Date: Mon Feb 5, 2001 2:54pm Hi everyone, I had been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and depression. After 2 years of therapy I decided to bite the bullet and take an antidepressant drug. I was actually prescribed celexa initially by my family practioner. I took it one day and felt horrible all day, jittery, constant waves of panic, sleepy yet could not sleep. I only took the 1 celexa that one day and told my doctor that no way could I endure that for two weeks. I have an extreme sensitivity to any medicine that affects the neverous system. Then I spoke to a friend of mine whose husband is a prominent psychiatrist. He convinced me that I could take a SSRI like celexa if I started on a very low dosage and took it in conjuntion with an anti anxiety drug like ativan. So I did this, I went to a local Psychiatrist and she put me of 5mg Paxil (because she said it was the best researched) and took it at night with 1mg ativan to offset the panic symptoms associated with SSRI's. The first two days were fine but following that I could tell I was starting to get the panic feeling and some other side effects. After 1 week my dr. had instructed me to up the dose to 10mg so I did. That's when I really lost it. My symptoms included constant panic with chest tightening and feelings of jumping out of my skin, profuse sweating, teeth grinding, slumped chest, weakness, shakiness, naseaus--could not eat hardly at all, lost 5 lbs. in two weeks, constant stomach pains, and at night I would have vivid horrible nightmare and panic feelings through most of my sleep. I also started having crazy thoughts about my family and thoughts about leaving them! I called my dr. and was instructed to go back down to 5mg and continue till I felt I could handle the 10mg. This never happened. Going back down to 5mg I was a little better but still felt awful with all the side effects for the remaining days I stayed on Paxil,16 days in total. I stuck it out so long because I was told after two weeks the symptoms would subside and the drug would kick in. But when I saw no improvement my Dr.'s office instructed me to stop the medication. Another Dr. was on call and wanted to switch me immediately to something else!! I said no way!! I have to recover from his first!! One week laterI developed a virus and a sinus infection. The day I started an antibiotic for my sinus infection I stopped taking the ativan and that night is when I believe the risidual effects of Paxil started. This was about 1 week after I had stopped taking paxil. These effects were basically horrible dreams and panic attacks all night long while I SLEPT!! I could feel that twisting, tightening feeling in my chest while I was asleep! I would awaken around 3AM and as soon I would wake up the panic would stop. If I went back to sleep it would start again. Long story short, I started back on Ativan a couple of nights ago which takes care of some of the panic but in the morning if I can sleep late the ativan wears off and I get the panic back. Last night I couldn't fall asleep because I kept getting spasms in my arms and hands. Then the panic started again this time before I even fell asleep. I never had panic like this before ever!! Never in my sleep, Never all night long!! The irony is the one reason why I wanted to take an anti-depressant is to HELP my sleep problem of waking in the middle of the night and not being able to fall asleep again!. Well I still have that and now PANIC all night long too!!! So has this happened to anyone else and assuming you recovered, how long did that take! Thank you for hearing my story. Lucille Date: Mon Feb 5, 2001 3:53pm Response: Lucille: This is EXACTLY what happened to me when I first started taking Paxil. Right down to the last detail. Paxil is an evil drug. I don't want to discourage you, but it's going on four years since I got off that drug and I still am not 100%, but I'm better than I was. If there is ever anything I regret in my life, it's taking that drug. But hang in there; we're here to help you through this. Trisha Date: Mon Feb 5, 2001 7:09pm Trisha, thank you for your support. I certainly hope it doesn't take me that long to be "back to normal"! Is there anything you have done to help this sensitive nervous system "condition" ? I already had a sensitive nervous system and now I feel like I have to "de-program" it! I have thought about going to a holistic Dr. or an acupuncturist, etc. Does anyone have any experience with any of these things ? I definitely do not want any other drugs. I will take the ativan for a little longer and then will wean off that (I hope). Trisha, how long did you take paxil for ? Lucille Date: Mon Feb 5, 2001 4:36pm Response1: Hi lucille my name is Patrick. I tried everything you said with no luck. The only thing that