Paroxetine

Dosage ; 20mg OD (Morning) (max.50mg daily but 40mg in elderly).

Paroxetine Brands

Brand Name Manufacturer Name Distributor Drug Strength Packaging Formulation Formulation Strength Price
Adco-paroxetine Adcock ingram E.A. Adcock ingram E.A. 20mg 30 Tablet per tablet KES 2,625.00
Seroxat GlaxoSmithkline GlaxoSmithKline 20mg 30 Tablet per tablet KES 3,623.70
Paroxetin Metro 20mg 30s Tablet per tablet KES 800.00
Paroxetine More info
Mode Of Action

Combined serotonin (5-HT) and noradrenaline (NA) re-uptake inhibitor e.g. Duloxetine

Drug Indication Depression; obsessive-compulsive disorders; panic disorders with / without agoraphobia.
Precautions Renal impairment; hepatic impairment; diabetes; epilepsy; extra-pyramidal reactions; discontinue if seizure develop; elderly; withdraw gradually; ECT therapy.
Contra-Indications Safety in pregnancy, lactation and children has not been established; severe renal failure; manic phase of depression; within 14 days of MAOI administration; avoid MAOI 5 weeks after discontinuation of paroxetine (concurrent use results in confusion, agitation, restlessness, GI symptoms, hyperpyretic episodes, severe convulsions, hypertensive crises, the serotonin syndrome, or death); hypersensitivity to paroxetine and related drugs.
Side Effects Headache; GI disturbances; dry mouth; Extrapyramidal symptoms; galactorrhoea; hyponatreamia; possible seizures; rash; asthenia; palpitation; vasodilatation; insomnia; drowsiness; nervousness; anxiety; tremor.
Dosage 20mg OD (Morning) (max.50mg daily but 40mg in elderly).
Special Information Less sedative than tricylics
Pregnancy Category Category B2
Pregnancy Category Description Drugs which have been taken by only a small number of pregnant women and women of child-bearing age with no any established rise in the frequency of malformations or other direct or indirect detrimental effects on the foetus having been noted. Studies in animals are inadequate or lacking but available data show no evi-dence of an increased occurrence of foetal damage. Studies in animals are inadequate or lacking but available data show no evi-dence of an increased occurrence of foetal damage.
Drug Category DRUGS ACTING ON CNS
Drug Sub-Category Antidepressants, anxiolytics

Dosing: Adult

Major depressive disorder: Oral:

PaxilŽ, PexevaŽ: Initial: 20 mg once daily, preferably in the morning; increase if needed by 10 mg/day increments at intervals of at least 1 week; maximum dose: 50 mg/day

Paxil CRŽ: Initial: 25 mg once daily; increase if needed by 12.5 mg/day increments at intervals of at least 1 week; maximum dose: 62.5 mg/day

Generalized anxiety disorder (PaxilŽ, PexevaŽ): Oral: Initial: 20 mg once daily, preferably in the morning (if dose is increased, adjust in increments of 10 mg/day at 1-week intervals); doses of 20-50 mg/day were used in clinical trials, however, no greater benefit was seen with doses >20 mg.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (PaxilŽ, PexevaŽ): Oral: Initial: 20 mg once daily, preferably in the morning; increase if needed by 10 mg/day increments at intervals of at least 1 week; recommended dose: 40 mg/day; range: 20-60 mg/day; maximum dose: 60 mg/day

Panic disorder: Oral:

PaxilŽ, PexevaŽ: Initial: 10 mg once daily, preferably in the morning; increase if needed by 10 mg/day increments at intervals of at least 1 week; recommended dose: 40 mg/day; range: 10-60 mg/day; maximum dose: 60 mg/day

Paxil CRŽ: Initial: 12.5 mg once daily; increase if needed by 12.5 mg/day at intervals of at least 1 week; maximum dose: 75 mg/day

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (Paxil CRŽ): Oral: Initial: 12.5 mg once daily in the morning; may be increased to 25 mg/day; dosing changes should occur at intervals of at least 1 week. May be given daily throughout the menstrual cycle or limited to the luteal phase.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PaxilŽ): Oral: Initial: 20 mg once daily, preferably in the morning; increase if needed by 10 mg/day increments at intervals of at least 1 week; range: 20-50 mg. Limited data suggest doses of 40 mg/day were not more efficacious than 20 mg/day.

