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Black Box Warning From FDA

Jan 19

In Medicine | No Comments

Paxil Side Effects

A medicine will always have side effects even if it is effective. The side effects of antidepressants like Paxil have made its use controversial. Paxil users faced greater risks compared to non-users. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determines if the drug is safe to use or not. The FDA has even put a black box warning to inform users of the risks associated with the drug. The doctors prescribing Paxil are also reminded to check the black box label.

 

The FDA’s most serious warnings are indicated in the enclosed black box warning. This can be seen in the packaging indicating a close link for suicide and the use of Paxil. According to the FDA, this is a good way to inform parents of the suicide risks associated with Paxil. There has been a high risk for suicide for Paxil users younger than 24, according to studies about the relationship of antidepressants and suicide. Doctors are encouraged by the FDA to see the benefits and risks of Paxil before prescribing it to young patients.  The FDA has advised doctors to inform the patients of the risks involved while taking the drug.

 

Babies are also at risk of developing birth defects if their mothers are taking Paxil during the first three months of pregnancy. It is observed that babies were at risk of developing heart defects, especially atrial and ventricular septal defects. Those who are planning to get pregnant while under this medication have informed their doctor about it. Pregnant women who are taking the drug are advised by the FDA to continue taking the drug if the benefits outweigh the risks to the fetus.

 

Paxil is under the category D for its pregnancy risk, which signifies that the fetus is exposed to the side effects of the drug. Compared to a placebo, Paxil has other side effects that are present. A few of the side effects that patients have commonly complained about were decreased libido, urinating difficulty and nervousness. The side effects vary with each individual.

 

People are mostly filing cases against GlaxoSmithKline due to one of these reasons. Before filing their cases in court, most people asked Paxil lawyer to review their cases.

 

 

URL References:

http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/2005/ucm108527.htm

http://www.mcmanweb.com/FDA_suicide.htm

http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/2005/ucm108527.htm

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Signs Of Depression

Dec 17

In Medicine | No Comments

Paxil Side Effects

Depression in the US is seen in 1 out of 10 individual as what statistic has found. Many factors are seen to be connected with depression. Some people have said that they developed depression after a tragic event in their lives but then again others have no big even in their lives that contributed to the depression. The real cause of depression is still unknown but there are many theories about it. Some doctors say it’s the chemical imbalance in the brain in which there is a lack of serotonin due to the increase breakdown of the said chemical. Depression is also high in women due to the hormonal change that they have. If a family member has depression it would make other members of the family prone to developing depression but that doesn’t mean that people who don’t have a family history of depression are not at risk. Depression can also come in certain age groups like in teens and elderly. Others who are at risk are people with negative attitude, introverts and have low self esteem. A study has seen that Paxil users are at a risk of heart attack than non-Paxil users especially in ages 60 and up.

 

Psychologists say that the first step to recovery from depression is recognizing the signs. Sadness is not the only identifying sign of depression because some people are also angry or irritable. Daily activities may seem uninteresting to a depressed person. Sleeping problems like oversleeping or insomnia. The person may have weight gain or loss without even trying in the first place. They also lack concentration even in performing simple tasks and in making decisions. Death and suicide is always playing in their mind. They also have sleep problems like oversleeping or insomnia that can make them feel tired all day long. They move like they are in slow motion or in a constant unrest, some may even not move at all. Feelings of worthlessness and guilt always plagued them.

 

Antidepressants like Paxil are used to medicate the symptoms of the depression. Using Paxil will only resolve the symptoms and let the person have a normal life again but it won’t guarantee a full cure of the disease. The depression will still be there and if the person continues to take the antidepressant, the person may develop a tolerance for the drug. Getting the usual dose will not give them relief so the doses are raised. Paxil even has side effects that can be bothersome and dangerous to some. Paxil birth defects are one of the startling side effects that Paxil has and it happens when an expecting mother takes Paxil during the first trimester of her pregnancy.

