Paxil and Paxil CR (paroxetine hcl) for
Depression.
The following information is intended to supplement, not
substitute, the expertise and judgment of your physician,
pharmacist or other healthcare professional. It should not be
construed to indicate that using Paxil or Paxil CR is safe or
appropriate for you.
People seeking depression relief should carefully evaluate Paxil
information and side effects before deciding to take Paxil.
Consult your healthcare professional before using Paxil.
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What are Paxil and Paxil CR used for? Paxil is in a class
of drugs called select serotonin reuptake
inhibitors (SSRI). Paxil is an antidepressant medication used
to relieve symptoms of depression, generalized anxiety disorder
and social anxiety disorder (social phobia), obsessive-compulsive
disorders, panic attacks, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and
premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Paxil CR
(controlled-release) is used to treat depression and panic
attacks.
General Paxil and Paxil CR Precautions:
_ Paxil may cause dizziness. If you experience dizziness, avoid
driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous
activities.
_ Rise slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position to
prevent dizziness or possible falls.
_ Do not take Paxil if you have taken a monoamine oxidase
inhibitor (MAOI) within the last 14 days. A dangerous drug
interaction can occur if paroxetine hcl is combined with MAO
inhibitors.
_ Dangerous, even fatal, irregular heartbeats may occur if
paroxetine hcl is taken with thioridazine. You must wait 5 weeks
after stopping paroxetine hcl before taking thioridazine.
_ It is not known whether Paxil will harm an unborn baby or a
nursing baby.
_ Paxil may impair judgment, thinking, or motor skills. Patients
using paroxetine hcl should exercise caution until they have
adapted to therapy.
_ If you skip the missed dose and take only the next one as
directed. Do not take a double dose of Paxil. Overdose is
possible.
FDA Warnings for paroxetine hcl: The FDA issued a public
health alert for Paxil in March 2004 warning that paroxetine hcl
can lead to deeper depression and suicide. The FDA recommends that
health care providers warn patients, their families and their
caregivers to be alert for agitation, irritability, suicide and
worsening depression while using Paxil. The FDA also recommends
that health care providers closely monitor adult and children
treated with paroxetine hcl for worsening of depression or
suicidal tendencies, especially at the beginning of therapy or
when the dose either increases or decreases.
The FDA issued a Public Health Advisory in October 2003 about
increased reports of suicidal thinking, suicide attempts,
hostility and self-harm in children using Paxil. The FDA urges
that Paxil be used with caution in children. Parents of children
using Paxil should consult the prescribing physician immediately
to discuss the suicide risks involved in taking Paxil.
It should be noted that the safety and effectiveness of Paxil in
pediatric patients has not been established. In clinical trials,
only Prozac (fluoxetine) has been found effective for children.
Paxil can cause serious side effects.
Weight gain and
sexual side effects
are common Paxil side effects.
Less common but life threatening is the
increased risk of suicide.
Addiction and subsequent withdrawal
symptoms are also serious Paxil side effects. Paxil has been
linked to Parkinson’s Disease and drug-induced stuttering.
Only you can decide if Paxil is the best means
of treating depression symptoms. It is important for people
currently taking Paxil to discuss side effect concerns with their
physician. People wishing to avoid the side effects of
pharmaceutical antidepressants have choices for safe and effective
natural antidepressants.
Paxil and Paxil CR Side Effects:
_ Agitation.
_ Irritability.
_ Deepened depression.
_ Increased risk of suicide.
_ Difficulty urinating or frequent urination.
_ Ejaculation problems.
_ Impotence.
_ Changes in sex drive or ability.
_ Difficulty reaching orgasm.
_ Decreased libido.
_ Upset stomach.
_ Drowsiness.
_ Weakness.
_ Anxiety.
_ Insomnia or sleeplessness.
_ Changes in appetite or weight.
_ Headache.
_ Constipation.
_ Blurred vision.
_ Nightmares.
_ Anorexia.
_ Dry mouth.
_ Sensitivity to sunlight.
_ Excessive sweating.
_ Tremors.
_ Fever.
_ Severe skin rash.
_ Irregular heartbeat.
_ Increase in blood cholesterol levels.
_ Jaw, neck, and back muscle spasms.
_ Slow or difficult speech.
_ Shuffling walk.
Contact your doctor immediately if you experience:
An allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat;
swelling of the lips, face, or tongue; or hives). Stop taking
Paxil and contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency
medical treatment if you also experience a fast or irregular
heartbeat, jaw, neck or back muscle spasms, shuffling walk, slow
or difficult speech, persistent fine tremor or inability to sit
still, fever or severe skin rash. Contact your doctor immediately
if you experience yellowing of the skin or eyes.
Before taking Paxil or Paxil CR, tell your doctor if you have
or ever had:
_ Seizures.
_ Liver disease.
_ Kidney disease.
_ Heart disease.
_ High blood pressure.
_ Suicidal thoughts.
_ Glaucoma.
_ Bleeding or blood clotting problems.
_ Enlarged prostate.
_ Difficulty urinating.
_ An overactive thyroid gland.
What should I avoid while taking Paxil or Paxil CR?
_ Use alcohol cautiously while taking Paxil. Alcohol may increase
drowsiness and dizziness.
_ Cigarette smoking and tobacco products may decrease the
effectiveness of this drug.
_ Paxil may make your skin sensitive to sunlight. Avoid
unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight.
Symptoms of overdose may include: Symptoms of a Paxil
overdose include dizziness, numbness, drowsiness, coma, nausea,
vomiting, tremors, rapid pounding or irregular heartbeats,
seizures, blurred vision, hallucinations and unconsciousness.
What other drugs will affect paroxetine hcl? Paxil can
increase the effects of many other drugs, leading to serious side
effects. If taking Paxil, talk to your doctor and pharmacist
before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines. Do
not take paroxetine hcl with the following medicines without your
doctor’s approval:
_ Benzodiazepine such as diazepam, alprazolam, chlordiazepoxide,
clorazepate, temazepam or triazolam.
_ Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI).
_ Other antidepressants.
_ Phenothiazine such as chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, mesoridazine,
perphenazine prochlorperazine.
_ Warfarin.
_ Lithium.
_ Seizure medications containing carbamazepine (Tegretol) or
phenytoin (Dilantin).
_ Thioridazine.
_ Rizatriptan.
_ Zolmitriptan.
_ Theophylline.
_ Cisapride.
_ Pimozide.
_ Almotriptan.
_ Frovatriptan.
_ Sumatriptan.
_ Naratriptan.
_ Digoxin.
_ Cimetidine.
_ Drugs other than the above listed may also interact with Paxil.
Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription,
over-the-counter medicines or natural supplements.
*This antidepressant drug
information does not endorse Paxil, diagnose patients or
recommend therapy. The information contained herein is not
intended to cover all possible warnings, uses, precautions, drug
interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse side effects of Paxil.
If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with
your health care provider or pharmacist. The information provided
should not be construed to indicate that Paxil is safe, effective
or appropriate.
Do not stop taking Paxil without first talking to your doctor.
Your doctor may need to gradually reduce the dose before stopping
Paxil completely. Suddenly stopping paroxetine hcl may cause
unpleasant and potentially serious side effects.