Pexeva Side Effects

Generic Name: paroxetine,paroxetine hydrochloride

Please note - some side effects for Pexeva may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.

Side Effects of Pexeva - for the Consumer

Pexeva

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Pexeva:

Anxiety; blurred vision; constipation; decreased sexual desire or ability; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; gas; increased sweating; increased urination; loss of appetite; nausea; nervousness; numbness or tingling of the skin; stomach upset; trouble sleeping; weakness; yawning.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur when using Pexeva:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); bizarre behavior; black or bloody stools; chest pain; confusion; decreased concentration; decreased coordination; exaggerated reflexes; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or sore throat; hallucinations; memory loss; new or worsening mental or mood changes (eg, agitation, panic attacks, aggressiveness, impulsiveness, irritability, hostility, exaggerated feeling of well-being, restlessness, or inability to sit still); persistent or severe ringing in the ears; persistent, painful erection; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; seizures; severe or persistent anxiety or trouble sleeping; severe or persistent headache or dizziness; significant weight loss; stomach pain; suicidal thoughts or attempts; tremor; unusual bone pain or unexplained swelling, tenderness, or bruising; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual weakness; vision changes; worsening of depression.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

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Pexeva Side Effects - for the Professional

Pexeva

Associated with Discontinuation of Treatment

Twenty percent (1199/6145) of patients treated with paroxetine in worldwide clinical trials in MDD and 11.8% (64/542), 9.4% (44/469), and 10.7% (79/735) of patients treated with paroxetine in worldwide trials in OCD, PD, and GAD, respectively, discontinued treatment due to an adverse event. The most common events (≥1%) associated with discontinuation and considered to be drug related (ie, those events associated with dropout at a rate approximately twice or greater for paroxetine compared to placebo) included the following:

Where numbers are not provided the incidence of the adverse events in patients treated with paroxetine was not >1% or was not greater than or equal to two times the incidence of placebo.
1 Incidence corrected for gender.
	MDD		OCD		PD		GAD
	Paroxetine	Placebo	Paroxetine	Placebo	Paroxetine	Placebo	Paroxetine	Placebo
CNS
Somnolence	2.3%	0.7%	-	-	1.9%	0.3%	2.0%	0.2%
Insomnia	-	-	1.7%	0%	1.3%	0.3%	-	-
Agitation	1.1%	0.5%	-	-	-	-	-	-
Tremor	1.1%	0.3%	-
Dizziness	-	-	1.5%	0%	-	-	1.0%	0.2%
Gastrointestinal
Constipation	-	-	1.1%	0%	-	-	-	-
Nausea	3.2%	1.1%	1.9%	0%	3.2%	1.2%	2.0%	0.2%
Diarrhea	1.0%	0.3%	-	-	-	-	-	-
Dry mouth	1.0%	0.3%	-	-	-	-	-	-
Vomiting	1.0%	0.3%	-	-	-	-	-	-
Other
Asthenia	1.6%	0.4%	1.9%	0.4%	-	-	1.8%	0.2%
Abnormal       Ejaculation 1	1.6%	0%	2.1%	0%	-	-	2.5%	0.5%
Sweating	1.0%	0.3%	-	-	-	-	1.1%	0.2%
Impotence 1	-	-	1.5%	0%	-	-	-	-

Commonly Observed Adverse Events

Major Depressive Disorder

The most commonly observed adverse events associated with the use of paroxetine (incidence of 5% or greater and incidence for paroxetine at least twice that for placebo, derived from Table 2 below) were: asthenia, sweating, nausea, decreased appetite, somnolence, dizziness, insomnia, tremor, nervousness, ejaculatory disturbance, and other male genital disorders.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

The most commonly observed adverse events associated with the use of paroxetine (incidence of 5% or greater and incidence for paroxetine at least twice that of placebo, derived from Table 3 below) were: nausea, dry mouth, decreased appetite, constipation, dizziness, somnolence, tremor, sweating, impotence, and abnormal ejaculation.

Panic Disorder

The most commonly observed adverse events associated with the use of paroxetine (incidence of 5% or greater and incidence for paroxetine at least twice that for placebo, derived from Table 3 below) were: asthenia, sweating, decreased appetite, libido decreased, tremor, abnormal ejaculation, female genital disorders, and impotence.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

The most commonly observed adverse events associated with the use of paroxetine (incidence of 5% or greater and incidence for paroxetine at least twice that for placebo, derived from Table 4) were: asthenia, infection, constipation, decreased appetite, dry mouth, nausea, libido decreased, somnolence, tremor, sweating, and abnormal ejaculation.

Incidence in Controlled Clinical Trials

The prescriber should be aware that the figures in the tables following cannot be used to predict the incidence of side effects in the course of usual medical practice where patient characteristics and other factors differ from those that prevailed in the clinical trials. Similarly, the cited frequencies cannot be compared with figures obtained from other clinical investigations involving different treatments, uses, and investigators. The cited figures, however, do provide the prescribing physician with some basis for estimating the relative contribution of drug and nondrug factors to the side effect incidence rate in the populations studied.

