Drug Mechanism: How does Paxil work?

Generic Paxil 40 mg (Paroxetine) is in a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a class that also contains fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft).

Generic Paxil 40 mg, paroxetine is an anti-depressant that affects the nerves in the brain which are used to send messages to one another. These chemical messengers, called neurotransmitters, are released by one nerve and taken up by other nerves. Neurotransmitters that are released but not taken up by other nerves are taken up by the nerves that release them (\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"reuptake\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"). Many experts believe that it is an imbalance among the amounts of the different neurotransmitters that are released that causes depression.

Abnormally low levels of serotonin may play a role in diseases such as depression, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder, and eating disorders. Increasing serotonin levels in the brain can help treat these disorders.

Generic Paxil 40 mg (Paroxetine) works by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin by the nerves that release it, an action which allows more serotonin to be available to be taken up by other nerves.