Add me to the list... I was on Paxil longer than anyone was ever intended to be on it. A couple of weeks ago I was talking to a certified addiction therapist ( there's an official acronym I don't remember) and she was telling me that a long term side effect of some anti-depressants, particularly Paxil and Prozac, is depression. This is especially true if you don't actually have a chemical imbalance but were put on the medication for more 'superficial' reasons. Withdrawl was hell. I cut my dose down by half and went into a bad mood for about a week solid. Everyday situations like rush hour and straightening out my car insurance sent me into two full fledged anxiety attacks. However, now that I'm off that stuff I actually feel calmer and more even tempered than I have in years. Therefore, I tend to think that medication should be an absolute last resort.

Something that's amazing for stress is Yoga. Seriously, I sometimes go to class after having a really bad day at work and walk out so much calmer and generally balanced.

Is the acronym CASAC??? I know some places stress that addiction specialists/counselors possess this type of certification.

There was a recent article in Glamour about the withdrawl of the drug, even after a gradual decrease in dosage. I confirmed the article's facts with a doctor (hey, it's Glamour), and she said that they have found these withdrawl effects, but drug companies have not done enough research on these effects to put them in the packaging inserts.

So, please, talk to your doctor or therapist or whomever. The whole experience that was described sounded horrible, and I care about all of you & don't want you to be in pain.
:)

Meds are of the devil!!!!!
 

Not just Paxil, but any mind-altering drug! Unless, you're really dysfunctional, you don't need them. Throw it in your back yard, flush it down your toilet, feed it to your neighbor's annoying dog...get rid of it!

I did my internship in a substance abuse treatment facility and the acronym I remember seeing was "CAC"...Certified Addictions Counselor...maybe there is "CASAC" as well...Certified Addictions/Substance Abuse Counselor??? Acronyms/certifications seem to change so much these days.

Re: Meds are of the devil!!!!!
 

I know many people who have benefitted from medications such as Paxil, valium, xanax, lorazepam, zoloft, etc. They had paralyzing, severe cases of social anxiety disorders so I guess the benefits of the meds outweighed the negatives.
Don't stop taking your medication without a doctor's input. And please don't feed it to a dog. :rolleyes:

Re: Re: Meds are of the devil!!!!!
 

I think you took what I said too literally. What I meant, is that some people are prescribed these drugs unneccessarily...while others REALLY do need them. If the risks outweigh the benefits of these meds, it won't hurt to seek other options. Yeah, don't suddenly discontinue them, the withdrawals can be hell.

Re: Re: Re: Meds are of the devil!!!!!
 

I know what you meant. I have seen huge improvements in many people taking these medications after years of therapy did not work. That is the difference between having a mild case and a severe case of an anxiety disorder. I agree that some doctors are too quick to write a prescription unnecessarily. I think that a patient has a responsibility to find her or his best treatment. For some patients that is therapy or medication or both. If it is a chemical imbalance, chances are the patient needs medication. It also doesn't hurt to get a second medical opinion.

Did the research....
 

I have seen the acronym CAC before. I know that New York uses the acronym CASAC (Credentialed Alcoholism and Sustance Abuse Counselor). It is part of the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS). I heard that is no joke becomed CASAC certifified.

I'm bumping this thread b/c someone close to me is considering taking Zoloft, and it sounds like a few of you may have had exp. with the drug.

Did any of you have side effects? If you stopped taking it was it hard to get off?? His dr. prescribed for a different physical problem, not depression, so I'm just wondering if it might do more harm than good psychologically.