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Mental health

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Original poster

Has anyone taken paroxetine?

13 replies

puddle · 17/04/2007 19:39

Have just posted this in health and then thought it might be better placed here.

Some one I know has just been prescribed it and is wondering how quickly it will start to work and what the possible side effects might be. TIA

OP posts:

vnmum · 17/04/2007 19:55

i was prescribed paroxetine in october whilst breastfeeding. after researching it on the net i found some scares about it and when asked on here it wasnt viewed favourably. having said that i decided to give it a chance and i felt improvement after about 4 weeks. i had mild headaches and nausea and dizziness for only a few days, then felt good. i did put on weight though.

the main problems people have had with it were coming off it, i wasnt on it long as i had to come off it to TTC and i was on the lowest dose but i didnt have any problems coming off it and no side effects either.

it worked for me so if offered it again i would take it although there are alternatives i would probably try first that are better for breastfeeding. hth

mumtogusnalbie · 17/04/2007 20:08

Don't take it - ever.
I was prescribed this drug after suffering panic attacks and PND after my second child was born.
I am still on it (my DS2 is 3) and have been trying to come off of it for the last 12 mths.
It has been a long hard slog and even now I am taking 6ml (have ransferred to the liquid version to make it easier to reduce dose) every other day.
I have the most horrendous side effects if I do not take it including a very fuzzy head and electric shock type feelings in my head, arms and hands.
Please get your friend to go back to the GP and ask for something different.
There are lots of websites (mostly American) that describe the problems people are having coming off of this drug - just put Paroxetine in a Google search - you will be shocked that this drug is still in frequent use.
Sorry to be so 'down' on this drug but I really feel that it has controlled my life since I started taking it and really wish that I never had.

mummytosteven · 17/04/2007 20:12

2 to 6 weeks to kick in, like the other SSRIs. Typical side effects on starting would be things like dodgy tummy/nausea/insomnia/being overly sleepy. Initial side effects shouldn't last more than a fortnight.

I have taken it - and it worked, but the drug has a short half life compared to other antidepressants, which makes it hard to come off, and can cause problems if you miss/delay a dose. tell your friend to try and take it at bang on the same time each day. I was fortunate; I had no problems coming off it (just cut down gradually), but when I took it I found that I would get a bit dizzy if I delayed the dose at all (even by an hour).

mummytosteven · 17/04/2007 20:13

i have some sympathy btw with mumtogsnalbie's qualms on taking it - I would certainly tell a friend to ask why they had been prescribed paroxetine rather than another SSRI.

Original poster

puddle · 17/04/2007 20:14

Sorry this is all new to me - what are SSRIs?

OP posts:

mummytosteven · 17/04/2007 20:15

ssri = selective seretonin reuptake inhibitor -these are modern anti-depressants, including prozac and drugs similar to prozac.

KnayedFrot · 17/04/2007 20:18

I took paroxetine that was initially prescribed during a severe episode of depression & anxiety.

It did work, although took about 6 months for me to be functioning again because I was quite ill. I had no side effects while taking the initial dose.

Unfortunately however, I had similar experiences coming off it as mumtogusandalbie.

I took it for 4 years and 3 of those were trying to come off it.

I too would question why that particular drug is being prescribed.

Original poster

puddle · 17/04/2007 20:19

Oh blimey this all sounds v negative.

OP posts:

MaeWest · 17/04/2007 20:27

I took it for about 18 months as a teenager for depression and anxiety. No real probs when on it, but when coming off it I did experience disorientation and some panickyness. I ended up reducing very slowly, biting tabs in half then half a tab every other day. At the time I was also worried that it might be the depression coming back (which is what people are often told when reporting these 'withdrawal' symptoms).

mummytosteven · 17/04/2007 20:30

paroxetine is the same drug as seroxat.

Dazie · 17/04/2007 20:35

I have taken paroxtine in the past for episodes of depression. Recently I went back to the doctors and they wouldnt prescribe it even though I didnt really have a problem with it until I wanted to come off it, I had similar side effects to those already listed. They said they no longer recomend it as the side effects are quite bad and there are better ones on the market now.

Original poster

puddle · 17/04/2007 22:35

Thanks everyone - this is all really useful.

OP posts:

calebsmum · 18/04/2007 15:12

Hi, was put on seroxat in 1998 for panic attacks and agoraphobia, came off it in July last year by reducing 1mg every week. Was put back on it 3 weeks ago due to panic attacks and depression but hopefully will be coming off it again soon. Not everyone has a bad reaction to seroxat, I didn't have any side effects other than gaining weight, and as long as you reduce very slowly and have support from your gp you should be ok.

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