Any Dr.s out there? Permanent damage from paroxetine?

Question

I'm a female weighing about 115 lbs, I take 5 mg paroxitine as needed (usually 2-3 times in 3 months time) for anxiety, panic attacks. Am I damaging brain chemistry, or harming myself by not taking the recomended dose (which is much higher, 20 mg/day). I just don't want to take this stuff for the rest of my life on a regular basis. :/

Answer 1

If you are not taking the recommended dose, you are not benefiting from the full benefits of the medication. Paroxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor; in short, it blocks serotonin reuptake. To get benefit from that type of drug, you need to take it regularly. You need to stay in the beneficial zone for a prolonged period of time for it to work. At 5mg, the dose is very low. The minimum generally recommended dose is 20mg. You're not hurting your brain chemistry, but you aren't helping yourself by not being adherent to your regiment.

Answer 2

I am not a doctor, but I do know a little about Paxil (generic is paroxetine) because I am on it. I dont' believe you are damaging your brain chemistry by not taking the recommended dose. Your just not doing anything to help it either. Paroxetine is something that you have to take everyday for it to help you. If you are feeling any effect from the couple of pills you have taken, it is just a placebo effect. You might as well eat an m&m and tell yourself it's medicine. Other drugs like Xanax can work if you take one pill at a time of acute anxiety, but not paroxetine. Talk to your doctor. If you don't want to take a drug everyday, maybe he'll switch you to an anti-anxiety drug just for attacks. Best of luck to you.

I just want to add that I disagree with Rhonda. The drug has changed my life for the better and I don't have any side effects. If I go off the drug, yes I will have to decrease the dosage gradually. So what?

Answer 3

Although I am not a physician, I did attend medical school but just never graduated. My speciality is pharmacology.

You have anxiety and panic attacks. It may well be that you will require medication for life. That's no big deal. I have been taking a number of vitamins most of my life.

For anxiety, there are a number of medication options. Your physician is apparently not aware of them. The benzo class of drugs (Valium, Xanax, etc.) are very effective. After a period of time, you will develop a tolerance to these meds and if the dose is not increased, the meds will become less and less effective.

There is a way to deal with that problem. If you are interested, e-mail me and I'll tell you how to handle it. BTW, the benzos do not damage brain chemistry. They normalize it.

Answer 4

the medication only works if you take it on a regular basis. your body has to reach therapeutic drug levels to obtain adequate results. the side effects of paroxetine normally outweigh the benefits of the drug itself. if you do take it for a long period of time, you must gradually reduce your dose to get off the medication or you will suffer the consequences, whuch are worse than anxiety attacks. you should try to take xanax which is a drug that you take as needed for episodes of anxiety.