Just prescribed Paxil, anyone else take this?

[DoulaLyndsey]

I've been battling PPD for awhile now, but it has gotten worse in the last couple of months since my period returned. I was trying to cope, but I couldn't take it anymore and was worried that it was progressing into PPP, so my DH gave my midwife a call and she prescribed me Paxil (actually, I'm taking the generic, since we don't have insurance and have to pay out of pocket for it : ). I usually hate taking any kind of drugs (especially when I'm breastfeeding), but I'm desperate.

For those that are on it or have taken it in the past, what can I expect? How long until I start feeling some relief? Did you have any negative side effects?

Thanks so much, I've just been feeling : lately, so I'm really anxious to get some relief.

[LynnS6]

Hi,

I've been on Paxil for a while, and it's worked wonders for me. That being said, there are some initial side effects:

-Some people get gastrointestinal troubles (OK, it gives you intermittent diarrhea for a copule of days)
-Headache
-Sleepiness (I take mine before bed) OR the opposite - some people initially feel a little MORE anxious -- if so take it in the AM
-Decreased libido for some people

I personally felt relief within about 3-6 days. They say it takes up to 2-4 weeks to feel the full dose.

Note too that you may have been prescribed a "starter dose" and that might not be enough -- I'm on 40 mg and was as high as 80 mg(!) at one point in time.

This is not a med that you can stop cold turkey - you do need to taper down. But that's OK, just go slow.

If finances are a concern, once you're at a therapeutic dose (say 40 mg) you can ask your prescribing doctor to prescribe you 2x that much -- usually the price is per PILL not per mg of medicine. So, you just take 1/2 of what the "prescribed" dose is.

Finally, I breastfed both my kids on Paxil. They are happy, healthy and developing normally. They are bright and show no effects of the Paxil. They do show better emotional development because I've been able to be there and not been depressed.

Let's hope it starts to work soon for you!

[DoulaLyndsey]

Thank you so much for the reply! That would be great if I felt some relief as soon as 3 days. I am currently on 20mg once a day, my midwife is going to call me back next week to see how I'm doing. A little gastrointestial problems doesn't worry me, as long as these depressing feelings go away.

[earthmuffinmomma]

hi- i don't spend tons of time here and actually haven't been here for years.

that said- i have been off/on paxil for 7 years??

i started when my oldest was about a year for ppd and have nursed 3 kids while on it. i remember feeling better after just a couple days. i have gone off for several pregnancies- some times i have gone cold turkey and others weaned myself down.

20mg is really a small dosage. my 'normal' was 40mg and i can't really put my finger on any noticable side effects. i can't say why- but the generic didn't seem to work as well for me- or i had to take a higher dosage for the same effects. some stuff you read scares the jeepers out of you ... but like the other poster said- my kids where much happier w/ a bit of paxil and a functioning mommy.

i am 38 weeks pregnant at present which is why i am not currently taking it.

hope that helps.

[brewgirl]

I found relief within a week of starting paxil. Here are a few side effects to keep in mind.

-when coming off of it, you need to taper very slowly. It can be really hard for some people to stop taking. I was able to taper off within a few weeks, but had side effects for some time. Insomnia lasted for about 2-3 weeks. Feeling elecitrical zaps in my head lasted about a month beyond weaning off.

-a side effect that I really struggled with was a decreased ability to feel sated. You really have to watch portion sizes or it's easy to pack on the pounds. I was amazed upon stopping to once again feel "full" after eating a meal.

Hope it works out for you!

[Nora'sMama]

Is there any way you can take Zoloft instead of Paxil? It's really safe when BF (almost no transfer into milk from what I have read online by those taking it) and supposedly the side effects and difficulties with tapering off are better.

That said, I'll chime in since I took Paxil off and on for years. It can be a great drug for some people, but expect to have some anxiety, twitches, weird things for the first 3 weeks. When I first got on it I was on a dose of 20 mg and it took about 6 weeks before I felt the full effect, but it really did help me with both depression and anxiety.

