Posted 8/21/2005 7:32 PM (GMT -6)
Hi there,
I'm 36yrs old and suffered depression for most of my life, I can even trace my suicidal thoughts back to childhood (about age 9). I have generally been able to managed to be able to get through my episodes until last year when I was admitted to hospital.
I was perscribed paroxetine (aropax, paxil) 20mg once a day at first, then up to 40mg once a day. They made me fell lethargic and as if I was full of lead, hence I gained weight (9kg). 5 weeks ago I came off the paroxetine and went through 2 weeks of the SSRI discontinuation syndrome, nausea, electric shock feeling, tearfulness, mood swings, ataxia (couldn't walk a straight line) and various other things. I took some time off work to deal with it, it was hard, but I toughed it out.
I have noticed I feel physically better now, I'm back at the gym (still not shifting the 9kg though!), but my mood is relatively unstable. I don't have the "brain shivers" anymore or nausea, but I have become very squemish and retch at the slightest thing (in veterinary research its not a good thing). Also I rise to anger very quickly or thump back down into a depressive slump which exhausts me for days.
Am I still have some withdrawal problems, or am I just slipping back into my old ways? perhaps a bit of both?
Can anyone shed some light? I would like to hear from anyone who has come of the paroxetine and what expericences they had.
Thanks.