I've been on paxil 40 mg. for more than 7 years.

Ellen,

Like you I put on alot of weight. I have been taking paxil for 6
years and put on 70lbs. It's like ok give me a pill to stop the
anxiety and depression and then you get fat and depressed!! I am
starting to get off Paxil and have tried several times but have
decided to solicit the advice of a physichatrist.

One thing you may want to have checked is your thryoid. I went to a
doctor a few years ago when the weight came on and my dr diagnosed me
with hypothyroidism. I did some research and it looks like your
thryoid can be effected by taking paxil. Get some bloodwork and that
should help ease your mind.

--- In PAXILyahoogroups.com, "Ellen Shipley&quot; <ellen.shipley...>
wrote:
>
> HI,
>
> I'm on 30mg for 2 years, but I'm about to try and taper off. My
doctor dropped me to 20mg, but I'm wondering if I should do some pill-
chopping and take 25mg instead?
>
> As for the night terrors, I used to have them on rare occasions,
but not for quite a long time. I do have vivid, disturbing dreams,
and am often exhausted by them, but I consider that a fair trade-off
for the anxiety I was experiencing during waking hours. But I am
able to program my dreams not to be too disturbing using a form of
self-hypnosis. I have to tell myself that my dreams will not be too
disturbing or anything I can't handle, and that I don't have to
remember them. I have done this for almost a year with pretty good
success, but I have to "reprogram" myself every few weeks or so.
>
> I have also lost interest in sex, another side effect I
understand. But by far the worst side effect for me, and the reason
I want to get off of Paxil, is the huge weight gain I've had. In two
years I've gained 100 lbs. I just started gaining and have not
stopped. It doesn't matter what I eat, and I eat a fairly balanced
diet -- the same one my husband eats. I am sedintary, but I have
always been sedintary. The only thing I've changed in the past two
years is go on Paxil. It's gotten to a health issue for me now, so I
feel I have to get off (even tho I am otherwise happy with my
results).
>
> So wish me luck, and good luck to all of you. 8-]
>
> Ellen
>;
>
> print blog:
>; http://pressing-issues.blogspot.com/
&gt; sketch blog:
>; http://thepickledpen.blogspot.com/
> dog blog:
>; http://dogblog-catchat.blogspot.com/
&gt;
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Jackie
> To: PAXILyahoogroups.com
> Sent: Friday, July 07, 2006 11:30 AM
> Subject: RE: [PAXIL] I've been on paxil 40 mg. for more than 7
years.
>
>
>
> Hi Joseph,
&gt;
> I've been on varying doses of Paxil since 1997. I can tell you
that as time goes on, strange side effects do pop up. Right now I am
doing a liquid paxil tapering off program; I am currently taking 5.2
mg a day. The slow taper works best for me due to the nasty effects
I experience from going at it faster (nausea, extreme dizziness, GI
upset, etc.). I hope to be off paxil by Christmas this year.
>;
> Anyway, I have those night terror type things too, but they occur
before I go to sleep or interrupt my sleep. Hate that. I have to do
alot of self-talk to assure myself that there is no fight-or-fright
situation occurring, and that it is really okay to let myself sleep.
Thankfully this does not happen every day, or I'd be exhausted.
>
> Are you consistent with the timing of your pill-taking? Be sure
you *always* take your meds at the same time every day. If you are
already doing this, then maybe you are wearing off during your sleep
cycle, and when you wake up, your brain is telling you it needs its
meds. I'm a layman but understand chemistry, so my guess is that the
levels of paxil in your bloodstream may not be consistent, causing
the fright. Does the scared feeling go away after you take your
meds?
>
> Glad to hear you are sober now. Congratulations!
>
> Jackie
&gt;
> -----Original Message-----
> From: PAXILyahoogroups.com [mailto:PAXILyahoogroups.com]On
Behalf Of joseph penaherrera
> Sent: Friday, July 07, 2006 12:31 PM
> To: PAXILyahoogroups.com
&gt; Subject: [PAXIL] I've been on paxil 40 mg. for more than 7
years.
>
>
> Hi, I'm Joseph and I've been on Paxil for more than 7 years.
The symptom that most bother me is sexual dysfunction. Also I have
something like "night terrors&quot;.
> It's something like this: I go to sleep, but when I wake up
next day, every morning I'm scared. I've been having that for the
last two years.
> There's not an anonymous group as Paxil Anonymous, because I'm
going to AA, because I started drinking heavily the last 2 years.
Now I'm sober, but I feel like shit.
>; Any feedback about it? Thanks.
&gt;
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------
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&gt;