Is it OK to take Paxil while pregnant?
Certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Most studies show that SSRIs aren’t associated with birth defects. However, paroxetine (Paxil) might be associated with a small increased risk of a fetal heart defect and is generally discouraged during pregnancy.
Can antidepressants cause a miscarriage?
Conclusions: Antidepressant use in the first trimester is associated with an increased risk of miscarriage when compared with either nondepressed or depressed unexposed women, even after accounting for induced abortions.
What happens if you get pregnant on Paxil?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced that early research studies with the drug Paxil (paroxetine) suggest that taking the drug during the first three months of pregnancy may increase a woman’s risk of having a baby with birth defects, particularly heart defects.
How long should you be off Paxil before getting pregnant?
Pregnancy and Antidepressants: What the Experts Say Both psychiatric experts and ob-gyn experts agree that if you have mild depression and have been symptom-free for at least six months, you may be able to stop using antidepressants under a doctor’s supervision before getting pregnant or while you are pregnant.
How long does it take to wean off Paxil?
Tapering typically lasts for 4 weeks, but for Paxil, a doctor may suggest tapering the medication over 6–8 weeks to reduce the risk of symptoms. However, the longer a person has been taking Paxil and the higher their dosage, the longer it may take them to taper the drug.
What happens if you stop taking Paxil?
Stopping paroxetine abruptly may result in one or more of the following withdrawal symptoms: irritability, nausea, feeling dizzy, vomiting, nightmares, headache, and/or paresthesias (prickling, tingling sensation on the skin).
Can Paxil be cut in half?
Don’t use a knife or scissors to cut your pills in half. It’s available in immediate-release and extended-release forms. You should ask your doctor first because certain meds are timed released and can’t be cut. Don’t forget!
Is 20 mg Paxil too much?
Immediate-release oral tablets (Paxil, Pexeva): The typical starting dose is 20 mg per day. If a 20-mg dose is not enough, your doctor will start increasing your dose each week by 10 mg per day. Your maximum daily dose shouldn’t exceed 50 mg per day.
Is there a lawsuit against Paxil?
Approximately 5,000 people in the U.S. have filed lawsuits against GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) since Paxil, the brand-name of the drug paroxetine, became available in 1992. Some of these claims were class-action suits. Cases alleged Paxil led to birth defects, withdrawal symptoms, or suicides.
Can you take Paxil for life?
Is it safe to take it for a long time? For most people, paroxetine is safe to take for a long time. A few people may get sexual side effects, such as problems getting an erection or a lower sex drive. In some cases these can continue even after stopping the medicine.
What is better than Paxil for anxiety?
Lexapro offers similar efficacy to Paxil with a better tolerability profile. Another class of drugs may also be preferable in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, selective norepinephrine inhibitors (SNRIs). These include Effexor XR (venlafaxine) and Cymbalta (duloxetine).
Can you stop Paxil after 2 weeks?
Paxil (Paroxetine) Withdrawal Timeline And Symptom Durations Symptoms peak in intensity at four to five days. For most people, withdrawal symptoms cease completely after two to three weeks. New research suggests that it can take as long as 90 days before the brain has fully adjusted to being off of Paxil.
What helps with Paxil withdrawal?
If you were on a very high dose of Paxil (paroxetine) or Effexor (venlafaxine), you may need to take a second 20mg dose of Prozac. Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is an over-the-counter allergy medication that has been reported to help with discontinuation symptoms too, though it has a sedating effect.
Which is better Zoloft or Paxil?
Is Paxil or Zoloft more effective? In a randomized, double-blind study comparing the two drugs for the treatment of panic disorder, Paxil and Zoloft were found to be equally effective; however, Zoloft was slightly better tolerated, and patients did better when discontinuing the drug.