Generic Paxil - paroxetine - is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used to treat depression, panic, attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), social anxiety disorder (social phobia) and generalized anxiety disorders (GAD). Paxil may also be used to treat severe premenstrual syndrome (PMDD), sexual problems in men (premature ejaculation), nerve problems associated with diabetes, chronic headaches, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).


 

FAQ

How does Paxil work?
Paxil is an anti-depressant drug that affects the chemicals that nerves in the brain use to communicate with one another. These chemical messengers, called neurotransmitters, are released by one nerve and taken up by other nerves. Neurotransmitters that are released but not taken up by other nerves are taken up by the nerves that release them ("reuptake"). Many experts believe that it is an imbalance among the amounts of the different neurotransmitters that are released that causes depression. Paroxetine works by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin by the nerves that release it, an action which allows more serotonin to be available to be taken up by other nerves. Paroxetine is in a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a class that also contains fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft).

How to use Paxil
Take Paxil or generic Paxil by mouth usually once daily in the morning, with or without food; or as directed by your doctor. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. It is important to continue taking Paroxetine as prescribed even if you feel well. It may take up to several weeks before the full benefit of Paxil takes effect.

Doses for obsessive- compulsive disorders and panic disorders are often higher than those for depression. Doses often are adjusted to find the optimal dose. Elderly patients, debilitated persons, and patients with certain kidney or liver diseases may need lower doses because they metabolize and eliminate paroxetine more slowly and, therefore, are prone to develop high blood levels.

Paxil side effects
Side effects of Paxil, that may go away during treatment, include nervousness, trouble sleeping, headache, drowsiness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, dry mouth, sweating, dizziness, lightheadedness, muscle spasms, or changes in sexual function. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.

Withdrawal reactions have been reported upon withdrawing SSRI's after an average of 12 to 36 weeks of treatment with Paxil, but after as few as 5 weeks. Although most authorities have recommended that treatment be discontinued by tapering the SSRI (by gradually reducing the dose of Paxil), symptoms have occurred despite tapering. Symptoms generally appear within a few days of discontinuing Paroxetine and persist for an average of 12 days (up to 21 days). They are relieved within 24 hours by re-administering the medication that was discontinued.

Paxil and pregnancy
Preliminary results of a recent study about Paxil conducted by GlaxoSmithKline, suggest there may be a small increase in the risk of birth defects, compared to other antidepressants, in babies whose mother took paroxetine in the first trimester of pregnancy. Specifically, increased risk was reported for overall frequency of birth defects, and in the frequency of heart-related defects. Of the heart-related defects reported, the majority were ventricular septal defects (holes in the muscular wall that separates the right and left ventricles of the heart). This is a common type of birth defect that can spontaneously occur, and the vast majority of cases are mild and spontaneously reverse within a few years after birth. The majority of babies born to women taking paroxetine in this study were born healthy.