NCC Officers' Training Academy
GWALIOR (Est 1965)
Paroxetine
What is paroxetine?
Paroxetine is an antidepressant that belongs to group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Paroxetine affects chemicals in the brain that may be unbalanced in people with depression, anxiety, or other disorders.
Paroxetine is used to treat depression, including major depressive disorder.
Paroxetine is also used to treat panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)>.
The Brisdelle brand of paroxetine is used to treat hot flashes related to menopause. Brisdelle is not for treating any other conditions.
Escitalopram side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to escitalopram: skin rash or hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
racing thoughts, unusual risk-taking behavior, feelings of extreme happiness or sadness;
pain or burning when you urinate;
(in a child taking escitalopram) slow growth or weight gain;
low levels of sodium in the body – headache, confusion, slurred speech, severe weakness, vomiting, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady; or
severe nervous system reaction – very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors, feeling like you might pass out.
Seek medical attention right away if you have symptoms of serotonin syndrome, such as: agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, shivering, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Common escitalopram side effects may include:
painful urination;
dizziness, drowsiness, tiredness, weakness;
feeling anxious or agitated;
increased muscle movements, feeling shaky;
sleep problems (insomnia);
sweating, dry mouth, increased thirst, loss of appetite;
nausea, constipation;
yawning;
nosebleed, heavy menstrual periods; or
decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm.
Warnings
You should not take morphine if you have severe asthma or breathing problems, a blockage in your stomach or intestines, or a bowel obstruction called paralytic ileus.
Morphine can slow or stop your breathing and may be habit-forming. MISUSE OF OPIOID MEDICINE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH, especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it.
Taking opioid medicine during pregnancy may cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the newborn.
Fatal side effects can occur if you use morphine with alcohol or with other drugs that cause drowsiness or slow your breathing.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to paroxetine, or if you are also taking pimozide or thioridazine.
Do not use an MAO inhibitor within 14 days before or 14 days after you take paroxetine. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine. After you stop taking paroxetine you must wait at least 14 days before you start taking an MAO inhibitor.
To make sure paroxetine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
heart disease, high blood pressure, or a stroke;
liver or kidney disease;
a bleeding or blood clotting disorder;
bipolar disorder (manic depression), drug addiction, or suicidal thoughts;
sexual problems;
narrow-angle glaucoma; or
low levels of sodium in your blood.
Be sure your doctor knows if you also take stimulant medicine, opioid medicine, herbal products, or medicine for depression, mental illness, Parkinson’s disease, migraine headaches, serious infections, or prevention of nausea and vomiting. These medicines may interact with paroxetine and cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.
Some young people have thoughts about suicide when first taking an antidepressant. Your doctor should check your progress at regular visits. Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.
Taking an SSRI antidepressant during pregnancy may cause serious lung problems or other complications in the baby. However, you may have a relapse of depression if you stop taking your antidepressant. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Do not start or stop taking this medicine without your doctor’s advice.
Do not use Brisdelle if you are pregnant.
You should not breastfeed while using this medicine.
How should I take paroxetine?
Take paroxetine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose.
Swallow the extended-release tablet whole and do not crush, chew, or break it.
Shake the oral suspension (liquid) before you measure a dose. Use the dosing syringe provided, or use a medicine dose-measuring device (not a kitchen spoon).
It may take up to 4 weeks before your symptoms improve. Keep using the medication as directed and tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve.
Tell your doctor if you have any changes in sexual function, such as loss of interest in sex, trouble having an orgasm, or (in men) problems with erections or ejaculation. Some sexual problems can be treated.
Do not stop using paroxetine suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to safely stop using paroxetine. Follow your doctor’s instructions about tapering your dose.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
Dosing information
Usual Adult Dose for Generalized Anxiety Disorder:
Initial dose: 10 mg orally once a day; increase if necessary after at least 1 week of treatment to 20 mg once a day
Maintenance dose: 10 to 20 mg orally once a day
Maximum dose: 20 mg orally once a day
Comment: Treatment should be periodically reassessed to determine the need for ongoing treatment; efficacy beyond 8 weeks has not been systematically studied.
Use: Acute treatment of generalized anxiety disorder
Usual Adult Dose for Depression:
Initial dose: 10 mg orally once a day; increase if necessary after at least 1 week of treatment to 20 mg once a day
Maintenance dose: 10 to 20 mg orally once a day
Maximum dose: 20 mg orally once a day
Comments:
-Acute episodes may require several months or longer of sustained pharmacological therapy beyond response to the acute episode.
-Patients should be periodically reassessed to determine the need for maintenance treatment.
Use: Acute and maintenance treatment of major depressive disorder
Usual Geriatric Dose for Depression:
Recommended dose: 10 mg orally once a day
Use: Acute and maintenance treatment of major depressive disorder
Usual Pediatric Dose for Depression:
12 years and older:
-Initial dose: 10 mg orally once a day; increase if necessary after at least 3 weeks of treatment to 20 mg once a day
-Maintenance dose: 10 to 20 mg orally once a day
-Maximum dose: 20 mg orally once a day
Comments:
-Acute episodes may require several months or longer of sustained pharmacological therapy beyond response to the acute episode.
-Patients should be periodically reassessed to determine the need for maintenance treatment.
Interaction
Health Tools
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