Paxil and intolerance to heat

I had never associated my intolerance to heat with my Paxil medication till reading the recent post by a new member here mentioning this regarding a similar medication.
I just did a Google search and found that there is evidence that this is a common symptom of people on antidepressants! Who knew???? Not me...I just thought it was my aging that was causing it. Now I suspect differently since other people my age (56) have no such problems.
I've been taking antidepressants for 15 or so years, now on 40 mg. of Paxil daily. My intolerance to heat has resulted in a lot of lifestyle changes...not walking or working outside in warm/hot weather, keeping fan near me at school and at grad school studio art classes, cancelling my participation in art fairs several years ago when I became so ill from the heat! Ah ha!! Now I see that the medication may be the cause of this.
I keep my house unusually cool, even cold, especially at night as I cannot sleep if it is the least bit warm. Wondering if I should cut back or even wean off the medication.
Patty

I feel your pain. I have the same side effect from Nardil. It makes it very difficult when I visit family in Florida, because they are used to the heat (they even turn on the furnace when it gets below 65!!!), and I'm usually dripping with sweat.

I don't have much in the way of advice. I tried lowering my Nardil dose recently in order to better cope with summer, but I had to bring it back up because I started getting more depressed. So I try to always have a fan blowing, though my husband hates feeling air blowing on him, so this is always a challenge. I also try to take cooler showers, otherwise I end up sweating again before I manage to get dressed. And I save my outdoor chores for early morning or end of the day whenever possible.

But it's hateful. I'm sorry you experience it, too.

gg

Well, my gosh, GG! I didn't even realize it was a side effect till today! Been dealing with it for several years now and never thought of it or thought it was related to my med.
Thanks for sharing your experience. This is helpful to know that others are having similar symptoms. Yes, it's a *****!
Patty

Hello. I've heard of the heat intolerance problem from a friend who was on a tricyclic. I've actually had the opposite problem. When I took Celexa, I could not get warm. It was winter and no amount of clothing helped. It was unlivable. I suspect abilify makes me a little chilly too, but not as bad as Celexa did.

rockgal

my AD affects me the same way AND i moved to a hotter state!
my Pdoc told me it was going to happen and i didn't believe it, totally......i do now! talk about fans and cross-air and such. and with electricity so expensive, you have to be very inventive so the bills won't run up.........xoxoxo pat