 

URL References:

http://mentalhealth.about.com/od/depression/a/depressioncause_2.htm

http://depression.about.com/od/diagnosis/tp/depsymptoms.htm

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Common Reasons For Paxil Lawsuits

Dec 2

In Medicine | No Comments

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2pSnxN9esc

Manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, Paxil is one of the leading antidepressants in the market. This drug has been receiving complaints since the year 1992 when it was first introduced. While taking Paxil some users were experiencing severe side effects. The side effects that were reported by them vary from less serious to adverse. Some may be taking multiple antidepressants that they are experiencing Serotonin syndrome. The claims that these people have in court are being compensated by the manufacturer.

 

Paxil has undergone a lot of ups and downs since its introduction. This drug has been part of controversial issues like causing birth defects. They have changed the pregnancy risk category of Paxil to D because there is already a risk to the fetus according to observations. Babies usually have heart defects like Atrial or Ventricular Septal Defect. Paxil was taken during the first trimester of pregnancy is the main reason for the birth defects. It has affected the heart of the baby because the first trimester is the time that the organs of the fetus are developing. Premature birth and respiratory problem for the newborn will also be encountered if Paxil was taken during the third trimester. Additional information is now being gathered by the FDA to consolidate the findings.

 

There is also another disturbing risk associated with Paxil, and that is suicide. One of the known side effects of Paxil is suicidal thoughts that are prevalent among younger users. Monitoring the first few weeks while under Paxil is done for those under 24 years old. Although monitoring of the person is done regularly, there are still cases in which the person succeeded in taking one’s life.

 

GlaxoSmithKline has been receiving Paxil lawsuit not only because of the abovementioned reasons. The public is being informed of the side effects of Paxil. Physicians are also advised by the FDA to discuss the benefits and risk to a pregnant woman before prescribing it.

 

 

 

URL References:

www.webmd.com/depression/news/20060512/paxil-suicide-risk-in-young-adults

http://anxiety.emedtv.com/paxil/paxil-and-pregnancy.html

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aEr_s70bGdYo

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Depression Of An Artist

Nov 24

In Medicine | No Comments

Paxil Side Effects

The song Vincent depicts the sadness of the life of Vincent Van Gogh. He was a preacher’s son and had 2 other brothers and 3 sisters, but he was closest to his brother Theo. He was raised in a religious home by his parents. He lacks self-confidence and has been emotionally unstable.

When he was a child he was very quiet and didn’t seem to possess any artistic abilities. His first job was to work as an art’s dealer but didn’t seem to get the hang of it. Influenced by his father, he also tried to be a preacher. It was his brother Theo who pushed him to realize his dreams in painting but his parents were pessimistic about it. His brother kept on supporting him even if Van Gogh doubted his own abilities. He spent years honing his skills as an artist and has met a lot of people that influenced his style.

He was greatly distressed by his illness late in the year 1888. He even threatened his friend Gauguin with a knife in one of his psychotic and delusional episodes. Also he gave his ear as a gift to a prostitute after he cut it off. If we take a closer look at Van Gogh, we can see that he was not only experiencing depression but also psychosis. If antidepressant like Paxil were present during his time, he might have been able to cope with his depression, although Paxil side effects are also very disturbing. He was having bouts of psychosis while painting but he was able to make his most famous painting, the Starry Night. His talent was not recognized during his time which greatly contributed to his depression and he was only able to sell one painting throughout his career before he shot himself to death.

During Van Gogh’s time there weren’t any medications like antidepressants. Our generation may have more information on how to deal with mental illness, it is still imperative to fully evaluate the medications like Paxil when they are used. According to the American Journal of Psychiatry, many psychiatrists are still trying to figure out the real state of Van Gogh’s mentality. Hospitalized due to his mental instability, he was only 37 when he took his own life.

 

URL References:

http://www.vangoghgallery.com/misc/later.html

http://depression.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=depression&cdn=health&tm=96&f=22&tt=14&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.suite101.com/article.cfm/depression/20552

http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleID=175449

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Comparing Atrial And Ventricular Septal Defects

Aug 26

In General | No Comments

Septal defect is a heart deformity wherein a hole is found in the wall separating the left and right chambers. It is present at birth and can either be an atrial septal defect or a ventricular septal defect. The kind of septal defect depends on the location of the hole. In atrial septal defect, there is an opening in the wall (septum) dividing the upper chambers (atria) of the heart. Ventricular septal defect, on the other hand, is a malformation where a hole is present in the wall of the lower chambers (ventricle) of the heart. Genetics and effects of drug, like Paxil side effects, taken during pregnancy are only some of the many reasons associated with the condition.

