SSRI INDUCED ALCOHOLISM, VIOLENCE AND BEHAVIOURS WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
General Category => Media Stories => Topic started by: zebb on July 23, 2017, 09:21:02 am
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http://www.healthline.com/health/depression/paxil-alcohol#overview1
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Understanding Paxil, Alcohol, and Abuse
Paxil and alcohol Effect on alcohol abuse Other interactions Takeaway
Overview
Paroxetine (Paxil) is an antidepressant. It’s used to treat many conditions, including:
depression
generalized anxiety disorder
social anxiety disorder
panic disorder
post-traumatic stress disorder
obsessive-compulsive disorder
Paxil is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It helps increase the levels of serotoninin, a chemical messenger that affects your mood. Mixing alcohol with Paxil can lead to some unwanted side effects. Paxil may also affect alcohol cravings, though findings on this influence are still unclear.
Read more: What to know about SSRIs »
PAXIL AND ALCOHOL
Risks of mixing Paxil and alcohol
Increased symptoms
Alcohol can make the symptoms of depression worse. It may also make Paxil less effective at treating depression. If the drug doesn’t work as well, your symptoms may come back. Because of these factors, people should avoid drinking alcohol while they take Paxil.
Increased side effects
Alcohol also can increase some of Paxil’s side effects, especially dizziness, sleepiness, and trouble concentrating. Other side effects of Paxil that alcohol can increase include:
agitation
changes in vision
hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t real)
high or low blood pressure
decreased sex drive
mood swings
irregular heart rhythm
joint pain
loss of emotional feeling
nausea
vomiting
diarrhea
paranoia
mania (racing thoughts or excess energy)
rigid muscles, poor muscle control, or uncontrolled muscle movements
suicidal thoughts or actions
unintentional weight gain
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EFFECT ON ALCOHOL ABUSE
Paxil’s relationship to alcohol abuse
The relationship between Paxil and alcohol misuse is unclear. Some information seems to indicate that Paxil use helps curb the reliance on alcohol in people with anxiety disorders, while other information has indicated just the opposite.
A study in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research investigated the relationship between social anxiety and alcohol use disorders. For people with social anxiety disorders who misused alcohol to make them feel more comfortable in social settings, the results suggest taking Paxil allowed them to engage more easily without drinking alcohol. In other words, Paxil reduced their need for alcohol to ease discomfort in social situations. This effect may have reduced alcohol dependence and misuse in these people.
On the other hand, some research has linked the use of SSRIs like Paxil to increased alcohol cravings and misuse. In a review of studies on SSRIs and alcohol dependence, researchers found that SSRIs actually led to an increase in alcohol consumption in some groups. This risk might be higher in people who have certain genes that already make them more prone to alcohol misuse.
OTHER INTERACTIONS
Other interactions
Paxil can also interact with a number of drugs. While you’re taking Paxil, you should avoid taking MAO inhibitors and the antipsychotic thioridazine (Mellaril). You should also avoid the antipsychotic drug pimozide (Orap). All of these drugs can cause severe side effects when you take them with Paxil.
Other drugs that can cause problems if you take them with Paxil include:
cimetadine (Tagamet), used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
fentanyl, an opioid pain reliever
drugs that thin the blood such as warfarin, rivaroxaban, and apixaban
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen
epilepsy medications
drugs used to treat irregular heartbeats, schizophrenia, and HIV infection
metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), a blood pressure lowering drug
other antidepressants such as tricyclics, lithium, SNRIs, or SSRIs
procyclidine (Kemadrin), a drug used to treat Parkinson’s disease
tamoxifen, a breast cancer drug
triptans, used to treat migraine headaches
You should let your doctor know about all drugs you take, including over-the-counter drugs as well as herbal remedies, vitamins, and supplements.
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TAKEAWAY
Talk to your doctor
If your doctor has prescribed Paxil or another antidepressant, ask about all the possible side effects and interactions it can cause. Be careful about using alcohol or drugs that might interact with your antidepressant.
If you think that Paxil is increasing your alcohol use, talk about it with your doctor. They may be able to recommend a drug that is better suited for you.
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