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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by MLW on November 8, 2004, at 0:08:52
Hi All,
I'm new to this....
Here is my background.
Severe panic attacks for the past 5 or 6 years. I'm currently 22 now. I originally took 20mg of normal paxil. I switched to Paxil CR 25mg a while back. I tried switching from that to Lexapro. My doctor told me to quit paxil cold turkey and wait 2 weeks, then start the lexapro. That was a huge mistake!! Within days, I went back on the Paxil.
Now I got a new doc. He put me on Cymbalta. He said to stop taking paxil, and start with the cymbalta the next day. I did so. I have been on cymbalta for 2 weeks, things seem to have been going good. Two days ago, however, I felt like I was going to faint. I got very sick, and the doc said it was probably a side effect of the cymbalta. He is now having me switch to Zoloft. I'm on my 2nd day of it. I still have the sick symptoms. Any idea what's going on.
The panic is ruining my life, my job, and my mairrage. I'm desperate. I just want help.
Thanks
Posted by jujube on November 8, 2004, at 10:28:38
In reply to Paxil to Cymbalta to Zoloft, posted by MLW on November 8, 2004, at 0:08:52
Why all the switches? Was the Paxil not working for you? I know there are many people who do not like Paxil, but for me, it worked like a charm for anxiety and panic. I wish I had never gone off of it, because the second time around it did not work for me.
The sickness you are feeling is likely the start-up side effects of the Zoloft. I have found that the side effects, such as nauseau, dizziness, fatigue and slightly increased anxiety, go away once the body adusts to the medication after about 2 - 3 weeks. Try to be patient. If the nauseau, etc. become unbearable, you should contact your doctor.
Try to hang in there, and take care.
Tamara
> Hi All,
>
> I'm new to this....
>
> Here is my background.
>
> Severe panic attacks for the past 5 or 6 years. I'm currently 22 now. I originally took 20mg of normal paxil. I switched to Paxil CR 25mg a while back. I tried switching from that to Lexapro. My doctor told me to quit paxil cold turkey and wait 2 weeks, then start the lexapro. That was a huge mistake!! Within days, I went back on the Paxil.
>
> Now I got a new doc. He put me on Cymbalta. He said to stop taking paxil, and start with the cymbalta the next day. I did so. I have been on cymbalta for 2 weeks, things seem to have been going good. Two days ago, however, I felt like I was going to faint. I got very sick, and the doc said it was probably a side effect of the cymbalta. He is now having me switch to Zoloft. I'm on my 2nd day of it. I still have the sick symptoms. Any idea what's going on.
>
> The panic is ruining my life, my job, and my mairrage. I'm desperate. I just want help.
>
> Thanks
Posted by MLW on November 8, 2004, at 22:33:36
In reply to Re: Paxil to Cymbalta to Zoloft » MLW, posted by jujube on November 8, 2004, at 10:28:38
Hi Tamara,
The paxil wasn't really working for me. It just seemed like all it did was feed out side effects. I never actually got better.
I'm thinking the nausea and headaches are from either going off the paxil or starting the cymbalta. Who knows though. It really has almost become unbearable, and it makes my anxiety worse. When my head hurts, I have panic attacks thinking that I'm going to pass out.
I'm a mess... I hope it gets better soon.
Thanks..
-Mike
> Why all the switches? Was the Paxil not working for you? I know there are many people who do not like Paxil, but for me, it worked like a charm for anxiety and panic. I wish I had never gone off of it, because the second time around it did not work for me.
>
> The sickness you are feeling is likely the start-up side effects of the Zoloft. I have found that the side effects, such as nauseau, dizziness, fatigue and slightly increased anxiety, go away once the body adusts to the medication after about 2 - 3 weeks. Try to be patient. If the nauseau, etc. become unbearable, you should contact your doctor.
>
> Try to hang in there, and take care.
>
> Tamara
>
>
> > Hi All,
> >
> > I'm new to this....
> >
> > Here is my background.
> >
> > Severe panic attacks for the past 5 or 6 years. I'm currently 22 now. I originally took 20mg of normal paxil. I switched to Paxil CR 25mg a while back. I tried switching from that to Lexapro. My doctor told me to quit paxil cold turkey and wait 2 weeks, then start the lexapro. That was a huge mistake!! Within days, I went back on the Paxil.
