Any experiences of taking Paroxetine?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paroxetine

As people say: "there's this thing called Google"

So having skim read this article, it looks like it's not to be prescribed to teenagers. (Don't know how old you are.) It has similarities with venlafaxine, (that I have tried and it was horrendous!). Generics are available, which means it will be a cheaper drug than some newer drugs, (which begs the question: is that why doctors prescribe this stuff, or is because it's so old it is considered road tested?; i.e. doesn't necessarily work, but is unlikely to kill you.)

I'd be wary of taking stuff without doing a bit of research. Then take your concerns to the doctor and if they can explain their reasoning behind prescribing this particular drug to you, and it makes sense, then weigh it up and decide if you want to give it a go.

What ever happens, don't take it, then stop taking it; the withdrawrals can be excrutaiting, so you have to come off very slowly. Also, your doctor needs to be sure you have adequate dosing instructions, and that they are monitoring you closely for side effects.

Hi why are you afraid to take them?   All they are is an aid to help with your problems,  it doesn't mean you are going to be on them for life or become addicted to them.  

There's no point in asking others how they got on with them as we are all different.  Most meds have some side effects but they are usually tolerable and you would be very unlucky to have uncommon or severe ones.   It depends if the trade off is worth it.  x

Hi,

I don't know how old you are or what your problems are.

I can only speak from my own experience.

I find them brilliant for myself.

If you are depressed or have any kind of social anxiety or are quite shy. 

Depending on how deppressed you are to start with, I found the side effects were, I got a bit worse before I got better, but when I did get better, I felt fantastic.

My deppression showed itself in physical problems and the Dr did loads of tests to check everything and found nothing physically wrong with me and as a last resort, said that it could be deppression, so we tried peroxitine 20mg and it cured all my physical problems. it also improved my social self esteem loads! that was an added bonus for me!

I have been on them for 18 years now. Every time I try to come off them, the withdrawal is horrible and I end up deppressed again. I have resigned myself to the fact that I will be on them for the rest of my life.  I don't think it is a sign of weakness at all. I have a mental health problem that needs medicating. My quality of life is improved because of medication the same way it is if someone with a physical problem might take pain killers etc.

For me personally, the only long term side effects are: I have are reduced labido, weak orgasms and reduced emotions, for example I don't cry much and it takes more for me to have a good belly laugh. It's as if my emotions have been slightly numbed.

But for me personally the benefits totally outway the side effects. I have a life which I wouldn't otherwise have.

If you do start taking them, make sure you never run out or miss a few days taking them. you will feel horrible. It's like your brain is loose in your scull and you feel sick and get an upset stomach.

I hope I havent put you off! I wouldn't still be here if I hadn't been on them.

If you are scared or worried, talk to your DR and maybe he/she will be able to reassure you. Also, if you are depressed, you are probably worrying more than you would be if you weren't. I would say, give them a go, but make sure you talk to someone if you feel suicidal and make sure you tell the DR if your side effects are really bad to start with. 

What ever you decide, good luck!