Posted by blueberry on May 17, 2006, at 20:04:19
In reply to Can Paxil give you MORE anxiety?, posted by UgottaHaveHOPE on May 17, 2006, at 16:34:23
All antidepressants commonly have what they call start-up anxiety. That is, increased anxiety in the beginning. It usually goes away in 2 to 3 weeks as the serotonin receptors adjust. They are just frieking out with all the extra serotonin all of a sudden. They do adjust, and it is actually their adjustment that brings about the anti-anxiety. So in a weird kind of way, the anxiety is a good sign. It means the adjustment process is beginning. In the meantime, your doc should allow you to use a benzo in whatever dose you need to get through a few weeks if the anxiety is not tolerable.
Statistics are on your side. 86% of people who take paxil or lexapro for anxiety respond well, after they get through the start up period.
My first med years ago was paxil. I had no experience. All I knew was that it made me very restless and nervous and shakey. I didn't know it had a term called anxiety. Anyway, not knowing better, I drank a glass of wine to cut the edge off it. It worked fairly well. These days I would use a tiny bit of xanax instead.
Though the anxiety was mostly gone in 3 weeks, I do recall it was probably 3 months before I realized one day that I was totally calm.
poster:blueberry
thread:645219
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060515/msgs/645284.html