Hello doctor, I have been on Paxil CR 37.5 mg for 16 years. After a recent depression or OCD episode that occurred around my period, I saw a psychiatrist to see if I needed to bump up my dosage or change medicines. She prescribed me 7.5 mg of regular Paxil, not CR, to take with my 37.5 mg CR a few days before my period and a couple days into it. The 7.5 mg capsule is marketed as a menopause or anti-hot flash drug called Brisdelle, but is just Paxil. Is it safe to combine this 7.5 mg of regular Paxil with my Paxil CR for about a week or month? It feels weird to me because of the CR or regular difference, the short usage, and the fact that the pill is marketed as a menopause relief pill. Thoughts?
Hi. It is safe to take the additional 7.5 mg of Paxil or Brisdelle along with 37.5 mg of Paxil CR, as you rightly mentioned that both are same medicines. The increase dose of Paxil or Brisdelle for short time is for managing your hot flashes, and it is just like that the dose of Paxil are increased to manage your symptoms. If your symptoms are well managed by this then it is good otherwise you may need to increase the dose further. The CR and regular difference is just how the active ingredient of the pill is released in body and to minimize the side effects of sudden increase of drug in body.