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THE PROZAC, PAXIL, ZOLOFT ALTERNATIVE
True
Experiences with Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft Antidepressant type medications.
LEARN ABOUT NATURAL ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
Personal Experiences, shared information.
Inspiring Stories.
SSRI Medications
such as Prozac, Zoloft,
Paxil, Effexor, Celexa.
*
Never
discontinue using an SSRI without your
physicians assistance. The side effects of going "cold turkey"
discontinuation may be much worse than adverse reactions. Always check with your
physician before discontinuation of any medication
SURVIVOR STORIES
Paxil Tremors
"My story without a happy ending..."
I really don't know where to start....I started experiencing anxiety
at work due to a sexual harassment issue that evolved into harassment
by my manager. My counselor suggested I take Celexa but due to
$$ reasons I took Paxil instead as it had a lower co pay on my
insurance. I was off work since February 20th, started taking
Paxil on March 1st. March 7th I noticed a weird twitch in my neck
and by that evening I had very noticeable tremors. March 8th I
took my medication because I thought this would pass---WRONG!
By noon I looked as if my whole body was convulsing. Went to the
Emergency Room and they gave me some benadryl and ativan for the
weekend (have no recollection of that weekend at all). I still
have a constant course tremor in my head to this day and also
in my right arm, hand, and leg. I can't even tell you how many
neurologists I have seen and they don't know what to do with me.
Of course they want to find any reason other than the drug that
has caused this and so I'm stuck at home on disability with no
hope of "a fix". If there is anyone out there that has
experienced a similar situation, please email me...I would like
to know. My email address is bambam3969@yahoo.com
Thank you,
Darla R.
Juli's Story
Hi all!
Here's my story. I thought I was really sick. I knew I had
this knot in my stomach 24/7 and then on top of it were all the
other physical symptoms of anxiety. I did not know what kind of
disease I had-it surely must be a disease, nothing could make
me feel this bad. I finally went to a doctor. I told him all my
symptoms and he nodded his head as if he knew exactly what was
wrong. He prescribed Zoloft. It made my stomach SICK! Then he
prescribed Paxil. I took it faithfully. After a few weeks, I began
to really feel good. Eventually I felt great!!! I never felt like
that before! I was on top of the world. I could do anything--and
I didn't feel drugged either. My emotions were completely under
control. No more emotional outbursts. Life was good again. It
wasn't until I got off the meds that my husband told me what a
stone I was. I was really a walking zombie. I feel bad about that.
I had lost a lot of weight before going on the meds. But I gained
35 lbs in 6 months on the Paxil. NOT GOOD!! My appetite was insatiable!!
Food was KING! So I knew I had to get off the Paxil. The doctor
prescribed Effexor. I began to very slowly lose the weight. But
I did not feel as good on this medication as I did on the Paxil.
I started taking St. John's Wort after getting off the Effexor.
That didn't really help and I could feel myself slipping back
into the same old anxiety trap. It was depressing. Then I found
this website. What a blessing. I ordered the tapes and relief
was on the way. The anxiety treadmill is a thinking problem----NOT
a chemical problem I hope this helps anyone trying to make a decision
about meds. Everyone is different, and this is how it all affected
me.
Juli
My Paxil Experience…Very
different from the cute commercials I saw on TV!
By Larry B.
All I was looking for was a peaceful and calm existence. I
had a few episodes of anxiety and brought it up at my doctor’s
office. The next thing I knew, I was looking at a prescription
for Paxil and wondering if this was a hasty decision.
I saw the commercials and it looked so idyllic, how could I turn
down this great opportunity to feel "up" all the time.
It sounded too good to be true.
I couldn’t have been closer to the real truth. The second
day I took th e
Paxil I had an intense feeling of panic as the world seemed to swallow me up.
The more I tried to ignore it, the worse it became.
I felt woozy and my anxious all at once.
This out of body feeling intensified when I tried to sleep later
that evening. I sat wide eyed and tense until daybreak.
Where was this calm feeling I was supposed to experience? I
was shaking all over. I was told the Paxil took sometimes 2-4
weeks to work and I should be patient. These feelings were temporary.
Okay. I bit the bullet thinking patience. This is when my appetite
stopped and food turned me cold. Okay. This will pass too.
Three weeks
into the Paxil and I’m feeling not much of
anything. The barking dog next door isn’t annoying me that
much. The kids banging the basketball against my wall aren’t
putting me into a rage. But, my wife is not turning me on and
the idea of sex is leaving me as cold as everything else. I feel
numb. I’m not concerned about my work. I do it but I’m
not on fire over ideas anymore. I’m cool, calm and able to
make decisions without worry, about ANYONE. My wife says I’m
different. She’s not sure she likes the new me. She’s
glad I’m calm but she thinks its over the top. She misses
my former personality.
Week four
and the sick stomach is calming down. I’m able
to eat and have gained 3 lbs. Feels better. I’m concerned
about the head feelings. Not scared or worried, but wonder what
they mean. Small explosions in my head. Odd.
