Paroxetine is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Paroxetine affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced.

Paroxetine is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

Paroxetine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Do not take paroxetine together with pimozide (Orap), thioridazine (Mellaril), linezolid (Zyvox), methylene blue (Urolene Blue), or a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate). A dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects.

Before you take paroxetine, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease, a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, seizures, glaucoma, bipolar disorder, or a history of drug abuse or suicidal thoughts.

There are many other drugs that can interact with paroxetine. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products.

Paroxetine may cause harm to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking paroxetine.

Paroxetine may cause heart defects or serious lung problems in a newborn if you take the medication during pregnancy. However, you may have a relapse of depression if you stop taking your antidepressant during pregnancy.

Do not start or stop taking paroxetine during pregnancy without your doctor's advice.

You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.

Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

Do not take paroxetine together with pimozide (Orap), thioridazine (Mellaril), linezolid (Zyvox), methylene blue (Urolene Blue), or a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate). A dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects.

You must wait at least 14 days after stopping an MAO inhibitor before you can take paroxetine. After you stop taking paroxetine, you must wait at least 14 days before you start taking an MAOI.

Tell your doctor about all other antidepressants you take, especially Celexa, Cymbalta, Desyrel, Effexor, Lexapro, Luvox, Oleptro, Prozac, Sarafem, Symbyax, Viibryd, or Zoloft.

To make sure you can safely take paroxetine, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

• liver or kidney disease;

• a bleeding or blood clotting disorder;

• seizures or epilepsy;

• narrrow-angle glaucoma; or

• bipolar disorder (manic depression), or a history of drug abuse or suicidal thoughts.

Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.

You may have thoughts about suicide while taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Tell your doctor if you have worsening depression or suicidal thoughts during the first several weeks of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed.

FDA pregnancy category D. Paroxetine may cause heart defects or serious lung problems in a newborn if you take the medication during pregnancy. However, you may have a relapse of depression if you stop taking your antidepressant during pregnancy. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking paroxetine.

Do not start or stop taking paroxetine during pregnancy without your doctor's advice.

Paroxetine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.