Paxil and Dizziness: What Users Say

• Nik...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 19, 2021

For Anxiety "On this medicine, I feel like I'm actually living for the first time in 24 years. I was worried to try it, but am so grateful I did. For the first month, I would take it at night and would wake up from nausea every night. I suggest taking it during the day! Sometimes I get a little dizzy, especially if I forget to take it, but don't mind that too much. My perfectionism and social anxiety were destroying my work and relationships, and now I am productive, focused, and so stable!! If you are considering, try Paxil out! I couldn't be more thankful that I did."

• BOR...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 4, 2025

For Panic Disorder "I have been on paroxetine for 30 years. It saved my life. Stopped my panic attacks. At first, it caused such nausea and dizziness, I almost quit. I am so glad I gave it a chance. Along with Xanax, my life was changed. I still get depressed and anxious, but it’s okay. No more debilitating panic attacks. It is a very serious drug. I had tried every natural treatment on the planet, praying they would work, but they didn’t. Paxil was my very last choice. I’m currently on 40 mgs nightly with 1 mg of clonazepam."

• Col...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2012

For Social Anxiety Disorder "Paxil has changed my life! Before: paranoia about people watching me, extreme anxiety walking or being in public places, such as cafeterias, college campus, small groups of people. Mind blankness during conversations, or 'social lock up' - inability to interact with others due to severe anxiety. Always woke up feeling tired even if I had a full night's sleep. Side Effects (lasted 2 weeks): 20mg daily. Severe fatigue/sleepiness. A little dizziness if dose was taken late. Headache the 1st two days. Now: Began working really well 7-8 weeks in. No more social anxiety, I feel normal walking around & talking to people. Also I sleep better than ever. Overall anxiety level has gone down & I no longer ruminate/worry constantly! Paxil rocks!"

• Pan...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 18, 2014

For Anxiety "I have taken Paxil on and off my entire adult life. I have always stuck to a low dose at 10mg a day. I do not have depression, I am just very sensitive especially in times of high stress, and panic attacks start to take over my life. I had to put my degree on hold, I missed out on vacations with my family, and my professional life suffered as well. Paxil calms my nerves. It keeps me in check so I don't freak out in times of stress. The side effects do exist, but keeping a low dose helps. My libido is affected a bit, I do get dizzy from time to time, and I also have dry mouth. At 10mg a day, once I feel like I am in control again (usually 8 months to a year of being on the medicine) I can stop without any of the bad withdrawals."

• Ssi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 11, 2014

For Anxiety "I have been on this medication for one week. I have mild jaw pain and a bit dizzy, but I will take that over the madness I felt a week ago. Suicidal, anxious, crying, needless to say, I was a mess! I still have a few intrusive thoughts, but this is only one week, and I am grateful. I went through three medications before finding this one, and I am glad to say the least I can get back to being a mother and wife."

• ash...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 24, 2013

For Depression "I've been taking paroxetine for a week. I haven't felt like this in years! I feel like myself again! The first few days I experienced nausea, dizzy spells, and dry mouth. But now the only side effect is dry mouth. This is a miracle drug!"

• Cub...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 14, 2020

For Panic Disorder "I was diagnosed with severe depression and panic disorder many years ago, which was associated with fibromyalgia. I had been on all types of medicines and even spent time in a mental health unit. Fast forward to the present, my psychiatrist and I discussed trying out Paxil, which my sister had suggested to me since nothing else was working. In February 2020, I started on 20 mg of Paxil. At first, I had horrible night sweats, lack of sleep, foggy, dizzy head, but I decided to keep on it. So the doctor increased me over time, and now I'm at 40 mg I take before bed, and I must say it's a MIRACLE medication for me!! I care about things, have more energy, and try to enjoy life as much as possible. Only side effect is my vision isn't the best, and I eat more than usual, and I'm having a lot of memory problems with forgetfulness. But I don't care, this medication is the best thing to ever happen to me mental health-wise!! Thank you, God!!"

• Pos...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 7, 2019

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Give Paxil a chance. I looked at all the horror stories on here and am glad I chose to ignore them and continue with the drug. I was on it for 8 months total. It took about 4-6 weeks to take full effect, and weaning off was a bit uncomfortable. It controlled my symptoms and helped me gain control of my life back. I was not paid to say any of this, I just know I was scared to try it, and you shouldn’t be. Your doctor prescribed it for a reason. Be patient, the side effects I had in the beginning of diarrhea and dizziness went away as my body got used to it. Good luck!"

• kms...
• March 5, 2015

For Depression "I have been on Paxil for 3 weeks. Previously, I was on Lexapro and it worked well, however, I wanted to quit smoking, so I was switched to Paxil. I have noticed I am sleeping all night through without getting up at 2 or 3 am and staying up the rest of the night. I do, however, have vertigo, but I have suffered from vertigo for 20 years, so I cannot actually attribute that to the Paxil. I also have appetite loss. I can only eat 1/3 of what I ate previously. So far, so good. I have no problem taking a med for my depression, no different than a heart condition, just much harder to treat! Hoping it keeps going good!"

