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#118954 08/27/02 11:29 AM
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I just started taking it last week. And am having side effects. Wondering if anyone else has had experience with this. Thanks for any input.

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Sorry, I've been taking Zoloft for a month now. 50mg. No side effects here that I can tell.

Mind if I ask what the side effects are?

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Hi!
I was on Paxil for 3 months and had some side effects also.
It worked great for me mentally (I was happier, could think clearly, I was more adaptable and stable), but physically I was a WRECK.
At first I couldn’t sleep at all, and had dry mouth pretty bad. Then I gained 25 pounds in a month and ½!!!! My diet hadn’t changed at all! No matter how hard I worked out or how little I ate I couldn’t lose the weight until I went off Paxil.

What are you experiencing?

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We are all on something I think, My 16 year old jokingly calls it my happy pill. I am taking efexur (I am sure I mis spelled it) I haven't really experienced any side effects it is slow acting. I have been on it for a month and can notice the difference finally. I still have bad times but they are easier to get over and I have lost like 35 pounds in 6 weeks so it's definitely not causing weight gain. I am taking diet pills that is why I have lost so quick, and nerves.
I took Zanax too at first when the anxiety got really bad but I haven't had to take both in a while.

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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by Reassessing:
<strong>What are you experiencing?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Well, it is embarrassing. But I guess after all I have admitted here I should just let it all hang out.

I cannot achieve orgasm. Through masturbation. Never a problem before, and I do it almost every day. But the last 3 or 4 nights I just couldn't get "there". I could get it up. But not orgasm. MC told me I may start to have problems getting it up also.

I called my doctor and he is on vacation. Waiting for call from his partner who is covering for him. But curious if anyone else had this or a similar side effect.

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holding,

I took it for about 5 months at the beginning of the year. I completely lost interest in sex, ganied about 30 pounds and had "regularity" problems. I think the stuff must affect metabolism. I slowly got off and I am feeling better - working hard on shedding the extra weight. If you withdraw, go very slowly - I tried to just stop at first and got these ungodly head zingers.

I also heard on PRM this week that a judge has refused to dismiss a class action lawsuit against the makers of Paxil (the claim is that Glaxo failed to warn of possible physical addiction of the drug I think).

Good luck.

hg

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Hold,
I wasn't on paxil, but celexa gave me the same side effect. Everyone seems to react differently to medications and it seems to be trial and error as to which one works.

Some people have suggested combining their medications with wellbutrin(sp?)to help those side effects.

Now I'm on effexor and it seems to be working for me.

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Holding,
Don’t be embarrassed. I wasn’t able to achieve orgasm as regularly when I was on Paxil as well. But I was also not very interested in sex at the time and thought that had something to do with it, I have heard of this being a side effect.

I am on Wellbutrin now and don’t seem to have any problems.

How long have you been on Paxil?

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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by Reassessing:
<strong>Holding,
Don&#8217;t be embarrassed. I wasn&#8217;t able to achieve orgasm as regularly when I was on Paxil as well. But I was also not very interested in sex at the time and thought that had something to do with it, I have heard of this being a side effect.

I am on Wellbutrin now and don&#8217;t seem to have any problems.

How long have you been on Paxil?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Yes, I have heard of this. Frankly, when they told me it might cut down my libido I told them that was a good thing. And that wifey would thank them for prescribing it so I stop bothering her. But somehow I thought the no orgasms was more of a female thing. I have had a few times where I couldn't get it up, but I never had a time when I could get aroused but not achieve orgasm.

Have been on the Paxil for 8 days. Also am currently on and have in the past been on Welbutrin. Never any side effects. Wanted to add something for anxiety as well as A-D. Doctor thought if the Paxil worked we could wean me off the Welbutrin. Now I want off the Paxil.

Doctor's backup just called. He said stay on the Paxil until my doctor returns. That this side effect is common. And frequently it goes away by itself. And since wife is away for 3 days, it doesn't hurt to wait until Friday when my doctor is back in the office.

He also said that Paxil clears out of the body quickly as to this side effect, so if you know in advance you are going to be active just skip the dose the day before. I had to laugh. As if I ever know in advance when I am going to get lucky! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />

Thanks to everyone for their responses. This is the kind of thing that can really get your head spinning. Especially for a guy who has done himself just about every day for the past 25 years. Ground control was shocked that after 7500+ consecutive successful launches of the rocket (once we got it pointed skyward on the launch pad and started the countdown), we suddenly had to abort 3 flights in a row. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Embarrassed]" src="images/icons/blush.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

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Got a good laugh out of that last post!! &#61514;

My Dr suggested adding Zoloft to my Wellbutrin prescription to take care of anxiety, it didn’t work for me (it raised my blood pressure) but it might for you. If you continue having side effects you might want to mention it.

GOOD LUCK!!!

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PAXIL SWEET SWEET PAXIL!!

I am sooo glad the doc perscribed it for me, i suffered only the relief of axioty!

never had any sexual disfunction - less tension around not having it but things always worked correctly!

i actually have gained a little since getting off it but not while i was on.

give it some time, it took a good 5-6 weeks before it really had a dramatic effect but it was a great break, a chance to remember what it feels like without the anxioty, and now its easier for me to achieve that without the drug.

good luck

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Paxil was interesting.