Major Depressive Disorder

Table 2 enumerates adverse events that occurred at an incidence of 1% or more among paroxetine-treated patients who participated in short-term (6-week) placebo-controlled trials in which patients were dosed in a range of 20 to 50 mg/day. Reported adverse events were classified using a standard COSTART-based Dictionary terminology.

TABLE 2

1 Events reported by at least 1% of patients treated with paroxetine are included, except the following events which had an incidence on placebo ≥ paroxetine: abdominal pain, agitation, back pain, chest pain, CNS stimulation, fever, increased appetite, myoclonus, pharyngitis, postural hypotension, respiratory disorder (includes mostly “cold symptoms” or “URI”), trauma, and vomiting.
2 Includes mostly “lump in throat” and “tightness in throat.”
3 Percentage corrected for gender.
4 Mostly “ejaculatory delay.”
5 Includes “anorgasmia,” “erectile difficulties,” “delayed ejaculation/orgasm,” and “sexual dysfunction” and “impotence.”
6 Includes mostly “difficulty with micturition” and “urinary hesitancy.”
7 Includes mostly “anorgasmia” and “difficulty reaching climax/orgasm.”
Treatment-Emergent Adverse Experience Incidence in Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials for MDD1
Body System	Preferred Term	Paroxetine (n=421)	Placebo (n=421)
Body as a Whole	Headache	18%	17%
	Asthenia	15%	6%
Cardiovascular	Palpitation	3%	1%
	Vasodilation	3%	1%
Dermatologic	Sweating	11%	2%
	Rash	2%	1%
Gastrointestinal	Nausea	26%	9%
	Dry Mouth	18%	12%
	Constipation	14%	9%
	Diarrhea	12%	8%
	Decreased Appetite	6%	2%
	Flatulence	4%	2%
	Oropharynx Disorder 2	2%	0%
	Dyspepsia	2%	1%
Musculoskeletal	Myopathy	2%	1%
	Myalgia	2%	1%
	Myasthenia	1%	0%
Nervous System	Somnolence	23%	9%
	Dizziness	13%	6%
	Insomnia	13%	6%
	Tremor	8%	2%
	Nervousness	5%	3%
	Anxiety	5%	3%
	Paresthesia	4%	2%
	Libido Decreased	3%	0%
	Drugged Feeling	2%	1%
	Confusion	1%	0%
Respiration	Yawn	4%	0%
Special Senses	Blurred Vision	4%	1%
	Taste Perversion	2%	0%
Urogenital System	Ejaculatory Disturbance 3,4	13%	0%
	Other Male Genital Disorders 3,5	10%	0%
	Urinary Frequency	3%	1%
	Urination Disorder 6	3%	0%
	Female Genital Disorders 3,7	2%	0%

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Panic Disorder

Table 3 enumerates adverse events that occurred at a frequency of 2% or more among OCD patients on paroxetine who participated in placebo-controlled trials of 12-weeks duration in which patients were dosed in a range of 20 to 60 mg/day or among patients with PD on paroxetine who participated in placebo-controlled trials of 10- to 12-weeks duration in which patients were dosed in a range of 10 to 60 mg/day.

TABLE 3

1 Events reported by at least 2% of OCD or PD paroxetine-treated patients are included, except the following events which had an incidence on placebo ≥ paroxetine [OCD]: abdominal pain, agitation, anxiety, back pain, cough increased, depression, headache, hyperkinesia, infection, paresthesia, pharyngitis, respiratory disorder, rhinitis, and sinusitis. [PD]: abnormal dreams, abnormal vision, chest pain, cough increased, depersonalization, depression, dysmenorrhea, dyspepsia, flu syndrome, headache, infection, myalgia, nervousness, palpitation, paresthesia, pharyngitis, rash, respiratory disorder, sinusitis, taste perversion, trauma, urination impaired, and vasodilation.
2 Percentage corrected for gender.
Treatment-Emergent Adverse Experience Incidence in Clinical Trials for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Panic Disorder1
		Obsessive Compulsive Disorder		Panic Disorder
Body System	Preferred Term	Paroxetine (n=542)	Placebo (n=265)	Paroxetine (n=469)	Placebo (n=324)
Body as a Whole	Asthenia	22%	14%	14%	5%
	Abdominal Pain	-	-	4%	3%
	Chest Pain	3%	2%	-	-
	Back Pain	-	-	3%	2%
	Chills	2%	1%	2%	1%
Cardiovascular	Vasodilation	4%	1%	-	-
	Palpitation	2%	0%	-	-
Dermatologic	Sweating	9%	3%	14%	6%
	Rash	3%	2%	-	-
Gastrointestinal	Nausea	23%	10%	23%	17%
	Dry Mouth	18%	9%	18%	11%
	Constipation	16%	6%	8%	5%
	Diarrhea	10%	10%	12%	7%
	Decreased Appetite	9%	3%	7%	3%
	Increased Appetite	4%	3%	2%	1%
Nervous System	Insomnia	24%	13%	18%	10%
	Somnolence	24%	7%	19%	11%
	Dizziness	12%	6%	14%	10%
	Tremor	11%	1%	9%	1%
	Nervousness	9%	8%	-	-
	Libido Decreased	7%	4%	9%	1%
	Agitation	-	-	5%	4%
	Anxiety	-	-	5%	4%
	Abnormal Dreams	4%	1%	-	-
	Concentration Impaired	3%	2%	-	-
	Depersonalization	3%	0%	-	-
	Myoclonus	3%	0%	3%	2%
	Amnesia	2%	1%	-	-
Respiratory System	Rhinitis	-	-	3%	0%
Special Senses	Abnormal Vision	4%	2%	-	-
	Taste Perversion	2%	0%	-	-
Urogenital System	Abnormal Ejaculation 2	23%	1%	21%	1%
	Female Genital Disorder 2	3%	0%	9%	1%
	Impotence 2	8%	1%	5%	0%
	Urinary Frequency	3%	1%	2%	0%
	Urination Impaired	3%	0%	-	-
	Urinary Tract Infection	2%	1%	2%	1%

