Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: LEXAPRO versus PAXIL.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: LEXAPRO versus PAXIL.
LEXAPRO vs PAXIL
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI); inhibits serotonin reuptake at the presynaptic neuron, potentiating serotonergic activity.
Paroxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that potentiates serotonergic activity in the central nervous system by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin (5-HT) from the synaptic cleft, leading to increased serotonin levels.
10 mg orally once daily; may increase to 20 mg once daily after at least 1 week.
20 mg orally once daily, typically in the morning; may be increased in 10 mg/day increments at intervals of at least 1 week to a maximum of 50 mg/day.
None Documented
None Documented
27-32 hours (mean ~30 h); steady state reached in ~1 week; linear kinetics at therapeutic doses.
Mean terminal half-life 21 hours (range 3–65 hours); steady-state achieved within 7–14 days; nonlinear kinetics with dose increase leading to disproportionate increases in half-life due to saturable hepatic metabolism (CYP2D6).
Primarily renal (approx. 80% as metabolites, 8% as unchanged drug); biliary/fecal elimination accounts for ~15%.
Renal: 64% (2% unchanged, 62% as metabolites); Fecal: 36% via bile; urinary excretion of unchanged paroxetine <2%.
Category C
Category C
SSRI Antidepressant
SSRI Antidepressant