Paxil

[kellybean]

Hey all, I was just wondering if those of you who are on or have been on Paxil, did you notice if you gained any weight? I've been on it for about 8 months now and ever siince then, I've gained some weight. I haven't been eating any differently, and I've been going to the gym (and it's not muscle)[img]smileys/smilies_06.gif[/img].


Thanks!

[crystalmom]

I take paxil....and, sorry, never noticed any weight gain.


Crystal

[kel12347]

Me neither, when I took it, but it can cause weight gain for some.

[tcsarah]

I take it and did put on about a stone in weight over a year or so, which I have now lost again through cutting down on the amount of food and type of foods I eat. I think the reason was before being on the meds I was so anxious a lot of the time which effected my appetite - when I was worriedabout something I couldn't eat, or only very little. The anti-depressants help so much with anxiety and depression I now very rarely don't have an appetite, infact it's almost like I'm always hungry these days, hence having to watch what I eat now!

[crystalmom]

What does a stone mean?

[littlebebe]

1 Stone = 14 Pounds = 6kg

[crystalmom]

Never heard of that before....cool!


C.

[littlebebe]

I am the same with kgs they confuse the hell out of me, I had to go and
look on my scales to find out how many were in a stone![img]smileys/smilies_01.gif[/img]

[*mandi*]

I use to take paxil years ago. And I actually gained about 10 lbs. Which was good b.c I was raelly underweight. I thin kI need to get back on Paxil...Im a mess again and underweight again. I think it affects people differently.

[japa]

I gained a LOT of weight on this drug, (20 lbs.) but it is for a lot of reasons. Since I wasn't anxious as much anymore, I could begin to eat more. Paxil also made my IBS disappear (this has worked for some others with IBS according to the website for the disorder). I no longer had debilitating stomach cramps, so again, I was able to eat more. To me, the weight gain has been o.k. with me because of how I don't feel sick all the time anymore. For me, it was a great tradeoff.

[shiva]

I gained lots of weight on Paxil as well. I actually gain weight on most medications I have taken for anxiety. For me it isn't a good trade off because my anxiety is always still there. I was on Paxil for about a year and a half and gained 50 lbs. on it...No kidding.. Same as you, eating habits the same and I also worked out. It was like beating my freaking head against a wall. After I went off of it and continued to work out, it all came back off and then some. Then I started seroquel and it happened again. This time 40 lbs. Personally,I am done with meds. I am not anti meds for others, but I am for me. Is the Paxil helping you with your anxiety issues? How are you feeling mentally? Do you feel it's worth it?

[japa]

shiva, Blah, that sucks. If the meds don't even do anything positive for you, but you just gain weight....Yuck.

[kellybean]

I find that Paxil helps a little. My OCD isn't as bad as it was, but I do still have it. I want to go off of it, because of the weight. I' ve been the same weight for years, and all of the sudden, I start to gain weight. I don't like that. If I go off and I don't notice a big difference with my OCD, then I will stay off. But maybe I will need to go back on, but I hope not!! Shiva, how are you feeling not being on meds?

[shiva]

I feel great, actually. On meds I am always tired and groggy... Or an insomniac at night, so still tired during the day. I can't stand it. I am what they call "sensitive to medication" though. Like SSRI's make me angry and give me nightmares, but most people they don't do that to. So, it makes it hard to medicate me.


I just can't wait to start losing the weight. I have only been off the meds for a couple months or so. I also went off birth control. I'm eating the formula diet (as prescribed to me) and working out, so I hope I can get some of this weight off.


Funny thing is.. This time, I gained most of it around my belly. I have never really had belly fat, so this was odd. I usually gain it in my ass and thighs. That never really bothered me much, but having this budda belly is pissing me off!


I know that OCD is hard to control without meds, but even if you go off and it does get worse, you can either try another medication or you can do some behavioral stuff and work really hard at re training your brain to not do this stuff. At least you are aware of what you do and that it isn't healthy. Some people out there have no idea. Like, have you ever seen the guy at the store who counts the tiles or can't put the shopping cart away until it goes just right. He probably has no idea that he is doing something "strange".

[kellybean]

OMG I would drive myself insane if I did stuff like that guy. I can't even stand washing my hands like I do, but I can't help it either. I am also going off BC, so I hope to get results pretty quick, but I won't hold my breath. Ithink I gained some weight in my thigh, and love handle area. I HATE IT!!!!![img]smileys/smilies_07.gif[/img]


It's good that you can do well without the meds. I think that I will do ok also. (I hope anyway!)

[worriedwendy]

I took it a few years ago for post partum depression and my emet anxiety, I gained 35 lbs in 6 weeks and was heavier than I was when I gave birth, it was aweful and I went off for the weight gain reason, that was 5 years ago and I have yet to lose it. I did research on Paxil and weight gain was a huge side effect. I now take wellbutrin and a small dose of Zoloft and xanax when I need it. My husband may start chemo soon for his testicular cancer, I am very nervous about it, the chemo he is taking is one of the highest emetic chemo drugs they have. He will have 9 weeks of it and will be taking anti-emetics round the clock but I heard it will only take the edge off. I have been a anxiety ball, and I will find out if he needs it the end of the week after his blood test comes back.

[kellybean]

Oh my, Wendy, I hope your husband will be ok. That is terrible. I hope you will be ok to. I couldn't imagine having to go through that with anyone, but you know what, love changes alot of things, so you might suprise yourself and be able to deal with it. Does your husband understand your phobia? I wish you both the best.

