Paxil Side Effects

Special Warning

In addition to the specific Paxil side effects discussed below, all patients being treated with antidepressants need to be monitored very closely for worsening of their clinical condition as well as unusual changes in their behavior and an increased risk of suicide, especially during the first few months of drug treatment.

Ready to find out more about Paxil side effects?

Paxil Side Effects Observed in Patients Being
Treated for Major Depressive Disorder

Frequently Occur:

• Asthenia translation general muscle weakness and loss of strength
• Decreased appetite
• Dizziness
• Ejaculatory disturbance (mostly ejaculatory delay)
• Insomnia
• Male genital disorders these include an inability to achieve orgasm, erectile difficulties, delayed ejaculation/orgasm, sexual dysfunction and impotence
• Nausea
• Nervousness
• Somnolence translation drowsiness
• Sweating
• Tremor

Sometimes Occur:

• Abnormal taste in the mouth
• Anxiety
• Blurred vision
• Confusion
• Constipation
• Decreased libido
• Diarrhea
• Drugged feeling
• Dry mouth
• Dyspepsia translation indigestion
• Female genital disorders including mainly an inability to achieve orgasm and/or difficulty reaching climax/orgasm
• Flatulence
• Headache
• Myalgia translation muscle pain
• Myasthenia translation a chronic disease that causes muscle weakness
• Myopathy translation progressive muscle weakness and degeneration
• Oropharynx disorder translationmostly "lump in the throat" and "tightness in the throat"
• Palpitation
• Paresthesia translation numbness and tingling sensation in the skin; "pins and needles" feeling
• Rash
• Urinary frequency
• Urination disorder including mainly difficulty urinating and urinary hesitancy
• Vasodilation
• Yawn

Rarely Occur:

• Abdominal pain
• Agitation
• Back pain
• Chest pain
• CNS Stimulation
• Fever
• Increased appetite
• Myoclonus
• Pharyngitis
• Postural hypotension
• Respiratory disorder mainly cold symptoms or upper respiratory infections
• Trauma
• Vomiting

Paxil Side Effects Observed in Patients Being
Treated for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

• Abnormal ejaculation
• Constipation
• Decreased appetite
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Impotence
• Nausea
• Somnolence translation drowsiness
• Sweating
• Tremor

Sometimes Occur:

• Abnormal dreams
• Abnormal taste in the mouth
• Abnormal vision
• Amnesia
• Asthenia
• Chest pain
• Chills
• Decreased appetite
• Decreased libido
• Depersonalization
• Diarrhea
• Female genital disorder (see description above)
• Impaired concentration
• Increased appetite
• Insomnia
• Myoclonus translation involuntary, jerky twitching or contractions of the muscle
• Nervousness
• Palpitation
• Rash
• Urinary tract infection
• Vasodilation

Rarely Occur:

• Abdominal pain
• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Back pain
• Depression
• Headache
• Hyperkinesia
• Increased cough
• Infection
• Paresthesia translation numbness and tingling sensation in the skin; "pins and needles" feeling
• Pharyngitis
• Respiratory disorder
• Rhinitis translation runny and/or congested nose
• Sinusitis

Paxil Side Effects Observed in Patients Being
Treated for Panic Disorder

• Abnormal ejaculation
• Asthenia translation general muscle weakness and loss of strength
• Decreased appetite
• Decreased libido
• Female genital disorders
• Impotence
• Sweating
• Tremor

Sometimes Occur:

• Abdominal pain
• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Back pain
• Chills
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Increased appetite
• Insomnia
• Myoclonus translation involuntary, jerky twitching or contractions of the muscle
• Nausea
• Rhinitis translation runny and/or congested nose
• Somnolence
• Urinary frequency
• Urinary tract infection

Rarely Occur:

• Abnormal dreams
• Abnormal taste in the mouth
• Abnormal vision
• Chest pain
• Depersonalization
• Depression
• Flu syndrome
• Headache
• Impaired urination
• Increased cough
• Indigestion
• Infection
• Muscle pain
• Nervousness
• Painful menstruation
• Palpitation
• Paresthesia translation numbness and tingling sensation in the skin; "pins and needles" feeling
• Pharyngitis
• Rash
• Respiratory disorder
• Sinusitis
• Trauma
• Vasodilation