Roughly 9 percent of the total congenital heart defects is atrial septal defect. There are three sub-classifications of ASD, depending on the location of the hole. Manifestations vary depending on how big the hole is and where it is situated. Generally, the condition is asymptomatic wherein children feels well, grows and gains weight normally just like any child. But a bigger hole and a more rigorous ASD can cause poor weight gain, decreased tolerance to exercise, frequent upper respiratory tract infections, poor growth, shortness of breath, and poor appetite on children. ASDs are seldom diagnosed early in life. The heart murmurs of ASD are not as audible as the other murmurs making it harder to determine and be diagnosed sometime between infancy and adolescence. If untreated, it can lead to serious complications as a child grows old. Fortunately for most kids today, it can be detected even before symptoms start to appear. Cardiologists recommend that the hole be closed as early as possible.

The most common type of CHD is ventricular septal defect which compromises 25% of the total congenital heart defects. The severity of the symptoms depends on the size of the hole. VSDs with small holes are asymptomatic and have a high rate of spontaneous closure during the first year of life. A loud heart murmur produced by VSD makes it recognizable by the health care provider. VSD symptoms begin to appear 1-6 months after birth when the left ventricle starts to malfunction. Symptoms include, feeding difficulty, poor weigh gain, failure to thrive, very fast heartbeats, sweating, fast breathing, and pallor. If it remains undetected and untreated, it can cause more serious health problems. Irreversible pulmonary hypertension, which has a poor prognosis, may occur if the condition is not surgically treated.

Both atrial and ventricular defects are fatal. Early detection and management is the key. Constant consultation to a doctor is important. If you want to know more about this condition and other Paxil birth defects, please see your health care provider.

 

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What Alcohol Can Do To You

Aug 26

In General | No Comments

In small amounts, alcohol is a stimulant but generally, it is a central nervous system depressant. The major component of alcohol is ethyl alcohol or “invinoveritus” in Latin which means “in wine, there is truth”. The concentration of alcohol in the body determines its effect. It can affect the person’s judgment and gait and interrupt a couple more body functions depending on the amount of alcohol taken. Alcohol is also said to have great effects on certain drugs if taken simultaneously, Paxil and alcohol.

A positive relationship exists between blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and effects of alcohol. As the BAC increases, the extent f the effects also increases although this may vary among individuals. Almost always, small amount of alcohol can make one talkative and be more confident. Once the BAC reaches a higher level, one can experience slurring of speech, impairment of visual attention, unbalanced gait, slowed reflexes and nausea and vomiting. Once the blood concentration in the body reaches a “high-risk state”, user can no longer walk without assistance and may show loss of bladder control. Unconsciousness and inability to remember recent events may be the upshot of all these. Short-term side effects of alcohol will fade away once the level of alcohol subsides for it is only temporary.

Too much consumption of alcohol may lead to serious medical problems. Some of which are heart damage, high blood pressure and stroke, liver damage, and other diseases of the digestive system like stomach ulcers. Although they may not take effect immediately, these can make a great impact on one’s life. In addition to health problems, excessive alcohol consumption can also affect family relationship, finances and work that may destroy one’s life.

Having a full stomach before alcohol intake can impede absorption which in turn minimizes health risk of alcohol. It is also wise to space your drink with water or other non-alcoholic beverages just to hydrate yourself and minimize the effects of hangover. Avoid drinking alcohol concurrently with prescribed drugs especially those that have depressant effects.

At one end, alcohol can make one relaxed and cheerful. In small amounts, it can promote a good night’s sleep. On the other hand, it can cause alteration in family relations, serious health problems and a dysfunctional individual in the society. Like all things, alcohol should be taken in moderation. As the famous line goes, too much of everything is bad. For additional information on alcohol and its effects, like Paxil and alcohol, please see your health care provider.

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