What do you think of Paxil? How can i stop taking this terrible drug?

[Xanikk999]

I have been on paxil for years now, and until recently i have not heard of any of the horrible side effects.

A week ago or two i realized how some of my problems may stem from this drug, i would like to know what other drug i should ask my psychiatrist i could take to treat depression.

Heres what wiki says on the side effects of paxil..

[edit] Side effects
General side effects are mostly present during the first 1-4 weeks while the body adapts to the drug. Almost all SSRIs are known to cause either one or more of these symptoms. A person receiving paroxetine treatment may experience a few, all, or none of the following side-effects, and most side-effects will disappear or lessen with continued treatment, though some may last throughout the duration.

Apathy
Loss of empathy
Flattening of emotional response
Nocturnal salivation
Nocturnal bruxism (teeth grinding)
Pupil dilation
Nausea
Teratogenicity: Pregnant women are advised not to take the drug due to possible fetal heart defects.[12]
Drowsiness
Headache
Changes in weight and appetite
Partial or complete loss of libido (sexual desire)
Inability to achieve orgasm
Increased feelings of depression and anxiety (initially)
Possible congenital malformations
Missed periods
Myoclonus (involuntary muscle twitching)
Rash
Restlessness or akathisia
Itch
Sodium depletion
Sweating
Nightmares
Suicidal ideation and Suicide
Muscle weakness
Muscle ache
Schizophrenia
Uncharacteristic levels of aggression (especially in children and teens)
Uncharacteristic risk taking
Serotonin syndrome
However, the patient information leaflet for Paroxetine seems to differ from country to country [http://www.drtauraso.com/blog/2007/03/paxil-very-dangerous-drug_3436.html# The Tauraso Medical Clinic

Individuals experiencing any of the following symptoms should contact their doctor immediately:

Jaw, neck, and back muscle spasms
Fever, chills, sore throat, or flu-like symptoms
Yellowing of the skin or eyes
Black, tarry stools (this can indicate upper GI bleeding)
Paroxetine and other SSRIs have been shown to cause sexual side effects in most patients, both males and females[13]. Although usually reversible, these sexual side effects can sometimes last for months, years or possibly indefinitely even after the drug has been completely withdrawn. This disorder is known as Post SSRI Sexual Dysfunction.

The bolded parts are what affect me i think. Im pretty sure about the last one also.

What can i do to ween myself off this horrible drug?

 

[Abaddon]

why not just stop being a pansy, decide you don't want to be a depressive and get on with life

 

[Atlas14]

The best way to stop taking it would be to simply stop taking it.

 

[Xanikk999]

why not just stop being a pansy, decide you don't want to be a depressive and get on with life

I need an alternate drug to function. I am extremely depressed when im off my medication.

 

[Xanikk999]

The best way to stop taking it would be to simply stop taking it.

Have you ever heard of withdrawel? Thats not a very healthy thing to do, if anything i would have to lower the doses gradually.

 

[azzaman333]

why not just stop being a pansy, decide you don't want to be a depressive and get on with life

Most ignorant statement I've read all day.

 

[Atlas14]

I need an alternate drug to function. I am extremely depressed when im off my medication.

See a doctor they'd know. Tell them achieving an orgasm is of prime importance, so no orgasm inhibitors.

 

[Abaddon]

Been a short day then? I dont accept people can be depressed in such a way that drugs cure them, you merely mask the symptoms.

Also, way to many teens seem to think they are depressed etc, get over it. A hell of a lot people have it worse and get on with it, whats so wrong with your life?

 

[Kan' Sharuminar]

Are you supposed to come off these eventually, and do you not think that speaking to your doctor about these fears may be a bit better for you?

Though I was always a bit amused by the list of side-effects on my anti-depressants. Possible diarrhoea or constipation. Those are wily pills, they are

 

[warpus]

I have friends who take drugs like these so I am very sympathetic...

I myself suffer from depression but I simply refuse to take drugs of any kind. Fortunately my depression isn't horrible & I have a strong will, so I can afford not to take any drugs and function in society relatively well.

