"i was prescribed paxil for situational depression that was pretty severe, merging on ptsd. (i went through a really bad relationship breakup that was traumatic) i also had gad (general anxiety). i took paxil for about 8 weeks. it started working right away and i felt so much better i&#039;d say within a day or two. i slept better and woke in the morning without massive anxiety and intrusive thoughts and my depression began to lift. but i gained a whopping 20 pounds in the 8 weeks i was on paxil. it was so awful that i had the doctor wean me off of it . i thought once it was out of my system that the weight would slowly come off but it didn&#039;t - i gained another 10 lbs. i think paxil messes with your metabolism. will never take it again."