Oh goodness! There's quite a large break here. Still not used to this whole blogging thing...but I'm trying! Let's see...I switched medications. And dosages. I now take paxil, 10 mg. Once I go back to school I'll probably have to increase to 15mg. 10 is barely working out for the summer....
Now don't think I'm repping drugs because of this...
Zoloft did its job. It worked really well for my anxiety, and eliminated all the excess (you know, the "disorder" part, not the "normal teenager" part). But it really increased my tics. And although those are mostly just annoying, they are also very painful and difficult to live with. They interfere with my favorite activities--cheer, tumbling, theatre, and music--because I can't control them. I've gotten a concussion because I've had to tic while in a handstand. Its just not safe. Plus I had to increase my dosages every month or two. So then I switched to Paxil.
On 20mg, I was basically dead to the world. It got rid of ALL my anxiety, not just the part that classifies a disorder. I had no motivation to do anything. My grades slipped, I slacked off on my rehearsals, practices, and lessons. It was the scary type of calm. Nothing bothered me. I didn't eat, I slept all the time...It was not a good situation. But it did completly eliminate my tics.
Now I'm on 10 mg of Paxil, and for right now, it seems like a good fit. I've had one panic attack in the past two months, but it was in the adjustment period between 20 and 10, so it doesn't concern me. My tics are minor and few and far between. I have developed a new vocal tic though, which is interesting. Once I go back to school, I think 15mg will be my ideal fit. My biggest concern with Paxil is that it is known to cause birth defects. I don't intend to have children for at least a few years still, but things happen. But considering that is my biggest concern, I think I'll stick with Paxil for awhile.