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

For Anxiety "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."

• Jpa...
• July 22, 2013

For Anxiety and Stress "I started Paxil 6 days ago. I get married next month, and my job switched me to sales. I couldn't take the stress - I went to the hospital thinking I was having a heart attack, to find out it was anxiety. I've had chest pains, palpitations, obsessive nail biting, and chewing. I couldn't take it anymore. I've used 3 vacation days up just because of anxiety. Also, I'm 27 years old. Since I've started Paxil, I've had a lot of side effects that I didn't associate with the medicine right away. I have trouble urinating even when I have to go badly. I've had short-term memory loss like forgetting my work number, I feel hungover and dizzy, blurred vision, shakes, nausea, and inability to reach orgasm."

• Mr ...
• August 11, 2015

For Anxiety "I began taking Paxil for my depression and anxiety. I started at 10 mg. The first night I took it, I had horrible dizziness, headache, sickness, and felt weak. The next night I felt fine. Now it is 3 months later, and I feel wonderful! No side effects, and I can get through the day without anxiety being the focal point. I am now up to 30 mg."

• Tox...
• February 7, 2010

For Social Anxiety Disorder "I took Celexa a few years back for my chronic depression. It didn't make me feel so good so after 6 months I went off it, cold turkey, and dealt with the withdrawal symptoms of that drug (zaps!). So when I got offered Paxil for my social anxiety and depression, and heard that there were withdrawal symptoms, I decided that if it helped, I'd try it. In just these few weeks, my friends and I have noticed a huge change. No weight gain, more energy, upbeat and outgoing, smiley and laughing, and optimistic for the first time in... my life? Only downfall I've noticed so far is the crippling nausea and dizziness the first three days of taking the medicine. I feel fantastic now!"

• Anonymous
• February 11, 2020

For Anxiety "I was very skeptical about taking Paxil, as I’ve never taken a daily medication before. I started taking it and was on it for 4 days. On the fourth day, I woke up with this dizzy/groggy feeling. I didn’t think much of it, and then I took my medication for the day. I decided to take a nap due to the dizzy feeling, and when I woke up, I had the worst suicidal thoughts, my head felt even worse, my eyes couldn’t focus on anything, my pupils were dilated, my body felt extremely limp, but I was shaking, and I also had cold sweats. I called my doctor, and she recommended I go to the hospital. I ended up not going because one of my friends had gone through the same thing and told me to stop taking the medication and just drink some water and eat some food. I felt better for the rest of the day, but that night I only got 3 hours of sleep due to nightmares and suicidal thoughts."

• Pun...
• January 31, 2014

For Anxiety "I felt so much less anxious initially, so foolishly, and with doctor's encouragement, I stayed on Paxil for 3-4 years. Two months ago, I started to wean myself off this medicine very slowly. I have never felt so bad in my 72 years of life. At first, I felt it must be the flu, though I'd had a flu shot in November of last year (13). The withdrawal symptoms of nausea, vomiting, hot flashes, not thinking clearly, fatigue, extremely vivid and frightening dreams, dizziness, and depression lasted 5-6 days. My doctor recommended that I go back on Paxil at half a tablet initially, and then a whole tablet after a week. So it has been two weeks now of my taking a 40 mg dose each evening. I tried documenting my terrible experience."

• KLM...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 12, 2022

For Anxiety "I rely so heavily on these reviews, so I wanted to come back and contribute my own! I started on 10 mg of Paxil daily three weeks ago for severe general anxiety and frequent panic attacks. I have suffered from mild anxiety off and on my entire life, but for whatever reason, it struck tenfold this July and hasn’t let up since. I suddenly began experiencing frequent panic attacks when feeling 'trapped' in places like the car, work meetings, church, etc. I canceled a Disney trip for my son last month because I couldn’t bear the thought of being on a plane. Paxil is working wonders for me! Three weeks in, and I no longer feel scared and shaky all of the time, I have energy and am motivated, I can focus, and my appetite has actually decreased (I’ve lost 5 lbs!). Push through the headaches and dizziness that the first couple of weeks will bring, it’s worth it."

• Chr...
• January 29, 2010

For Depression "Paxil saved my life. I was depressed and could not climb out. Tried Effexor, but it made my heart beat rapidly and made me really nervous. Paxil has been amazing. I feel like a regular person. I have highs and lows, but the lows aren't as low as they used to be... and they only occur when there is a real reason to be sad. The bad: the withdrawal symptoms are horrible! I didn't try to get off Paxil, but I forgot it once on a vacation trip. Got very lightheaded, dizzy, and I had the 'zaps.' It was like being shocked at random moments. I'll probably never get off Paxil... but it is worth it. My quality of life improved in the last 3 years, and it is worth any long-term effect this drug has on me."

