Paxil CR An Antidepressant Also Treats Panic Disorder And Social Anxiety Disorder

Paxil General Information

Generic Name: Paroxetine Hydrochloride

Brand Name: Paxil

Paxil CR, the controlled release form of Paxil or Paroxetine Hydrochloride deals with various emotional problems.

Paxil Uses

This medication is recommended to treat a persistent depression that intervenes with an individual’s daily activities. This type of depression is characterized by changes in sleep pattern and appetite, loss of interest in sex, slowed thinking, trouble concentrating, loss of interest in people and activities, feelings of worthlessness and development of suicidal tendencies. Paxil CR is also used to treat panic disorder, social anxiety disorder and severe premenstrual symptoms known by the name of premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

How Take Paxil

For the treatment of depression, a single dose of Paxil CR would consist of 25 mg of the medication per day. It is normally taken in the morning. The dosage might be increased by 12.5 milligrams a day at an interval of one week. The maximum amount of Paxil CR that can be taken per day is 62.5 milligrams. For patients of panic disorder, the starting dose of Paxil CR is 12.5 milligrams per day. It can be increased at the rate of 12.5 mg after every one week till it becomes the maximum recommended dosage of 75 mg per day. In case of the treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder, the rate of increase of the dosage is 12.5 mg per week till it reaches the maximum recommended daily amount of 37.5 mg per day. Patients suffering from Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder are prescribed 12.5 mg a day. The doctor might instruct the patient to take the dose every day, but in some cases, she might be asked to take the medicine two weeks before her period starts. The dose can be increased to 25 mg a day. All the doses are normally taken in the morning. Older adults and those with severe liver and kidney diseases are prescribed a much lower amount of 12.5 mg daily and even if the dose can be increased later, it should be limited to a maximum amount of 50 mg per day.

Paxil Warnings

The effects, benefits and risks of Paxil CR have not been studied in children and adolescents. The drug is known to have increased the thought of suicides in adolescents with depression and other psychiatric disorders. When the treatment begins or when there are changes in the dose, family members or caregivers should look for change in the user’s behavior like sudden development of agitation, hyperactivity, restlessness, panic, anxiety, hostility and suicidal behavior. People with glaucoma or manic disorders might be asked to use this medication with caution. Same thing would apply to the individuals with a history of seizures and metabolism or blood circulation disorders. The drug might affect one’s judgment, thinking or motor skills and so after taking this drug, it would not be safe to drive or to handle dangerous machinery. The medication might cause stomach-bleeding when taken with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin.

Paxil Missed Dose

If a dose of Paxil CR gets missed, then it should be taken at a time which is not close enough to the next dosing time. But double doses should not be taken in a single day.

Paxil Side Effects

In the first four to six weeks, users might experience minor side effects like nausea and dizziness. Some other people have complained about weakness, dry mouth and drowsiness. But serious side effects of medical concern include decreased sex drive, abnormal ejaculation, genital disorders in both male and female, abnormal orgasm, decreased appetite, insomnia, weakness, sweating, diarrhea, tremor, impotence and vertigo.

Paxil Storage

Paxil CR can be stored at room temperature.

Paxil Overdose

Like other medication, an overdose of Paxil CR can lead to side effects like facial flushing, tremor, coma, drowsiness, dizziness, vomiting and nausea.

Paxil More Information

Paxil contains paroxetine which might lead to serotonin syndrome, symptoms of which include muscle spasms, hallucinations, agitation, rapid heartbeat and abnormal reflexes. A sudden discontinuation of the therapy can lead to symptoms like abnormal dreams, dizziness and tingling sensations. Paxil should not be combined with thioridazine or MAO inhibitors. Paxil and other SSRI antidepressants have been found to be associated with premature birth. A exposure to Paxil in the last three months pf pregnancy have resulted in serious complications in newborns. The medication appears in breast milk and is harmful for an infant.