Paroxetine (seroxat®)

Paroxetine, fluoxetine and sertraline are antidepressant drugs, called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) which are used in the treatment of compulsive obsessive behaviour or other kind of mental abnormalities

Paroxetine, fluoxetine and sertraline have a similar way of working, mainly by blocking the reuptake of one of the messengers, serotonin, in the neurons in the brain; increasing the amount of serotonin available for the receptors. They also block other messenger receptors in the brain caused a complicated profile of side effects

Paroxetine should be initially started at one 20mg tablet each morning and increased if necessary in weekly steps of half tablets up to two 30mg tablets. Higher dosages have not reported excessive benefit comparing with low dosage, although it does increase the severity of side effects. Notice that antidepressant drugs take between 4 to 6 weeks before you may start seeing any benefit of the drug

Paroxetine has a profile of gastrointestinal side effects (dosage related and fairly common): nausea, vomiting, diffuse stomach pains none relative to ulcers, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, constipation… it has also proven to create anorexia with weight loss, hypersensitivity, reactions, itchiness, increased feeling of anxiety and other side effects. You will find a list of other less common side effects in the leaflet given with your medication

Abrupt interruption of taking the drug should be avoided. It has been proven to cause headache, nausea, dizziness, anxiety and paralysis in some muscle

They should be prescribed with cautions in patient:
• with epilepsy
• concurrence electroconvulsive therapy
• history of mania
• cardiac disease
• diabetes mellitus
• glaucoma
• history of bleeding disorders, especially gastrointestinal bleeding
• kidney and liver problems
• pregnant and breastfeeding women

You will find a list of other less common side effects in the leaflet given with your medication

If another medication is required, please don’t forget to check with the pharmacist

Reproduced with kind permission of Maria Sanchez our Consultant Pharmacist