How long do initial side-effects last with Paxil?
Question:
I just started my fourth day of paxil after being on Zoloft for 3 weeks. I hate it, I think. I have trouble sleeping at night. With the Zloft I just zonked out. I hoping this nasty side effect will go away. I also feel more agitated on the paxil.
Dear Lorri, Try to hang in there and give the paxil 6 to 8 weeks to work. What you are experiencing is very normal with paxil. When I weaned on paxil it exacerbated my already awful insomnia, but after a few weeks my sleep really improved. Also a *temporary* increase in anxiety is very common, and that would explain your agitation. I have seen posters who were where you are right now with the paxil and they stuck it out…… to be pleasantly surprised a few weeks later as to how well they felt. Take care 
{{{{{Lorri}}}}} Jackie
Response:
Bingo… I had the same anticipatory anxiety when 1st taking Paxil, even Xanax before that. My PA Doc assured me that it would take days if not weeks to realize side effects…but it wasn’t until after the 1st few doses that I realized the anxiety was "me" and not the meds. As I was started on Xanax a few weeks before Paxil, I had no major problems and quickly swore by my Xanax, even to this day. Hang in there… Regards, Steve – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Dear Tom, I am hoping the low dose is 5mgs or less? If you were anxious about going on Paxil that could be what you are feeling instead of side-effects from the Paxil. Within 15 minutes of taking my first Paxil dose I had incredible anxiety, felt like I was coming out of my skin. I am a med phobic, so I get very anxious going on meds. My psychologist told me the side-effects I felt right after taking my first dose was caused by me and not paxil 
Give it 6 to 8 weeks for paxil to do its job. It may happen earlier than that, but that is a good rule of thumb. I started seeing relief at week two. Side-effects may or may not go away. Most of mine did, except the fatigue and dry mouth and I have been on Paxil since Mach of 98. Use your valium as needed while you wean on paxil, it will make it alot easier. Take care and good luck with Paxil Jackie
Response:
Tom ive been on Paxil about 1 year now. I started on 10 mgs and then they raised it to 20 mgs after 7 days. It took about 2 weeks before I felt normal again but within about 2-3 days I was definitly feeling better. Zoloft made me anxious and nervous so when I started the Paxil I too was creating anxiety symptoms. Im sure you’ll be fine because you sound just like I did before I started it. Give it 2-3 days and see how you feel. Elizabeth
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Dear Lorri, Try to hang in there and give the paxil 6 to 8 weeks to work. What you are experiencing is very normal with paxil. When I weaned on paxil it exacerbated my already awful insomnia, but after a few weeks my sleep really improved. Also a *temporary* increase in anxiety is very common, and that would explain your agitation. I have seen posters who were where you are right now with the paxil and they stuck it out…… to be pleasantly surprised a few weeks later as to how well they felt. Take care {{{{{Lorri}}}}} Jackie
Dear Jackie, Of course I’m going to hang in there. I don’t think I ever gave any of my antidepressants a chance. This time I’m going to stick with it and let it do it’s thing. I had to get up at 6am for the kids…hopefully that will make me tired enough to override the paxil for now ((((((hugs))))))) Lorri<—"Serenity Now"…Frank Costanza
Response:
I started taking Paxil today. Ive only started taking a really low dose, but I can still feel some side effects(a bit confused, anxious, irritable etc). I tried Zoloft years ago (too high a dose) and got really bad anxious/agitation side effects, so Im probably experiencing some anticipatory anxiety.
I suspect that most, probably all, of what you’re feeling is being generated by your mind, not the chemical. How long does it take usually for people with Panic/anxiety(and some depression) to settle into AD medication?
Difficult question. Some folk seem to get benefits within 2-3 weeks. Others may take up to 8. Sometimes the med kicks in more or less overnight. Others find they start to have a good day, or period of a day, then go back to high anxiety for a day or two and then have a repeat of the good. Over a few days or weeks the good periods gradually increase until they become 24/7. And do the side effects go away completely?
The extra anxiety, irritation etc, should. Some like sedation, sexual dysfunction lessen, but may not go away completely. Ive always had the feeling that ADs arent really for me, but my Doctor seems to think they are a good idea, and worth investigating.
Yes it is. But neither Paxil or any of the other anti-anxiety meds are "magic" pills. They can take you a long way, but the rest is up to you and how much work your prepared to put into regaining most of your life. Once your condition stabilises, you might want to start working on those things you find difficult. thanks… Tom Im also taking a low dose of valium to help settle in.
