Resilient-<P>I am thanking you all over the place tonight. I dont want anything that is even close to being addictive! Thanks for the info <P>------------------<BR>*heartache*<P>"Life's A Dance<BR>You Learn As You Go.<BR>Sometimes You Lead<BR>Sometimes You Follow!<BR>Don't worry 'Bout What You Don't Know<BR>LIfe's A Dance <BR>You Learn As You Go."

Honestly heartache, I never got addicted to Xanax. I must be weird (well, I know I am , and maybe with the ADHD it had an opposite effect?)...<P>I've taken anti-depressants, and anti-anxiety, and nothing worked as well as Prozac for me. I didn't get addicted and it WORKED. I took Zoloft last year (I have SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder) and in Canada, where I now live, Zoloft is part of what's called, The Compassionate Drug Program, which means it's free. So... since we're not wealthy, and I couldn't say no, give me Prozac, I did take the Zoloft. I have to say, it did work on my mood (I get very depressed and darkly tormented in the winter) but I didn't like how I felt otherwise - physically. Can't put my finger on it though...<P>Best wishes on this try at getting off of it, Hon.<P>Sheryl

Sheryl-<P>Well look who's here Good to see you-too bad I have to post just to get a peek at you though-LOL<P>I am mostly curious as to how long I might expect to be feeling these awful withdrawals-I do NOT like what I am feeling.<P>But doesn't it just irk me to have to me on meds anyhow-as it wouldn't have been had .............well you know my story.<P>I just want off-for once and for all. And forever.......and ever.<P>I wish I were made of ahrd core stuff so I didn't ever have to get on it in the first place. But I am a wuss-allowed someone else to run my control panel for me <P>Thanks for your experience-as with all the rest I will keep it handy in case it is ever needed.<P>Take care girl!!<P>------------------<BR>*heartache*<P>"Life's A Dance<BR>You Learn As You Go.<BR>Sometimes You Lead<BR>Sometimes You Follow!<BR>Don't worry 'Bout What You Don't Know<BR>LIfe's A Dance <BR>You Learn As You Go."

Some info from <A HREF="http://www.paxil-side-effects.com/paxil-side-effects.html" TARGET=_blank>Paxil Side Effects</A><P>Paxil (Paroxetine) Side Effects<P>Frequent - Paxil (Paroxetine) Side Effects<BR>*<BR>Body as a Whole: Malaise (a vague feeling of bodily discomfort), pain. <BR>* <BR>Cardiovascular: Hypertension, syncope (a sudden loss of strength, a temporary suspension of consciousness due to cerebral anemia), tachycardia (excessive rapidity in the action of the heart). <BR>* <BR>Dermatological: Pruritus (Intense itching) <BR>* <BR>Gastrointestinal: Nausea and vomiting. <BR>* <BR>Metabolic and Nutritional: Weight gain, weight loss. <BR>* <BR>Nervous System: Central Nervous System stimulation, concentration impaired, depression, emotional lability (emotional instability), vertigo (a hallucination of movement; a sensation as if the external world were revolving around the patient or as if he himself were revolving in space). <BR>* <BR>Respiratory: Cough increased, rhinitis (inflammation of the mucus membrane of the nose). <P>Infrequent - Paxil (Paroxetine) Side Effects<BR>Infrequent Paxil side effects occurred in at least 1 in 1000 people.<BR>* <BR>Body as a Whole: Allergic reaction, chills, face edema (abnormal amount of fluid in the facial tissue), infection, moniliasis (infection caused by Candida (yeast like fungi), neck pain, overdose. Cardiovascular: Bradycardia (abnormal slowness of the heartbeat), conduction abnormalities (abnormal transfer of sound waves, heat, nerve influences, or electricity), ECG abnormal, hypotension (lowered blood pressure), migraine, ventricular extrasystoles (a premature contraction of the heart). <BR>* <BR>Dermatological: Acne, alopecia (absence of hair from the body where it is normally present), dry skin, ecchymosis (blood under the skin, usually looks or appears like a bruise), eczema (an inflammatory skin disease characterized by lesions varying greatly in character, at times watery discharge and the development of scales and crust), furunculosis (a number of painful nodules formed in the skin, caused by bacteria, which enter through the hair follicles or glands, its formation is favored by digestive derangement and local irritation), herpes simplex, urticaria (reaction of the skin to certain drugs, marked by the appearance of smooth, slightly elevated patches, which are redder or paler than the surrounding skin and often includes severe itching). <BR>*<BR>Gastrointestinal: Bruxism (grinding of the teeth especially during sleep), buccal cavity disorders (cavity running from the cheeks to the lips), dysphagia (inflammation of the esophagus), eructation (the act of belching or casting up wind from the stomach), gastroentertitis (inflammation of the stomach or intestines), gastrointestinal flu, glossitis (inflammation of the tongue), increased salivation, liver function test abnormal, mouth ulceration, vomiting and diarrhea, rectal hemorrhage. <BR>* <BR>Hematologic and Lymphatic: Anemia, leukopenia (reduction in the number of leukocytes in the blood), lymphadenopathy (disease of the lymphnodes), purpura (condition charactized by the presence of blood just under the skin, can appear any where over the body), WBC abnormality (white blood cell abnormality). <BR>* <BR>Musculoskeletal: Arthralgia (pain in the joint), arthritis, traumatic fracture. <BR>* <BR>Nervous System: Akinesia (the temporary paralysis of a muscle, can include intense pain), alcohol abuse, amnesia, ataxia (failure of muscular coordination or irregularity of muscle action), convulsion, depersonalization, hallucinations, hyperkinesia (abnormally increased mobility, abnormally increased motor function or activity), hypertonia (a condition of excessive tone, tension or activity, can include increased blood pressure), incoordination, lack of emotion, manic reaction, paranoid reaction, thinking abnormal. <BR>* <BR>Respiratory: Asthma, bronchitis, dyspnea (difficult or labored breathing), epistaxis (hemorrhage from the nose), hyperventilation, pneumonia, respiratory flu, sinusitis. <BR>* <BR>Special Senses: Abnormality of accommodation, conjunctivitis, ear pain, eye pain, mydriasis (extreme or morbid dilation of the pupil), otitis media (inflammation of the ear which may be marked by pain, fever, abnormalities of hearing, deafness, tinnitus, and vertigo), tinnitus (a noise in the ear, as ringing, buzzing, roaring clicking etc). <BR>* <BR>Urogenital: Abortion*, amenorrhea* (absence or abnormal stoppage of menses), breast pain*, cystitis (inflammation of the urinary bladder), dysmenorrhea* (painful menstruation), dysuria (painful or difficult urination), menorrhagia* (excessive uterine bleeding occurring at regular intervals), nocturia (excessive urination at night), polyuria (the passage of a large volume of urine in a given period), urinary incontinence, urinary retention, urinary tract infection, urinary urgency, vaginitis* (inflammation of the vagina). * Gender specific<P>Also, check out <A HREF="http://www.drugawareness.org/home.html" TARGET=_blank>International Coalition for Drug Awareness</A><P>------------------<BR>Prayers & God Bless!<BR>Chris<BR>For relationship info check out <A HREF="http://www.pcisys.net/~chriscal1/resources.html" TARGET=_blank>Marriage & Relationship Resources</A><p>[This message has been edited by Chris (CA123) (edited August 22, 2001).]

