Hi Elle, and you're very welcome. We're all in this together.

I think you may be asking how long did it take my Dr to get me to 40mg when I started taking Paxil. In my story about tapering down to 20mg, and then returning to 40mg, that was immediate and recent.

When I started taking Paxil back in 2002, I don't recall how quickly my dose was increased. And I had an almost immediate and positive reaction back in 2002, but no two people react the same to the same drug.

When my Dr was asking me questions back in 2002 about my depression, I remember telling him that I had trouble letting minor stuff roll off my back. I took everything personally. That seemed to resonate with him and he prescribed Paxil as a result, and it worked. "Depression" isn't a one-size-fits-all condition, and different drugs address different aspects of it.

You describe having no interest in things you used to enjoy. Did you mention this specifically to your Dr? I don't know if it will matter, but I would ask.

How many weeks have you been on Paxil? It can take 4-6 weeks to kick in.

One last thing, I take 100mg of Seroquel (Quietapine) everyday and have for as long as I've been on Paxil. It's classified as an "atypical antipsychotic", but can also be prescribed for other conditions. Specifically, Dr's prescribe it off-label for "mood stabilization", and it also helps me sleep, so I take it at night. It's available in doses as low as 25mg. I think it helps to keep my depression at bay, along with Paxil and regular, vigorous exercise.

Bottom line Elle, if Paxil doesn't work once you're at 40mg/day, I'd work with your Dr, or ideally a psychiatrist, to find something that does work. Paxil did it for me and still does, along with Seroquel. I'm lucky. A lot of people have to try a few drugs before finding a match.

So keep on trying. If you want to go to 40mg/day I would again ask your Dr. to prescribe it. And ask about Seroquel as a "mood stabilizer" and reference my experience. It is NOT just a drug for bipolar or psychotic episodes, although it is prescribed for them.

Depression is no fun, but it's treatable. Patience is sometimes required. And much has changed since I started taking Paxil and Seroquel over 20 years ago.

Are you also seeing a therapist regularly (once a week or so)? My therapist practices EMDR - short for "eye movement desensitization and reprocessing". I strongly advise for this type of therapy. It has helped me reconcile with some traumatic stuff in my past. You can research it. I'm an example of how well it has worked.

Keep pushing Elle and you'll find a good place. And please let me know how you progress. You will find an answer.

Joe