Doctors On Call

Paxil – a useful tool against depression and anxiety

If you didn’t know this, depression is the most treated condition in the developed countries. In the last half a century or so, depression finally became recognized as an illness that needs to be addressed both by introducing treatments that do not include drugs, but also to develop new medications that will help the patients with their battle against depression. It is very important to differentiate between occasional bouts of depression that are caused by outside influences and that affect almost everyone at one point in their life from the chronic depression that makes it impossible for the patient to lead a healthy lifestyle. These chronic depressive states are known as major depressive disorder which needs to be treated with medications. One of the most commonly used antidepressants are SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors that are superior to older tricyclic antidepressants as they produce much less side effects and are far less toxic to the liver and the kidneys. Paxil is an SSRI and it was introduced in 1992. Over the years, many uses for Paxil have been discovered, including obsessive compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder as well as premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Paxil is also the first antidepressant that has been approved for treating panic attacks in the USA. Some other uses of Paxil include premature ejaculation, premenstrual syndrome, hot flashes, diabetic neuropathy, tension headaches and there is also evidence of Paxil being useful in treating compulsive gambling. As you can see from all of the above, Paxil is much more than just an antidepressant, although it is still primarily used for treating major depressive disorder.

Get familiar with a Paxil treatment

Before your doctor can safely prescribe Paxil to you, they will need to get acquainted with your medical history and also with your current medical condition. You need to mention all conditions that are ailing you or that have ailed you in the past, such as kidney or liver disease of any kind, blood clotting or bleeding disorders, seizure disorders like epilepsy, manic depression or if you have ever been addicted to drugs or alcohol, as Paxil can also be habit forming. If you wish to avoid growing dependant on Paxil, you need to adhere to the prescribed regimen, both when it comes to dosage, but also when it comes to the duration of your treatment. If you feel depressed much more severely than before taking Paxil, immediately contact your doctor as this means that your treatment is not going as it was supposed to. Also, make sure that you are familiar with everything when it comes to your treatment and the way in which you ingest Paxil. Also, familiarize yourself with any possible side effects and interactions with other medications.

If you remember all of this, you will see why Paxil is one of the most commonly used antidepressants. It simply works.