Paxil Helps Treat the Following Conditions:

Depression

Depression is a mood disorder that manifests in feelings of tiredness, loss of interest, sleep disturbances, and anxiety. People with depression often have trouble carrying out everyday activities and may feel like life is not worth living. The condition may require long-term treatment involving medications and psychotherapy.

Panic Attacks

A panic attack is an abrupt episode of anxiety and fear. Besides the strong negative emotions, people often feel a host of physical symptoms: sweating, trembling, heart palpitations, nausea, feelings of choking, and chest pain. Symptoms can be so overwhelming that people may have to be rushed to the emergency room. Patients can use a number of methods like therapy, stress-reduction techniques, lifestyle changes, and medications – to treat panic attacks.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common mental health disorder. Examples of compulsions include cleaning or washing hands excessively, arranging things in specific ways, and checking on things repeatedly. These behaviors are subconsciously used to counteract anxiety, and the person engaged in them cannot control them.

Common obsessions include fear of germs, losing control, and imperfection. Certain medications and/or therapy can help treat people with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorder is an umbrella term for a number of mental illnesses which can affect a person’s ability to lead a productive life. Examples of anxiety disorders include panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and various phobias.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health problem which arises following a particularly stressful event. Common triggers include combat situations, physical or sexual assault, and accidents. Symptoms of PTSD can include severe anxiety, sleep disturbances, and flashbacks of the event.

Marketed Internationally as Seroxat

In some countries, Paxil is sold under the brand name Seroxat.

Paxil Active Ingredient

Generic Paxil Alternative: Paroxetine Hydrochloride

Generic alternatives to Paxil are not yet available on this website.

Paxil contains the active ingredient paroxetine, which belongs to a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Paroxetine helps to restore the balance of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain.

General Drug Information

What is Paxil and What Is It Used For?

Paxil is prescribed to patients who suffer from mood and mental disorders such as depression, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Patients are likely to experience improved mood, sleep, appetite, and energy levels. Paxil may decrease negative symptoms like fear, anxiety, and unwanted thoughts. It may also help to reduce the number of panic attacks and urge to perform repeated compulsive tasks (e.g. hand-washing, counting, checking) that interfere with daily living.

Usage and Application

Before buying Paxil online, please read the medication guide provided by your doctor or pharmacist. Inform your doctor and pharmacist about all prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs, and herbal products.

Paxil should be taken by mouth, with or without food, as prescribed by a doctor. Most patients are prescribed one daily dose to be taken in the morning. Dosage depends on the patient’s age, medical condition, response to treatment, and other medications they may be taking.

To reduce the risk of side effects, the treating physician may direct a patient to start Paxil at a low dose and increase the dose gradually. Patients should follow their doctor's instructions carefully. Do not increase your dose or use Paxil more often or for longer than prescribed. Your condition will not improve faster, and your risk of negative side effects will increase.

Some patients may find that taking Paxil with food decreases nausea. Those who experience sleepiness during the day should talk to their doctor about taking Paxil in the evening.

It is necessary to take Paxil regularly in order to experience its full benefit. To prevent forgetting, patients are advised to take this medication at the same time each day. It may take up to several weeks before patients experience the full benefit of Paxil.

As per the manufacturer’s directions, patients should not to chew or crush Paxil tablets before taking them. However, many other immediate-release tablets can be chewed or crushed. Patients should ask their doctor or pharmacist for more details.

Women taking Paxil for premenstrual problems may be directed to take the medication every day of the month, or for the two weeks prior to the period and the first full day of menstruation.

Patients should continue taking Paxil even if they feel well. Stopping this medication should only happen under the guidance of the treating physician.

Some conditions may worsen – or a number of negative symptoms may occur – when Paxil is stopped suddenly: mood swings, headache, tiredness, sleep changes, and brief sensations that are similar to electric shock.

To prevent such symptoms, a patient may be directed to reduce their dose gradually. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details and report any new or worsening symptoms immediately.

Considerations Before Taking Paxil

If you buy Paxil online, note that you may encounter the drug under its generic name paroxetine hydrochloride.

Before starting treatment patients need to discuss the possibility of allergic reactions to Paxil. It is also important to discuss the patient’s medical history, especially seizures, liver problems, kidney problems, and low levels of sodium in the blood. Patients should mention any bleeding problems or intestinal ulcers (e.g. peptic ulcer disease).

The treating physician should be alerted in the event the patient has a personal or family history of angle-closure glaucoma, suicide attempts, or bipolar/manic-depressive disorder.

Paxil may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or blurred vision. Alcohol and marijuana can exacerbate this effect. While taking this medication, patients should not drive, use machinery, or perform other tasks requiring alertness or clear vision until they are in condition to do so safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages and discuss marijuana use with your doctor.

Patients preparing for surgery or certain dental procedures should inform their doctor or dentist about all medicines, supplements, and herbal products they are taking.

Older adults taking Paxil are likely to be more sensitive to certain negative side effects, especially bleeding and loss of coordination, which increases the risk of falling. Older adults may also be more likely to develop hyponatremia with those taking diuretics being especially at risk.

Children may be more sensitive to Paxil side effects like loss of appetite and weight loss. Parents or caregivers should monitor the weight and height of children taking Paxil.

