firts time users to paxil ask your doc these questions

[julieannboo]

i have got this from another forum - so true:

Ask if you can be on SSRI drugs forever?
Ask your doctor if he has a plan for you for when it comes time to stop or the drug stops working?
Ask your doctor that question.
Ask him about withdrawal.
Go online and learn about withdrawal and read stories about it.
Read the pros and cons.
Now, regardless or what you read, good and bad, ask why there are so many cons?
Why are there so many horror stories and people suffering and struggling?
Ask why there is a person taking the time to write this?
Now ask your doctor what the most delicate, important, least understood, vital, intricate part of the human body is?
Now ask him what part of the body the pills he is giving you are directly chemically manipulating?
Now ask him what tests he is going to put you through, other than your brief oral description of how you are feeling, to determine exactly what chemical imbalance you have that needs to be altered?
Now ask yourself how many other alternatives you have looked into, and really fully committed to, before having no choice but to chemically alter your brain?
Thats it.
Just ask.

[mikewales]

Can't agree with a lot of this sorry, the medical profession don't fully understand how the brain works, they just know that certain medications are beneficial for people with anxiety, panic attacks, depression etc...

Nobody really knows yet if you can be on SSRI's forever as they haven't been around that long. Most docs though will say that you should view them as a longer term treatment, not something that is going to 'cure' you within a few weeks like antibiotics do.

And yes, you will find the horror stories online as people who have had problems will post about them, but those that are getting on fine with them won't. There are plenty of people who have started SSRI's with little or no side effects, and certainly feel a lot better than they would be if not taking them, and that is often after also trying therapy, natural treatments etc... and finding they don't work as well.

I do agree to ask about how long the doc is thinking you need them though, and that they understand the need to taper off them slowly when you stop.

[nicola1980]

The problem is doctors aren't experts in mental health so they don't have all the answers, alot just give u the pills and tell u to come back for a review in 4 weeks??the best person to answer these questions is a pyschatrist or a mental health nurse and u can ask ur doctor to refer u to the community mental health team and they specialise in mental health so are alot more knowlegable and can give u the time u need to ask any questions u may have xx

[pinkdove]

sorry can't handle all of that, citalopram has literally gave me my life back and as for being on them forever i don't think that far ahead just yet, i know there are withdrawal symptoms, but i am reducing very slowly with little or no side effects, i undersatnd your post, but most people are looking for something to help till they are able to cope again, and the horror stories really dont help. also the gp can only suggest ssri's in the hope they will help, but not everyone reacts the same, some people have no side effects at all, and they are not for everyone, however there may be some members who would like to ask all the questions in your post, but i doubt the gp would be able to answer them honestly as we are all different. x

[mallan82450]

Don't agree with this either. Made me quite angry actually. :lac:

[nicola1980]

as my mum says to me............ 'if 1 little pill helps u get thro the day then whats the problem' for me personally id happily take mine forever if it stops me from going in that black hole i was in 13 weeks ago cause that wasn't living it was sheer hell for me!! xx

[lauz_lea]

Almost ALL medications (regardless of what it's treating) can have side effects, even cough syrup. Everyone reacts differently to different meds, both with the initial side effects and withdrawal symptoms.

Many GP's don't have full understandings of a lot of conditions, that's why they're called "general praticioners" and it's also why there are so many specialists out there for various illnesses. You wouldn't expect a GP to treat a cancer patient, but nor would you tell them not to have treatment because they are likely to vomit and lose their hair.

Mental health treatments have come on leaps and bounds in the last 200 years, long gone are the days when people would be put in an asylum for the rest of their lives or have holes drilled into their heads. Medical research and treatments continue to progress every day all over the world.

There are as many people who have reacted badly to other SSRI's or other mental health treatments (I had a severe reaction to Prozac), but that doesn't make it necessary or right to target one particular drug and scare those already in a bad place.

Yes, it is wise to ask questions, but for many, just getting to the doctor in the first place and admitting they need help is hard enough.

To reiterate what Mike said, it's easier to find horror stories than success stories because very few people that find success with any SSRI or AD med feel the need to utilise forums such as this, however, those that need support search for answers and share their experiences because they need reassurance.

Posts/Threads like this can prevent people utilising a treatment that could work for them. If I'd had access to the internet the first time I starting taking Seroxat I wouldn't have had the courage to take them and would have lost years of my life spirralling deeper into anxiety and depression.

With the exception of the initial unpleasant side effects, Seroxat has turned my life around, which is why I insisted that my GP prescribe it to me again.

[mikewales]

Its also interesting to note that people have 'side effects' with placebo pills as well if they are told they may get them by taking them in tests !

Also, if the side effects to any medication were that bad, and that high a percentage, or if the meds didn't work for the majority of people, the docs wouldn't prescribe them.

It wasn't long ago Prozac was seen as the new wonder drug, and docs were handing them out like smarties for pretty much any problem, but that doesn't happen now as more is understood about SSRI's, mainly from the medical profession studying a wide range of patients on them, and seeing what the effects are.

[haz]

Don't agree with this either. Made me quite angry actually. :lac:

Same!

If you can find a good psychic ask them!!

[dan1234]

I was grateful my GP was willing to prescribe me something to help. Asking all those questions are unlikely to help your case.
A good doc would not prescribe meds unless they are actually required, ie the anxiety/depression is so bad you can't leave the house or you have already tried CBT/ therapy.

I agree with other posters and think your posts are distasteful to those who need support and encouragement.

[sickandtired]

i dont care what the long term effects are......i just want to be well enough to take care of my kids and to be able to function and even enjoy life......something i certainly wasnt before taking fluoxetine.......i believe these meds have kept me out of the nuthouse