Paxil — What it Was Meant to do vs. What it Did
Paxil is a drug that’s manufactured by the massive pharmaceutical giant SmithKline Beecham, and it’s been used all over the world to help patients deal with depressive psychological issues. Like most drugs that gain FDA approval, Paxil hit the market with a lot of promise, and was immediately grouped in with a “family” of drugs known as SSRI’s, which is an acronym for Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors.
However, Paxil soon encountered an enormous amount of scrutiny and was linked to serious side effects. Below we’ll take a look at what Paxil was meant to treat, and then briefly provide an overview of the problems to which it was linked.
Paxil – It’s Intended Use
Paxil is a drug that has been prescribed for depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and related conditions. It works by altering the brain’s chemical functions and thereby reducing the chemical imbalance that often results in the disorders listed above. Even though Paxil is a member of the SSRI class of drug, it is unique from the others in the way in which it is taken. Unlike other SSRI’s, Paxil can be taken in pill form and does not need to be taken with food.
Paxil – Problems Arise
Despite the promise that Paxil showed during its early days on the market, it wasn’t long before problems began to arise in relation to the drug. Specifically, two problems came to the forefront. First, Paxil was seen as problematic when it was taken in conjunction with headache medication, and led to the following side effects:
- birth defects
- restlessness
- hallucinations
- loss of coordination
- fast heart beat
- increased body temperature
- fast changes in blood pressure
- overactive reflexes
- diarrhea
- coma
- nausea
- vomiting
However, this was not seen as the most serious problem that ultimately arose. That problem was/is that Paxil can be addictive, and that the withdrawal from this drug can be quite severe. Not to mention, it has been alleged that SmithKline Beecham may have known about Paxil’s addictive qualities early on in its lifespan of distribution.
This addiction can lead to extremely serious problems, as those who stop taking the drug can experience more severe depression than what they experienced before taking the drug, including but not limited to thoughts of suicide. There were even a few instances where those who took Paxil did commit suicide, and most of these patients were young in age.
Overall, the issues surrounding Paxil are still being defined. Therefore, if you’ve been taking Paxil and have experienced any side effects, do not stop taking it without the supervision of your doctor. You should also contact a Paxil lawyer at Williams Kherkher immediately for a full and free initial consultation.