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Table 4 enumerates adverse events that occurred at a frequency of 2% or more among GAD patients on paroxetine who participated in placebo-controlled trials of 8-weeks duration in which patients were dosed in a range of 10 mg/day to 50 mg/day.

TABLE 4

1 Events reported by at least 2% of GAD patients treated with paroxetine are included, except the following events which had an incidence on placebo ≥ paroxetine: abdominal pain, back pain, trauma, dyspepsia, myalgia, and pharyngitis.
2 Percentage corrected for gender.
Treatment-Emergent Adverse Experience Incidence in Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials for Generalized Anxiety Disorder1
Body System	Preferred Term	Paroxetine (n=735)	Placebo (n=529)
Body as a Whole	Asthenia	14%	6%
	Headache	17%	14%
	Infection	6%	3%
Cardiovascular	Vasodilation	3%	1%
Dermatologic	Sweating	6%	2%
Gastrointestinal	Nausea	20%	5%
	Dry Mouth	11%	5%
	Constipation	10%	2%
	Diarrhea	9%	7%
	Decreased Appetite	5%	1%
	Vomiting	3%	2%
Nervous System	Insomnia	11%	8%
	Somnolence	15%	5%
	Dizziness	6%	5%
	Tremor	5%	1%
	Nervousness	4%	3%
	Libido Decreased	9%	2%
Respiratory System	Respiratory Disorder	7%	5%
	Sinusitis	4%	3%
	Yawn	4%	-
Special Senses	Abnormal Vision	2%	1%
Urogenital System	Abnormal Ejaculation 2	25%	2%
	Female Genital Disorder 2	4%	1%
	Impotence 2	4%	3%

Dose Dependency of Adverse Events: A comparison of adverse event rates in a fixed-dose study comparing paroxetine 10, 20, 30, and 40 mg/day with placebo in the treatment of MDD revealed a clear dose dependency for some of the more common adverse events associated with paroxetine use, as shown in the following table:

TABLE 5

*Rule for including adverse events in table: incidence at least 5% for one of paroxetine groups and ≥ twice the placebo incidence for at least one paroxetine group.
Treatment-Emergent Adverse Experience Incidence in a Dose-Comparison Trial in the Treatment of MDD*
Body System/    Preferred Term	Placebo	Paroxetine
	n=51	10 mg n=102	20 mg n=104	30 mg n=101	40 mg n=102
Body as a Whole
Asthenia	0.0%	2.9%	10.6%	13.9%	12.7%
Dermatology
Sweating	2.0%	1.0%	6.7%	8.9%	11.8%
Gastrointestinal
Constipation	5.9%	4.9%	7.7%	9.9%	12.7%
Decreased Appetite	2.0%	2.0%	5.8%	4.0%	4.9%
Diarrhea	7.8%	9.8%	19.2%	7.9%	14.7%
Dry Mouth	2.0%	10.8%	18.3%	15.8%	20.6%
Nausea	13.7%	14.7%	26.9%	34.7%	36.3%
Nervous System
Anxiety	0.0%	2.0%	5.8%	5.9%	5.9%
Dizziness	3.9%	6.9%	6.7%	8.9%	12.7%
Nervousness	0.0%	5.9%	5.8%	4.0%	2.9%
Paresthesia	0.0%	2.9%	1.0%	5.0%	5.9%
Somnolence	7.8%	12.7%	18.3%	20.8%	21.6%
Tremor	0.0%	0.0%	7.7%	7.9%	14.7%
Special Senses
Blurred Vision	2.0%	2.9%	2.9%	2.0%	7.8%
Urogenital System
Abnormal Ejaculation	0.0%	5.8%	6.5%	10.6%	13.0%
Impotence	0.0%	1.9%	4.3%	6.4%	1.9%
Male Genital Disorders	0.0%	3.8	8.7%	6.4%	3.7%

In a fixed-dose study comparing placebo and paroxetine 20, 40, and 60 mg in the treatment of OCD, there was no clear relationship between adverse events and the dose of paroxetine to which patients were assigned. No new adverse events were observed in the paroxetine 60 mg dose group compared to any of the other treatment groups.

In a fixed-dose study comparing placebo and paroxetine 10, 20, and 40 mg in the treatment of PD, there was no clear relationship between adverse events and the dose of paroxetine to which patients were assigned, except for asthenia, dry mouth, anxiety, libido decreased, tremor, and abnormal ejaculation.

In a fixed-dose study comparing placebo and 20 and 40 mg of paroxetine in the treatment of GAD, for most of the adverse events, there was no clear relationship between adverse events and the dose of paroxetine to which patients were assigned, except for the following adverse events: asthenia, constipation, and abnormal ejaculation.

In flexible dose studies, no new adverse events were observed in patients receiving paroxetine 60 mg compared to any of the other treatment groups.

Adaptation to Certain Adverse Events: Over a 4- to 6-week period, there was evidence of adaptation to some adverse events with continued therapy (eg, nausea and dizziness), but less to other effects (eg, dry mouth, somnolence, and asthenia).

Male and Female Sexual Dysfunction with SSRIs: Although changes in sexual desire, sexual performance, and sexual satisfaction often occur as manifestations of a psychiatric disorder, they may also be a consequence of pharmacologic treatment. In particular, some evidence suggests that SSRIs can cause such untoward sexual experiences.

Reliable estimates of the incidence and severity of untoward experiences involving sexual desire, performance, and satisfaction are difficult to obtain, however, in part because patients and physicians may be reluctant to discuss them. Accordingly, estimates of the incidence of untoward sexual experience and performance cited in product labeling are likely to underestimate their actual incidence.

In placebo-controlled clinical trials involving more than 3200 patients the ranges for the reported incidence of sexual side effects in males and females with MDD, OCD, PD, social anxiety disorder, GAD, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are displayed in Table 6 .

TABLE 6

Incidence of Sexual Adverse Events in Controlled Clinical Trials
	Paroxetine	Placebo
n (males)	1446	1042
Decreased Libido	6% - 15%	0% - 5%
Ejaculatory Disturbance	13% - 28%	0% - 2%
Impotence	2% - 9%	0% - 3%
n (females)	1822	1340
Decreased Libido	0% - 9%	0% - 2%
Orgasmic Disturbance	2% - 9%	0% - 1%

There are no adequate and well-controlled studies examining sexual dysfunction with paroxetine treatment.

Paroxetine treatment has been associated with several cases of priapism. In those cases with a known outcome, patients recovered without sequelae.

While it is difficult to know the precise risk of sexual dysfunction associated with the use of SSRIs, physicians should routinely inquire about such possible side effects.

Weight and Vital Sign Changes: Significant weight loss may be an undesirable result of treatment with paroxetine for some patients but, on average, patients in controlled trials had minimal (about 1 pound) weight loss vs smaller changes on placebo and active control. No significant changes in vital signs (systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse, and temperature) were observed in patients treated with paroxetine in controlled clinical trials.

ECG Changes: In an analysis of ECGs obtained in 682 patients treated with paroxetine and 415 patients treated with placebo in controlled clinical trials, no clinically significant changes were seen in the ECGs of either group.

Liver Function Tests: In placebo-controlled clinical trials, patients treated with paroxetine exhibited abnormal values on liver function tests at no greater rate than that seen in placebo-treated patients. In particular, the paroxetine vs placebo comparisons for alkaline phosphatase, SGOT, SGPT, and bilirubin revealed no differences in the percentage of patients with marked abnormalities.

Hallucinations: In pooled clinical trials of immediate-release paroxetine hydrochloride, hallucinations were observed in 22 of 9089 patients receiving drug and 4 of 3187 patients receiving placebo.

Other Events Observed During the Premarketing Evaluation of Paroxetine

During its premarketing assessment in MDD, multiple doses of paroxetine were administered to 6145 patients in phase 2 and 3 studies. The conditions and duration of exposure to paroxetine varied greatly and included (in overlapping categories) open and double-blind studies, uncontrolled and controlled studies, inpatient and outpatient studies, and fixed-dose and titration studies. During premarketing clinical trials in OCD, PD, and GAD, 542, 469, and 735 patients, respectively, received multiple doses of paroxetine. Untoward events associated with this exposure were recorded by clinical investigators using terminology of their own choosing. Consequently, it is not possible to provide a meaningful estimate of the proportion of individuals experiencing adverse events without first grouping similar types of untoward events into a smaller number of standardized event categories.

In the tabulations that follow, reported adverse events were classified using a standard COSTART-based Dictionary terminology. The frequencies presented, therefore, represent the proportion of the 9089 patients exposed to multiple doses of paroxetine who experienced an event of the type cited on at least one occasion while receiving paroxetine. All reported events are included except those already listed in Tables 2 to 4, those reported in terms so general as to be uninformative, and those events where a drug cause was remote.

It is important to emphasize that although the events reported occurred during treatment with paroxetine, they were not necessarily caused by it.

Events are further categorized by body system and listed in order of decreasing frequency according to the following definitions: frequent adverse events are those occurring on one or more occasions in at least 1/100 patients (only those not already listed in the tabulated results from placebo-controlled trials appear in this listing); infrequent adverse events are those occurring in 1/100 to 1/1000 patients; rare events are those occurring in fewer than 1/1000 patients. Events of major clinical importance are also described in the PRECAUTIONS section.

