Question:
APA: Paxil (Paroxetine) Effective in Treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
Answer:
Paxil(R) (paroxetine HCl) significantly reduced anxiety in
patients with generalized anxiety disorder, as demonstrated by
data presented at the American Psychiatric Association annual
meeting.
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a condition characterized
by excessive anxiety and worry about a number of events or
activities; it is debilitating to those who suffer from it.
Paxil, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), is
currently indicated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) for the treatment of depression, panic disorder, obsessive
compulsive disorder and social anxiety disorder.
"The data presented today suggest that Paxil may be a new
alternative for patients suffering from generalized anxiety
disorder," said Jack Gorman, M.D., Professor and Vice Chair of
Research, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University. "With
few treatments currently available to treat generalized anxiety
disorder, new treatments will help in the fight against this
debilitating disorder."
Results from a double-blind placebo-controlled multi-center study
of 566 patients with GAD indicate that patients taking Paxil
experienced nearly a 60 percent reduction in anxiety symptoms as
measured by the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A). HAM-A is regarded
as an established standard for evaluating patients' anxiety.
In addition, Paxil was significantly superior to placebo in
reducing tension (item two on HAM-A) and severity of illness
(global assessment by clinician) and disability (as measured by
the Sheehan Disability Scale). Patients in the study were between
18-80 years old, with the average age being 40. Results from this
study were included in a supplemental New Drug Application
recently submitted to the FDA in April.
GAD affects as many as 14 million Americans and 1.5 million
Canadians at some point during their lives. The condition is
characterized by chronic, exaggerated tension and worry that
interferes with daily functioning for at least six months.
Individuals with GAD worry constantly, even when there is no
apparent reason for doing so, and experience difficulties
controlling the worry. The intensity, duration, or frequency of
the worry is far out of proportion to the actual likelihood or
impact of the feared event. The focus of their worries can be
surrounding work, health, family, money, or even minor matters,
such as household chores or being late for appointments.
Those with GAD suffer from at least three of the following
symptoms: restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating,
irritability, muscle tension or sleep disturbances. Research
shows that GAD sufferers frequently suffer from additional mood
and anxiety disorders including major depression, panic disorder
and social anxiety disorder.
More women than men are diagnosed with the condition, with
approximately 60 percent of sufferers being female. Symptoms of
GAD can begin at any time in a sufferer's life. People who suffer
from GAD often report feeling nervous and anxious throughout
their entire lives, which can severely impact one's work, social
life and family relationships.
"Generalized anxiety disorder severely impacts sufferers'
abilities to maintain personal relationships, careers and living
the life they want," said David Sheehan, M.D., Professor of
Psychiatry and Director of the Office of Research, Department of
Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at University of South Florida
College of Medicine. "This research shows how an effective
treatment may help people overcome the impact of the disorder."
Paxil is not currently approved to treat GAD. Paxil is generally
well tolerated. As with many medications, there can be side
effects. The most common side effects reported in depression,
OCD, panic disorder or social anxiety disorder studies include
asthenia, sweating, nausea, dry mouth, constipation, decreased
appetite, somnolence, dizziness, insomnia, tremor, nervousness,
yawn and sexual side effects in men and women. People taking MAO
inhibitors should not take Paxil. Most people who experience side
effects are not bothered enough to stop taking Paxil.
Are you on Paxil or do you have some other interest in promoting their press
releases? This isn't news. Paxil has been saying Paxil is good for years. It's
the users that don't like it. We already know why you parrot the cult of $cientology's press
releases...if you don't, they'll cut off your supply of Auditine.
Paxil is a medication. If your medication is talking to you, Baron,
perhaps you should switch brands. I hear Prozac is available in a
weekly form now... Let's get this straight. You're a Scientologist, therefore you feel
yourself justified in promoting their rabid and absolutist dogma on
'psychs' and 'psychdrugs' on a internet that deals with Scientology and
not 'psychs' and 'psychdrugs', but question someone else's right to
present data from any other source than one that fits the Scientology
party line? Or at least, you can't comprehend any position contrary to
the Scientology party line that might stem from anything other than a
vested interest in Scientology's boogeyman? And no, I don't take any psych drugs, and have a view of psychiatry, that
while not as consistenly negative as my view of Scientology, isn't
totally positive.