> >
> > Now I got a new doc. He put me on Cymbalta. He said to stop taking paxil, and start with the cymbalta the next day. I did so. I have been on cymbalta for 2 weeks, things seem to have been going good. Two days ago, however, I felt like I was going to faint. I got very sick, and the doc said it was probably a side effect of the cymbalta. He is now having me switch to Zoloft. I'm on my 2nd day of it. I still have the sick symptoms. Any idea what's going on.
> >
> > The panic is ruining my life, my job, and my mairrage. I'm desperate. I just want help.
> >
> > Thanks
>
>
Posted by phillipa on November 9, 2004, at 15:39:13
In reply to Paxil to Cymbalta to Zoloft, posted by MLW on November 8, 2004, at 0:08:52
I too had wonderful results on Paxil but after switching med thet didn't work as well I went back to Paxil-it did't work. I guess you can never go back home. Cymbalta maybe helping, but you need to be aware of nausea as the primary sideeffect. I felt faint also, but my new pdr. wants me to struggle thru the SE's for a while longer.
Posted by jujube on November 9, 2004, at 17:14:19
In reply to Re: Paxil to Cymbalta to Zoloft, posted by MLW on November 8, 2004, at 22:33:36
I'm sorry you are having such a rough time of it. You might want to ask you doctor if you can take some Gravol to help settle your stomach while you adjust to the new med. Anxiety is a pretty common side effect when you are adjusting to a new med (at least it was for me). So, you may want to ask your doctor for a prescription for a small amount of Xanax (or another benzo) to relieve the anxiety while you adjust to the med. When I first went on Paxil years ago, my doctor gave me a small prescription of Xanax to help with the anxiety, which, like you, was pretty bad for the first couple of weeks. But don't despair, it should go away in a few weeks(it did in my case).
Take care of yourself, and I hope the Zoloft starts to work soon. But, be patient, it will take a few weeks to notice any changes.
Tamara
Posted by libbyann on December 6, 2004, at 10:08:12
In reply to Re: Paxil to Cymbalta to Zoloft » MLW, posted by jujube on November 9, 2004, at 17:14:19
I started Paxil CR about a week ago (for anxiety and depression and the above drugs didn't help) and it's been weird. First i didn't feel anything (of course). Then about four days into it, I felt like I was flying. I was so stoked. I thought, "I'm myself again!! This is awesome!!" I was cracking jokes, goofing off with my boyfriend and family, being my silly self. Then yesterday I crashed. I believe it was day 8 on Paxil. My anxiety was through the roof. Today I'm a little shaky. Do you think this is just my body/brain adjusting? I hate the way this affects me... for now. I'm willing to tough it out if it could get better. I, too, fear for my life - not physically, but my worklife, lovelife, etc... My therapist said not to make any important decisions when I'm panicked. I'm trying!! But it's hard when I feel like this... Anyone have any help to offer? I could use some encouragement.
PS - I tried Lexapro and HATED it. It really messed me up. I'll never touch the stuff again. But that's just me. :)
Posted by theo on December 7, 2004, at 6:51:04
In reply to Gabitril to Lexapro to Zyprexa to Paxil » jujube, posted by libbyann on December 6, 2004, at 10:08:12
What dose are you taking? I would stick with it for at least 4 weeks. I would try not to obsess about it during that time also.
If you try to go about your daily routine for this period and your still having problems, then make a decision. I know from my own experience I'll take every negative experience when starting a new med and many times not give it a fair trial.
Posted by libbyann on December 7, 2004, at 10:27:46
In reply to Re: Gabitril to Lexapro to Zyprexa to Paxil, posted by theo on December 7, 2004, at 6:51:04
I'm just on 12.5 of Paxil right now. I think it will even itself out. I asked my therapist about it and she said it just takes time. I am impatient and I do tend to feel like negative things are over exaggerated when I'm feeling anxious, but hopefully it will wane as the medication stabilizes.
Posted by theo on December 7, 2004, at 22:22:24
In reply to Re: Gabitril to Lexapro to Zyprexa to Paxil, posted by libbyann on December 7, 2004, at 10:27:46
Are you taking it morning or night?
Posted by libbyann on December 8, 2004, at 8:17:25
In reply to Re: Gabitril to Lexapro to Zyprexa to Paxil » libbyann, posted by theo on December 7, 2004, at 22:22:24
I changed it to mornings because I was having a lot of trouble going to sleep. That seems to have evened itself out. EXCEPT this morning I woke up at 5 with a lot of anxiety... That's annoying... So I took my klonopin and tried to go back to sleep. Hate, hate, hate that. Hopefully the Paxil will help with that. Day 12 and counting!
This is the end of the thread.
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