Paxil Side Effects Observed in Patients Being
Treated for Social Anxiety Disorder

• Abnormal ejaculation
• Constipation
• Decreased appetite
• Decreased libido
• Dry mouth
• Female genital disorders
• Impotence
• Nausea
• Somnolence translation drowsiness
• Sweating
• Tremor
• Yawning

Sometimes Occur:

• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Asthenia translation general muscle weakness and loss of strength
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Flatulence translation excess gas; passing gas excessively
• Impaired concentration
• Indigestion
• Insomnia
• Muscle pain
• Myoclonus translation involuntary, jerky twitching or contractions of the muscle
• Nervousness
• Painful menstruation
• Pharyngitis
• Trauma
• Vomiting

Rarely Occur:

• Abdominal pain
• Depression
• Headache
• Infection
• Respiratory disorder
• Sinusitis

Paxil Side Effects Observed in Patients Being
Treated for Generalized Anxiety Disorder

• Abnormal ejaculation
• Asthenia translation general muscle weakness and loss of strength
• Constipation
• Decreased appetite
• Decreased libido
• Dry mouth
• Infection
• Nausea
• Somnolence translation drowsiness
• Sweating
• Tremor

Sometimes Occur:

• Abnormal vision
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Female genital disorders
• Headache
• Impotence
• Insomnia
• Nervousness
• Respiratory disorder
• Sinusitis
• Vasodilation
• Vomiting
• Yawning

Rarely Occur:

• Abdominal pain
• Back pain
• Indigestion
• Muscle pain
• Pharyngitis
• Trauma

Paxil Side Effects Observed in Patients Being
Treated for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

• Abnormal ejaculation
• Asthenia translation general muscle weakness and loss of strength
• Decreased appetite
• Decreased libido
• Diarrhea
• Dry mouth
• Female genital disorders
• Impotence
• Nausea
• Somnolence translation drowsiness
• Sweating

Sometimes Occur:

• Abdominal pain
• Abnormal dreams
• Abnormal vision
• Constipation
• Dizziness
• Indigestion
• Infection
• Insomnia
• Trauma
• Tremor
• Vasodilation
• Vomiting
• Yawning

Rarely Occur:

• Anxiety
• Back pain
• Depression
• Headache
• Nervousness
• Pharyngitis
• Respiratory disorder
• Sinusitis

Post-Marketing Paxil Side Effects

Frequently Occur:

• Emotional lability
• Fast heart rate
• Hypertension
• Joint pain
• Pruritus
• Ringing in the ears
• Vertigo
• Weight gain

Sometimes Occur:

• Abnormal liver function tests
• Abnormal thinking
• Abnormality of accommodation (this is an eye/vision problem)
• Abnormally heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding
• Absence of menstrual periods
• Acne
• Alcohol abuse
• Allergic reaction
• Anemia
• Arthritis
• Arthrosis
• Asthma
• Ataxia translation lack of coordination; inability to coordinate voluntary muscle movements
• Blood in the urine
• Breast pain
• Bronchitis
• Bruxism
• Chills
• Colitis
• Conjunctivitis
• Contact dermatitis
• Cystitis
• Difficulty breathing
• Dilation of the pupils
• Dry skin
• Dyskinesia translation abnormal and/or involuntary movements
• Dysphagia
• Dystonia translation involuntary muscle contractions/spasms
• Ear pain
• Ecchymosis translation a purple or blue-black skin discoloration caused by bruising
• Eczema
• Edema translation fluid retention, excess fluid in body tissues
• Eructation
• Euphoria
• Excessive urination
• Excessive urination at night
• Eye pain
• Facial swelling
• Gastritis
• Gastroenteritis
• Gingivitis
• Glossitis
• Hair loss
• Hallucinations
• Hematoma
• Herpes simplex infection
• Hostility
• Hypertonia translation increased muscle tone/tension which may lead to stiffness
• Hyperventilation
• Hypesthesia translation numbness
• Hypokinesia translation slow muscle movements
• Incoordination
• Increase in liver enzyme levels - SGOT/SGPT (AST/ALT)
• Increased libido
• Increased salivation
• Keratoconjunctivitis translation inflammation of both the cornea and conjunctiva
• Lack of emotion
• Leukopenia
• Low blood pressure
• Lymphadenopathy
• Malaise translation general feeling of discomfort or not being well
• Manic reaction
• Middle ear infection
• Migraine
• Neck pain
• Neurosis
• Nose bleeds
• Painful urination
• Paralysis
• Paranoid reaction
• Peripheral edema
• Photosensitivity translation sensitivity to light
• Pneumonia
• Postural hypotension translation a drop in blood pressure that results in dizziness or light-headedness when standing up
• Purpura translation bleeding into the skin
• Pus in the urine
• Rectal bleeding
• Respiratory flu
• Slow heart rate
• Syncope translation fainting
• Thirst
• Ulcerative stomatitis
• Urinary incontinence
• Urinary retention
• Urinary urgency
• Urticaria translation hives
• Vaginitis
• Weight loss

