Positives

• Certain patients employ extremely low doses such as “3mg or 10 drops” for anti-inflammatory effects in Long COVID and MCAS contexts Phoenix Rising.

Negatives

• Higher standard doses trigger severe worsening including nausea and “unexpected hypersomnia” Phoenix Rising.
• Patients consistently report that withdrawal is “difficult” and caution others against use Phoenix Rising.

Hurdles & Side Effects

• Generic paroxetine is widely available at over 70% less than brand-name Paxil, but brand Paxil remains expensive and many insurers require step therapy through cheaper SSRIs first.
• Patients stopping paroxetine commonly experience severe withdrawal, describing flu-like symptoms, brain zaps, dizziness, vivid dreams, and uncontrollable crying that lasted weeks to months after stopping PMC.
• Paroxetine is a potent inhibitor of CYP2D6 and CYP2B6, with 521 documented drug interactions on Drugs.com including 108 major interactions, complicating use in patients on tamoxifen, codeine, metoprolol, and many other medications Wikipedia.
• Patients on Paxil commonly describe persistent sexual side effects, with three out of four users describing withdrawal as severe or nightmarish, and rates of decreased libido and orgasmic dysfunction among the highest of any SSRI Drugs.com.