Published on 06 December 2021

How Long Does Paxil Stay In Your System?

Paroxetine (Paxil) HOW-LONG-DOES-PAXIL-STAY-IN-YOUR-SYSTEM
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Nowadays, depression is a widespread disorder that affects each individual. People who are suffering from depressive episodes should seek medical attention immediately. It is treatable; it leads to cause emotional and physical damage to your health, which will withdraw you from losing ability from your work and make you feel sad and worried.

It can affect individuals at an estimated rate of adults (6.7%) in a year; it can occur at any time, and women are more likely to affect more than men; studies show one-third of women experience this significant depression in their lifetime.

Among 90% of depression, cases are treatable. There are many antidepressant drugs available; Paxil is one of the drugs which works effectively to treat your illness; consult your doctor before taking the medication, and let us see how the drug works in your system.

What Is Paxil?

Paxil is a medication that comes under the generic name of paroxetine; it belongs to the group of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors antidepressant drugs. It is the first drug approved for treating panic disorder in the United States.

It is indicated for conditions like panic disorder, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and social anxiety disorder.

How Does Paxil Work?

Usually, Serotonin is one of the chemicals in the body called a neurotransmitter. The work of the Neurotransmitter is to carry messages between the body for the nervous system. Serotonin helps in the brain for positive effects like our mood, sleep patterns, and pain stimulation.

When the Serotonin relays impact, it will result in a slow process of named reuptake. While drugs like SSRIs increase the serotonin level in the brain by preventing the neuron effect, which is already released, the serotonin imbalance affects mood, anxiety, and depression.

Paxil works by interrupting the reuptake process; SSRIs will increase the serotonin level and allow it to function normally. Thus, Paxil shows effective results.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, Paxil cause rare weight gain in people who use them for more extended periods than recommended.
Paxil belongs to a group of Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors; it increases the chemical in your brain; Paxil helps improve your mood by reducing stress, anxiety, and depression.
Older adults aged 65 should not take this drug because it won't be safe for older people. Ask your doctor before consuming the medication.

How Long Does Paxil Stay In Your System?

Paxil takes almost five days to stay in the system depending on age, genetics, body mass, metabolic rate, etc. It is a medication prescribed to treat major depression and other complications.

It is classified as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that helps increase the number of chemicals that stabilize mood in a patient.

Half-Life Of Paxil

The half-life of Paxil is reported to be 21 to 24 hours, which means that 50% of the drug is excreted from a patient's system within 21 hours after stopping the medication. After another 21 hours, this amount is further reduced to 50%. Due to this half-life trend, Paxil stays in a patient's system for five days.

How Long Does Paxil Stay In Blood?

A blood test can detect Paxil's presence in the body within a few hours of a patient's body mass, age, genetics, and hydration.

How Long Does Paxil Stay In Urine?

Paxil remains in the urine for 1-3 days, depending on the dosage. The most crucial factor that influences this is hydration. Since Paxil in urine greatly depends on urinary flow, its excretion depends upon hydration.

How Long Does Paxil Stay In Saliva?

Paxil might remain in the saliva for up to three days. However, it depends on several reasons. Duration of Paxil in the saliva depends upon Basal Metabolic Rate. High BMR individuals tend to eliminate these types of drugs from the body faster than those with low BMR. This is because those with high BMR have low fat and tend to absorb low Paxil than those with low BMR.

How Long Does Paxil Stay In Hair?

Seroxat remains in the hair for about 16 months after use. However, like other tests, detection of Paxil in hair is not possible. Hair tests are carried out to detect the main drugs of abuse, like cocaine, barbiturates, and methadone.

Factors That Influence Paxil Stay In The System

Reduction in dosage: The best and fastest way to remove Paxil's presence in the system is by reducing the dosage. Over time the body hardly notices the decline in dosage and concentration. The body adapts to the new dosage as the process goes on.

Stay Hydrated: Antidepressants used for an extended period can result in dehydration, which hosts many side effects. Staying hydrated helps flush out Paxil, toxins, chemicals, fats, and other unwanted items through urine from the system. The more water is consumed, the faster it is to flush out the Paxil.

Eat Healthy Food: Healthy food is another way to flush out Paxil faster. Patients should avoid sugar and lousy fatty foods rather than eat green leafy vegetables, yogurt, chia seeds, lemon, avocados, and almonds, which can help them detoxify Paxil.

Regular Exercise: Regular physical exercise helps to flush out Paxil through sweat quickly. Paxil also causes weight gain as a result of an increase in appetite. Common practice makes the body fight Paxil's sedating properties, which try to limit physical activities.

Sauna: A sauna is another effective way to flush out Paxil and other unwanted toxins through sweat from the body.

Side-Effects Of Paxil

Like all drugs, Paxil also has some side effects. Some of the side effects are very normal due to the beginning of the drug and going on its own.

Common Side Effects Severe Side Effects
Drowsiness Seizure
Weight Gain Confusion
Nausea Hallucination
Insomnia Fainting
Dizziness Suicidal thought


You should get emergency medical help if you experience severe side effects like

Precautions of Paxil

The drug is not suitable for everyone. For people with specific medical conditions, before taking the medication, consult with their doctor about their health history, and some of the points to remember or given below are

Drug Interactions:

Paxil can be taken with other drugs; Paxil should not be taken together after using Monoamine oxidase inhibitors(MAOIs) or within two weeks of the drug consumption.
It can affect other medications, like,

  • Strattera
  • Risperdal
  • Coumadin
  • Cardiac Drug
  • Drugs like ibuprofen or aspirin
  • Tricyclic antidepressants

Inform your doctor about all the medication you are taking, like over-the-counter drugs and any herbal supplements.

Bottom Line From Practical Anxiety Solutions

We have come to understand the drug Paxil; it belongs to the Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors group; it is used to treat major depressive and anxiety disorders by working with the chemical in the brain called Serotonin helps you to feel calm and relaxed.

People who suffer from depression for prolonged periods should get medical help. Talk to your doctor about any mental issues you have before taking the medication to avoid prior side effects of the drug.

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