Question:
PLEASE HELP.....

may i ask have you taken any anti depressants before you had surgery? i was taking paxil. Okay they have worked great, but since surgery, i have had to crush them and take them. and they aren't working. today i got the paxil liquid and took it, but it doen'st seem to be working, do you know anything about this.    — Gale G. (posted on September 12, 2002)

September 12, 2002
Gail, How long have you been on the Paxil? If you just recently started taking it, you can expect it to take about 2-4 weeks for it to have it's full effect, and that's assuming that your doc has the dosage high enough. If you are not experiencing any relief, and you have been on your current dosage (liquid or pill) for a while, you should call your doctor and discuss either the dosage of the Paxil or taking a different anti-depressant. There are many out there and just because Paxil worked before, it doesn't mean that it will work again. Good luck. Robin
   — rebalspirit

September 12, 2002
After surgery, many people experience high levels of depression. If your paxil dose is low, that might be why you still feel depressed. For about 6 weeks after surgery, I cried for any little thing. It passed and now I'm fine. Hope you feel better soon.
   — Sarah K.

September 12, 2002
I've been on Paxil for a couple of years. I am 10 days post-op and continue the take Paxil but I don't crush mine or take the liquid. I am on Paxil 40 mg po qd. The pill is green and a little larger than the pink or yellow Paxil. I break it in half and swallow it...no problems. Paxil quickly dissolves in water too. I'm one of those people that has very bad side effects if I miss a dose...bad headaches and dizziness so it is very important for me to take my medicine. Did you miss any doses? A missed dose here and there can make a whole lot of difference...I should know! I can tell you that I have had some down moments since the surgery but they tend to go away. For me, it has been depressing to not be able to eat my comfort foods like I used to...feels like you lost your bestfriend...but I'm feeling much better as each day goes by. I am not an advocate for Paxil...it has it's downfalls...but if you did fine with it before the surgery, chances are you will do fine again.
   — CARMEN M.

September 12, 2002
Sweet Gale, your body is going through great hormonal changes along with everything else right now. Talk with your Doc...maybe you need to "up" the dosage level for a while. I am on Prozac and had to increase from 20 mg a day to 60 mg a day after surgery to help with the depression, grazing, and hormonal stuff. Now at 3 mos post-op I have weaned back down to 20 mg a day. All of this is normal and will pass! Love ya!
   — DJeffrey

September 15, 2002
Gale--I take 20mg paxil every day. I have no trouble swallowing it. I had lap rny on 6/4/02. I dont know why but I was not allowed to have my paxil while in the hospital so it "threw me off" for about a week. I was a bit of a mess...but once I was back on it again I was fine. Perhaps your doctor needs to up your dosage?
   — Bambi C.