PAROXETINE

85/100 · Critical

Manufactured by Legacy Pharma USA, Inc.

Serious Adverse Events Dominate Paroxetine Safety Profile

67,572 FDA adverse event reports analyzed

Last updated: 2026-05-12

About PAROXETINE

PAROXETINE is a medication tracked in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), manufactured by Legacy Pharma USA, Inc.. Based on analysis of 67,572 FDA adverse event reports, PAROXETINE has a safety score of 85 out of 100. This score indicates a relatively favorable safety profile, with fewer or less severe adverse events compared to many other tracked medications. The most commonly reported adverse reactions for PAROXETINE include DRUG INEFFECTIVE, DRUG INTERACTION, FATIGUE, NAUSEA, TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS. This page provides a comprehensive breakdown of reported side effects, safety signals, patient demographics, and AI-powered safety analysis for PAROXETINE.

AI Safety Analysis

Paroxetine has a safety concern score of 85 out of 100, placing it in the high concern category based on analysis of FDA adverse event data. The FDA has received approximately 67,572 adverse event reports for this medication, which is primarily manufactured by Legacy Pharma Usa, Inc..

The most commonly reported adverse events include Drug Ineffective, Drug Interaction, Fatigue. Of classified reports, 81.9% were designated as serious by the FDA, meaning they involved hospitalization, disability, or other significant medical outcomes. Serious adverse events such as suicidal ideation, depression, and death are common.

A wide range of reactions including drug interactions and toxicity are reported. Falls and confusion are frequent, indicating potential cognitive and physical risks.

Patients taking Paroxetine should monitor for the commonly reported side effects and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual symptoms. Paroxetine can interact with other drugs, and toxicity to various agents is a key concern. Patients should inform their healthcare providers of all medications they are taking. This analysis is based on voluntary FDA adverse event reports and should not replace professional medical advice.

Safety Score: 85/100

Paroxetine received a safety concern score of 85/100 (high concern). This is based on a 81.9% serious event ratio across 32,662 classified reports. The score accounts for 67,572 total adverse event reports and 100 distinct reaction types. This high score reflects a significant proportion of serious adverse events in the reporting data.

Top Adverse Reactions

DRUG INEFFECTIVE2,032 reports
DRUG INTERACTION1,825 reports
FATIGUE1,821 reports
NAUSEA1,736 reports
TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS1,579 reports
ANXIETY1,477 reports
DIARRHOEA1,452 reports
HEADACHE1,446 reports
DIZZINESS1,363 reports
OFF LABEL USE1,311 reports
FALL1,293 reports
DRUG ABUSE1,256 reports
CONFUSIONAL STATE1,229 reports
VOMITING1,188 reports
SOMNOLENCE1,158 reports
DYSPNOEA1,155 reports
DEPRESSION1,127 reports
ASTHENIA1,092 reports
INSOMNIA1,092 reports
PAIN998 reports
COMPLETED SUICIDE955 reports
TREMOR950 reports
DEATH912 reports
SUICIDAL IDEATION888 reports
SEROTONIN SYNDROME875 reports
CONDITION AGGRAVATED868 reports
MALAISE850 reports
ARTHRALGIA824 reports
AGITATION788 reports
HYPERHIDROSIS724 reports
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY721 reports
PARAESTHESIA704 reports
SUICIDE ATTEMPT701 reports
OVERDOSE687 reports
WEIGHT INCREASED670 reports
HYPOTENSION669 reports
DECREASED APPETITE635 reports
RASH619 reports
PRURITUS615 reports
PYREXIA607 reports
PNEUMONIA588 reports
HYPONATRAEMIA587 reports
HYPERTENSION576 reports
WEIGHT DECREASED575 reports
FEELING ABNORMAL562 reports
DRUG WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME544 reports
MEMORY IMPAIRMENT529 reports
INTENTIONAL OVERDOSE524 reports
GAIT DISTURBANCE517 reports
PAIN IN EXTREMITY516 reports
RENAL FAILURE492 reports
CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE489 reports
FOETAL EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY483 reports
WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME480 reports
CONSTIPATION478 reports
TACHYCARDIA472 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN471 reports
COMA469 reports
AGGRESSION467 reports
DISTURBANCE IN ATTENTION452 reports
PRODUCT USE IN UNAPPROVED INDICATION447 reports
SOPOR442 reports
HYPOAESTHESIA437 reports
SLEEP DISORDER436 reports
LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS428 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN UPPER423 reports
MUSCLE SPASMS420 reports
ANAEMIA418 reports
PANIC ATTACK403 reports
CHEST PAIN402 reports
BACK PAIN399 reports
PALPITATIONS393 reports
URINARY TRACT INFECTION391 reports
MYALGIA382 reports
VISION BLURRED378 reports
COUGH377 reports
BALANCE DISORDER368 reports
SEIZURE367 reports
HALLUCINATION364 reports
POISONING DELIBERATE359 reports
BLOOD PRESSURE INCREASED358 reports
DISORIENTATION355 reports
DELIRIUM350 reports
DEPRESSED MOOD335 reports
NIGHTMARE332 reports
DYSKINESIA329 reports
INTENTIONAL SELF INJURY329 reports
VISUAL IMPAIRMENT325 reports
PERIPHERAL SWELLING322 reports
IRRITABILITY321 reports
MUSCULOSKELETAL STIFFNESS320 reports
VERTIGO316 reports
ELECTROCARDIOGRAM QT PROLONGED304 reports
DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY301 reports
RESTLESSNESS301 reports
CARDIAC ARREST300 reports
DEHYDRATION298 reports
RHABDOMYOLYSIS296 reports
PULMONARY EMBOLISM293 reports
ALOPECIA290 reports