If you do end up taking Paxil, please do not miss a dose, and always have your medication on hand, don't forget to fill the prescription well in advance of it running out. I ran out of Paxil a few times and the immediate withdrawal effects are NOT GOOD. It felt like my brain was being given electric shocks. I could not concentrate and felt nauseous and very out of it. When I took my Paxil again the effects subsided. These same effects plagued me when I went off Paxil (several times, and then months or years later I went back on - I took it 3 or 4 separate times). No one told me about them ahead of time and this was in the days before the internet and Dr. Google, so I just thought I was going crazy. This smilie : really helps you visualize how I felt.

Anyway, the last time I tapered off Paxil, I did it really carefully. You just can't go too slowly. It's important to know about the withdrawal symptoms BEFORE you go on the drug, so I hope your healthcare provider talked about this with you.

If I am ever in need of an antidepressant again, I will try Zoloft before trying Paxil again. It is just not my favorite drug due to the withdrawal effects. I also had a decrease in sex drive and the weight gain that one poster mentioned - as she described, I did not feel sated after eating. I also felt kind of apathetic on the higher dose I was on. BUT it drastically reduced my anxiety, drastically. Helped me cope at a very difficult time, when I had been having several panic attacks a day. And also helped the depression somewhat. Like every drug there are risks and benefits.

Good luck to you. Depression sucks.

[1growingsprout]

I was on paxil for 2 weeks several years ago..i hated it.. i had major sexual side effects... (sorry but at that point in my life i needed sex).... came off paxil and went with prozac... that works wonders for me... i do not bf while on meds... therefore we are using $'s of formula

[DoulaLyndsey]

Thank you all so much for your replies!!

Is there any way you can take Zoloft instead of Paxil?

My midwife suggested Zoloft too, but there's no generic Zoloft and since we don't have insurance, we have to pay out of pocket and the brand names are pricey. And I needed to get some relief right away, so I accepted the Paxil and immediately filled the script.

Thanks about the info about weaning off of it, that will be helpful to know when that time comes. I just read "Down Came the Rain" by Brooke Shields and noticed she also had severe effects when she stopped cold turkey and it sounded scary. I'm definitely keeping in contact with my midwife with how long I should take this and when and how to wean off when necessary.

Thanks again!!

[UUMom]

If possible, I think Zoloft is better for nursing, and just all around. Nor does Zoloft have the same dramatic weight gain issues that are related to Paxil. Many people gain a good 10-15 lbs a yr on it. Paxil is believed by some to have a negative affect on metabolism.

[lrlittle]

Negative side effects: decreased libido, weight gain, horrible withdrawal. I was on it and I would not do it again. If I ever feel like I need it again I will try everything else first before drug therapy. Paxil gave me even more to be depressed about.

[Mommy2Jackson]

Okay I started paxil about 2 months ago and it has done wonders for my anxiety. I started at 20 mgs and now take about 1 1/2 so 25ish mg. BUT I have recently stopped because it causes terrible sexual side effects for me and I am sick of it. Hope it helps you!!

[LynnS6]

One thing to know: the latest research suggests that you should stay on SSRIs (of which Paxil is one), for 6 to 12 months AFTER YOU FEEL YOURSELF to decrease the chance of a relapse.

Yes, some people have negative side effects.

Paxil is the #2 drug of choice for breastfeeding, and the cost savings vs. Zoloft are considerable, as it's available in generic. And it's significantly better for breastfeeding than Prozac (the only other one available in generic) is supposed to be.

The reminder to wean off slowly is a good one -- when I lower my dose (I'm currently going from 40 to 20 mg), I get a pill splitter and go down by about 5 mg every 3-5 days. I don't notice any major side effects when I do that.

Definitely keep in touch with your midwife -- 20 mg is a starter dose and might be what you need, or you might need more.

[gilnikche]

If you decide to try Zoloft; you can save about 50% by asking your doc to write out you Rx for 100 mg tabs instead of 50 mg. The 100 mg tabs cost only a few cents more and are scored to be easily broken in half.

I also have a card from Pfizer that gets me an additional discount. I also fill my Rx through Costco (membership not required).

