Posted by Racer on October 12, 2007, at 23:25:26
In reply to Paxil or Prozac--Success and Failures?, posted by clubfitter on October 12, 2007, at 19:28:57
I've taken each of them for a couple of years at a time, and both were fairly successful for me. The Prozac was always in combination with another drug, so it's harder to say if it was as helpful. It was certainly easier in terms of adverse effects though.
Paxil worked, but had a lot of problems for me. I was far too sedated, had to nap daily, wasn't able to do everything I needed to do, couldn't exercise, and caused a huge amount of weight gain. (Eating disorder, so I went from underweight to overweight.) I went off it after two years because the emotional blunting was just too much. I couldn't feel much of anything, and when a friend's son committed suicide and I couldn't even cry about it, that was the end of it for me. The sexual side effects were pretty annoying, too.
Prozac also caused a good deal of apathy and emotional blunting, which is why I've stopped that, too. It also caused some weight gain, but not nearly as much. Otherwise, once I got through the initial GI problems, it was pretty friendly.
My favorite SSRI is Zoloft, though -- easiest in terms of side effects, and minimal weight gain, if any.
Good luck.
poster:Racer
thread:788817
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20071009/msgs/788874.html