CHRIS-<P>Oh My Gosh-all the more reason to get off and STAY OFF the meds!! As I read down the list of side affects I see so many things that I can relate to. This is scary. I am now bound and determined even more to be done with Paxil-for good!!<P>I can not begin to tell you how much help you and others here have given me. I hope you ALL know just how appreciated it is though <P>I never would have made it had it not been for the fine folks here at MB.<P>Again-THANK YOU <P>For EVERYTHING!<P>------------------<BR>*heartache*<P>"Life's A Dance<BR>You Learn As You Go.<BR>Sometimes You Lead<BR>Sometimes You Follow!<BR>Don't worry 'Bout What You Don't Know<BR>LIfe's A Dance <BR>You Learn As You Go."

Hey Chris,<P>You don't happen to have info on side effects for "Wellbutrin" handy, do you?<P>Concerned,<BR>Jo

Treatment options work differently for different people. That's why there are options. <P>I find it interesting that several people have mentioned Celexa. I tried it and I thought I was going to go bezerk! I stayed awake 2 nights in a row, was sick to my stomach, and my throat closed up so bad I could hardly swallow!<P>Paxil, on the other hand, has worked almost perfectly for me. The only complaints I have are a slight tremor occasionally and mild sexual side effects. Otherwise my life has been completely different for the last year. You have to understand, though, I've been suffering from depressive episodes since I was a pre-teen so this really is a new life for me!<P>I'm sorry you've had trouble with Paxil. I've tried skipping it for a few days and only noticed slight agitation and the beginning of that gloomy feeling returning. I'm afraid I really do have a chronic "chemical" issue. I fought my depression very hard for over 20 years. This has been the only hope I've had. Good luck to you. I hope you find a solution that works well for you.

