redpilot37 said:Well, it stopped... I can sleep now... how does that work? I have no idea when the Zoloft will actually kick in. I'm not even in a massive depression, so I'm not sure if I'll even notice the transition since it's pretty mild... mostly just stress. 🤷
Honestly, it doesn't really matter whether you feel the shift or not. I didn't notice anything happening at first either, but after a few months, I just realized I was living a much more normal life. I wasn't constantly holding myself back out of fear like I used to before starting the medication. I'm so glad you're feeling better 👍 but if I could offer one piece of advice: if you hit a rough patch, please don't take Natalie or anything similar on your own whim, no matter how rarely you use it.
redpilot37 said:I don't take Norvasc. Maybe once every 5 or 6 days at most. Xanax is Ativan, if I remember right, and that just doesn't sit well with me.
Well, I'm not sure, but when you first start antidepressants, isn't it pretty standard to take an anti-anxiety med to help manage those common initial side effects? Yeah, Ativan and Xanax are essentially the same thing.
redpilot37 said:It’s 3 AM and I just took half of my 50 mg Zoloft dose... I'm wondering if feeling extra wired is normal? I keep waking up multiple times throughout the night... feeling a bit disoriented too. I'll spend forever circling around a thought only to realize what I was looking for was right in front of me.😁
I did a little digging just now and saw that insomnia and trouble concentrating are listed side effects for Zoloft. I took this stuff before, back in 2005, and didn't have any issues at all. Now? Not so much. Maybe it's just because it's only day three... but still. What can I do about these sleep issues? I'm thinking maybe taking Normabel alongside Zoloft isn't working since it's making me so restless.😕 It doesn't seem to be doing the trick.😕
I was actually just about to tell you that feeling hyper is pretty standard with Zoloft... and you're taking Lexapro with it too? That should be helping you relax, though I personally never use Lexapro for sleep—I prefer xanax. It really knocks me out, so maybe it could help you too? But definitely check with your doctor first, since you'll need a prescription anyway.
feraldrifter12 said:Everyone reacts to medication differently. Unfortunately, I’m going to be blunt and tell you—if your psychiatrist hasn't already—that you might have to take Paxil for the rest of your life. Don't overthink it. It's better to stay on an antidepressant than to deal with withdrawal or, even worse, falling back into a deep depression. Just stick with the Paxil and try not to dwell on it if it's keeping you stable.
I'd honestly go to the hospital just to have them taper me off these meds any way they see fit. I'm taking Seroxat specifically for panic attacks, and I have absolutely no intention of being on pills for the rest of my life for something I feel I can handle on my own through sheer willpower...
I finally went back up to 20mg today after trying to hang in there on 10mg for ten days. Honestly, I’m in such a dark place right now that I feel completely lost... I absolutely despise Paxil, and I’ve hated it from the very first day I started taking it.🙂 Is there even any hope for me? Will I ever actually be able to get off this stuff for good? I just don't understand how things can feel this devastating after three years of being on it... if people stay on much higher doses for ten years, what are they even supposed to do? I feel like I'm at a breaking point where I might lose control...🙂
velvetsailor26 said:I mean, I’m pretty sure I know if they were doing anything for me; I’ve been on them long enough to actually tell if there was even a flicker of an effect. Look, I get it—these aren't some magic pills that are going to fix my entire life overnight, but for me, it feels like I'm just swallowing nothing at all. The diagnosis is officially depression, and that's what stays on my chart, but deep down, I feel like it's something much heavier than that. It just feels like doctors are too hesitant to slap a more serious label on it right away, probably because they think I'm too young or whatever. One doctor even had the nerve to tell me, "Oh, you're fine, this is just your personality." Yeah, okay, sure. Like that's even a thing.
So, what do you think is actually going on? Could it be that doubting your own diagnosis is actually a symptom of the depression itself? What kind of symptoms are you dealing with? Regarding how Paxil works, I didn't even realize it was making a difference until three years later. It wasn't one of those sudden shifts people talk about where they wake up one morning feeling completely revitalized and full of energy. For me, life felt the same, but looking back now after three years, I can finally see that things really did improve.
How can you be so sure you didn't actually respond to the last antidepressant? Did the symptoms just refuse to budge? Perhaps you really should have waited a bit longer or talked about adjusting the dosage. Also, what's your actual diagnosis? Doctors here in the States don't typically prescribe an antidepressant without a clear reason, and if things weren't working, shouldn't you have switched doctors right away?
John Garcia98 said:Well, I am not feeling particularly well at the moment. I am trying my best to get some sleep, so I have already taken my usual 50mg dose of Zoloft along with 5mg of Cerson to help me drift off. Despite that, the anxiety is still quite overwhelming and I simply cannot seem to close my eyes... I do have some Xanax on hand for when it's needed, however, I haven't taken any yet. Since I have already swallowed those first two pills, I was wondering how wise it would be to take a Xanax 0.5 mg as well?
