cptkurt Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 I'm going through some serious issues in life. My stress and depression have hit new levels. I was prescribed the generic for Paxil a while ago but have been reluctant to try it... Having being kicked down once more I'm thinking about giving it another try. Does anyone have any experience with this drug? I have been on Xanax before for anxiety and a long time ago I took Adderall for ADHD. I still have symptoms of mild to severe anxiety and also symptoms of ADHD. I would just like to be able to function as a normal human being and live a healthy life . Link to post Share on other sites
MidwestUSA Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 (edited) Give it t a try. I'm assuming you were prescribed a low dose to start with? How long is 'a while ago'? You shouldn't really sit on prescriptions when your doc is expecting that you're going ahead and taking it. How much has your situation changed since he prescribed it? The SSRIs are a better choice for generalized anxiety. Xanax is more of a quick fix and can be addictive. Give it three weeks or a month to kick in, then check back to see if your doc wants to increase the dose. I was prescribed a similar drug (same class, SSRI) at a low dose in June; I'm not exaggerating when I say it saved my life. Good luck! ETA: don't rely solely on the drug. Hit the gym and eat right. Get out of the house for something other than work. Get involved in a favorite hobby if you've neglected to do so. Edited December 14, 2014 by MidwestUSA 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Author cptkurt Posted December 14, 2014 Author Share Posted December 14, 2014 Give it t a try. I'm assuming you were prescribed a low dose to start with? How long is 'a while ago'? You shouldn't really sit on prescriptions when your doc is expecting that you're going ahead and taking it. How much has your situation changed since he prescribed it? The SSRIs are a better choice for generalized anxiety. Xanax is more of a quick fix and can be addictive. Give it three weeks or a month to kick in, then check back to see if your doc wants to increase the dose. I was prescribed a similar drug (same class, SSRI) at a low dose in June; I'm not exaggerating when I say it saved my life. Good luck! ETA: don't rely solely on the drug. Hit the gym and eat right. Get out of the house for something other than work. Get involved in a favorite hobby if you've neglected to do so. Prescribed about 3 months ago with refills. I never touched it because I'm kind of afraid of this class of drugs. I need to do something to help myself at this point... Also refilling my Xanax for panic. I really have no hobbies and having a hard time socializing. Been skipping the gym a lot in the past few months since coming off of Xanax and working a lot. Link to post Share on other sites
MidwestUSA Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Prescribed about 3 months ago with refills. I never touched it because I'm kind of afraid of this class of drugs. I need to do something to help myself at this point... Also refilling my Xanax for panic. I really have no hobbies and having a hard time socializing. Been skipping the gym a lot in the past few months since coming off of Xanax and working a lot. You should be more afraid of the benzos, which is the class Xanax is in. It's an easy, quick fix for anxiety, and I wouldn't deny it to someone with panic attacks. But, it's not a good long term solution. I'm sure your doc thinks the Paxil will help. I have had it in the past, I'm just on a different one right now. What have you got to lose at this point? You will have to be patient while it kicks in. Link to post Share on other sites
FitChick Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Google natural remedies for anxiety and depression, food and supplements. I keep a list on my refrigerator door and have noticed when I am out of sorts I check the list and sure enough I've stopped eating one or more items on the list. Cheaper and more pleasant to eat something tasty than pop a pill with side effects. At this time of year there isn't enough sunlight so take 1000IU of Vitamin D3 twice a day and/or walk outside for half an hour. Link to post Share on other sites
M30USA Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Stay away from it. Paxil increases your risk of stroke. My brother was taking it and he died tragically at 43 partly because of it. Try every natural remedy before risking this (or any) drug. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
carhill Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 OP, since you never took the drug originally, IMO stop in at the docs and at least get baselined physically and freshen up the Rx. I mention this because you're apparently proposing a cocktail and a cocktail, especially combining a benzo and a SSRI, is something a practitioner familiar with brain chemistry should be monitoring. I mention this for your own safety and having managed brain cocktails, some pretty heavy duty ones, in the past. There was always a doctor on-board and generally a brain specialist as well. Your situation is perhaps different but still stay in touch with your doc if you are contemplating the meds. Link to post Share on other sites
gaius Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 When I was a kid my mother tried stuffing me on it, gave me a rash. Link to post Share on other sites
Maleficent Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 My god some answers on here... Paxil is an SSRI type anti-depressant. IT is used for treatment of depression and anxiety. It has worked for some people and it has been disastrous for some people. It is normal you'll have side effects at first and it can take up to 6 months to have full effect. If you are not certain this medication is for you, talk to your doctor and your pharmacist. They are the only people you should listen to as far as this medication is concerned. Link to post Share on other sites
