How do I cope with Paxil side effects, I’m desperate!!

Ask your doctor about Effexor as a substitute. I took it for decades. Or Mirtazapine, which I now take. It works differently and has no sexual side effects.

Im sorry youre going thru this.
Look for alternatives like ativan, low dose.
Its more for anxiety, but may help.
Sometimes the Remedy is worse than the Cure.

Do you know whats causing your depression?
This is key.
Take time to reevaluate this.
Whats been going on with you?
Are you wanting to quit life or wilking to go into mental, emotional or spiritual battle?a
Have you had a death? divorce? Medical prognosis?
When did this start?
Depression can accumulate with myriads of thoughts.
What is your base issue?
Ate you in chronic pain?
Is your Self Talk negative and/or judgmental?
Are you living with/in fear?
What do you think is causing this hopelessness/depression?
Id like to hear your own personal assessment.

This is certainly a lot of questions to answer and it would take writing a book to try and answer them, being almost 75 years old is a relatively long time to live and go through many years of experiences good and bad. If you go to a therapist they would take a very long time to understand who you are and what you’ve gone through in your life. I obviously have issues to deal with if I am trying to adjust to medication, most of the people here are going through the same thing and sometimes they will tell you a little about themselves and others just want help with the medication they are taking, obviously they have been to the doctor and shared their experiences with them to be prescribed these drugs. I appreciate your enthusiasm to try and analyze me however my question is based on issues with the medication my doctor has given me, thank you.

@frouke I’m happy to say that I have finally stopped using Paxil, it has been a terrible experience but definitely not the first time I’ve been through this experience with other antidepressants, I think a break from these drugs is in order but I truly envy people who have found what works best for them.

@ebtexas55
Have you tried massages at least once a week for a month. Maybe it can relax you enough to think about what causes your anxiety etc. it’s a slow start. It may be expensive but if it helps find packages till you find a therapist you like. Also, aqua therapy- water soothes.

@mresnick664
Thank you.
My comment was addressing a preceding comment.

@ebtexas55, Thank you for your support, I have tried massage therapy and it's fabulous but also very expensive as you know, I don't think there's anything better than natural resources instead of always turning to medication but sadly they don't make it easy to attain. I did post a comment about Paxil that I stopped taking them with the doctor's advice but he isn't very supportive or knowledgeable about these drugs but he's all I have for the moment so sadly I am still suffering from serotonin withdrawal side effects and I have to let it run the course, my hope is that I was on a low dose and for 6 weeks so according to my research it says that I shouldn't have to go too long this way, God willing Amen.

If there is any way you can avoid "Any" anti depressant, especially Paxil do it!!!! I was / am on paxil and tried to get off. Spent 2 1/2 years of hell after tapering too fast. If / when i try again I will do a 2-3 year taper. Also see face book group SSRI Antidepressent withdrawal. May people have had the same or worse experence. This is serious.

@keppraeffect , I totally agree, the strange thing is that about 30 years ago my doctor put me on 5mg of Paxil and they worked wonders for me but after a year on them I felt numb or blunted... the doctor gave me a weaning plan which I followed and I was done with them after a month, it's hard to fathom how badly they affect me on 2.5mg for 6 weeks, I still have brain zaps, legs and arms cramps with headaches from hell. I'm sorry that you're suffering from these drugs and what bothers me is that the FDA is so focused on Benzodiazepines and how addictive they are.

I have been on paxil for 40 years. I started at a low dose and I slowly increased. No bad effects for me in the beginning. I might have gotten tired and so I would take it at night but after a few days it was okay to take in the morning. Now I'm going through another depressed. And I need something to get out of it. I tried Rex salty but had bad reactions so I stopped and right away. The doctor switched me to caplida that seems to be working well. At first he gave me the adult dose of which I am a seniors senior citizen that was too strong. I had horrible side effects so I am now on the child dose the beginning dose and it's it's doing great again. I had to start it at night cuz it made me sleepy but I have just now started in the morning to take it so it's not a mat to me. I don't think you have to wean yourself off a paxil. You will be taking a new antidepressant as you slowly lower the paxil. I would assume your doctor would would do that as one increases. The other one decreases and you should not have any side effects. That's just my opinion. I really don't know. I'd like to know what happens in the future with you and hang in there. Never give up