Paxil is an antidepressant medication that is sometimes used to treat posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Paxil’s generic name is paroxetine. Though Paxil can be an effective anxiety treatment, some people have difficulty with its many side effects.

Paxil has a long list of potential side effects. Some common Paxil side effects include dizziness, loss of appetite, dry mouth, diarrhea, and nausea. Insomnia, blurred vision, difficulty concentrating, anxiety or nervousness, increased urination, sexual side effects, gas, skin tingling or numbness, and weakness are other possible side effects of Paxil.

GlaxoSmithKline, the makers of Paxil, was ordered to include birth defects as one of the potential side effects of Paxil in 2005. Paxil is one of the many medications that a woman should not take if she plans to get pregnant or is not using birth control and could become pregnant due to the risk of birth defects.

Paxil is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Paxil and other SSRIs including Prozac and Zoloft work by increasing the amount of serotonin in the brain. It is not surprising that a medication designed to treat one psychiatric illness is effective in treating others. Many psychoactive medications treat more than one mental illness. For example, Seroquel is an anti-psychotic medication, but it is also used to treat anxiety and bipolar disorder.

Though the list of potential Paxil side effects is considerable, many people take Paxil without having bothersome side effects. Others may have so many problems with side effects that they cannot take Paxil. The way the body responds to medication varies from person to person.

People who have trouble with the side effects of Paxil should discuss the problem with their doctors. Sometimes, the doctor only needs to adjust the dosage to alleviate the side effects. Paxil side effects may also decrease after the person has been taking the medication for a longer period of time. If the side effects of Paxil continue to be bothersome, the doctor may discuss other treatment options for posttraumatic stress disorder. Unfortunately, finding the right treatment for any mental illness may take time. Identifying the right medication can often involve trying several medications before finding the best medication for the individual.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder which is characterized by nightmares, flashbacks, and hyper-vigilance caused by a traumatic event. People may develop PTSD if they experience or witness violence or a life-threatening situation. PTSD treatment often includes specialized therapy for PTSD.

A person who has PTSD often has elevated anxiety and intrusive, vivid, and emotionally traumatic nightmares or flashbacks during which the person reliving the trauma. One perspective of PTSD and the reliving of the traumatic memory is that the traumatic memory fails to be integrated properly into the person’s memory. Therefore, this emotionally-charged memory remains in the forefront of the person’s mind and is easily triggered. Due to the lack of integration, the memory also retains the intense emotions and feeling as if the event is recurring that integrated memories normally lack.

One common therapeutic approach to PTSD treatment is exposure therapy similar to how phobias are treated. In both cases, the person is exposed to the trauma or fear-triggering stimulus in a safe environment with the support of a therapist. With PTSD, the person may be asked to describe the traumatic event in detail.

The therapist may have the person progress gradually through this treatment. The individual may describe only the beginning of the event or a less-detailed account at first. In subsequent treatments, the person may be asked to describe more of the event. The location of the trauma may be visited at some point.
A relatively new therapy for PTSD is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) which is founded on the principle that the traumatic memories have not been successfully integrated. The goal of EMDR is to assist the person in reprocessing the memory so that it causes less emotional distress.

During the EMDR treatment process, the therapist guides the client through identifying and replacing negative thoughts and beliefs that are associated with the trauma. The therapist uses clicks, tones, or the client’s eye movement to encourage the reprocessing of the traumatic memory.

Family therapy is often recommended as part of PTSD therapy. The family is impacted by the condition and rarely has sufficient insight into the condition. PTSD is not easily understood by those who experience the condition much less those who don’t have the condition but have a relationship with someone who does. Family therapy can provide education about the disorder. The emotions of all family members are discussed. The therapist may help the family communicate effectively, resolve conflicts, and cope with their emotions.

Some therapeutic techniques for PTSD are related to the type of trauma experienced. For example, someone who developed PTSD from a sexual assault or rape may receive therapy from a sexual assault counselor who helps clients recover from sexual trauma.

PTSD treatment can include different types of therapy and medication. There is no set duration of posttraumatic stress disorder treatment. Treatment for PTSD can take months or years. The first part of treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder often includes educating the person about what PTSD is and an explanation of the common symptoms.

Individual cognitive therapy and family therapy can be the foundation of PTSD treatment. The individual with PTSD needs therapeutic support when coping with the symptoms. The role of the therapist may be to teach the person ways to cope with flashbacks, nightmares, and other symptoms. The person often needs to learn how to cope with the symptoms before therapy can even begin to address the traumatic cause of the PTSD.

Exposure therapy is a therapeutic approach to the traumatic cause of PTSD. Gradually, the individual is to recount the memories that the person has of the traumatic event. It is not uncommon for the person to have blanks in the memory of the trauma. The therapist may gently push the person to remember and tell more of the events of the trauma in each desensitization session. In some cases, the location of the trauma may be revisited.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a type of therapy that looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected. The therapist may assist the individual in challenging negative thoughts that stem from the trauma or were reinforced by the trauma. The individual’s interpretations of the traumatic event may be explored.

Eye movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) addresses the cause of PTSD more effectively than many other therapeutic approaches. It is believed that for people with PTSD, the memory of the trauma becomes stuck in intense, fractured segments. An example of how this shows in people with PTSD is the emotionally-charged flashbacks which are stuck memories of portions of the event while the person with PTSD may be unable to recall other parts of the trauma. EMDR uses clicking or repetitive eye movement while the person is retelling the traumatic event. The goal of EMDR therapy is to unfreeze the stuck memories and help the individual integrate the memory of the trauma as a whole with less emotional intensity attached to it.

Group therapy and support groups are often helpful for people with PTSD. An individual with PTSD may feel alone or isolated. They may feel that no one understands the trauma and how it has affected them. By meeting with a group of people with similar trauma or PTSD, the person gets a sense that there are people who understand what they are going through. It can also be helpful when members of the group share things that have been helpful for them.

Family therapy is often used as part of the treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder. The family as a whole often suffers the effects of PTSD due to the individual’s symptoms. Family therapy is also helpful to show the person with PTSD that they have support and to educate the family about PTSD and its effects.

Medication may be used to treat anxiety, depression, and sleep problems caused by the PTSD. Antidepressants that are in the SSRI category like Paxil or Zoloft are most commonly used to treat PTSD.