"i was struck with crippling anxiety and panic attacks when i was 20, i am now 37.i was prescribed paxil and started on 20 mg. stayed on the med for 6 months. it didn&#039;t do anything for me but make me a robot, phased out of my own life and like i was just on auto pilot. i informed my doctor that i wanted to opt out and that i didn&#039;t want to try any other meds. so i dropped to 10 mg for two weeks, then 5 mg and off. the reason why i am writing this after 17 years is because i started having abnormal heart beats, tachycardia, while getting off of the med, as soon as i dropped to 10mg. even though i got through the anxiety and am completely free today, the tachycardia remains. there are much safer options today."