I've been on Paxil 10mg (for anxiety disorder) for four and half weeks now and have only seen minor improvement. The last two months, including the month before I started medication, have been an absolute hell. After two to three weeks of the medication, my anxiety has gone away for the most part, with the occasional anxious break through, but now I've been dealing with moderate depression, sleep issues, feeling tired all the time (which is probably a side effect of Paxil), feeling like I'm going crazy, weird dreams (more than usual haha) and mood swings. I know 10mg is a low dose and and that it can take two months to work fully. I'll probably be going up to 20mg two weeks from now. But what I want to know is does Paxil gradually take time to work fully or does it just one day works fully?
Paxil: First 4 and half weeks. How long till it really works? Does it gradually take effect?
Question posted by Msavvy on 3 Dec 2015
Last updated on 14 April 2019
5 Answers
Hey guys,
I’m 32, female, in response to the question 10mg is a low dose you’d feel better after taking 20mg.
I was on Paxtine/paroxetine 20mg for Generalised Anxiety Disorder and panic disorder for a good 5 years, came off thinking I’d be good to go, then relapsed. So I went back on 10mg as I was diagnosed with a brain tumour and was on a cocktail of meds in general so didn’t really notice. I upped it to 20mg though as I recovered from the tumour (2015). In 2017 I thought I’d be ok again and came off, I wasn’t ok as now I have PTSD from the trauma of the brain tumour and still have Generalised anxiety disorder. So, I’ve just started the 20mg of Paxtine again 2 weeks ago! I feel terrible, the last 4-6 weeks has been hell.
You all know that feeling of high level anxiety, it’s debilitating!! Waking up with racing heart, vomiting/dry rewatching, scared to do anything it go anywhere, seemingly crazy thought pattern and sleep pattern. ITS REALLY TOUGH! I forgot how hard it is starting Paxtine, and can’t wait until I hit 4-8 weeks for a fuller therepudic effect.
Today is 14 days on it and I feel really spaced out, full of energy but still so anxious. I’m taking 2-3mg of Diazepam per day to help with the anxiety/PTSD until the Paxtine kicks in.
I’ve been walking for 20-30 mins a day, using the Calm App for mindfulness meditation and seeing a psychologist, my GP and even spoke to my neurosurgeon who is referring me to a PTSD psychiatrist. I’m staying with my mum until I’m feeling better too as I live alone.
Keep up the self care everyone! Mental health can be really hard! And scary! I know from my last relapses that the bad, yucky, scary feelings don’t last! Though it does take the meds a long while to set in. I feel so gross right now, hanging out for some relief! Until then I’ll cry, rest, walk, try to eat (healthy light meals), panic, and try to ‘sit’ with these feelings and grow from them.
Best of luck to everyone :)
i am on paroxetine for 35 days.i am having strong anxiety attacks that causes anxiety diffuculty thinking symptoms for hours.my question is does smoking cigarettes have an effect on serum lvl of paroxetine like other antidepressants.
paroxetine got nice effects on at the end of 2 weeks than it turned to normal.not showing effect now.waiting for 8 weeks to pass.my anxiety occurs as a result of the xeplion injection i get.
i hope paroxetine makes an improvement on my anxiety attacks.my only hope.my attacks are really bad.i can not work atm.waiting for 8 weeks for paroxetine to show it full effect.any suggestions?
Paxil FINALLY took hold. 52 days later. It was literally overnight. I started on 20 mg and had every side effect associated with AD. Sleep issues subsided at about two weeks after starting treatment. Noticed diminished anxiety at 4 weeks. Paxil increases to 30 mg at 5 weeks (No side effects experienced). Currently at just over 7 weeks of treatment and depression has almost completely lifted. Energy, motivation, socialization and overall zest for life has returned. This battle has been 2+ years, 14 failed depression medications, multiple health care providers, (including psyciatrist) Genetic testing, incredible loneliness, scrambled life and many breakdowns. What I've learned from this experience is to give AD full 6-8 weeks to work. Paxil took almost 8 weeks for me. Don't give up! It may take time, but help is out there.
