INDICATIONS
Paxil is used for treating depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It may be used to treat panic disorder or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It may also be used to treat generalized anxiety disorder or social anxiety disorder. Paxil is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It works by restoring the balance of serotonin, a natural substance in the brain, which helps to improve certain mood problems. Judging by the dynamics of online sales Paxil is quite popular and its only competitor is another bupropion-based drug called wellbutrin. If you would like to know how to get wellbutrin prescription online, you can read it on our website.
INSTRUCTIONS
Use Paxil as directed by your doctor.
- Take Paxil by mouth with or without food.
- Swallow Paxil whole. Do not break, crush, or chew before swallowing.
- Taking Paxil at the same time each day will help you remember to take it.
- Continue to take Paxil even if you feel well. Do not miss any dose.
- Do not suddenly stop taking Paxil without checking with your doctor. Side effects may occur. They may include mental or mood changes, numbness or tingling of the skin, dizziness, confusion, headache, trouble sleeping, or unusual tiredness. You will be closely monitored when you start Paxil and whenever a change in dose is made.
- If you miss a dose of Paxil, take it as soon as possible. If it almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Paxil.
STORAGE
Store Paxil at room temperature, between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Paxil out of the reach of children and away from pets.
MORE INFO:
Active Ingredient: Paroxetine hydrochloride.
Do NOT use Paxil if:
- you are allergic to any ingredient in Paxil
- you are taking or have taken linezolid, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) (eg, phenelzine), selegiline, or St. John's wort within the last 14 days
- you are taking a fenfluramine derivative (eg, dexfenfluramine), nefazodone, pimozide, a serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) (eg, venlafaxine), another SSRI (eg, fluoxetine), sibutramine, thioridazine, or tryptophan.
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Some medical conditions may interact with Paxil. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
- if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
- if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
- if you or a family member has a history of bipolar disorder (manic-depression), other mental or mood problems, suicidal thoughts or attempts, or alcohol or substance abuse
- if you have a history of seizures, heart problems, liver problems, severe kidney problems, stomach or bowel bleeding, narrow-angle glaucoma, diabetes, or metabolism problems
- if you are dehydrated, have low blood sodium levels, or drink alcohol
- if you will be having electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
Some medicines may interact with Paxil. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
- Anorexiants (eg, phentermine), cimetidine, fenfluramine derivatives (eg, dexfenfluramine), linezolid, lithium, MAOIs (eg, phenelzine), metoclopramide, nefazodone, selegiline, serotonin 5-HT1 receptor agonists (eg, sumatriptan), sibutramine, SNRIs (eg, venlafaxine), another SSRI (eg, fluoxetine), St. John's wort, tramadol, trazodone, or tryptophan because severe side effects, such as a reaction that may include fever, rigid muscles, blood pressure changes, mental changes, confusion, irritability, agitation, delirium, or coma, may occur
- Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), aspirin, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (eg, ibuprofen) because the risk of bleeding, including stomach bleeding, may be increased
- Diuretics (eg, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide) because the risk of low blood sodium levels may be increased
- Antiarrhythmics (eg, flecainide, propafenone, quinidine), H1 antagonists (eg, astemizole, terfenadine), or phenothiazines (eg, chlorpromazine, thioridazine) because severe heart problems, including irregular heartbeat, may occur
- Cyproheptadine, HIV protease inhibitors (eg, ritonavir), phenobarbital, or phenytoin because they may decrease Paxil's effectiveness
- Aripiprazole, atomoxetine, clozapine, fluoxetine, pimozide, procyclidine, risperidone, theophylline, or tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline) because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Paxil
- Digoxin or tamoxifen because their effectiveness may be decreased by Paxil.
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Paxil may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
Important safety information:
- Paxil may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Paxil with caution. Do not drive or perform other possible unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
- Do not drink alcohol while you are taking Paxil.
- Check with your doctor before you use medicines that may cause drowsiness (eg, sleep aids, muscle relaxers) while you are using Paxil; it may add to their effects. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines may cause drowsiness.
- Several weeks may pass before your symptoms improve. Do NOT take more than the recommended dose, change your dose, or use Paxil for longer than prescribed without checking with your doctor.
- Children, teenagers, and young adults who take Paxil may be at increased risk for suicidal thoughts or actions. Closely watch all patients who take Paxil. Contact the doctor at once if new, worsened, or sudden symptoms such as depressed mood; anxious, restless, or irritable behavior; panic attacks; or any unusual change in mood or behavior occur. Contact the doctor right away if any signs of suicidal thoughts or actions occur.
- If your doctor tells you to stop taking Paxil, you will need to wait for several weeks before beginning to take certain other medicines (eg, MAOIs, nefazodone). Ask your doctor when you should start to take your new medicines after you have stopped taking Paxil.
- Paxil may rarely cause a prolonged, painful erection. This could happen even when you are not having sex. If this is not treated right away, it could lead to permanent sexual problems such as impotence. Contact your doctor right away if this happens.
- Serotonin syndrome is a possibly fatal syndrome that can be caused by Paxil. Your risk may be greater if you take Paxil with certain other medicines (eg, "triptans," MAOIs). Symptoms may include agitation; confusion; hallucinations; coma; fever; fast or irregular heartbeat; tremor; excessive sweating; and nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Contact your doctor at once if you have any of these symptoms.
- Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a possibly fatal syndrome that can be caused by Paxil. Your risk may be greater if Paxil is used with certain other medicines called antipsychotics (eg, aripiprazole, risperidone). Symptoms may be similar to serotonin syndrome and may include fever, rigid muscles, blood pressure changes, and mental changes. Contact your doctor at once if you have any of these symptoms.
- Use Paxil with caution in the elderly; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially low blood sodium levels.
- Caution is advised when using Paxil in children; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially increased risk of suicidal thoughts and actions.
- Paxil may cause weight changes. Children and teenagers may need regular weight and growth checks while they take Paxil.
- Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Paxil may cause harm to the fetus. If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Paxil while you are pregnant. Paxil is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Paxil, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.
Aware of first is that all patients who are starting these types of medications must be monitored closely for any signs of worsening of depression as well as the appearance of suicidal ideation.
These thoughts are more common in younger individuals, however can happen in any population, especially when there's a change in dose.
Whether that be an increase in dose or a decrease in dose SSRIs in general may impair a patient's ability to perform hazardous tasks such as operating heavy machinery or driving an automobile so the best practice would be not to perform these tasks until the patient has an understanding of how the medication makes them feel because paroxetine does affect serotonin levels.
If somebody was using this medication with other medications that also affect serotonin levels, this could put the patient at an increased risk of experiencing serotonin syndrome.
Paroxetine is one of the three SSRIs that can displace highly protein down medications so if you're using a medication that is highly protein bound you can expect higher plasma concentrations of that medication.
Rockstein is also one of the SSRIs, it does have an effect on the cytochrome p450 system so this can cause a problem with certain medications in terms of drug interactions.
And finally as a rule of thumb we generally try to give the lowest possible effective dose to individuals who have kidney and liver problems.
Check with your doctor if any of these most common side effects persist or become bothersome:
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider.
Our guest star for this article is Garrett Campbell, a pharmacist living in Sydney, Nova Scotia. He has seriously edited and reworked the text of this article. You may also like to review his "Paroxetine Pharmacist Review", it can be interesting because you can see the medication from pharmacist's point of view.