Paxil is not recommended for use during pregnancy as it may harm an unborn baby. Women who are planning pregnancy – or think they may be pregnant – should inform their doctor right away.

Babies born to mothers who have used Paxil during the last trimester of pregnancy may sometimes develop withdrawal symptoms: feeding difficulties, breathing difficulties, seizures, muscle stiffness, and constant crying.

Untreated mental problems like depression, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety can also harm a pregnant woman and her unborn baby. This is why women should not stop taking Paxil unless directed to do so by their doctor. Pregnant women should ask their doctor whether a different medication may be a better fit.

Paxil passes into breast milk. Mothers should consult their doctor before they begin breastfeeding.

Delayed and Omitted Doses

Patients who miss a dose of Paxil should take it as soon as they remember. If this happens near the time for the next dose, patients should skip the missed dose and proceed as usual. Patients should not double their dose to catch up.

Other Medications and Paxil

Drug interactions may change the way Paxil and its generic alternative work, therefore increasing the risk of side effects. Before starting treatment, patients need to discuss all medications and supplements they are taking with their doctor. Patients should not change their dose or stop taking Paxil unless their physician advises them to do so.

Some medications – like the antipsychotic medication thioridazine – may interact negatively with Paxil.

Paxil increases the risk of bruising and bleeding and should not be taken with other medicines that have the same effect. Examples include the antiplatelet drug clopidogrel (Plavix), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, and blood thinners like warfarin (Coumadin).

Aspirin increases the risk of bleeding when used with Paxil. However, patients taking low doses of aspirin to prevent heart attack or stroke should continue doing so. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

Paxil may slow the removal of certain medications from the body, affecting how they work. Examples include the antipsychotic drugs pimozide (Orap) and risperidone (Risperdal), atomoxetine (Strattera) prescribed to treat attention deficit disorder, and tetrabenazine (Xenazine), which indicated for the treatment of involuntary movements. Phenothiazine antipsychotics and the breast cancer drug tamoxifen (eg. Nolvadex) are additional examples.

Paxil affects the function of certain antiarrhythmic medicines (e.g. propafenone, flecainide) and TCA antidepressants (e.g. desipramine, amitriptyline).

Patients who take Paxil with MAO inhibitors may experience serious, possibly fatal drug interactions. These can include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, safinamide, selegiline, and tranylcypromine. Most MAO inhibitors should not be taken two weeks before – and two weeks after – treatment with Paxil. Ask your doctor when it is safe to start or stop taking Paxil.

Taking Paxil with other drugs that increase serotonin (e.g. tryptophan) can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome. Examples include antidepressants like citalopram, fluoxetine, duloxetine, and venlafaxine.

The herb St. John's wort and street drugs (e.g. MDMA, ecstasy) may also cause serotonin syndrome when taken with Paxil. The risk of serotonin syndrome is higher when patients first start treatment or when their dosage is increased.

Patients should inform their doctor if they use other products which cause drowsiness. Antihistamines (e.g. cetirizine, diphenhydramine), alcohol, marijuana, and drugs for sleep and anxiety (e.g. alprazolam, lorazepam, zolpidem) all have similar effects.

Muscle relaxants and narcotic pain relievers like codeine may also cause drowsiness. Patients should check the labels of all allergy and cough-and-cold products for ingredients that may cause drowsiness, and discuss the safe use of such products with their pharmacist.

Paxil may interfere with certain laboratory tests which can possibly cause false results, especially with brain scans for Parkinson's disease. Patients should inform laboratory personnel and all their doctors that they are using Paxil.

Adverse Reactions

Most patients are able to use Paxil safely without serious side effects.

Common side effects include nausea, drowsiness, dizziness, trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, weakness, dry mouth, sweating, and blurred vision. Tell your doctor should any of these side effects persist or worsen.

It is important to inform the treating physician about serious side effects like tremor, seizures, restlessness, muscle spasms, decreased sex drive, and changes in sexual ability. Patients should also monitor for numbness, tingling, easy bruising and/or bleeding, and irregular heartbeat.

Seek immediate medical attention in the event of very serious side effects: enlarged pupils, redness and/or swelling of the eyes, black stools, and vomit that looks like coffee grounds. Vision changes (e.g. seeing rainbows around lights at night) should be reported to the treating physician immediately.

Paxil may increase serotonin levels. In rare cases, this can cause a very serious condition known as serotonin syndrome. The risk increases in patients who take other serotonin-increasing drugs. Seek immediate medical attention in the event of the following symptoms: hallucinations, fast heartbeat, loss of coordination, severe dizziness, severe nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, twitching muscles, unexplained fever, and unusual agitation.

In rare cases, some male patients may experience a painful or prolonged erection which lasts four or more hours. If this occurs, patients should stop using Paxil and seek immediate medical help. Failure to do so can result in permanent problems.

Serious allergic reactions to Paxil are rare, yet patients should be aware of symptoms including rash, itching, and swelling (tongue/throat), severe dizziness, and trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. Patients who notice other effects not listed above should contact their doctor or pharmacist.

How to Store Paxil

Paxil should be stored at room temperature, away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep away from children and pets.

Unwanted medication should be disposed of properly and should not be poured into drains or flushed down the toilet. Patients should consult a pharmacist or their local waste disposal company to find out more about safe disposal methods.