Paxil CR (paroxetine hydrochloride)

What is Paxil?

Paxil, or Paxil CR, is a form of antidepressant that is prescribed for many types of social anxiety disorders, most notably for chronic or severe depression. It is known by a variety of other names including paroxetine hydrochloride, paroxetine hcl, Aropax, and Seroxat. This psychotropic medication is administered orally in various dosages from 20 mg to 50 mg.

Paroxetine hcl works as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). The physical condition that this drug treats can best be described as the brain's undesirable process of reabsorbing the serotonin that has already been released into the brain. This should not happen, so the lack of serotonin causes these social anxiety disorders. Paxil CR prevents this re-absorption from occurring to stabilize the chemical imbalance.

Paxil and Depression

All of us feel sad from time to time, but chronic depression is a constant state of increased anguish and anxiety that never seems to end. In past generations, the standard form of treatment was psychotherapy. Today, healthcare physicians are treating this medical condition themselves through the prescribing of Paxil CR.

Clinical depression will often interfere with the daily lives of those who suffer from this anxiety disorder. Patients can experience changes in sleeping patterns, either sleeping too much or too little. Other symptoms might include loss of libido, feelings of hopelessness or even suicide. Paxil paroxetine hcl helps to stabilize the serotonin levels in the brain that help to regulate depression.

Besides Depression, What is Paxil Used For?

Paxil CR has proven to be a highly effective medical treatment program for all sorts of mental and physical ailments. Perhaps the most common social anxiety disorder other than clinical depression would be obsessive-compulsive disorder, although paroxetine hcl is also an effective solution for posttraumatic stress syndrome, panic attacks, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), manic depression, bi-polar disorder, and even postpartum depression as well.

Paxil is also a known aid for women suffering from premenstrual dysphoric disorder. This medication helps to ease both the physical and psychological symptoms that occur before the menstruation cycle begins, which might include headaches or migraines and tingling in the extremities.

Side Effects of Paxil CR

The side effects of paroxetine hcl or Paxil are very typical of other SSRI medications. In additional to decreased libido and sleep disturbances, there can also be mild nausea, fatigue, dry mouth syndrome, diarrhea or constipation, and changes in mood including irritability and melancholy.

The more severe reactions can include seizures, fainting spells, thoughts of suicide and even hallucinations. Therefore, all possible side effects of Paxil CR should be instantly communicated to the prescribing physician. See also Paxil and weight gain.