Paroxetine
Also known as: Paxil, Paxil CR, Pexeva, Seroxat
* **Patience is Key**: Behavioral medications like paroxetine can take several weeks (often 4-8 weeks) to show full effects. Do not stop the medication abruptly unless directed by your veterinarian. * **Administration**: Can be given with or without food. If your pet experiences stomach upset, giving it with a small treat or meal may help. * **Side Effects**: Watch for changes in appetite (eating less is common initially), lethargy, or gastrointestinal upset. In cats, monitor closely for constipation or changes in litter box habits. * **Safety**: Keep medication strictly out of reach of children and other pets. **Never** give your pet human medications without veterinary approval, as dosages differ significantly.
Dosage must be set by your veterinarian for your specific pet. Never give human medication or another pet’s prescription without veterinary guidance.
What it is used for
- SSRI responsive behavior problems
- Compulsive disorders
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Marking
- Intercat aggression
- SSRI responsive behavior problems
- Urine marking (especially with overt aggression)
- Compulsive disorders
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Adjunctive treatment of phobias, fears, and anxieties
- Generalized anxiety and impulsivity
How it is given
Possible side effects
- Anorexia (common, usually transient)
- Lethargy
- GI effects
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Insomnia/hyperactivity
- Panting
- Aggressive behavior in previously unaggressive dogs
- Constipation (especially in cats)
- Changes in elimination patterns
- Changes in blood glucose levels
- Reduced seizure threshold
- Decreased appetite
- Vomiting
Cautions & contraindications
- Patients with known hypersensitivity to paroxetine
- Patients receiving monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
- Known hypersensitivity to paroxetine or other SSRIs
- History of seizures or epilepsy
- Concurrent use of Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
- Concurrent use of other serotonergic agents (due to serotonin syndrome risk)
- Use with caution in patients with **seizure disorders**, or **severe cardiac, hepatic, or renal disease**. Dosages may need to be reduced in patients with severe hepatic or renal impairment. If paroxetine is rapidly discontinued, withdrawal reactions can occur. If the patient has been receiving the drug for an extended period, a **gradual withdrawal** is recommended. Safety during pregnancy has not been established (FDA Category C in humans); use caution in nursing patients as the drug is excreted into milk at low levels.
Drug interactions
- Buspirone: Increased risk for serotonin syndrome
- Cimetidine: May increase paroxetine levels
- Cyproheptadine: May decrease or reverse the effects of SSRIs
- Digoxin: Paroxetine (in humans) can decrease digoxin AUC by 15%
- Insulin: May alter insulin requirements
- Isoniazid: Increased risk for serotonin syndrome
- MAO Inhibitors (including amitraz and selegiline): High risk for serotonin syndrome; use contraindicated. A 5-week washout period is required after discontinuing paroxetine, and a 2-week washout if discontinuing the MAOI first.
- Pentazocine: Serotonin syndrome-like adverse effects possible
- Phenobarbital: May decrease paroxetine levels
- Phenytoin: Increased plasma levels of phenytoin possible; may decrease paroxetine levels
- Propranolol, Metoprolol: Paroxetine may increase these beta-blockers' plasma levels and cause hypotension; atenolol may be safer
Frequently asked questions
What is Paroxetine used for in pets?
* **Patience is Key**: Behavioral medications like paroxetine can take several weeks (often 4-8 weeks) to show full effects. Do not stop the medication abruptly unless directed by your veterinarian. * **Administration**: Can be given with or without food. If your pet experiences stomach upset, giving it with a small treat or meal may help. * **Side Effects**: Watch for changes in appetite (eating less is common initially), lethargy, or gastrointestinal upset. In cats, monitor closely for constipation or changes in litter box habits. * **Safety**: Keep medication strictly out of reach of children and other pets. **Never** give your pet human medications without veterinary approval, as dosages differ significantly.
Is Paroxetine safe for my pet?
Dosage must be set by your veterinarian for your specific pet. Never give human medication or another pet’s prescription without veterinary guidance.
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell, please consult a veterinarian.
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