skydiveaddict Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 (edited) I'm going through some serious issues in life. My stress and depression have hit new levels. I was prescribed the generic for Paxil a while ago but have been reluctant to try it... Why? Why do all you people who post here about how badly depressed you all are, but refuse to take medication that WILL help you? Are you really that afraid to get better? Gear up dude. Take this thing head on. I would just like to be able to function as a normal human being and live a healthy life . Then suck it up and start taking matters into your own hands. Ya gotta to learn to conquer your fear. Nothing will get better for you if you don't act. If you pm me I could tell you about my journey through this dark night that you are going through, but won't stand up for yourself yet. But at some point you will have to. And I'm certain that you will succeed Edited December 14, 2014 by skydiveaddict 2 Link to post Share on other sites
MidwestUSA Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 OP, since you never took the drug originally, IMO stop in at the docs and at least get baselined physically and freshen up the Rx. I mention this because you're apparently proposing a cocktail and a cocktail, especially combining a benzo and a SSRI, is something a practitioner familiar with brain chemistry should be monitoring. I mention this for your own safety and having managed brain cocktails, some pretty heavy duty ones, in the past. There was always a doctor on-board and generally a brain specialist as well. Your situation is perhaps different but still stay in touch with your doc if you are contemplating the meds. I want to second the visit back to the doc before you start, which is in part why I asked how long it has been since he prescribed it. He gave you the Xanax as a 'tide me over' and is expecting that you're taking the Paxil. Now that you've been taking the former but not the latter, you may have trouble discerning the good effects of the Paxil IF and WHEN you take it and it kicks in. The number one cause of people having trouble with antidepressants? NONCOMPLIANCE. The doctor gave you a plan, you didn't follow it, and now you're asking a bunch of strangers what to do. That's even a step beyond compliance, really. Closer to negligence. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
skydiveaddict Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Cheaper and more pleasant to eat something tasty than pop a pill with side effects. True for mild cases of the "blues," but with full on clinical depression the doc needs to bring in the artillery . It's just like trying to treat a staph infection with herbs. The patient will die. He needs antibiotics. Stay away from it. Paxil increases your risk of stroke. My brother was taking it and he died tragically at 43 partly because of it. I'm very sorry for the loss of your brother. But everyone's chemistry is different. There are a very small number of serious side effects for the millions who use that drug. Try every natural remedy before risking this (or any) drug. Not if somebody is severely depressed. You must see a doc and be treated right away. You could be dealing with someone on the brink of suicide. That is NOT the time for an herbal remedy. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
d0nnivain Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 (edited) Decisions about the ingestion of prescription medication should be made between the patient and that person's medical doctor with input from a licensed pharmacist. Anybody who doesn't have an extensive education in pharmacology is doing everybody a huge disservice by weighing in with anecdotal stories. Those incidents are not valid substitutes for genuine medical care & they increase, not decrease, risks to patients. Yes, you should educate yourself about the advice that you get from a doctor but that means using legitimate sources: the PDR, the FDA, the NIH, the Mayo Clinic etc. Do not take medical advice from unlicensed people on the internet. Edited December 14, 2014 by a LoveShack.org Moderator 1 Link to post Share on other sites
carhill Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Yeah, if there is any time to get baselined, it's when one is voluntarily clear. That way the doc can assess health parameters, do blood workups, assess mental state and work out a titration schedule. Reading prior, I thought you were already taking Xanax again but you're not and apparently are not on any brain meds at all. That's great. Perfect time to see the doc. Also, while with the doc, ask for a referral to a psychologist for adjunct therapy. I mention this because of your statements about chronic issues, which are an area where a combinative approach can be efficacious. Meds can be great for working out brain chemistry issues; as humans, we also have other mental tools at our disposal to cognitively manage brain conditions. It's simply a matter of learning them. Working your anxiety is one example. Good luck! 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Author cptkurt Posted December 15, 2014 Author Share Posted December 15, 2014 Started today on half dose for the first week -- full dose next week. Wish me luck, ls... 3 Link to post Share on other sites
Maleficent Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Started today on half dose for the first week -- full dose next week. Wish me luck, ls... Good luck! (You'll be ok ) 2 Link to post Share on other sites
skydiveaddict Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Started today on half dose for the first week -- full dose next week. Wish me luck, ls... Well done sir! WOOT! Link to post Share on other sites
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