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Paxil (Paroxetine) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant.
Paxil (Paroxetine) is the most potent and one of the most specific selective serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). This activity of the drug on brain neurons is thought to be responsible for its antidepressant effects.
Paxil (Paroxetine) is a phenylpiperidine derivative which is chemically unrelated to the tricyclic or tetracyclic antidepressants. In receptor binding studies, Paxil (Paroxetine) did not exhibit significant affinity for the adrenergic (?1, ?2, ?), dopaminergic, serotonergic (5HT1, 5HT2), or histamine receptors of rat brain membrane. A weak affinity for the muscarinic acetylcholine and noradrenaline receptors was evident. The predominant metabolites of Paxil (Paroxetine) are essentially inactive as 5-HT reuptake inhibitors.
Side effects
General side effects are mostly present during the first 1-4 weeks while the body adapts to the drug. Almost all SSRIs are known to cause either one or more of these symptoms. A person receiving Paxil (Paroxetine) treatment may experience a few, all, or none of the following side-effects, and most side-effects will disappear or lessen with continued treatment, though some may last throughout the duration. Side effects are also often dose-dependent, with fewer and/or less severe symptoms being reported at lower dosages, and more and/or more severe symptoms being reported at higher dosages. Increases or changes in dosage may also cause symptoms to reappear or worsen.
9 December 2004 European Medicines Agency (EMEA), i.e. the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), informed patients, prescribers and parents that Paxil (Paroxetine) should not be prescribed to children. CHMP gave a warning to prescribers recommending close monitoring of adult patients at high risk of suicidal behaviour and/or suicidal thoughts. In other words, CHMP does not prohibit use of Paxil (Paroxetine) with adults but stresses extreme caution in actual usage. Also withdrawal reactions upon stopping treatment is mentioned and therefore it is recommended to gradually reduce the dose over several weeks or months if decision of withdrawal is made.
Most common
- Weight loss or gain (most often gain rather than loss)
- Headache
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Increased sweating
- Drowsiness/Somnolence or Insomnia
- Increased or decreased appetite
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Inability to achieve orgasm
- Partial or complete loss of libido (sexual desire)
- Erectile dysfunction
- Tremor
- Vertigo/Dizziness/Motion sickness
Less common
Check with your doctor if these continue or are bothersome.
- Increased feelings of depression and anxiety (initially)
- Apathy
- Loss of empathy
- Flattening of emotional response
- Nocturnal salivation
- Nocturnal bruxism (teeth grinding)
- Pupil dilation
- Asthenia or muscle weakness
- Muscle ache
- Pruritis
- Rash
- Nightmares or change in dreams
- Change in sense of taste
Rare
See your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.
- Myoclonus (involuntary muscle twitching)
- Sodium depletion
- Severe restlessness or akathisia
- Uncharacteristic levels of aggression (especially in children and teens)
- Uncharacteristic risk taking
Very rare but serious
- Suicidal ideation and Suicide
- Serotonin syndrome
- Bipolar mania or hypomania
- Schizophrenia (unverified)
- Jaw, neck, and back muscle spasms
- Fever, chills, sore throat, or flu-like symptoms
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes (Jaundice)
- Black, tarry stools (this can indicate upper GI bleeding)
What is the shelf life of the pills?
- The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.
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