paxil side effects? - Panic Disorders Message Board

06-11-2003, 12:10 PM

Hello-

New to this webboard and I have a question that I am wondering if anyone knows the answer to. I was on paxil (20mg.) for about 2 years. I noticed that after being on it for several months, my head would "jerk" uncontrollably (especially if I got nervous). My Dr. says that this is a rare side effect of SSRIs (called a myoclonic jerk). Most frequently, this effects the limbs, most notably the arms and legs. I have been off of the paxil now for about 6 days, and while the jerk is subsiding, it still has not gone away completely. Does anyone who has experienced this side effect know how long it lasts or is it permanent? Thank you all and god bless.

hry33 · 06-11-2003, 01:32 PM

you probably should have tapered off the paxil, the jerk should stop soon

06-11-2003, 03:45 PM

Thanks for your reply! I did in fact taper off. I went from 20mg., to 10, to 5, and now off for several days. Did you have experience with this crappy effect? The jerk didn't develop WHEN I tapered, but months BEFORE I tapered. It just reduced in occurence WHILE I tapered. However, I am concerned that it hasn't gone away completely. If the Doc. said it was a side effect, it would only make sense that it would go away since I am off. Right? Do you know in general how long it takes for this, or other paxil side effects to go away? Can it takes days, weeks, months? Thanks.

hry33 · 06-14-2003, 04:42 PM

can only suggest you go back to the doc, it may not be connected with the paxil, perhaps??

Janik · 06-14-2003, 06:39 PM

I got that side effect (plus some others) form Zoloft, another SSRI. Most of them disappeared after two months of cold turkey, but I believe that weaning myself off slowly would have been better.

[This message has been edited by Janik (edited 06-14-2003).]