New to this board and have some questions:

how long can it take for anxiety to go away once you start on Paxil Cr. I have noticed a vast improvement in the last 7 weeks, but I am hoping to it will get even better as time goes on. I started on 12.5 mg for 4 weeks and have been on 25 mg for 4 1/2 weeks. Does anyone know if I will see more improvement or if I should ask to have dose increased?

Also, does anyone else have a fixation on their breathing. I always seem to feel short of breath. But if I am busy it doesn't seem so bad? Does anyone else ever experience this.

One more question? Anyone know if there are any meds you should not take well taking paxil cr.

Thanks so much for your help.


[This message has been edited by madgurk (edited 01-09-2003).]

As far as the shortness of breath, I have that exact same symptom! I don't notice it so much when my mind is occupied, or i'm doing something else, but when i have nothing else to focus on, I notice it's difficult to yawn.

As of late, I've also been having cognitive problems that may or may not be due to stress, but I always get paranoid about a lack of oxygen getting to my brain and causing all of the thinking problems. It's a sick condition, really.

But here's to hoping it's just anxiety...

P.S. Have you had any cognitive problems as well? I'm just wondering if the medication you've been taken can improve that aspect of the disease.

On the drug info sheet for Paxil, I pasted below a little snipet that is the possible adverse reactions concerning the respiratory system...note hyperventilation and asthma. Also, another listed effect, here is the definition of dyspnea:

dyspnea (dysp·nea) (disp¢ne-[schwa]) [dys- + -pnea] breathlessness or shortness of breath; difficult or labored breathing.

Respiratory:
Frequent: Cough increased, rhinitis. Infrequent: Asthma, bronchitis, dyspnea, epistaxis, hyperventilation, pneumonia, respiratory flu, sinusitis. Rare: Hiccup, lung fibrosis, sputum increased, voice alteration.