Triggering (SI/ED) - Want to come off paroxetine

[Whispered Secret]

So, I've been on paroxetine for about 6 weeks now, and when I saw my doc after a month I thought things were ok side-effects wise. But I've now realised;

I can't sleep through the night at all. I woke up after falling asleep at half nine at 1:20 and then again at 4:44 (lols, I was checking on my phone). And then I woke up this morning at about 8. I never used to sleep like this. Sure I used to have problems with sleep; I wouldn't be able to fall asleep until about 2 and then wake up at 11, but at least I slept all the way through. It's driving me insane now.

And also, it's making me eat SO much more, and I'm really not happy about it. Sure, I probably needed to eat more, but it's making my life so much harder in that I feel even more constrained. Because I'm hungry and I want to eat, but a) I know that eating will stress me out and make the anxiety I get worse and b) I'm so limited with the foods that I can eat that I feel even more pressure from the ED than I ever did before.


Do you think these are decent reasons for me to want to switch medication? I'm not going to come off it without checking with him first, but I'm really thinking of asking him whether I can switch mds to another AD that doesn't do this to me. I don't really want to go on fluoxetine, but what are the other options?

[sherlock holmes]

There's lots of different antidepressants to try, although you will find most have increased appetite and possible insomnia as side effects.

It's trial and error really finding a medication that works.

If it's making you uncomfortable then I think it's a decent reason to switch.

[roiben]

Meds are very trial and error, although you may find your Dr suggests you try taking it at a different time of day before switching to see if this helps with the sleep et al.

[nuclearnight]

As roiben says your Dr may recommend you change the time of day you take them or the dosage before giving up and switching drugs altogether.

If you mention to him that sleeping is a problem for you I suppose he may try Amitryptiline, that's a popular anti-depressant/anti-anxiety drug to be put on if you have sleeping problems.

~Michelle

[l'il esky]

hey bubbles

mention to the dr that you are having difficulties with them and take your list along as to what it is is bothering you, so he doesnt think you are giving up on them. esp mention the sleeping thing, cos as ive said to you before my AD also has a sedative effect. but there are many different ADs to try so dont give up hope after your first AD x