Rarely Occur:

• Abnormal gait
• Abnormal lymphocytes
• Abnormal red blood cells
• Abortion
• Adreneregic syndrome
• Akinesia translation inability to move; loss of movement and/or difficulty beginning or maintaining motion
• Angina pectoris
• Angioedema translation swelling of the skin, mouth and throat
• Antisocial reaction
• Aphasia translation difficulty speaking or understanding the spoken word
• Aphthous stomatitis
• Atrial fibrillation
• Basophilia
• Bilirubinemia
• Bleeding from the uterus that is unrelated to menstruation
• Bleeding gums
• Bleeding in the eye
• Blepharitis translation eyelid inflammation
• Bloody diarrhea
• Breast atrophy
• Breast enlargement
• Breast inflammation and/or infection
• Bulimia
• Bundle branch block
• Bursitis
• Cardiospasm
• Cataract
• Cellulitis
• Cerebral ischemia
• Cerebrovascular accident
• Cholelithiasis translation the presence of stones (gallstones) in the gallbladder
• Choreoathetosis
• Circumoral paresthesias translation tingling and numbness around the mouth
• Congestive heart failure
• Convulsion
• Corneal ulcer
• Coughing up blood
• Crystal formations in the urine
• Deafness
• Decrease in reflexes
• Decreased sweating
• Dehydration
• Delirium
• Delusions
• Diabetes
• Distorted sense of smell
• Double vision
• Drooping eyelids
• Drug dependence
• Duodenitis
• Dysarthria translation difficulty articulating words
• Emphysema
• Endometrial disorder
• Enteritis
• Eosinophilia
• Epididymitis
• Erythema multiforme loose translation fine red rash
• Erythema nodosum translation red bumps, usually on the face, arms and legs
• Esophagitis
• Exfoliative dermatitis loose translation flaky/scaly, dry skin
• Extrapyramidal syndrome
• Fecal impaction
• Fecal incontinence
• Female lactation
• Fibrocystic breast
• Fungal dermatitis
• Furunculosis very loose translation cluster of multiple boils
• Generalized spasm
• Glaucoma
• Goiter
• Gout
• Grand mal convulsion
• Heart block
• Hepatitis
• Herpes zoster
• Hiccups
• High blood sugar
• High calcium levels
• High cholesterol
• High potassium levels
• Hirsutism translation excessive hair growth on the body and face
• Hyperalgesia translation increased sensitivity to pain
• Hyperphosphatemia
• Hyperthyroidism
• Hypochromic anemia
• Hypothyroidism
• Hysteria
• Ileitis
• Ileus
• Increase in alkaline phosphatase (an enzyme produced by the liver and bones)
• Increase in bleeding time
• Increase in BUN
• Increase in creatinine phosphokinase
• Increase in gamma globulins
• Increase in lactic dehydrogenase
• Increase in non-protein nitrogen (NPN)
• Increase in production of sputum (spit)
• Increase in reflexes
• Increased sensitivity to sound
• Inflammation of the spinal cord
• Intestinal obstruction
• Iron deficiency anemia
• Jaundice
• Ketosis
• Kidney pain
• Kidney stones
• Lazy eye
• Less than normal urination
• Leukocytosis
• Loss of taste
• Low calcium levels
• Low cardiac output
• Low potassium levels
• Lung fibrosis
• Lymphedema
• Lymphocytosis
• Maculopapular rash
• Manic-depressive reaction
• Melena translation blood in the stool, resulting in black, tarry stools
• Meningitis
• Microcytic anemia
• Moniliasis
• Monocytosis
• Mouth ulceration
• Muscle twitching
• Myocardial infarct
• Myocardial ischemia
• Myositis
• Neck rigidity
• Nephritis
• Nerve pain
• Neuropathy
• Night blindness
• Nodal arrhythmia
• Normocytic anemia
• Nystagmus translation rapid, involuntary, jerking movement of the eyes
• Osteoporosis
• Outer ear infection
• Pallor
• Pelvic pain
• Peptic ulcer
• Peripheral neuritis
• Peritonitis
• Phlebitis
• Photophobia translation fear of light
• Protruding or bulging eyeballs
• Psychosis
• Psychotic depression
• Pulmonary edema
• Pulmonary embolus
• Retinal bleeding
• Salivary gland enlargement
• Salpingitis translation infection of the fallopian tubes
• Seborrhea translation oily secretion of the skin, particularly the face and scalp
• Sepsis
• Sialadenitis translation inflamed salivary glands
• Skin discoloration
• Skin hypertrophy translation excessive skin growth
• Skin ulcer
• Stomach ulcer
• Stomatitis
• Stridor translation a high-pitched whistling sound that occurs when breathing
• Stupor
• Supraventricular extrasystoles
• Swelling of the conjunctiva
• Swelling of the tongue
• Tenosynovitis
• Tetany
• Thick white vaginal discharge
• Thrombocythemia
• Thrombocytopenia
• Thrombophlebitis
• Thrombosis
• Thyroiditis
• Tongue discoloration
• Tooth cavities
• Torticollis translation an involuntary twisting or turning of the neck to one side at an angle
• Trismus translation painful, prolonged spasms of the jaw muscle
• Ulcer
• Unequal uneven pupil size in both eyes
• Urethritis translation inflammation and/or infection of the urethra
• Urinary or bladder stone
• Uterine spasm
• Vaginal bleeding
• Vaginal moniliasis
• Varicose vein
• Vascular headache
• Ventricular extrasystoles
• Vesiculobullous rash
• Visual field defect
• Voice alteration
• Vomiting blood
• Withdrawal syndrome

