Paxil: Antidepressant Prescription to Treat Anxiety Disorders and Stress - Essay Sample

Introduction

Paxil or Paroxetine is an antidepressant prescription which is approved for the treatment of anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder. Also, it is used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. The signs which Mrs. Lance was experiencing proved that she had stress, thus the need to use Paxil as an antidepressant. This drug was to help to come down and concentrate on her work and family. Therefore, since Paxil is an appropriate medicine that is used as an antidepressant, this paper will address the drug action and use, drug absorption, metabolism, distribution, and excretion.

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Administration of Paxil depends on different types of disorders. For example, in major depressive disorders, Paxil is administered to patients as a single daily dose in the morning with or without food. Patients are given a dosage of 20 to 50mg/day as thee drug proves effective in the treatment of depressive disorders. The dose changes can occur at different intervals with an increment of 10mg/day (Holmes, 2019). The acute episodes of the major depressive disorders need the patient to use this medication for several months, depending on pharmacologic therapy. Healthcare providers consider the risks posed by the drug before using it to pregnant women in the third trimester. Therefore, the dosage should not go beyond 40mg/day among the elderly, pregnant, and debilitated patients.

Paroxetine is bioavailable from tablets to oral suspensions. Paxil hydrochloride is fully absorbed into the body after oral dosing of the hydrochloride salt solution. After absorption, Paxil distributes in the body and the central nervous system with 1 percent being left in the plasma (Holmes, 2019). There are no alterations of in vitro protein which bind the warfarin or phenytoin. Paxil is highly metabolized after taking it orally. The metabolites in this drug are conjugated and polar products of methylation and oxidation. Conjugates which have sulfate predominate and glucuronic acids are isolated after consumption of the drug. The mean half-life of Paxil is twenty- one hour after taking 30mg tablets for thirty days. Paxil is excreted through urine and feces through the bile.

Paxil has various side effects to patients which range from loss of appetite, drowsiness, nausea, and blurred vision. Also, severe side effects can be experienced after using this drug. For example, one can feel restless, cannot remain calm, tremors, and encounter alterations in their sexual ability. The use of Paxil can increase serotonin in the body, thus leading to serotonin syndrome or toxicity. For an individual who uses other drugs together with Paxil, they tend to increase serotonin leading to hallucinations, severe dizziness, and nausea, restlessness, and loss of coordination (Holmes, 2019). The use of Paxil should be limited to people with liver diseases, pregnant women, and those using Aspirin. For example, during pregnancy, the drug leads to high risks of heart defects whenever they are prescribed to pregnant women during the first trimester. Also, exposure to these drugs during late pregnancy, they might lead to severe lung disorder and pulmonary hypertension in most infants.

Paxil interacts differently with different drugs, foods, and herbs. For example, cimetidine reduces the hepatic metabolism of Paxil, thus leading to toxicity. Phenobarbital tends to induce Paxil metabolism leading to a reduction in plasma levels. The use of Sumatriptan with Paxil causes hyperreflexia, weakness, and incoordination. The use of Paxil does not have any known interactions with food, but one should not take alcohol as they take the medications. The use of feverfew herbs helps in preventing nausea and pain from migraine headaches whenever they are taken daily (Chris Woolston, 2019). Also, the use of Ginkgo biloba herbs with Paxil can thin the blood, making platelets not to stick together. Therefore, Paxil should not be combined with warfarin or other anti-inflammatory drugs since it leads to tissue inflammation.

Paxil is administered as a single dose with or without food. The medicine is taken in the morning, and its recommended initial dosages are 20miligrams per day. During the clinical trials, patients were administered with 20 to 50mg/day of Paxil, which helped in the treatment of the major depressive disorders (Holmes, 2019). Dosage alterations among the patients should happen at intervals of every week to avoid complications.

Therefore, patients who are prescribed with paroxetine should tell the pharmacists or medical provider if they are allergic to medications or Paxil to avoid complications. The patients should ensure pharmacists check the paroxetine medication guide for ingredients present in the drug. Also, the patient should tell the medical providers the prescriptions and nonprescription drugs they are taking or planning to take. One can mention the anticoagulants such as doxepin, clomipramine, bupropion, and the trimipramine since they can lead to health risk when used together with Paxil. After the doctor administers these drugs to patients who have used such prescriptions before, they need to monitor the patient for any side effects. Also, patients should be aware of different brand names of Paxil drug to avoid using the same product more than once.

References

Chris Woolston, M.S. (2019). Herb-Drug Interactions. Retrieved from https://consumer.healthday.com/encyclopedia/holistic-medicine-25/mis-alternative-medicine-news-19/herb-drug-interactions-646428.html

Holmes, L. (2019). Using Paxil for Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/paxil-approved-for-generalized-anxiety-disorder-2330678