Paxil for Anxiety User Reviews (Page 3)

• Hat...
• December 24, 2014

"Waking up with negative thoughts and anxiety, mostly in the morning most of my life. Due to major problems at work, the doctor gave me Zoloft and the like-all were HORRID. Finally heard about Paxil, got on it, and the days all became sunny, with birds singing outside, even in winter. I was on it (20mg I think) for more than 8 years. The ONLY downside was a major loss of sexual interest. Perhaps the dose was too high. I easily weaned off of it 2 years ago, over 1 month, without problems, except that the anxieties are back. At age 70, I may go back on it."

• sas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 14, 2014

"I've been on Paxil for 3 days and I honestly can say I've been sleeping mostly. Jaws are clicking. But I feel calm. I hope it works out for me. I also started meditations so I've been real spaced out. I can barely live my life with my anxiety. I will definitely post in 2 weeks with my progress."

• For...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 2, 2013

"I have had very bad anxiety and subsequent depression now for about 8 years. I also come from a background of extreme emotional abuse which I think was the largest contributor to my panic and high anxiety and fear. I just began Paxil last week. WOW. I really don't know why I waited so long to seek medication advice. Unfortunately, it took a suicide attempt to get me where I am today, but even after 1 WEEK, I feel so much better. I'm not having severe side effects because my doctor told me to start gradual, which I did, and I think that lessened the side effects significantly! I will keep updating with my progress, but so far so good!"

• sha...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 8, 2019

"This is my miracle drug. I used to suffer from at least 3 panic attacks a day and severe depression. After about 2 months on Paxil, I got a sudden feeling that everything was going to be OK. This dread of the future and hating life went away. However, this did come with the side effects of gaining 15 pounds and losing most of my sex drive. I do still have depression during the hard times of the year, but my anxiety is so low, and I LOVE it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 25, 2012

"Before Paxil, I had used multiple medications for anxiety and depression, and they would mellow me out, but I didn't really feel 'better'. After starting Paxil, I can honestly say I'm the happiest I have been in years, and my coping skills are greatly improved. I feel healthy again, my appetite is back to normal, I don't look sickly anymore, and I can sleep. Paxil was the miracle for me."

• Anonymous
• July 23, 2008

"I was given Paxil 3 years ago. I didn't know what a basket case I was until I started getting better. No side effects at all. I will encourage anyone to at least try it for 6 weeks, it is a great drug if you truly need it."

• mel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 26, 2019

"I have been on Paxil for just over four weeks, and it's been amazing. I was anxious and stressed and had extreme anxiety about my health. I was desperate, and even though I read the reviews and worried about taking it, I decided to try. I can't begin to explain the calm that is now me. Importantly, because I was so hypersensitive, the doctor asked me to start on a quarter tab, and each week I went up: quarter, half, full tab. I think the full tab is 20 mg. Remarkably, I felt benefits straight away, and each time I upped my dose, I felt tired for a day or two, and then normalized. I had some yawning, dry mouth, and loss of appetite. I also sought psychology treatment and have been diagnosed with delayed onset PTSD from past trauma."

• ALM...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 25, 2025

"Paxil has been the one drug that has all but eliminated my extreme GAD, which in turn eliminated my depression. A year ago, I was in the darkest time of my life. My anxiety was out of control; I was having several panic attacks a day, and I literally saw no light at the end of the tunnel. I tried Effexor and Lexapro, and they just gave me side effects with no relief from my anxiety. I started Paxil at 20 mgs. I'm not gonna lie, the first month I went through just about every side effect there is: jaw clenching, my vision was blurry, I got nauseous, my anxiety got worse, etc., but each side effect only lasted a few days or a week. I would scroll through these reviews every day to hang onto hope. After about a month, I saw a tiny improvement, so I went up to 30 mgs. That's when I really started getting my life back. I have now settled in at 40 mgs, which seems to be my dose! It has now been almost a year, and my life is back to normal. Please trust the process!!"

• Woo...
• March 29, 2009

"I started taking Paxil about 7 or 8 years ago for anxiety. I had been in the hospital for an arrhythmia at age 24, and it totally freaked me out. After that, every illness I had, I was sure it was my heart, and I started to panic and check my pulse frequently. I ended up in the ER about twice a month thinking I was dying. My PCP finally suggested Paxil. Since then, I have had ZERO panic/anxiety attacks. I have had problems occasionally with ejaculatory dysfunction, but not often enough for me to be that upset. Besides, the trade-off is feeling better and living normally. It has been great for me, and I hope you have a similar experience."

