Brand name: Paxil

Paroxetine is used for:

Treating depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), generalized and social anxiety disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, and panic disorders with or without the fear of being in open or public places. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Paroxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It works by restoring the balance of certain natural substances in the brain, which help to elevate moods.

Do NOT use Paroxetine if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Paroxetine
• you are currently taking a phenothiazine (eg, thioridazine) or have taken a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor (eg, phenelzine) within the last 14 days

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Paroxetine :

Some medical conditions may interact with Paroxetine. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have a history of seizures or mania, have thoughts of suicide, or have attempted suicide
• if you have severe liver or kidney disease, an illness that alters your metabolism or blood circulation response, or have had gastrointestinal bleeding
• if you have a history of narrow-angle glaucoma

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Paroxetine. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Cyproheptadine, risperidone, or sumatriptan because the effectiveness of Paroxetine may be decreased.
• Anorexiants (eg, phentermine), dextromethorphan, fenfluramine and its derivatives, l-tryptophan, MAO inhibitors (eg, phenelzine), selegiline, St. John's wort, tramadol, beta-blockers (eg, metoprolol), buspirone, butyrophenones (eg, haloperidol), cimetidine, clonazepam, linezolid, lithium, metoclopramide, nefazodone, sibutramine, sumatriptan, trazodone, or zolpidem because side effects such as serotonin syndrome and central nervous system toxicity may occur.
• Astemizole, dextromethorphan, phenothiazines (eg, thioridazine), St. John's wort, terfenadine, tramadol, anticholinergics (eg, oxybutynin, scopolamine), anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), aripiprazole, beta-blockers (eg, metoprolol), butyrophenones (eg, haloperidol), clozapine, galantamine, H₁ antagonists (eg, diphenhydramine), molindone, norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (eg, atomoxetine), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) (eg, ibuprofen), pimozide, propafenone, risperidone, selegiline, trazodone, or tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline) because side effects associated with these medicines may be increased by Paroxetine
• Atypical antipsychotics (eg, risperidone), because the risk of thromboembolic events (clots) may be increased
• Barbiturate anesthetics (eg, thiopental) used for anesthesia during electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) because the risk of spontaneous seizure is increased

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Paroxetine may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Paroxetine :

Use Paroxetine as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Paroxetine comes with an additional patient information sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it carefully and reread it each time you get Paroxetine refilled.
• Paroxetine may be taken on an empty stomach or with food.
• Paroxetine is usually taken in the morning.
• Symptoms usually improve within 1 to 4 weeks. Continue taking your medicine even though you feel better.
• If you miss a dose of Paroxetine and you are taking it in the morning, take it during the afternoon if you remember. If you do not remember until the next morning, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. If you miss a dose and you are taking one dose daily at bedtime and do not remember until the next day, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once. If you miss more than one dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Paroxetine.

Important safety information:

• Paroxetine may cause drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, or lightheadedness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Paroxetine. Using Paroxetine alone, with certain other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or perform other potentially dangerous tasks.
• Do NOT suddenly stop taking Paroxetine. Suddenly stopping Paroxetine may cause irritability, a state of feeling unwell or unhappy, agitation, dizziness, electric shock sensations, anxiety confusion, headache, lack of energy, mood swings, inability to sleep, or mild mania. If therapy is to be discontinued, it should be gradually decreased.
• Antidepressants can increase suicidal thoughts and actions in some children and teenagers, and possibly adults. This risk may be higher in individuals with bipolar illness (also called manic-depressive illness), a family history of bipolar illness, or a history of attempting suicide. Pay close attention to changes in moods or actions, especially if changes occur suddenly. Contact your health care provider right away if any of the following effects occur or worsen: depression, anxiety, restlessness or irritability, panic attacks, thoughts or attempts of suicide, or other unusual changes in behavior or mood.
• Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Paroxetine.
• Additional monitoring of your condition is recommended at the start of treatment with Paroxetine and whenever a change to your dose is made.
• LAB TESTS, including liver function, kidney function, and complete blood cell counts, may be performed to monitor your progress or to check for side effects. Be sure to keep your appointments.
• Paroxetine is not recommended for use in CHILDREN. Safety and effectiveness have not been confirmed.
• If you experience a prolonged or painful erection, stop using Paroxetine , and seek immediate medical attention or permanent problems can occur.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Paroxetine may cause harm to the fetus. If you think you may be pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Paroxetine during pregnancy. Paroxetine is excreted in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using Paroxetine , check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of Paroxetine :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Abnormal dreams; abnormal ejaculation; abnormal skin sensations; agitation; anxiety; back pain; blurred vision; constipation; decreased appetite; decreased sex drive; diarrhea; difficulty concentrating; difficulty reaching climax/orgasm; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; fatigue; female genital disorders; flushing; gas; headache; impotence; inability to sleep; infection (fever, chills, sore throat); inflamed sinuses; light-headedness; muscle pain; muscle twitch; nausea; nervousness; painful period; rash; runny nose; sleepiness; sore throat; stomach pain; sweating; temporary loss of personal reality; urinary frequency; urination disorder; vomiting; weakness; yawning.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); abnormal bleeding; breathing problems; chest pain; extreme mood swings; heart problems; pounding in the chest; prolonged, painful erection; thoughts of hurting yourself; tremors; unusual bleeding or bruising; worsening of mood or mental state; seizures; worsening of depression.