Paxil CR for anxiety

[PennyD]

Originally Posted by molly123

Penny,
I also do not like taking med, especially one that is labeled as an "anti-depressant." I was so scared of taking the Paxil after my experience with Wellbutrin. I was already feeling so bad for so long that I just didn't want to have to deal with side effects either. But, my sister pushed me to take it and said I needed it. (I was driving her crazy!) I know of several other people taking Paxil and they did not have any side effects or at least not unbearable ones. They are still on it so I assume they go away after a while. My GP also suggested Effeox (sp?) if the Paxil CR didn't work for me.

By the way, I also stopped being dependent on having someone around me or someone to talk to, stopped dwelling on how awful I felt. I was able to start concentrating on other things like reading, watching TV, going out more without freaking out. I don't intend to stay on this med for years. I will probably talk to my dr. seriously about weaning off - I'll have to see how I am in the next coming months.

Good luck and may you start feeling better!! Thank goodness for the Internet!

Molly

Molly,
I really never thought about it the way you have put it, put I do always want someone home with me. My Godmother and I co-own a home and we are also partners in an accounting & tax firm. When she is not here then I usually talk on the phone to a family member or friend and I just can't really concentrate on anything, not even work. And this time of year I HAVE to concentrate!! It is always in my mind how horrible I feel. I awake every morning wondering "well I wonder how I will feel today or I wonder if I will have the anxiety today". This is so miserable. To not be able to go out and feel comfortable that I won't have any of my "symptoms" while out. I hardley go anywhere any more. I work from the our home office. We have one in town, but I work from home. I did that before all this started but I am really bad about it now. If taking the Paxil can help me manage all those things or rid me of them that would be wonderful!! Again thank you for taking time to reply. I am going to contact my GP on Monday morning and see if she has some samples. I don't get a prescription filled before I see if I can tolerate the med. I will keep in touch. Your posts have really helped me and encouraged me about the Paxil. Thanks.
Blessings,
Penny

[molly123]

Originally Posted by PennyD

Molly,
I really never thought about it the way you have put it, put I do always want someone home with me. My Godmother and I co-own a home and we are also partners in an accounting & tax firm. When she is not here then I usually talk on the phone to a family member or friend and I just can't really concentrate on anything, not even work. And this time of year I HAVE to concentrate!! It is always in my mind how horrible I feel. I awake every morning wondering "well I wonder how I will feel today or I wonder if I will have the anxiety today". This is so miserable. To not be able to go out and feel comfortable that I won't have any of my "symptoms" while out. I hardley go anywhere any more. I work from the our home office. We have one in town, but I work from home. I did that before all this started but I am really bad about it now. If taking the Paxil can help me manage all those things or rid me of them that would be wonderful!! Again thank you for taking time to reply. I am going to contact my GP on Monday morning and see if she has some samples. I don't get a prescription filled before I see if I can tolerate the med. I will keep in touch. Your posts have really helped me and encouraged me about the Paxil. Thanks.
Blessings,
Penny

Hi Penny,
I am glad I have been able to help you, that is why we're all here! You will be amazed to find how similar symptoms and experiences many of us are having during this awful time period of our lives (via other message boards). Obessive thoughts of how awful you're feeling, the anxiety, the internal shakes are out there...it's just not as common as the famous hot flashes. I was so happy actually to find there are others out there with these similar symptoms. Have you ever experienced like real INTENSE full-body shakes/jitters in the middle of the night that wakes you up? I also had full-body aches all over at night too - it lasted for hours (happened only once but it was so unbearable!) In addition to all that, I also had this burning feeling in my arms, hot feet, heart palpitations.

I couldn't work either, couldn't eat, couldn't drive, thought this was how my life was going be from now on. I work from home also (but for a company). I had to lay down all the time because I was so tired. I still think about how I'm feeling each day and am fearful that things will regess to the way it was. But then I tell myself that I'm smarter now (accepting it as peri-meno/getting older), am doing things that I wasn't doing before, am grateful that I don't have some life threatening disease or some peri-meno symptoms affecting the organs. I'm a fighter and very determined to not let this get to me again.

You hang in there, Penny, it will get better. Think positive! Join the forces and be a fighter!

Molly

[PennyD]

Originally Posted by molly123

Hi Penny,
I am glad I have been able to help you, that is why we're all here! You will be amazed to find how similar symptoms and experiences many of us are having during this awful time period of our lives (via other message boards). Obessive thoughts of how awful you're feeling, the anxiety, the internal shakes are out there...it's just not as common as the famous hot flashes. I was so happy actually to find there are others out there with these similar symptoms. Have you ever experienced like real INTENSE full-body shakes/jitters in the middle of the night that wakes you up? I also had full-body aches all over at night too - it lasted for hours (happened only once but it was so unbearable!) In addition to all that, I also had this burning feeling in my arms, hot feet, heart palpitations.

