Went off Paxil and depression is worse than ever

[rose angel]

I began taking Paxil in June. The DR prescribed it for depression and anxiety. she chose that particular one because I had taken it in college and it helped me a lot.

Well this time, it made me gain about 30 pounds in 5 months. Emotionally and mood wise I felt AWESOME. (except a little bit of libido change) Well, went back to the Dr, and asked if I could try Wellbutrin, as I have heard that it is one of the few anti depressants that don't cause weight gain and libido change.

That was about 3 weeks ago. Meanwhile, I feel like the Wellbutrin is doing nothing. I am feeling sad, agitated, short tempered, and overwhelmed. I am thinking about quitting my babysitting job because I feel I just cant handle her (9 months old) when she cries it just sets me on edge.

So what do you think? Should I give the Wellbutrin more time? Try something else? I just don't know

[Nathan1097]

The wellbutrin might take a bit longer to feel its effects. Did you have a lag between meds? I am having a rough time with my meds lately, too, so I am not feeling in a place to give much advice these days, but I do know it takes some time for a med to work and suddenly going off one will give thsoe effects, as you need to taper off.

[AnyMama]

Wellbutrin targets a whole different brain chemical than Paxil. The key question is this: did Paxil help your depression/anxiety? If the answer is "yes", then it's unlikely that Wellbutrin is going to help you. That, and the fact that Wellbutrin is notorious for causing anxiety. Your provider is targeting your side effects right now, not your symptoms. Yes, you are more likely to lose weight on Wellbutrin, but if it doesn't make your symptoms better, it's not the right med.

Paxil is worse than some of the SSRI's for weight gain. There are other drugs in the same class as Paxil that target the same brain chemical that might work for you without the weight gain affect.

Worst case scenario, could you take Paxil and go on a carbohydrate restrictive diet? This would probably address both issues since high carb diets often make mental health issues worse while also causing weight gain.

[mom0810]

Yes, and also, you were not on the Paxil long enough to do any good. You have to take it for at least 9 months for the right changes to happen in your brain, usually longer. So, if it was helping, I would try another ssri and see if that helps and does not cause the weight gain.

[rose angel]

I have never heard of the nine month rule. Do you have a source for this that I could look at?

Originally Posted by mom0810

Yes, and also, you were not on the Paxil long enough to do any good. You have to take it for at least 9 months for the right changes to happen in your brain, usually longer. So, if it was helping, I would try another ssri and see if that helps and does not cause the weight gain.

[mom0810]

That is what my psychiatrist told me. I tried zoloft initially for a couple of months, then thought I could go off of it because I was doing so much better. My symptoms came back with a vengeance in about 8 weeks, which is what studies show will happen IF you do not take the meds for long enough. She told me that you have to stay on them for a minimum of 9 months AFTER you start feeling better to make the changes in your brain. You should also be in therapy that whole time, to make the behavioural changes that will help the physiological changes take place.

This is what I have learned from my therapist, my psychiatrist, and the reading I have done on my own.

[teachma]

My sister takes Lexapro, and her doctor also told her that if she expected lasting effects, she should stay on it at least 9 months. That said, she will be going off it gradually in February, after only 6 months. (She is getting married next month and I think she wants to try a few months med-free before TTC.) I hope she will not have the return of her severe anxiety...she has been feeling better than ever since Sept.

[Autumn Breeze]

If you haven't been on the wellbutrin for 4-6 weeks, it's not "working" yet. But I did have a nasty side effect of irritability turned aggression when I started the Wellbutrin XL. I was taking 150 mg, and had an 'extra' script for 300 mg if the 150 wasn't working well enough after a month. I never got that far.

[StayAtHomeMama21]

Well, I was about to post a very similar situation.

I was on Paxil, I think for a year, maybe a little bit longer. Anyways, I am bulimijc, very secretly, as most bulimics are. Paxil gave me increased appetite and weight gain, which fed into me purging.

I went to see a psychiatrist, she put me on Zoloft. I have been on zoloft for a month and some days I am so madly in love with everyone, and then there are days like today, where I am pretty much ready to scream. My son (21 months) is driving me crazy. He's never driven me crazy the way he is today, and it's nothing that he is doing, it's all me. Just him saying choo choo 15 times in a row I want to scream ENOUGH, YES ALREADY CHOO CHOO.
I started crying, and that felt kinda good, but then theres the guilt of crying in front of him. I want to call dh and tell him, but he isn't that well educated on this stuff and he'll just be concerned I'm going crazy or something. My psych is on vacation until the 5th,
I have an appointment with a theripist on Saturday. It's my first time with this.

Any help? suggestions? advice? Something? I can't be like this, I have to babysit my son's friend tonight for a couple hours, I have to be stable.
I'm letting my son watch too much youtube while I type this as well.

[StayAtHomeMama21]

P.S
I have xanax, but I am always afraid to take it because I'm breastfeeding, and it makes me kinda spacy, and I don't want to become dependent on it, lastly, I heard the withdrawals effect you pretty rough.

[Inquiringmind]

Give the Wellbutrin at leats 4-6 weeks before you make any decisions. Also, sometimes doctor's will prescribe more than one medication to get optimal results. You might want to talk to your doctor about the various options. If you're not already, you might want to see a psychiatrist rather than a primary care physician.

[HeatherRD]

Could it be withdrawel?

I don't have time to read the whole thread but had to respond, so I'm sorry if someone else said this.

First of all, one poster said that Paxil doesn't do any good for 9 months. Not true. It helped me in about 3 weeks. I, too, gained a lot of weight.

It sounds like you went off Paxil cold-turkey and started Wellbutrin. Bad idea. I switched from Paxil to Effexor cold-turkey, and I turned into a mess. So I went back to Paxil and am still on it for now. Then, I went with my husband to one of his counseling appointments, and happened to talk to his therapist about this. She said that Paxil is extremely hard to get off of, and that my doctor should not have done that. So, you may be experiencing withdrawel symptoms. She said that you have to taper it off VERY SLOWLY. She said she even had a patient that had to crush the Paxil and take a little bit of the powder, to get off of it.

I am going to attempt getting off Paxil soon, and going down by 5 mg every few weeks.

Good luck! And sorry if this repeat information. I hope you find relief without making sacrifices (weight, libido). I've been on Paxil for 3.5 years, and hope this weight comes off easier when I am off of it. (I gained about 25 pounds).

[mom2avasteph]

I can't read of the replies, but my dr told me that paxil and Zoloft are what he prescribes for anxiety/depression combo. I have very bad anxiety attacks. I have been on Paxil for a while now- quit taking it to switch to Prozac then Wellbutrin (under another doc previously) and felt horribly anxious. I went back to paxil becaus it does work- but I have gained a lot of weight. I need to watch what I eat and exercise more- but the Paxil makes my life livable, yk?

[HeatherRD]

About the 9 month rule - did you mean that this is the length of time required for the Paxil's effects to be permanent? I know that if you take the med long enough it can cause permanent changes in the brain, and you may not need the medication anymore. Is that what you meant?

You can start feeling better from the med in a few weeks, though, and should, if it's working for you.

[mom0810]

9 months is long enough for permenent changes in your brain. But you will usually feel all better in a couple of days-weeks. You need to stay on the meds for 9 months after you feel better to avoid relapse.

[Surfacing]

Originally Posted by HeatherRD

I know that if you take the med long enough it can cause permanent changes in the brain, and you may not need the medication anymore.

Sorry to hijack here, but WHAT? I haven't heard this before. Is this the case???

[Demeter9]

Have you tried SAM-e?