Generic Paroxetine: An Introduction
Paroxetine hydrochloride (
Paxil®) is a medication that has been licensed to treat a number of conditions, including:
Paroxetine was first manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. However, it has since come off patent and is available as a generic.
Generic Paroxetine: Strengths
Generic paroxetine tablets and suspension (liquid) are available in the following strengths:
- Paroxetine 10 mg tablets
- Paroxetine 20 mg tablets
- Paroxetine 30 mg tablets
- Paroxetine 40 mg tablets
- Paroxetine oral suspension -- containing 10 mg per 5 mL (10 mg per teaspoonful).
Who Makes Generic Paroxetine?
Generic paroxetine is made by several different companies, including Teva Pharmaceuticals and Sandoz Pharmaceuticals. Ask your pharmacist if you are interested in more information about the different makers of generic paroxetine.
Is Generic Paroxetine as Good as Paxil?
All generic medications must undergo certain tests that compare them to the original brand-name medications.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) then considers the results of these tests to decide if the generic is equivalent to the original brand-name medication and assigns the generic a rating. An "AB" rating means that the FDA has determined that a generic medication is equivalent to the original brand-name medication. All of the generic paroxetine versions currently available have an "AB" rating, meaning they should be equivalent to Paxil.
However, generic medications are allowed to have different inactive ingredients than the brand-name medication. These might include fillers, dyes, or other ingredients that may cause problems for people with
allergies or sensitivities.