Social anxiety disorder: Oral:

PaxilŽ: Initial: 20 mg once daily, preferably in the morning; recommended dose: 20 mg/day; range: 20-60 mg/day; doses >20 mg may not have additional benefit

Paxil CRŽ: Initial: 12.5 mg once daily, preferably in the morning; may be increased by 12.5 mg/day at intervals of at least 1 week; maximum dose: 37.5 mg/day

Menopause-associated vasomotor symptoms (unlabeled use, Paxil CRŽ): Oral: 12.5-25 mg/day

Note: Upon discontinuation of paroxetine therapy, gradually taper dose:

PaxilŽ, PexevaŽ: 10 mg/day at weekly intervals; when 20 mg/day dose is reached, continue for 1 week before treatment is discontinued. Some patients may need to be titrated to 10 mg/day for 1 week before discontinuation.

Paxil CRŽ: Patients receiving 37.5 mg/day in clinical trials had their dose decreased by 12.5 mg/day to a dose of 25 mg/day and remained at a dose of 25 mg/day for 1 week before treatment was discontinued.

Dosing: Pediatric

Depression (unlabeled use; not recommended by FDA): Oral: Initial: 10 mg/day and adjusted upward on an individual basis to 20 mg/day

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (unlabeled use): Oral: Initial: 10 mg/day and titrate up as necessary to 60 mg/day

Self-injurious behavior (unlabeled use): Oral: 20 mg/day

Social anxiety disorder (unlabeled use): Oral: 2.5-15 mg/day

Dosing: Geriatric

Major depressive disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic attack, social anxiety disorder:

PaxilŽ, PexevaŽ: Oral: Initial: 10 mg/day; increase if needed by 10 mg/day increments at intervals of at least 1 week; maximum dose: 40 mg/day

Paxil CRŽ: Initial: 12.5 mg/day; increase if needed by 12.5 mg/day increments at intervals of at least 1 week; maximum dose: 50 mg/day

Note: Upon discontinuation of paroxetine therapy, gradually taper dose:

PaxilŽ, PexevaŽ: 10 mg/day at weekly intervals; when 20 mg/day dose is reached, continue for 1 week before treatment is discontinued. Some patients may need to be titrated to 10 mg/day for 1 week before discontinuation.

Paxil CRŽ: Patients receiving 37.5 mg/day in clinical trials had their dose decreased by 12.5 mg/day to a dose of 25 mg/day and remained at a dose of 25 mg/day for 1 week before treatment was discontinued.

Dosing: Renal Impairment

Clcr <30 mL/minute: Mean plasma concentrations ~4 times that seen in normal function.

Clcr 30-60 mL/minute: Plasma concentrations 2 times that seen in normal function.

PaxilŽ, PexevaŽ: Adults: Initial: 10 mg/day; increase if needed by 10 mg/day increments at intervals of at least 1 week; maximum dose: 40 mg/day

Paxil CRŽ: Initial: 12.5 mg/day; increase if needed by 12.5 mg/day increments at intervals of at least 1 week; maximum dose: 50 mg/day

Dosing: Hepatic Impairment

In hepatic dysfunction, plasma concentration is 2 times that seen in normal function.

PaxilŽ, PexevaŽ: Initial: 10 mg/day; increase if needed by 10 mg/day increments at intervals of at least 1 week; maximum dose: 40 mg/day

Paxil CRŽ: Initial: 12.5 mg/day; increase if needed by 12.5 mg/day increments at intervals of at least 1 week; maximum dose: 50 mg/day