Paxil CR

Paxil cr contains exactly the same active ingredient as regular paxil, (paroxetine hydrochloride) except that paxil cr has an enteric coating that delays release until the drug has left the stomach.

The enteric coating of paxil cr is a degradable polymeric matrix designed to control the dissolution rate of paxil cr over a period of 4 to 5 hours.

The inactive ingredients of paxil cr consist of: hypromellose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, colloidal silicon dioxide, glyceryl behenate, methacrylic acid copolymer type C, sodium lauryl sulfate, polysorbate 80, talc, triethyl citrate, and one or more of the following colorants: Yellow ferric oxide, red ferric oxide, D&C Red No. 30, D&C Yellow No. 6, D&C Yellow No. 10, FD&C Blue No. 2.

The psychotropic drug paxil cr was first approved in March 1999 as a treatment for major depressive disorder. A few years later, paxil cr was approved as a treatment for panic disorder.

And in early Sept. 2003, GlaxoSmithKline (the GSK) announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved paxil cr as the first controlled-release medication for the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is characterized by emotional symptoms including irritability, tension, and depressed mood as well as physical symptoms associated with the menstrual cycle.

PMDD, considered by some to be just a new name for premenstrual syndrome (PMS), consists of symptoms that commonly emerge in the second half of the menstrual cycle and subside when menstruation begins or shortly thereafter. The symptoms follow this pattern every month or almost every month.

While I haven't yet seen the data 'proving' paxil cr is 'safe and effective' for this brand new disease, the numbers touting its efficacy for panic and depression are readily available.

Efficacy of Paxil CR

The following numbers were obtained from the GSK's own data.

Here's what they say about reducing depression:

"At week 12, 60% (n=122/204) of patients taking Paxil CR achieved a >50% reduction in HAM-D scores vs 48% (n=99/205) for placebo (P<0.05). At week 12, Paxil CR achieved a HAM-D score of <7 in 45% (n=91/204) of patients vs 34% (n=69/205) for placebo (P<0.05)."

So, after enduring twelve weeks of paxil cr, 122 of 204 patients reduced their depression scores to a reasonable level. However; 99 of 204 patients taking a sugar pill (a placebo) reduced their depression to the same level.

60% helped by paxil cr, and 48% helped by placebo. (Or, said another way, 45% helped by paxil cr, and 34% helped by a placebo.)

Now let's take a look at the panic data:

"Panic-Free Data: At week 10, 63% of patients treated with Paxil CR were panic free (n=236/377) compared with 53% of patients taking placebo (n=268/395). Statistical significance was achieved beginning at week 6 (P<0.05)."

63% helped by paxil cr, and 53% helped by a placebo.

A highly addictive psychotropic drug with hundreds of debilitating side effects is slightly more effective that a sugar pill. How underwhelming. Wouldn't it be better just to take a higher dose of the placebo!?

Regarding the argument that depression is a disease like diabetes... Do you think 48% of diabetics would be fine after twelve weeks of placebo compared to twelve weeks of insulin?

Paxil cr is available in three different doses:

• 12.5 mg - yellow pill

• 25 mg - pink pill

• 37.5 mg - blue pill

Since paxil cr is the same drug as paxil, you should never combine paxil cr with an MAO inhibitor or thioridazine.

Also, paxil cr may induce mania or hypomania - whether the patient has ever experienced it or not. Those suffering from bipolar disorder have an 11.6% chance of inducing mania by taking paxil cr.

In addition to reading about paxil cr, it's also important to understand the underlying causes that would lead someone to consider it in the place.

I almost feel guilty because my life has become so enjoyable and so easy. Especially since I remember how miserable I used to be.

Basically it comes down to making one slight shift in what you do everyday, and you can watch in amazement as your life slowly begins to start working out in almost every way.

It's such an important change that I've written a complete e-book about it. And I'd like to give you a copy for free. All you have to do is write your first name and primary email address into the space below, and you'll be receiving a link to download the e-book right away.

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