Posted by Heather on April 21, 2000, at 16:03:04
In reply to Re: Paxil withdrawal fears, posted by bob on March 29, 2000, at 21:26:51
Hi, my name's Heather, 23. During my teens, I was placed on a daily dose of Paxil - not for depression, but for migraines (supposedly it helps open up blood vessels that constrict to cause migraines). It helped dramatically and I was on it for several years. After that time, a doctor told me I needed to get off of it because I had high liver enzymes (probably due to years worth of binge drinking as well as a fatty liver). Well, despite phasing the drug out properly, I went through a SEVERE withdrawel. My mom, who has been an RN for almost thirty years and has spent time in NYC's busiest ER, said she never saw a heroin addict go through withdrawel that was worse than what I went through. I was sick as a dog, uncomfortable in my own skin...I had myriad symptoms, including shaking, fever, vomiting, headaches, etc. It was so severe that I remained curled up in a ball on the couch for days, looking as if I was coming down off of some street drug.
Upon researching afterwards, my mom and I found a message board online where numerous Paxil users were describing identical forms of withdrawel. It seems as if the doctors and the medical community are far behind what the patients themselves have learned...
Anyway, I firmly believe that I was physically addicted to Paxil - but that I wasn't aware of that fact since I took it every day per doctor's orders..
poster:Heather
thread:18746
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000420/msgs/30866.html