Good. Thank your lucky stars/deity that you’ve got a doctor that apparently understands what s/he doing. Goo dluck Zu
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I started taking Paxil today. Ive only started taking a really low dose, but I can still feel some side effects(a bit confused, anxious, irritable etc). I tried Zoloft years ago (too high a dose) and got really bad anxious/agitation side effects, so Im probably experiencing some anticipatory anxiety. I suspect that most, probably all, of what you’re feeling is being generated by your mind, not the chemical. How long does it take usually for people with Panic/anxiety(and some depression) to settle into AD medication? Difficult question. Some folk seem to get benefits within 2-3 weeks. Others may take up to 8. Sometimes the med kicks in more or less overnight. Others find they start to have a good day, or period of a day, then go back to high anxiety for a day or two and then have a repeat of the good. Over a few days or weeks the good periods gradually increase until they become 24/7. And do the side effects go away completely? The extra anxiety, irritation etc, should. Some like sedation, sexual dysfunction lessen, but may not go away completely. Ive always had the feeling that ADs arent really for me, but my Doctor seems to think they are a good idea, and worth investigating. Yes it is. But neither Paxil or any of the other anti-anxiety meds are "magic" pills. They can take you a long way, but the rest is up to you and how much work your prepared to put into regaining most of your life. Once your condition stabilises, you might want to start working on those things you find difficult. thanks… Tom Im also taking a low dose of valium to help settle in. Good. Thank your lucky stars/deity that you’ve got a doctor that apparently understands what s/he doing.
good point tom. its a 2step process. the meds and work on your problems and then hopefully medfree. donny
Response:
ve been on Paxil about 1 year now. I started on 10 mgs and then they raised it to 20 mgs after 7 days. It took about 2 weeks before I felt normal again but within about 2-3 days I was definitly feeling better. Zoloft made me anxious and nervous so when I started the Paxil I too was creating anxiety symptoms. Im sure you’ll be fine because you sound just like I did before I started it. Give it 2-3 days and see how you feel. Elizabeth
I’m on my fouth day of paxil, up to 20 mg now. I complained to my pdoc that I couldnt sleep from it and she suggested I take it before bed. I dont know if it actually worked or it was psychological but I fell right to sleep and slept like a baby…finally. I’m going to give it a real chance to work for me. Lorri<—"Serenity Now"…Frank Costanza
Response:
I started taking Paxil today. Ive only started taking a really low dose, but I can still feel some side effects(a bit confused, anxious, irritable etc). I tried Zoloft years ago (too high a dose) and got really bad anxious/agitation side effects, so Im probably experiencing some anticipatory anxiety. How long does it take usually for people with Panic/anxiety(and some depression) to settle into AD medication? And do the side effects go away completely? Ive always had the feeling that ADs arent really for me, but my Doctor seems to think they are a good idea, and worth investigating. thanks… Tom Im also taking a low dose of valium to help settle in.
Response:
I started taking Paxil today. Ive only started taking a really low dose, but I can still feel some side effects(a bit confused, anxious, irritable etc). I tried Zoloft years ago (too high a dose) and got really bad anxious/agitation side effects, so Im probably experiencing some anticipatory anxiety. How long does it take usually for people with Panic/anxiety(and some depression) to settle into AD medication? And do the side effects go away completely? Ive always had the feeling that ADs arent really for me, but my Doctor seems to think they are a good idea, and worth investigating. thanks… Tom Im also taking a low dose of valium to help settle in.
Dear Tom, I am hoping the low dose is 5mgs or less? If you were anxious about going on Paxil that could be what you are feeling instead of side-effects from the Paxil. Within 15 minutes of taking my first Paxil dose I had incredible anxiety, felt like I was coming out of my skin. I am a med phobic, so I get very anxious going on meds. My psychologist told me the side-effects I felt right after taking my first dose was caused by me and not paxil Give it 6 to 8 weeks for paxil to do its job. It may happen earlier than that, but that is a good rule of thumb. I started seeing relief at week two. Side-effects may or may not go away. Most of mine did, except the fatigue and dry mouth and I have been on Paxil since Mach of 98. Use your valium as needed while you wean on paxil, it will make it alot easier. Take care and good luck with Paxil Jackie
Response:
Hi Tom! For my experience on Paxil, I started with some icky side-effects, mainly dizziness. The first day it was so bad all I could do was lie on the couch and think what poison this was :) This passed in a day, and within three of four days all my other more minor side effects had gone. Usually as a rule with SSRIs the side effects will diminish or disappear within a week. Of course it could take longer. If you have intolerable side effects, or if they don’t diminish after a week or so, let your doc know, that always helps. Hope for the best! -Alan
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I started taking Paxil today. Ive only started taking a really low dose, but I can still feel some side effects(a bit confused, anxious, irritable etc). I tried Zoloft years ago (too high a dose) and got really bad anxious/agitation side effects, so Im probably experiencing some anticipatory anxiety. How long does it take usually for people with Panic/anxiety(and some depression) to settle into AD medication? And do the side effects go away completely? Ive always had the feeling that ADs arent really for me, but my Doctor seems to think they are a good idea, and worth investigating. thanks… Tom Im also taking a low dose of valium to help settle in.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I started taking Paxil today. Ive only started taking a really low dose, but I can still feel some side effects(a bit confused, anxious, irritable etc). I tried Zoloft years ago (too high a dose) and got really bad anxious/agitation side effects, so Im probably experiencing some anticipatory anxiety. How long does it take usually for people with Panic/anxiety(and some depression) to settle into AD medication? And do the side effects go away completely? Ive always had the feeling that ADs arent really for me, but my Doctor seems to think they are a good idea, and worth investigating. thanks… Tom Im also taking a low dose of valium to help settle in.
Hi Tom, I just started my fourth day of paxil after being on Zoloft for 3 weeks. I hate it, I think. I have trouble sleeping at night. With the Zloft I just zonked out. I hoping this nasty side effect will go away. I also feel more agitated on the paxil. Lorri<—"Serenity Now"…Frank Costanza