Body as a Whole:infrequent : allergic reaction, chills, face edema, malaise, neck pain; rare: adrenergic syndrome, cellulitis, moniliasis, neck rigidity, pelvic pain, peritonitis, sepsis, ulcer. Cardiovascular System: frequent: hypertension, tachycardia; infrequent : bradycardia, hematoma, hypotension, migraine, syncope; rare: angina pectoris, arrhythmia nodal, atrial fibrillation, bundle branch block, cerebral ischemia, cerebrovascular accident, congestive heart failure, heart block, low cardiac output, myocardial infarction, myocardial ischemia, pallor, phlebitis, pulmonary embolus, supraventricular extrasystoles, thrombophlebitis, thrombosis, varicose vein, vascular headache, ventricular extrasystoles. Digestive System:infrequent: bruxism, colitis, dysphagia, eructation, gastritis, gastroenteritis, gingivitis, glossitis, increased salivation, liver function tests abnormal, rectal hemorrhage, ulcerative stomatitis; rare: aphthous stomatitis, bloody diarrhea, bulimia, cardiospasm, chlolelithiasis, duodenitis, enteritis, esophagitis, fecal impactions, fecal incontinence, gum hemorrhage, hematemesis, hepatitis, ileitis, ileus, intestinal obstruction, jaundice, melena, mouth ulceration, peptic ulcer, salivary gland enlargement, sialadenitis, stomach ulcer, stomatitis, tongue discoloration, tongue edema, tooth caries. Endocrine System:rare: diabetes mellitus, goiter, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroiditis. Hemic and Lymphatic Systems:infrequent: anemia, leukopenia, lymphadenopathy, purpura; rare: abnormal erythrocytes, basophilia, bleeding time increased, eosinophilia, hypochromic anemia, iron deficiency anemia, leukocytosis, lymphedema, abnormal lymphocytes, lymphocytosis, microcytic anemia, monocytosis, normocytic anemia, thrombocythemia, thrombocytopenia. Metabolic and Nutritional:frequent : weight gain; infrequent: edema, peripheral edema, SGOT increased, SGPT increased, thirst, weight loss; rare: alkaline phosphatase increased, bilirubinemia, BUN increased, creatinine phosphokinase increased, dehydration, gamma globulins increased, gout, hypercalcemia, hypercholesteremia, hyperglycemia, hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia, hypoglycemia, hypokalemia, hyponatremia, ketosis, lactic dehydrogenase increased, non-protein nitrogen (NPN) increased. Musculoskeletal System:frequent: arthralgia; infrequent: arthritis, arthrosis; rare: bursitis, myositis, osteoporosis, generalized spasm, tenosynovitis, tetany. Nervous System:frequent: emotional lability, vertigo; infrequent: abnormal thinking, alcohol abuse, ataxia, dystonia, dyskinesia, euphoria, hallucinations, hostility, hypertonia, hypesthesia, hypokinesia, incoordination, lack of emotion, libido increased, manic reaction, neurosis, paralysis, paranoid reaction; rare: abnormal gait, akinesia, antisocial reaction, aphasia, choreoathetosis, circumoral paresthesias, convulsion, delirium, delusions, diplopia, drug dependence, dysarthria, extrapyramidal syndrome, fasciculations, grand mal convulsion, hyperalgesia, hysteria, manic-depressive reaction, meningitis, myelitis, neuralgia, neuropathy, nystagmus, peripheral neuritis, psychotic depression, psychosis, reflexes decreased, reflexes increased, stupor, torticollis, trismus, withdrawal syndrome. Respiratory System:infrequent: asthma, bronchitis, dyspnea, epistaxis, hyperventilation, pneumonia, respiratory flu; rare: emphysema, hemoptysis, hiccups, lung fibrosis, pulmonary edema, sputum increased, stridor, voice alteration. Skin and Appendages:frequent: pruritus; infrequent: acne, alopecia, contact dermatitis, dry skin, ecchymosis, eczema, herpes simplex, photosensitivity, urticaria; rare: angioedema, erythema nodosum, erythema multiforme, exfoliative dermatitis, fungal dermatitis, furunculosis, herpes zoster, hirsutism, maculopapular rash, seborrhea, skin discoloration, skin hypertrophy, skin ulcer, sweating decreased, vesiculobullous rash. Special Senses:frequent: tinnitus; infrequent: abnormality of accommodation, conjunctivitis, ear pain, eye pain, keratoconjunctivitis, mydriasis, otitis media; rare: amblyopia, anisocoria, blepharitis, cataract, conjunctival edema, corneal ulcer, deafness, exophthalmos, eye hemorrhage, glaucoma, hyperacusis, night blindness, otitis externa, parosmia, photophobia ptosis, retinal hemorrhage, taste loss, visual field defect. Urogenital System:infrequent: amenorrhea, breast pain, cystitis, dysuria, hematuria, menorrhagia, nocturia, pyuria, polyuria, urinary incontinence, urinary retention, urinary urgency, vaginitis; rare: abortion, breast atrophy, breast enlargement, endometrial disorder, epididymitis, female lactation, fibrocystic breast, kidney calculus, kidney pain, leukorrhea, mastitis, metrorrhagia, nephritis, oliguria, salpingitis, urethritis, urinary casts, uterine spasm, urolith, vaginal hemorrhage, vaginal moniliasis.

