Can I use paroxetine for the SN protocol?

[Sbetto]

Today I went to a psychiatrist for the first time, forced by my mother, and I was diagnosed with social anxiety disorder. I was prescribed a treatment based on paroxetine (in my country it's called Eutimil). Has anyone here tried it and can share what effects they experienced? I've read that it's one of the most powerful SSRIs, but it can also cause several side effects, including reduced libido. I also know that, compared to benzodiazepines, it works more slowly but has longer-lasting effects.
Do you think it could work for the SN protocol instead of benzos?

 

[Sbetto]

Up !

 

[kamyzyak]

No, absolutely not. SSRIs and benzos are two separate groups of drugs, and their mechanism for reducing anxiety is very different. A high dose of benzodiazepines will make you extremely sleepy to the point where you are actually no longer susceptible to anxiety, while a high dose of SSRIs will greatly increase anxiety and can lead to serotonin syndrome, which will cause a whole bunch of other unpleasant effects.

 

[Sbetto]

No, absolutely not. SSRIs and benzos are two separate groups of drugs, and their mechanism for reducing anxiety is very different. A high dose of benzodiazepines will make you extremely sleepy to the point where you are actually no longer susceptible to anxiety, while a high dose of SSRIs will greatly increase anxiety and can lead to serotonin syndrome, which will cause a whole bunch of other unpleasant effects.

Thank you for your reply. I've done a lot of research, both through ChatGPT and by reading various posts on SS, and I've decided not to start paroxetine therapy, nor to use it for CTB. I've read that it can have several side effects, including a decrease in libido. Honestly, masturbation is one of the few things that still gives me pleasure right now, and I don't want to lose that too.

 

[kamyzyak]

Thank you for your reply. I've done a lot of research, both through ChatGPT and by reading various posts on SS, and I've decided not to start paroxetine therapy, nor to use it for CTB. I've read that it can have several side effects, including a decrease in libido. Honestly, masturbation is one of the few things that still gives me pleasure right now, and I don't want to lose that too.

Glad to help :) Yea, SSRIs' side effects can be a pain in the ass for the first several weeks, and not every SSRI is going to work for you.

The loss of libido on SSRIs is a weird thing. The horniness itself doesn't go away, but it becomes quite difficult to get to the point where you can finish. But if you're still considering therapy in general as an option, you can ask your psychiatrist to replace paroxetine with another SSRI with less pronounced sexual side effects. For me, escitalopram absolutely obliterated my libido, while sertraline, fluvoxamine and fluoxetine had little effect on it.

 

[Sbetto]

Glad to help :) Yea, SSRIs' side effects can be a pain in the ass for the first several weeks, and not every SSRI is going to work for you.

The loss of libido on SSRIs is a weird thing. The horniness itself doesn't go away, but it becomes quite difficult to get to the point where you can finish. But if you're still considering therapy in general as an option, you can ask your psychiatrist to replace paroxetine with another SSRI with less pronounced sexual side effects. For me, escitalopram absolutely obliterated my libido, while sertraline, fluvoxamine and fluoxetine had little effect on it.

The idea of starting pharmacological treatment came from my mother, who believes these medications work miracles. However, I remain firm in my intention to CTB, even if I were to start treatment. At most, I could ask if it's possible to replace paroxetine with benzodiazepines.

 

[quietwoods]

The idea of starting pharmacological treatment came from my mother, who believes these medications work miracles. However, I remain firm in my intention to CTB, even if I were to start treatment. At most, I could ask if it's possible to replace paroxetine with benzodiazepines.

The point of benzo in the SN protocol is to knock you unconscious so you aren't awake for the majority of the symptoms.

It's not absolutely required.

Regarding libido, I've been on SSRIs and SNRIs. Never have had issues. It depends on the person.

 

[http-410]

At most, I could ask if it's possible to replace paroxetine with benzodiazepines.

You have to be lucky to get benzos, as doctors are usually reluctant to prescribe them because of their addictive potential.

Another thing I'd like to add about libido is that SSRIs can also cause a long-term loss of libido even after taking them (Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction). But as someone already mentioned, it very much depends on the person.

 

[Romanticize]

Actually, some doctors prescribe benzos, especially at the start of depression treatment. Because SSRIs need 3-4 weeks of constant dosings to start working, so to manage symptoms (especially the depressions with general anxiety disorder), they prescribe benzos. But they give you 1-3 packs only, after 3-4 weeks it would be hard to get it from same doc, unless you go doctor shopping. Of course they give small doses and low acting benzo usually, like diazepam, but you just accumulate them. Doesn't matter what dose you get (it can be counterfeited by more pills) so a benzo is a benzo,

And as kamyzyak said, he's on point - SSRIs are of no help in CTB. They don't even come close to benzos. Don't try to OD on SSRIs, all you can get is serotonin syndrome which is very unpleasant and it almost never ends in death.

 

[kamyzyak]

Actually, some doctors prescribe benzos, especially at the start of depression treatment. Because SSRIs need 3-4 weeks of constant dosings to start working, so to manage symptoms (especially the depressions with general anxiety disorder), they prescribe benzos.

Yeah anxiolytics at the beginning of antidepressant treatment is pretty common, so you could try to complain about increased anxiety, it's a frequent side effect in the first few weeks of taking SSRIs. Though whether a doctor will prescribe benzos really depends on the doctor himself and the country you live in. For example in Russia it's nearly impossible to buy benzos or get a prescription for them (but phenobarbital is otc here lol), and psychiatrists will prescribe antihistamines instead (like hydroxyzine).

 

[Bad Ending]

SSRIs can cause genital numbness, libido loss, anorgasmia, anhedonia as well as cognitive issues, that can be permanent even if you stop taking them. They are neurotoxic