Paxil and anxiety and depression

[Selvage22]

I have been on Paxil probably 17 years. Last spring I felt really good. Everything was as it should be, I was handling my life well, so I decided I didn't need the Paxil anymore. I weaned off it in about 6 weeks (I know it was much too quick) and felt GREAT for 6 weeks until I was hit with what I found out later was horrible withdrawal. I cried and was so upset, couldn't hardly do my job (fortunately I work at home), spent a lot of time in bed, wouldn't go anywhere except to the doctor who I begged for something to make me better. I got back on Paxil after about 6 horrific weeks but I have not been "right" since. I feel like something broke while I was going thru this time. It has been 8 months since I quit having the worst symptoms but my depression is just so bad. The doctor put me on Seroquel last week but it doesn't seem to be doing anything and I am worried about taking yet another drug. In addition to everything else, my son, wife and 3 grandkids are moving 3000 miles away in about 2 weeks, and I think this is affecting my problems. I know there are people out there who live with this, anxiety and depression, but I don't really want to. I want to figure out how to live better.

[swilso2294]

I was on Paxil too and I stopped taking it because I'd wake up in the middle of the night and would be hallucinating. I switched to Lexapro and after the normal two weeks of nausea and side effects subsided it's like a night and day difference! But I've never tried Seroquel but from experience the medications don't truly start to work for about 2-3 weeks

[Selvage22 in reply to swilso2294]

Paxil worked fine because I felt great, which is why I stupidly felt I didn't need it. I know something new takes time but I've heard Seroquel has bad withdrawal, too.

[swilso2294 in reply to Selvage22]

Maybe stay on Paxil and up to dose slightly? And I try to stay away from the ones with bad withdrawals ever since I stopped Zoloft because that was brutal.