Second month and have gained 8 more pounds. My clothes are
tight and I’m not sure I want to gain any more weight. I’m
sleeping better but am very tired in the afternoons. Fell asleep
twice at my desk. Still can’t seem to shake the fuzzy head
feeling. Did I mention the constipation and the irritable way
I began to react to anyone who spoke to me?
It took me a long time to shake these feelings. I’ve been
off the Paxil. I felt so sick in the beginning. I thought I had
the flu. Nope, another reaction.
This was the end. I missed my children, my wife and I couldn’t
feel as much as I tried.
I promised myself I would never take another SSRI again. Keep
the meds that don’t work and give me a different way. I’m
currently learning how to use coping skills and working the Anxiety
Busters program. I’m doing better than I ever did on any
drug. I’m making progress every day and I’m not in a
robotic state. Thanks for letting me voice my story.
Larry B. Minnesota
A.R.’s Experience after Three Different
SSRI's
Zoloft
I took Zoloft for depression about 5 years ago. I was given 10mg
sample packs to see how the drug affected me. Each day after a
week on the medication I felt lightheaded and buzzed like I had
a few drinks of alcohol. After about 2 months through the trial
I started feeling and acting in a "zombie like" state.
My reactions slowed, I lost my personality, and didn't much care
about anything. I went to work (which at the time was a high pressure
sales job) and didn't care to do much of anything. My sales really
slipped and I spent most of my days lounging around at home. The
doc took me off the SAMPLE PACKS before I ever went full fledged
into a prescription. I never took it again.
Celexa
Celexa was the first drug prescribed to me when I started having
panic attacks. I was already overwhelmed by the anxiety and panic
when I started taking the lowest dose of Celexa. After about a
week I spent my days trying to keep my food down, severe dry mouth,
and dizzy spells. As time progressed on the drug I started waking
up in the middle of the night in panic as I ran from the bedroom
to the livingroom half asleep. I would snap to when I got into
the livingroom panting and dizzy. This never happened before the
drug nor did it after I stopped ... only while I was on it. I
was taken off it and put on Effexor.
Effexor
I started taking Effexor at the lowest dose. It was said to be
very mild and very few side effects. After the first pill I took
a nap. Four hours later I woke up in what felt like I had taken
heavy drugs. My anxiety was higher than it had ever been. I was
gagging, my vision blurred, almost in a panic like situation for
3 full hours. I instantly threw the drug away and never took anything
again. I was recovering from agoraphobia, out driving around,
visiting stores, feeling good and this one pill had me back at
step one for 3 months. Not worth it. No matter what anyone says
about these drugs to me I'll never consider them again.
These drugs may work for some but in my case they just aren't
a logical way to recover. Why take a pill that'll give you double
of what you have already? That's like giving an alcoholic beer
or liquor to recover. And the fact that I'm a test dummy as the
docs have no idea how anything will affect me as I have to go
through a month of testing phase agony. Only then will they say
"Oh, this isn't for you".
A.R.
Not As CUTE as the Cartoon Advertisement
on TV
Hi Guys and Thank you for asking for my story with an SSRI. Mine
is about Zoloft. I was in my third year of college and during
winter break I drank too much and partied too long. Driving home
from a friends
 the
next day ( I drank to much and slept over), I started feeling antsy in the car.
My head felt light and my thoughts were racing. Stuck at a red light behind a
big truck I thought I might have to leave my car but I broke out into a sweat
and it all passed when the light turned green. I had a fear of driving in
traffic after that. I also lost my concentration and made a doctors appointment
for safety sake.
My doctor told me I was fine but he said he would write me
a prescription for Zoloft. I told him I wasn’t sure but I
would keep it with me at school in case I decided to take it.
I did have it filled and it sat looking at me from my night table
for a long time. I saw the cartoon ad for Zoloft on television
one day and it looked so easy. I took one. Nothing much happened
the first day. I felt a little different, even anxiety for a half
hour, but then nothing much. The few days I felt a fuzzy. I started
to feel dizzy too and my stomach wasn’t feeling good. Three
months of taking it and my brain felt weird. I was jumpy and not
interested in sex with my boyfriend. The strange part was I DIDN’T
CARE. I didn’t care about much of anything. This was bad.
I decided to stop taking Zoloft. Easier said than done!!!!! Believe
me. I didn’t know my body had become used to it. I felt so
sick. I couldn’t believe what was happening. I was nauseous,
dizzy, faintness and I had to GO BACK ON IT. My body wouldn’t
let me stop taking it. I was furious and scared. I tried again
very slowly. Verrry Slowwwly! Still not good. I felt hazy off
and on. In and out of feeling sick to my stomach and tingly in
my body. I was scared. I was petrified I would never do this.
My mom came and stayed with me until I could do
this completely.
She was there for me every moment. I’m off for 6 months now
and still feel tingly off and on and some hazy feelings. It scared
me so much. I’m not a pill person. Never was and never will
be again. Zoloft should be used with caution. I’m losing
my anxiety slowly because I am in contact with Ronnie and she
is helping me through this rough time.
I’m happy to have this chance to vent my anger at this drug.