Can you tell I pay out of pocket too?

[cindyonnazareth]

i took paxil for ppd and it was hell. the side effects are awful and if you go off don't do it cold turkey. Ask for something with less side affects. paxil works quickly but there are others that will help just as much. paxil was a nightmare for me. If you are having problems with this ppd get therapy first. It will help more than the drugs and the therapists will often do it for free if you need it. hang in there as soon as your hormones even out it's better. c

[DoulaLyndsey]

Unfortunately, I tried therapy first and it didn't work for me, I was still really depressed and it kept getting worse.

So, I've been on the Paxil for a little over a week and I'm feeling great. I had a rough time last week, as my body was adjusting to the medication and I had some nasty side effects that landed me in the ER, but I'm not having them anymore (I was dizzy, had cold electric shocks going through my body, shortness of breath, and I was nauseated). My mom was able to get me a few packs of Zoloft samples from her office, though, so as soon as my Paxil is over with, I'm switching to the Zoloft under the advice of my midwife.

Thanks for the help!

[Sharlla]

I took Paxil for a year when DS1 was a year old, it worked wonders. I ended up getting off of them, but I'm far more emotionally stable now than before I was taking them. Thankfully I didn't get PPD with DS2.

[RainbowsMum]

I was on paxil for a while until I became preg and I stopped taking it, I decided I didn't wanna risk it with baby... I didn't realise you weren't meant to stop taking it cold turkey... Its been incredibly hard so far, although almost there! As soon as babys out I'm going back onto medication, although I've been advised not to go back onto Paxil as it's not suitable for breast feeding..... Which I did find slightly worrying cos I was on quite a few different meds before I went onto Paxil, and none of them worked for me, but it worked wonders... Most people have listed the negative effects you can possibly experience when on Paxil, I didn't get any (That I noticed anyway) it took about 2 weeks to initially start to work, and about 6 weeks for it to be in full swing. Does anyone know of any links that have info on breast feeding with Paxil????

[sarahariz]

links about Paxil

There are concerns about the SSRI's (the class of drugs that Paxil belongs to), but Paxil is known as being perhaps the one with the most side effects.

See
http://www.quitpaxil.info/
http://www.paxilprogress.org/

General concerns about SSRI's:

http://www.breggin.com/ (scroll down)
http://www.thomasjmoore.com/pages/depress.shtml
http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/...ain-damage.htm


Breast milk transfer:
http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/...-milk.htm#ssri

Hope this is helpful!

[herbanmama]

This isn't PPD-related, but I have had a dealing with Paxil. When I met dh, he had just switched from Welbutrin to Paxil. Our experience with Paxil was not positive. While it temporarily helped with his depression, about a year later, he began having uncontrollable aggressive thoughts - he had never experienced this before. Additionally, he gained about 10 pounds, and the drug started to make him feel worse than he had felt previous to taking it. If he did not take the drug at exactly the same time every day, he would get dizzy spells. Eventually, he started to reduce the dosage and 'wean' himself. This was not pretty. I'd say that this is the time our relationship was most threatened. He experienced severe withdrawals, including dizziness, anxiety attacks, insomnia coupled with sleeping for hours on end(not at night), irritibility, muscle cramps, weeping, etc.

He is on Lexapro now, and it seems to be a little easier on the system. I know that everyone has different reactions to different drugs, but Paxil kinda scares me.

Sarahariz's links are worth checking out - I did alot of poking around online when the side-effects started rearing their ugly heads. I found PaxilProgress to be especially informative and helpful.

[RainbowsMum]

Originally Posted by NadiaLadida

If he did not take the drug at exactly the same time every day, he would get dizzy spells.

I take back what I said about negative side effects, I did find that if I didn't take it at the same time everyday (Well early morning time) I got incredibly dizzy and nauseous. Which was a pain if I forgot to take it before I went to work in the morning as I would spend the whole day not well before I could get to it. Eventually I learned to keep a couple of spare in my bag just incase. It never even crossed my mind until I read it above....

Thanks for the links I'm gunna go check them out now