paxil cr

How long does Paroxetine Hydrochloride stay in your body?

The elimination half-life of paroxetine hydrochloride is about 21 hours on average (the label reports a mean of approximately 21 hours, with 32% variability between people) — the time it takes the body to clear about half of it. As a rule of thumb, a medicine is mostly gone after roughly 4 to 5 half-lives, though this varies from person to person with age and kidney or liver function. This is the mean elimination half-life measured after 30 mg daily for 30 days; the label gives a single mean with 32% coefficient of variation rather than a range, so individual values vary widely. No active metabolite to worry about: the label states paroxetine's metabolites "have no more than 1/50 the potency of the parent compound at inhibiting serotonin uptake," so the parent drug's half-life is the one that matters. Paroxetine is not a prodrug. Paroxetine's kinetics are non-linear — it partly saturates the enzyme (CYP2D6) that clears it, so exposure rises more than proportionally with higher doses and with longer treatment, and the effective half-life can be longer than 21 hours at higher doses. The label does not print a separate half-life number for special populations (it presents them in a figure), but it does say drug exposure is higher and that "the recommended starting dosage and maximum dosage of paroxetine is reduced in elderly patients, patients with severe renal impairment, and patients with severe hepatic impairment" — so expect the drug to linger longer than 21 hours in those groups. This figure describes how long the drug itself is cleared from the body; it is not a drug-test detection window and not dosing guidance.

This is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t tell you when a drug test would read negative (tests detect substances for different, often longer, windows) or when it’s safe to take another dose — ask your pharmacist or prescriber. Source: PAROXETINE tablet, film coated (Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc.) — DailyMed, Section 12.3 Pharmacokinetics.

Frequently asked questions

What does Paxil CR treat?

Paxil CR (Paroxetine Hydrochloride) may be used to treat feeding and eating disorders, depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, phobic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders, panic disorder, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.

How does Paxil CR work?

Paxil CR is a serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) block the transporter that pulls serotonin back into nerve cells, so more of this mood-related chemical stays in the gaps between neurons to keep signaling. They act mainly on serotonin, which tends to mean fewer side effects than older antidepressants.

How is Paxil CR rated?

pharmaranks gives Paxil CR a composite score of 3.3 out of 5, currently based on 1 weighted source (FDA regulatory recall-safety data weighted highest). See our methodology at /how-we-rate.

How much does Paxil CR cost?

Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $2.84 for 30, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins. Pharmacies pay less for a same-class option, Sertraline Hydrochloride — about $1.06 on the same basis.

Is there a coupon or discount for Paxil CR?

pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Paxil CR. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.

Who makes Paxil CR?

Paxil CR is marketed by Apotex. You can see Apotex's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.

Is Paxil CR a brand-name or generic drug?

Paxil CR is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Paroxetine Hydrochloride. Lower-cost generic equivalents containing Paroxetine Hydrochloride are available — ask your pharmacist.

Is Paxil CR available over the counter?

No. Paxil CR is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.

What forms does Paxil CR come in?

Paxil CR is currently marketed as tablet, extended release, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.

What class of drug is Paxil CR?

Paxil CR is classified as serotonin reuptake inhibitor, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.

Is Paxil CR FDA-registered?

Paxil CR is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA020936. You can verify this on its official FDA label.

Has Paxil CR been recalled by the FDA?

Paxil CR has no FDA recalls recorded under its own application in the openFDA enforcement database. Its recall-safety score reflects its manufacturer's overall recall record. This is general reference, not medical advice — check the FDA recall database for the latest alerts.

Is Paxil CR safe?

There's no single safe-or-not verdict. pharmaranks gives Paxil CR a recall-safety score of 66/100, based on its FDA recall history (no recalls under its own FDA application) — not an efficacy or side-effect rating. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings before use, and always consult a licensed professional.