[worriedwendy]

We have been married 10 years in November and I have never seen or heard him v* (knock on wood) that is why I am so afraid, we have 3 kids, 8,5, and 2 and I have seen each one of them get sick, although luckily not too often, again knock on wood. For me, if he or someone else in my house or when I am somewhere else, is sick, at least I can flee from the scene. I put my kids in the bathroom or give them a trash can and go downstairs to get distracted and go back and check on them. What really gets me is if we are out, in the car or in a store, at church, a friends house, I get really panicked if my husband says he feels sick or if my kids or someone elses kids feel sick. I have left grocery carts full in the store to flee from other people looking sick or my kids having a tummy ache all of a sudden. I hate being in the car when someone feels sick, I guess I feel clausterphobic and feel like I can't get away and I am too close. So with my husband possible having chemo, he may be too sick to take care of himself and he will probably be sick on the way home for treatment. You see my fears, I hate that this phobia causes me to not be there for people that are close to me. My husband knows a little that I hate it but he doesn't know there is an actual phobia over it and that I am freaking out right now about it. He certainly doesn't like it either, but I have seen him take care of the kids and other friends and family members and not be affected by it. I don't want him to be upset that I am worried, we have too many other things to be concerned over right now with his health for me to share it, so that is why I need this forum.

[tcsarah]

Hi Wendy. I'm sorry your husband is ill, I hope with all my heart that the chemo helps your husband make a full recovery. I have been going through similar worries as one of my friends has cancer and I have been going with him for hospital appointments and went with him for his first chemo session. I got myself into such a state worrying about him or other people v*ing whilst I was with him through his treatment or travelling back in the communal transport. But everything was fine. I sat with him and a room full of other people whilst they had their treatment and nobody even looked nauseous. Before the chemo starts they are givena large dose ofanti-nausea meds, and then given a plentiful supply to take home. My friend hasn't v*ed once from the chemo, infact hehas beenhardly troubled by nausea at all and he has just completed his first three month period of chemo. I think the newer anti-nausea drugs they give to people having chemo are much better than they used to be at preventing nausea and v*ing.


I hope this makes you feel a little better. Take care.


Tracey

[worriedwendy]

THank you, that does make me feel better, I am doing pretty good with it and should find out tommorrow whether he will need to start chemo soon. You better believe I will make sure he has the anti-nausea meds before hand and plenty during. I will be on top of making sure he takes it. Not only is it going to be hard to see him like that but I worry about the kids seeing there daddy that sick and losing his hair. But I am sure many kids have gone through that with their parents, anyone have any memories that haunt you now because of it?

[tcsarah]

Hi Wendy. I lost my mum to cancer, after a three year battle against the illness,when I was eighteen so know what it's like to have a parent suffer. My fiance's brother died of cancer last year leaving eight and ten year old sons. My fiance's sons coped with things brilliantly - things were explained to them in as gentle a way as possible every step of the way and they were so grown up about everything. I think kids are stonger than you think and as long as they don't feel shut out or lied to (as they soon pick up on things) things are ok. Encouraging them to talk about how they feel about everything is always good - don't let them bottle things up. Of course, what and how much you tell the children will depend on their ages. Children need to be told in a language they understand - simple explanations for really young ones and a fuller picture of the illness for older children.


Regards hair loss, when that happens I just don't think it's an issue with children. If older kids are pre-warned that their parent may lose their hair because of treatment, they will be expecting it anyway.


The thing I do know is there is a great network of support out there for not only the people suffering from cancer but for their families too. If ever you have any concerns about how things are effecting your children I would recommend getting in touch with one. They will offer counselling, advice and support.


You and your family are in my thoughts. Take care.


Tracey

[worriedwendy]

Thank you for the encouragement, we just found out that he will for sure need to start chemo next week. His cancer is spreading rapidly and he needs to start the sooner the better the oncologist said. My neighbor suggested having my boys shave their hair with their dad before the hair falls out that way it will be a smoother transition. So many things to think about, I am trying not to worry about the N* and V* that go along with it. I know he will take the anti-nausea drugs but I heard that it still can be bad. I prayed that because of all this that God would prevent my family from getting an SV on top of this, my anxiety would go through the roof. My boys are 8 and 5 and my daughter is 2. Wish me luck, I have to say, when I read of others worrying about co-workers or family members possibly being sick, I know what they are feeling but I would rather feel that, than feel the way I feel right now in my shoes or what my husband feels right now. That is all for now.


[img]smileys/smilies_09.gif[/img]

[kellybean]

I like the idea of your son's shaving their head!!! I replied to your other post.

[HDogg]

I've been on Paxil since last August, although I started on Paxil CR, and started taking regular Paxil a few months ago. Anyway, I have gained weight also. I'm not sure how much, as I'm scared to look. But I'm back in my "fat jeans" again, so I guess I gained 15-20 pounds since last year. Ugh. But the change in my anxiety is soooo worth having the extra pudge. I'd rather be fat and content than panicking constantly and skinny. Bring on the pounds. Just more of me to love, right! [img]smileys/smilies_02.gif[/img]

[kellybean]

That's cute HDogg!! I'm glad you have such a good attitude about it. I myself cannot stand gaining the weight, so I'm gonna go off. I think I can handle a little bit of anxiety, although it might get worse as winter gets closer.[img]smileys/smilies_12.gif[/img]Edited by: kellybean