Paroxetine.
BACKGROUND
Paroxetine is a widely used antidepressant that has received attention regarding suicide risk in younger patients.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this paper is to review the pharmacology, efficacy and safety of paroxetine in the affective disorders.


METHODS
The authors performed a PubMed search for all literature in English crossing the words 'paroxetine' and 'Paxil' against the words 'serotonin transporter,' 'clinical trials,' 'depression' and 'SSRI'. A search for paroxetine-related information at the FDA website and under the clinical trial register of the GSK website were also performed.


CONCLUSIONS
Paroxetine is a serotonin re-uptake inhibitor with good selectivity and no significant active metabolites. Paroxetine is approved (ages >or= 18 years) for the treatment of major depressive disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder (social phobia), post-traumatic stress disorder, and generalized anxiety disorders. Drug - drug interactions involving the CYP enzyme system have been documented, as well as concern for increased suicidality risk in younger adults and recent FDA alerts regarding teratogenicity, serotonin syndrome and persistent pulmonary hypertension.
Tang
Siu Wa
SW
University of California, Psychiatry North Campus Zot 1681, Irvine, California 92697-1681, USA. swtang@uci.edu
Helmeste
Daiga
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012306:Risk; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D017374:Paroxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors