Paxil Overstimulation

Overstimulation is a common problem with all SSRIs and most of the newer antidepressants. For Paxil, as in the Prozac studies, agitation and insomnia were among the reasons for the dropouts. As documented on its official label, Paxil displays a similar pattern of stimulant effects insomnia, tremor, nervousness, and anxiety. Like Zoloft, it also produces more somnolence and more sexual dysfunction than Prozac. In fact, somnolence (23.3%) is almost twice as frequent as insomnia (13.3%). 

Most of my inside information concerning Paxil was accumulated in late 1999 and remains valid to this day. At that time, I was asked by California attorney Don Farber to be the medical expert in a product liability 

Reynaldo Lacuzong drowned himself and his two small children in a bathtub. There was no evidence of any previous suicidality or violence on his part or of any animosity toward his children. He had never seen a psychiatrist, been to counseling, or displayed symptoms of psychiatric problems. For years, Reynaldo had received outstanding evaluations as an employee at a high-tech firm. 

What had changed in his life He was on the third day of taking Paxil 10 mg, the smallest available dose. It had been prescribed, most likely, to help him with the tension involved in giving up his customary one or two alcoholic beverages each evening. 

Reynaldo quickly developed akathisia—agitation accompanied by a compulsive need to move—as well as other maniclike symptoms of irritability and anxiety. As described in chapters 6 and 7, antidepressant-induced akathisia can cause violence, suicide, psychosis, and an overall worsening of the patient s mental condition. 

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