Paxil

[Katerina Val-Kyrie]

Hi gals/guys! How goes it everyone? Man, I am missing this site alot lately. My hubbie has been on holidays, so my time was more limited on the puter. Starting tomorrow, he will be off for another 12 days, so again, limited time. But, I do miss checking out the BB everyday, that's for sure. Anywho, why am I here? Well, to start a thread of course. I haven't done it for awhile, so I thought it was time. I would hate to be forgotten you know.

Ok, enough of that, let's get to the true meaning of this thread! Man, can I get off track sometimes Hmmm, perhaps, the Paxil is doing funny things to my brain? Hell, if I know. Could be though. Ok, my question is...

How many out there have tried this particular anti-depressant and what have your side effects been?

I seem to be ok for the most part, regarding the side effect thing, but there is one thing that is really bugging me.

Dreams, yes, dreams!

I cannot even believe what I dream somedays. Sometimes, I feel as if I could write a movie, or write a book if I remembered them. I guess we all feel that. But these dreams I have, are very deep, emotional, and so very real. I wake up every morning, either talking, laughing, or crying in my sleep. I mean, I know everyone does this sometime, that is normal, but gosh, every morning? I never use to do this everyday.

I almost feel like my brain is trying to flush all the bad stuff that has happened in my life. I have dreamt about my step-grandfather hurting me, my real father abandoning me. I remember, in a dream, I confronted him as to why he chose not to be in our lives. Hell, I wouldn't know him to see him, but I still had an image of him in my dream. Family members, friends, neighbours, everyone seems to be in my dreams, except for you Literoticans of course. Can't say that has happened to me yet, *LOL* But, I guess, I just feel abit frustrated with all this heaviness I wake up with, and the wonderment of why this is happening.

I have only been on Paxil going on two months, so I would like to give it a try before giving up. I am also only on 20 mgs, which is a smaller dosage. I am trying it out, just to help curb anxiety and anger. I am hoping it works as I have never ever tired anything like this before. I am not exactly proud to admit I am on this drug, but I really want to know if anyone else out there has had weird side effects from Paxil or any other anti-depressant for that matter.

I think, in today's society, there are alot of people on these drugs, it's just that no one really likes to talk about it. I would love to hear anything, anyone would like to share. Thanks in advance.

Hugs, KitKat

[Edited by Katerina on 10-11-2000 at 08:10 PM]

 

[lukyduk97]

Katerina,
As you say know one likes to admit being on this stuff and I don't either really but I started taking it last October. My doctor took me off of it in May but now here it is October again and I'm back on it. Really stressful situation in my life has come back up. It gets me out the door to go to work. Without it I was having a real hard time getting off the couch. It's helping me in other words.

I'm only on 10mg. I can't handle 20mg. The side effects for me are cotton mouth and with the 20mg I was having severe nausea. Not so much with the 10 but still a little. Can't say I've experienced dreaming but I don't usually remember my dreams anyway. I did have one dream a couple of nights ago that I remember. I had an accident at work a couple of months ago where some equipment fell on my head and I bled all over the place well I dreamed that happened again. Very vivid.

Hope this helps and I hope the Paxil works for you.

 

[teresafannin]

Hello, my fiancee takes Paxil, he has been diagnosed with clinical depression. It has been a lifesaver for him. I don't think he would have survived this past year without it. My son was murdered a year ago & it has been a horrible time for us. I am sorry I don't know the dosage, but he tried other meds & none of them worked. Since he has been on the Paxil, his mood swings have lessened, he sleeps a little bit better & he does dream, but nothing out of the ordinary. I haven't noticed any major side effects, some of the other meds made it hard for him to eat & he had a lot of stomach problems that he doesn't seem to have now. I hope this helps, my therapist says I might have to start taking something to help ease my depression. I am trying to avoid meds, I had a substance abuse problem years ago. Good luck & give it a chance, 2 months is not a very long time.

 

[Katerina Val-Kyrie]

Hey Luky, thanks so much for your reply, I appreaciate that. It's too bad the Paxil bothered your stomach, that sucks, big time. Glad it's helping you though, in other ways. I have been lucky as far as nasuea goes. None, so far. Actually, it's just this heavy dreaming and talking in my sleep that has changed so far. I will see my Doctor in a few months and will see what he says then.

I think I have been alot calmer since taking this drug though. I am not 100 percent where I want to be, but I have been much better at controlling my anger. Guess that is a good thing! As I said before, I will give it some time and see what happens in the future. Only time will tell.

Thanks Luky

Hugs KitKat

 

[lilfrk]

I take Elavil for a few reasons. One is to curb my high and low moods. Two is the help manage pain from arthritis. And the thrid is to help me sleep. Sleep is the key to helping the other two things. If I can't sleep my body can't mend the other things that are wrong with me.
That being said. It gives me wicked vivid dreams. Whether they be about work or sex. I always dream in detail that in the morning makes me feel like I have lived it.
So you are not alone with the dreams thing. I think it is a fairly common thing. I know it has happened to other people that I know who take similar or the same medications.

