Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum.  ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Mental Health  (Expert Forum)
 | 
Drug Interactions with Paxil?
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
Post a Question Back to Forum
MedHelp Member's Question

Drug Interactions with Paxil?

by Tony, Dec 14, 1999 12:00AM
I was wondering of there are any drugs or fooda that I should avoid while taking Paxil?



I was in the middle of a diet where I was on diet pills to curb appetite and was wondering If I can go back to using them or not, I lost 24 lbs and dont want to gain it back



Thanks

Tony
Doctor's Answer

by HFHS MD - RG, Dec 15, 1999 12:00AM
Paxil is a safe medication with relatively mild side effects. However, the only listed contraindication is concomitant use with MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors). MAOIs are older type of antidepressants. Taking both medication may cause hyperthermia, rigidity, mental state changes, etc.



I would be cautious taking diet pills with Paxil because of the different products available in the market including "herbal" medications that claim to be "safe". Potential interactions may ensue because of the unknown ingredients that diet pills may have.



I would inform your doctor about your use of diet pills with Paxil and obtain his professional approval.
Member Comments (16)

by vicki, Dec 15, 1999 12:00AM
I was diagnosed with severe depression today - and here I thought I was suffering really bad PMS all of these months.  Anyway, my doctor prescribed Paxil.  I'm concerned about weight gain. It took me a long time to get down to the not so ideal weight I am now, and I'm afraid I'll gain it back.  I'm hoping the Paxil will at least alleviate my new fear of going to the gym (developed over the last 4 months after having gone religiously for over a year).  I've learned that Paxil decreases the seratonin levels in the brain.  Has anyone experienced weight gain while taking Paxil?

by Tony, Dec 15, 1999 12:00AM
Thank you very much for the advice....



Tony

by Tony, Dec 15, 1999 12:00AM
Vicki actually Paxil increases the level of Seratonin in your brain,

as for possible weight gain I have heard of both, people losing weight and gaining....



Hopefully we do the losing part :)



Tony

by vicki, Dec 16, 1999 12:00AM
Tony - I'm with you.  Part of my "fear" of being seen in public has always been based on my weight (I grew up a morbidly obese child).  I took the Paxil for the first time last night (20mg).  I know it will take a few weeks before I notice a real difference, but have you noticed any tingling or cold sensations in your extremeties or face?  Maybe it's my imagination. Thanks for your comment.



Vicki

by Tony, Dec 16, 1999 12:00AM
Vicki,



I started at 10 mg for the first week and now I am up to 20mg, I expierenced Nasuea, headaches, constipation and dizziness the first week, but that has gone away finally,  



As for tingling and cold senastions I have talked to other paxil users and some of them have had that same problem, but it should go away.



I hope this helps you out, you can email me at ***@****



And maybe we can share are expierences as we try to maker our lives better with this drug, it makes me feel better knowing that there are others that have the same problems as I do and it seems to help to talk about it with others that understand....



Good luck!!



Tony

by soembody's friend, Jan 18, 2000 12:00AM
One thing that doesnt necessarily interact w/paxil, but will affect your absorption rates is bicarbonate of soda.  A lot of these drugs have fuood interactions that doctors dont even realise.  They do the best they can, but no doctor could ever keep up w/every med on the market.  Yer best bet is to make friends w/yer local pharmacist.  And read up on it yourself!  I and my brother both have been on various diffferent meds most of our lives, and i have learned this well.  For those out there who take depakote, avoid vanilla pudding at all costs!  Yes its odd, you can eat vanilla anything else, pudding of any other sort, but vannilla pudding affects the rate at which the body is capable of absorbing depakote, thereby really screwing w/your bloodlevels.

by andrea, May 03, 2000 12:00AM
This may seem like an odd question but, I have been taking paxil for depression for about three weeks now.  I suffered little in the way of side effects, and am feeling great.  besides the obvious dangers of taking ecstasy, are those dangers heightened when on Paxil?

by Sherry Lingerfelt, Jul 23, 2000 12:00AM
is there certain drugs that i should avoid while taking paxil 10mg?

by Sherry Lingerfelt, Jul 23, 2000 12:00AM
is there certain drugs that i should avoid while taking paxil 10mg?

by Sherry Lingerfelt, Jul 23, 2000 12:00AM
is there certain drugs that i should avoid while taking paxil 10mg? i was reading somewhere that you can only take or avoid certain drugs. also the doctor tryed to up my dosage to 20mg but it seem to upset my stomach very bad so the doctor brought me back down to 10mg and am find...

by sam martin, Aug 31, 2000 12:00AM
i have gained weight since taking paxil. i was wondering if anyone had any tips on losing the weight? thanks

by rose, Sep 03, 2000 12:00AM
Taking the antihistamine zyrtec seems to increase the drowsy effects of paxil. Wonder if the zyrtec could have triggered depression in the first place and wonder if eliminating it will throw off the effects of paxil.

by JG, Sep 25, 2000 12:00AM
To all the dr's,pharms,and smithkline & beecham sales reps, I hope you all burn in hell for ignoring the torcher of paxil withdrawl. When I was presciribed paxil I wasn't told of the extreme withdrawl symptoms. Word of the withdrawl problem had long been heard of at the time of my dr. prescibing paxil. I'd rather go back to the panic attacks than deal with the nausea, diziness, headaches, nervousness, and the added anxiety of not knowing how long this nightmare will last. I've seen some postings about a class action lawsuit being implemented. Well, count me in. E-mail me if you know of any info regarding any treatments for the withdrawls or the lawsuit against smithkline & Beecham. e-mail (***@****)

by Vicky, Oct 15, 2000 12:00AM
hi there  i have been on paxil for 6 weeks ,i only on 10mg .i get headaches nausea depressed . i had a lot of anxiety and palpations before so my dr put me on this drug. i sleep a lotnow. i could be very aggressive.  i afraid to take 20 mg . what does this drug do to the brain.  i keep hearing voices is that normal will it pass.i heard bad things about this drug