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Paroxetine

Medication SSRI antidepressant mental health
Aka: Seroxat, Paxil
Brands seen in Singapore: Seroxat CR, Apo-Paroxetine
Not medical advice. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change the timing of anything you take.
How to use
What it’s for
Prescribed for depression, anxiety, ocd, panic and ptsd
When to take
FDA: a single daily dose in the morning; NHS: with food
Take with
Food · HealthHub: cr tablets swallowed whole, not chewed
Pros & cons
Pros
  • FDA: one dose a day, with or without food
  • NHS: often usable while breastfeeding, with advice
  • HealthHub: most side effects improve with time
Cons
  • FDA: boxed warning on suicidal thoughts under 25
  • NHS: stopping suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms
  • NHS: sexual problems and weight changes are common
Sources
  1. HSA — Listing of Registered Therapeutic Products (data.gov.sg open dataset, 5,511 rows, cached in full and filtered locally) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Only 3 paroxetine rows exist, all 'Prescription Only' — SIN13485P Apo-Paroxetine 20mg Tablet, SIN12584P SEROXAT CR TABLET 12.5 mg, SIN12583P SEROXAT CR TABLET 25 mg; ATC N06AB05.”
  2. NHS Medicines A-Z — Paroxetine: what paroxetine is for · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Paroxetine is an antidepressant medicine used to treat depression and other mental health conditions. It's only available with a prescription … depression; anxiety disorders … obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD); post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)”
  3. NHS Medicines A-Z — Paroxetine: how to take paroxetine · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “You usually take paroxetine once a day, in the morning. Take it with food to reduce the chance of side effects like feeling sick (nausea) … It can take several weeks until your symptoms start to improve.”
  4. NHS Medicines A-Z — Paroxetine: side effects · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Common side effects of paroxetine include: feeling sick (nausea) and being sick (vomiting); sexual problems, such as low sex drive (loss of libido); feeling unusually sleepy, dizzy, weak or agitated; problems sleeping; headaches; weight changes”
  5. NHS Medicines A-Z — Paroxetine: how to stop taking paroxetine · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “do not suddenly stop taking it because it may cause withdrawal symptoms. If you want to stop taking paroxetine, speak to your doctor first. Your doctor will gradually reduce your dose over several weeks or months.”
  6. NHS Medicines A-Z — Paroxetine: who can and cannot take it · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “had unusually high moods caused by a mental health condition (mania) before; heart, liver or kidney problems; epilepsy or a history of seizures; a bleeding disorder (particularly bleeding in the digestive system); diabetes; glaucoma”
  7. NHS Medicines A-Z — Paroxetine: breastfeeding · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Paroxetine can often be used while breastfeeding, but it's best to check because the medicine can pass into your breast milk in small amounts … continue taking it if the benefits to you outweigh any possible risks to your baby.”
  8. NHS Medicines A-Z — Paroxetine: taking it with other medicines, food and drink · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “some other antidepressants; anticoagulants, such as warfarin; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen; strong painkillers such as tramadol … tamoxifen … Do not use the herbal supplement St John's wort when taking paroxetine.”
  9. HealthHub (Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore) — Paroxetine: what is this medication for · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Paroxetine belongs to a class of medications known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI). It is used to treat symptoms of depression … It may also be used to treat symptoms of anxiety … and obsessive-compulsive disorders”
  10. HealthHub — Paroxetine: how should I take this medication · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Paroxetine should be taken with or after food. If you are taking the controlled-release tablet, swallow the tablet whole, do NOT chew or crush it”
  11. HealthHub — Paroxetine: what precautions should I take · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “The following changes have been observed in some patients particularly below the age of 25 years … New or worsening thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life; Worsening agitation, restlessness, violent behaviour … supplements such as St John's Wort”
  12. HealthHub — Paroxetine: common side effects · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Most of the side effects listed here will improve with time. Speak with your doctor if they continue, get worse or are affecting your daily life.”
  13. US FDA label — paroxetine tablets, boxed warning, via openFDA drug/label.json · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “WARNING: SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS. Antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in pediatric and young adult patients in short-term studies … Paroxetine tablets are not approved for use in pediatric patients.”
  14. US FDA label — paroxetine tablets, section 2.1 Administration Information, via openFDA drug/label.json · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Administer paroxetine tablets as a single daily dose in the morning, with or without food.”
  15. US FDA label — paroxetine tablets, section 2 Dosage and Administration, via openFDA drug/label.json · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Recommended starting and maximum daily dosage for MDD, OCD, PD, and PTSD … MDD 20 mg / 50 mg; OCD 20 mg / 60 mg; PD 10 mg / 60 mg; PTSD 20 mg / 50 mg”
  16. US FDA label — paroxetine tablets, section 2.5 elderly and severe renal or hepatic impairment, via openFDA drug/label.json · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “The recommended initial dosage is 10 mg per day for elderly patients, patients with severe renal impairment, and patients with severe hepatic impairment. Dosage should not exceed 40 mg/day.”
  17. US FDA label — paroxetine tablets, section 4 Contraindications, via openFDA drug/label.json · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Taking, or within 14 days of stopping, MAOIs (including the MAOIs linezolid and intravenous methylene blue) … Taking thioridazine because of risk of QT prolongation … Taking pimozide because of risk of QT prolongation”
  18. US FDA label — paroxetine tablets, section 7 Drug Interactions, via openFDA drug/label.json · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “The concomitant use of serotonergic drugs … increases the risk of serotonin syndrome … The concurrent use of an antiplatelet agent or anticoagulant … may potentiate the risk of bleeding … Paroxetine tablets are a CYP2D6 inhibitor”
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Updated 2026-08-29. Every line above traces to a numbered source. Kozen-X is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. It lists what published sources have written down — nothing more. A pair not listed is unrecorded, not cleared. Before you start, stop or re-time anything, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.