• Effectiveness

  Slight (for social anxiety disorder)
• Side effects

  Moderate (for Overall) (giddiness)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 10 mg Daily

• Effectiveness

  Can't tell (for generalized anxiety disorder)
• Effectiveness

  Can't tell (for depressed mood)
• Side effects

  Severe (for Overall) (tachycardia (fast heart rate), seizures (grand mal or tonic-clonic))
• Adherence

  Never taken as prescribed
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 20 mg Daily

Advice & Tips: I have never had a seizure in my entire life. About 45 minutes after taking my very first dose I felt very sick and exhausted. I layed down and took a two hour nap. When I awoke my heart beat was 144 beats per minute. I freaked out and called my friend who told me to try and relax and over a few hours my heart rate went back to normal. However, in the morning I woke up and went to the doctor's for an appointment and while waiting in the lobby I had a Grand Mal seizure and fell on my face. I bit my lip so hard I had to get stitches. It looked like someone cut it with a pair of scissors. I have a nice scar from it. I had tests done and was in the hospital for three days. I still don't know everything, but if you have ever had a seizure I would NOT take this medication, or if they run in the family or anything like that. If you have side effects like I did I would go to a hospital or have someone keep an eye on you for the next day and don't drive. Maybe it is an unlikely side effect or maybe something else, but there is a warning not to take it if you have ever had or have seizures.

Cost: < $25 monthly

• Effectiveness

  None (for anxious mood)
• Side effects

  Severe (for Overall) (anger, restlessness (akathisia), irritability, confusion)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 30 mg Daily

Cost: < $25 monthly

• Effectiveness

  Major (for generalized anxiety disorder)
• Side effects

  None (for Overall)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 20 mg Daily

Advice & Tips: Has worked long term for me;

Cost: < $25 monthly

• Effectiveness

  None (for mild depression)
• Side effects

  Mild (for Overall) (depressed mood, suicidal)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Advice & Tips: I never felt anything on this. I was on the highest dose. ??? and since I was finally diagnosed with the correct problem and it wasn't in my head, my dr switched me from this to cymbalta. can't take both at the same time

• Effectiveness

  Major (for social anxiety disorder)
• Side effects

  None (for Overall)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 20 mg Daily

• Effectiveness

  Slight (for depressed mood)
• Side effects

  Mild (for Overall)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Cost: < $25 monthly

• Effectiveness

  Moderate (for depression with anxiety)
• Side effects

  Severe (for Overall) (heat intolerance)
• Adherence

  Never taken as prescribed
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 20 mg Daily

Advice & Tips: This medication is on my black list (as are other ssri's). Side effect was severe in my case (heat intolerance resulted while on medication, and has continued to be a problem to lesser degree, since discontinuation of the medication in 2002). Sadly, medical professionals I sought (and there were many), only had familiarity with ssri's, and did not have education, confidence, or familiarity with less toxic medications that were available. I did my own research on naturopathic options, and I sought the advise of a naturopath and have found greater success in treatment for my ocd, anxiety, and depression - with less side effects, through non-pharmacuetical approach; I now take 5-htp - have taken it 5yrs without side effects (although I know it can have some). I'm left frustrated that our health care system is geared to prescribe only pharmacueticals when there may often be less toxic medications out there that deliver the same success and with less dependence on the health care system.

Cost: $25-49 monthly

Side effects: heat intolerance

• Effectiveness

  Major (for anxious mood)
• Side effects

  None (for Overall)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 40 mg Daily

Advice & Tips: Paroxetine completely blocks panic attacks for me.

Cost: < $25 monthly

Side effects: brain fog

• Effectiveness

  Major (for anxious mood)
• Side effects

  Mild (for Overall) (brain fog)
• Adherence

  Sometimes
• Burden

  A little hard to take

Dosage: 60 mg Daily

Advice & Tips: My neuro wants to change from Paxil to some yet unknow alternative because paxil has some conflict w/ MS. Will talk to him more re this because he did not want to transition me before an upcoming MRI in 6/09.

Cost: < $25 monthly

Side effects: brain fog

• Effectiveness

  Major (for anxious mood)
• Side effects

  None (for Overall)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 60 mg Daily

Advice & Tips: Newer medicines should be researched or discussed w/ a psychphamacologist --psychiatrist treating brain chemistry.

Cost: < $25 monthly

Side effects: brain fog

• Effectiveness

  Moderate (for Depression, Social Anxiety, Pain)
• Side effects

  None (for Overall)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 30 mg Daily

Cost: < $25 monthly

Side effects: excessive daytime sleepiness (somnolence), excessive daytime sleepiness (somnolence)

• Effectiveness

  Moderate (for Depression, Social Anxiety, Pain)
• Side effects

  None (for Overall)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 20 mg Daily

Advice & Tips: Paxil has been very effective in managing my panic & sleep disorders. I take it at night time per my doctor's instruction and it also helps me sleep. I started to go off it Dec. 2009, but had to go back on it due to my worsening depression & crying spells.

Cost: < $25 monthly

Side effects: excessive daytime sleepiness (somnolence), excessive daytime sleepiness (somnolence)