Paroxetine/Seroxat: why has my GP prescribed this awful drug for me?

[HildaRumple]

Looking for some help. I have been very anxious and panicky following a series of awful family events. Took me ages to get an appointment with my GP, who prescribed me Paroxetine. I know this drug is rarely prescribed so I asked him for an alternative , but he insisted it would be good for my panic attacks. It's now been nearly 3 weeks and I am so tired and sleepy I can't get out of bed. Have fought past the nausea and headachers, but the sleepiness is terrible. I am sleeping some 18 hours a day. Have signed off work. Anyone had similar?

Oh and it is a very low dose. The lowest possible. Should I hang on for longer? GP says it is too early to give up.

Paroxetine is THE one for anxiety.

The hall bit different neurotransmitters. Paroxetine is purely serotonin so doesn’t aggravate anxiety like ones that hit noradrenaline or dopamine could.

Have you tried and failed on other antidepressants before?

I'd honestly go back and ask why he/she picked this specific anti-depressant and not another one given that it is rarely prescribed and there are others recommended for anxiety.

FWIW I had it back in the day when it was commonly prescribed - no side effects on starting, worked brilliantly but coming off was a complete nightmare. Which is basically why no-one prescribes it anymore, it's notorious for severe withdrawal effects. It was like being a drug addict coming off it.

I appreciate that isn't your issue, and you are a long way from considering what happens when you no longer need your antidepressant but your GP should know this is why no-one uses it anymore, except as a last resort.

I don't feel more anxious, but I don't feel less anxious either. The main problem is that I feel completely drugged and like a zombie all day. Is this supposed to happen?

I know it is also a bitch to get off :(

@AnnaMagnani I have tried Escalitopram. But it didnt work for me. I think I need to go to a different GP as this one got annoyed when I asked to try Sertraline. ( which my sister has had and worked for her).

May I ask what dose you are on?

The sleepiness does wear off, but it can take a while. I eventually had to reduce to 10mg, which is very low but at the normal dose of 20mg I was too sleepy to function. I managed fine on 10mg and it helped me to start functioning normally again.

I've been on it a long time and it works well for me. I've tried others but they don't work as well. It's a complete bastard to get off though as has been said upthread.

Bit weird as generally everyone starts on sertraline as it's cheap!

I'm quite lucky as everything works for me, you name it, I've had it until i got the hint and stopped trying to come off them and just stayed on citalopram forever. But I know some people do have to swap about until the find the right one for them.

I did find paroxetine really problematic as even if I missed one day, I got withdrawal symptoms. I'm not that organized so it was an utter arse.

I am on 10 mg. How long would you say it takes for sleepiness to reduce? @DramaAlpaca, did you try Sertraline? Everybody seems to be taking that.

I had no problems coming off it.

My daughter had this and realised it wasn't working. She also had been on Escitalepram but again not good for her.
She recently changed to sertraline and had been like a new woman from day 1

@Ruralbliss

My daughter had this and realised it wasn't working. She also had been on Escitalepram but again not good for her. She recently changed to sertraline and had been like a new woman from day 1

This sounds enviable. It is such a hit and miss trying to find the right med. I can't keep taking time off work while I endure the side effects.

I didn't realise it was still in use.
I had no problems coming off it but it caused me to overdose 3 times.
You need to go speak to your GP .

Sorry to hear that @meglethesecond. Evidently I do. Going to insist on an alternative.

The sleepiness wears off. Just keep going.

@HildaRumple I haven't tried sertraline, but my adult DS is on it and he finds it very good. He's tried a few that didn't suit, but sertraline does.

I can't remember how long the sleepiness took to go away on 10mg, but it was definitely a few weeks.

I think you should definitely go back to your GP.