It was not for me and I hope others check it out before taking
it.
Love,
Helene
Half and Half
I needed help. I ran my family business and didn’t want to
waste time. I took the
Effexor because I wanted to feel better
fast. My job needed my attention and so did my family. I felt
very anxious for two weeks going. I calmed down but lost most
of my sex drive and that disturbed me. I kept on it for 8 months.
I bought anxiety busters program and learned coping. I felt in
control enough to slowly begin weaning myself off the Effexor.
I had a bad time for 5 days but I’m okay now. I’m a
big reader of the anxiety busters forum and chat. I don’t
have bad things to say about the Effexor but I’m happier
without it. My sex life is back too. I gained 24 pounds on it
and am working out to lose it. I’m happy to say I have do
not need medication because I can turn off the anxiety like a
switch. It was not easy but I’m in a better place and do
not need Effexor.
Wendy, N. Carolina
Want My Life Back
Cried night and day while on Celexa. My whole body was sick. Thought
crazy thoughts and was afraid of the way my body felt. I was out
of control. I thought I was going to feel good. It was the opposite
and I was horrible. My life was taken away from me. I was getting
fat and depressed. I am trying to come off of it and go natural.
I hope it will be soon. I want my life back!
Lora, NYC
Wasted Time I Can Never Regain
Wasted six months of my life on Prozac. Everyone saw me changing
but me. I was emotionless and cold. I was demoted for being too aggressive with my clients.
I stopped going to Church because I could not sit still. My head
kept buzzing. I had jerking movements and they frightened me.
I felt anxiety like never before. I prayed in my own way for relief.
I found the anxiety busters site and thank goodness I called the
number. I’m learning who I am all over again. It’s been
an uphill struggle and I would have recovered sooner without the
Prozac. All I’m saying is read the adverse reactions before
you take it!
Dan, NJ
Cured Finally!
It took me two years to feel better after Paxil. It made me
shake so bad I couldn’t hold a pen in my hand. My head was
fuzzy and medicine head balloon feeling. I fell asleep at odd
times during the day. I was never a pill taker. I read the Forum
all the time and notice others wrote they do not like taking pills
either. I’m cured now. I can say this because I know it for
sure. If people knew that Anxiety Busters had the secret they
would all be using their natural tools. Who needs to feel sick
and anxious, especially from a med used for anxiety. First reaction
on readout says it can cause anxiety. Right.....duh!!!! After
the long way around I found I didn’t need the band-aid. I
didn’t need this Paxil and I didn’t need to feel sick
from it. The answers were right in front of me. I wish everyone
knew how easy a cure can be without meds.
Robert, Los Angeles
***ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS TO MEDICATIONS
:
Cut back on caffeine, nicotine,
alcohol and an excess of simple sugars. These are all stimulants.
Moderate exercise on a daily basis (if your doctor allows).
Good diet/nutrition skills are essential. Eat fresh (unrefined)
foods as much as possible. Fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains,
and lean proteins are recommended. Pass up simple sugars for complex
 carbohydrates.
Serotonin levels are naturally raised by exercise, sunlight, outdoor
activities, lean proteins to aid in the absorption of the complex
carbohydrates.
Instead of a sedative or tranquilizer before bedtime, try a complex
carbohydrate such as whole grain toast,
a handful of dry cereal (Cheerios for example), or a whole grain
muffin...MINUS the Milk (Protein) at this time. Your body will
rest easy as the complex carbohydrate relaxes you to sleep, without
the protein to blunt its action! Sweet Dreams!
Remember this is not an illness. It is a learned behavior due
to stress that can be unlearned!
Learn how to alleviate stress in your life by applying good
COPING SKILLS
on a daily basis. Learn the Best Process Available for Relief
of Anxiety Symptoms:
(1) UNDERSTANDING-
Demystifying the fears about the symptoms through
complete explanation.
(2) COPING-
Learn coping skills
that will instantly stop the symptoms and put you back in control.
(3) DIET/NUTRITION-
Learn to use
foods to work for you rather than against you.
(4) PREVENTION- Learning how to recognize the buildup of stress
and immediately interrupting it, putting a permanent END to future
anxious reactions!
There is an
ALL NATURAL
CURE and there is
PERMANENT RECOVERY.
For Information
CLICK HERE NOW!
ORDER OUR PROGRAMS,
CLICK HERE
OR
CALL 1-800-670- HOPE (4673)
THE PROZAC, PAXIL, ZOLOFT ALTERNATIVE is interested in your experiences with these types of medications.
Please send in your SSRI experiences to
webmaster@anxietybusters.com
Your experience can help someone else who is considering
medication.
Thank you for your willingness to share your story with everyone!
There are alternatives
to Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft medications.
There is a natural and permanent CURE for the Anxiety Condition!
Anxiety Busters! Program is the
Natural,
Permanent
and Complete Alternative to Medications.
Find Relief and Peace of Mind...Call our ANXIETY HELPLINE:215-635-4700
Free 10 minute initial Counseling
Session
Open 10:00 AM est - 11:00
PM est 7 Days a Week!
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