The doc gave me Paxil for anxiety and depression, but I have read that Paxil can be very addictive. Also that it can cause alot of weight gain. I not wanting to put on any weight, especially since I just had a baby. Any experience with paxil??
2006-12-12 13:13:41 · 4 answers · asked by francesca e 2 in Health ➔ Mental Health
i take Paxil and it is mostly for depression more than anxiety,but it helps both...I have been taking it for years.Some people have not got enough seritonia in their body which causes them to have mood swings,and Paxil helps a lot.The brain is missing seritonia which causes the depression and the paxil supplies that seritonia to make you feel normal and helps keep your mind even.It does not cause weight gain,if anything it would cause you to lose weight if anything.Before I was put on Paxil they gave me valium,and buspare,and it did not do much for me.I use to be depressed,irriated,and have different moods,and after i got Paxil I have felt like life is worth living again.All medications have side affects,and if you read all the things any medicine can cause you won,t take anything..If you gain weight it would only be because you are happier,but it has not affected me in anyway except I feel human again...If your doctor percribed it for you go ahead and take it ,you will feel so much better,but it takes a couple of weeks to kick in and all you will notice is that you feel better...I have at one time got out of my Paxil and after a few days i began to feel that old creepy feeling of depression returning..Paxil isn,t additive like you have to have it and its not like a drug you can,t do without..I just know that if i want to feel normal and be happy I really need it,and i would suggest you do just that......Don,t just listen to people ,listen to your doctor he is trying to help you...Good luck
2006-12-14 09:31:28 · answer #1 · answered by slickcut 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Paxil is not addictive. Usually the people who say that have the cart before the horse. They can't stop the drug or their life is a mess. Their life was a mess until they took something to correct the imbalance. Some people depression is a temporary problem. Others it is a life-long struggle. If you were not depressed before pregnancy then a re-leveling of hormone function after pregnancy and or breast feeding, Paxil may be a temporary need. Only you can speak of your general happiness before conception. As far as weight, it is neutral in my experience although there is an approximate 2-3% of the people who had reported a increased appetite....however 9% reported a loss of appetite. It probably does not make you gain weight. There a possibility that if you avoid food in depression that once you depression improves your appetite comes back. Some people fixate on certain behaviors to avoid looking at how sad and depressed they are.
I know you are busy with the newborn, but let hubby watch him a couple of nights a week for a couple of hours and find a support group to help you through things as well. The medication will take about 3 weeks to take full effect.
In the mean time, try not to "awfulize" and find the worst outcome to a problem. It improves with the right attitude and a willingness to look for better things to happen. Hope that helps
2006-12-12 13:59:36 · answer #2 · answered by Bob 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My doctor put me on it after my son died. I didn't have an immediate effect of it, but it definitely wasn't addicting to me, and I actually didn't gain any weight on it. It could be different for different people though, so I would definitely ask your doctor about this.
HTH
2006-12-12 13:18:18 · answer #3 · answered by Garrett's Mommy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
try effexor for post pardum. join a club and exercise. do new mom things with people in your area, contact your library. meds should always be a last resort. but i understand, i have been there.
2006-12-12 13:23:29 · answer #4 · answered by fastfakts 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