Can you try to find a way to calm yourself down, or maybe just wait a bit longer for the meds to kick in? Honestly, if your doctor prescribed it, wouldn't it be fine to take the Xanax when you need it most? Still, try to hold off if you can. I ended up taking Xanax 0.25 mg today because I was clearly having a rough patch—I didn't even take it until I started shaking and vomiting uncontrollably. If you absolutely have to, maybe just stick to the Xanax 0.25 mg. It should help settle your nerves without making you feel completely drugged out, right?
Well, I spoke with my psychiatrist today, and they confirmed that what I'm feeling is definitely a side effect from tapering down my medication... It just goes to show how much people claim that newer generation antidepressants aren't addictive, doesn't it? 🙂 I honestly thought I was going to pass out today. Between the vomiting, the tremors, the night sweats, and the dizziness... I've calmed down a little bit now, but I’m genuinely dreading what tomorrow might bring. Why does Paxil have to be such a nightmare to deal with? 🙂
Nicole Barrett76 said:One should never abruptly decrease or increase doses of benzodiazepines, and if I recall correctly, medications like Xanax fall into that category. You really ought to have stepped down from 20mg to 15mg first, and only then transitioned from 15mg to 10mg.
Wait, I was actually tapering off Paxil—that isn't a benzo.
"..Paxil is paroxetine, a newer generation antidepressant. Any medication we take can cause side effects, though they are most often rare and temporary. When treating severe illnesses like cancer, for instance, we tolerate much harsher side effects; however, for medications used for milder symptoms, we generally only expect mild, transient reactions. Drugs enter the market following rigorous testing, which continues even after they are released. Once many patients start using a drug, rare side effects may emerge, but if they are serious or life-threatening, those drugs can and must be pulled from the market. This does not apply to paroxetine, or Paxil. While some patients might experience a worsening of their condition, it is extremely rare. The benefits of the medication far outweigh the risks, and it remains highly effective for treating your condition when used alongside regular check-ins with your doctor and following their specific guidance. Dosages are gradually adjusted to find what works best for you personally, and sometimes treatment needs to continue for a long duration. Medication should be tapered off gradually under a doctor's supervision; never stop therapy abruptly on your own, as this can lead to a sudden relapse (the 'rebound phenomenon'). Everyone is an individual, so the medication will affect everyone differently. Again, stick with the therapy because the overall benefit is much greater than the described side effects. You'll typically begin to feel the full effects within 14 to 21 days of consistent use, so don't give up early just because it feels like it isn't working yet.
Good luck, best regards, Dr. Viola Macolić Šarinić..."
Thanks, 👍 Of course, I’ve been lowering my dose under my psychiatrist's guidance; I would never dream of playing around with that myself! He mentioned I had reacted well to the medication since I never exceeded 20mg, so there shouldn't be many side effects during the taper. Because of that, he decided I could drop from 20mg straight to 10mg. I've been at that level for a month or two now, and next, I'll move to 5mg (though I'm honestly not sure how I'll manage cutting a half-tablet in half 🤷 ). Now, all of this is making me a little confused. Could it just be my head playing tricks on me because I lowered the dose? Am I just expecting something to happen? I really hope this passes quickly.
On Friday, I decided to drop my Paxil dose from 20mg down to 10mg. This follows about three years of adjusting my dosage up and down, with the last year spent steady at 20mg. The weekend went by without a hitch—I didn't feel a thing. But since Monday, things have taken a turn. I’ve been dealing with this strange dizziness, almost like that disoriented feeling you get when you're running a fever and your vision feels off. It isn't exactly spinning; it's more of a bizarre sensation in my head, making me feel unsteady on my feet, as if the ground is shifting beneath me while I walk. Now, I wouldn't normally be worried because I’ve been fighting a cold with a 102°F fever for the last three days, but this specific sensation is hitting me pretty hard. What's so confusing is that I didn't experience anything like this the last time I tapered down, so this is definitely unexpected. Is this actually related to my anxiety, or am I just spiraling into one of my old hypochondriac tendencies and imagining a serious illness? Has anyone else gone through something similar? Please share your experiences—I'd really rather not have to call my psychiatrist and risk being pushed back up to 20mg immediately.
John Garcia98 said:Hello everyone. I’ve been diagnosed with F40.1, which is panic disorder.
My current treatment plan is as follows: Zoloft 50mg, one tablet in the evening Xanax 0.5mg as needed Cerner 5mg, one tablet before bed.
