Paxil
Paxil is an antidepressant that is used primarily to treat the symptoms of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social phobia, social anxiety disorder, as well as generalized anxiety disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. It works by restoring the balance of serotonin, a natural substance of the brain, which may help improve mood problems. Paxil is considered to be a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI, drug. For the past several years, Paxil has received scrutiny, as it was discovered that this antidepressant produces serious, life threatening side effects.
Recent discoveries showed that Paxil can be harmful to pregnant women. Taking this antidepressant can lead to serious birth defects. Infants born to mothers who took Paxil in the last six months of pregnancy are more likely to have persistent pulmonary hypertension, which causes the infants to be unable to acquire enough oxygen. They are more likely to require intensive care, and ten to twenty percent of these infants die shortly after birth. Some infants may be able to survive, but they are not exempted of the harmful effects of Paxil. They may suffer from neurological problems and deafness. Those mothers who have taken Paxil in the first trimester of pregnancy can deliver babies with other birth defects, including congenital malformations, predominantly cardiovascular malformations.
Paxil can also cause long-term effects if you are a chronic user. Taking Paxil has increased the risk of suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts. In some cases, Paxil has even lead to the increase of violent behaviors, aggression, anxiety, agitation, sexual dysfunction, and the worsening of emotional states, which is the exact opposite of the desired effect. Some experience the symptoms of drowsiness, dizziness and gastrointestinal complications. These symptoms include suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts. In 2006,the FDA, the Food and Drug Administration, conducted a study, and found that SSRI increased the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in patients under the age of 18 years old.
For those patients who stopped taking Paxil, an estimate of fifty to seventy five percent suffered from withdrawal symptoms. If you become pregnant while taking Paxil, do not take yourself off immediately, contact a physician immediately. Other withdrawal symptoms include dizziness and vertigo, crying spells, nightmares, tremors, sleep disturbance, gait, and changes in coordination. Some have symptoms like confusion, irritability and agitation, difficulties concentrating and memory loss. Others experience weakness, high fever, fatigue and lethargy, flu-like symptoms, vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. The list of side effects is long and everyone needs to be completely informed on all possibilities before taking Paxil.
If you are one of the people suffering from the harmful effects caused by Paxil, you should consult with a lawyer to discuss your legal rights. It has been discovered that GlaxoSmithKline, the maker of Paxil, may have hidden dangerous information about this drug. In 2004, former New York Governor, Eliot Spitzer, filed a lawsuit against the manufacturer, claiming that they buried several studies proving that Paxil may increase suicidal thoughts in children. Families seeking medicine to help their children, deserve to be well informed of the possible side effects that could potentially harm them. Any knowledge of the dangers that was hidden is completely morally incorrect.
If you or a loved one has suffered from the many side effects, or you feel as if you weren't made aware of side effects, you should consider contacting an attorney. Experienced attorney that fight personal injury and pharmaceutical lawsuits can guide you through the legal system. You may be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering. Hiding potentially dangerous medical data to consumers is not only misleading, but it could be life threatening. Diseases that affect one's mental state can be debilitating, and for some they rely on medicine for good quality of life. Drug manufacturers should be held accountable for their responsibility to the public. Consult with a lawyer and find out if you are among the many that deserve compensation for the use of the drug Paxil.