 

[Katerina Val-Kyrie]

teresafannin, first off, I want to say how terribly sorry I am about you losing your son. That is so very sad. I hope each and everyday gets easier for both you and your fiancee. Thanks for sharing about the Paxil, and yes, I will give it more time.

Long ago, I did an Sexual Abuse thread, not sure if you remember it. But, my anger stems from that time in my life when I was a child. Unfortunately, I have carried that anger with me into my adult life. I am very stressful, controlling, cry easily and I am a perfectionist also. So many quirks I have, and what to do with the anger? I am hoping Paxil is part of the answer. I too, have to work at bettering myself, I cannot rely on Meds alone. It has to come within me. I have to help myself.

Thanks hon for your response. Talk to your Doctor and see what he says, regarding your depression. Mine assures me, some ppl are on anti-depressants for long term, and they are not harmful. I hope he is right.

Best of luck my friend.

Hugs KitKat

[Edited by Katerina on 10-11-2000 at 08:07 PM]

 

[Katerina Val-Kyrie]

lilfrk, thanks for sharing my friend, it's nice to know I am not alone. As you said, the dreams are so vivid, and you feel like you have lived them. I only wish I could remember more detail upon waking. Bits and pieces flash through my mind as my tears dry and my laughter fades. The mind is a fasinating thing, especially in the silence of the night.

It will take you anywhere...

Hugs KitKat

 

[Patryn]

Another nerve struck. God, I'm on a roll tonight. Before I get off to ranting, let me talk about my personal experience with Paxil/therapy. My room mate (not myself, mind you) convinced me that I may be suffering from mild depression/anxiety disorder. While I don't deny this, it was caused by real problems in real life, and IMO, you can't solve that with pills. But anyway. My doc started me on 20 mg, which I handled fine. I stayed on that for 2 weeks, and then I was supposed to go up to 40 mg, and now after seeing how much others are taking, I'm wondering if that wasn't WAY too much. I'm only 105#. In either case, the stuff damn near killed me. On the night I took the first 40 mg dose, about 3 hours after, I started feeling a little "odd". Nothing major, just like I'd had too much caffeine. A half hour later, my pulse was well over 130 sitting stock still, I had the cold sweats, my hands and feet started tingling, and I couldn't breathe. That was a trip to the ER for some sedatives. Seriously. I don't care if I'm moments away for suicide, I'm not putting anything like that in my body ever EVER again.

On an interesting side note, the Dr. I saw, a phsychiatrist, gave me the meds and said "see you in a month". And that was it. He also happened to be on call the night I came into the ER, and acted like I was over-reacting/bothering him. Which leads me to....

Next part of rant: I don't deny depression, et al, exist, but it's my PERSONAL opinion that meds are way overprescribed. While I can see they might be needed, at least temporarily, when something very tramatic happens, as Theresa mentioned, such as the loss of a child, and I do realize that there are people out there who have legitimate chemical imbalances, it's too the point where you can almost call up a Dr. and say you think you're depressed, and he'll call in an anti-depressant scrip to the nearest drug store. But hey, that's just me.

 

[Alyrahh]

My brother used to take paxil, the only thing it did to him was dry his mouth.

I take Zoloft, and too have very vivid dreams. Some have been so vivid that I've actually asked one of the persons who was in them, if they had really happened. I never made the connection between the meds and the dreams though, I'm glad you made this point!

The only other side effect I seem to have, is loss of appetite. I don't get nauseated, just no appetite. The Dr. said that would leave as my body adjusted to the medication, but I've been on it for over 2yrs now, and am still having no appetite.

 

[teresafannin]

Patryn, you are so correct that meds are way overprescribed. My therapist says that about 1/3 of the people on anti-depressents don't really need them. Before my fiancee went on the meds, we tried everything to stop his mood swings, diet, exercise, no caffeine, the whole nine yards & nothing worked. I took a 6 month leave of absence from work after my son was killed. The company that I work for is awesome, they did so much for me. They helped me keep my benefits, held my ATC job for me & then offerred me a more challenging job when I came back. My store manager helped me get short term disability leave with pay. The insurance claims person had no clue what to do with me. They are trained for dealing with cases of physical disability, emotional trauma is beyond their comprehension. All this woman told me for 4 months was I needed to be on meds, get back to work & go on with my life. It got so bad that I stopped answering the phone & forwarded her calls to my therapist. At one point I told her I wish it was physical because physical trauma will generally heal. This kind of trauma will never go away. Now, I mostly need something to help me sleep & something to make me want to eat. I am lucky in that I have a great therapist who only recommends meds as the absolute last resort. Having had a previous substance abuse problem, I am leery of putting any chemicals in my body, except for the coke classic of course. Got to have my caffeine. I hope your knee isn't hurting too badly. Take care, Teresa

[Edited by teresafannin on 10-11-2000 at 08:03 PM]

 

[Alyrahh]

Patryn, you're absolutely right. Medications of MANY kinds are over-prescribed lately. This is a sore spot for me. I see so very many children on Ritalin, who obviously don't need it. Please understand, I'm not saying NO children need it, I know there are children who cannot function without it (I know this on a very personal level) The problem, besides the physical things that happen with medications, is that the general public see this over-prescribing fad and automatically become judgemental of anyone who is taking, or is allowing their children to take this medication. Almost everyone taking it is labled as not needing it. That angers me.