The main issue I'm facing is dealing with sudden, intense panic attacks, and my second struggle is chronic insomnia...
I am hopeful that this regimen will provide some relief... has anyone here had experience with a similar combination of medications?
I haven't personally tried this specific combo, but it looks solid on paper. It really comes down to how your body responds—did the doctor mention how long you'll be on this? It usually takes a few weeks to actually feel the effects, so you'll have to wait and see if any adjustments are necessary. Just a word of caution: try not to lean on that Xanax too often, or you might find yourself facing much bigger hurdles. During those first few weeks while your system is still adjusting to the new routine, using it for anxiety makes sense, but once you settle in, try to keep it to an absolute minimum. You wouldn't believe how quickly it can become a habit!
Nicole Nelson77 said:I mean, some people seem to think there's no difference between taking 10mg of Normabloc or 10mg of xanax just because they're both benzos... right?😁
Oh sure, they're exactly the same! 😂 I can't even begin to imagine what 10mg of xanax would do to me... 🙂
Nicholas Allen2 said:Someone who doesn't typically use anti-anxiety meds or antidepressants takes 6 mg of xanax following a major stressful event. There's still no sign of it working. According to the internet, the recommended dose ranges from 1 to 10 mg. Would it be wise to take the remaining 4 mg, or is it more likely to be ineffective given that 6 mg hasn't done anything after five hours?
Anyone who decides to start taking benzos for any reason should really be seeking advice from a doctor rather than turning to the internet, shouldn't they? Furthermore, I've certainly never heard of a recommended daily dose going up to 10 mg.
Jessica Rivera said:Thanks for the heads-up. Honestly, I might have gotten a little too comfortable since I started the AD, but after dealing with dysthymia for years, I seriously needed this. Doing the "work"—does that mean I absolutely have to see a psychiatrist and go to therapy? Because right now, I seriously cannot afford that. Worst part is, I'm dealing with all this completely alone. My parents have no clue I'm on AD (or that I even saw a doctor). Only my boyfriend knows, but it's like he doesn't get it or just doesn't care.
Can you please list all the side effects Paxil caused you and exactly when they started kicking in?
Actually, combining psychotherapy with AD would be absolutely ideal. No one is forcing you if it's not feasible for you right now, but I'm not sure how much progress you can make with just the medication alone. Look, I've been on Paxil for almost four years. I skipped therapy specifically because I felt fine—until things took a turn and I started feeling worse than ever before. Was it because I didn't seek quality psychotherapy? I can't say for sure, but I know that while I thought I was doing great, I was actually just standing still. I finally started therapy six months ago, and now I regret not going sooner; I probably would have moved past the need for Paxil by now instead of worrying about how to taper off. As for side effects... at first, it was nothing major—just yawning, hot flashes, and increased sweating. About a year ago, those intensified, along with terrible drowsiness and exhaustion; I had zero energy. I gained 20 pounds over this last year just because I was sleeping all the time. My cholesterol went up, and my liver enzyme levels got pretty bad...
Just a heads-up, Paxil isn't a cure-all; you really have to view it as just one part of your toolkit. Once it stops having this kind of impact on you, be careful not to spiral into a phase even worse than the one you were in before you started. Like I mentioned earlier—for me, the side effects didn't even start ramping up until about a year ago; everything was perfect until then. Now, I simply have to stop taking it because it's losing its effectiveness. But when I look back at those first few months on Paxil, I felt amazing... I had that emotional numbness, but in a "good" way, where nothing could trigger an episode. Honestly, things change, so please stay mindful. Don't let the fact that you're taking Paxil make you complacent or give you the false impression that you're suddenly "cured." If anything, this is exactly when you need to be doing the heavy lifting on your own personal growth.
Terry Mendoza80 said:Is it just me, or are you all struggling with this total lack of motivation—or are you also dealing with serious concentration issues because of these meds?
I definitely struggle with focus, though it isn't nearly as intense as my other symptoms. Right now, the biggest hurdle for me is the constant drowsiness—I feel like I'm perpetually sleepy, regardless of how much rest I get or what my daily routine looks like, and this has been going on for a year now. In the beginning, I didn't even realize the meds were the cause; I just knew I was starting to feel better. 😢
I’m currently on Paxil, and I deal with that same lack of motivation you mentioned regarding the Zoloft. Honestly, I have my own set of side effects, but after three years on it, I suppose that's just to be expected 😬 If you're thinking about adding something else to your Zoloft regimen, please check with your psychiatrist first; you definitely shouldn't try mixing medications on your own. Isn't that what your doctor is there for? To listen to how you're feeling and adjust your dosage if something isn't quite right... I’d also love to know if there’s anything out there to help boost motivation, because I really don't want to lose another year to this.