Paxil is an antidepressant drug of the class known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. Along with being prescribed to treat depression, it is used for anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Paxil Side Effects

Like many other drugs, Paxil can have serious side effects. Like other antidepressants of this type, it can do the opposite of what it promises and cause an increase of suicidal thoughts or actions, especially if the patient is less than 24-years old. This effect can also pop up after a dosage change. It can also cause other unwanted changes to the mood, mental state, or behavior of patients. Some have reported increased aggressiveness, bizarre behavior, hallucinations, impulsiveness, restlessness, and a whole host of other disturbances related to alterations in brain activity.

Physical Side Effects

There are also side effects to watch out for with a more physical manifestation. Some of these are bloody stools, chest pain, vision changes, skin problems, seizures, stomach pain, significant and unwanted weight loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and unusual bruising.

Common Side Effects

The aforementioned side effects are severe, but there are also several others considered milder and more common. Commonly-reported effects include: Anxiety, insomnia, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, increased urination, decreased sexual ability and interest, dry mouth, dry skin, difficulty concentrating, and more.

Birth Defects

Possibly the worst side effect of Paxil is birth defects. It has been associated with heart defects in infants born to mothers who took it during their pregnancies. GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the drug’s maker, has already lost one significant case resulting from this side effect. Paxil was found to be the agent that caused an infant to be born with several defects in his heart, and GSK was ordered to pay $2.5 million in compensation. There are over 600 other cases still pending, with more sure to come.

One of the reasons so many women and their infants have been affected is because Paxil is often prescribed to those suffering from mild depression, rather than being reserved for major depressive episodes. This happens even though studies have found that it has no positive effect on mild cases; its benefits only are evident when a patient starts with severe depression. The habit of prescribing it for mild cases puts women and their developing children at needless risk.

Legal Implications

Birth defects aren’t the only side effects GlaxoSmithKline is being sued over. In February, the 7th Circuit Appeals Court ruled that a suit alleging that Paxil was responsible for a suicide death was allowed to continue. GSK had attempted to get the suit preempted, claiming that the FDA wouldn’t have approved a labeling change to warn of this possibility. The Court said that the company had failed to meet its burden of proof for their excuse, and refused to throw out the case.

Selecting an Attorney

If you or a loved one has been harmed by taking Paxil, talk to an attorney to see what legal remedies are available to you. With competent legal help, you can get the settlement you deserve for the suffering this drug has caused you.