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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Ann on January 7, 2000, at 21:42:26
I've been taking Paxil for 8 months for Depression and Anxiety (initially I took Zoloft but it didn't do much but make my teeth grind and my face twitch). I gained about 25 lbs. in a few months after being underweight my entire life, and no matter what I did with my diet the weight kept coming. The getting fat was making me more Depressed, so I started getting off the Paxil slowly.
I have had the usual withdrawl symptoms: sleep changes, weird "dizzy" feeling, nerve tingling in scalp & finger and more. Now I've been without a pill for four days and my temper is almost out of control.
Any little thing (dropping a pen, the dog doesn't come when I call, not being able to turn a page in a book because my finger's dry, hitting the wrong key on the keyboard) sets me into a rage! I haven't been this angry -- furious -- since I was a teenager and it's scary. It's not like me, even before the Paxil.
I'm sure this is the Paxil talking because I've read other lists where people complained of anger and violence (throwing things) in Paxil withdrawl.
I've started taking some St. John's Wort and am considering Kava Kava until my body gets rid of the Paxil. Has anyone ever heard of or had this problem with rage? Any suggestions? Also, how long will this last? I'm planning on sleeping as much as I can just to keep myself away from the world.
And why didn't my Dr. tell me about this before I got on it? I specifically said I wasn't interested in anything with screwy withdrawl, physical or otherwise, and here I am stuck with what the consequences of something I took in good faith! If he wasn't sure about Paxil, why didn't he say so? I'd find that easier to take than the feelings I'm having now. And if this withdrawl is not in the PDR, it frickin' should be.
Ann
Posted by judy on January 7, 2000, at 22:21:23
In reply to Paxil Rage, posted by Ann on January 7, 2000, at 21:42:26
Dear Ann,
I'm tapering off of 5 meds now, one of which is an AD. Withdrawal symptoms from an SSRI are very real as you're finding out, some people are more sensitive than others. My doc has me tapering very slowly, I don't know what your starting dosage was but it sounds like you went too quickly. Can you find a doctor who is more knowledgeable about SSRI withdrawal and perhaps put you back on a low dose to relieve your symptoms? I'm sure you don't restart a drug that has brought you such misery, but once your symptoms were gone you could taper down at a slower pace (with support). Take care and good luck.
Posted by jamie on January 8, 2000, at 3:46:27
In reply to Re: Paxil Rage, posted by judy on January 7, 2000, at 22:21:23
> Dear Ann,
> I'm tapering off of 5 meds now, one of which is an AD. Withdrawal symptoms from an SSRI are very real as you're finding out, some people are more sensitive than others. My doc has me tapering very slowly, I don't know what your starting dosage was but it sounds like you went too quickly. Can you find a doctor who is more knowledgeable about SSRI withdrawal and perhaps put you back on a low dose to relieve your symptoms? I'm sure you don't restart a drug that has brought you such misery, but once your symptoms were gone you could taper down at a slower pace (with support). Take care and good luck.Judy said it all. I agree completely.
jamie
This is the end of the thread.
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