The same thing is happening with anti-depressants. I agree wholeheartedly with you, that if a person is going through a very difficult time, medicine is not a fix. It's only a bandaid at best. BUT, then there are people like me, people with a chemical imbalance who NEED this medication on a daily basis, and maybe for the rest of their lives. Suddenly, because of all the over-prescribing, they too, become labled.

If I could live a productive, happy life without medications, it would be a dream come true. I've come to terms with the fact that this is not the case. I have to have my meds, just the same as my father has to have his and my brother his... because we all have the same chemical imbalance.

 

[Katerina Val-Kyrie]

Patryn, please do rant away. Thats ok with me. You had a bad experience and you have every right to say what is on your mind. I am glad you told me this stuff because that is why I posted this thread. I do not know alot about anti-depressants and wanted to know more. I suppose, I could have just looked it up on the net, but I wanted to talk to ppl that have personally been on them.

I feel you were definately on too large of dosage for your weight. You are much lighter than I, and 40 mgs sounds high to me. I am no Doctor, but it just seems high for someone that is as slight as you are. My own Doctor said I was to stay on only 20mgs for 3 months before he would even consider a higher dosage. I know, I will not go any higher as I have no need too. He also wanted to see me within a few weeks of taking them. Trying them was a big step for me, I am not one to ever take meds on any regular basis. I will heed your warning about your experiences with this med.

I too, have to agree with both you and Teresa on meds being over perscribed. Just wanted to share that also.

I guess I was just looking for others experiences and I thank you for sharing yours with me.

Alyrahh, thank you too, for your input.

Hugs KitKat

 

[Patryn]

Aly, I agree with you. You're not the only one that has something generally amiss in their brain chemistry. I know how that sounds, but I realize it is a physical ailment that can be treated. I'm glad medications exist for those that have that problem, and I'm glad to see they're helping you lead a full and productive life.

I also know they can help people who have been through major emotional trauma "put things in perspective" and begin to cope. What I meant was, they're not being prescribed for PMS. I mean, what the fuck? PMS is a hormonal imbalance, not a seratonin one. IF the hormone spikes are causing a seratonin imbalance, then treating with hormones, if it's possible, is the answer, NOT Paxil, etc. I myself take the pill for PMS, not for emotional reasons but for physical ones. I had migraines, back pain, digestive problems, and muscle weekness for 2 weeks before my period, and I was damned if I was gonna feel like that for 1/2 my life. Hormones were an option for me, for some they're not.

I have nothing against using anti-depressants, Ritalin, etc when it's necessary. Nothing at all. If you have a treatable problem then you should treat it. No sense in suffering needlessly. I just think the "problem" doesn't exist half as much as some people think it does. Just to clarify.

And thanks teresa, I feel much better.

 

[Alyrahh]

Patryn...

I was afraid that post sounded like I was disagreeing with you, or whatnot. I wasn't, not at all, as a matter of fact, I was trying to back you up. I agree with absolutely everything you said. I'm not thinking very clearly today, to be honest, I probably shouldn't even be posting anything in my present state of mind. So, I apologize if it seemed as if I were attacking your opinion, and if it didn't seem that way, then ignore what I just said.

Fuck, I give up, I don't think I made any sense whatsoever just now. Methinks Alyrahh needs to shut her mouth now.

 

[Earthmuffin]

Ok, I got out my drug handbook

Hiya there, I wanted to make sure that the dream thing was not listed as a possible side effect or adverse reaction/toxic effect. It's not. I think perhaps the dream thing is due to the action of the drug, not a side effect. The Paxil "Selectively blocks uptake of neurotransmitter, serotonin @ CNS neuronal presynaptic membranes, thereby increasing availablilty at postsynaptic neuronal receptor sites. resulting enhancement of synaptic activity produces anti-depressant effect..." In other words, it works in your noggin to change the chemistry and may be freeing up some of that energy in your sleep pattern resulting in the dreams.

Also, are you taking Tagamet or Tagamet HB? That med will increase the concentration of Paxil in your system. Your pharmacist should have advised you of that potential drug interaction at the time he filled your Rx, but if you are on samples, you may not have been warned.

Good luck with the Paxil, you can ALWAYS ask your psych to drop you to 10mg dosage for a "trial run". I hope this blathering on helps! You can always e-mail me if you need an extra "ear".

 

[Katerina Val-Kyrie]

EarthMuffin, thanks so much for that info. I am going to copy it into a document and save it. I appreaciate you checking that out for me, very much. Regarding other meds, I am not on any, if you were directing that question to me. Just Paxil for the time being. I will be seeing my Doctor in a few months time now, so if I find this too much, I will definately drop to 10. Thanks again. Hugs KitKat

 

[Earthmuffin]

Any time!!
*hugs*

 

[insideShiraz]

Pinkies...

Side-effects aside...

They feel like Plastic in the System...But, they probably do more good than Harm...