Should i take paxil

This is a sign of low sodium levels, a. It's an unusual side effect, but can happen when your liver and kidneys have trouble metabolizing the medication.

It's important to keep your electrolyte levels in check when taking this medication, so to play it safe, make sure to schedule annual bloodwork to check those levels with your doctor, suggests Hermann.

Like with any antidepressant or anti-anxiety med, Paxil comes with a warning of increased feelings of depression. Another thing to note: Paxil may have negative effects on undiagnosed bipolar disorder.

Weight Loss. United States. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. Taraji P. Accessible Beauty Products For All. You should know that having depression or another mental illness greatly increases the risk that you will become suicidal. This risk is higher if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had bipolar disorder mood that changes from depressed to abnormally excited or mania frenzied, abnormally excited mood or has thought about or attempted suicide.

Talk to your doctor about your condition, symptoms, and personal and family medical history. You and your doctor will decide what type of treatment is right for you. Paroxetine tablets, suspension liquid , and extended-release long-acting tablets are used to treat depression, panic disorder sudden, unexpected attacks of extreme fear and worry about these attacks , and social anxiety disorder extreme fear of interacting with others or performing in front of others that interferes with normal life.

Paroxetine tablets and suspension are also used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder bothersome thoughts that won't go away and the need to perform certain actions over and over , generalized anxiety disorder GAD; excessive worrying that is difficult to control , and posttraumatic stress disorder disturbing psychological symptoms that develop after a frightening experience.

Paroxetine extended-release tablets are also used to treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder PMDD, physical and psychological symptoms that occur before the onset of the menstrual period each month. Paroxetine capsules Brisdelle are used to treat hot flashes sudden feelings of warmth, especially in the face, neck, and chest in women who are experiencing menopause stage of life when menstrual periods become less frequent and stop and women may experience other symptoms and body changes.

Paroxetine is in a class of medications called selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors SSRIs. It treats depression and other mental illnesses by increasing the amount of serotonin, a natural substance in the brain that helps maintain mental balance. There is not enough information available at this time to know how paroxetine works to treat hot flashes. Paroxetine comes as a tablet, a suspension liquid , a controlled-release long-acting tablet, and a capsule to take by mouth.

The tablets, suspension, and controlled-release tablets are usually taken once daily in the morning or evening, with or without food. The capsules are usually taken once a day at bedtime with or without food. You may want to take paroxetine with food to prevent stomach upset.

Take paroxetine at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take paroxetine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

If you are taking paroxetine tablets, suspension, or controlled-release tablets, your doctor may start you on a low dose of paroxetine and gradually increase your dose, not more than once a week. Paroxetine capsules contain a lower dose of paroxetine than is needed to treat depression and other forms of mental illness. Do not take paroxetine capsules to treat a mental illness.

If you think you have depression or another mental illness, talk to your doctor about treatment. Paroxetine may help control your symptoms but will not cure your condition. It may take several weeks or longer before you feel the full benefit of paroxetine. Continue to take paroxetine even if you feel well.

Do not stop taking paroxetine without talking to your doctor. Your doctor may decrease your dose gradually. If you suddenly stop taking paroxetine tablets, suspension, or controlled-release tablets, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as depression; mood changes; frenzied or abnormally excited mood; irritability; anxiety; confusion; dizziness; headache; tiredness; numbness or tingling in the arms, legs, hands, or feet; unusual dreams; difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep; nausea; or sweating.

Tell your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms when your dose of paroxetine is decreased. Paroxetine is also sometimes used to treat chronic headaches, tingling in the hands and feet caused by diabetes, and certain male sexual problems.

Paroxetine is also used with other medications to treat bipolar disorder mood that changes from depressed to abnormally excited. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this drug for your condition.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. MDD is characterized by a low mood for two or more weeks, typically accompanied by a loss of interest in normal activities and low energy. Some patients will experience pain with no obvious source.

Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive worry about a variety of issues including money, family, health, and work. It is diagnosed once patients display this worry on more days than not for at least six months. Paxil and Lexapro belong to a class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs.

Paxil What is Paxil? Lexapro What is Lexapro? This action effectively leaves more free serotonin in the neuron synapse. A higher level of serotonin plays a positive role in mood and affect. Paxil is available by prescription only in regular and controlled-release tablets, as well as an oral solution. Lexapro is available generically as escitalopram, and it is also an SSRI. Its mechanism is similar to that of paroxetine in that it increases free serotonin. Lexapro is available as an oral tablet and oral solution.

Sign up for Lexapro price alerts and find out when the price changes! Get price alerts. Paxil and Lexapro are both indicated to treat both major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, but they each treat other types of conditions as well.

Paxil is approved in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder OCD , panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD.

In women specifically, Paxil is used to treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder PMDD and hot flashes associated with menopause. It can be used off-label, or without the approval of the Food and Drug Administration FDA , for premature ejaculation in men. Lexapro is sometimes used off-label for obsessive-compulsive disorder, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating. The following chart provides a list of conditions treated by Paxil and Lexapro. It may not include all potential uses, and you should always consult with your mental health or psychiatry professional to see if one of these drugs is right for you.

A meta-analysis compared 12 antidepressants, including Paxil and Lexapro, and their effects on depression. Researchers sought to compare both the efficacy and tolerability of these treatments.

The resulting data showed that Lexapro was significantly more efficacious at improving outcomes in MDD. Lexapro also showed a more acceptable tolerability, leading to fewer patients who discontinued therapy.

In another meta-analysis study, Paxil and Lexapro were compared for their effects on anxiety. Lexapro was found to be significantly more effective than a placebo and was well-tolerated. Paxil, while effective as well, was poorly tolerated and led to a higher number of discontinuations. Based on this data, Lexapro may be preferred in generalized anxiety disorder. Sign up for Paxil price alerts and find out when the price changes!