Postmarketing Reports

Voluntary reports of adverse events in patients taking paroxetine that have been received since market introduction and not listed above that may have no causal relationship with the drug include acute pancreatitis, elevated liver function tests (the most severe cases were deaths due to liver necrosis, and grossly elevated transaminases associated with severe liver dysfunction), Guillain-Barré syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, priapism, syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion, symptoms suggestive of prolactinemia and galactorrhea; extrapyramidal symptoms which have included akathisia, bradykinesia, cogwheel rigidity, dystonia, hypertonia, oculogyric crisis which has been associated with concomitant use of pimozide, tremor and trismus; status epilepticus, acute renal failure, pulmonary hypertension, allergic alveolitis, anaphylaxis, eclampsia, laryngismus, optic neuritis, porphyria, ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia (including torsade de pointes), thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, events related to impaired hematopoiesis (including aplastic anemia, pancytopenia, bone marrow aplasia, and agranulocytosis), and vasculitic syndromes (such as Henoch-Schönlein purpura).

There has been a case report of an elevated phenytoin level after 4 weeks of paroxetine and phenytoin coadministration. There has been a case report of severe hypotension when paroxetine was added to chronic metoprolol treatment.

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Side Effects by Body System - for Healthcare Professionals

Gastrointestinal

A study of 26,005 antidepressant users has reported 3.6 times more upper GI bleeding episodes with the use of SSRIs relative to the population who did not receive antidepressant medications. Upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding was observed up to 3.2 times more frequently in patients receiving paroxetine.

Gastrointestinal side effects have frequently included nausea (15% to 36%), dry mouth (4% to 36%), constipation (5% to 16%), diarrhea (6% to 19%), increased appetite (3%), decreased appetite (2% to 12%), flatulence (4% to 8%), vomiting (2% to 3%), oropharynx disorder (2%), taste perversion (2%), gingivitis (1%), and dyspepsia (2% to 13%). Bruxism, upper GI bleeding, colitis, dysphagia, eructation, gastritis, gastroenteritis, glossitis, increased salivation, rectal hemorrhage, ulcerative stomatitis, aphthous stomatitis, bloody diarrhea, bulimia, cholelithiasis, duodenitis, enteritis, esophagitis, fecal impaction, fecal incontinence, gum hemorrhage, hematemesis, ileitis, ileus, intestinal obstruction, melena, mouth ulceration, peptic ulcer, peritonitis , salivary gland enlargement, sialadenitis, stomach ulcer, stomatitis, tongue discoloration, tongue edema, loss of taste, and tooth caries have also been reported.

Nervous system

Chorea has been reported in 13 patients. One incidence of chorea occurred after a single dose of paroxetine.

Severe psychomotor retardation and stupor have been reported in one patient.

According to the manufacturer, one study reported that seizures occurred in 0.26% of patients treated with other commonly used antidepressants.

In one study, paroxetine was found to decrease rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, increase REM latency, increase awakenings, and reduce actual sleep time. Another study found a decreased amount of REM sleep without a detrimental effect on subjective sleep quality.

Nearly all selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, mixed serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, and tricyclic antidepressants cause sleep abnormalities to some extent. These antidepressants have marked dose-dependent effects on rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, causing reductions in the overall amount of REM sleep over the night and delays the first entry into REM sleep (increased REM sleep onset latency (ROL)), both in healthy subjects and depressed patients. The antidepressants that increase serotonin function appear to have the greatest effect on REM sleep. The reduction in REM sleep is greatest early in treatment, but gradually returns towards baseline during long-term therapy; however, ROL remains long. Following discontinuation of therapy the amount of REM sleep tends to rebound. Some of these drugs (i.e., bupropion, mirtazapine, nefazodone, trazodone, trimipramine) appear to have a modest or minimal effect on REM sleep.

Nervous system side effects have frequently included somnolence (9% to 24%), dizziness (7% to 14%), insomnia (8% to 24%), tremor (4% to 11%), nervousness (2% to 9%), paresthesia (1% to 4%), decreased libido in both male and female patients (3% to 15%), 'drugged' feeling (2%), confusion (1%), sleep abnormalities, abnormal dreams (1% to 4%), impaired concentration (2% to 4%), myoclonus (1% to 3%), amnesia (1% to 2%), tremor (4% to 8%), hypertonia (2% to 3%), and vertigo (2%). Abnormal thinking, alcohol abuse, ataxia, dystonia, dyskinesia, hypesthesia, hypokinesia, incoordination, paralysis, abnormal gait, akinesia, antisocial reaction, aphasia, choreoathetosis, circumoral paresthesias, convulsion, delirium, delusions, dysarthria, extrapyramidal syndrome, fasciculations, grand mal convulsions, hyperalgesia, meningitis, myelitis, neuralgia, neuropathy, nystagmus, peripheral neuritis, decreased reflexes, increased reflexes, stupor, torticollis, trismus, tardive dyskinesia, seizures, status epilepticus, serotonin syndrome, extrapyramidal symptoms (including akathisia, bradykinesia, cogwheel rigidity, dystonia, and hypertonia), changes in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, chorea, psychomotor retardation, and stupor have also been reported.

Psychiatric

Other commonly used antidepressants induced mania in 11% of patients in one study.