Heartache,<P>I myself just got off of Paxil stopped Paxil in late may after a 3 month slow taper. Your taper does seem kind of fast, but want you to know those symptoms are very, very normal.<P>As for Xanax it is very addictive, I was on the Paxil for the emotional stuff from w/d from that and was told Paxil is not addictive but it is.<P>Theres tons of side of effects and w/d symptoms people experience, but I stuck with it and the fog is just now starting to lift and it feels great although I am now dealing with stuff the drug helped me suppress, but thats allright. I'm feeling like myself again. I gained weight too but am close to back to normal again.<P>So yes its normal and if you would like find out other info or talk to people experiencing the same stuff check out <A HREF="http://www.paxilprogress.org/." TARGET=_blank>http://www.paxilprogress.org/.</A> Its a real good site to learn.<P>As for me, I'm sticking with the natural stuff. My brain has had enough.<P>Good Luck!<BR>Lilly

Hi NewLife4Me,<P>I tried a few of the SSRI's (Paxil, Zoloft and Prozac), all three gave me severe tremors, which were borderline convulsions. <P>I'm not sure if Celexa is an SSRI, do you know? Steve Harley recomended it to me, but I had already started on Wellbutrin by then.<P>I really want to hear if Welbutrin has had any long term studies done on it. And if so, what are the effects.<P>Jo

NL4M-<P>Good information you gave-and thnaks for it I can use all the help a person can give.<P>I am feeling extreme agitation and feel like I wish I didn't have to walk out the front door to go anywhere for anything. My attitude stinks-and my H will back that up!<P>A while back I accidentally failed tot ake both my Paxil and my Thyroid meds. I didn't realize it until the next evening when I went to take them as usual and found the day before meds in their spot. I immediately knew why that morning I was feeling extremely dizzy and odd. While I don't know which one caused the yucky feelings I do know missing just one dose really wacked my system.<P>I think almost anyone is vulnerable at some point or points in life to depression. I just wish a cure was easier than drugs.<P>Thanks for the feedback <P> <P>------------------<BR>*heartache*<P>"Life's A Dance<BR>You Learn As You Go.<BR>Sometimes You Lead<BR>Sometimes You Follow!<BR>Don't worry 'Bout What You Don't Know<BR>LIfe's A Dance <BR>You Learn As You Go."

Lilly-<P>Your resposne was very helpful and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am going through some relaly tough times right now.<P>I do think after reading what all have posted that my going off the meds was a bit too fast-even though I did as directed by my physician. However...............I will not go back on even to go through it more slowly. I jsut hope I amke it through this awful agitationa dn moodiness I am experiencing.<P>I will go look at that website-thanks for that too I am going natural too. Heck-some days I feel like I will be 80 years old and stuck on meds to get me through the days - and I just don't want that!!!!!<P>Again-thanks much <P><P>------------------<BR>*heartache*<P>"Life's A Dance<BR>You Learn As You Go.<BR>Sometimes You Lead<BR>Sometimes You Follow!<BR>Don't worry 'Bout What You Don't Know<BR>LIfe's A Dance <BR>You Learn As You Go."

Heartache, I truly feel for you because it is tough to w/d, real tough and I guess your husband better be prepared for the agitation and anger and tears you might experience, because if your experience is anything like mine you might have lots of that stuff. It seems I had to relive everything I went through again and again and I questioned and cried and yelled at him.<P>But I found the more informed we were about it, the more supportive he was of me and it helped me heal again. We are in recovery so it was not the way I wanted to act, but I did and we are still making it and I'm hoping everything will end well. He assures me it will. It's his turn to be there for me right now.<P>Even though the fog is lifting for me I'm still have emotional stuff, but I am getting a better grip on the things and feeling much better and I am glad I did not give and go back to it. Theres lots of physical stuff I experienced too but they are getting better also.<P>So hang in there, get informed, if you ever want talk, just post and I will help in anyway I can.<P>Hopefully you will be one of the lucky ones that gets through this easily. Everyone is different so hang in there and it will get better. <P>I promise<BR>Lilly<p>[This message has been edited by Lilly (edited August 22, 2001).]

I did mean that the benzodiazepines are habit forming. But so is alcohol. The drug works for me, very well, and I make sure that I use it irregularly and infrequently. <BR>I, too, had difficulty with SSRIs and quit abruptly without problems, though I had not taken them for long (effexor and paxil)<BR>Remember, everyone here is having personal stress relating to relationship problems, and all drug recommendations are probably first person, and absolutely NO ONE will be getting any commissions. <BR>This is quite unlike the slick ads on TV and in the magazines.<BR>Good luck and don't fail to try something just because I said it could be habit forming. No doc will give you a years worth. You might get 15 or 30 days worth at the most for a first try.<BR>good luck<BR>r

Hey Heartache,<P>Pls go here <A HREF="http://www.psyweb.com/Drughtm/xanax.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.psyweb.com/Drughtm/xanax.html</A> for more info on Xanax. The info offered is quite illuminating.<P>Jo<BR>

