* note: social anxiety disorder is characterized by the fear of being observed or evaluated by others; sufferers report an overwhelming fear of embarrassment in social and performance situations.
* researchers at the University of Southampton conducted a 12-week, multi-centre, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to compare the efficacy of Paxil (20-50 mg daily) to placebo, in 290 patients with social anxiety disorder.
* found a statistically significant symptom improvement in patients treated with Paxil within as little as four weeks of treatment onset, as measured by the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), which provides an assessment of a patient’s level of fear and avoidance of performance and/or social situations.
* the researchers say that Paxil was associated with a definitive reduction in symptoms of social anxiety disorder, increased participation in social activity, as well as a significant improvement in overall well being.
* Paxil (paroxetine), from SmithKline Beecham Pharma Canada, has been approved in 82 countries for the treatment of depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and panic disorder in patients over the age of 18 and is indicated for the treatment of generalized social anxiety disorder in 35 countries, including the U.S.

The anti-anxiety drug Paxil (paroxetine HCl) has joined Zoloft as an FDA-approved treatment for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to its maker, GlaxoSmithKline. Zoloft (sertraline hydrochloride) was the first anti-depression drug approved by the FDA to treat PTSD in late 1999.

Post traumatic stress disorder affects millions of people, usually after they have either seen or been part of an intensely emotional or dramatic event. This can run the gamut from being in combat to witnessing an accident.

Paxil’s approval came after clinical trials that showed “paroxetine was effective for both men and women,” according to research published in the issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Here’s the article’s conclusion: “Doses of 20 and 40 mg/day of paroxetine are effective and well tolerated in the treatment of adults with chronic post traumatic stress disorder.”

Post traumatic stress disorder first came to the public’s attention as a diagnosable and treatable condition during the Vietnam War years. Many veterans began exhibiting such symptoms as sleeping or concentration difficulty, irritability, jumpiness, and combat flashbacks after returning to civilian life.

The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks have recently revived interest in post traumatic stress disorder after health officials reported major increases in reported incidents.

Breast-fed infants of mothers taking the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant paroxetine HCl (Paxil / SmithKline Beecham) had very low traces of the medication in their blood, according to a study at Emory University School of Medicine’s Pregnancy and Postpartum Mood Disorders Program. The study on infant exposure during breast-feeding indicates that postpartum depression, which is a common condition, can be treated with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).

Controlled trials with outpatients have demonstrated the efficacy of paroxetine (Paxil) for DSM-III major depressive disorders. The benefits of therapy become apparent within about two weeks. (Claghorn J. Int Clin Psychopharmacol 1992; 6(Suppl 4): 25-30.) Paroxetine (Paxil) has the particular advantage of improving sleep without interfering with psychomotor function and is relatively safe in overdose situations. (Montgomery SA. Int Clin Psychopharmacol 1992; 6 (Suppl 4): 91-100.) Patients’ cognitive functions have been found to improve from the start of therapy. (Hindmarch I. Int Clin Psychopharmacol 1992; 6(Suppl 4): 65-67.) Paroxetine’s antidepressive effect has been maintained for up to one year; however, long-term use requires periodic re-evaluation. Paxil is available in 20- or 30-mg tablets. The manufacturer recommends an initial dose of 20 mg/day; this may be titrated upward in increments of 10 mg/day, at intervals of at least one week, to a maximum of 50 mg/day. Paroxetine (Paxil) concentrations reach a steady state in about 10 days. Under clinical conditions, plasma concentrations of paroxetine are less than 400 ng/mL. Extensive metabolism after oral administration yields primarily the polar and conjugated products of oxidation and methylation. Sixty-four percent of a dose is excreted in the urine and 36% in the feces.

In world-wide clinical trials, 21% of patients withdrew from paroxetine (Paxil) treatment because of adverse effects, which included somnolence and insomnia (depending on the timing of the dose), tremor, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, asthenia, ejaculatory disturbance, and other male genital disorders. Paroxetine (Paxil) should not be administered within two weeks of monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Pregnant and nursing women should take paroxetine only if clearly needed and then only with caution. The safety and efficacy of use by children has not been determined.