Intro and anyone with experience with Paxil for GAD?

Hi everyone,
I just got diagnosed "officially" finally with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I didn't really want to take any antidepressents because I had a very bad time on effexor about 4 years ago, but my doc talked me into Paxil...

Does it work? Are the side effects horrible?

She gave me a few xanax that work like a charm, but I know it's addictive so she's not going to give them to me anymore...I'm just wondering if the Paxil has helped anyone?

Thanks in advance.

Lisa
Kyndculture

I was on Paxil as an anti-depressant.

Didn't sleep for a week. Bizarre side effects.

Then again some (a few) people swear by it.

I don't take Paxil, but the one thing that I've found with psychiatric medication is that it tends to affect everyone differently. So basically you're going to have to take it and see how it works for you. I take a combination of drugs that makes life intolerable for one person I know, but I don't even have any side affects and I feel as good as I did before I became ill. One thing about Paxil that I do know is that it is possible to become dependent on the drug so if you ever want to stop taking it after you've been on it for a while you have to gradually scale down your dosages instead of quitting cold turkey, because you could be in a world of hurt if you just stop taking the drug.

I'm leary of most of these drugs... but I reallllly want to feel better. I just had surgery for a broken leg and when I was in the hospital I had just a horrible anxiety attack. WAY too much stress. So I'm hoping that my doc knows what she's doing.

It was very good for anxiety and GAD, and even depression for a while. After about 3 years it quit working for my chronic depression so I had to switch.

I swore by it for years. Good luck to you.

I also have GAD. For me, the anti-dep helped but I need a very small amount of Klonopin to level out the anti-depressant.

Btw, I've over time needed less of both. Just me.