CELEXA vs PAXIL

Independent side-by-side comparison.

Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated August 19, 2026·How we rate

Possible drug interaction. CELEXA and PAXIL are different prescription medicines. Combining or switching between them can cause interactions — talk to a pharmacist or prescriber before making changes. This page is not medical advice.

Attribute	CELEXA	PAXIL
Rating	70/100	66/100
Pharmacy pays	—	~$2.84 /30
Type	RX	RX
Active ingredient	CITALOPRAM HYDROBROMIDE	PAROXETINE HYDROCHLORIDE
Manufacturer	Forest Labs	Apotex
Dosage forms	Tablet	Tablet
Drug class	Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor	Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor
Boxed warning	None	Boxed warning
Half-life	about 35 hours	about 21 hours on average (the label reports a mean of approximately 21 hours, with 32% variability between people)
Treats	Alcoholism, Dementia, Depressive Disorder	Feeding and Eating Disorders, Depressive Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

celexa paxil

Rating

70/100

66/100

Pharmacy pays

—

~$2.84 /30

Type

Active ingredient

CITALOPRAM HYDROBROMIDE

PAROXETINE HYDROCHLORIDE

Manufacturer

Forest Labs

Apotex

Dosage forms

Tablet

Drug class

Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor

Boxed warning

None

Boxed warning

Half-life

about 35 hours

about 21 hours on average (the label reports a mean of approximately 21 hours, with 32% variability between people)

Treats

Alcoholism, Dementia, Depressive Disorder

Feeding and Eating Disorders, Depressive Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

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Frequently asked questions

Which is better-rated, Celexa or Paxil?

By our independent rating, Celexa scores higher — 3.5 vs 3.3 out of 5 for Paxil. Ratings are based on FDA regulatory (recall-safety) data.

What is the difference between Celexa and Paxil?

Celexa contains Citalopram Hydrobromide, while Paxil contains Paroxetine Hydrochloride — they have different active ingredients.

Ratings are based on FDA regulatory (recall-safety) data. This comparison is for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional before choosing or switching a medication.