Hello. My story so far...

[Guest guest]

I am 33, and have had two major anxiety breakdowns in my adult life.

The first was when I was 22, it was absolutely terrible.

But to cut a long story short, I got through it (it took several

years), and Aropax (Paroxetine) was a big help when I eventually was

prescribed it.

I took 40mg a day for three months.

While I was on it, the main side effect was sexual- It was almost

impossible to ejaculate.

Coming off it, i went 'cold turkey' and I was extremely sick

(nauseous) for a few days or so, but suffered no lasting effects.

About nine months ago, I took a relationship break-up harder than I

expected and had another breakdown.

But this time I saw the signs earlier. I was still absolutely freaking

out (beyond the point of no return), but went straight to my GP and

got a prescription for Aropax. I also briefly saw a psychiatrist.

Within a few days of taking 20mg I was under control, and in a few

weeks I was feeling a lot better.

Under the advice of my psychiatrist, I stepped up the dose to 30mg. He

also suggested I at least see out the 6 month course this time.

So I took it for about 4 months, then stepped down the dosage from

30mg to 20mg to 10mg to nothing, spending a week or two at each stage.

This made the withdrawal sickness easier to handle, but two months

later, the sexual side-effects linger.

I still have erection problems.

They only started when I was almost off the drug, but are still there.

I know it isn't my partner that is the problem. I find it harder to

get erections an all circumstances. Even just driving past a sexy

woman, where I would usually get one, I don't.

I have heard of the idea of going back on them, and weaning off them

very slowly with Prozac liquid or the like... has anyone tried this?

Hopefully we can help each other here somehow.

I am planning on going back to my psychiatrist anyway, to ask his advice.