Common possible side effects in people who take Paxil include:

• Nausea
• Sleepiness
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Feeling anxious or trouble sleeping
• Sexual problems
• Sweating
• Shaking
• Not feeling hungry
• Dry mouth
• Constipation
• Infection
• Yawning

Paxil and other antidepressant medicines may cause serious side effects, including:

1. Suicidal thoughts or actions. Paxil and other antidepressant medicines may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, or young adults within the first few months of treatment or when the dose is changed. Watch for these changes and call your healthcare provider right away if you notice new or sudden changes in mood, behavior, actions, thoughts, or feelings, especially if severe.

2. Serotonin Syndrome or Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome-like reactions. This condition can be life-threatening and may include:

• Agitation, hallucinations, coma, or other changes in mental status
• Coordination problems or muscle twitching (overactive reflexes)
• Racing heartbeat, high or low blood pressure
• Sweating or fever
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Muscle rigidity

3. Severe allergic reactions:

• Trouble breathing
• Swelling of the face, tongue, eyes, or mouth
• Rash, itchy welts (hives), or blisters, alone or with fever or joint pain

4. Abnormal bleeding: Paxil and other antidepressant medicines may increase your risk of bleeding or bruising, especially if you take the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin®, Jantoven®), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs, like ibuprofen or naproxen), or aspirin.

5. Seizures or convulsions

6. Manic episodes:

• Greatly increased energy
• Severe trouble sleeping
• Racing thoughts
• Reckless behavior
• Unusually grand ideas
• Excessive happiness or irritability
• Talking more or faster than usual

7. Changes in appetite or weight. Children and adolescents should have height and weight monitored during treatment.

8. Low salt (sodium) levels in the blood. Elderly people may be at greater risk for this. Symptoms may include:

• Headache
• Weakness or feeling unsteady
• Confusion, problems concentrating or thinking, or memory problems

Do not stop Paxil without first talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping Paxil too quickly may cause serious symptoms including:

• Anxiety, irritability, high or low mood, feeling restless, or changes in sleep habits
• Headache, sweating, nausea, dizziness
• Electric shock-like sensations, shaking, confusion