I been on it almost 3 weeks for depression and anxiety i feel realy bad on 10mg do you think it will work for me
Unfortunately, I think more time is needed to feel effects. Perhaps ask about an increase in dosage. In my opinion, I believe giving Paxil a full 6-8 weeks is key to it working. Hang in there. You will be so happy you waited it out!
Went up to 30mg still not feeling well been on month now think it will work for me on for depression anxiety.
I agree with your comment I am also on it just started and man the nauseous is terrible , but everyone is different . I’m willing to wait and give it time. Good luck to everyone . Every meds takes time some are fit for others but always be careful everything makes u gain weight or effects your liver just need to talk with your doctor . All in all I’ve never been on meds im 42 own my own business and man anxiety and stress is rough ... I hope Paxil is as good as I hear . God bless
Kiki900,
Your post really encouraged me . I am tapering off Effexcor and going up on Paxil at the same time . My battle has been 2 years and 3 months so far . This is my third depression with no relief . Am almost done with the Effexcor but I feel like my depression and anxiety is getting worse . The Paxil was started at 20 mg for four days then right up to 40mg . I have been on the 40 and am to remain on 40 til I am off the Effexcor . I have three more days at 37.5 and then I am to stop . I have been on 12 different meds with no luck. I am so praying this Paxil works . I don’t think I can take too much more . I am hopeless but your post gave me the slightest bit of hope .
Chuck's answer is good, I'll just address your last few sentences. At 8 weeks you should feel the full effects of the 10 mgs, but you are right about the possibility that your Dr. may change your dose to 20 mg to give you your optimal results. The 10 mgs works gradually, but if it's upped to 20 mgs the changes can happen fairly quickly. That's because you already have the Paxil in your body with the 10 mg. Those changes should be good, comfortable changes. You seem well on your way to feeling good again. Best wishes to you.
Thank you :)
Msavvy; You need to be taking the Paxil for 4 to 8 weeks to get the full blood level of the medicine right around that point you well start to notice things getting better little by little many of us feel it changing from the time of 3 weeks up to 6 weeks and when you do get to the 8 weeks that is what it is going to do for you. And it does when you first start or dose change sometimes make you feel side effects or your symptoms get worse for the first 2 weeks then those side effects pretty much go away. And from then on you can start to feel changes for the better if its going to be the medication that is going to help you. Have a good day.
Thanks chuck! You have a good day as well
Hello chuck1957 I was on paroxetine for the past 2 1/2 years it worked wonders and eliminated all anxiety I lowered my dose thinking I was cured and relapsed back to all my anxiety I've been back on 30mg my regular dose that cured me for 4 weeks and still have big time anxiety I don't remember how long it took the first time since I started at a low dose. Now I got all the side effects this time since I just jumped into 30mg I havnt felt much improvement do you think the medication will work the same again? I need advice
HelLo msavvy I'm curious to see how your doing now I'm in the same position
macangel; Yes you have a very good chance of the 30mg working again, You have made a big mistake that a lot of people do and think your back to yourself and really it's the medication you're taking that is making you feel so much better Anyway the worst part is the first few weeks with the side effects then they normally go away pretty soon from there and could even start to feel much better after 4 weeks but to get the full level of the medication it takes around 6 to 8 weeks to wear it is working at it's best. so hang in there and I would not be in much of a rush to go back off of it. CHUCK1957
msavvy; yES YOU HAVE it pretty close to the right area where you start to feel some of the benefits from the Paxil and I would not be surprised it the doctor ups it to 20mg soon if you need it and like Color has said the side effects well pass much faster now that you have the Paxil in your system but your so close you should really be feeling better soon BUT the low dose would not surprise me if it needs to go up to at least the 20mg..Good luck hope I got this streigth.
