I am taking paroxetine, but I would like to stop taking it before becoming pregnant. How long does paroxetine stay in my body?
While everyone breaks down medication at a different rate, on average it takes four to five days for most of the paroxetine to be gone from the body after taking the last dose. There are case reports of people who have had withdrawal symptoms when suddenly stopping use of paroxetine. It may be preferable to gradually reduce the dosage before quitting completely. The benefits of taking the medication for your specific situation, and any possible adverse outcomes from not taking it, or any potential risks to the baby if you find out you are already pregnant, should be discussed with your health care provider before you decide to stop taking paroxetine.
Can taking paroxetine during my pregnancy cause birth defects?
Several studies have found no increased risk for having a baby with a birth defect when paroxetine is used during pregnancy. However, a study performed by the manufacturer of paroxetine and another study performed by a teratogen information service found that paroxetine use during the first trimester may increase the risk of having a baby born with a heart defect. The background risk for heart defects in the general population is one percent, and these studies showed that paroxetine use during pregnancy may increase this risk to two percent. More studies need to be performed to determine if paroxetine use during pregnancy increases the risk of birth defects over that of the general population.