 

[Atlas14]

Been a short day then? I dont accept people can be depressed in such a way that drugs cure them, you merely mask the symptoms.

Also, way to many teens seem to think they are depressed etc, get over it. A hell of a lot people have it worse and get on with it, whats so wrong with your life?

Well depression in most cases is a chemical imbalance, and thus the right doses of certain drugs would help bring levels of those chemicals back to normal, and help stimulate their future production within the body.

 

[Abaddon]

Also this entire topic is pap.. read the first few sentances.. it says in the first 1-4 weeks of taking the drug... nearly ALL drugs include this proviso... Xan's been on for years (his words) I assume he has no problems orgasming now, so where is the concern?

 

[Xanikk999]

Xan's been on for years (his words) I assume he has no problems orgasming now, so where is the concern?

I cant really talk specifically about it but i do have problems when i try to do certain "things" by myself.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Xannic, Im not a doctor, or in any way associated with medicine. I dont think Ive even been in a pharmacy in over a decade. Keep that foremost in your mind as you read my advice to you.

If you recognize in yourself some of the adverse effects seen with Paxil, you need to stop taking it. If youve been taking it 'for years' as you say, then you cant stop taking it all at once. That could be very dangerous. You need to slowly lower the dosage that you take, until you can finally stop taking it.

Now, if you ask a psychiatrist what you should do, chances are he/she will never tell you to stop taking pills. At most, he might switch you to another brand of anti depressant. Their job is to push pills, its up to you to decide if youre going to keep taking them.

edit: if you decide to wean yourself off of it, only do it with professional supervision.

 

[azzaman333]

I need an alternate drug to function. I am extremely depressed when im off my medication.

Have you ever tried going without your drugs for a day or two? Or a lower dosage that what you regularly take?

Been a short day then? I dont accept people can be depressed in such a way that drugs cure them, you merely mask the symptoms.

Also, way to many teens seem to think they are depressed etc, get over it. A hell of a lot people have it worse and get on with it, whats so wrong with your life?

Well, it is before 1am, but Depression is a mental illness. It's not something you can just wake up and say 'I'm going to be happy/depressed today'. I've been diagnosed with depression myself, and last year there were times I felt so bad for reasons I had no idea why that I couldn't even get myself out of bed, let alone get to school regularly. I chose to try and get better without taking drugs (which should always be the first option taken) and it is so far working, but I still have times when I just feel like crap.

 

[El_Machinae]

Been a short day then? I dont accept people can be depressed in such a way that drugs cure them, you merely mask the symptoms.

I feel the same way about diabetics and their insulin.

Xannik: staving off an orgasm is pretty well a blessing when you're younger. Nobody wants a five second wonder.

 

[Howitzah]

Here's what I don't get:

The medicine is for depression, right? Yet, a lot of the side effects in that list are symptoms indicative of depression.

 

[CartesianFart]

Smoke some weed to substitute the drug.It is not addictive and can only in limited time get you out of the withdrawel.Got that from a friend who was hooked on that crap.

 

[Sophie 378]

Some drugs don't need a weaning-off period, you just stop them immediately.

Xanikk, I wouldn't take that list too seriously unless it can give some sort of indicator of the proportion of patients who suffer from those side-effects. Are they listed as "very common" or "X% risk" or anything like that? I suspect that they're covering their behinds in a "well, you can't say we didn't warn you!" sort of way by listing all of the things that've happened to people while taking it, many of which may have nothing to do with the actual drug, and/or may have only happened to one or two people.

My antidepressant, mirtazapine, has a massive list of potential side-effects, but it states very clearly that for the vast majority of patients, the only side-effects are initial muscle tremors, sleepiness and increased appetite. Guess what, those are the only ones that I've noticed.

 

[azzaman333]

Smoke some weed to substitute the drug.It is not addictive and can only in limited time get you out of the withdrawel.Got that from a friend who was hooked on that crap.

I think weed is not the greatest thing to be smoking when you're already effed in the head.