Question: observations: side effects - sleep

So I've been on Paxil for 5 months now (40 m) and was prescribed this drug basically for all 3 of my major problem areas - anxiety, depression, and OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). Just found this group today, looked through the messages and wanted to post a few of my own (regarding side-effects for now)...I suppose that the most notable side-effect that I've experienced is the need for more sleep, however that has most recently seemingly begun to subside. I have a couple of theories regarding this and would like share them to see what others think -

Theory #1 - Paxil is actually causing chemical changes in my brain and body which actually make me sleepy. Sounds simple, but I have no idea what that chemical process is - if someone knows please tell me.

Theory #2 - I've been an incredibly anxious person my entire life, I check my door locks some times 3 or 4 times even through I know I locked them, after I leave the house I some times have to come back early to make sure the stove is off, etc...With paxil I finally have felt some relief from this. It's as if a huge burden has been lifted from my shoulders. I still engage in compulsive actions some times but I feel I'm getting much better - so this is where my second theory comes in - Perhaps I've been sleeping so much because I've finally been able to relax after many years - I feel as if I've been through a war - Seriously! and now I finally can sleep - so I have. I swear I pretty much slept the first 3 months I was on the drug - fortunately I was able to take off from work.

Theory #3 - Is a combination of Theory #1 and Theory #2

Anyhow recently it seems that I'm not as tired as I have been - maybe I just needed to sleep for 3 months...

I'm very interested to hear responses regarding this - more later -

Tod

Answers:

A:I think that everyone experiences the same thing with sleep...It seems that you can't get enough of it the first couple of months...I know thats what I wanted to do for the first three months then it will get better...so if you are still wanting to sleep hang in there it does get better...take care all

Kelly :)

A: Hi Tod

I've been on Paxil for three years and I haven't found any relief from the "wanting to sleep all the time" side effect!! I think it may just be me though... any chance I get, I'm in bed. Helluva way to spend your life, but it seems like I need it. I guess it doesn't help that I have a baby either!! But anyway, just wanted you to know that you know what you need... your body tells you what it wants and you either respond or don't... if your body is telling you to sleep (for whatever reason) I think you should listen. It's probably very difficult if you are an active person to listen to your body.

Shelly

A: Me again! I get rambling and forget why I wanted to post!! In response to your question about the effect of Paxil on the chemical processes in your brain that makes you want to sleep...

Paxil's goal, from what I understand, is to calm certain electrical impulses. These impulses make you depressed, anxious, compulsive, whatever. To do this, the drug makes your body produce more (or less, I can't remember!) of a certain hormone that makes you feel more at ease. By producing more of this hormone, you are more relaxed, thereby less depressed, less anxious, less compulsive.

Generally, more relaxed which is probably why you're so sleepy. Don't take this for the gospel truth, just what I've pieced together ver the years.

Shelly

A: Normally it is just one pill. The dosage comes in 10 mgs--20 mgs--40 mgs and 60 mgs so you would normally just take one pill unless say the Doctor prescribes you 50 mgs you would need to take 2 pills because they do not come in these dosages. You would take a 40 mgs pill and a 10 mgs pill and you take it only once a day usually around the same time say in the eve or in the mourning...I hope that this will help.

Take care..

Kelly :)