Paxil Side Effects : the Ugly Side of Paxil

Introduced in the market in 1992, Paxil became one of the most widely distributed anti-depressant drugs in the United States. Paxil is prescribed for serious and continuing depression that interferes with your ability to function. It can also be prescribed to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder. Paxil is known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. It works by balancing the serotonin levels in ones body. However, Paxil is no miracle pill. There are serious side effects that go hand in hand with taking this drug.

Common side effects include, weight loss or gain, headache, nausea, dry mouth, increased sweating, drowsiness/Somnolence or insomnia, increased or decreased appetite, constipation or diarrhea, inability to achieve orgasm, partial or complete loss of libido (sexual desire), erectile dysfunction, tremor, vertigo/dizziness or motion sickness. Studies show that nearly twenty percent of all clinical trial patients in Paxil studies have had to discontinue treatment because of significant Paxil side effects. While the side effects above are seemingly minor, Paxil has been known to lead to serious debilitating illnesses and even suicide or death.

Patients with a history of kidney problems, seizures, glaucoma, or problems with similar medications might be at a greater risk of suffering serious Paxil side effects. Serious Paxil side effects can also occur with use of MAO inhibitors, and therefore these two medications cannot be taken together. Pregnant women are also advised not to use Paxil for studies have shown the link between Paxil and birth defects. All selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are habit-forming prescription medications. Additionally, out of all the SSRI drugs, Paxil is considered the most addictive. This means that serious Paxil side effects can do harm to patients who are attempting to go off Paxil. These Paxil side effect withdrawal symptoms can last one to three months in some cases causing people to be fidgety, irritable, depressed, aggressive, suicidal and suffer from a variety of physical Paxil side effects.

Paxil can actually cause or worsen the exact symptoms it was intended to treat. Psychological damages include but are not limited to; mania, delusions, hallucinations, the worsening of depressive symptoms, anxiety, agitation, obsessions and compulsions, and suicidal and violent thoughts or behaviors. One of the most dangerous Paxil side effects is a condition called akathisia. Akathisia Paxil side effects are characterized by extreme motor restlessness and agitation. This condition can be so bad that it leads people to have suicidal and violent thoughts. This Paxil side effect is often considered by experts to be a precursor to aggressive or suicidal behaviors. With all of the serious risks related to Paxil use, it is astonishing that it is still on the market. Please talk to your physician before allowing yourself or a loved one to become a victim of Paxil.