). The trick is to try for your self and give it a decent go.
Good luck and keep in touch with us.
Cheers,
AmyBy the way I noticed someone else posted something about the man/woman differences with Paxil. What are other people's experiences?
Posted by cab on October 15, 2002, at 9:31:44
In reply to Re: positive paxil experiences?, posted by amy_oz on October 14, 2002, at 18:38:58
Thanks -- that helps! I'm not sure what this 'apathy' side-effect is that I keep hearing about. Is it that you don't care about things like your family, work, hobbies, etc.? That sounds like a form of depression in itself. Or is it that you don't get upset or anxious about things that would normally upset you? (E.g., a friend of mine stopped prozac when she got into a car accident and didn't get upset about it because she thought she should feel bad about something that traumatic.)And does sam-e help with that?
> Hi,
> There are many, many people with positive Paxil experiences. Please remember that people tend to come to this board for help when medications haven't worked and are looking for alternatives. I am currently on 20mg Paxil a day. Paxil was chosen as I had a dx of anxiety/severe depression with psychosis and Paxil tends to work a bit better for those with anxiety/depression. Also a few people in my family have responded well to it.
> The first month was hellish cause I was getting panic attacks from the side effects (you can use bzd's with SSRI's if you have this problem). Also the apathy side effect reared its ugly head and with my other problems I just completely detached from life for a little while. My family were incredibly supportive though and I kept going.
>
> 3 months later I've changed my lifestyle completely with healthy food, exercise, vitamins, fish oil, a little SAM-e and the Paxil. I'm back at work, living a close to full life and feel something close to content. and yes I have problems with less sex drive but it is nothing compared to what I was going through.
>
> Other people with positive paxil experiences include my sister (7 years on) and my cousins (3 of them on Paxil for at least 2 years.) All the people I know who had the best experiences seem to be women...one of my male cousins switched to Prozac after he had sexual dysfunction woth the Paxil (it did work for him AD wise).
>
> You will always find a mix of people who do well on it and other people who have bad experiences (I have a friend who literally couldn't stand up while she was on it). The trick is to try for your self and give it a decent go.
>
> Good luck and keep in touch with us.
>
> Cheers,
> Amy
>
> By the way I noticed someone else posted something about the man/woman differences with Paxil. What are other people's experiences?
>
Posted by Fenny3 on October 15, 2002, at 17:06:07
In reply to positive paxil experiences?, posted by cab on October 14, 2002, at 16:54:36
Hi cab, my dh takes paxil 10 mg daily and has had no side effects to speak of. He was surprised to find out so many people had bad experiences.
Fen
Posted by gabbix2 on October 16, 2002, at 13:33:22
In reply to positive paxil experiences?, posted by cab on October 14, 2002, at 16:54:36
Paxil worked very well for me, it was my first anti-depressant, too so I think I would have been especially aware of any side effects.
It did cause inorgasmia, which made me switch.
However I know now, that the one side effect could have been treated. Other than that I had no side effects. I even lost weight on it.
I had no withdrawl either, though I switched to prozac right away so that may have been why.
Also something that Katekite pointed out to me was that often its people who are dissatisfied with a medication who are likely to write about it.
Its true, this is the first time I've mentioned Paxil and only because you asked, but I've been ranting about effexor everytime I open my mouth.
Posted by amy_oz on October 16, 2002, at 19:26:49
In reply to Re: positive paxil experiences?, posted by gabbix2 on October 16, 2002, at 13:33:22
Hi,
Sorry for not replying earlier, I've had a rough few days and didn't want to sound like a sad ass after trying to give you a positive response about Paxil.
In regards to adding the SAM-e. After a few days on it I just felt a little more connected to the world and a little more warmth towards other people.In regards to the apathy, basically, I feel like the Paxil evens me out so when I do stuff that used to give me a buzz when I felt down, I just don;t care anymore (like my job and music) and yes this is a symptom of depression and its F**** frustrating. I'm hoping that with all the healthy living I'm doing I'll be able to rise above it.
At least with the Paxil i can get out of bed, eat, sleep, not have panic attacks 6 times a day and no longer have suicidal impulses............
Good luck with your medication and maek sure that you do everything you can to get better.
Amy
Posted by killerdice on October 17, 2002, at 7:58:49
In reply to Re: positive paxil experiences?, posted by amy_oz on October 14, 2002, at 18:38:58
Paxil works very well for my OCD, but makes it hard to orgasim... I supplment testosterone and it really helps with my sexual issue while on this wonderfull drug.....
Posted by k9lover on October 17, 2002, at 8:20:26
In reply to Re: positive paxil experiences?, posted by killerdice on October 17, 2002, at 7:58:49
I've been on paxil (80mg) for 3 years and it's been excellent for me. Even's me out...
This is the end of the thread.
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