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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by software guru on May 14, 2003, at 6:33:16
I started taking 12.5 mg of Paxil CR for anxiety yesterday. My first day of taking Paxil CR 12.5 mg, I actually felt some effects. My doctor said this would not happen, but I am hyper sensitive to my mental and physical state so perhaps I am feeling the minute effects of the first pill. I took it early in the morning, and I was a bit more focused and my anxious feelings went away for most of the day. Later on in the evening I started getting this "coming down" feeling that felt very similar to when I had tried ecstacy (MDMA) in college. My jaw was clenched and my fists tended to want to clench, and I just felt kind of tripped out and disconnected from the people I was hanging out with. I slept fine, but did wake up with LOTS of anxiety this morning. My heart was racing and I had to do some breathing meditation to control it. I also pummeled the anxiety attack with an Ativan just to make sure I could function well at work. I have had this before but it had sort of gone away, and my gut feeling is that the extreme anxiety this morning has something to do with the Paxil.
I am hesitant to continue the rest of this week on Paxil because I am also undergoing acupuncture and want to see if it will work on its own, and I'm afraid Paxil will muck it up. Also, I have read that some folks have treated anxiety with benzo drugs. How does this work? Do you just take one a day for a while and then taper off, or do you have to keep taking them?
I would appreciate hearing any thoughts or comments on this.
Thanks
Posted by bookgurl99 on May 14, 2003, at 7:55:20
In reply to Prescribed Paxil for anxiety, posted by software guru on May 14, 2003, at 6:33:16
software,
I've never taken Paxil, but my sister tried it for anxiety attacks (after a lot of other meds), and found that it works for her.
Paxil shouldn't affect the acupuncture. I'd double-check with the acupuncturist, but I've had successful acupuncture even while on meds. A few neurotransmitters are nothing against a needle tapping a nerve.
I would actually continue trying both. While benzos have the benefit of being short-acting, you can become desensitized to their effects quickly. Plus, no offense, but if you've abused drugs in the past, there's more potential for abuse with a benzo.
books
Posted by software guru on May 14, 2003, at 9:16:28
In reply to Re: Prescribed Paxil for anxiety » software guru, posted by bookgurl99 on May 14, 2003, at 7:55:20
Is trying something one time considered abuse?
> software,
>
> I've never taken Paxil, but my sister tried it for anxiety attacks (after a lot of other meds), and found that it works for her.
>
> Paxil shouldn't affect the acupuncture. I'd double-check with the acupuncturist, but I've had successful acupuncture even while on meds. A few neurotransmitters are nothing against a needle tapping a nerve.
>
> I would actually continue trying both. While benzos have the benefit of being short-acting, you can become desensitized to their effects quickly. Plus, no offense, but if you've abused drugs in the past, there's more potential for abuse with a benzo.
>
> books
Posted by bookgurl99 on May 14, 2003, at 23:23:44
In reply to Re: Prescribed Paxil for anxiety, posted by software guru on May 14, 2003, at 9:16:28
> Is trying something one time considered abuse?
>
> > software,
> >
Plus, no offense, but if you've abused drugs in the past, there's more potential for abuse with a benzo.
> >sorry software,
I don't mean to say that you _are_ a drug abuser. I guess I associate -- rightly or wrongly -- people who've used MDMA with a certain group of people I know who'll try anything. (Be it snorting someone's ritalin, trying an anti-psychotic out of curiosity, using crystal meth this weekend,lsd the next, etc etc.) I shouldn't have made you feel shoved into the same group.
Anyways, Luvox gave me a 'coming-down' feeling like that, like I felt 'up' in the morning when I took it and totally 'down' and sad when it wore off. I didn't like that at all; I need something that doesn't make me feel drugged.
It sounds like Paxil also makes you feel uncomfortably drugged. I would boot it and try either a different SSRI (they don't all feel the same or work the same), or follow your intuition about acupuncture or benzos.
books
Posted by amy_oz on May 15, 2003, at 2:49:33
In reply to Prescribed Paxil for anxiety, posted by software guru on May 14, 2003, at 6:33:16
Hi,
sounds like a similar experience to what I had with Paxil. Please remember that the first two weeks of taking a new drug (esp SSRI's!) can result in a number of side effects. Most people experience some nausea but agitation is common as well. Give the Paxil a chance but if you find it unbearable then by all means come off it.There are problems with relying on benzos like ativan because they can cause dependency. If you can find another medication that works then its much better for you in the long run.
By the way, in the end I found Celexa to be the best for me at dealing with anxiety/depression. I know that some Pdocs now prescribe small amounts of atypical antipsychotics like zeprexa for anxiety as well. THese drugs are pretty effective for immediate relief.
Its great that you do meditation to help out. I've also found music in 3/4 time like a lullaby is really good too.
Good luck
Amy
Posted by Viridis on May 15, 2003, at 3:13:15
In reply to Re: Prescribed Paxil for anxiety » software guru, posted by bookgurl99 on May 14, 2003, at 23:23:44
Interestingly, Paxil is rated as much more difficult to discontinue than any benzos, so I don't understand some of the recommendations here to choose Paxil over benzos. Whatever works -- great. But dependency issues appear to be most severe with Paxil and some other ADs; benzos (based on available data and objective analysis) are much less worrisome. Of course, it will depend on the individual.
Posted by software guru on May 15, 2003, at 6:13:14
In reply to Re: Prescribed Paxil for anxiety, posted by Viridis on May 15, 2003, at 3:13:15
Thanks for all the feedback.
What kind of doctor should I see? I don't trust the judgement of my regular doctor in this situation, he just seems to want to throw pills at any problems. I also feel like I would need someone to talk to me every week about how whatever I am taking is making me feel.
This is the end of the thread.
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