The following Paxil side effects were reported AFTER Paxil was approved and being used by the general population. You should note though that they were reported voluntarily by folks in the general population so there is therefore no way to determine how often they occur or if there is even really a true connection between them and Paxil.

• Acute pancreatitis
• Acute renal failure
• Agranulocytosis translation a decrease or complete disappearance of white blood cells
• Allergic alveolitis translation allergic reaction that causes inflammation of a part of the lungs
• Anaphylaxis translation major allergic reaction
• Aplastic anemia
• Bone marrow aplasia
• Cogwheel rigidity
• Dystonia translation involuntary muscle contractions which result in abnormal twisting movements of the limbs and trunk
• Eclampsia
• Elevated liver function tests - sometimes there were deaths due to liver necrosis
• Guillain-Barré syndrome
• Hemolytic anemia
• Henoch-Schönlein purpura
• Hypertonia translation increased muscle tone and/or tension which leads to stiffness
• Low platelet count
• Neuroleptic malignant syndrome–like events
• Optic neuritis
• Pancytopenia translation low levels of all blood cells
• Porphyria
• Possible galactorrhea translation discharge of breast milk but without childbirth
• Possible prolactinemia translation deficiency or excess production of the hormone prolactin
• Priapism loose translation sustained painful erection
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Restlessness
• Serotonin syndrome
• Slow muscle movements
• Spasms of the vocal cord
• Status epilepticus
• Syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion (SIADH)
• Toxic epidermal necrolysis translation blistering and sloughing off of the skin and mucous membranes
• Tremor
• Trismus translation painful, prolonged spasms of the jaw muscle
• Ventricular fibrillation
• Ventricular tachycardia (including torsade de pointes)

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Drug Manufacturer Information

GlaxoSmithKline
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
1-888-825-5249

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May 1, 2009

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