Paroxetine for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder User Reviews

• Ani...
• November 29, 2015

Paroxetine "I have been on Paxil for 13 years. This medication has saved my life. I was prescribed the medication for depression, but recently, I was diagnosed with PTSD due to some things that took place when I served in the Marine Corps. I would be dead without this medicine. I am now on 60 mg."

• Cat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 10, 2013

Paroxetine "I was on Paxil for PTSD, social anxiety, and depression. It worked wonderfully for me and all my issues. However, I ran out over the weekend and had to wait until Monday to see the doctor and get my prescription filled. The problem with Paxil is it leaves your body in 25 hours. So, 25 hours after your last dose, TERRIBLE withdrawals kick in. I felt so angry for absolutely no reason. I got ready in the morning and broke my hair dryer, straightener, and brush. While waiting in the doctor's office, I felt like I was going to scream, cry, or assault random people in the waiting room. So that is what Paxil withdrawal was like for me. None of this is normal for me. When I'm in a low point, I usually just feel sad and extremely anxious about being around people."

• Jun...
• April 30, 2020

Paroxetine "I was prescribed 12.5 mg of Paxil for PTSD. I have been on it a year. It gave me horrible nightmares, and upon awakening, I felt so overwhelmed and depressed, it was awful. I suffered through this for a year while doctors told me the Paxil would not cause my symptoms. I had never felt this horrible in my life. I finally found a new psychiatrist and told her about my problems with SSRIs. I was put on Trintellix a week ago. Today is the first day in a year that I felt good just waking up in the morning. I hope it lasts. I also am a mental health professional and have some understanding of antidepressants, or I would have just given up and believed what the doctors told me about the antidepressants not causing my symptoms. No one really knows how the psychoactive meds work, and they can affect any one person differently than another. So my advice is to believe yourself if you think a med is causing you negative side effects and don't give up until you find what works for you."

• san...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 7, 2015

Paroxetine "I take Paxil 50 mg for PTSD, OCD, anxiety, and depression. No drug is a 'wonder drug,' but for me, Paxil has been a lifesaver. No more night terrors, no more shaky hands and sweats. I have been able to function more normally than I have in years. No side effects that bother me."

• Nhc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 18, 2013

Paroxetine "I have been on Paxil now for 10 months. I am on a high dose of 40 mg. However, it is working wonders for me. I love how I feel, and my anxiety is a lot lower than it used to be. I feel like I can operate in a normal fashion, be it at work or out in a social situation. The drawback is do not run out of your prescription, always be on top of it. I ran out of it, and the withdrawal side effects are not fun. For me, I got really depressed and crying, and the headaches are horrible. I realize I will be on this prescription for a very long time. But for those who may not be, make sure you listen to your doctor when getting off of it. It is not fun when it is not in your system. Again, love, love how I feel."

• sli...
• June 21, 2009

Paroxetine "Paxil, not the generic brand, is the only antidepressant that's ever worked the best. I have tried dozens of antidepressants since I lost my husband in an auto accident that we both were in 10 years ago."

• clr...
• April 7, 2013

Paroxetine "I have taken Paxil 10 mg for 6 weeks for chronic post-traumatic stress disorder. It has helped a lot already, decreased my anxiety about 20%. I'm going to try to go up to 20 mg and see how much that works because my anxiety is still moderately high. The only side effect I got from it is sedation, I can take it and soon after I take it, I fall asleep. It has also helped my depression, I can now start to function again. With this Paxil, I'm almost out of my depression. I also took Celexa before Paxil, and it worked for about a year and that was it, so that's why I'm on Paxil now, and it works 10 times better than Celexa."

