Benefits of Paxil
Paxil® (paroxetine hydrochloride) is a prescription medication licensed for the treatment of various conditions of the brain. Specifically, Paxil benefits include the treatment of the following conditions:
- Depression (also known as major depression or clinical depression)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Panic disorder
- Social anxiety disorder
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
However, on occasion, healthcare providers may prescribe Paxil for other, non-approved uses (or "off-label" uses). Some of these off-label uses of Paxil include treating conditions such as alcoholism, anorexia, obesity, and dementia.
As a type of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), Paxil works by acting on a specific chemical within the brain known as serotonin. Serotonin is one of several chemicals used to send messages from one nerve cell to another. When the levels of serotonin become unbalanced, this imbalance can cause a variety of conditions, including depression. Paxil helps to block the reuptake of serotonin so that more serotonin remains in the space between the brain's nerve cells.
(Click Paxil and Paxil Uses for a closer look at the benefits of Paxil, including more information on how it works and how it can help relieve the symptoms of various conditions.)