Date:  Thu, 22 Feb 2001 01:00:07 EST 

Unfortunately, I'm still on Paxil.  Here's my brief status:  About 2 years 
ago, my rheumatologist put me on Zoloft for relatively mild, long-term 
depression associated with chronic illness (a connective tissue disease that 
is still undifferentiated, but mostly under control right now).  After about 
1-1/2 years, I was up to 150 mg./day, and he didn't feel comfortable 
increasing the dose any higher.  So, I went to my primary care doctor to ask 
about a psychiatrist to switch me to something else, and his associate said 
they could take care of me instead ("one stop shop").  Huge mistake!  He 
switched me to Paxil, which he said seemed to work better for his female 
patients, and sent me home with a bunch of free samples to get started.  My 
weight continued to increase even though my appetite was down, I needed 
increasing amounts of sleep, couldn't wake up before 10:00 AM, then didn't 
care if I got dressed or stayed in a bathrobe all day, lost all interest in 
sex, had continuous flu-like symptoms, and the list goes on...  I went to the 
doctor and his associates several times during the 3 months I was on 20 
mg./day of Paxil, was always told I had the flu, and then put on various meds 
like antibiotics and a short burst of prednisone to try to knock it out of my 
system.  At the end of 3 months, I couldn't take any more of the "flu" and 
other supposedly unrelated symptoms, and asked for something else.  The 
doctor's associate then told me to stop Paxil cold turkey and start 
Wellbutrin after 2 days.  You can probably guess the withdrawal symptoms that 
hit me (pretty much all of them), with the "brain zaps" being the most scary. 
I read through the drug insert sheet, and other reference manuals, to no 
avail.  After 3 days on the Wellbutrin, with increasing withdrawal effects 
from Paxil, and thinking I must have some sort of brain tumor causing the 
zaps -- my husband got on the Internet and looked up Paxil Withdrawal.  We 
were both horrified but sadly relieved to find story after story with 
identical withdrawal effects like mine!  I stayed up late that night reading 
as much as I could about other people's experiences, then slept on it.  The 
next day, after 6 days off the Paxil, I put myself back on, but at 10 
mg./day.  The following week, I saw my primary care doctor (not his associate 
this time) and spent considerable time talking and crying (not to mention 
screaming at his nurse who tried to tell me once again that I had the flu) 
over this horrible drug and the fact that they pass it out like candy without 
researching past the manufacturer's marketing info.  He agreed to switch me 
to the oral suspension, recommended a psychiatrist who might be able to help 
me with Paxil withdrawal, and wrote down all the websites I mentioned so he 
could try to do some research on his own before passing it out to yet more 
unsuspecting people.  I sincerely hope he will. 

As for how I'm doing now:  In the last 3 weeks, I have been able to wean 
myself down to 8 mg./day, although the dizziness, nausea, and diarrhea 
continue to come and go several times/day.  At least I now seem to have a 
little more energy and interest in life, even though I've now been scared to 
drive for over a month, or even walk down the street to the mailbox, because 
I never really know when the dizziness and nausea will hit and I'll need to 
lie down.  However, I am determined to get off this horrible drug, and avoid 
all antidepressants in the future.  I will find non-drug ways to help me. 

I don't know how long it will take me to get off Paxil, but I've warned my 
stepsons that we could be in for a rough few months, maybe even through the 
summer.  In the meantime, I'm telling everyone I know (and plenty that I 
don't) about the horrors of Paxil, and working on a statement for the CA 
public interest lawsuit.  I will also be emailing  complaints to TV stations 
that I watch that advertise Paxil (like Lifetime), and organizations like the 
Arthritis Foundation that publish drug lists that make no mention of the 
severe withdrawal symptoms that a lot of us are experiencing.  There are a 
lot of things that I had planned to do this spring (take a few classes, teach 
my oldest stepson to drive, etc.) that I now do not feel that I can handle, 
which is disappointing and frustrating.  Right now, all I can do is focus on 
improving my health so I can "have a life" again. 

So much for a brief status!  Sorry about rambling -- I probably could write a 
book!  And, thanks for your interest in me.  I already greatly appreciate the 
support from joining your group and hearing what's going on with everyone. 
I hope you're all doing well. Sincerely, 

Renee

Date:  Sat Mar 3, 2001 3:24am

Since starting the stupid Paxil last Oct., I developed TMJ, among a lot of 
other things.  It took them a while to figure out that most of my earaches, 
jaw pain, sinus and throat pain, and pain up the side of my head and down and 
wrapping around my neck were really TMJ problems!  (I kept getting the "it's 
flu season, and everybody's got it" explanation...)  Anyway, xrays showed 
that one side of my jaw was not opening properly any more, probably from 
unconsciously clenching my teeth, so I went to my dentist for an evaluation.   
He made a mouth splint (molded out of hard plastic to fit behind and over the 
bottom teeth), which I had to wear for 24/7 for almost 3 weeks to rest and 
retrain my jaw and protect my teeth.  It's amazing how much it helped, 
although it did take a while to really notice that I was feeling better -- I 
started forgetting to put it back in after some meals!  I will probably 
always have to wear it at night, but I can also choose to wear it during the 
day whenever my jaw and teeth are bothering me.  There are also surgical 
options, but I would not rush into them, especially since (for me) this is 
directly related to taking Paxil and I am working my way off it.  Besides the 
mouth splint is easy to get used to, and easy to use.  Those of you with sore 
teeth may want to check with your dentist -- he/she can do a fast, simple 
test to see if you have TMJ problems.  I think the mouth splint is also used 
for people whose teeth grinding/clenching hasn't advanced into a TMJ problem. 

Also related to this, I saw a psychiatrist (first time and last) 2 days ago 
as requested by my primary care doctor and also my rheumatologist, and she 
(the shrink) said that anyone with TMJ or muscular problems should NOT be on 
Paxil or any other SSRI's because these drugs almost always make 
muscle-related problems worse, and sometimes start them!  (No surprise to 
many of us in this group!)  She talked about switching me to some older 
antidepressant like Elavil to help with the mild depression and chronic pain 
from my connective tissue disease, but I said no thanks.  I am starting to 
work with my family therapist on relaxation and stress reduction techniques 
instead, and looking into other non-drug alternatives.  Needless to say, she 
did not want me to schedule another visit with her!  Not like I would have 
any way... Hope this helps some of you! 

Renee

Date:  Sat Mar 3, 2001 5:30pm

Response:
I just wanted to comment on the SSRI- TMJ connection. I've only recently 
begun to realize that the severe TMJ that my son's had for the past two years 
is yet another Prozac related problem. Although he's been off the Prozac for 
a year, the TMJ developed while he was on it, and has worsened since.  
He also has a mouth device which helps some, but really hasn't solved the 
problem. If you've done anything else that works, I'd appreciate knowing 
about it. He's only 19, and I hate to se him suffer with this.  Thanks, 

Patti