I too had the suppressed libido and was unable to um.. "launch a rocket" the few times I cared to try.

But the fun part was what I called the "Paxil head rush" - a little jolt of electricity in the head. Felt like my brain was being tickled. Got a couple of these each day.

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I was on paxil for almost a year(I lost both my prents in nine months and began renovating our house)
The first two months it was almost impossible to reach O, eventually got better.
I didn't react much to stress, didn't get sad about anything- became very self sufficient. Too self sufficient. I was O.K. by myself to the point it was wierd. Decided that I wanted to feel more again and quite cold turkey-BAD CHOICE!!! I've never felt so terrible in my life!!!
I resumed the paxil and slowly weaned myself off . Just bought another house and planning to remodel-considering going back on paxil-it did help alot.

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Interesting observations
Lots of side effects
Lots of benefits
Mostly, a good deal of unpredictability
Perhaps too much confidence in a flawed vehicle.
I took Effexor and it was just a horrible experience--sadly, the psych doc wasn't buying it and tried to let me give it more time. I went back to my main doc and demanded the fastest and safest way to get off of it. I did and I am glad I did.
Painful tingling all over. Sleep deprivation. Delayed O. Never did anything positive. Felt just awful as long as that stuff was around.
On the other hand, I just loved Zanax. Why not? It's closely related to Versed, an IV drug extremely commonly used in the first phases of surgery.
Yes, it helps with sleep and it helps in as little as ten minutes. (but a real danger to driving and plane piloting)
If you have major (hour after hour--day after day) problems, it's not your drug either, as it is gone in about 2 hours, too, depending on the dose.
It's also very cheap and you're not paying for magazine and TV ads.
Most docs will not prescribe unless they know you well, as the drug has some abuse potential and potentiates with alcohol. ...an number of Hollywood suicides with this class of drugs and booze.
I didn't take it much or for long
But it was good for a bad patch.
Sorry, because of my experience, I am very suspicious of psychiatrists. My response to drugs is a bit different than average, and they refused to listen.
I learned from that!
r
ps my bias is against longer term brain chemical use. Some can help, but long term effects ARE JUST PLAINLY UNKNOWN FOR ALL PSYCHO-ACTIVE DRUGS THAT ARE FAIRLY NEW NOW!!
There are people alive today with debilitating permanent motor side effects from drugs that were thought of as helpful and safe in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. I've worked, clinically, with some. It ain't "purty" and I don't want to be a poster boy for the next generation--and I don't wish it for you, either

<small>[ August 27, 2002, 09:58 PM: Message edited by: roger ]</small>

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HOTI,

I have been on Celexa for nearly 10 months. I had very similar side effects for the 6 months or so. Finally seemed to ease this summer. Dont know about Paxil though.

Hang in there, it will get better.

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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by CodeManC:
<strong>I have been on Celexa for nearly 10 months. I had very similar side effects for the 6 months or so. Finally seemed to ease this summer.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Were you active during this period? How did your partner respond?

Because I tried just about every trick I know last night (and I know quite a few, especially when no one else is home so I don't have to worry about taking my time, being seen, or making a mess <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Embarrassed]" src="images/icons/blush.gif" /> ). Nothing worked. That is, I could get the rocket onto the launching pad, but no matter how hard I pushed the big red button, no liftoff.

So ladies, is that a good thing or a bad thing? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" />

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Zoloft gave me the shakes, Paxil wouldn't let me sleep, Celexa worked fine, but I couldn't lose weight. Been off it for a week, will see how it goes.

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Well, it is time to go home and shampoo the sofa in the living room.

Then my nightly attempt to overcome the Paxil shortcircuit. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Embarrassed]" src="images/icons/blush.gif" /> Wish me luck! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

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I have taken Paxil for depression and anxiety. I couldn't tell that it really helped either. It made me feel just more "numb". And the anxiety actually increased. It did have the sexual side effects you are talking about, at the time I thought it was just "me".

I now take tranxene for anxiety, works great, and is non-addictive. And norpramine for depression. Works well also for me anyway, no side effects that I can tell. Not easy to get a doctor to prescribe though. Only psychiatrists seem to be willing to prescribe them. But I don't care, as long as they work, I keep seeing my psych doc, and it's well worth the effort.

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Well, I did shampoo the sofa and its pillows last night. Tonight I flip the pillows over and do the other side, and give another pass over the arms and back of the sofa. If I have time I will also do the carpet downstairs. And if I am really ambitious I will throw out the remaining leftovers from last Sunday's block party so the fridge is clean. That should make wife happy when she gets home tomorrow.

No luck overcoming Paxil last night. This is now the longest I have gone without an O in 25 years. I am so horny I would make love to a warm apple pie if I thought that would work. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

I can hardly wait until Monday when my doctor gets back from vacation and I can find out how to get off this stuff.

<small>[ August 29, 2002, 11:04 AM: Message edited by: holdingontoit ]</small>

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