Paxil (SSRI) Side Effects

Paxil (SSRI) (paroxetine)

Rate Paxil (SSRI) (paroxetine)

Other OCD Medications

Other Anxiety Medications

Other Depression Medications

Other Eating Disorder Medications

Diagnosis

Questionnaire

Therapy

Progress Tracker

Disorders and Conditions

News and Resources

Questions about a Disorder?

Major Depressive Disorder

Trade Name: Paxil (SSRI)
Generic Name: paroxetine
Drug Class(es): selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
FDA Recommended Age: 18 and older
Commonly Used to Treat: OCD, anxiety, depression, eating disorders

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Paxil (SSRI):

Anxiety; blurred vision; constipation; decreased sexual desire or ability; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; gas; increased sweating; increased urination; loss of appetite; nausea; nervousness; numbness or tingling of the skin; stomach upset; trouble concentrating; trouble sleeping; weakness; yawning.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur when using Paxil (SSRI):

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); bizarre behavior; black or bloody stools; chest pain; confusion; decreased concentration; decreased coordination; exaggerated reflexes; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or sore throat; hallucinations; memory loss; new or worsening agitation, panic attacks, aggressiveness, impulsiveness, irritability, hostility, exaggerated feeling of well-being, restlessness, or inability to sit still; persistent or severe ringing in the ears; persistent, painful erection; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; seizures; severe or persistent anxiety or trouble sleeping; severe or persistent headache or dizziness; significant weight loss; stomach pain; suicidal thoughts or attempts; tremor; unusual bone pain or unexplained swelling, tenderness, or bruising; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual or severe mental or mood changes; unusual weakness; vision changes; worsening of depression.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

Note: Please base your rating and comments on your experience. All comments are reviewed, and unconstructive or inflammatory comments will be removed. Thank you for your cooperation.

Select Drug Used:

Drug Name:

Your Rating

Take into consideration overall effectivness, including both positive effects and any negative side effects from your experience:

Your Comments (optional):

I'm a: patient professional

Name (optional):

Only registered users can vote drugs

Individuals often respond to medications differently, and ratings can therefore be quite varied. Our objective is to provide a general rating for drugs used and prescribed from a large pool of participants, thus giving other future patients and mental health professionals insight into a drug's potential effectiveness. Your participation is greatly valued and appreciated. Thank you.

Depression consists of several types of disorders, the most common of which are major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and bipolar disorder. There are also other, less common types of depression.

This is also called major depression, and is diagnosed when a patient experiences at least five symptoms of depression for 2 weeks or more and these symptoms make it difficult for them to function normally at work, school, or in their daily activities. The symptoms are sadness most of the day, loss of pleasure or interest in activites, significant weight change, insomnia or excessive sleep, agitated movement or very slow movements, fatigue or loss of energy, feeling worthless or guilty, indecisiveness and loss of concentration, thoughts of death or suicide.

Learn more about Depression Diagnosis

This simple questionnaire is designed to help you determine if you have symptoms of depression and could benefit from professional help.

Depression Questionnaire

Get Help Immediately: Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800) 273-8255 or 911, or go to the nearest hospital if you start thinking about hurting yourself or somebody else or if you hear strange voices that nobody else seems to hear.

Call a doctor if:

You cry a lot for no reason.
Your depression is starting to affect your school, your work, or your family life.
If you think you are feeling depressed because of the medications you are taking – DO NOT stop taking them or start changing them without consulting with a doctor first.
You think you drink too much or a loved one has told you that you drink too much, you feel guilty about how much you drink, or the first thing that you drink in the mornings is alcohol.

Learn more about treatment for depression

Track your depression symptoms to identify patterns and help with your treatment plan. Our progress tracker can be printed or even shared with your healthcare professional electronically.
Progress tracking for depression

	Insomnia
	ADHD
	Addiction
	Schizophrenia
	Anxiety
	Eating Disorder
	Panic
	Bipolar Disorder
	Depression
	OCD
	General Mental Health

Effective

Effective