Paxil Pros/Cons

Why buy Paxil?

Paxil for anxiety: is it right for you?

paxil

Paxil is an antidepressant drug that belongs to a group of SSRI or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor drugs and affects the chemicals inside the brain to balance it. Paxil is used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), generalized anxiety disorders, major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Fifth most prescribed antidepressant drug in the United States, Paxil amounts to over $1 billion in sales as of 2007.

GlaxoSmithKline, one of the major pharmaceutical companies in the world, is the manufacturer of Paxil.

Drugs often have a lot of different effects on different people that allow drugs like Paxil to be used as treatment to a certain condition.

So, what are the pros and cons in taking Paxil? What are Paxil’s side effects?

Let’s start with the pros.

Pros and Cons of paxil

Paxil is considered to be the most trusted antidepressants in the world although treating depression poses to be dangerous.  Paxil’s safety has been a topic for more than a decade since GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) released it in the market.

Paxil can be used to treat a lot of brain chemistry issues such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorders and phobias, and depression. In recent years, Paxil is used to treat dementia, alcoholism, obsessive gambling and hot flushes and even fight obesity.

Although it treats brain chemistry issues, Paxil shouldn’t be taken by people who are merely sad. Paxil is taken to treat real, diagnosed depression and it is widely concluded that it is an effective treatment to combat depression in adults. Patients taking Paxil was reported to have lessened symptoms of depression after the second week of use.

When it comes to treating depression, reuptake blocking like Paxil is highly beneficial for some people. There were many reports that reveal how it is very effective in alleviating depression symptoms. Paxil is also known to prevent relapse, which is very good news to people beset with this condition for years.

Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD) can now live a normal life. Although the cause of OCD is unknown, people taking Paxil were reported to find their OCD symptoms improving.

Paxil is prescribed to treat panic disorders. Working on the serotonin levels in the brain, Paxil balances the chemicals and inhibits the slightest thing that can set off panic in a person. Seventy-five percent of people who used Paxil said that their lives had drastically improved.

Another crippling disorder that Paxil can treat is social or sad anxiety disorder. People with anxiety disorders cannot function well with situations that subject them to criticism or being judged by other people. Paxil help by suppressing the rising fear of criticism and the threat to a person’s ego.

Paxil has successfully treated seventy-five percent of users with generalized anxiety disorder and is the most prescribed antidepressant because it is an extremely effective treatment for many brain related disorders.

Now, let’s go over to the cons concerning taking Paxil.

pros and cons of paxil

It is mentioned that like any other drug, Paxil’s side effects are not severe enough to overshadow its effectiveness. Side effects are common and sometimes limited to special cases such as in pregnancies or misusing the drug like overdosing.

Throughout the years, Paxil has faced a lot of label issues and controversies. Like most psychoactive drugs in the market, it can cause withdrawal symptoms when discontinued.

Treating brain related disorders can be tricky. Depression, for one, is one of the most dangerous psychoactive disorders around because of its non-blatant manifestations. There are many people dedicated to trying to figure out if Paxil is safe to use. Debates and lawsuits regarding Paxil’s side effects have come and gone through more than a decade.

Pros and cons of paxil

Side effects are triggered by many things such as allergic reactions, kidney and liver conditions, blood clotting disorders, bleeding problems, hives and rashes, facial swelling, breathing problems, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, jerking movements, troubles in sleeping, sexual dysfunctions and varied mood behaviors. Paxil can also cause asthenia, sweating, high blood pressure, agitation, weight gain, headaches, memory loss and paresthesia (tingling, burning, prickling or numbing sensation of a person’s skin). Treatments using Paxil was also reported to cause akathisia (restlessness) and activation syndrome.

General side effects usually manifest during the first 1 to 4 weeks in a time when the body is acclimatizing itself to Paxil. The solution is not merely to stop Paxil medication. It is important to consult a doctor or physician before discontinuing avoiding a relapse. Discontinued use of it can cause a rebound effect with exaggerated symptoms that can take long periods of time to overcome. It is a well-known fact that Paxil’s side effects differ from one person to another. Some experience a few and some all. There are few who experience side effects that are not listed yet. Most side effects are dose-dependent and therefore can be prevented by lowering dosages upon the doctor’s recommendation.

Paxil’s most common side effect is sexual dysfunction. Having difficulty becoming aroused, trouble achieving orgasm (anorgasmia) and lack of interest in sex are specific Paxil side effects. Both males and females can be affected. For males, there will be sperm DNA fragmentation (sperm death). Taking it is like genital anaesthesia. It decreases a person’s response to sexual stimuli, making ejaculatory anhedonia possible.

paxil pill bottle

Women who take Paxil and become pregnant pose as a dilemma. Expectant mothers can give their newborn child severe heart defects and lung problems. Paxil can also be carried over to the breast milk to the nursing child. Suddenly stopping taking Paxil without the doctor’s advice may provoke a relapse or make things worse. Expectant mothers should consult their doctors before taking the necessary steps to alleviate problems later on.

Pregnant women taking Paxil can cause withdrawal symptoms that include convulsions in newborn children. Reports had also shown that Paxil has one of the highest incidents of severe withdrawal syndromes. The discontinuation syndrome or withdrawal syndrome includes symptoms like nausea, vertigo or lightheadedness, somnolence or dizziness, illogical crying, anxiety, insomnia, nightmares or vivid dreams.

Paxil can also affect long term memory and can induce mania or hypomania to people with no history of mania, but can likely occur to those with history of bipolar and mania.

Paxil increases the risk of suicidal tendencies if taken by people under the age of 18. Since the cause of suicide might be coincidental, the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) conducted an analysis regarding Paxil compared to placebos. There is an increase of “suicidality” observed in patients with depression and anxiety disorders.

These side effects can last for months or even years after discontinuing using Paxil.

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