Questions about Paroxetine (AKA Aropax, Paxil, Seroxat, Sereupin)

[ConcernedDP]

Hello. I wonder if I could ask about some experience with the above anti-depressant? The AKA's are just other trading names of the same.

My DP has been prescribed Paroxetine for anxiety and depression. The problem is, she's very scared of medication (mainly due to being the daughter of a drug addict), so in particular she's terrified of dependence.

If you have any experience of this, would you be able to answer a couple of questions to put her mind at ease:

1. How addictive is it? If and when the time comes to come off it, how difficult will it be?
2. How bad are the side effects?
3. How good is it? The anxiety is the bigger problem at the moment, but depression is beginning to rear its ugly head again. Yes, this is a recurring problem that she's only recently started getting help for.
4. She's heard that this medication has an increased risk of suicidal thoughts in the early stages of taking it. Does this mean she is likely to feel worse before she feels better?

I have been on paroxatine since the birth of my daughter, it has helped me enormously with my anxiety and depression, i would say that initally you do feel worse before you feel better, but this does pass.
If you are worried about coming off them i would speak to your gp because from personal experieance and from my gp some people do have a hard time coming off them and can have side effects

I would definately ask if she can have another AD like Prozac or Sertraline or Citalopram. I am surprised seroxat is still being prescribed, I personally know many people who have gone through hell trying to get off it.
All SSRI's can have an increased risk of suicidal thoughts in the early stages, and increased anxiety etc until they click in. If you're worried about potential addiction/trouble coming off, Prozac might be the best one to try as when the time comes to come off it you can have it in liquid form and taper off very slowly and gently, which is what I am doing currently.