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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Ralph Notarangelo on July 4, 2000, at 8:09:10
I am now up to 40mg of Paxil per day and it has been just over 2 weeks. Most of side effects are gone but one still lingers.
Does anyone else have a side effect such as a "burning" feeling in their arms or back of neck?
It only happens for a few seconds and not all the time. Also, is it just me or do you feel some side effects almost exactly 4 hours after taking the Paxil?
These side effects are usually minor and they last for about an hour. It really seems to always effect me 4 hours after taking Paxil.
Thanks
Posted by danf on July 4, 2000, at 9:15:07
In reply to Paxil side effects, posted by Ralph Notarangelo on July 4, 2000, at 8:09:10
Yes, one can get this on any of the SSRIs. It is the residual of a panic strike or adrenergic surge. should fade away. Some people call these adrenaline 'bombs' of panic. For a lot of folks they only occur when a SSRI is started.
I had it once & it felt like a sunburn. It faded away. it was still present at 5-6 weeks but was so mild that I only noticed it when resting & quiet.
What is funny is that each of different meds gives a different character to the bombs.
zoloft gave radiating electric shock like effects that changed to prickles & a strange numb but not numb feeling. started on the left chest wall & went to the left leg. almost nothing on the right side of the body.
celexa gave the prickles that turned into burning after a few days, arms, upper back & neck. symmetrical, both sides the same.
Why similar meds give different patterns is strange.
If you are curious, you can take your BP. Then take it right after the burning feeling. You will see your BP & HR go up some from the adrenaline.
The 4 hr thing is a seratonin bump effect. It comes as the drug is reaching peak blood levels.
Posted by SLS on July 4, 2000, at 10:06:11
In reply to Re: Paxil side effects, Yep, posted by danf on July 4, 2000, at 9:15:07
> Yes, one can get this on any of the SSRIs. It is the residual of a panic strike or adrenergic surge. should fade away. Some people call these adrenaline 'bombs' of panic. For a lot of folks they only occur when a SSRI is started.
Hey DanF...How are you doing?
Do these things occur only to people who suffer from anxiety or panic disorders?
What things do you suffer from? What medications are you taking?
Thanks.
- Scott
Posted by danf on July 4, 2000, at 11:10:52
In reply to Re: Paxil side effects, Yep, posted by SLS on July 4, 2000, at 10:06:11
Hey Scott,
clicking along. pretty much under control.
Dx depression + anxiety with a rare panic A thrown in. Anxiety & PA seperation /abandonment driven. My panic episodes are rare & not the usual PA. Had 2 in the last yr. before that 5 yrs ago or so. They last for a week or longer. 10 minutes...crap. i can take almost anything for 10 min, but a week is a bitch.
what I know about adrenergic bombs ?
I had them when starting both celexa & zoloft. They were intense & frequent (as in every few minutes ) the first few days. They are aborted /suppressed by benzos ( thank God!), they are blunted by beta blockers.
They loose intensity as the SSRI med starts to work & are mild by about 2 weeks. they can be triggered by a particular thought pattern or subject, or can occur at random, or can be triggered by something like a cough or a change in room temp like AC cutting on or off, or a loud noise.Meds celexa & Inderal, control seems to be good, mood OK, normal sweating (hooray ! thanks Inderal), libido normal (also hooray), mild Orgasm delay ( don't know who to thank but hooray again !), Inderal helped a nasty tremor
As far as I know bombs are a component of panic episodes. Probably what drives the physical effects of a panic attack.
Most people who have PA know exactly what you are talking about even if they have never heard of them before. Nobody else has the slightest idea unless you go into great detail in describing them.
A lot of people that have them won't describe what happens because they feel other people will think they are crazy.
To say that they are strange & bizarre is an understatement. Some of the different patterns: blushing, chest pain, left arm /shoulder pain & then arm goes numb, sweating as in one side of the body ( left leg & armpit), a hand, arm or leg goes numb, sometimes pins & needles that goes to numb & travels around on the body. The list is long & almost anything that is really strange is possible. + the average BP & HR spikes, headaches, nausea, vomiting, sneezing. + muscle twitches & involuntary movement. + mental confusion
They apparently are mediated by a combination of adrenaline, autonomic dysfunction & neurologic receptor triggers.
The good part is that delusions & hallucinations are pretty rare. if they occur it only happens with many bombs close together for a sustained time so that the over all adrenergic load is very high. When the adrenergic load is decreased these quickly clear, as in minutes.
Anyone want to add what theirs are like ??
Posted by Ralph Notarangelo on July 4, 2000, at 11:49:27
In reply to adrenergic bombs and panic.. comments ? SLS, posted by danf on July 4, 2000, at 11:10:52
It first started as heat burning the back of my neck as I rested. I thought that it was just my nerves being so tense. But as I stood up and walked around it disappeared. I have also had burning sensations on my arms and hands. I noticed it twice after I ate something and then also afterwards throughout the day. It also seems to come after 4 hours after taken my Paxil. The doctor knew nothing of this and blamed it on my nerves and that I am too sensitive to my feelings right now.Here is a great link about paxil...
http://health.excite.com/content/asset/uspdi.202717
Thanls
Posted by Rick E. on July 5, 2000, at 8:20:20
In reply to Re: adrenergic bombs and panic.. comments ? SLS, posted by Ralph Notarangelo on July 4, 2000, at 11:49:27
> It first started as heat burning the back of my neck as I rested. I thought that it was just my nerves being so tense. But as I stood up and walked around it disappeared. I have also had burning sensations on my arms and hands. I noticed it twice after I ate something and then also afterwards throughout the day. It also seems to come after 4 hours after taken my Paxil. The doctor knew nothing of this and blamed it on my nerves and that I am too sensitive to my feelings right now.Here is a great link about paxil...
> http://health.excite.com/content/asset/uspdi.202717
> ThanlsHi All,
Great subject to me. I also have had some intense muscle "burning" with Paxil, mostly when I tried to get off of the drug, which was recently. I decided I still needed to be on it, as I suffered several panic attacks while trying to get off.
My panic attacks are weird, too. There are triggers to some of them...going to the grocery store, visiting certain people, ect. And then sometimes, when I think that I should feel safe from these attacks, I get them out of nowhere. It has taken me quite awhile to convince my brain that I do not need to go to the hospital everytime I get one! I have been back on Paxil 20mg for a couple of weeks now, and successfully got thru the 4th of July celebration. I did notice, however, that it seemed like my body WANTED to have an attack, but it was "masked" by the drug, i.e. the symptoms were 10% of what they usually are, and very easy to deal with.
I get the muscle burning around 8-9 pm every night, I had always presumed that it was the drug wearing off.
Bottom line, if I can manage to be in public in general, I am doing well on Paxil. My attacks got so bad before I seeked treatment that I could't leave the house, and then, I could't leave my bedroom! I have no complaints.
Rick E.
Posted by danf on July 5, 2000, at 15:18:40
In reply to Re: Paxil side effects, Yep, posted by SLS on July 4, 2000, at 10:06:11
went to the pdoc today. Still have a high level of base anxiety ? I guess ? wake up with shakes that soon resolve when I take the Inderal. told her I still have BP surges on 100-120mg day of Inderal. BP was to 160/105 in her office. She didn't think I was nervous, but I was. Had just driven 2 hrs to get back from a short JUL 4th trip in a lot of traffic.
Guess I don't look nervous with the Inderal.
anyway got changed to pindolol & added buspar again (took it once for 3 weeks & stopped for no good reason )
will see if this is a magic combo. celexa, buspar & pindolol.
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