Stress Center Peer Support

So I have been on paxil 10mg since 2005. My panic attacks and anxiety have been getting worse over the last two months so I went to see my doctor and he suggested that I move up to 20mg. I'm nervous, of course, what else is new. He wants me to either take two at once or two spread apart in the day. When I first started taking paxil I experienced some light headedness and dizzy feelings and I'm afraid I'll have those again or freak out when I take them. Any advice, or any one out there have an experience with this?

I took 10mg of Paxil 6 years ago for a year for panic attacks without difficulty, but I recently tried it again and I experienced those symptoms you are describing so I stopped and am just taking klonipin 0.5mg 2x day. I would suggest cutting the pill in half and take it once a day for a week and then 2x day for a week and then just take one morning and pm. Hope this helps, this is how I do meds, in small stages so i don't get freaked out by the side effects.

I did not have that experience with Paxil, but if you are nervous, it is perhaps a good idea to take the suggestion to spread out the dosage. If you can take one in the morning and then one at a time after you have to drive or have important meetings - a time when you can feel safe in case of adverse effects - you can be more assured that you could handle any negative effects.

If you do start to feel strange, try the breathing exercises and see if they help. If you are in a position to do so, try listening to the relaxation tape.

You are stronger than you think.

Best wishes.

You may feel some side effects, but you also may feel none. I would suggest increasing gradually, like take the 1 pill the normal time you take it and than take 1/2 a pill another time of the day, do this for about a week and then increase it to 2 pills. If you have found that the Paxil has worked well for you in the past then you most likely have built up a tolerance for it as the 10mgs and need to increase the dosage. This is normal and happens often. Just rememeber you will be fine and any SE that you may have will subside quickly and your panic and anxiety should get better over time.