Pooled results from clinical trials report hallucinations in 22 of 9089 patients who received paroxetine and 4 of 3187 patients who received placebo.

Psychiatric side effects have frequently included anxiety (2% to 5%), agitation (2% to 5%), depersonalization (3%), depression (2%), lack of emotion (2%), and emotional lability. Euphoria, hallucinations, hostility, increased libido, neurosis, paranoid reaction, antisocial reaction, delusions, drug dependence, hysteria, manic-depressive reaction, psychotic depression, and psychosis. Mania has been reported in up to 2% of bipolar patients.

Dermatologic

Seven cases of alopecia have been reported. In all cases, hair loss was eventually reversible.

A case of cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis has been reported following treatment with paroxetine. The patient originally developed the lesions after treatment with escitalopram. The lesions disappeared one week following discontinuation of escitalopram and reappeared upon rechallenge. When the patient was switched to paroxetine a similar reaction occurred.

Dermatologic side effects have frequently included sweating (5% to 34%), rash (2% to 3%), photosensitivity (2%), eczema (1%), and pruritus. Acne, alopecia, contact dermatitis, dry skin, ecchymosis, herpes simplex, urticaria, erythema nodosus, erythema multiforme, exfoliative dermatitis, fungal dermatitis, furunculosis, herpes zoster, hirsutism, maculopapular rash, seborrhea, skin discoloration, skin hypertrophy, skin ulcer, decreased sweating, vesiculobullous rash, and toxic epidermal necrolysis have also been reported. Two cases of cutaneous vasculitis have also been reported.

Genitourinary

There are no controlled clinical data regarding sexual dysfunction with paroxetine use.

There are several reports of priapism associated with paroxetine use. In cases in which outcome was reported, all patients fully recovered.

Genitourinary side effects reported in males have included ejaculatory disturbance (13% to 28%), impotence (2% to 9%), and priapism. Genitourinary side effects reported in females have included anorgasmia, orgasmic disturbance, dysmenorrhea, eclampsia, menstrual disorder (2%), vaginitis (2%), amenorrhea, menorrhagia, abortion, endometrial disorder, female lactation, leukorrhea, mastitis, salpingitis, uterine spasm, vaginal hemorrhage, metrorrhagia, and vaginal moniliasis. Urinary tract infection (3%), sexual dysfunction, urinary frequency, urinary disorder, difficulty with micturition, urinary hesitancy, breast pain, breast atrophy, breast enlargement, fibrocystic breast, cystitis, dysuria, hematuria, nocturia, polyuria, pyuria, urinary incontinence, urinary retention, urinary urgency, epididymitis, kidney calculus, kidney pain, nephritis, oliguria, urethritis, urinary casts, and urolith have also been reported.

Cardiovascular

The effects on blood pressure have been reported to be inconsistent.

Cardiovascular side effects have frequently included palpitation (2% to 3%), vasodilation (2% to 4%), hypertension (2%), and tachycardia (including torsade de pointes). Bradycardia, hematoma, hypotension, postural hypotension, syncope, angioedema, angina pectoris, nodal arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, bundle branch block, cerebral ischemia, cerebrovascular accident, congestive heart failure, heart block, low cardiac output, myocardial infarct, myocardial ischemia, phlebitis, supraventricular extrasystoles, thrombophlebitis, thrombosis, varicose vein, supraventricular tachycardia, vascular headache, vasculitic syndromes (including Henoch-Schonlein purpura), ventricular extrasystoles, and ventricular fibrillation have also been reported.

Endocrine

Paroxetine- induced hyponatremia may be more common in elderly female patients and those who are volume depleted or are receiving concomitant diuretic therapy.

Endocrine side effects have included diabetes mellitus, goiter, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and thyroiditis. Hyperprolactinemia, hyponatremia, and the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) are increasingly being associated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors including paroxetine. A case of severe life-threatening hyponatremia in a patient receiving paroxetine has been reported.

Hematologic

The mechanism of paroxetine- induced bleeding may be related to drug-induced platelet dysfunction.

Hematologic side effects have included anemia, leukopenia, lymphadenopathy, purpura, abnormal erythrocytes, basophilia, increased bleeding time, eosinophilia, hypochromic anemia, iron deficiency anemia, leukocytosis, lymphedema, abnormal lymphocytes, lymphocytosis, microcytic anemia, monocytosis, normocytic anemia, thrombocythemia, thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, and events related to impaired hematopoiesis (including aplastic anemia, pancytopenia, bone marrow aplasia, and agranulocytosis). Several cases have also been reported suggesting that paroxetine may cause bleeding in patients with normal bleeding times, platelet counts, prothrombin times, and partial thromboplastin times.

Other

A withdrawal syndrome, similar to that seen in other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, has been reported. Recent clinical trials by the manufacturer reported withdrawal events to be serious in 0.3% of patients who discontinued therapy with controlled-release paroxetine tablets. Patients discontinuing paroxetine have complained of vertigo, lightheadedness, gait instability, malaise, myalgia, middle insomnia, nausea, emesis, diarrhea, and/or visual phenomena (similar to that associated with migraine) during withdrawal. Two cases of behavioral syndromes including severe aggressive and suicidal impulsivity following paroxetine withdrawal have been reported. One case of withdrawal hypomania has been reported. One case of unilateral facial numbness with blurred peripheral vision has also been reported upon withdrawal.