The more I see of us using these brain chemistry changing drugs for our "situational depressions" the more it scares me. Because I have been to hell and back because of these drugs. I Was put on them by doctors and therapists and not told I would become addicted, not told what could happen in w/d or what some long term affects could be and had to become self knowledgable about them or I would have thought I was crazy.<P>Some people can get off them with minimal or no problems or some like me really have a tough time.<P>The more I get back to myself, the more I like myself again and I am never going back to them again. I hope that anyone who is on anything, or thinking of going on anything does lots of research on them and be informed.<P>Lilly

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Lilly:<BR><B>The more I see of us using these brain chemistry changing drugs for our "situational depressions" the more it scares me. Because I have been to hell and back because of these drugs. I Was put on them by doctors and therapists and not told I would become addicted, not told what could happen in w/d or what some long term affects could be and had to become self knowledgable about them or I would have thought I was crazy.<P></B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>I am with you, Lilly. I think what I resent the most is not being made aware that the depression [and all of it's causes] would be sitting there waiting for me when I stopped the Paxil! Nor was I told that being on Paxil is like living in a daze. I have NO MEMORY of that year. It is simply gone. I do know that I felt no happiness and no unhappiness - just sort of zoned out and it took several months to start feeling normal again. I never realized how wonderful it is to feel joy, anger, etc! I view my year on Paxil as a nightmare and would never go back on antidepressants. It was much better to face my depression and deal with it than to mask it for that year. <P>

Boy, ain't I chatty tonight?? hehe But I wanted to mention that the story my psychiatrist gave me in recommending Paxil made great logical sense AT THAT TIME, ie: chemical imbalance in brain, corrects serotonin levels, blah, blah, blah. That all sounded so logical when I was depressed, judgmentally impaired and desperate for a solution. It was only later that I asked myself, how does a doctor know you have "chemical imbalance" without running ANY TESTS? Is there such a test to really determine such a thing? I can't imagine that a doctor just determines such a thing by LOOKING at a patient. Yet, I have heard other anti-depressant patients parrot the exact same mantra, yet their doctors never ran any tests. Perhaps these doctors are psychic and have missed thier calling?

Resilient-<P>Thanks-I will go look at that website as soon as I get a few minutes.<P>------------------<BR>*heartache*<P>"Life's A Dance<BR>You Learn As You Go.<BR>Sometimes You Lead<BR>Sometimes You Follow!<BR>Don't worry 'Bout What You Don't Know<BR>LIfe's A Dance <BR>You Learn As You Go."

Dana1114, I agree with you totally. I think the depression that hit after the drug was gone was 10 times worse than the emotional stuff here and there I was dealing with. It took some real soul seaching to get through that.<P>I know what you mean by being zoned out. I was like numb emotionally. When I recently started to laugh again, really laugh and feel good it felt so damn good.<P>How long have you been off. Tell me it gets better and better.<P>Lilly

Lilly & Dana-<P>I am 27 months-almost-into recovery. If you can call it that. Sadly-as good as I have it and as much as my H wants to help me get through what he did to me-I am not a happy person any more. I am not sure there is a drug out there that will change that.<P>I waited 33 years for my H to come into my life. I had an awful childhood followed by a terible first marriage. I never had felt like anyone loved me-truly and always-until I met my current H. <P>I had never trusted anyone like I trusted my H. I had never been so happy as I was when I married and sarted what I called my "new life". Finally-after all that time I had what I was always looking for.<P>So when my H and best friend decided to have an affair it destroyed me. I am mad at the world most times. I am angry that I feel I am not person enough to deal with it-however I need to-and just move forward. I am angry that I lost my best friend-because that is what I thought she was. I didn't know she was using me and setting me up for this total break down-along with my H of course. I am mad as hell that my "perfect (this was in my eyes only-i am fully aware nothing is perfect) world broke into a million pieces.<P>But I am also aware that I ought to be happy I have a very sorry H who will die trying to help me know he loves me, only me and that he is so sorry for the terrible bad choices me made that hurt four adults-himself included. It also affected 7 children.<P>I see so many who are going through much more terrible times than I have had to go through that I get angry at ME for not being able to just forgive and forget-I carry it like a hot poker day and night <P>So-I went on meds thinking I had only that choice to help me smile again-to get through a day without feeling such pain-to go somewhere without wanting to bust out in tears.<P>The Paxil helped-boy did it. I was able to function. But it did cover up the underlaying problem-which is still here and waiting for me to deal with it.<P>I will NOT go on any more meds to deal with my problems. I would rather be dead than feel this terrible just getting off something.<P>I hate infidelity, I hate medications to cover up real issues, and I what has happened to ME becasue of both.<P>My hope is that all of us can move ahead-in whatever direction we must-and gain control of the "real" us!!<P>Thanks for all your words.<P>------------------<BR>*heartache*<P>"Life's A Dance<BR>You Learn As You Go.<BR>Sometimes You Lead<BR>Sometimes You Follow!<BR>Don't worry 'Bout What You Don't Know<BR>LIfe's A Dance <BR>You Learn As You Go."