paxil anyone?

[Steve M]

In early November I went for my yearly doctor visit. He's a good listener and when he asked how life was treating me, I told him of alittle extra stress with two teenage daughters, marriage troubles, and some anxiety about our friendly neighbors in the middle east. He suggested I try Paxil. It sounded innocent enough. It works great although not like the pamphlet suggests. It's numbs your senses so things don't rattle your cage and gives a more positive outlook to life in general. Fine as a fiddle until you decide to go off of it. The withdrawl symptoms can be bad. I had the runs to the Porcelain Powerstroke for a week, horific dreams, twitches all over, dizziness, headache, irritable, anxiety, and a plethora of others. I finally had to go back on it just to be able to function in some normal capacity. I'll give it another shot and try to wean myself off slowly. I hear this just drags out the process but I'll find out for myself. I never thought I'd be near "drug re-hab" for a stinking prescription. Going off cold turkey takes almost a month to get past the withdrawl he11.

If you tell your doc you're alittle tense and he suggests Paxil, be aware, the side effects are unpleasant and withdrawl symptoms are intollerable. Just my experience.

 

[Don M]

I have sen friends and family try all kinds of drugs for anxiety, depression, etc. Many of them are either complaining about the side effects or they just dont give a crap about anything.

I wish some of these wonder drugs were not available. Im no MD, but I can see negative effects these things have.

Example: wifes friend is on some kinda thing and before she was she seemed to care about stuff. She now seems to have a very lax attitude about anything.

Neighbor is on the P drug ( i cant remember the name right now) she is a basket case when the script runs out.

Good friends wife is on several things at once. When she runs out of pills you better just leave town.



About the only wonder drug I took was Celebrex for arthritis kinda stuff and the side effects were worse than the problems I had before. After some healing time, I guess the symptoms I had are all gone now. The Celebrex was about 90 bucks a month too.



Like you said and I am saying: Unless you think you cant go on living without them... . stay away from 'em.

My parents and grandparents all got along just fine without anti-anxiety drugs and such. We can too





Don~

 

[SlyBones]

Are we listing "all" of the wonder drugs we have taken, or just the one the doctor gave us?

 

[Happy Camper]

I am high on life. I do not take anything other than time off and time out. I feel for anyone who is dependant on any kind of medication.

 

[Steve M]

I'll reluctantly admit, in my younger days I've tried some stuff that was considered to be addictive to the degree that if you did it one time, you'd be hooked. I did it several times over a few years and although I would have "liked" to do it again, there were no physical problems or chemical imbalance nightmares associated with that "desire". The powdery stuff was great for a uhemm "private moment with the Mrs". It was pure sugar compared to the damage this stuff is doing to me now. I've used Xanax a few times to calm me down when I wanted to go postal with no side effects and absolutely no withdrawl or hangover. I outgrew all the illegal stuff and don't want to have any drugs in me for any reason if I don't absolutely need it for medical reasons. The Paxil sounded like the most innocent little pick me up since caffiene. It's the most powerful, addictive, and misrepresented drug I've ever had illegal or not. Just my humble opinion and not to insinuate that Smithkline Industries would Misrepresent a product.

 

[illflem]

What's even scarier is that people are grinding Paxil and snorting it in high dosages. Read the bad stuff about Paxil here http://lawtomation.com/leflawnet/paxil/

 

[Don M]

Check out the side effects of this so called wonder drug:

SIDE EFFECTS

Call your doctor right away if you have any of these side effects:

· Rash or hives with itching

· Wheezing or trouble breathing

· Chest pain that lasts longer than 15 minutes

· Fast heartbeat

· Suicidal feelings or thoughts of hurting yourself

· Feelings of intense agitation or anxiety

· Nervousness or trouble concentrating

· Changes in taste

· Nausea or weight loss

· Headache

· Trouble sleeping

· Drowsiness or dizziness

· Tremors (shakiness)

· Having to go to the bathroom more often

· Decreased interest in sex or loss of ability to have sex (impotence)



Don~

 

[SlyBones]

They wouldnt have anything to help calm down the urge to sniff diesel fumes, would they?

 

[illflem]

Don, another side effect, murder and suicide Sounds like PCP to me.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Guess it was back about 95' the ex did me a favor and bailed just days before we were to close on a new house. 20 years in the hopper, things seemed pretty bleak so I went to see the shrink. That's the first thing he did was push Paxil. Tried one, flushed the rest. What was fun back in the sixties is big business today.



