Paroxetine and Nausea: 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."

• Anonymous
• February 22, 2010

For Depression "In the sea of negative reviews which I read before starting Paxil, I saw few positive ones even though I know that there are many, many people for whom this drug has worked wonders. I am one of those people. Diagnosed with severe depression and generalized anxiety disorder, my doctor started me on 10 mg/day, and despite minor, minor nausea for the initial 2 weeks, I have not had side effects. My anxiety and depression were vastly improved within that 2-4 week window, and I began to feel like my old self. I have experienced no discernible effects on my sex drive, which is a big negative side effect for many reviewers. This drug seems to have been tailor-made for me, I am thankful for its availability, and hope this review helps someone!"

• Hop...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2013

For Anxiety "About 6-8 weeks ago my doc prescribed 10 mg Paxil (Now up to 20 mg) & 0.25 Xanax. The first few weeks I was very, very fatigued! But since I was depressed, I was okay with sleeping the rest of the day after returning home from school. I did experience headaches, nausea, increased anxiety (Xanax helped alleviate anxiety). Within the last 2 weeks, I haven't taken Xanax, my anxiety has dramatically decreased! Depression has also decreased. A few months ago I was scared to leave the house, be around people, an emotional wreck, no motivation to work out. Now I'm happy to go to school, exercise, and be social again. Keep praying and hang in there!"

• TMM...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 31, 2024

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Paxil has literally changed my life. I am so grateful I tried it and persevered through the first week of mild, manageable side effects (like some nausea and insomnia). I did have to use a sleep medication to help me through the insomnia for at least 4-6 weeks and nibble on biscuits to settle my stomach during the day, but I could feel Paxil's positive effects within the first two weeks, so I knew it was worth continuing. It quieted my overactive mind and helped me let go of many of my OCD-type behaviors around my health anxiety. I started slow at 10 mg, increased to 20 mg after a week, and then to 30 mg when I felt some of the panic and anxiety creeping back in after two months. 30 mg seems to be my baseline. I am just so grateful for this medication. I wanted to write this review to help anyone who is scared to try it. I know medication is different for different people, but other SSRIs didn't work for me, so if you've had a similar experience, maybe Paxil will help you too."

• 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."

• Lad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 1, 2017

For Anxiety "I started on 10mg Paxil 2 months ago, and my life is changed. I was able to recognize how amazing life is without the shadow of anxiety which caused my depression. I came back to myself. My therapist recommended doing a trial of 20mg to see if my remaining anxiety issues could be subsided as well. I just started today and I feel a little more lethargic than I'd like to and I fear for my sex life. I'm going to try it for a while until my body adjusts and if I still feel out of sorts, I'm going to drop back down to 10mg. The first week or two of symptoms was pretty terrible, I was yawning excessively. VERY nauseous, tired often...but as soon as my body adjusted, an amazing sense of clarity came over me--first time in 15 years. Life changing."

• Mar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 5, 2020

For Social Anxiety Disorder "I’ve been taking Paxil for almost a year now. I struggled with social anxiety all my life, but it was manageable. But when I started college, it got really bad. It got to the point where I couldn’t order food at a restaurant or buy a bag of chips at the gas station without feeling nauseous. My doctor thought Paxil would help and put me on 20mg. And it really has made a huge difference. I can function like a normal human now. I’m not suddenly a social butterfly or anything, I’m still a rather shy person. This drug won’t change your personality, but it does help alleviate anxious symptoms associated with social situations."

• Emi...
• December 28, 2014

For Anxiety and Stress "There is a lot of other reviews that I have read that sums a lot of it up. Yes, you will most likely experience yawning, nausea, and headaches at first. It does go away! At first I also noticed a change in my sex life. I could still get in the mood but found it near impossible to orgasm. Also, with sleep, I did feel tired for a bit, but I think it was because I experienced trouble sleeping at first. I found some things that helped fix some of this: I went from 20mg to 10mg a day. I took it right after breakfast. This one is important! Exercise! I started running again and I found that it had an extremely positive effect and it went well with the medication. A lot of the jitters I got at first went away, it helped me sleep better, and more!"

