Paroxetine for severe anxiety/agoraphobia

[Dolallytats]

A couple of years ago my GP prescribed these for me, but I chose not to take them. I was referred for CBT (again) and did that instead.

I did really well until I had a really weird experience a few months ago (was walking round the block pushing my daughter in her pram when I felt like I 'disappeared'. I know I didn't faint, but it was almost like I fell asleep for a few seconds while walking. Felt very woozy and faint and disorientated after) which scared the life out of me and I have been really struggling ever since.

Counsellor is not allowed to take me back on her books because I know all the theory, I just (!!) need to put it into practise, although she still phones weekly to help me come up with exercises and plans to do. However I am struggling with getting my son to school 7 minutes away.

This past week it has all come to a head (probably because my period started, hormones make it worse) and I have pretty much been crying on and off every day. I have sat and sobbed while DH takes the children to the park today. He tries to be supportive, but doesn't really understand. I feel completely on my own. I know I am the only person that can sort this out, but it feels beyond me.

I now feel too hot, woozy headed from crying and so sad that this is my life.

I still have the tablets, have they worked for anyone?? I can't even get to the GP again because of the agoraphobia (vicious circle). I feel like I am also depressed and just want to break this cycle and become a 'normal' person again.

Family think I just need to get out and get on with it, including my sister who has anxiety herself and can't accept that I am struggling because she forces herself to hold down a stressful job and has a social life(still with some struggles, but she manages them). I'm really glad she can (and am jealous) and feel frustrated, stupid and useless that I haven't managed as well.

I feel everyone has just had enough of me. Are the tablets likely to help??

I'm sorry, that was long. Thank you for reading

Hi Dolallytats

I can relate to what you're going through. I have Emetephobia which has caused me to develop panic attacks and agoraphobia (I was unable to leave my house at all for about 2 years) and (even though I can go out now), I still have many issues (can't travel on public transport, can't go very far from home and can't go to very crowded places).

My life is very restricted and I am in a viscous cycle of HCP's prescribing me medication to take and me being unable to take it due to side effects being sickness/nausea!

Anyway I finally plucked up enough courage to take the medication (along with anti-sickness tablets) and I'm now on day 9.

It did give me a few side-effects (some lose of appetite, waves of nausea and dry mouth) but I'm so glad I managed to take it. It has made me feel a little calmer already and I was told the full effect will take about 4-6 weeks to kick in.

I'd say give it a try. Do you have specific concerns with taking the meds?

Hi Daisy, thanks for replying!!

I have concerns about the side affects-one of which is anxiety, just what I am trying to get rid of. I also too Citalopram for a little while a few years ago and they literally put me on the floor. My anxiety went through the roof and I am really scared of getting that again.

I'm scared of not being able to function at all. I know my world is tiny now, but I'm scared it will get worse. I'm also scared of getting addicted to the tablets and I'm nervous of my families response if I tell them I am taking them (because my sister never needed them and they think I just have to force myself to go out and the anxiety will eventually lessen-it's hasn't)

And I'm reluctant to have to take a tablet just to be able to function when lots of other people manage without help.

Wow, that is a lot of concerns!!

I fully understand your concerns, I suppose for me I could think of many reasons (or excuses!) NOT to take medication (which I've been doing for years) or give it go and see what happens.

Try not to worry about what other people think, that can waste a lot of your precious time. So what if you need to take a tablet to function and get out of the house?.......the alternative is not really living and barely getting through each day.

How long did you try the Citalopram for and at what dose?

Hi there, just wanted to say I started paroxetine 2weeks ago for anxiety and I feel soooo much better. Have put off taking meds for years but couldn't break out of this latest 'spell' . Took it many years ago and was successful then too. Tried sertraline - omg!! Drove me mad with anxiety!! Asked GP about trying paroxetine again - she said it's not prescribed much now but is good for anxiety. Had a rough 2-3 days when starting but has slowly got better and better. So glad I've done this and persevered with the first few days - mainly nausea/sleepiness/ jittery. Be kind to yourself - oh and don't pay too much attention to people 'not understanding' - they are not in your shoes!! Good luck and very soon you will be feeling better

Just wanted to add - Ive started on a very low dose 10mg which is seeming to work for me despite 20mg being the recommended starting dose. I seem to be very sensitive to meds

Daisy, it's a hard decision, isn't it? I was only on the Citalapram for a few weeks because I found out I was pregnant with DS.

dinky, thanks for sharing your experience. I'm going to have a serious think about this. I'm not managing on my own, so I need to decide if this is a real option.

Thank you both.

Hi dolly - just wanted to add my thoughts. Is there any reason your sister (or anybody else for that matter) needs to know you're taking meds at all?

It's actually none of anybody else's business; and it sounds like the last thing you need right now is the worry of people's reactions. I have never taken paroxetine but have been taking sertraline, so can't advise on that. But when I did decide to see my gp re my anxiety, I only told dp and two very trustworthy friends. My wider family and acquaintances don't have a clue - basically because I don't want or need their opinions about something they are definitely not experts on - the only experts are the doctors!

Unfortunately there is a stigma and lots of ignorance surrounding mh issues. But the fact is, it's an illness that needs treatment like any other. You are doing what you need to do to get better! and what your sister or jo blogs would do is irrelevant ...

Hey Chuff, I guess I think they have to know because I've never not told them everything.

I was talking to DH about it earlier and he wasn't keen for me to go on them, but I don't think he really understands.

I feel very confused and 'on my own' with this-both the anxiety and whether I should start the tablets. I'm scared of making the wrong decision and making things even worse than they are

I know what you mean; but can you actually make things worse than they are now? Being a prisoner in your own home is horrible and these tablets really could help you - doctors don't prescribe them for nothing!

What about if you just try them and see it as a 'trial period'? Maybe just a month, to give you time to get over any start up side-effects and to start feeling the benefits. What's the worse that can happen, other than you decide you don't like them, stop taking them, and are just back to where you are now again? Chances are though, you will be starting to feel better by then and won't look back .

If it helps - towards the end of last year I was feeling awful most of the time, gnawing anxiety, racing thoughts and doing anything to get out of having to face the world. It took me till April to make myself see my gp, when I started on ads. Now six months later I am feeling 100% fine most of the time, with the odd bad (ie anxious) day here and there. I was looking at holidays abroad we could book for next summer last night on the web, and am actually really excited about it. A few months ago the thought of a holiday anywhere, let alone abroad, would have scared the hell out if me!

Is a trial period an option? I didn't think you could do that. Well, that's definitely another thing to think about.

You experience is a positive one Chuff, thank you so much for sharing it. It really helps to hear when people have been in similar situations.

I think I might try and get a telephone consultation with my GP (if they do such a thing!!) and talk it over with them.

Thank you.

Well I don't know if a trial period is an 'official' thing, but my GP definitely said I could try it for a few weeks and if I didn't like it there was no problem with stopping - over the course of a week or so. I also took half a dose for the first week to minimise side-effects and that helped a lot.

But yes, definitely talk to your GP again if you feel you need to - it's what they're there for

Thanks for your help Chuff, you've been helpful and lovely