My drug of choice: coffee, fresh ground and black. By the way, anyone try Millstone Foglifter? I get it at BJ's. Pretty good.

 

[Power Wagon]

Originally posted by Steve M

In early November I went for my yearly doctor visit. He's a good listener and when he asked how life was treating me, I told him of alittle extra stress with two teenage daughters, marriage troubles, and some anxiety about our friendly neighbors in the middle east. He suggested I try Paxil. It sounded innocent enough. It works great although not like the pamphlet suggests. It's numbs your senses so things don't rattle your cage and gives a more positive outlook to life in general. Fine as a fiddle until you decide to go off of it. The withdrawl symptoms can be bad. I had the runs to the Porcelain Powerstroke for a week, horific dreams, twitches all over, dizziness, headache, irritable, anxiety, and a plethora of others. I finally had to go back on it just to be able to function in some normal capacity. I'll give it another shot and try to wean myself off slowly. I hear this just drags out the process but I'll find out for myself. I never thought I'd be near "drug re-hab" for a stinking prescription. Going off cold turkey takes almost a month to get past the withdrawl he11.

If you tell your doc you're alittle tense and he suggests Paxil, be aware, the side effects are unpleasant and withdrawl symptoms are intollerable. Just my experience.

I asked the wife for it. She said you do NOT under any circumstances stop cold-turkey. You must take at least two weeks to drop off. It's not really habit forming, but suddenly stopping seems to foul up your well-being.

 

[brucew]

paxil

i have worked as an rn for about 20 years. i have spent most of that time in the mental health area. even though i make a living in this area i always caution friends to realize every medication has side effects. some good, some bad. it seems to me that psychoactive medications are being pushed when the possibility of other treatment options are available. problem is- some of those optioons involve counselling, support groups, etc. and are more labor intensive and more time consuming than pills. some of this comes from our tendency to want a quick fix or magic bullet!! i have seen numerous admissions and readmissions for the very reasons many of you have accurately described. you may see this as a cop out coming from somebody who works in the system but... ... different people react in different ways to the same medication and dose!!!! when we take these things we are introducing chemicals into our systems. we should be just as careful about the chemicals we take with the oil and filters we use on our trucks. please don't buy into what i call the doctor god mentality. yes there many competent and good physicians however please realize you should ask and expect answers to your questions that you can understand. require the answers to be put in terms you can understand. kind of like on this site when someone uses tech speak other ask "what does that mean or stand for" sorry for the length. you are paying good money for a service and it's up to you to get your monies worth. can't remember what to ask ? bring a 3x5 card with your questions written down in advance. these medications can be powerful chemicals. i'm not trying to be an alarmist but just trying to encourage you to ask questions of your health care providers. bruce

 

[Steve M]

Thanks for the replies and suggestions. I will definately wean myself off slowly and not make that mistake again. This stuff is like flu times two to get off of. I hope this thread will prevent someone from making the same mistake.

 

[The patriot]

I have a family member that gets panic attacks, and OCD.

In the past it was things that she could aviod. Going far from her house, flying etc. etc.

It has manifested itself into a fear of food. Well... the fear is that the food has been tampered with. (I think??) Anyway, she dont really eat now. She just thinks of what could be wrong with it... over and over.

At first the Psyciatrist prescribed luvox, lovox (something like that). but she dont swollow pills well.

Doc now prescribed liquid Paxil. I hope she takes it. For her at least, things cant be much worse I dont think.

She was never a heavy person to begin with, now she looks like a WW2 POW.



As for me, the baggy pants croud would have a field day at my house. I have that pain medicine that they like to crush and snort oxycodone? for my slipped discs on my lower back. I havent taken any in about 8 months.

Got vioxx (?) for a pinched nerve in my back, got to take this daily for about 3 weeks now.

Zomig for headaches, I'm only supposed to take one or two a month, but it ends up being more than that.

Eric Oo.

 

[lschultz]

Yes I know about the Paxil. After I had my wreck in 98 they had me on it cause of the head injury I had. I was having trouble controlling myself. I would get mad as hell and sometimes violent. It did seem to calm me down. But when I got off of it(slow)I had many nightmare and some of the other things that were described here. But I'm off of it now and things are getting back to as normal as they are going to get for me. My wife still says its all in my head. Maybe she is right. Oo. :--) :-{}

 

[jwgary]

Mom and brother are both on psych meds and will probably never come off of them. Mom tried getting off Zoloft a few years back and the doctor put her back on because of the problems she was having. It's really a sad thing to see your loved ones become dependent on perscription meds. Of course, I would hate to see them without the help they do get from taking them.

