Paroxetine
Description
Paroxetine is a medicine that belongs to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) group. It is used for the treatment of depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, and other anxiety disorders.
QUICK LINKS:
Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Paroxetine
- Suicidal thinking and behaviour
- Serotonin syndrome (agitation, hallucinations, seizures, nausea)
- Irregular heartbeat
- Shaking of the hands or feet
- Dizziness when getting up suddenly from a sitting position
- Chills or cold sweats
- Blurred vision
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Dry mouth and lips
- Constipation
- Muscle stiffness
- Decreased sexual urge
- Difficulty in passing urine
- Rapid weight gain/loss
- Photosensitivity
- Unusual bleeding or bruising
- Racing thoughts
- Reckless behavior
- Unusual tiredness and weakness
Uses of Paroxetine
What is it prescribed for?
- Depression
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Panic disorder
- Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Post traumatic stress disorder
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Postmenopausal symptoms
Read More
Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe effect of this medicine is cumulative and may take months to show. It varies depending on the intended use and the dosing.
- Duration of effectThe time for which this medicine remains effective in the body is not clearly established. Dosing, duration and the condition for which this medicine is given determine the effective time duration.
- Safe with alcohol?Avoid or limit the uptake of alcohol while using this medicine. It is advised to refrain from driving vehicles and operating heavy machinery while using this medicine.
- Is it habit forming?No habit forming tendencies were reported.
- Usage in pregnancy?Use of this medicine by pregnant women is not recommended as the risk of adverse effect on the fetus is very high. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or are planning a pregnancy while taking this medicine.
- Usage while breast-feeding?Use of this medicine by breastfeeding women is not recommended unless necessary. If necessary, your doctor may advise you to stop breastfeeding before treatment with this medicine is initiated.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI)
This medicine is not recommended for use while a MAOI medicine (Rasagiline/Selegiline/methylene blue etc.) is being consumed. This medicine should be consumed at least 14 days after stopping the use of MAOI medicines.
Thioridazine
This medicine is not recommended for use if the patient is taking Thioridazine (medicine used to treat schizophrenia).
Pimozide
This medicine is not recommended for use if the patient is taking Pimozide (anti psychotic medicine).
Allergy
This medicine is not recommended for use if you a known history of allergy to Paroxetine or any other ingredient present with it.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Use of this medicine by pregnant women is not recommended as the risk of adverse effect on the fetus is very high. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or are planning a pregnancy while taking this medicine.
Breast-feeding
Use of this medicine by breastfeeding women is not recommended unless necessary. If necessary, your doctor may advise you to stop breastfeeding before treatment with this medicine is initiated.
General warnings
Suicidal thinking and behavior
Use of this medicine may cause suicidal thought and change the behavior of the user. This risk is increasingly high in young patients. It is recommended to screen the patient for such behavior before starting the treatment. Any change in behavior and thought process after taking this medicine should be reported to the doctor immediately.
Serotonin syndrome
Use of this medicine with other medicines to treat depression may cause nausea, agitation, seizures and hallucinations (symptoms of serotonin syndrome)
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Use of this medicine may cause Neuroleptic malignant syndrome characterized by high fever, muscle stiffness, extreme changes in blood pressure, excessive sweating and salivation. The use of this medicine should be stopped as soon as these side effects are experienced.
Hypertension
Use of this medicine is associated with a sharp increase in blood pressure levels. It is recommended to control hypertension using appropriate medicines before starting the treatment with paroxetine.
Bleeding disorders
Use of this medicine may cause unusual bleeding and bruising and hence should be used with caution in patients suffering from bleeding disorders. Use of medicines that are known to cause gastrointestinal bleeding, (example: aspirin, paracetamol, ibuprofen etc), should be avoided while taking paroxetine.
Glaucoma
This medicine should be used with caution in patients suffering from angle closure glaucoma. The symptoms of this disease may worsen upon using paroxetine and hence caution is advised.
Seizure disorder
Use of this medicine may cause seizures and hence should be used with caution in patients suffering from epilepsy.
Manic episodes
Use of this medicine may cause agitation and aggressive behavior in some patients. The patient should be screened for bipolar disorder before starting the treatment course with this medicine.
Heart disease
This medicine should be used with caution in patients suffering from a heart or blood vessel disorder.
Hyponatremia
This medicine may decrease the sodium levels in the body and hence should be used with caution in patients taking diuretic medicines.
Bone fractures
Use of this medicine has been associated with an increase in the incidence of bone fractures. Report any incidence of bone pain to the doctor while taking paroxetine.
Drowsiness and cognitive impairment
Use of this medicine has been associated with drowsiness and impairment of cognition. It is advised to refrain from driving vehicles or operating heavy machinery while taking this medicine.
Sexual dysfunction
Use of this medicine may cause sexual dysfunction. These dysfunctions may include a decrease in libido, erectile disorders, or painful orgasm.
Withdrawal symptoms
Use of this medicine should not be discontinued abruptly. It is advised to gradually reduce the dose of this medicine.
Pediatric use
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients aged below 18 years.
Use in elderly
This medicine should be used with caution in elderly patients as the risk of adverse effects is significantly high.
Missed Dose
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If the next scheduled dose is less than 4 hours away, then the missed dose should be skipped.
Overdose
Contact a doctor immediately if an overdose with this medicine is suspected. Symptoms of an overdose may include agitation, hallucinations, convulsions, nausea, drowsiness, fast or slow heartbeat, and convulsions.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Consumption of alcohol while using this medicine can cause an impairment in thinking and judgment. It may also cause dizziness, drowsiness, and lack of concentration.
Instructions
Avoid or limit the uptake of alcohol while using this medicine. It is advised to refrain from driving vehicles and operating heavy machinery while using this medicine.
Interaction with Medicine
Linezolid
Lithium
Ondansetron
Sertraline
Warfarin
Aspirin
Methylene blue
Indinavir
Sumatriptan
Disease interactions
Kidney Disease
This medicine should be used with caution in patients with an impaired kidney function. Suitable dose adjustments should be made based on the serum creatinine levels for moderate to severe impairment.
Glaucoma
This medicine should be used with caution in patients having narrow-angle glaucoma. The symptoms of the disease might worsen if this medicine is used in such patients.
Hypertension
This medicine may cause an increase in the blood pressure levels and hence should be used with caution in patients with hypertension. The blood pressure level should be constantly monitored before and during the course of treatment.
Liver Disease
This medicine should be used with caution in patients with an impaired liver function. Suitable dose adjustments should be made based on the severity of impairment.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Paroxetine as instructed by the doctor. Do not use in smaller or larger than the recommended dose. The dose is likely to change over time based on your response and hence adherence to the changes is a must. Do not stop the use of this medicine abruptly.
Miscelleneous
How it works
This medicine works by affecting the level of certain specific chemicals that are imbalanced in people with depression and other anxiety disorders.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
Schedule
Schedule H
[Internet]. 2017 [cited 4 May 2017]. Available from:
DailyMed - Paroxetine hydrochloride hemihydrate tablet, film coated [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 4 May 2017]. Available from:
Paroxetine - DrugBank [Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2017 [cited 4 May 2017]. Available from:
Information on this page was last updated on 8 Feb 2018
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.