ME/CFS fatigue, only able to work and lie in bed, improved on paroxetine then relapsed
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 3 months
- Last post
- Nov 2025
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
I had immense fatigue where all I could do was go to work and lie in bed and cry
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
all I could do was go to work and lie in bed and cry
In context ↗ - Now: Relapsed
Now after a month of that, it’s all gone. I made no changes but my energy is gone
In context ↗
Read from 1 of their posts and comments; links to the one this page draws on
Summary
After switching from long-term sertraline to paroxetine, the user had over a month of immense fatigue, able only to work and lie in bed, and developed pulsatile tinnitus that persisted. After over a month, the paroxetine began working, giving energy for several activities a day without constant naps. A month later the benefit vanished with no change, leaving them needing a nap after walking to the kitchen.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- sertraline · Not said
after being on sertraline for years
In context ↗ - paroxetine (Paxil) · Helped a lot
After over a month of torture, the Paxil finally started working
In context ↗
Approaches: SSRIs
Their path
How ill they were on the ME/CFS severity scale, estimated from what they describe at each point, with time counted from when the illness began. Hover or tap a point. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | switched from long-term sertraline to paroxetine; immense fatigue, only work and bedI had immense fatigue where all I could do was go to work and lie in bed and cryIn context ↗ | Mild |
| after over a month on paroxetine | Paxil began working; energy for several activities a day, did things that made them happyAfter over a month of torture, the Paxil finally started working ... I had the energy to do multiple things in a day without needing constant naps.In context ↗ | Mild |
| a month later | benefit wore off with no changes made; energy gone againNow after a month of that, it’s all gone.In context ↗ | Mild |
| 2025-11-03 | still exhausted; needs a nap after small tasks like making coffeemy energy is gone and I need to nap after simply going to the kitchen and getting coffeeIn context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- Sertraline (Zoloft), Paroxetine (Paxil)“I went through the worst side effects ever. I had immense fatigue where all I could do was go to work and lie in bed and cry.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Sertraline (Zoloft), Paroxetine (Paxil)“I developed pulsatile tinnitus which has not gone away.” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Tinnitus
I developed pulsatile tinnitus which has not gone away.
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
I could wake up and not want to die
In context ↗
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