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A 38-year-old male asked:

Prescribed an ssri, paxil for anxiety, panic, ocd. two family members also had it, mother and sister, both had adverse effects. would i have to same effects for sure or still try it and see?

2 doctor answers2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Susan Rhoads
Family Medicine 40 years experience
Try it and see.: Everyone is different. Ask if you can start at a lower dose and titrate it upward if you are having no problems. All these drugs have mild side effects in most folks in the first weeks that get better with time. If you have problems or concerns, discuss them with your doctor when they occur to see if it means adjusting the dose, waiting a bit longer to see if you improve or if you need to stop it
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Dr. Elizabeth Finley-Belgrad
Child Psychiatry 36 years experience
Prob not worth takin: For 2 close relatives to have a negative rxn I would often choose a different med, As paxil is not an uncommon med to have some issues with given its very short T1/2(length of time it stays in your body), there are other similar good choices. It is always necessary to work with your prescriber to identify the best choice for you as an individual
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Last updated Feb 16, 2020

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