Paxil

Paxil is an antidepressant drug under the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) group that is used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Instructions:

Read your medication guide and follow your prescription label at all times.

• Take paroxetine by mouth/orally, once a day every morning or depending on your doctor’s prescription.
• Do not break, chew or crush sustained- release tablet of paroxetine to prevent releasing the content all at one time, which may intensify the side effects of this medication.
• Use a standard medicine cup/ spoon (not household spoon) to obtain accurate amount for each dose if you are using the liquid form. Shake the bottle properly before use for suspension preparation of paroxetine.
• The dosage depends on your medical condition, weight or treatment response. Do not adjust your dose without your doctor’s recommendation.
• Continue taking paroxetine on a regular schedule (at the same time of the day). Do not stop taking paroxetine abruptly without consulting your doctor to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

Inform your doctor immediately if your condition worsens or does not improve.

Take your missed dose as soon as possible. The time interval between doses must not be too close. Otherwise, stick with the regular schedule and leave out the missed dose. Avoid taking a double dose to cover up a missed dose. Record your missed doses and inform your doctor immediately if you missed several doses.

Interactions:

Paxil may interact with:

• Warfarin
• Cimetidine
• Fentanyl
• Fosamprenavir
• St. John’s wort
• Tamoxifen
• Theophylline
• Tramadol
• Tryptophan
• Heart disease medications (i.e. digoxin, quinidine)
• Antidepressant drugs (i.e. fluoxetine, sertraline)
• Antipsychotic drugs (i.e. chlorpromazine) and
• Almotriptan.

Some drugs may either lessen the beneficial effects or worsen the side effects of paroxetine. Likewise, paroxetine may make some drugs less efficient or intensify their side effects.

Make sure to inform your doctor about all other drugs you are currently taking or using (prescribed and non-prescribed medications including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products) to check for possible drug interaction with paroxetine.

Never alter the dose of other medications while on paroxetine neither stop nor start any medicine without the doctor’s recommendation.

Side Effects:

There are no side effects known aside from a possible allergic reaction in people who have previous or unknown hypersensitivity to the drug.

Watch out for signs of allergic reactions such as:

• Rash
• Itching
• Swelling

Warnings:

Before taking Paxil, tell your health care provider if you have/are:

• Any allergies to any substance, food or medication, particularly to paroxetine
• Medical history or a present condition such as:
  • Kidney or liver disease
  • Bleeding or blood clotting problem
  • Seizure
  • Glaucoma
  • Mental disorder (i.e. bipolar disorder)
  • Drug dependence or abuse
  • Suicidal attempts or ideas

• Pregnant, planning to get pregnant or currently breastfeeding a baby (Paroxetine can harm the unborn child and it passes through breast milk that may harm the nursing child. The risks and benefits of using this medication during pregnancy must be discussed well with your doctor.)