Paxil CR for anxiety

[Direne]

Please be careful going on the Paxil. Make sure your dr. monitors you closely, I was on it for about 18 months because of hormonal mood swings. It is awful for withdrawals. Good luck! A lot of your symptoms might be controlled with hormone replacement. Check out everything before going on an anti-depressant for hormone problems.

[molly123]

Originally Posted by Direne

Please be careful going on the Paxil. Make sure your dr. monitors you closely, I was on it for about 18 months because of hormonal mood swings. It is awful for withdrawals. Good luck! A lot of your symptoms might be controlled with hormone replacement. Check out everything before going on an anti-depressant for hormone problems.

Hi Direne,
Trust me, I have been very concerned about the possibility of withdrawals. I have already talked to my dr. about it and he will be working with me on it. I am going to see him in March again and from there, we will decide if I should stay on it for a while or start weaning off of it.

I know a lot of the peri-meno symptoms might have been better controlled with HRT but I didn't want to go on that either. I also know taking the Paxil did not mean that all my peri-meno symptoms would go away - I took it to help me overcome the obsessive thoughts and anxiety (to get off of using Ativan). I am taking lots of vitamins, herbs, exercising, meditating now and I have been feeling pretty normal for the past 29 days straight. Don't know if I'm in a safe cycle now or what but I haven't had my period since Nov. so I can't monitor anything - all I know is that I'm better now for a much longer time than in the past several months. There are two friends of mine who were on Paxil CR who stopped cold turkey and they didn't experience any withdrawals - they also didn't have any side effects when first started taking it...I hope to be as fortunate.

Molly

[Direne]

Originally Posted by molly123

Hi Direne,
Trust me, I have been very concerned about the possibility of withdrawals. I have already talked to my dr. about it and he will be working with me on it. I am going to see him in March again and from there, we will decide if I should stay on it for a while or start weaning off of it.

I know a lot of the peri-meno symptoms might have been better controlled with HRT but I didn't want to go on that either. I also know taking the Paxil did not mean that all my peri-meno symptoms would go away - I took it to help me overcome the obsessive thoughts and anxiety (to get off of using Ativan). I am taking lots of vitamins, herbs, exercising, meditating now and I have been feeling pretty normal for the past 29 days straight. Don't know if I'm in a safe cycle now or what but I haven't had my period since Nov. so I can't monitor anything - all I know is that I'm better now for a much longer time than in the past several months. There are two friends of mine who were on Paxil CR who stopped cold turkey and they didn't experience any withdrawals - they also didn't have any side effects when first started taking it...I hope to be as fortunate.

Molly

Hi Molly,
I am glad you are doing ok with the Paxil. I too felt better when I first started taking it, it eased the anxiety I was having. It also created other problems I didn't have before going on it. I didn't have a dr. that was monitoring me very well. When I went off of it, she didn't warn me what I could expect and it was months before I felt like it was out of my system. When I first went to the dr., I was sure it was peri-menopause but she wouldn't treat me with HRT ( I am at risk) and said the AD's would be better. In hind site for me, I wish I would never have went on the AD, it has caused my anxiety to be worse than it was. I now have a new dr. that is listening to my complaints and is trying to work with me. I am on a low dose of HRT and he is willing to let me try the natural remedys, which I am now doing. A good book to read is "A Woman's Guide To Natural Hormones". I am taking one day at a time. I never thought this phase of my life would be so hard. Good luck, I hope you continue to improve.

Direne

[molly123]

Direne,
What kind of withdrawal symptoms did you experience? I think you said you were on it for 18 months. When did you realize it was time for you to get off of Paxil? I also hope the Paxil didn't cause anything life threatening... and what other remedies are you taking to help with your peri-meno symptoms?

I also never thought this phase of my life would be so horrible. Never actually even thought of it. It is a comfort to know that there are many of us going through the same thing though. I felt so alone at one time. I also hope I will continue to feel good. I did notice that each time when I felt bad, it was also a result of some situation that caused me stress/anxiety - it seems to have bought it on - I know that I'm definitely unable to handle any bad news or stressful situations like before.

Take care,
Molly

Originally Posted by Direne

Hi Molly,
I am glad you are doing ok with the Paxil. I too felt better when I first started taking it, it eased the anxiety I was having. It also created other problems I didn't have before going on it. I didn't have a dr. that was monitoring me very well. When I went off of it, she didn't warn me what I could expect and it was months before I felt like it was out of my system. When I first went to the dr., I was sure it was peri-menopause but she wouldn't treat me with HRT ( I am at risk) and said the AD's would be better. In hind site for me, I wish I would never have went on the AD, it has caused my anxiety to be worse than it was. I now have a new dr. that is listening to my complaints and is trying to work with me. I am on a low dose of HRT and he is willing to let me try the natural remedys, which I am now doing. A good book to read is "A Woman's Guide To Natural Hormones". I am taking one day at a time. I never thought this phase of my life would be so hard. Good luck, I hope you continue to improve.

Direne

[PennyD]

Originally Posted by molly123

Direne,
What kind of withdrawal symptoms did you experience? I think you said you were on it for 18 months. When did you realize it was time for you to get off of Paxil? I also hope the Paxil didn't cause anything life threatening... and what other remedies are you taking to help with your peri-meno symptoms?

I also never thought this phase of my life would be so horrible. Never actually even thought of it. It is a comfort to know that there are many of us going through the same thing though. I felt so alone at one time. I also hope I will continue to feel good. I did notice that each time when I felt bad, it was also a result of some situation that caused me stress/anxiety - it seems to have bought it on - I know that I'm definitely unable to handle any bad news or stressful situations like before.

Take care,
Molly

Hi Molly,
Just wanted you to know I have the Paxil CR samples from my doctor will begin taking it tomorrow. Your encouragement was what prompted me to try the SSRI's again. I pray this will help me. I have been in this situation for 5 months and I would really like to get back to some form of normal! LIke you said in your post I do not handel stress or bad news as well as I did before. I will still take the Klonopin per my doctor with the Paxil CR for a few weeks to make sure I can take the Paxil CR and then wean off the Klonopin. Thanks again for your replies. I sure trust my experience with the Paxil CR will be as smooth as yours has been as far as side effects go. I will keep you posted on my progress.

Penny