• 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!"

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

For Anxiety "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!!"

• JTo...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 30, 2014

For Panic Disorder "I've been on Paxil since I was 19. I am now 34. This medication has saved my life. I have read a ton of negative comments about Paxil, and I truly believe it is not for everyone. It either works great or not. For me, life before Paxil was horribly scary. I had massive panic disorder and was sheltered in my home all the time. I used to struggle with a few of the side effects of Paxil, such as decreased sex drive and the feeling of nausea. However, I have learned over the last 15 years of being on it how to change the side effects through other positive reinforcements such as meditation and positive thinking. I no longer have the side effects. Perhaps 15 years have helped with that too. I stayed on Paxil when I had all three of my children."

• Ron...
• June 12, 2015

For Depression "I tried so many medications before like Prozac and Zoloft. I can't remember the rest, but they made me sick or suicidal. I've been on Paxil CR 12.5 for 10 years and never increased, and it is the best one for me. I cannot live my life without Paxil. It has made me a better person, mother, sister, and friend."

• Joh...
• October 23, 2015

For Social Anxiety Disorder "I've been taking Paxil since I was 9 years old. I'm now 19. Paxil has changed for the best. As a child, I missed 4 months of school because I was so scared and nervous, I would puke until my parents told me I didn't have to go, then I would instantly feel better. I tried in middle school to stop taking Paxil, but I became scared, nervous, and edgy. It has just given me a little balance and control over myself, I'm very thankful for Paxil and that medication has come so far and has offered neurological help and relief to those who need it."

• Opa...
• July 2, 2011

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I am 23 years old and I have been taking Paxil since I was 11. It has worked extremely well for me over the years and I have had little to no problems with my OCD. When I was 17, I tried to go off the medication (with the help of my doctor) and it was extremely hard. I became really depressed and had horrible headaches and nausea. I decided to go back on the medication because it wasn't the right time in my life to deal with so much stress. FYI, if I skip/forget a pill, I get really bad nausea and I tend to bruise and scar very easily. If you are looking for something to treat your OCD, this might be the medicine for you."

• Mis...
• October 26, 2014

For Social Anxiety Disorder "I have been depressed with major social anxiety for over five years. I've always been scared to try any medication. Lately it's been unbearable. I have too much social anxiety that I can't even sit through job interviews or simple things like going shopping alone. I'm 25 and have been on Paxil for less than a month. The first two weeks were bad. I'd wake up at odd hours of the night and be wide awake. I'd feel like puking throughout the day along with being very drowsy. Don't worry. It does subside. I feel like going out more and I'm not too worried as I usually am about people judging me or looking at me. I participate in small talk with strangers. I am free to go out without worrying. I'm content."

• 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."

• Kt5...
• June 25, 2017

For Anxiety "I started Paxil approximately 3 weeks ago, and my life started changing for the better about 2 weeks into it. I feel my social anxiety dissolving, I didn't realize how depressed I was, but life is starting to look so much brighter. I suffered from bad PE, which made sexual intimacy impossible, and this has pretty much gone away. I am becoming more outgoing and able to express myself to others, and I am working hard to remove everything in my head that caused my anxiety by talking with my spouse and others in my family. I am also becoming much more comfortable in social situations. I sure hope it continues because I can't imagine going back to my old self. I had bad nausea and was so tired the first week, but it was so worth it."

• Kya...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 28, 2020

For Major Depressive Disorder "I've been on almost every antidepressant out there (save for some tricyclics) for major depressive disorder, and none helped enough to justify the side effects. I was on Paxil briefly when I was 14, but stopped it due to insurance problems. I started it again a couple of months ago, and it has been incredible. I started out at a dose of 10 mg, had some nausea, but nothing major, and it went away after a couple of weeks. I've now been on a 20 mg dose for almost three weeks and am experiencing some nausea again and headaches, but emotionally, I feel fantastic. I didn't have a severe PTSD anniversary reaction this year, thanks to this medication. I feel good. I care about things. I feel like I can handle setbacks without wanting to just give up. This has truly been a miracle for me so far."

