Question:
I will be having surgery on June 13th and I want to get off of Paxil. Does any
one experience severe headaches when trying to get off Paxil and has any one stopped getting anxiety attacks after WLS? I hate these anxiety attacks, I always feel like I am on the verge of having a heart attack. Thanks to all for your help. — Pilar E. (posted on May 9, 2002)
May 9, 2002
You really need to ask your doctor about going off of Paxil or any
medication. Call and find out how to go off of it safely. You may need to
be "weaned" from the medicine. It's not safe to start and stop
without your doctor's supervision.
— Cinna G.
May 9, 2002
You definitely need to consult your doctor before trying to get off Paxil.
It has a reputation for giving people severe withdrawal symptoms (some
people have even said the withdrawal is worse than what they started taking
Paxil for in the first place!). Your doctor can help wean you off by
giving you lower dosages to take over time. Good luck to you!
— [Deactivated Member]
May 9, 2002
Hi! Paxil is definately a medication that you need to be weaned off
of....It took about 4 days of being on a lower dose in my case...If you
don't,not only will you have headaches but you can also have
nausea,vomiting and some other unpleasant side effects.
— jennifer A.
May 9, 2002
Hey there... first of all, I agree with Cinda's previous post: PLEASE
don't just stop the Paxil suddenly. Talk to your doctor about this,
because the possibility of "rebound" increases in anxiety is very
real when stopping meds abruptly. Secondly, given your history of panic
attacks, and given the (very normal!) stress associated with WLS, now might
not be the most ideal time to stop Paxil. Maybe you could continue with
the Paxil through surgery and the first few weeks or months post-op, and
THEN when things have settled down, make decisions about stopping Paxil.
Are you worried that Paxil will slow down your weight loss post-op?
— Sarah B.
May 9, 2002
HI PILAR
WELL I AM STILL AWAITING ON APPROVAL ,BUT I AM ON PAXIL AS WELL,BUT I AM
BEING SWITCHED TO PROZAC CAUSE ITS JUST NOT DOIN THE TRICK FOR ME,I HAVE
BEEN ON PAXIL FOR OVER A YR AND ITS NOT HELPINGME ANYMORE AND PROZAC HELPED
ME OUT MORE THAN ANYTHING,BUT I WOULDNT JUMP OFF OF PAXIL JUST YET,U NEED
TO GO SEE THE DR THAT PUT U ON THAT MEDICATION,WHATEVER U DO DONT JUST STOP
TAKING IT,HTAT WOULD BE A TOTAL SHOCK TO YOUR MIND,ANDU WILL BE ALLTO
PIECES,I DO UNDERSTAND HOW U FEEL ABOUT THAT BUT DONT JUST QUICK TAKING
YOUR MEDS ,WITHOUT CONSULTING YOUR DR..THATS MY ADVICE FOR U,I WISH U ALL
KINDS OF LUCK WITH YOUR SURGERY ADN CONGRATS ON THE APPROVAL,I AM HOPING TO
HEAR ABOUTMY APPROVAL SOON,LIKE IN THE NEXT DAY OR SO...GOOD LUCK TO U
((((((((((HUGS)))))))))
JENNY COX
— Jenny C.
May 9, 2002
Thanks for all the great advice. I do feel as if Paxil helped me gain over
100 pounds. As soon as I was put on it I blew up. Has anyone felt this
way before?
— Pilar E.
May 12, 2002
Hi there! I just wanted to put in my two cents. I had surgery on 4-16 and
hadn't taken my Paxil for about three days post op. The hospital also
neglected to give me any for the first three days. I wound up extending my
stay due to a migraine that lasted three days. I totally believe it was
withdrawl from the Paxil. I've gone through this withdrawl before and it
is HORRIBLE. Definately consult your doctor before going off of it. A
controlled decline is much easier to handle than cold turkey! Best of luck
to you!
— Pamela H.
May 12, 2002
I'm not taking Paxil, but am taking an anti-depressant. I saw my
psychiatrist a couple of weeks ago and we worked out a schedule for me to
gradually decrease it until the day of surgery and then to gradually
increase back up once I can swallow the pills again. Be sure to talk to
the doctor who is prescribing the Paxil for you. Most anti-depressants and
anti-anxiety medications should not be stopped suddenly. You should also
be able to begin taking them again post-op, so you shouldn't have to worry
too much about not being able to take them at all.
— garw
June 6, 2003
I also have my surgery on the 13th of June. I spoke with my surgeon at my
pre ops on the 4th and asked him about if and when i should stop taking
paxil. I am on the lowest dosage and he said I could take it up till the
morning of surgery. If I would have looked at the pill bottle the morning
of pre ops...I would have noticed I had just a day supply left. LOL...but
I hope it helps that my surgeon told me that I could take it up to the day
of surgery. Best of luck!
— Amanda H.
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