• Sum...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 31, 2012

"I first tried Paxil in 2003, after trying everything, and I do mean every antidepressant on the market. I couldn't believe in less than a week I was already feeling relief. My mistake: I kept going on and off of it. It eventually stopped helping. So for 3 years, I went on Celexa, which helped less than Paxil but more than others. Recently, I began getting severe generalized anxiety disorder along with my depression. I finally decided to give the Paxil a try again since so much time had lapsed since I'd been on it. Well, it worked again. Feeling better than I have in a long time. Message: Everybody is different so Paxil won't work for all. But if it does for you, STAY ON IT. Don't try the on and off thing. Good luck!"

• Fit...
• October 28, 2009

"I am on my 3rd week of taking Paxil. The first week was difficult as my side effects were nervousness (which makes you think you are having an anxiety attack) and sleepiness. After about 4 or 5 days, I started feeling better and better. I have only had 1 very small attack since being on it. I feel SO much better and happier. I finally feel like myself again. Good luck to all of you!"

• Mom...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 5, 2024

"Tried Lexapro first. Didn’t work and left me like a zombie. I’ve now been on Paroxetine for 5 years. I’ll never come off. I did gain weight but I’ll still not come off. Here’s why… bonus side effect has been NO MORE SINUS INFECTIONS! Within 10 minutes of taking this drug, an audible sound came from my nose as the pressure released. The doctor asked me how I felt… well… after 45 years of 4-6 sinus infections a year that left me in a hopeless state… yeah… I feel great. Not one doctor believes me, and my ENT mocked me. Anyway… 5 years sinus infection free, so if anyone thinks I’m coming off this stuff… think again… lol"

• Sou...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 17, 2014

"Really worked for me, paroxetine definitely took the edge off and lessened anxiety symptoms. Would still have benzodiazepine as needed but this was 1-2 per month. Great antidepressant for anxiety & panic disorder."

• gol...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 5, 2014

"I have depression. I suffered for many years in the dark, big time. I was too scared to say anything. I finally had to say something. I am a male, of course (got to hide those feelings). Things were getting very, very bad. I talked to my doctor and a shrink, and they got me on 20 mg of Paxil 15 years ago, and it really does help with the hell I felt within for years. Please be patient. Hang in there one day at a time, if I can do it, you can too. I was really bad from what docs say. It takes time to adjust to the medicine, but well worth it. Drinking and not taking reasonable care of yourself won't help at all. Living a cleaner life does make a difference. No guilt. The side effects for me are constipation and a bit of brain fog."

• Whi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 4, 2016

"* Reminder, everyone's experience is different, and you won't know how this medication works for you until you try it.* I'm 18 and used to suffer from severe social and general anxiety, and mild depression. I've had a bad past with antidepressants, but I decided to try Paxil (20mg) because I was desperate. My anxiety is 95% gone, I'm wanting to be more social, and I'm happy all of the time! I don't worry anymore, and it's amazing. There are some side effects (which were terrible the first week but reduced with time): headaches, reduced libido, tiredness, smaller appetite {I'm thankful for this one}, and insomnia. Paxil works amazingly for my anxiety, and I'm so happy I tried it. I'm making new friends, and I think I'll secure a job soon :)."

• KA2...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 16, 2016

"This medication has been extremely helpful to me. 7 months ago, I developed IBS, which made me very nervous about my stomach. I slowly became nervous about everything, not knowing that my anxiety was more than just 'little worries.' I was afraid to go to important events, thinking something bad could suddenly happen to me all the time. My mother was noticing these changes in my personality, so then made me go to a therapist. That was when I was suggested to be put on Paxil. I was afraid to take Paxil, but when I was finally forced to, I noticed changes within a week with just 5mg. I moved up to 10mg, and everyone could see changes in how I acted everywhere. I am currently still on 10mg, but even a little can do a lot, even for you!"

