Underestimating the Severity of Paxil Withdrawal: Important Information About SSRI's

I’ve been taking Paxil for two years.  As an anti-depressant, it’s effective.  As a drug, it’s too effective.  When I was prescribed this medication, I didn’t know much about selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s).  I didn’t research them as much as I should have.  My doctor informed me of the side effects that plague most users.  There was no way of sidestepping these symptoms, so I decided to simply live with them.  After a year on Paxil, I decided that the side effects were too vexing to live with.  After consulting with a different doctor, I decided to start taking a different SSRI while weaning myself off of Paxil.  After discontinuing Paxil, I wished that I had never taken anti-depressants to begin with.




Drug companies are upfront about common side effects, but when it comes to withdrawal symptoms, there is scant information available.  I wanted to switch to a different pill because Paxil was crushing my libido (which is the most common side effect).  Having been through Paxil withdrawal, a sedated libido doesn’t seem so bad.  In order to wean myself off of Paxil, I had to lower my dosage for a week before dropping it entirely.  Apparently, this lessens the severity of withdrawal.  On the first Paxil-free day, I felt fine.  On the second Paxil-free day (of Christmas), I felt lightheaded.  On the third Paxil-free day, I was very lightheaded and hypersensitive to sound and motion.