Paroxetine and Nausea: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Dis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 18, 2017

Paxil (paroxetine) for Anxiety "I started taking Paxil for anxiety and depression and started feeling sick on the first pill. Nauseous, headaches, trembling, body shocks, etc. After the second pill, I found it was starting to get hard to orgasm. By the fourth pill, I couldn't orgasm and quit taking it at that point. Not ready to give up sex to possibly get over some anxiety and depression, but seriously if the side effects are this bad after 4 pills, what would a month be like? Then after stopping after 4 days, it was like the whole process in reverse, as I had gotten over the headaches and sickness after 2 days, it took another 2 days to get over it once stopping. I am going to try something else or just go back to self-medication, at least the side effects are more manageable."

• Pau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 16, 2016

Paxil (paroxetine) for Panic Disorder "I started Paxil to control anxiety. The first brand was Auribindo. It worked for about one month. I was using less Klonopin. Then, out of the blue, I had a panic attack that put me in the hospital overnight. Then I switched generic brands to Zydus. On my first dose, I thought I would die. It felt like I had overdosed. It happened within 10 minutes of taking that brand. It was only 15 mg. I have now received the Dylan brand and will take it in the morning. I say this for people who think Paxil may not work. You need to do a trial run on these no-good generics. I felt like I was dying, plus so nauseated on the Zydus brand. Hopefully, the Nylon will work. I am running out of brands to try."

• Sun...
• April 25, 2018

Paxil (paroxetine) for Major Depressive Disorder "I tried this medication, and it had the most horrible side effects and all around worsened my condition. It caused a more severe depression and rageful episodes, which destroyed a wonderful relationship with my boyfriend. After taking it for less than a month, I could not breathe and fell unconscious and had a seizure. It was also prescribed for hot flashes, which didn't work either. In addition, it caused nausea and flu-like symptoms and 10 lb weight gain. I felt worse than ever, and it had a deleterious effect on my life. Horrible drug!"

• 856...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 27, 2022

For Anxiety "I have taken 2 doses of paroxetine, as prescribed, and I have to stop. I haven't slept, I can't eat because I am so nauseated, and trying to eat makes it worse. I have headaches too. This isn't the drug for me. I have anxiety after having major emergency surgery and nearly losing my life. I was given gabapentin in the hospital, and my body became dependent on it. After tapering off the horrible gabapentin and going through severe withdrawal, my P.C. doctor wanted me to try them for anxiety. They cloud my brain, and my vision is weird too, along with the nausea and headaches. I'm not taking any more. I'm done. I don't like drugs."

• Jes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 3, 2022

For Anxiety "I took this medication for 4 days. It was suggested by my psychiatrist after all other medications not working that we had tried. Days 1-3 were okay - I had loss of appetite and a slight increase in suicidal thoughts, but otherwise okay. On days 3/4, however, it all went downhill. I have emetophobia, and I woke up at 4 a.m. with the worst nausea I have had in my life and consequently the worst panic. I was hyperventilating, screaming, and crying hysterically with sweat dripping down my back on my bathroom floor for 5 hours with the most intense nausea I have ever experienced. Unfortunately, I just could not get past the side effects to let this medication work."

• hib...
• September 22, 2015

Paxil CR (paroxetine) for Depression "It was pretty efficient. Within 3 months, I had been out of my acute depressive episode and full of life. I hadn't experienced any increase in appetite, as I was warned, and in fact, it helped with my IBS a lot. I was started on 25 mg/day, then 37.5 mg/day for around 8 months, after which I sought my doctor for mania symptoms I was experiencing: very talkative, juggling thoughts, very rapid tone and rush of ideas when speaking, and most importantly, insomnia! Anyhow, we had to emergency stop it: 25 mg for 3 weeks, then 12.5 mg for one, and then nothing. Worst experience in the world, it's very physically debilitating: nausea, dizziness, weird feeling on my head. Had to take Xanax to combat the withdrawal symptoms, couldn't leave the house for 2 months!"

• Jac...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 16, 2022

Paxil (paroxetine) for Anxiety "After using it for 7 years and suffering a lot from low libido, inability to reach orgasm, weak erection, and feeling of not being myself, I abruptly weaned myself and experienced several terrible symptoms for 2 years straight, with no day off. I had extreme dizziness, head shocks, insane panic attacks, sensitivity to movements, severe motion sickness attacks, even sleeping, I felt sick. I got depressed, I couldn't feel any good feelings, the world turned gray. I didn't sleep, I was walking around the house desperate, I felt intoxicated, and with an absurdly strong pressure on the back of my neck for months. I never imagined that a person could suffer so much in this life. Now it's been 5 years since I stopped using it, but I still have dizziness and bumps in my head, which often feel like a seizure. I'm still struggling to recover, and I've discovered dozens of other cases like mine. This medicine disgraced at least 15 years of my life... continue..."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 5, 2022

For Anxiety "Awful experience. Took 20 mg paroxetine for 4 days. Had headaches and felt sick. Decided to stop - spoke to my GP. Have been through the worst 6 days of my life suffering withdrawals. Horrendous nausea all day long, cannot sleep, feelings of not being able to breathe properly, diarrhea, stomach ache, my anxiety is terrible. Wish I had never taken this med. Worst withdrawals I have ever been through. Hope it is over soon."

