Translate that title and what I am really saying is that I am mad, sad, depressed, frustrated, and a bit crabby today because a drug that I take that actually HELPS me has once again been taken off the market, with no warning or any recourse on my part.
My doctor put me on Paxil CR a few years ago, and after working with the dosage to get it to really make a difference for me (I have fibromyalgia), I began to feel better. I was actually able to sleep well enough at night to not feel like a total zombie during the day.
Then, in May of 2005 Paxil CR was suddenly taken off the market for a while, and the only thing my doctor could do was put me on Paroxetine, the generic of Paxil. You will note that I didn't say Paxil CR [controlled release], and I think that is the key to how it works for me.
After being on the Paroxetine for almost a year, and feeling more and more hopeless and depressed, I contacted my doctor and ASKED to be put back on Paxil CR, which he complied with for me. That was a few months ago, and almost right away I began to feel better, sleep better, and things seemed to hold more hope.
This morning I made a call to my pharmacy in a close-by town, rather than to my local one, and just asked if they had PCR in stock and if they were able to fill prescriptions. The pharmacist did have 12 pills that I could order, and so I immediately opted for that. They hope to have them back in stock by October.
I truly do not know what the problem is with keeping Paxil CR in stock, but to be honest, I don't care. What I do care about is staying on ONE drug that works for me and not having this periodic starting and stopping, which I assume cannot be such a good thing.
I have an exercise in observation for you all today. Think about what could REALLY be going on in people's lives. Especially if you know someone with fibromyalgia. Are they productive, happy, full of hope? Or are they crabby, grumpy and quiet? Instead of labeling them as forgetful, lazy, or a 'witch', keep in mind my saga of this day, and try to be a little more empathetic. Situational depression can be made better if people try to understand and will listen. Clinical depression...well, we are just at the mercy of drug companies and the FDA.
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Comments: 5
I realize your problem isn't clinical depression, but I have a lot of SSRI experience. There may be something other than Paxil that will work. I don't know what you've already tried. I know about the zombification. The clinical term is "sedation." It's a useful word when you talk to the doctor.
BTW, all SSRIs make me a zombie. I'm on three drugs right now and I'm able to sit up and function pretty well. It's kind of like mixing heroin and cocaine.