Key Safety Signals

  • Suicidal ideation and completed suicide are significant safety signals.
  • Drug interactions and toxicity are frequently reported, highlighting the need for caution.
  • Serious adverse events like death and falls are prevalent, indicating potential risks.

Patient Demographics

Adverse event reports by sex: Female: 19,168, Male: 10,466, Unknown: 83. The most frequently reported age groups are age 53 (516 reports), age 54 (513 reports), age 60 (512 reports). These demographics reflect reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Report Outcomes

Out of 32,662 classified reports for PAROXETINE:

  • Serious: 26,748 reports (81.9%) — includes hospitalization, disability, life-threatening events, or death
  • Non-Serious: 5,914 reports (18.1%)
Serious 81.9%Non-Serious 18.1%

The FDA classifies an adverse event as “serious” if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, congenital anomaly, or requires intervention to prevent permanent damage.

Demographics Breakdown

Reports by Sex

Female19,168 (64.5%)
Male10,466 (35.2%)
Unknown83 (0.3%)

Reports by Age

Age 53516 reports
Age 54513 reports
Age 60512 reports
Age 65509 reports
Age 68509 reports
Age 57501 reports
Age 69496 reports
Age 62482 reports
Age 64482 reports
Age 70470 reports
Age 63469 reports
Age 59465 reports
Age 52459 reports
Age 66442 reports
Age 55439 reports
Age 51436 reports
Age 50432 reports
Age 58431 reports
Age 61421 reports
Age 71421 reports

Demographics reflect voluntary FDA adverse event reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Drug Interactions & Warnings

Paroxetine can interact with other drugs, and toxicity to various agents is a key concern. Patients should inform their healthcare providers of all medications they are taking.

What You Should Know

If you are taking Paroxetine, here are important things to know. The most commonly reported side effects include drug ineffective, drug interaction, fatigue, nausea, toxicity to various agents. While many of these may be mild and temporary, you should contact your healthcare provider if any symptoms are severe or persistent. Inform your healthcare provider about any existing medical conditions or medications you are taking. Be aware of potential serious side effects and report them to your doctor promptly. If you experience a serious adverse reaction, seek emergency medical attention immediately or call 911. You can report side effects to the FDA's MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Regulatory Context

The FDA closely monitors Paroxetine's safety, and any new or worsening symptoms should be reported to healthcare providers immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many adverse event reports has the FDA received for Paroxetine?

The FDA has received approximately 67,572 adverse event reports associated with Paroxetine. These reports come from healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers through the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Note that the number of reports does not directly indicate the frequency of side effects, as adverse events are voluntarily reported and may be underrepresented.