helped me was a good diet, and working out. Plenty of rest plays a role also. It has been almost two years since my reaction to luvox. It has not been a easy road. The bumps are like supercross jumps. I know because I once rode motocross. Please hang in there. Try not to take any medication at all. I have been on antibiotics and nasal spray for allergies and it made my symptoms worse. You will learn what you can and can't do. Everyone is so different. I hope everone in this room understand that what has happened to us will happen to many more. They too will have to find ways to heal and recover. We need to look for from each other and leave the negative behind. Negative thought bring negative things and we all know through this hell its hard enough not to think negative. Hope all is well with everyone or as well as can be expected. Patrick Date: Mon Feb 5, 2001 9:27pm Response2: Hi Lucille and welcome. I know exactly what you mean about having to "de-program" your nervous system. I feel somewhat haywired myself at times. I've been helped in my withdrawal immensely by my chiropractor. Not only are the adjustments great for me, but he has helped me detox and maintain with a vitamin and supplement program. I was on Paxil for about 8 1/2 years and Prozac for a few months. It's a day by day recovery. But one thing to remember is not to give up. There are some days that you want to crawl out of your skin, but don't give in to the drug companies. Take care and any help we can give, we're here. Robin Date: Mon Feb 5, 2001 9:45pm Response3: Lucille: I only took Paxil for 3 months when I went cold turkey, but the withdrawal was so dastardly that I went back on and weaned off and that took another 3 months. The first year, I couldn't take anything -- no vitamins, aspirin, nothing. I was terrified to put any chemical in my mouth. I drank a lot of carrot and beet juice. Year two was when I started taking vitamins -- C, E, Aminos, Flaxseed Oil, Fish Oil, lecithin, bee pollen, nutritional yeast -- anything that I thought would help soothe my irritated nervous system. My latest discover has been Inositol which seems to have quelled the low-grade anxiety. I exercise every day, do yoga, meditation, eat right, stay away from anything with chemicals or preservatives, no alcohol or caffeine, and I'm STILL NOT BACK TO NORMAL, but I'm going to die trying. Trisha Date: Tue Feb 6, 2001 11:58am Response4: Hi Lucille, I am so sorry for your experience just because you trusted your doctors. At least you experienced now. how they just want to keep you drugged on whatever SSRI, and how they are sooooo blind to notice the kind of side effects from their SSRI partners. What you describe is exactly what SSRI's do: >These effects >were basically horrible dreams and panic attacks all night long while I >SLEPT!! I could feel that twisting, tightening feeling in my chest >while I was asleep! I would awaken around 3AM and as soon I would wake >up the panic would stop. If I went back to sleep it would start again. Yes Lucille, these drugs definately scramble your sub-consciousness. It's so scary to see how your own brain is going to play tricks on you and how these SSRI's are able to produce artificial panic attacks. >Last night I couldn't >fall asleep because I kept getting spasms in my arms and hands. Then >the panic started again this time before I even fell asleep. I never had >panic like this before ever!! Never in my sleep, Never all night long!! >The irony is the one reason why I wanted to take an anti-depressant is >to HELP my sleep problem of waking in the middle of the night and not >being able to fall asleep again!. Well I still have that and now PANIC >all night long too!!! Cynthia also took an SSRI to help her sleep (Prozac). It's such a crime to prescribe an SSRI for sleeping problems. A mind altering drug ? My God I have to warn my (coming) children for the doctor in the future. I can only tell you that its a long healingprocess. If you wanna take actions against Paxil just tell us also. In the meantime you might wanna sign the petition against Paxil. http://www.petitiononline.com/oky71/petition.html Charly Date: Wed Feb 7, 2001 7:38pm To all the group: I have developed a new symptom. Hand tremors. Especially bad in left hand. I am now scared to death that Imight have parkinsons disease! Could paxil have triggered something like this? Have any of you had this happen to you!!! I also feel chills often, especially when anxious. Will it go away!????? Help!!!! Lucille Date: Wed Feb 7, 2001 9:05pm Response: Dear Lucille: It's probably not Parkinson's per se, but parkinsonism -- a syndrome caused by the SSRIs depleting your dopamine, thus causing symptoms of this disease. It should go away when you are completely off this medication. This is not uncommon. Trisha