AboutBarbara Judge Expertise Outpatient pharmacy and general health. I have recently completed a Pharmceutical Care Certificate Program offered by Purdue University (Spring 1999 completion). I have personal experience dealing with terminally ill persons and their needs, as well as their families` needs. I graduated in 1984 from Pharmacy School and have been a Licensed Pharmacist since then. I have 18 years retail pharmacy experience. Prior to my pharmacy training I have 3 years hospital experience as a Nurse`s Aide.
Alex Rodriguez wrote at 2007-05-31 00:10:41
What barb judge said is most definately true. paroxetine HCl and paroxetine mesylate have the same pharmacodynamic properties but simply have different pharmacokinetic properties (meaning that they differ only in the way that the get absorbed into the bloodstream and move about the body. not in what they do in the brain. This is the same principle that seperates propoxyphene HCl(Darvon) from propoxyphene napsylate (Darvon-N) Darvon is active at 65mg where Darvon-N is active at 100mg. however, the napsylate salt remains in the bloodstream longer making it more effectice as a longer lasting treatment. In the case of SSRIs such as Paxil, the halflife and durataion of action is already long enough that a significant difference will not subjectively be noticed by the patient. In fact, the mesylate salt, similar to the difference described above, has a longer halflife, so it will actually be a smoother more "comfortable" treatment (this is why Pexeva got FDA approval). As for switching from one to the other (paroxetine HCl to paroxetine mesylate). I wouldn't be concerned. In fact the only difference is that you dont have to be SO SO exact with the the exact time of dosing as you do with Paxil. Hope I could be of some help. Do make sure you tell your doctor though because it is always a good idea to let your doctor know what you are doing with your medication.
Take Care and Good Luck,
Dr. Alexander Rodriguez M.D.
ELLEN wrote at 2009-04-07 16:25:49
Thank you so much for this clarification. For someone who needs to know the how/why/details but has only a little knowledge of chemistry this was very valuable info for me. Two years later and it is still helping people!