What are the most commonly reported side effects of Paroxetine?

The most frequently reported adverse events for Paroxetine include Drug Ineffective, Drug Interaction, Fatigue, Nausea, Toxicity To Various Agents. By volume, the top reported reactions are: Drug Ineffective (2,032 reports), Drug Interaction (1,825 reports), Fatigue (1,821 reports). These figures reflect FDA adverse event reports and may not represent the true incidence rate of these side effects in all patients taking Paroxetine.

What percentage of Paroxetine adverse event reports are serious?

Out of 32,662 classified reports, 26,748 (81.9%) were classified as serious and 5,914 as non-serious. The FDA classifies an event as "serious" if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, or other medically significant outcomes. A higher serious-event ratio warrants closer attention but does not necessarily mean the drug is unsafe.

Who reports adverse events for Paroxetine (by sex)?

Adverse event reports for Paroxetine break down by patient sex as follows: Female: 19,168, Male: 10,466, Unknown: 83. This distribution reflects reporting patterns rather than actual risk differences between groups. Reporting rates can be influenced by prescribing patterns, disease demographics, and reporting behavior.

What age groups report the most side effects for Paroxetine?

The most frequently reported age groups for Paroxetine adverse events are: age 53: 516 reports, age 54: 513 reports, age 60: 512 reports, age 65: 509 reports, age 68: 509 reports. Age-related reporting patterns can reflect both the demographics of the patient population and potential age-related susceptibility to certain side effects.

Who manufactures Paroxetine?

The primary manufacturer associated with Paroxetine adverse event reports is Legacy Pharma Usa, Inc.. Multiple manufacturers may produce generic versions of this drug. The manufacturer listed reflects the most frequently reported brand in FDA adverse event data.

What other side effects have been reported for Paroxetine?

Beyond the most common reactions, other reported adverse events for Paroxetine include: Anxiety, Diarrhoea, Headache, Dizziness, Off Label Use. Less common side effects can still be clinically significant. Patients should report any unusual symptoms to their healthcare provider.

How do I report a side effect from Paroxetine?

You can report adverse events from Paroxetine to the FDA through their MedWatch program at www.fda.gov/medwatch, by calling 1-800-FDA-1088, or by completing Form FDA 3500. Healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers can all submit reports. Reporting helps the FDA monitor drug safety after approval.

What is Paroxetine's safety score and what does it mean?

Paroxetine has a safety concern score of 85 out of 100 (high concern). This score is calculated from the ratio of serious to non-serious adverse events, the diversity of reported reactions, and the overall volume of reports relative to usage. Serious adverse events such as suicidal ideation, depression, and death are common.

What are the key safety signals for Paroxetine?

Key safety signals identified in Paroxetine's adverse event data include: Suicidal ideation and completed suicide are significant safety signals.. Drug interactions and toxicity are frequently reported, highlighting the need for caution.. Serious adverse events like death and falls are prevalent, indicating potential risks.. These signals are derived from patterns in FDA reports and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized assessment.

Does Paroxetine interact with other drugs?

Paroxetine can interact with other drugs, and toxicity to various agents is a key concern. Patients should inform their healthcare providers of all medications they are taking. Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting Paroxetine.

What should patients know before taking Paroxetine?

Inform your healthcare provider about any existing medical conditions or medications you are taking. Be aware of potential serious side effects and report them to your doctor promptly.

Are Paroxetine side effects well-documented?

Paroxetine has 67,572 adverse event reports on file with the FDA. A wide range of reactions including drug interactions and toxicity are reported. The volume of reports for Paroxetine reflects both the drug's usage level and the vigilance of the reporting community.

What is the FDA's position on Paroxetine?

The FDA closely monitors Paroxetine's safety, and any new or worsening symptoms should be reported to healthcare providers immediately. For the most current regulatory information, check the FDA's drug labeling database or consult your pharmacist.

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Related Drugs

Drugs related to PAROXETINE based on therapeutic use, drug class, or shared indications:

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Important Disclaimer: This content is generated by AI analysis of FDA adverse event reports and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Adverse event reports submitted to the FDA do not prove that a medication caused the reported side effect. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. If you experience a serious side effect, contact your doctor or call 911 immediately.