• Mar...
• October 29, 2013

For Depression "Bipolar, ADHD, OCD, etc. Many of the symptoms overlap and crossover into each other and others as well. Depression is found in each condition, and I find for myself that depression is by far the most debilitating condition of all. I first tried Paxil 12 years ago for depression and anxiety. The Paxil worked great. The side effects included a little nausea (which is basically eliminated by eating something with or soon after taking the med) and some sexual issues (which I believe can be negotiated after you get used to the Paxil). I quit taking it when I switched insurance and because of the perceived stigma I had with taking anything for conditions I didn't want to even acknowledge. Now I'm back on it and will keep it up!"

• Anonymous
• January 20, 2017

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "It started in the spring of 1996. I began having stomach pains horribly every day. Nausea. I had made a major life change in going into something with a 4- and 1-year-old that I did not want to really do, but my wife wanted bad... By September of that year, I had become in such pain and lost 50 lbs that my intern put me in the hospital for one week with every test of the digestive system. Long story short, I left the hospital with a diagnosis of GAD and secondary IBS. Went home and didn't sleep one week, so the doctor put me in a private mental home. They put me on 1 mg Klonopin, 20 mg Paxil, and 50 mg Trazodone for sleep. In 5 days, no stomach problems at all. Ate 3 square meals, played ball, went to gym. Was alive again!!!"

• 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!"

• Kel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 14, 2015

For Hot Flashes "Been on Brisdelle for ten days. I was having eight to ten hot flashes a day, and I was up all night long with them as well. Over the last ten days, they have tapered off, with yesterday and today being completely hot flash-free! My anxiety is also almost completely gone. I had bouts of nausea in the beginning that came in waves and even woke me up at night, but that seems to have disappeared completely. I hope this continues! I'm very happy with this medication."

• kad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 25, 2016

For Panic Disorder "I've been on this medication for 2 weeks. I take 10 mgs once a day. The first week was kind of rough. Headaches, nausea, teeth clenching, extreme fatigue, blurry vision, things like that. The second week has been much better. I'm able to leave my house to go do things. I actually have been going to the gym and spending over an hour working out. After struggling to find the proper medication and being terrified to live my life since 2014, this medicine has truly helped me. I feel confident that I am on the road to recovery. The only complaint that I have is that my memory is still a bit foggy. I hope that in time that will clear up as well. SSRIs can be scary and have rough side effects, but hang in there. It gets better."

• Sof...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 5, 2018

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "First off, I am an alcoholic with 8 years of sobriety. Three years into continuous sobriety, I began to feel like I was experiencing PMS all the time. I drank for most of my adult life, approximately 30 years, thus I may have needed SSRIs all along. Long story short, I tried 10 mg of paroxetine or Paxil, which made me feel like I had motion sickness for a day or two, then it went away. I used to obsess over stupid stuff, and I felt anxious, which affected my sleep. Within 2 weeks, I mellowed out without becoming lethargic or tired. Basically, it took me down a notch, and I am much more patient and not obsessing. 2 1/2 years later, I am doing great at 20 mg. My quality of life is much better. I am a full-time mom, student, and wife with no time to be bogged down. Paxil worked well for me."

• Kim...
• July 6, 2016

For Hot Flashes "I've been on this medication for a year now, about a month after having a full hysterectomy. Worked the first night I took it. No hot flashes, no mood swings. I feel great and sleep well. I do experience nausea once in a while in the morning, but that fades fast with a drink of water or a cup of coffee. It's very pricey, even with a coupon, as I pay out of pocket, but it's worth every dime."