Paxil is an oral medication used to treat major depression among other psychological disorders. Paxil is known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. It works by preventing receptors in the brain from reabsorbing already released serotonin, the neurotransmitter that is understood to help people maintain feelings of well-being. By preventing the reabsorption, Paxil helps people sustain an optimistic mental equilibrium while alleviating negative feelings. Paxil received FDA approval in 1992 and by 2007 it was one of the top 5 prescribed antidepressant drugs in the United States used to treat a range of disorders such as panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress syndrome, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, chronic headaches, tingling in the hands and feet caused by diabetes, and (with other medications) bipolar disorder. During this time, manufacturers GlaxoSmithKline were caught promoting the use of Paxil for children under the age of 18, despite lacking FDA approval.
Multiple other side effects and complications have been noted by users, such as:
- Birth defects
- Congenital heart lesions and anomalies
- Pulmonary Hypertension of Newborn (PPHN)
- Pulmonary stenosis /atresia
- Hypoplastic Left/Right heart Syndrome (HLHS)
- Malformations
- Clubfoot
- Septal defects (Cleft lip, cleft palate)
- Cranial (brain and skull) defects
- Scoliosis
- Spina bifida
- Undescended testes in males
- Hernia
- Respiratory distress
- Delayed development
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Down’s syndrome
- Blindness
- Congenital heart lesions and anomalies
- Miscarriage
- Suicidal thoughts, akathisia (severe inner restlessness), violence/aggression
- Addiction, dependency, severe withdrawal
Evidence exists, as early as the 1980s, which suggests GlaxoSmithKline was aware of research that linked Paxil to potential birth defects, but still released the medical to the market in 1992 without proper warnings. Pregnant women who take Paxil during their first trimester have an increased risk that their children will be born with birth defects. The FDA has released a warning stating the risk of birth defects can be increased by twice the normal rate. The FDA initiated the change to the labeling, requesting GlaxoSmithKline to update Paxil’s pregnancy category from C to D, thus prompting a stronger warning to pregnant users.