scared of antidepressants

[Dee4659]

Which has more side effects, Paxil or effexor??  Which is easier to ween off of Paxil or Effexor?  When you ween off of a med. do the side effects subside?? I am so scared.  Somebody please answer.  Thank you so much.

[Paula4Him1987]

I took Paxil 12 years ago and it worked really well for me. I did have some of the electrical sensations when I quit taking it, but I knew what was causing them so it wasn't a big deal.

[Paxiled]

They are the two most difficult meds to be on and to come off of in the serotonin reuptake categories.  Side effects depend on the person, and so do withdrawals, but you've chosen two of the toughest.  So the question is, if you need them, you need them, and if you don't and are concerned about this, look into other options.  Good luck.

[ColleenToQuit]

It depends on the person. Paxil is an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) and Effexor is an SNRI (serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) so they are two different types of anti-depressants and each one works differently on different people. Your doctor would know by asking questions which ones would work the best for you based on how you generally feel. Some basic side effects of any antidepressant is weight gain, vivid dreams, dry mouth, constipation, nausea, anxiety, loss of libido (this is a big one), etc). If you wean off an anti-depressant correctly, there are little to no side effects and they are NOT addictive. There is generally one very noticeable side effect doctors have not labeled but I have experienced along with others and are generally described as "electric brain zaps" due to a lack of a neurotransmitter in the brain. You can take omega-3 or fish oil caps to get rid of this side effect if it does occur. Just take 3 in the morning, 3 in the afternoon, and 3 at night and try to get the caps that say "no fish burps", they're quite unpleasant. Also I would say in general the benefit outweighs the risk of taking anti-depressants. If they do not work and you stop taking them, you will return to your previous state completely. I hope this helped!