Pexeva

Major depressive disorder, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder are some of the conditions that can be treated with Pexeva. This prescription drug comes in tablet form and is approved for use in people over the age of 18. It comes in four strengths and is generally taken once daily. Common side effects include nausea, drowsiness, and ejaculation problems.

Pexeva Medication Information

What Is Pexeva?

Pexeva^® (paroxetine mesylate) is a prescription medication licensed to treat the following conditions:

Major depressive disorder, commonly called major depression
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Panic disorder (PD)
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

(Click Pexeva Uses for more information on this topic, including possible off-label uses.)

Who Makes This Medication?

Pexeva is made by Norwich Pharmaceuticals, Inc., for Noven Therapeutics, LLC.

How Does Pexeva Work?

Pexeva belongs to a class of medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or

SSRIs for short. SSRIs act on a specific chemical in the brain known as serotonin. Serotonin is thought to affect mood and behavior.

As a message travels down a nerve, it causes the end of the cell to release serotonin. The serotonin enters the gap between the first nerve cell and the one next to it. When enough serotonin reaches the second nerve cell, it activates receptors on the cell, and the message continues on its way. The first cell then quickly absorbs any serotonin that remains in the gap between cells. This is called "reuptake."

Normally, this process works without any problems. But when the levels of serotonin become unbalanced, it can cause a variety of conditions, including depression. Pexeva helps to block the reuptake of serotonin so that more of it stays in the space between the brain's nerve cells. This gives the serotonin a better chance of activating the receptors on the next nerve cell.

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