Question about Paxil

NBGuy · Post by **NBGuy** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 3:33 am

Hi Folks,

I just started taking Paxil 5 days ago. I take it at night about an hour before bed. Since I started it, I have been having trouble sleeping and waking with trembling feelings.

The slip I got from the pharmacy says to tell your doc promptly if stuff like this happens. But, it also says that Paxil can make you wakeful or sleepy, so your doc may direct you to take it at a certain time of day.

Anyone else have this with Paxil? If so, sis you switch to taking it in the morning? Thanks

hopehound · Post by **hopehound** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 3:46 am

I tried taking Paxil myself and it did the same thing to me. I was on it for about 5 days as well. The side effects were worse then the anxiety. I took mine in the morning and it didn't make a difference. I would suggest coming off of it if you are that uncomfortable. I stopped taking it. I am trying to do this without meds. Everything I have tried has made me worse.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 3:59 am

I agree with Ashlynn about the side effects being worse than the anxiety and about doing this without meds. I was on Lexapro over a year ago and going off of that was no walk in the park. Also, what the meds do is weaken you coping skills. It's like the "putting duct tape over your change oil light". It's not fixing the problem, it's just masking it. If anything, I would go with more homeopathic stuff, it doesn't have harmful side effects and you can go off it whenever with no problems.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 4:07 am

Ashlynn & jdub:

Thanks for your replies. I intend to call/see my doc tomorrow to discuss this with him. I don't want to have to this with meds either, but after 3 trips to the ER in two weeks, this was his recommendation. I also have 0.5 Xanax, which I have been taking in 1/2's when I feel an anxiety build up. That has seemed to help.

I did just complete my 30-day trial order of the program, so I am off on that road too. We shall see. Thanks again!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 4:09 am

Best of luck to you!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 10:22 am

I used to take Paxil and I did take it around 8:00 every evening! I guess I was one of those people that it made sleepy b/c I slept fine. In the beginning though, I took ativan at night so I really don't know if the Paxil would've kept me up or not. Actually, I was speaking to a pharmacist when I decided to start tapering and going off Paxil and he laughed and was very suprised that I took it before bed. He said most people take it in the morning..

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 2:37 pm

I took Paxil for five years. It didn't do much for me. I think I also had some insomnia at the beginning. It was not fun tapering off; I would got these weird electrical "blips" when I turned my head. It felt like a small electrical zap. I also gained 25 pounds.