Paxil Weight & Withdrawal Problems – plse respond
Question:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Paxil is no more addictive than Xanax is but as with Xanax there can be a withdrawal problem which means a sloooow taper. It’s nowhere in the official literature, I believe, but many clinicians have noticed it in their practices and there is a lot of anecdotal evidence here and there on the Internet. Please try to convince your doctor. I feel that doctors should know this and should let their patients know beforehand that a withdrawal problem may occur with meds such as Paxil or Xanax. Philip Hi Philip. Actually one of my psychiatry textbooks, Kaplan and Sadock’s Synopsis of Psychiatry- Behavioral Sciences/Clinical Psychiatry Eighth Edition, has this withdrawal syndrome in it. In chapter 35 section 3.27 (35.3.27 Serotonin-Specific Reuptake Inhibitors) pp. 1089 it is titled under SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome. They point out that abrupt discontinuation of an SSRI, as well as venlafaxine (Effexor), especially one with a short half-life such as paroxetine (Paxil), Sertraline (Zoloft) or fluvoxamine (Luvox) is sometimes associated with a syndrome producing both somatic and psychological symptomes. The somatic include dizziness, vertigo, ataxia, nausea or vomiting, fatigue, lethargy, myalgia, paresthesias, tremor, insomnia, and migraine-like auras. The psychological symptoms include anxiety, agitation, crying, irritability, overactivity, depersonalization, poor concentration, lowered mood, confusion, memory problems, and vivid dreams. The book also gives advice to clinicians on how to taper certain SSRIs. Synopsis of Psychiatry is a condensed version of Kaplan and Sadock’s Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry/VI (CTP/VI) which sells for about $300.00 compared to the synopsis which is around $80.00. They are both published under Williams and Wilkins and have a few other books, such as handbooks as part of their teaching system. I own these two plus a handbook and concise textbook from these NYU authors who I hold in high regard for information about all aspects of mental health. I know I sound like a salesmen, however actually I’m just a premedical student with the desire to practice psychiatry or neurology. Plus I feel I owe these books and others like them for helping me in my studies as well as personal interest. Sorry if I got off topic. Chris
Not off topic at all, I’d think. There actually *is* more literature mentioning SSRI-withdrawal and it can be found on the net, so I was wrong there. But these doctors never seem to know…. Philip
Response:
Paxil is no more addictive than Xanax is but as with Xanax there can be a withdrawal problem which means a sloooow taper. It’s nowhere in the official literature, I believe, but many clinicians have noticed it in their practices and there is a lot of anecdotal evidence here and there on the Internet. Please try to convince your doctor. I feel that doctors should know this and should let their patients know beforehand that a withdrawal problem may occur with meds such as Paxil or Xanax. Philip
Hi Philip. Actually one of my psychiatry textbooks, Kaplan and Sadock’s Synopsis of Psychiatry- Behavioral Sciences/Clinical Psychiatry Eighth Edition, has this withdrawal syndrome in it. In chapter 35 section 3.27 (35.3.27 Serotonin-Specific Reuptake Inhibitors) pp. 1089 it is titled under SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome. They point out that abrupt discontinuation of an SSRI, as well as venlafaxine (Effexor), especially one with a short half-life such as paroxetine (Paxil), Sertraline (Zoloft) or fluvoxamine (Luvox) is sometimes associated with a syndrome producing both somatic and psychological symptomes. The somatic include dizziness, vertigo, ataxia, nausea or vomiting, fatigue, lethargy, myalgia, paresthesias, tremor, insomnia, and migraine-like auras. The psychological symptoms include anxiety, agitation, crying, irritability, overactivity, depersonalization, poor concentration, lowered mood, confusion, memory problems, and vivid dreams. The book also gives advice to clinicians on how to taper certain SSRIs. Synopsis of Psychiatry is a condensed version of Kaplan and Sadock’s Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry/VI (CTP/VI) which sells for about $300.00 compared to the synopsis which is around $80.00. They are both published under Williams and Wilkins and have a few other books, such as handbooks as part of their teaching system. I own these two plus a handbook and concise textbook from these NYU authors who I hold in high regard for information about all aspects of mental health. I know I sound like a salesmen, however actually I’m just a premedical student with the desire to practice psychiatry or neurology. Plus I feel I owe these books and others like them for helping me in my studies as well as personal interest. Sorry if I got off topic. Chris
Response:
Hi Philip, Thanks for your reply. I had been on Prozac some years ago, and it really messed me up. Among other things, my PD became far worse than it was before I took the drug. I am afraid of it. I plan on going off the Paxil and seeing how I do without an AD. I am pretty much fed up with them, esp. the SSRI’s. Take Care, Rune
Response:
Hello Camille, Thank you. I appreciate you keeping me informed on what your doctors prescribe. My doctor has trouble believing that there is withdrawal from Paxil, telling me that Paxil is not addictive. I thought I was going crazy until I did some reading and found that there were others who are having a hard time coming off Paxil. Thanks again, Rune
Paxil is no more addictive than Xanax is but as with Xanax there can be a withdrawal problem which means a sloooow taper. It’s nowhere in the official literature, I believe, but many clinicians have noticed it in their practices and there is a lot of anecdotal evidence here and there on the Internet. Please try to convince your doctor. I feel that doctors should know this and should let their patients know beforehand that a withdrawal problem may occur with meds such as Paxil or Xanax. Philip
