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Uses:
Paxil is a part of a
newer class of antidepressant medication known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
(SSRIs).
Anxiety
disorders may be caused by an imbalance among chemical messengers in the brain. One
of these chemical messengers is serotonin. Serotonin helps send electrical signals from
one nerve cell to another. In the process, serotonin is released from one nerve cell (the
sender) and travels to the next (the receiver), where it is either absorbed or returns
back to the original sender cell. When a person suffers from social anxiety disorder,
there may be a problem with the balance of the serotonin system that affects the cell to
cell communication.
Paxil
® blocks serotonin from being reabsorbed back into the sender nerve cell. This process
increases the amount of serotonin available to be absorbed by the next cell and may help
message transmission return to normal.
How To Take This Medication:
Paxil may be taken once a day -- either in the morning or the evening -- with or
without food. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about what they think is the best time of
day for you. You might find it most convenient to take Paxil with breakfast or dinner, but
you may take it anytime. The amount of Paxil a patient needs varies with each individual
and the condition being treated. The usual starting dose is 10 mg to 20 mg. Your doctor
can raise the dose gradually if increases are needed. For people over the age of 65,
people with kidney problems and people with compromised liver conditions, the recommended
starting dose is 10 mg a day.
Side Effects:
As with any medication, you may experience side effects with Paxil, which are
generally mild to moderate. A common side effect is nausea, which might be eased by taking
your medication with food. Other side effects include asthenia, constipation, infection,
dry mouth, yawn, diarrhea, sweating, decreased appetite, sleepiness, dizziness, insomnia,
tremor, nervousness, and sexual side effects. Be sure to report these or any side effects
you experience to your doctor. Don't stop taking Paxil before talking to your doctor.
People taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors or thioridazines should not take Paxil.
Drug Interactions:
In most cases, you can take Paxil with other medications. Monoamine oxidase
inhibitors (MAOIs) or thioridazine, however, should not be taken while you are on Paxil.
Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter
medications you are taking.
Notes:
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room
immediately.
Missed Dosage:
If you do miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is
almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing
schedule. Do not double doses.
Storage:
- Keep out of the reach of children.
- Store away from heat and direct light.
- Do not store the capsule or tablet form of this
medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture
may cause the medicine to break down.
- Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer
needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
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