Paxil Doesn't Work Anymore---What's Next?

leslie :-D · May 6, 2005

marla,

i was on paxil for years and it suddenly stopped working (i was on 60 qd)....so i was started on wellbutrin; my request in hopes is would help me curb my appetite for smoking. the wellbutrin made me even more miserable.

then we tried zoloft (what's the 'we' sh*t ? :chuckle ) and i noticed a WONDERFUL effect within a few days. so i did indeed hit the jackpot. so much less agitated, more energy.

but i'm sure there are others that will say they hated zoloft.

it's all going to be hit or miss per your body chemistry.

(try zoloft...we're kindred spirits,remember?)

leslie

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · May 6, 2005

I like Effexor (what i went to after Paxil). I had no side effects from it (i did from Paxil, though, shew) whatsoever.

One thing about it, though, is if it's taken late in the day it might keep you awake at night.

I'll ask about Zoloft next if the Effexor stops doing the trick.

warrior woman · May 6, 2005

I was on Lexapro 20 mgs. for awhile, after being switched off of Paxil. Did REAL good, then hit a plateau, and fell backwards fast. So I WENT BACK ON Paxil 37.5 CR and I'm back on track again Thank God. Good luck inyour search my friend. We are all here for you.

Sailingshoes · May 6, 2005

I've tried various antidepressants but could not stand the side effects. The only thing that works for me is running 3 times a week. I don't do long distance - a mere 2.5miles on a soft path with good quality shoes and I love the side effects! I realize not everyone can run but there are other options. Walking is okay but I have found in order to change my brain chemistry I need something more intense.

Good luck.

lifesaverwv · May 6, 2005

Hi Marla,

I was on Paxil for many years. It did a wonderful job to help calm me & not get hysteri.cal over the things that my teenage son was doing. It also helped me with PMS & later with menopause syptoms. One day I decided that I would stop taking it to see what happened. I went into with drawal where I was very depressed. I was driving to my Dr. appt & I kept looking at big trucks that I was thinking of pulling in front of one so that I would die. I finally made it to the doc's office & told him how I felt. He put me back on Paxil & in a few days I was back to my calm way of life.

CHATSDALE · May 6, 2005

lifesaver that was scary...i am glad that you got help

posts are right that it is you have to get something that helps *YOU*

good luck

nrse2B2005 · May 6, 2005

I've been on this drug for 4 years, and until recently it's served me well. Now it doesn't seem to be doing its job anymore, and I'm already at close to the maximum dosage (I'm taking 40mg QD, and I think the highest safe dose is 50mg).
Now, I know there's a whole wide world of antidepressants, and newer ones than what I'm taking.......which one(s) do you guys think is the best, and tell me what you like about it? I want to have some solid information before I go to my PCP and ask him to switch me to something else.
Thanks!

Hi,

I have been on Prozac, Celexa, Zoloft, Effexor, and Luvox (bit of a sad kitty, aren't I ?). Celexa made me sleepy, Zoloft was like taking acid (only paradoxically more fun), Effexor didn't do anything one way or the other, and Luvox only worked for a few weeks. Oh, wellbutrin made me worse. Prozac is what I keep coming back to. I like that it doesn't make me sleepy. Unfortunately, it starts to lose its effect after a few months, so I cycle onto something else for a couple of weeks. Good luck, it really makes a difference.

Andrea

markjrn · May 6, 2005

I've been on this drug for 4 years, and until recently it's served me well. Now it doesn't seem to be doing its job anymore, and I'm already at close to the maximum dosage (I'm taking 40mg QD, and I think the highest safe dose is 50mg).
Now, I know there's a whole wide world of antidepressants, and newer ones than what I'm taking.......which one(s) do you guys think is the best, and tell me what you like about it? I want to have some solid information before I go to my PCP and ask him to switch me to something else.
Thanks!

I have had patients and friends tell me they've had excellent results with Celexa. I've never taken it myself, but so far have heard nothing negative.

Take care.

December716 · May 6, 2005

I'm on 60 mg of Celexa. If you can get passed the few weeks when you first start it where you cannot stay awake (I realize this isn't an option for everyone) then I'd recommend it. Every time I've upped my dosage, and when I first start it, I have the most incredible, vivid dreams and I can't tell when I'm awake or asleep. It's weird. Anyone else experience this?

Also, sometimes I feel foggy and unalert. Is this due to the medicine? I can't compare to what I felt like before, because I was in such a deep depression my mind didn't work right then either, but this fogginess gets really frustrating when I have a test to take. Like I bombed my last Chemistry quiz just because I was feeling fuzzy. I have an appointment with my doctor to discuss what I should do about my medicine. Are there any antidepressants that wouldn't make me feel fuzzy or foggy? It's not all the time, just occasionally, but it's bothersome.

BandEmom · May 6, 2005

I have the most incredible, vivid dreams and I can't tell when I'm awake or asleep. It's weird. Anyone else experience this?

Also, sometimes I feel foggy and unalert. Is this due to the medicine? I can't compare to what I felt like before, because I was in such a deep depression my mind didn't work right then either, but this fogginess gets really frustrating when I have a test to take. Like I bombed my last Chemistry quiz just because I was feeling fuzzy. I have an appointment with my doctor to discuss what I should do about my medicine. Are there any antidepressants that wouldn't make me feel fuzzy or foggy? It's not all the time, just occasionally, but it's bothersome.

December716, I am so glad you posted this today. I have been struggling with the side effects of celexa. I started taking it a week or so before I began my job, in march, because the effect of the zoloft was wearing off. It hadn't even occured to me that it was happening, but I was foggy and confused. I had a blank stare when people talked to me, I couldn't stay organized, or even remember my patient's name when I was charting. I made a med error, and had some charting inconsistencies that are just not like me. So given the problems I was having, and how awful I was feeling about not feeling on top of things at work, I asked for a dosage increase after about six weeks. Then I really went into a dense fog at work.

I ended up losing my job a couple days ago. There's more to this story though, I'm a brand new grad, and I had 7 different preceptors in 6 weeks, and really no one was routinely checking my charting, so I never knew if I was doing it right. But I will always wonder if the foggyness I felt from the celexa was contributing to my troubles at work. I have a dr's appt tomorrow too to discuss this. I am sorry that you have experienced this too, but it is so helpful to hear from you because I don't feel so crazy now.

brigaily2000 · May 6, 2005

Several years ago my 22 year old son was put on zoloft. It worked miracles for him and now he's off all meds and the depression has lifted. He also found God which helped enormously.