Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: PAXIL versus ZOLOFT.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: PAXIL versus ZOLOFT.
PAXIL vs ZOLOFT
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
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.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI); potentiates serotonergic activity in the CNS by blocking the reuptake of serotonin at the presynaptic neuronal membrane, resulting in increased serotonin concentrations in the synaptic cleft.
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.
50 mg orally once daily, increased by 50 mg increments at 1-week intervals up to 200 mg/day for depression, OCD, panic disorder, PTSD, PMDD, social anxiety disorder.
None Documented
None Documented
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).
26 hours (terminal elimination half-life); steady state achieved in ~1 week; metabolite desmethylsertraline half-life 66 hours.
Renal: 64% (2% unchanged, 62% as metabolites); Fecal: 36% via bile; urinary excretion of unchanged paroxetine <2%.
Renal: <0.5% unchanged; extensive hepatic metabolism; metabolites excreted renally and fecally.
Category C
Category C
SSRI Antidepressant
SSRI Antidepressant