QUESTION:
Dear Dr. Heller,
I've been on Paxil for one week and my stomach has been feeling acidic and bloated. Are these side-effects, and if so, will they subside in time?
ANSWER:
Most likely not. I strongly recommend you look into the generalized anxiety disorder diagnosis, particularly the cognitive component where the mind never shuts off and never has. Paxil tends to make this worse, which could be causing your side effects. BuSpar will likely be necessary in this case before you can take Paxil or another SSRI medication.
You may benefit from taking a medication to lower stomach acid. There are 2 classes: the strongest class is the PPI’s and include Prevacid, Aciphex and Prilosec. The H2 blockers include Zantac, Tagamet, Pepcid, and Axid. These medications could stop those symptoms relatively quickly.
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