• Ant...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 18, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "Started taking 25 mg daily middle of 2018. It's been making my anxiety worse. I quit taking it for a few days, and I had to leave work because I was super dizzy and nauseous. Also felt tingling throughout my arms. I started cutting the pill in half and have been 'fine' ever since. I want to try and get off of it. It makes my whole body feel weird, and my head gets all groggy, like I'm in a dream."

• Anonymous
• July 26, 2010

Paxil (paroxetine) for Depression "I thought I needed an antidepressant, so I tried a couple. Paxil, for me, had terrible side effects. I felt like I was on speed. Had to eat every two hours. I could not go anywhere; always had to have snacks with me, and I lost weight even with the calorie increase. Insomnia was the worst. I could not even take 10 mg. I tried the medication for about 7 weeks and decided it was not for me and began a weaning-off process. Reduced to 5 mg for 1 week; this was the hardest and caused the most side effects, which included vertigo, nausea, and insomnia, which lasted about 2 days. Then I reduced to 2.5 mg for another week and a half. Stopped taking it completely after this and did fine with no side effects."

• Vix...
• November 3, 2019

For Depression "I've been taking paroxetine 10 mg for 3 weeks now, and the side effects for the first week were that I was very, very sleepy, drowsy, jittery, and nauseous to the point of taking cyclizine, which had helped immensely. The other side effect, which I was going to quit paroxetine for, was the morning nervousness, jittery type feelings, and waking up early at 4 and 5 in the morning, and I can't get back to sleep. These still remain the same 3 weeks on, which is annoying, especially on days off from work. The nausea has gone, but the jittery, on-edge feelings are still there. I'm going to carry on and see how it goes. If no change after 2 months, I'll change to another antidepressant."

• ctx...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 24, 2022

For Anxiety "Be careful if you’re considering this drug. Paxil ruined my life and my mental health. I was originally prescribed paroxetine to treat my severe social anxiety. I had never been on an SSRI, right away, I felt it working in my brain. I would feel like a zombie for 1-2 hours every day after taking it. That lasted about a month before the nausea slowly eased up, and I started to feel the positive effects. It completely took my social anxiety away, but as time went on, I started slipping into an extremely deep depression, and that’s when everything went downhill very quickly. The lows caused by Paxil are unbearable. I became dangerously suicidal and paranoid to the point that I completely isolated myself. It made me manic and unable to function. Ruined my sex drive. Long story short, I ended up clinically insane, 15 cops showed up at my door for a welfare check. They took me to a mental institution where I stayed for 4 days. All directly caused by this awful drug."

• Jsi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 17, 2014

For Anxiety "I have only been on this medication for 3 days. I have had really bad nausea, however, I can't believe the difference I feel so quickly. I am about to be a father, and I'm really hoping that this medicine will work for me, as I haven't had any luck taking other antidepressants. I got to the point where I didn't want to go to work, and I would make excuses, but actually, it was because I was too scared. Working as a teacher for young children, this would surely brighten anyone's day. I am writing this review so early because last night, I had some problems that would usually put me in a terrible state, however, I was fine. I have had problems sleeping, however, as it has only been a very short while, I hope these symptoms will disappear soon."

• hap...
• October 7, 2016

Paxil CR (paroxetine) for Anxiety "After 5 years on Paxil, then 2 years on Paxil CR, I weaned myself off in 2 months. I had severe nausea and abdominal pain for 3 months. I am back on Paxil 10 mg daily, under a Physician Assistant's care to eventually wean off. Nausea is gone, as is the abdominal pain. It was so bad for those three months, I was hardly able to function because of the extreme nausea."

• Han...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 4, 2021

For Anxiety "I was prescribed 10 mg for anxiety and agoraphobia. If I could give this negative stars, I would. I took it at night and had trouble sleeping. In the morning, my appetite was completely gone, I was nauseous and more anxious than ever. I decided I wouldn't take it again. Around the 20-hour mark, I was sweating profusely with shakiness and awful nausea. Felt like I had the stomach flu."

• Fre...
• December 31, 2014

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "Suffered from panic attacks and some depression because of the panic attacks, as I was unable to get back to work for three months. Paroxetine has always worked for me without too much side effect. The first few weeks, a little nauseous, but then it passed as I got used to it (I started with 20 mg and now on 10 mg). The only drawback is that I've put on weight (one stone extra in the last 7 years, but I would rather be a little overweight and well in my head). I've tried to stop on two occasions in the last 7 years by gradually going down to 5 mg and then less and then nothing. On both occasions, my body reacted well for about 6 months, and then out of nowhere, I started to have panic attacks again each time. I've decided to keep taking 10 mg."