Response:
Hello Camille, Thank you. I appreciate you keeping me informed on what your doctors prescribe. My doctor has trouble believing that there is withdrawal from Paxil, telling me that Paxil is not addictive. I thought I was going crazy until I did some reading and found that there were others who are having a hard time coming off Paxil. Thanks again, Rune
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello Paul, I am new here :) I, too am decreasing my Paxil. I have been on 20mg for four months, and it has not been easy. Paxil has helped me with anticipatory anxiety, but has not stopped the panic attacks. In addition, Paxil caused me tremendous fatigue, loss of interest in everything, numbness, some weight gain, memory Paxil has made those worse. I cut my Paxil down to 10mg last week, and two days later I began feeling really sick. I felt dizzy, achey all over (like a bad flu is coming on), zapping sensations in my head, burning in my stomach, chills, anger, and extreme anxiety. These symptoms had gotten so bad that I had to increase the Paxil by 5mg (now taking 15mg.) I immediately began feeling better. I have read about others going through withdrawal on Paxil, and it is agreed that the best way to get off this med is very slowly. Hope this helps. Good Luck, Rune
If you have real trouble coming off of Paxil the best way is to gradually replace Paxil by Prozac which you can then stop quite easily. Of all the SSRI’s Paxil is the one that is mostly associated with withdrawal symptoms. Philip
Response:
Hi Paul, I’ve been taking Paxil for over a year, doing well at 20 mg, but disgusted with side effects. I tried twice before to wean off, but return of anxiety quickly put me back on the full 20 mg. Recently, I tried to go "cold turkey" off Paxil. I had excruciating headaches and some dizziness (hope it wasn’t embarrassingly obvious because I was dizzy when talking to my kids’ new teachers a few weeks ago), but not too much anxiety. Now I’m at 10 mg and the side effects have much diminished and the anxiety is still at a manageable level. I wish I had a scale so I could tell if I’ve lost some weight… Juni – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi there, I have been taking Paxil for almost a year now, it has certainly given much relief from Panix and severe Anxiety. I have however had problems with sexual disfunction and lack of desire, and more recently have had lots of weight gain, particularly around the waist. I have just started reducing from 30mg to 20 to try and help the problem (with the doctors advice), but I seem to be experiencing these strange feelings, inlcuding shock type sensations. I’m not sure if its because the withdrawal or anziety coming back. Can anyone help with this?, also any ideas on how to stop the weight gain with Paxil, are there other options? Many Thanks Paul
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Response:
Hi Paul, My name is Camille and I have been taking paxil for about two years now. I was on Prozac for a while and that quit working for me and then my doctor put me on Paxil. I am taking this medication for the same reason as you are Panic Attacks and Anxiety. Paxil has given me relief at for until about 3 months ago. I was on 20 milligrams per day and my doctor increased it to 30 milligrams per day which still didn’t give me any relief. I actually felt better on 20 miligrams. Paxil has a reputation for sexual dysfunction and also weight gain. I have gain weight myself since being on Paxil. Paxil at this point is breaking down and is no longer helping me so I have had to take xanax to help offset the symptoms. My doctor is recommending that we change paxil to another drug. I don’t know what that is however I will visit her next week. I’ll keep you posted. It’s really frustrating. Take care. Camille
Response:
Hi Rune, I read your message to Paul about Paxil. This is a very strange drug. I have been on Paxil for about two years and I am starting to have withdrawal symptoms. It’s like it’s not really doing anything for the Panic Attacks. I am currently on 20 millagrams and have been on 30 milligrams although the 30 milligrams made me even sicker. My doctors is in the process of prescribing something different than Paxil. I’ll keep you posted on what that is. Camille
Response:
Hello Paul, I am new here :) I, too am decreasing my Paxil. I have been on 20mg for four months, and it has not been easy. Paxil has helped me with anticipatory anxiety, but has not stopped the panic attacks. In addition, Paxil caused me tremendous fatigue, loss of interest in everything, numbness, some weight gain, memory Paxil has made those worse. I cut my Paxil down to 10mg last week, and two days later I began feeling really sick. I felt dizzy, achey all over (like a bad flu is coming on), zapping sensations in my head, burning in my stomach, chills, anger, and extreme anxiety. These symptoms had gotten so bad that I had to increase the Paxil by 5mg (now taking 15mg.) I immediately began feeling better. I have read about others going through withdrawal on Paxil, and it is agreed that the best way to get off this med is very slowly. Hope this helps. Good Luck, Rune
Response:
Hi there, I have been taking Paxil for almost a year now, it has certainly given much relief from Panix and severe Anxiety. I have however had problems with sexual disfunction and lack of desire, and more recently have had lots of weight gain, particularly around the waist. I have just started reducing from 30mg to 20 to try and help the problem (with the doctors advice), but I seem to be experiencing these strange feelings, inlcuding shock type sensations. I’m not sure if its because the withdrawal or anziety coming back. Can anyone help with this?, also any ideas on how to stop the weight gain with Paxil, are there other options? Many Thanks Paul