In one retrospective chart review of 352 patients who were supervised during tapering and discontinuation from serotonin reuptake inhibitor therapy, dizziness, lethargy, paresthesia, nausea, vivid dreams, irritability, and lowered mood were the most common symptoms reported. Patients with at least one qualitatively new symptom were defined in the paroxetine group at a rate of 17.2%.

Patients should be monitored for symptoms when discontinuing treatment. A gradual reduction in dosage rather than abrupt discontinuation of therapy is recommended when possible. If intolerable symptoms occur following discontinuation of therapy, then resumption of the previous dose may be considered. Subsequently, discontinuation of therapy may be retried at a more gradual rate.

Other side effects have frequently included headache (15% to 27%), asthenia (14% to 22%), infection (6% to 8%), abdominal pain (4% to 7%), chest pain (3%), back pain (3% to 5%), chills (2%), migraine (1%), and trauma (3% to 8%). Face edema, withdrawal syndrome, malaise, neck pain, adrenergic syndrome, cellulitis, moniliasis, neck rigidity, pelvic pain, sepsis, ulcer, ear pain, tinnitus, otitis media, deafness, pallor, hyperacusis, otitis externa, parosmia, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and neuroleptic malignant syndrome- like reaction.

Renal

Renal side effects have included acute renal failure.

Respiratory

Respiratory side effects have frequently included respiratory disorder (7%), sinusitis (4% to 8%), yawn (2% to 5%), rhinitis (3% to 4%), increased cough (1% to 2%), bronchitis (1% to 2%), and pharyngitis (4%). Asthma, dyspnea, epistaxis, hyperventilation, pneumonia, respiratory flu, emphysema, hemoptysis, hiccups, lung fibrosis, pulmonary edema, pulmonary embolus, increased sputum, stridor, porphyria, laryngismus, and alteration in voice have also been reported.

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity side effects have included allergic reactions in up to 2% of patients including allergic alveolitis and anaphylaxis.

Hepatic

Hepatic side effects have included a single case of severe hepatotoxicity with jaundice. Hepatitis and abnormal liver function tests have been reported rarely.

The manufacturer states that in placebo-controlled clinical trials patients receiving paroxetine experienced abnormal values on liver function tests at a rate equal to or less than that reported in patients receiving placebo. However, there have been postmarketing reports of patients developing elevated serum transaminases resulting in severe liver dysfunction, as well as, a few cases of elevated liver function tests resulting in death secondary to liver necrosis.

Ocular

Ocular side effects have frequently included blurred vision (4%), abnormality of accommodation (2%), and abnormal vision (2% to 5%). Conjunctivitis, eye pain, keratoconjunctivitis, mydriasis, amblyopia, anisocoria, blepharitis, cataract, conjunctival edema, corneal ulcer, diplopia, exophthalmos, eye hemorrhage, glaucoma, night blindness, photophobia, ptosis, retinal hemorrhage, optic neuritis, and visual field effect have also been reported.

Musculoskeletal

Musculoskeletal side effects have frequently included myopathy (2%), myalgia (2% to 5%), myasthenia (1%), and arthralgia (2%). Arthritis, arthrosis, bursitis, myositis, osteoporosis, generalized spasm, tenosynovitis, and tetany have also been reported. A single case of bruxism has been reported. Postmarketing reports have included restless legs syndrome.

In one study using the healthcare data from the providence of Ontario, Canada reviewing 8239 patients treated for hip fractures, the adjusted odds ratio for hip fracture was 2.4 for exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (including fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, and sertraline), compared to participants who had no exposure to antidepressants.

Metabolic

Controlled studies reported an average weight loss of approximately 1 pound per patient versus smaller changes reported with placebo.

The results of one study appear to indicate that treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (i.e., paroxetine, sertraline, citalopram) may cause an increase in serum total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and/or LDL cholesterol. However, additional studies are necessary to confirm these findings.

Numerous cases of hyponatremia have been reported following treatment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Risk factors for the development of SSRI- associated hyponatremia including advanced age, female gender, concomitant use of diuretics, low body weight, and lower baseline serum sodium levels have been identified. Hyponatremia tends to develop within the first few weeks of treatment (range 3 to 120 days) and typically resolves within 2 weeks (range 48 hours to 6 weeks) after therapy has been discontinued with some patients requiring treatment. The proposed mechanism for the development of hyponatremia involves the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) via release of antidiuretic hormone.

Metabolic side effects have frequently included weight gain (3%) and weight loss (1%). Edema, peripheral edema, thirst, bilirubinemia, dehydration, gout, hypercalcemia, hypercholesteremia, hyperglycemia, hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia, hypoglycemia, hypokalemia, hyponatremia, porphyria, and ketosis have also been reported. In addition, increased levels of SGOT, SGPT, alkaline phosphatase, BUN, creatinine phosphokinase, gamma globulins, lactic dehydrogenase, and non- protein nitrogen (NPN) have been reported. An increase in serum cholesterol has been reported following use of paroxetine.

General

General side effects including abnormal bleeding have been reported.

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