• Anonymous
• May 30, 2008

For Depression "It worked great for 12 years. Then I decided to stop taking it and deal with some emotional issues. Bad idea. Incredibly difficult to get off of. Nausea for a month, and after that I was dizzy for another month. Fell into a horrible depression, saw and felt the gates of hell. Ironically, I'm now taking 3 drugs to deal with my depression: Lexapro, Lamictal, and Seroquel. Dealing with my emotional issues, but I definitely would do things differently if I had to do it over."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 15, 2018

For Depression "While on the medication, everything seemed fine. I can see why people like to take it. It helps with anxiety and depression both. What the doctor didn’t tell me was that there’s a chance of gaining 20-50 pounds in the first 6 months. I gained a total of 18 pounds in the first 4 months. I had taken other SSRIs before and never experienced weight gain, so I thought, “Why take Paxil if I can take something else that doesn’t cause extreme weight gain?” I began tapering off like I always have when I wanted to stop a medication, and what I experienced was pretty awful. Let me just give you the breakdown: brain zaps (constantly), electric shocks going through my head (constantly), dizziness when standing, vertigo, diarrhea every single day, chills, insomnia (I didn’t sleep once for 4 days straight), outbursts of uncontrollable crying, mood swings (I literally had lost control of all my emotions)."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 15, 2018

For Depression "While on the medication, everything seemed fine. I can see why people like to take it. It helps with anxiety and depression both. What the doctor didn’t tell me was that there’s a chance of gaining 20-50 pounds in the first 6 months. I gained a total of 18 pounds in the first 4 months. I had taken other SSRIs before and never experienced weight gain, so I thought, “Why take Paxil if I can take something else that doesn’t cause extreme weight gain?” I began tapering off like I always have when I wanted to stop a medication, and what I experienced was pretty awful. Let me just give you the breakdown: brain zaps (constantly), electric shocks going through my head (constantly), dizziness when standing, vertigo, diarrhea every single day, chills, insomnia (I didn’t sleep once for 4 days straight), outbursts of uncontrollable crying, mood swings (I literally had lost control of all my emotions)."

• Bee...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 29, 2018

For Anxiety "I've been on this drug for 3 years. It's really effective, but if you are prone to weight gain, BOY will you put on weight! The biggest con is coming off them. I'm currently going from Paxil to Prozac. Paxil withdrawal includes insomnia, dizziness, headaches, feeling faint, itchy skin (like you are being covered in ants), and sweating. I've come off many antidepressants in the past, and this is the worst withdrawal I've had."

• Byr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 30, 2018

For Anxiety and Stress "Second time trying Paxil. First time it worked within a few days, had some side effects, but helped with my panic attacks and anxiety. I felt better after a couple of months, so I got off. So now, I'm having bad anxiety again, along with panic attacks. My doctor put me back on Paxil at 5 mg for 2 weeks, then wants me to increase to 10. This time, really bad side effects, dizziness, and panic attacks are worse than ever after taking for 5 days. But... in between, it is helping with my anxiety and panic, so I am going to stick it out and see if these side effects will stop."

• mrs...
• August 30, 2011

For Anxiety "I took Paxil for nearly 9 months, and it seemed to cure all my ailments. I didn't realize how many things were attributed to my anxiety, including chest pains, nausea, headaches, etc. I really felt great (after a week or so of insomnia, which is a common side effect). I recently stopped taking Paxil since I was feeling so great. That is really tough. I had awful dizziness (but again, this is to be expected) for about 10 days. Several weeks later, I am realizing I felt much better on Paxil and am thinking of returning to it."

• Pan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 1, 2016

For Anxiety and Stress "Had a severe reaction to this medication on the first dose, including waking in the middle of the night dizzy and disoriented, proceeding to vomit repeatedly, numbness in fingertips and gums, severe chills, and then soaking in sweat, and difficulty speaking. Took a trip to the ER. I am sure that it works for some people, but the side effects can be very scary. Make sure someone is aware you took it and keeps an eye on you. It is very unlikely you will have a reaction like I did, but having someone in the know will save you some trouble if you do have a bad reaction."

• Jam...
• November 17, 2013

For Anxiety "This is my second time taking Paxil. For me, it is the only medication that has been effective in treating my anxiety. I've taken just about every medication for anxiety over the past 10 years. In my early 20s, I took Paxil for about 6 months and experienced sexual side effects but only gained about 5 lbs. It was horrible to come off of Paxil, and I experienced dizziness, headaches, and nausea. I am currently 29, and I started taking Paxil again about 5 months ago due to increased anxiety. While it has been effective in helping me to lead a normal life with minimal anxiety, it has caused horrible weight gain. I gained 15 lbs in the past 3 months, which is a lot for my petite frame at 5'1". Due to the weight gain, I am currently attempting to stop."