Get Informed: Paxil
Active Ingredient(s)
Paroxetine
What does it do?
This product is primarily used for the treatment of depression, anxiety disorders, and obsessive compulsive disorder. It works by prolonging the effect of serotonin, an important chemical in the brain.
- Last Text Update:
- 2009-Nov-20 7:22 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2009-Nov-20 6:53 PM
Other Names
- Paxil
- Paxil CR
- Paroxetine
- Pexeva
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
- Please log in
- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- D
Black Box Warning
This product has a black box warning relating to increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior when used in children, adolescents, and young adults with depression. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors, the following national suicide hotlines are available in the U.S. to help you: 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) and 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255).
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 29 Dec 1992
- Est US Patients*
- 3,643,000
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Paxil or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Paxil Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
- Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Paxil interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.
What is Paxil used for?
iGuard.org is currently tracking more than 21,300 patients that use Paxil (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Anxiety | 56% | 
|
| Depression | 55% |
|
| Panic Disorder | 23% |
|
| Bipolar Disorder | 6% |
|
| Epilepsy / Seizures | 2% | 
|
How well does Paxil work?
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 21,300 users taking Paxil (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 85%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Paxil outweigh the bad things.
- 28%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Paxil.
Common Side Effects of Paxil
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 21,300 users taking Paxil (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
46% of patients experience side-effects on Paxil
5% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Paxil
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Sexual Problems
-
Drowsiness
-
Fatigue
-
Weight Gain
-
Dry Mouth
-
Loss of Libido
-
Nausea/Vomiting
-
Grogginess/Confusion
-
Mood/Behavior Changes
-
Vivid Dreams
-
Insomnia
-
Anxiety
-
Tremor
-
Dizziness
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Addiction, Bad Breath, Constipation, Depression, Dryness, Hot Flushes, Increased Appetite, Memory/Speech Problems, Nausea, Sweating, Swelling/Edema
Global Patient Feedback for Paxil (Paroxetine) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
i buy paxil cheap on doctor-america dot com
my advice
45 year old Male
Posted: 2009-10-21 20:14:41
Question/Comment:
This med is awful. I felt like I was numb, my mind was foggy, my body tingled, It just was terrible.
44 year old Female
Posted: 2009-10-11 15:17:07
Question/Comment:
My advice: if you're going to stop taking Paxil, go off very, very gradually. Because when I stopped, it must have been too suddenly, because I had terrible effects of that. I kept vomiting, couldn't eat or drink anything, became very dehydrated and dizzy. Went to the emergency room, but when they tried to put an IV in my arms, my veins would collapse, because of the dehydration. So they had to put the IV in my foot, and that was so painful! It was such a terrible experience, I will never forget it! I was scared to go back on any antidepressant after that. Finally, after 10 years, I felt ready to try another one, so I tried Wellbutrin, but that gave me nausea right away, so I stopped. Now I'm on Zoloft - 50 mg. once a day. No side effects, but I'm not sure if it's helping my depression or not. Depression is more my problem than anxiety. I'm hoping this info can help someone, then I feel I didn't go through it for nothing.
50 year old Female
Posted: 2009-09-25 20:48:39
Question/Comment:
I have been on Paxil now Paroxetine for almost 10 years. Any problem with long term use? Does it lose effectiveness where I would need more than the 20mg I have always taken?
54 year old Female
Posted: 2009-09-24 21:46:50
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Drugs like Paxil do not usually lose effectiveness. Sometimes patients require a dose change due to changes in symptoms or perhaps a life event. Paxil is widely prescribed and generally well tolerated. Since Paxil is a relatively new drug, there are not a lot of long term studies, but drugs are constantly monitored, and adverse reactions are constantly reported. iGuard monitors the medical literature for these types of studies and will email a safety alert when new information is published.
Posted: 2009-09-27 21:49:05
Question/Comment:
I've been dealing with anxiety for over a decade now and on Paxil for over 5 years. Lately it seems my anxiety has been a lot worse. I see two possibilities. 1. I'm still depressed over my Grandpa's death 2 months ago and the anxiety slowly built up until now and is very strong. or 2. With the new Paroxetine CR generic for Paxil CR the generic may not be as effective. I tend to buy generics of all medicines because they still contain the active ingrediate and are usually are as effective. I was wondering if anyone else is experiencing an increase of anxiety after a change from the brand name to the generic?
26 year old Female
Posted: 2009-09-18 14:31:06
Answer/Reply:
I had been taking 20 mg of Paxil for about 5 years with no break throughs. I switched to generic Paxil and about 5 weeks later, I had the worst panic/anxiety attack that I had ever had. I was taken by ambulance to the hospital - $ 2000 and 9 hours later I was told it must be a panic attack. I switched back to Paxil (this time 25mg Paxil CR) and haven't had any problems - that was three years ago. My insurance company and pharmacist want me to go back on generic, but I refuse. That was a horrible and frightening experience!
62 year old Female
Posted: 2009-09-24 00:54:16
Answer/Reply:
Both. Some generics are not metabolized as well as the original and it's different with each patient. Doctors will tell you it's all the same, but patients will tell you differently.
Of course your recent loss will affect you terribly and cause more anxiety. Give yourself a break. There is no pill for greif. Just time and prayer. Everyone goes through this and it takes about a year to fulfill the greif cycle, so there's no fast track. Greif counseling is a great way to relieve the anxiety and paid and I would highly recommend it. It really, really helps you cope with all that comes with that type of loss.
57 year old Female
Posted: 2009-10-12 23:57:03
You may post comments for the benefit of other patients or post questions other patients might be able to answer. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Only your age and gender will be published with your comment, although your other user details will be securely recorded for verification purposes.
Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
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Patient Comments about
Paxil