You must not take paxil...please - Anxiety Message Board

dizzygirl · 09-09-2004, 06:11 PM

I felt the need to post this, after what I have been through the last week. I found out last week that I was pregnant (yipeee), and had to get off paxil ASAP. The only choice I had was cold turkey. That was when my life has turned to complete hell.
The withdrawal is unexplainable unless you have been there before. I have had severe vertigo whenever I move my head or eyes, which makes doing anything impossible. Night sweats like crazy, and so much more I will go into if anyone wants to know.
The main problem with this drug, is #1- Doctors have NO idea about this, they just write those prescriptions like breathing.
#2- This drug has no business being on the market at all. After going through this ordeal, I have found that there are hundreds of law suits to get this drug off the market. Apparently I am not alone.....
This medication may have helped me through a really tough time, but if the withdrawal is this bad, I would have NEVER taken it. Please, Please, inform yourself about what these doctors are so easily giving to you these days. I am living a absoulute nightmare right now, and this whole thing could have been prevented. Doctors have actually compared the withdrawal to heroin.
I know that the way that I had to discontinue Paxil is not the most intelligent way, but I had no choice. Anyone that is on it, please do yourself a favor, and choose something else. This is the worst thing I have ever felt in my entire life!

AnnieinPA · 09-09-2004, 06:21 PM

I am so sorry to hear about your suffering. I have been worried about this myself. I'm on Lexapro, but my husband and I wish to begin trying for children soon. Everytime that I try to taper off, it's AGONY. I agree with you that doctors have no idea about the withdrawal from these drugs. My psychiatrist told me to cut my pills in half for ten days and from then on, I'd be "good to go." Two days after stopping I was completely incapacitated. Bed-ridden, sick, completely anxious. It was like a 24 hour panic attack but darker. When will they start telling people about the dangers of these medications??
Are you feeling any better since it's been a week? I've heard that a small dose of prozac may help with the withdrawal and is relatively safe during pregnancy. I hope that you begin to feel better soon!

dizzygirl · 09-09-2004, 06:47 PM

Thanks so much. Honestly, it has been 6 days, and I think that today was my worst yet. I do realise that not all people have these extreme problems, but I do really suggest that people do their research first. I wish that I could have tapered, but my doctor thought it wasn't the best idea. I wish I could take prozac, but I'm just scared to, ya know. I really am so mad at my doctor, he looked at me like I had 20 heads when I called him crying the other day. In the past, I have had to taper with literally shaving off some of the pill with a razor, and it was bad, just not this bad. Good luck in the baby dept, it will certainly through you for a loop!

Carrie

hry33 · 09-10-2004, 02:27 PM

paxil does seem more difficult to get off than most, many women now stay on paxil and paxil type meds while pregnant

dizzygirl · 09-10-2004, 05:12 PM

When I looked online, I did find that some doctors do allow it, but my doctor put it this way- " would you like to put your unborn child in the paxil study?"
That made ime get off right away!!!