Patient/caregiver was educated on side effects of using Paxil as follows:
Central nervous system side effects
- Paxil can induce some dizziness and make one drowsy. Starting the medication at a low dose, watching for the response, and gradually changing the dose, to help optimum control of your symptoms, can contribute to controlling/reducing the risk for drowsiness and dizziness due to the medication. If the dizziness becomes bothersome, report it to your physician and other health care personnel, for any change in plan of care to be considered. Stay away from activities, such as, driving and operating heavy machinery, until you are used to the side effects caused by paxil intake.
- Also, avoid taking paxil together with any other medications you may have on your list that also carry potential to cause dizziness, as both the medications could complement each other on causing dizziness, posing a severe threat. Observing a 1 -2 hour interval between taking such medications can help prevent episodes of dizziness and risk.
- Paxil use can also result in sleep disturbance with poor quality sleep, hallucinations, and compromised memory. If the sleep disturbance becomes bothersome, report it to your physician for any appropriate recommendation. Observing discipline with sleep time and compliance with recommended exercise schedule can help promote sleep. Avoiding stimuli, such as computer, radio, and television an hour before bedtime can help prevent disturbance and train the sleep pattern. Avoid drinking excessive caffeinated drinks and alcoholic beverages, as they contribute heavily to insomnia and sleep disturbance.
- Paxil use carries risk of deterioration of mood disorders and worsening of clinical symptoms of mood disorders. Individuals can present with complaints such as, feeling low, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, gross appetite changes, impulsiveness, agitation, aggression, and suicidal thoughts. Report to your physician regarding these complaints promptly, for any change in plan of care to be considered.
- Continue taking paxil, as recommended, even if your mood feels better. Discontinuing the medication abruptly, without your physician’s recommendation, can result in disruption of chemical balance in the brain, resulting in worsening of mood disorder. Individuals can present with severe withdrawal symptoms, such as, listlessness, lack of energy, exacerbation of depressive symptoms, anxiety, sleep disturbances, appetite changes, hallucinations, and mania. Discontinuing the medication should be only upon recommendation by your physician.
Gastrointestinal side-effects
- Paxil use can result in common general constitutional symptoms such as, nausea and vomiting, especially when taken on empty stomach. Taking dose of paxil with a glass of water, and some food or snack can help avoid having unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms with the medication.
- Paxil use can increase the activity of bowels and induce diarrhea. Proper hydration measures and compliance with daily fluid intake & rehydration measures recommended can help with relief from fluid and electrolyte loss secondary to diarrhea.
- Paxil use can also induce extreme dry mouth and constipation. Sucking on a sugar free hard candy can help with symptomatic relief of dry mouth. Compliance with daily fluid intake recommendations and hydration measures can help with relief from constipation. Observing compliance with fiber intake recommendations in the diet can also help with preventing constipation with paxil. If you experience any further bothersome constipation, report it to your physician for a recommendation on laxative/stool softener use.
