The Facts About Paxil

 

Paxil is an antidepressant that was introduced in the Unites States in the beginning of 1993. It is a member of the SSRI family, along with Prozac and Zoloft. Paxil is used to treat chronic depression and other disorders without causing horrible side effects that occur with many older medications.

What Does Paxil Treat?

 

Paxil balances the hormones in the brain and increases the levels of serotonin. Paxil is used to treat anxiety disorders, panic attacks, bipolar disorder, depression, and obsessive compulsive disorder. In addition, Paxil is often prescribed to treat insomnia and post-traumatic stress disorders.

Drug Interactions

 

You should not take Paxil with any MAOI medications. The interaction could be life-threatening and fatal. If you take MAOI medication, you should wait two weeks before you start taking Paxil, but be sure to consult your doctor about it. If you take lithium or you have kindey or liver problems, you should use caution when taking Paxil. In addition, you should not drink alcohol or take any kind of street drug when taking this medicine. If you take vitamins, supplements and any other medications, even over-the-counter drugs, you should inform your physician about it.

How Long Should You Take Paxil?

 

You should follow your doctor's instructions for taking Paxil. Paxil is used to treat long-term and short term depression and other disorders, and it can help you prevent relapsing to your previous condition. Research shows that people can easily tolerate Paxil for four years, but you should ask your doctor if you are concerned. If you experience serious side effects, you should call your doctor immediately. There is a risk of overdosing with Paxil, so you should always follow your doctor's orders.

Warnings

 

GlaxoSmithKline is the company that created Paxil. The company has released a warning about the risk of suicide when taking Paxil. However, a suicide risk comes with any type of antidepressant. Please note that the warning is focused on 18 to 30 year olds. Paxil has not been approved for treating people who are younger than 18 years old.

 

Please keep in mind that you may experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking Paxil. Consult with your doctor before you stop taking any medication. You may have to lower your dose before you stop taking it completely to reduce or eliminate the withdrawal symptoms.

Additionally, you should not take Paxil if you are pregnant or trying to have a baby, because it increases the risks of birth defects.