Paxil CR is on of the few SSRI's (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) indicated and approved for social anxiety disorder. I actually work for GSK and market Paxil CR to Psychiatrists and Family Practice docs. However, for short term relief, I would discourage you from taking any type of drug that affects your brain chemistry on a short term basis; because you are altering the brain chemistry and also which can lead to severe behavioral disorders, including worsening the onset of your social anxiety. On all SSRI's there is a "black box warning" which states that short term use and abrupt discontinuation could cause feelings of suicide (but this was observed among adolescents in double blind, clinical trials), but that's something that should also cause some concern. With Paxil CR, it's recommended that the first 6 months is the Response Phase, and then there after upto 18 months is the Maintence Phase. It's recommended to take Paxil CR for 18 months to get remission (a stage where there is significant symptom improvement).
If you really are serious about getting on an SSRI, I would highly recommend Paxil CR because it has the lowest incidence of adverse events versus all other SSRI's across the board, as well as, the the Pharmakinetic profile of Paxil CR vs. all other immediate release SSRI's was very noticable. With Paxil CR, the drug in blood serum levels was spread out over time (24 hour period), so there was even amounts of drug released in the blood which caused lower carbohydrate cravings, where as other immediate release SSRI's have this peak and then a rapid drop in the pharmakinetic profile which means greater carbohydrate cravings. Shit, I hope that I am not trying to give you the idea of me selling you on this, but I would like to give you as much information on Paxil CR as possible. One thing that really sucks about the Paxil CR issue, is that actual physical samples are not presently available, but you can get a month worth of vouchers from your MD, which can give you free Paxil CR for a month, once you go to pick up your prescription at the pharmacy. Hopefully this information gave you more background on Paxil. Oh one more thing, if you do decide to get on Paxil, make sure you go with Paxil CR because it's controlled release, where there is also Paxil IR, which is immediate release, once again, it's all about the pharmakinetic profile. Take care bro, hope I helped out some how.
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