• Cor...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 6, 2015

"Paxil is better than other medicines I have taken for my anxiety by far. But, there are flaws with it. Being forgetful, I forget to take my medicine sometimes, and if I forget, I will get sick due to withdrawal. I am also a very skinny person and a picky eater already, and with taking Paxil, I have an extreme loss of appetite. Eating to me is now a chore and my body will not tell me when I am hungry until I go into shock due to malnutrition. But, all of this is worth it to get rid of my terrible anxiety. It is extremely worth it."

• Bra...
• May 16, 2013

"Paxil has been very helpful with my anxiety. I'm not so tired and am much happier. The only bad thing I have to say about it is if you miss 2 days or more of it, it has the worst side effects. I requested a refill too late (so it was my own fault) but I got shocking feelings in my head and fingertips. I was light-headed all the time and there were a few days I would wake up from a night's sleep and automatically start crying for no reason. I'm still on it and intend on still using it. Just make sure there's no room for cold turkey off of Paxil."

• Anonymous
• January 18, 2015

"I had my first anxiety attack when my oldest son was 2 years old & ended up in the ER. My doctor prescribed Paxil & it really helped. I've been on it for about 16 years now, even took it when I was pregnant with my second child. The only side effect I've really had is weight gain."

• Bjo...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 26, 2016

"I started to get anxiety and panic attacks when I was 24. I am now 30. I have tried multiple medications for anxiety, bipolar, depression, etc. I was getting racing thoughts, but worst of all was the whomp feeling you get, it's hard to explain. I was on benzos as well, and nothing helped me. Psychiatrists, group therapy, but you're the only one who knows what you feel, others do not understand it. I have always been a deep person and would think way too much. I got out of that stage on my own. Trust me, it sucks, I still get 'crazy,' but on Paxil, it really helped me. I only take Paxil, nothing else. You name it, I was on it, schizophrenia meds as well. I understand when people say I can't get up, I can't go out. Just try it, all are different!"

• She...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 14, 2019

"I have been on Aropax for 7 days now due to depression and anxiety. In the first few days of taking it, I was incredibly shaky, and when I spoke, my voice sounded distant from my own, like I was in a dreamlike state. I was yawning all the time. Although the symptoms seem to be getting better, I have restless legs, dry mouth, a stiff jaw and neck. I am cold all the time, and my skin feels like it is itchy or crawling. I wish I had done more research before taking it, as I have just read how bad the withdrawal symptoms are. Do you think if I stop taking it now, only after 7 days, it would be OK? Also, I feel like I am gaining weight but eating a lot less due to no appetite and drinking lots more water due to dry mouth. What to do?"

• tri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 22, 2019

"Before taking Paxil, I was suffering from anxiety. Feeling like I was dying, hypochondria, heart felt like it was always beating out of my chest, sweaty hands, etc. Now that I’m on 20 mg a day for the last 5 months, all of my anxiety symptoms are gone. The first month, I had trouble orgasming, but it’s resolved. I gained about 10 pounds, but that’s better than my previous suffering."

• JNo...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 18, 2014

"I took Paxil for 5 years for severe panic attacks and anxiety. I got to the point where I could barely leave the house without anxiety. I was on 20 mg once a day and it worked wonders for me. I felt 'normal' for the first time in years. HOWEVER... I gained 50 lbs. I decided to get off and weaned myself very slowly but still had withdrawal symptoms: brain zaps, severe headaches, dizzy, restless, faint, weak, and the list goes on. I have been off for 5 months now and still have symptoms."

• Bbe...
• November 22, 2015

"This medication has worked for me for over five years. I started taking it for anxiety, but it has also helped me with my extreme shyness. It throws a wet blanket over your emotions. It does reduce both the highs and lows and evens out your emotions."

• Ann...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 10, 2015

"I have been taking Paxil since 2001, when I was in college and age 21. I have always been an anxious person. My anxiety was probably partly biological or genetic and partly learned from my anxious parents. In 2001, my anxiety became very bad. For the first time in my life, I was having panic attacks and became agoraphobic. I was hardly eating. I was also suicidal. A doctor at my college put me on 60 mg of Paxil daily and 1 mg of Ativan three times a day. I also began seeing a psychologist and a psychiatrist. After about half a year, I was able to decrease the Paxil to 50 mg per day and the Ativan to once a day. The combination of Paxil and Ativan saved my life! My anxiety decreased tremendously and I felt so much better!"