Should I start taking Paroxetine for my depression and anxiety attacks?

The answer depends to a large extent on the severity of the depression and anxiety. Another consideration is how long you have had this condition. Besides drugs, have you tried other ways to overcome your depression and anxiety?

I have major depression and anxiety and have been on loads of psychiatric meds. However, I began by trying more natural approaches. I exercise about 6 days a week. This is a powerful antidepressant for me and others I have talked to. I try to eat a healthy diet. I do some form of relaxation or meditation each day. Trying to keep up a good social life helps, and of course psychotherapy can be useful.

Research shows that therapy plus psych meds is generally more useful than meds alone or therapy alone.

My depression is chronic and complicated. I use a combined approach of psych meds plus many of the natural remedies listed above. Unless your condition is severe, I suggest starting with natural approaches to treatment. If nothing helps, then some medication may be the next step.

Remember that many people experience side effects from meds. Also finding the right med is often a trial and error process. So you gotta be patient. If one med doesn't work, another one could.

If your depression is fairly mild, you could try St. John's wort. However, you gotta try it for at least 3 weeks before it begins to kick in. Other possibilities are 5-HTP, vitamin B12, and omega 3 oils. I wish you well.

Find a psychiatrist. A family doctor isn't educated in mental health and the brain. I had anxiety attacks for 3 straight months. I was rushed to the hospital about 5 times before I got in to see a psychiatrist. He gave me paxil and it did help, just not enough. I really felt like the doctors at the hospital were wrong and that something horrible was wrong with me. I worried constantly which would lead to another attack. He eventually put me on anti anxiety medication. It worked. Every now and then I have an attack but I realize I'm not really dying, I'm just having an attack. Only a psychiatrist can diagnose you correctly, please see one. Look in the phone book or call a crisis hotline to get connected with a doctor. I Truly understand what you are going through. It took 3 months to get the correct diagnosis and medicine. Because the attacks are SOscary, you really feel and believe in your head and heart that you are dying. You are not. Learn some deep breathing exercises to do when you feel one coming on, it helps me. Good luck, Michelle

I've never heard of that drug before. I take 800 mg of Seoquel, which is actually an anti-psychotic used to treat schizophrenia, but it helps people with bipolar depression too. I also take xanax for my anxiety. Both of these drugs combined together really help. It's all about finding the right meds that suit you, because everybodys body reacts differently

I've been on it for years. It does help.