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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is Overdosing On Paxil Safe?

A patient I saw today who is a physician, has self-medicated himself with 160 mg bid of Paxil. His Dx is GAD and I am not sure how to proceed. I have never seen/heard anyone taking a dose as high as this. He told me he used to take 160 mg tid! I am sure about dose, this was titrated over a few years (he has been taking Paxil for 15 years now). He said he has been taking this dose for more than a year, it is effective for him and he denied any major side effects. Please advise.
Mon, 8 Oct 2018
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hi,

Anything higher than the recommended therapeutic dosage range is not safe. As these dosages are determined by extensive clinical trials. We as a doctor have to do a risk-benefit analysis. The current dosage he is taking is way too much beyond therapeutic dosage. Even if he doesn't have any side effects from such high dose, there is no way it can ever be considered safe. Thus, It cannot be continued. I wouldn't continue him on such high dosage if I was his physician.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Saralkumar R. Desai,
General & Family Physician
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Is Overdosing On Paxil Safe?

Hi, Anything higher than the recommended therapeutic dosage range is not safe. As these dosages are determined by extensive clinical trials. We as a doctor have to do a risk-benefit analysis. The current dosage he is taking is way too much beyond therapeutic dosage. Even if he doesn t have any side effects from such high dose, there is no way it can ever be considered safe. Thus, It cannot be continued. I wouldn t continue him on such high dosage if I was his physician. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Saralkumar R. Desai, General & Family Physician