Dear Vickers, I am sorry you are having anxiety about the pill, I can relate as you know. THe biggest risk is smoking I do know so I do not think you have to worry, I smoke but I do not take the pill, I am trying to quit its so hard with all this panic and depression. I went to my MD tonight I am going to post about it, anyway he gave me a script for Zoloft if the CR does not work, I am not crazy about Zoloft either but at least it helped the depression somewhat if not the anxiety, I would rather have one than two if I had to choose. I did NOT take the Paxil today, I skipped it, I know thats not smart but I could not be in bed all day with that horrible dizziness, I have a bad headache but that could be from not eating or crying, My primary Doc is concerned, I told him I wish I had a broken leg or arm and he could fix it. Its been rough lately Vickers, I have had to really fight and I feel weary, the side effects have been bad and I could somehow live with them if only the medicine would of worked, I think that is what scares me the most is THE MEDICINE IS NOT WORKING FOR YOU!!! That thought keeps going round and round in my mind. Please post me and let me know how the pill is going, you do NOT smoke so that takes away all the risk. Hope to hear from you soon. God bless, Debbie.

Hey Debbie! Sorry it takes me so long to get back to anyone here lately! Anyways.... I was thinking about your Paxil dilemma and I wonder if the reason you're having such a hard time with it is because you took it before and maybe it changed your chemistry a little so now it isn't working the way it should be. I'm not sure about that, but I wonder if that's what happened. I know the CR isn't very different from the normal Paxil. Very small differences. But, maybe you should change and see if it helps. Give it a chance and see anyway. I know the Paxil made me sick. I was nauseous every day of the seven years I took it. I think I just got used to it after awhile and learned to live with it. But, if it's making you so sick, you should try something different. I know how you feel about being paranoid about meds though. I had a pretty big panic attack yesterday, pretty much all day. I finally started my period (hooray!!!) and my doctor told me to start the birth control pill the Sunday after I start, which was yesterday. I didn't have a period for two months so I was seriously worried I was pregnant so I'm glad I started but I am soooo terrified about taking the birth control!! I took the first one last night. I am so worried about the blood clot, heart attack and stroke risks involved. I know they are rare but the chance is still there and terrifies me! I talked to my husband about it and he agreed that he will get "the operation" but the doctor still wants me on the pill because he needs to straighten out my menstrual cycle to hopefully straighten out the abnormal cell growth before it turns into cancer. The doctor told me that the pill I am taking is a very low level of estrogen and because I don't smoke, I'm younger than 35, my cholesterol is good and I don't have diabetes, that I am not at a high risk. But, I am overweight and that in itself is a risk. But, he said that since there is only one risk, they don't worry about it - only if you have three or four risk factors. But still.... it scares me! I'm so frustrated about it! -Argh- Anyways..... sorry for venting! But, thanks for listening! ;) You should change your meds to something else if you don't feel the Paxil is working. There are lots of choices. Try the C

Dear Vickers, Are you alright? You have not posted for awhile, I hope you are OK. When you get a chance since I know you know alot about Paxil, I am going on 7 weeks on it Vickers and the side effects are bad, daily headaches, dizzy, constipation, I actually vomit every day from it and I know that is dangerous, today it made me SO dizzy I could not get up all day. Tommarow I am supposed to start the Paxcil CR 12.5 then up to 25.5, my nurse told me the side effects are less because it bypasses the stomach and goes right to the intenstine? Is that true? Do you think it will help me get better without all these side effects? I know basically its the same medicine, I am just hoping the slow release will be better. What do you think? I am so ready to throw it in the garbage and go back on Zoloft or nothing at all, if I am not getting better whats the point, is the CR a little gentler than regular, I know you do not like Paxil {neither do I} I was wondering about your opinion, I thought for sure by now the side effects would ease and it would cut down on the panics, I did not panic today but laying in bed all day is not good either I know. Hope to hear from you and I hope you and the boys are well. God bless, Debbie.