• Fel...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 3, 2024

Paroxetine "I’ve been having problems with most drugs not working for me, but this is a godsend. I’ve been struggling with PTSD for over five years, and honestly, I probably wouldn’t be here if not for this. Started working somehow almost immediately, and I haven’t been in a major crisis for at least half a year now. I take the minimal dose, but it works great. Honestly, the only complaint is that I’m majorly tired, but I feel like it’s not that bad for how much this drug helped me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 25, 2020

Paroxetine "It makes me sad seeing Paxil get so many bad reviews, but every drug affects everyone differently. I was prescribed Paxil 40 mg for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder when I went into a drug recovery treatment center about 2 months ago. Coming into the center, I had horrible night terrors, waking up fighting and screaming in my sleep. Throughout the day, I used to have constant flashbacks and so much anxiety and hopelessness. After 2 months of being on Paxil, my anxiety went down tremendously. I barely get night terrors from trauma anymore, and I seem to cope much better during the days with my past trauma. Paxil is known to be great for PTSD. The only side effect I had was dilated pupils."

• lil...
• November 4, 2017

Paroxetine "After suffering for years with untreated PTSD, the symptoms kept getting worse. Finally talked with my Dr. about it. Started me on Paxil 20 mg for a couple of months and then increased to 30 mg. I am not 'cured', but my anxiety has drastically decreased. I feel almost normal. Paxil has been a Godsend for me."

• Ril...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 15, 2020

"I was put on paroxetine for C-PTSD & BPD, my dose is 20 mg a day. It’s been insanely helpful for depression, more than anything, in my opinion. It gives me a boost of energy maybe an hour after taking it. I’ve still been on it relatively recently (2 months), but I found it made waking up easier."

• Len...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 13, 2018

Paroxetine "I was prescribed Paxil (in conjunction with Valium as needed) to treat PTSD, depression, and anxiety. There are side effects (the most notable one being a seriously lowered libido), but as a whole, this was a very positive experience for me. Paxil gave me the baseline of emotional stability I needed to work through my trauma in therapy without putting myself in danger. Overall, this has been a success."

• Fee...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 16, 2019

"After years of suffering from anxiety and depression, I finally took my sister's advice to get on medication. 20 mg of Paroxetine saved my life and sanity. Now I am calm, focused, no thoughts of suicide, don't lose my temper anymore, I don't get upset at the slightest thing anymore, I sleep like a log, I don't suffer from constipation anymore. Although I do feel sometimes like I am lazy, the truth is I've always been lazy. Depression gave me an excuse to be lazy. It helps to write out to-do and gratitude lists. When I fought the idea of being on meds, it was because I resented the stigma of having to take anti-anxiety meds. Now I am running to the pharmacy every 30 days to make sure I get my Paroxetine! In one year, this med has completely changed my life for the better. My relationships have changed too. Feedback from my family and friends is that I have become a happy, well-adjusted person, not constantly flying off the handle. Can't say enough about this medication."

• Mar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 20, 2023

Paroxetine "Not only did this not work, it permanently damaged my life. It caused me to become disinhibited. I was doing things that I would not normally do, and looking back on some of it, I cannot believe I even did them. Unfortunately, this resulted in me getting fired from my job six months after finally getting off this medicine due to something I did while on the medication. It caused other nasty effects such as sensitivity to light, nuclear-burning sensations on my skin, and excessive hunger. Long-term serotonin use can cause an intolerance or more, research before taking it."

• Lun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 19, 2020

Paroxetine "I took Paxil for 4 months until the teeth grinding became so unbearable it hurt very badly to eat. So I stopped it. 3 months later I am having the same level of nighttime teeth grinding, which has been causing major health issues. I wake up every morning with a terrible migraine. I read it can cause lifelong teeth grinding. I’ve never done this before taking Paxil."

• Nam...
• March 29, 2016

Paroxetine "Great for sleeplessness. That being said, I am more anxious than I have ever been due to side effects. It is difficult to perform a high-stress sales job when you are dizzy and nauseous, much less try to cope with a headache on top of the other symptoms. All of the symptoms exacerbate the anxiety you are trying to combat. Seems a little counterintuitive to me."

• Rac...
• March 4, 2014

Paroxetine "Took this for almost a year, helped with my panic attacks but made me severely depressed and unstable. Did not do well for me. Switched to Zoloft and Abilify and was a total 180 turn - should have switched a long time ago."

