Paxil is part of a group of antidepressants called Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRI. Since Paxil is a member of the SSRIs it cannot be discontinued right away, there are a few steps that must be taken before Paxil can be stopped. A
Paxil settlement is being sought after by individuals who claim that the drug causes several side effects and birth defects which led them to want to discontinue taking the medication.
First of course you must first inform your doctor about your wish to discontinue Paxil. Your doctor may place you on another antidepressant or give you a smaller dosage of the drug. An important note is that to stop taking Paxil your dosage will first be decreased slowly since Paxil is known to have withdrawal syndrome amongst its users. Withdrawal syndrome, which is also known as discontinuation syndrome, occurs when a person suddenly stops taking or reduces the dosage of some types of medications, the risk of a discontinuation syndrome occurring to a patient increases with dosage and length of use of Paxil.
A medical panel met previously in 1997 in Phoenix, Arizona which concluded: "SSRI discontinuation symptoms... may emerge when an SSRI is abruptly discontinued, when doses are missed, and less frequently, during dosage reduction. In addition, the symptoms are not attributable to any other cause and can be reversed when the original agent is reinstituted, or one that is pharmacologically similar is substituted. SSRI discontinuation symptoms, in most cases, may be minimized by slowly tapering antidepressant therapy, but there have been several case reports where symptoms occurred consistently even through repeated attempts to taper therapy. Physical symptoms include problems with balance, gastrointestinal and flu-like symptoms, and sensory and sleep disturbances. Psychological symptoms include anxiety and/or agitation, crying spells, irritability and aggressiveness."
Paxil like many drugs in the SSRI group cannot be stopped sudden because of danger of withdrawal syndrome, if you would like to stop using Paxil consult with your doctor first. If you believe that you have been injured in anyway because of the use of Paxil then seeking legal action could be your next logical step. Many Paxil lawyers will have more information for you on your legal options, many will give you a free consultation and most will not charge you unless you see compensation in a court of law.
