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Paxil is an SSRI (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor) doctor-prescribed medication that has been approved for marketing in the United States to treat depression, panic disorder, social phobia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Although the manufacturer of Paxil states that it is non-addictive, scientific studies indicate otherwise. A comprehensive listing of these studies/articles can be found in a class action complaint filed in California by 35 people who experienced "severe withdrawal reactions" while trying to stop taking the drug.
"SSRI" stands for Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitor. The more well-known SSRIs are Prozac (Elli Lilly and Company), Zoloft (Pfizer) and Paxil (Glaxo SmithKline). Serotonin is one of hundreds of chemicals that affect brain function. It is not known how SSRIs really work, but because it was once thought that depressed people have low serotonin levels, it was thought that increasing the levels of serotonin may relieve a depressed condition. Serotonin has long been associated with violence and suicide.
The lawsuit, filed in New York State Supreme Court, said Glaxo suppressed four studies that failed to demonstrate the drug was effective in treating children and adolescents and suggested a possible increase of suicidal thinking and acts.
It also said an internal 1999 Glaxo document showed that the company intended to "manage the dissemination of data in order to minimize any potential negative commercial impact."
Based on the available scientific evidence, Paxil causes dependency/withdrawal syndrome in a significant percentage of those who take it. Individuals trying to come off of Paxil usually experience one or more of the following complaints:
Body as a whole: Malaise (a vague feeling of bodily discomfort), pain.
Cardiovascular: Hypertension, syncope (a sudden loss of strength, a temporary suspension of consciousness due to cerebral anemia), tachycardia (excessive rapidity in the action of the heart).
Dermatological: Pruritus (intense itching).
Gastrointestinal: Nausea and vomiting.
Metabolic and Nutritional: Weight gain, weight loss.
Respiratory: Cough increased, rhinitis (inflammation of the mucus membrane of the nose).
Nervous System: Central Nervous System stimulation, concentration impaired, depression, emotional lability (emotional instability), vertigo (a hallucination of movement; a sensation as if the external world were revolving around the patient or as if he himself were revolving in space), akinesia (the temporary paralysis of a muscle, can include intense pain), amnesia, ataxia (failure of muscular coordination or irregularity of muscle action), convulsion, depersonalization, hallucinations, hyperkinesias (abnormally increased motor function or activity), hypertonia (a condition of excessive tone, tension or activity, can include increased blood pressure), incoordination, lack of emotion, manic reaction, paranoid reaction, thinking abnormal.
In addition to the above, some people who take Paxil become aggressive, violent and even suicidal. There may be some early indications of a problem preceding these reactions, such as extreme agitation or unbearable inner restlessness (akathisia or hyperkinesia).
If you are currently taking Paxil and are concerned about side effects or dependency, you should consult your physician and voice your concerns.