Posted by Tomatheus on December 31, 2006, at 18:16:57
In reply to PAXIL - does it change who you are ?????????, posted by Kath on December 31, 2006, at 16:35:53
Kath,
It is my understanding that the effects of Paxil can vary considerably from one person to the next.
I personally did not get a consistent response from Paxil when I took it for my depressive disorder. I basically ended up cycling between euthymia (feeling free of depression, but not manic or hypomanic) and depression while I was taking 40 mg/day or Paxil or less. So, in other words, I ended up feeling noticeably depression-free for a few days, abruptly started feeling depressed again and stayed that way for a few days, went back to feeling depression-free again for a few days, and the cycle just continued. At 60 mg/day, I started cycling between hypomania and depression, instead of between euthymia and depression as I was at the lower doses. The hypomania that I experienced was relatively mild: I didn't feel particularly impulsive or want to go on shopping sprees or anything like that, I just felt a little bit better than what I would consider to be "normal." Once it became obvious that raising my dose of Paxil would strengthen its antidepressant effects only on the days when I could feel them (instead of producing a more consistent antidepressant response), I stopped taking it.
Based on everything that I've read about Paxil, I would say that my response to the medication was fairly atypical. Paxil does seem to be an effective antidepressant for some, but it also seems like it may have the ability to worsen depression in certain individuals. And then there are probably a few others like me, who can't get a consistent response out of it one way or another.
So, my point is that Paxil's effects can vary significantly from one individual to the next. Your son's response to the medication may end up being very different from his girlfriend's response, but it's hard to say whether or not that will end up being the case. It's also likely that your son will respond to the Paxil-risperidone combo that the hospital personnel are giving him differently than he would have responded to Paxil alone. So, there are a lot of factors that need to be taken into account.
As far as Paxil's ability to change one's personality is concerned, I can't think of a single psycho-active substance that completely lacks this ability. At the moment, there is a cup of coffee on my table next to my computer. Will drinking the coffee inside the cup change my personality? My guess is that it probably will, at least to an extent. But I wouldn't say that it will completely change me as a person. In my experience, Paxil didn't seem to be particularly strong in terms of its ability to affect various aspects of my personality in comparison to other psychoactive meds that I've taken. However, I'm willing to consider the possibility that Paxil could have strong personality-altering effects in a few individuals because I know that everybody does not respond to the medication in the same way.
Well, I hope that you find my response to be of at least some help. I'm sorry to hear that you son is having so much difficulty right now, and I wish you and him the best.
Tomatheus
> My son (22) is across the country form me in BC. I'm in Ontario, Canada. He has a long history of substance abuse...since he was 14. More recently cocaine & E use got out of hand & he & GF moved to BC to have a 'new start'. They successfully stopped using chems.
>
> Over the past few weeks he's been having a terrible time.
>
> He's in the hospital - went in Friday nite for his own safety - wanted a place were he could be safe & get help.
>
> He was hearing voices re: harm & self-harm
> Was paranoid - afraid for himself & for his girlfriend.
> And was afraid he'd hurt himself.
>
> The initially put him on Atavan & Loxipine (sp?)
>
> The doctor phoned me today. They're keeping him there; have certified him, so he can't leave even if he wants to; have started him on Paxil & Risperdone.
>
> His GF got all upset when I told her about Paxil.
>
> She said she'd taken it & also his friend had & it "changes who you are - changes your personality"
>
> Any input from anyone who has taken it?
>
> Jeez it's hard being a Mom. If I knew what I know now, I think I would have decided that I couldn't do it!
>
> How incredibly painful & scarey to see a beloved child in pain, pain, pain & making harmful choices etc, etc.
>
> I'm hoping that now he's had this happen, that it's his "hitting bottom" & he is talking of rehab, but right now it's a case of regaining some mental health.
>
> Any input welcome, Kath
poster:Tomatheus
thread:717951
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061224/msgs/717999.html