Paxil
Paxil is prescribed to patients with panic disorders, anxiety disorders, and depression. Paxil is also prescribed to women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Paxil works by balancing serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical that may become unbalanced and lead to depression, anxiety and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
Paxil, like other depression medication, can cause suicidal thoughts and behaviors in people, especially in people ages 18-24 years during the first two months of taking the medication. Paxil can also cause persistent pulmonary hypertension in babies whose mothers took the drug during pregnancy, and it can cause serotonin syndrome. Both PPHN and serotonin syndrome can lead to serious injury or death.
Paxil can also cause withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking it suddenly, and it can interact dangerously with other drugs, so talk to your doctor before taking any other kind of medications, especially medications that treat migraine headaches.
Paxil is for patients with panic disorders, anxiety or social disorders, depression, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
Panic, anxiety and social disorders occur when chemicals in the brain are unbalanced. The person experiences intense levels of panic and anxiety, enough to make completing daily tasks very difficult. People who experience these disorders often have difficulty in social and public settings, and experience “attacks” that can be debilitating. Symptoms include increased heartbeat, sweating, nervousness, inability to concentrate, shyness, and nausea.
Depression also occurs when chemicals in the brain are unbalanced. Depression is usually noticeable by the intense sadness, fatigue, moodiness, and lack of desire to complete daily tasks.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is experienced by millions of women before they get their period. They feel intensely irritable, grouchy, depressed and bloated. Paxil can help relieve some of the symptoms of PMDD.
Paxil can cause persistent pulmonary hypertension in babies whose mothers take the drug while pregnant. Persistent pulmonary hypertension causes abnormal blood flow to the heart and lungs, and can result in serious injury and death. Babies whose mothers took Paxil 20 weeks or later in their pregnancies were six times more likely to develop PPHN than babies whose mothers did not take the medication.
Paxil can also cause suicidal thoughts and tendencies in younger adults, especially during the first two months of taking the medication. Talk to your doctor immediately if you or a loved one begins having suicidal thoughts or demonstrating suicidal behaviors.
Paxil, like other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can cause serotonin syndrome, especially when combined with certain migraine headache medication. This syndrome occurs when there are seriously high levels of serotonin in the body, and it can lead to serious injury and death. Serotonin syndrome is characterized by:
- restlessness
- diarrhea
- hallucinations
- coma
- coordination loss
- rapid heart beat
- vomiting
- fever
- changes in blood pressure
You should contact your doctor immediately if you become pregnant or plan to become pregnant while taking Paxil. You should also contact your doctor immediately if you experience suicidal thoughts or behaviors, or if you experience any of the symptoms associated with serotonin syndrome (listed above). Do not stop taking Paxil suddenly; it can cause withdrawal symptoms. Tell your doctor about any other medication you are taking.
