AboutMary E Scott, RPh, CGP Expertise I am a certified geriatric pharmacist with over 23 years experience as a long-term care consultant to nursing homes. I also do community-based consulting on an individual basis. My facility-based monthly newsletter on pharmacy topics is read by nurses in over 200 long-term care facilities in 5 states.
Experience I received a BS in Pharmacy in 1980 with post-graduate work in public health. I have had a Consultant Pharmacist license since 1984.
Organizations American Society of Consultant Pharmacists .I received certification in geriatric pharmacy in 1998.
Question I am a 21 year old male. I was prescribed by my family physician Paxil (generic) 20 mg to help me deal with my severe general anxiety/stress and depression. It has been a little over 2 months since I began taking the medication, and I have not felt any major differences or change. I am thinking about going back and talking to my doctor about maybe increasing my dosage, because we never really talked about how severe my condition was before he prescribed me the 20 mg. But what I was wondering before I go and talk to him, is what is the absolute maximum dosage available for someone my age? I know that the dosage should be increased/increased increased/decreased in short incriments like 10 mg at a time every 1-2 weeks. But what is the absolute max dosage you would recommend for someone of my age to try, before trying a different medication. I was reading that people should take no more than 60 mg of Paxil... Is this true? And what are some side effects or changes that may occour if that much is taken or exceeded.?
Answer Hi,Dean,
I would make an appointment to see your doctor about either increasing your dose or switching to another medication. Maximum dose of Paxil is 60mg, but there are some reports that no additional benefit is seen after 20mg. Maximum doses can cause extreme drowsiness.
You are right about only increasing dose in 10mg increments every 1-2 weeks. Hope this helps, Mary
