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• Friday, February 9, 2007 10:33 PM

  Paxil withdrawl

  As someone who took Paxil for almost 10 years I can tell you that your mother may be having a negative reaction to an abrupt interruption of treatment. I would recommend that you talk to the doctor who gave her the prescription, as Cary suggested, but that you also find out why she stopped taking the Paxil to being with. The side effects might have been too harsh for her to handle and I should add that even if you have been taking it for a while your body can change its reaction to it, and even stop working. Also, antidepressants have the power to stop us from realizing things that are not going well in out lives and when you stop taking them you are suddenly faced with years of accumulated problems that have not been dealt with. She may be just now be dealing with the death of your father. It sounds like you mom if going through many issues at the moment: withdrawl, a sudden and maybe scary new perspective on her situation and maybe even a problem she didn't know existed.

  Get in touch with her doctor or, if you fear she might be locked up or something, a doctor you trust. I should also add, even though it is probably not the case, that her ex-boyfriend really did do something awful that made her act the was she is acting.

  I really wish you and your mother luck. A sudden interruption of Paxil and similar drugs is really very harsh. I know from experience.

  —Miriam
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