• Col...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 17, 2021

"Of all the SSRIs/SNRIs I've tried (Zoloft, Effexor, Remeron, Celexa, lithium), and they all either didn't work or they made me feel different (not in a good way), or I had side effects. I finally tried Paxil after avoiding it because of the stigma and 'addiction' talk. From dose number one, I was 70% better at 10 mg. I went to 20 mg after 2 weeks and didn't have any nausea, insomnia, or any side effects in the beginning. I felt better and better by the day, but it was the only antidepressant that didn't make me feel like I was 'on' something. It made me feel normal. Started February 2012 on 10 mg and went to 20 mg. I went through a stressful year during the pandemic, so I was upped to 30 mg. 9 years, and it still is working great for me. It's Paxil or nothing for me."

• Nam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 26, 2021

Paroxetine "So I started taking Paxil after failed attempts at trying other drugs, and it has been the best so far, so I wanted to share my experience in order to help others. Paxil helps with avoidance symptoms and intrusive memories, unlike other medicines, it was able to help my anxiety a lot, honestly, too, without giving me the feeling of completely changing who I am as a person. I am able to enjoy things and am less concerned about going places. It does tend to make me drowsy for a little when I first wake up and doesn't give me energy (although I'm not as easily tired out). I feel like this medication, with the combination of a daily vitamin, is the best I've experienced so far."

• Veg...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 21, 2017

Paroxetine "The psychiatrist put me back on 25 mg ER per day, after using all the others. Xanax withdrawals were the worst. Diazepam for me is much better. Fish oil capsules help a lot. Prozac caused hair loss. Zoloft is horrible. Extended release is the way to go. For sleep, I prefer temazepam. Never use diazepam to sleep."

• bab...
• November 23, 2014

Paroxetine "I was on 10 mg of Paxil for the first time in my life, and it increased my anxiety so bad I missed work, went off, and I felt good for a week. Now I'm back to feeling bad and missing more work. I might try Prozac, but I'm very nervous."

• Ang...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 7, 2016

Paroxetine "I was on this drug for a long time, and the only thing I can report is that I felt like a zombie most of the time, was so tired that I could barely function (lost my job as a result of it), and had absolutely no desire for sex whatsoever. I rarely felt that I was thoroughly enjoying anything that was going on in my life, it completely numbed me out to a traumatic experience that I should have been dealing with, and as a result of being on it, I did not fully process that experience until getting off of the medication. That and the withdrawal symptoms were debilitating and terrible. Brain zaps are not a fun experience, and they were bad with this one."

• Boo...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 13, 2021

"I started taking Paxil 22 years ago for depression and anxiety. I started on 20 mg per day in the morning. Within 2 weeks, I felt like a black curtain had lifted. My dosage was then increased to 30 mg per day about 10 years ago. I was then diagnosed with Complex PTSD. I had daily anxiety, racing thoughts, frightening nightmares, and insomnia. My dosage was increased to 40 mg per day about 2 weeks ago. I find that I am calm and no longer have racing thoughts. I am sleeping through the night without nightmares. I have had no side effects."

• Hor...
• September 24, 2017

Paroxetine "A year ago I was put on Paxil for PTSD, depression, anxiety. All I can say is do your research because this is a mind-altering drug. It can put you in a childhood state, time loss, carefree and not in a good way. DON'T TOUCH THIS STUFF. If you do, be careful of the major things doctors don't tell you."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 28, 2021

"I have had PTSD since I was 12, following SA. The perpetrator was jailed in 2018, and following the trial, I suffered from a relapse of PTSD. During that time, I was prescribed Mirtazapine and Venlafaxine, which in hindsight I believe only masked my symptoms, ultimately making them worse by 2021. During the whole time, I was unable to keep my job as a nurse, and my PTSD got so bad I tried to end my life twice, ending up in the hospital. I researched paroxetine and felt it was worth trying. I have now been on it for 2 months, and I feel better than I have ever felt. It started after a few days and gradually improved over time. I wake up refreshed every morning, thankful to be alive and excited for the day. I am back at the gym most days and have been accepted for a new nursing role, which I start next month. Those of you who are at the end of your rope, please give it a go. I was pessimistic at the start, but now I am 100% certain that, along with therapy and exercise, it has cured me of my PTSD."