What To Know
Do not stop taking paroxetine without first talking to your doctor. It may take 4 weeks or more for you to start feeling better and unpleasant side effects may be experienced if
you stop taking paroxetine suddenly.
What Is It
Paroxetine is in a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Paroxetine affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause depression, panic
or anxiety, or obsessive or compulsive symptoms.
? Paroxetine is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder (social phobia), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
? Paroxetine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
How To Use
Take paroxetine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
? Take each dose with water.
? Swallow the controlled-release tablets (Paxil CR) whole, without crushing or chewing. They are specially formulated to release the medication slowly in the body.
? Shake the suspension well before measuring a dose. To ensure that you get the correct dose, measure the suspension with a dose-measuring cup or spoon, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not
have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.
? Paroxetine may be taken with or without food.
? Try to take paroxetine at the same time each day.
? Do not stop taking paroxetine without first talking to your doctor. It may take 4 weeks or more for you to start feeling better and unpleasant side effects may be experienced if you stop taking paroxetine
suddenly.
? Store paroxetine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Storage
Store paroxetine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Missed Dose
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not
take a double dose of this medication unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
Over Dose
Seek emergency medical attention.
? Symptoms of a paroxetine overdose include nausea, vomiting, tremor, seizures, agitation, drowsiness, hyperactivity, and enlarged pupils.
Side Effects
If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking paroxetine and contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical treatment:
an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
an irregular heartbeat or pulse;
low blood pressure (di
Precautions
? Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Paroxetine may cause di
Drug Interactions
? Do not take paroxetine if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) during the last
2 weeks. Serious, and sometimes fatal, reactions have occurred when these medicines have been used together. Also, do not take paroxetine if you are taking thioridazine (Mellaril). Dangerous, even fatal
irregular heartbeats may occur if these medicines are taken together. You must wait 5 weeks after stopping paroxetine before taking thioridazine (Mellaril).
? Before taking paroxetine, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
a benzodiazepine such as diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clorazepate (Tranxene), temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion), and others;
a tricyclic antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil), imipramine (Tofranil), doxepin (Sinequan), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and others;
a phenothiazine such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin), mesoridazine (Serentil), perphenazine (Trilafon), prochlorperazine (Compazine), and others;
almotriptan (Axert), frovatriptan (Frova), sumatriptan (Imitrex), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), or zolmitriptan (Zomig);
carbamazepine (Tegretol) or phenytoin (Dilantin);
lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith, others);
theophylline (Theobid, Theolair, Theochron, Elixophyllin, and others);
warfarin (Coumadin);
digoxin (Lanoxin); or
cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB).
? You may not be able to take paroxetine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.
? Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with paroxetine. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products.