I couldn't work either, couldn't eat, couldn't drive, thought this was how my life was going be from now on. I work from home also (but for a company). I had to lay down all the time because I was so tired. I still think about how I'm feeling each day and am fearful that things will regess to the way it was. But then I tell myself that I'm smarter now (accepting it as peri-meno/getting older), am doing things that I wasn't doing before, am grateful that I don't have some life threatening disease or some peri-meno symptoms affecting the organs. I'm a fighter and very determined to not let this get to me again.

You hang in there, Penny, it will get better. Think positive! Join the forces and be a fighter!

Molly

Molly,
I love your attitude toward this thing! I am trying so hard to get to that point. The place where I say to myself it is just peri-meno or a homone imbalance. In the beginning when the panick attacks first started, and before I was taking any meds, I had a few attacks where I would shake all over. The worst one was when the left side of my head and face went numb for about 20 seconds. I literally shook the bed! That was the worse one I have had. I don't do that now but I am sure the Klonopin is keeping some of those symptoms at bay. I remember you saying in a previous post you felt like you had a band around your head and it felt full ( I believe that was your post, if it was not just chalk it up to the brain fog that goes with this stuff! ) Anyway In October and November 2003 I had pain in my head in different spots. One day on the left side in the middle next day on top of my head, next day on the right side in the back. It was so strange. I went to the dr. to see if I had a sinus infection. She didn't seem to think you can have sinus pain in the back of the head, but other people told me they had had sinus pressure and pain the back of their head. It was weird stuff like that, causing me to freak out all the time last fall. I have also had waves of nausea, not bad just enough to fell yucky. It comes and goes, I was thinking maybe it is the hormones flucuating. Like morning sickness in the late afternoon maybe? I don't have any children so I don't know how that should feel. I agree with you that this is not a sickness and I am so grateful that I don't have something where major organs are involved. I just stay so tired. I get up in the mornings feeling more tired than when I went to bed the night before. I guess I just want my life back! But I am with you girl, I am gonna be a fighter too!! Having someone going through the same thing to share back and forth with really helps!! Thanks!! Here's to a better day!!!
Penny

[molly123]

Originally Posted by PennyD

Molly,
I love your attitude toward this thing! I am trying so hard to get to that point. The place where I say to myself it is just peri-meno or a homone imbalance. In the beginning when the panick attacks first started, and before I was taking any meds, I had a few attacks where I would shake all over. The worst one was when the left side of my head and face went numb for about 20 seconds. I literally shook the bed! That was the worse one I have had. I don't do that now but I am sure the Klonopin is keeping some of those symptoms at bay. I remember you saying in a previous post you felt like you had a band around your head and it felt full ( I believe that was your post, if it was not just chalk it up to the brain fog that goes with this stuff! ) Anyway In October and November 2003 I had pain in my head in different spots. One day on the left side in the middle next day on top of my head, next day on the right side in the back. It was so strange. I went to the dr. to see if I had a sinus infection. She didn't seem to think you can have sinus pain in the back of the head, but other people told me they had had sinus pressure and pain the back of their head. It was weird stuff like that, causing me to freak out all the time last fall. I have also had waves of nausea, not bad just enough to fell yucky. It comes and goes, I was thinking maybe it is the hormones flucuating. Like morning sickness in the late afternoon maybe? I don't have any children so I don't know how that should feel. I agree with you that this is not a sickness and I am so grateful that I don't have something where major organs are involved. I just stay so tired. I get up in the mornings feeling more tired than when I went to bed the night before. I guess I just want my life back! But I am with you girl, I am gonna be a fighter too!! Having someone going through the same thing to share back and forth with really helps!! Thanks!! Here's to a better day!!!
Penny

Hi Penny,
Taking the Klonopin might be causing some of your fatigue. Are you taking this on a regular basis and for how long? Reading about Klonopin, it is often prescribed for seizures and panic attacks. I was taking Lorazepham (an anti-anxiety med and is a generic of Ativan) and it made me tired and dry mouth and I was taking very small dosage (cut .5 mg in half even!). I would feel more calm but I would be draggy all day too. The whole point of me getting on the Paxil CR was to get away from the Lorazepham so that should I have a real panic attack or anxiety attack, it would still work.

In Aug 2003, I suddenly had dry eyes and felt extreme fatigue to the point where I could not get out of bed and walk even. I was also lightheaded with pounding headaches, weak, no appetite. I would go to bed feeling this way and wake up feeling this way. At first, one would think it is the flu or something but it went on for months. I think the fear of thinking something was seriously wrong made me get anxiety, and having to wait for all these dr. appts. and going to one dr. after another only made things worse. At that time, I didn't even think I was "anxious" and didn't take my anxiety pill. It didn't feel like the typical anxiety or panic attacks I experienced before. I know I felt weird, different. I think my hormones was jumping hoops those months that's for sure! LOL!