• sha...
• May 24, 2010

For Panic Disorder "I was prescribed paroxetine 10 mg for my panic disorder and OCD. I've been on it for about 1 month. At first, I was really tired, could hardly stay awake, and I couldn't eat because I felt nauseated, and at times I felt like my body was burning from the inside out. I almost felt like a zombie, just sat there, didn't smile, frown, or laugh. Thought I was going crazy. How would I take care of my kids like this? I decided to keep taking it because I hadn't had a panic attack, and having one frightened me to no end. After about 2 weeks, I was able to get up and clean without being picky, ride in a car without being scared, we had some storms, and I didn't panic, and I was playing with my kids again. The pros outweigh the cons! Thank you, paroxetine."

• muh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 29, 2022

For Anxiety and Stress "My problem is anxiety and panic attacks, sudden heartbeat fastens every day. Then I visited my doctor, and he gave me Paromax 20 mg (paroxetine 20 mg). In the first 2 weeks, there were side effects like nausea, dizziness, and loss of appetite, but now I'm on it for a month, and everything is going better. It is a game-changer."

• Men...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 13, 2022

For Hot Flashes "My PA prescribed this med for hot flashes. I took it for a few weeks and was delighted with the improvement in my sleep quality. My hot flashes decreased in intensity. However, two weeks in, I began to feel malaise and a sour stomach. I didn’t put it together until 26 doses that the medication was causing excess stomach acid, headaches, and nausea. I researched side effects and realized it was paroxetine causing me to feel sick. I also felt woozy and doped up. My nausea caused vomiting, which burned my throat. I flushed the capsules down the toilet almost four weeks in. It took a week to escape the mental fog. I felt like my brain was peeling itself out of a latex cast for a week. My stomach was so bad, I developed a bleeding ulcer. I required a proton pump inhibitor and an anti-nausea medicine after 26 doses. Quitting cold seemed like the best way vs. tapering off because my stomach was raw, full, bloated, and nauseous. I threw up. I need a GI consult now. Rather have hot flashes. No go. Not for me."

• Che...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 22, 2021

For Depression "About 3 years ago, I started getting into a really deep depression and had social anxiety, which never used to be like me at all. I was so depressed to the point I didn’t go to school and would isolate myself in my room, and I never saw anyone, lost all interest in hobbies, work, and school. I was on escitalopram first, but it didn’t work, so I tried Paxil, and the side effects at first were shitty. I felt nauseous, but after a few weeks that went away, and now I've been on it for almost a year, and it has made me so much more stable. I have motivation again, and I’m doing so well in my courses. I’m not as moody anymore, I’m able to have conversations with people on nights out, and I’m overall just so much happier and feel like life is worth living. Please don’t be scared by the bad reviews. I was too, but I am so pleased with how well it worked. I use 10 mg, and I don’t need to have a higher dose! It’s actually amazing, so if you’re thinking about it, JUST DO IT :)"

• spo...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 22, 2015

For Panic Disorder "Withdrawal is a literal nightmare! Headaches, shock/buzz in ears/head, lump in throat, chills, night sweats, crying. It's been 5 weeks, and MD said gastric distress and nausea may still be from withdrawal. Libido and joy of life are returning, but give yourself a month without major social events to get back on your feet."

• Bri...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 7, 2021

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have been taking paroxetine for about 7 months, and I am beyond pleased! The first 3 weeks were, in fact, a nightmare on wheels (nausea, short-winded, fatigue, low concentration), but soon after those 3 weeks, I noticed that constant mind stress didn't cause anymore of my panic attacks. My appetite came in full effect (started at 108, currently at 143). One thing I will say is, not all medicines are for everyone. Took me 9 years to finally find something that truly helps!"

• Nic...
• March 27, 2017

For Depression "I took 40mg Paxil once a day for over a year and never felt right. At first, it was bad. I was getting really bad vertigo and nausea. Every night, I would have one of three recurring nightmares and night sweats. I just ran out and can't get more, so I'm on day three cold turkey and feel miserable. Before you take this medicine, you really need to see your doctor about other options."

• mad...
• October 17, 2011

For Anxiety and Stress "I started paroxetine 20 mg 2 1/2 months ago. The first few days, I was very nauseous. That went away fast, and 2 weeks into it, I felt good. I could deal with my small anxieties and stresses. I still can deal with them because I don't care, in fact, I came to find I don't care about anything anymore. About 2 months into this medicine, I started sleeping 12 to 14 hours-not good-along with very vivid strange dreams, and I don't care about anything! My ears ring with a buzz, and I was gritting my teeth until a piece of my molar broke off. I was not depressed when I started, but I think that's where I'm headed. I have recently had suicidal thoughts. The last 2 weeks, taking only 10 mg (split pills) to taper off, after reading all about the withdrawal."

• KGa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 9, 2016

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I was originally put on Paxil 2 years ago in order to help me gain weight. After taking it for two weeks, with no noticeable effects (good or bad), I went to light a cigarette and almost threw up. It made me nauseous to even think about smoking. It also seemed to 'cancel out' my ADHD medication, Vyvanse. However, I still felt alert and awake without the stimulant Vyvanse. I stupidly quit taking it after two weeks. I got back on it three weeks ago. So far, it greatly helps with anxiety but kills my appetite. Not an ounce of weight gain. Side effects have been night sweats and jaw clenching, teeth grinding. It has not helped me feel alert and awake this second time around at all. Not sure why that is."