Here’s my humble spin on the Paxil experience. I hope perhaps it might even prove helpful, somehow, for someone. :)

In fall or winter 1999, I began to feel I was on a constant “caffeine buzz” even though I drink nothing caffeinated, save for Snapple iced tea sometimes. A side note: Ever since I was 20 or 21, I’ve had a fast metabolism and can’t really gain weight, and I’ve always had a lot of energy. I’ve had 2 thyroid tests and both were within normal range. At any rate, toward the end of 1999, things started changing and I began to feel like the Energize Bunny on an overload of No-Doze or Jolt Cola.

I knew this was different from my usual energy. I felt continually hyped up. Soon this feeling crept into my nights, and it became
harder and harder to sleep. I would have palpitations sometimes, which only made me feel more anxious, so it became a vicious circle. I got cranky and distractable at work due to lack of sleep, and then my work began to suffer, which also made me nervous because I thought my boss was going to get upset. Vicious circle again!

I began to get relief from my chiropractor with a rather aggresive/frequent treatment plan. I had just barely gotten to be her patient, but she didn’t even charge for these extra visits, because she saw how bad i felt and she had some ideas on helping. It helped, b/c I started to feel a bit less hyper, and even less after more treatments. Turns out I had some major misalignments and nerve blockages in the areas that (coincidentally?) have to do with one’s level of stimulation. I forgot how she explained it, sorry.

About the same time, I poured out my tale to my medical doctor. She said it sounded like I had a serotonin imbalance in my brain, which was responsible for the anxiety as well as insomnia. She thought it was great the chiropractic was helping, but sounded a little surprised. Anyway, she explained how SSRI’s work, and suggested I give Paxil a try. That was in Feb or March 2000 and I have been on Paxil since.

I take 10 mg once a day. Due to my sensitive stomach, I spent a very uncomfortable night when I tried it at bedtime! I discovered
taking it with dinner eliminated the upset. After a while, I began to notice that by the time I was getting in bed, I ACTUALLY felt a bit sleepy. This was a very new idea for me, because for so long I was used to going to bed without being sleepy and staring at the ceiling! :( I don’t know whether the chiropractic helped more, or the Paxil helped more, or perhaps 50/50, but I no longer feel hyper or anxious and no longer suffer from insomnia.

Now for side effects. I was agog when I read the info leaflet, because it listed so much! It’s only done a few things to me. #1:
An increase in my appetite, especially my “sweet tooth”! This would be terrible for most (i.e. weight gain), but for me it’s fine because I still am unable to gain weight, due to the metabolism. Effect #2: My dreams are very vivid, longer, and have more emotion.
They are usually really interesting, tho, which is good because I think I’ve heard some folks get nightmares? Effect #3: I’ve never been a “morning person,” but now I am EXTRA groggy when I get up. Fortunately, it does not make me groggy during the day. Effect
#4: The “sexual side effect”, i.e. less interest in sex. However, like my metabolism, my libido is also a bit on the high side. Or it was, before Paxil. So it has been an ok side effect for me, because now at least I don’t feel horny all the time. *blush*! My libido is more “normal” now. (this info is for club use only, please don’t quote me on it!) ;)

That’s the end of my testimony. Thanks so much for reading to the end. I’m sorry if I rambled. I really enjoyed reading everyone else’s experiences, so I’m hoping y’all enjoyed reading mine. It’s good to be able to share and learn from one another. :) Have a great day.

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