Thanks Chuck1957 I appreciate the adVisE it makes me feel better yes if it works the same I will never stop taking it again I'm just praying everything comes together. I feel even more anxious that I'm at the 4 weeks and my anxiety is super strong even keep my appetite short and not hungry which makes it worse. I don't plan on stop taking it I just don't know why I feel as if the medications making me more anxious I don't know if I'm actually having any good days.
Migg; any time it should start showing signs of improvement you're at 4 weeks most start feeling some relief soon. but as I said the total blood level is 6 to 8 weeks but you normally start feeling somewhat better anytime after 4 weeks best wishes hang in there chuck1957
ThaNKs cHuCk1957 for the support I plan to stick with it I will give an update soon since I'm still at the early stages then! Thanks!
That is great you have come this far you might as well for your sake give it a full trial and see how it does you have come this far now you might as well get to the distance with it.
Hello chuck1957 I had one more question that really bothers me and upsets my anxiety. Is it normal that I keep feeling that I'm out of breathe It usually happens when I try to sit down and relax. If I'm doing something I don't think about it but when I stop I feel like I'm constantly fighting for air. If that didn't happen my anxiety would be more manageable especially with the meds.?
That is normal with the anxiety we try to relax and not pay attention and then we notice different things and that even makes it worse What I do is many times when this happens you may not notice but you are taking shallow breaths. Try this put your hand on your stomach and inhale and exhale very slow or regular and you want your stomach to raise your hand up and down slowly which means you are breathing into the deep part of your lungs.Which is what you should be doing the shallow breathing brings on the tension and stress. if you want do it laying on the couch once you get it down you can do this as a relaxant when you feel stress coming on. But what you are noticing right now I well bet happens often but you don't notice because you are busy. relax you well be fine. and remember in and out deep and slow so you stomach come out gently. works for me for years. Chuck1957 now sit down or lay down and relax.
Thanks again Chuck1957 your great I will try and practice it. It should eventually go away and breathe regularly again right?
Right and no problem at all you practice this my friend and when you notice like the shortness of breath shakiing butterflies etc all caused by our anxiety keep trying this. And if you have problems out in public etc you can do this deep breathing calming exercise as your standing there waiting IT HAS BEEN A LIFE SAVER FOR ME. I have been doing this for 15 to 20 years when my heart rate or anything like that would start up like a panic attack and nobody can even tell your doing this Hope it works for you I learned this in a stress class.Most the other things I have done over the years biofeedback and different things have done nothing for me so when I can I try to share this with people.please keep in touch and let me know We folks with this junk as I call it have to stick together. Nobody really understands unless they have been through this. Have a good day.And know im here for you as well as a bunch of other great people.
Don't worry your not bothing me or anyone else Chuck1957 oh one thing now remember if dr increases the dose you might get some of these side effects back for a short time. your a pleasure to work with. Chuck.
Thanks CHUCK1957 I appreciate that. If u don't mind me asking I read on another post you took Paxil for a long long time and then switched. Why was that.? Just curious. I know Forsure the medicine hasn't kicked in yet or isn't working because before I couldn't cry even if I wanted too. Right now I cried for like 15 minutes like a mental breakdown or something. Before my emotions were numb hopefully I can get back to that since it worked before. I'm scared I might have to move up on dosage 30mg did perfect before!
Magg/; when my insurance changed way back they would not cover it because it was still named brand only So the new doctor changed it took a few to find one that worked as good. But most the time I had no problem. And nothing wrong with crying it's a good relief when to worry is some of the meds people just get numb and have no feelings anymore etc. I would stick with it for awhile hope the breathing is doing better. We do stuff like this to ourselves not even knowing it so you really are doing well. got to remember to give yourself credit for the things you can get thru that you were not earlier good luck hope all keeps getting better it well one way or other
Related topics
paxil, depression, anxiety, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, anxiety and stress, medication, disorder
Further information
- Paxil uses and safety info
- Paxil prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Paxil (detailed)
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