Paxil, whose generic name is paroxetine, is an antidepressant belonging to a group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).Paxil affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced.  The medications in the group that Paxil is also included in are used to treat a variety of conditions, including depression and other mental mood disorders. All of the medications in the SSRI group can give several important benefits such as helping prevent suicidal thoughts/attempts. Many women have used Paxil because of the depression caused by pre-existing high blood pressure during pregnancy.

 If a patient wants to start using Paxil, they should inform their doctor of the following important medical history: personal or family history of bipolar/manic-depressive disorder, personal or family history of suicide attempts, liver problems, kidney problems, low sodium in the blood, severe loss of body water (dehydration), seizures, stomach/intestinal ulcers, glaucoma (narrow-angle type).

Since the elderly may be more sensitive to Paxil’s effects they should proceed using the drug with caution. These elderly patients on Paxil are likely to lose too much salt (hyponatremia), especially if they are also taking "water pills" (diuretics) with this medication.

Paxil may also affect your ability to perform complex tasks requiring mental and motor skills.  Because of this it is not recommend that you involve yourself in activities requiring mental or motor concentration (such as driving a car or operating machinery), that is until you get used to the effects of Paxil.  The effect of drowsiness can be increased if you take Paxil in combination with alcohol or other medications.

Paxil has been categorized as a category class D medication when it comes to pregnancy. This means that Paxil may cause harm to an unborn baby if it is used during pregnancy. In particular, there is evidence that Paxil taken during early pregnancy can increase the risk of heart problems in babies. Also, babies born to mothers who have used this drug during the last 3 months of pregnancy may infrequently develop withdrawal symptoms such as feeding/breathing difficulties, seizures, muscle stiffness, or constant crying.  If any mother notices any of these symptoms in their newborn, consult a doctor as soon as possible.

If you are planning on starting Paxil for your depression then you should know what possible side effects the drug can cause, like Paxil birth defects, consult with your doctor for more information.


URL references:

- depression.emedtv.com/paxil-cr/paxil-cr-warnings-and-precautions-p2.html

- medicinenet.com/paroxetine-oral/article.htm