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Paxil (Paroxitine): Information Sheet for Patients |
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PAXIL
Generic Name: paroxetine (pa ROCK sah teen)
Brand Names: Paxil, Paxil CR
What is the most important information I should know about paroxetine?
- Do not stop taking paroxetine without first talking to your doctor.
It may take 4 weeks or more for you to start feeling better and unpleasant side
effects may be experienced if you stop taking paroxetine suddenly.
What is paroxetine?
- Paroxetine is in a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors. Paroxetine affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced
and cause depression, panic or anxiety, or obsessive or compulsive symptoms.
- Paroxetine is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder,
panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder (social
phobia), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and premenstrual dysphoric disorder
(PMDD).
- Paroxetine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in
this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking paroxetine?
- Do not take paroxetine if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor
(MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine
(Parnate) during the last 2 weeks. Serious, and sometimes fatal, reactions have
occurred when these medicines have been used together. Also, do not take paroxetine
if you are taking thioridazine (Mellaril). Dangerous, even fatal irregular heartbeats
may occur if these medicines are taken together. You must wait 5 weeks after
stopping paroxetine before taking thioridazine (Mellaril).
- Before taking paroxetine, tell your doctor if you have
- liver disease,
- kidney disease,
- seizures or epilepsy, or
- a manic disorder or suicidal thoughts.
- You may not be able to take paroxetine, or you may need a dosage adjustment
or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed
above.
- Paroxetine is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is
not known whether it will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take paroxetine
without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant
during treatment.
- Paroxetine passes into breast milk and may affect a nursing baby. Do
not take paroxetine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding
a baby.
How should I take paroxetine?
- Take paroxetine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand
these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to
you.
- Take each dose with water.
- Swallow the controlled-release tablets (Paxil CR) whole, without crushing
or chewing. They are specially formulated to release the medication slowly in
the body.
- Shake the suspension well before measuring a dose. To ensure that you
get the correct dose, measure the suspension with a dose-measuring cup or spoon,
not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device,
ask your pharmacist for one.
- Paroxetine may be taken with or without food.
- Try to take paroxetine at the same time each day.
- Do not stop taking paroxetine without first talking to your doctor.
It may take 4 weeks or more for you to start feeling better and unpleasant side
effects may be experienced if you stop taking paroxetine suddenly.
- Store paroxetine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
- Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost
time for the next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take the
next one as directed. Do not take a double dose of this medication unless otherwise
directed by your doctor.
What happens if I overdose?
- Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected.
- Symptoms of a paroxetine overdose include nausea, vomiting, tremor,
seizures, agitation, drowsiness, hyperactivity, and enlarged pupils.
What should I avoid while taking paroxetine?
- Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous
activities. Paroxetine may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience
dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.
- Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness or dizziness
while taking paroxetine.
What are the possible side effects of paroxetine?
- If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking
paroxetine and contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical treatment:
- an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing, closing of the throat,
swelling of the lips, tongue or face, or hives),
- an irregular heartbeat or pulse,
- low blood pressure (dizziness, weakness),
- high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision),
- unusual bleeding or bruising, or
- fever or chills.
- Less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take
paroxetine and talk to your doctor if you experience
- headache,
- tremor, nervousness, or anxiety,
- nausea, diarrhea, dry mouth, or changes in appetite or weight,
- sleepiness or insomnia, or
- decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm.
- Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your
doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
What other drugs will affect paroxetine?
- Do not take paroxetine if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor
(MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine
(Parnate) during the last 2 weeks. Serious, and sometimes fatal, reactions have
occurred when these medicines have been used together. Also, do not take paroxetine
if you are taking thioridazine (Mellaril). Dangerous, even fatal irregular heartbeats
may occur if these medicines are taken together. You must wait 5 weeks after
stopping paroxetine before taking thioridazine (Mellaril).
- Before taking paroxetine, tell your doctor if you are taking any of
the following medicines:
- a benzodiazepine such as diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide
(Librium), clorazepate (Tranxene), temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion),
and others,
- a tricyclic antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil), imipramine
(Tofranil), doxepin (Sinequan), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and others,
- a phenothiazine such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin),
mesoridazine (Serentil), perphenazine (Trilafon), prochlorperazine (Compazine),
and others,
- almotriptan (Axert), frovatriptan (Frova), sumatriptan (Imitrex), naratriptan
(Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), or zolmitriptan (Zomig),
- carbamazepine (Tegretol) or phenytoin (Dilantin),
- lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith, others),
- theophylline (Theobid, Theolair, Theochron, Elixophyllin, and others),
- warfarin (Coumadin),
- digoxin (Lanoxin), or
- cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB).
- You may not be able to take paroxetine, or you may require a dosage
adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the
medicines listed above.
- Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with paroxetine.
Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter
medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.
Where can I get more information?
- Your pharmacist has additional information about paroxetine written
for health professionals that you may read.
- Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children,
never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the
indication prescribed.
- Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by
Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no
guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time
sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners
and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that
uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated
otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients
or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource
designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients
and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a
substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.
The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should
be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective
or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility
for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum
provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible
uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions,
or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check
with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
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Inhouse Drugstore (UK)
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