Yes, I had these headaches that weren't really like typical headaches - more like a light pressure. I used to get sinus headaches before my periods but now it seems more like this band-like pressure everyday (since Aug 2003). It is much better now than before and more tolerable. I would feel this also on the back of my head, sometimes real high on my forehead (near hairline more). I wake up with these every morning along with lower back pain. Exercising seems to help subside things.

Waves of nausea is another symptom that I seen posted on other menopause boards. I don't have any children either (I'm a dog person!) but newly pregnant women will tell you that you would feel real tired and have that nausea feeling.

I read that PMS symptoms or ailments you experienced in your younger years will intensify when you are going through the transition from peri to meno. I believe it! By the way, when you contact your GP, make sure it is Paxil CR (not just plain Paxil). You might want to try the lowest dosage first (12.5 mg) if you are sensitive like I am. What else are you doing to try to feel better?

Have a good day...don't worry, don't stress yourself out anymore - you're not dying - it's temporary!!!

Molly

[PennyD]

Originally Posted by molly123

Hi Penny,
Taking the Klonopin might be causing some of your fatigue. Are you taking this on a regular basis and for how long? Reading about Klonopin, it is often prescribed for seizures and panic attacks. I was taking Lorazepham (an anti-anxiety med and is a generic of Ativan) and it made me tired and dry mouth and I was taking very small dosage (cut .5 mg in half even!). I would feel more calm but I would be draggy all day too. The whole point of me getting on the Paxil CR was to get away from the Lorazepham so that should I have a real panic attack or anxiety attack, it would still work.

In Aug 2003, I suddenly had dry eyes and felt extreme fatigue to the point where I could not get out of bed and walk even. I was also lightheaded with pounding headaches, weak, no appetite. I would go to bed feeling this way and wake up feeling this way. At first, one would think it is the flu or something but it went on for months. I think the fear of thinking something was seriously wrong made me get anxiety, and having to wait for all these dr. appts. and going to one dr. after another only made things worse. At that time, I didn't even think I was "anxious" and didn't take my anxiety pill. It didn't feel like the typical anxiety or panic attacks I experienced before. I know I felt weird, different. I think my hormones was jumping hoops those months that's for sure! LOL!

Yes, I had these headaches that weren't really like typical headaches - more like a light pressure. I used to get sinus headaches before my periods but now it seems more like this band-like pressure everyday (since Aug 2003). It is much better now than before and more tolerable. I would feel this also on the back of my head, sometimes real high on my forehead (near hairline more). I wake up with these every morning along with lower back pain. Exercising seems to help subside things.

Waves of nausea is another symptom that I seen posted on other menopause boards. I don't have any children either (I'm a dog person!) but newly pregnant women will tell you that you would feel real tired and have that nausea feeling.

I read that PMS symptoms or ailments you experienced in your younger years will intensify when you are going through the transition from peri to meno. I believe it! By the way, when you contact your GP, make sure it is Paxil CR (not just plain Paxil). You might want to try the lowest dosage first (12.5 mg) if you are sensitive like I am. What else are you doing to try to feel better?

Have a good day...don't worry, don't stress yourself out anymore - you're not dying - it's temporary!!!

Molly

Hey Molly,
Sorry for the delay in posting back to you. I am trying to get some work done today. I am at about one half the production of what I used to be. I am taking the Klonopin daily. I have been on it for 5 months. Yes, I do believe it is making me feel very draggy. I take .5 ml at mid day and 1 ml. at 7 pm. I really want to get off of the Klonopin because I agree with you about the fatique and it working if I have another panic attack when I really need something. That is why I am going to try the Paxil CR. The nurse practioner I spoke about told me to use the 12.5ml like you are. I have a call in to my doctor. When she calls I will dicuss it with her. My cleint who is a pharmicist says he doesn't have any negitive opinions on the Paxil CR. I am just trying to push through today. I had the Klonopin already. I pray I can take the Paxil CR and get some relief and get off the Klonopin. I am a dog person too. We have two miniture schnauzers. Trace the oldest is 10. He has had problems with his eyes since he was 5. He hardly has any sight at all now, but he is remarkable how he gets around and does not bump into things. Roxy is 5. She is a diabetic. She has a shot at 9am and a shot at 8 pm. We are in our 3rd year with this now and she is doing great. The vet says he has never seen one do as well as she has. I will let you know what the doc says. Thanks again for your support!
Penny