 

[DGFoster]

Well I would never tell anybody what I am about to tell all of you.

I am on Paxil,the Doc gave them to me last summer because of my financial situation,I felt like there was no were to turn and felt like everyone was against me and my family,you talk about ROAD RAGE that was me,I would get so mad that if someone looked over at me on the road,sitting at a light I would get out to find out what there problem was,well it wasn't like me to do this and it was really scaring my wife and child. I was so afraid of losing my lifestyle It was like I was paranoyed,I would get up from the couch with us all watching a movie and pick a fight with my wife,and after the aftermath of the fight I would just cry and try to figure out what was happening to me. My wife was working 80 90 hours a week to keep the bills payed,I wasn't working much was a bad summer for boats. Well anyway I finally went to the Doctor and the first thing he sugested was Paxil,and I found out I had Thyroid disease that in itself can cause you to lose step with life,so I got meds for the thyroid and Paxil,well it took two weeks for the Paxil to take effect and after that I was back to my old self.

Well after about 3 months or so,I could not function,I would sleep for 20 hours,wouldnt get up out of bed all day,I gained weight and for those who know me know I am a big guy,well I got bigger.

I didn't care about nothing,I would forget to get my child from school,my ability to hold a conversation was gone,all I wanted to do was do NOTHING. I lost my contract to haul boats except on a interem basis because on the economy. I feel like I am being watched,I am more paranoyed now than I was before I started on the Paxil.

Right know as I right this I feel numb and broken,I just can't function anymore.

I have tryed getting off Paxil,Ive tryed other stuff like Wellbutrin but I always have to go back on the Paxil because I can't take it,I feel like I am absolutely going crazy.

I was in the hospital a couple months ago for chest pains,and I told them how I was feeling,but they never sugested getting off Paxil. So yes im still on it,I have good days and some real bad days when I feel like there is nothing I can do.

I can't drive,I walk like im drunk most of the time,I thought I had an inter ear infection but I don't, it is all do to Paxil,I am just lost,I don't know what to do,my wife lost her job I lost mine,we are trying not to lose everything,I have been to two ,well I can't spell it but 2 shrinks and they think the Paxil is the best thing since the Cummins engine

I am sorry this is so long,but I read this post and I just couldn't believe it and It all just came out.

I have always been a go getter,all last summer I spent up north at the cabin all by myself,I love it up there,but I never went out on my boat didnt fish much,but I could sleep all day long,and that isn't me,it is hard to explain how I feel the walls are closing in and I just want my life back,I am trying to get off the Paxil,but with all that is happening in my life it is almost impossible,at leased I feel like it is.

I don't think I think about suicide,but I think sometimes this isn't worth it and would be better off . .

If I dont take the Paxil I have panic attacks.

So I guess I am saying,don't take Paxil it can distroy you,it has me,I don't think I could hold a job right now,I did work 1 day yesterday,I hauled 2 boats to the Pontiac Silverdome,and my wife had to drive,I simply could not,I am so weak my reflexes are off so much,I just can't drive safely. .

I am afraid my doctor will take me off them and I will tell you I would go absolutely mad without Paxil,I could not go cold turkey,I have tryed and I have tryed taking one every other day,but it isn't working.

I am so imbarast telling the whole world this,but if it will help people to find another alternative,please try Paxil will ruin you,don't take it,find something else,see more than one doctor. .

I am sorry this is so long,and please don't think im crazy

Thanks for listening. .

And again sorry it was so long. .

 

[LarryB]

Dave

Just my opinion but I think you need to find a doctor who is willing to listen. Sounds like you have a strong chemical imbalance of some sort. Find a doctor who is willing to work with you to get this figured out. If you don't get the help you are satisfied with, keep looking. Try another doc. Don't give up. There is no reason you need to feel this way. I know it's very hard to pursue the answers because you just don't feel like it. Follow your brain and not your emotions on this. Get up and do it. It's worth it when you get it figured out, and you will.

Larry

 

[DGFoster]

Well I never had these problems before,It just came over me,ive never had much of a struggle in life,thing always came easy for me,maybe that is why.

But I am going to talk with my Doc,and see what he thinks,I may have to find another to work with. .

 

[LarryB]

Dave

I sent you a Private Message with some further thoughts.

Larry