Lexapro vs. Paxil

A lot of sickness of the mind exists nowadays because of stressful situations every now and then. For instance, the number of depressed, anxious and panicky individuals is rising especially in urban, Western regions of the world. These psychological disorders can lead to suicidal ideas which when not taken into consideration, can eventually lead to death. Because of the persistence of these mental and emotional disorders, many medications have been developed to lower the occurrence of symptoms.  These vary from the Tricyclic anti-depressants to Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors and Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors. They have varying modes of action, but all address the looming symptoms of the said disorders. Among the three, the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors have the least amount of side effects or adverse reactions. They are newer alternatives for those who cannot tolerate the extra pyramidal symptoms present in the other variants. Examples of SSRIs are Lexapro and Paxil.

The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors Lexapro and Paxil both act by preventing the reabsorption of the substance serotonin. Thus, there is an increase in the available serotonin in the synapse which can improve one’s mood, energy level and disposition. However, Lexapro must be better than paxil because the former has better binding power and there are fewer incidences of suicidal ideations compared with Paxil. This claim is backed up by studies of reputable pharmaceutical companies and research firms.

Lexapro with a generic name of Escitalopram has the highest affinity for the human serotonin transporter. As such, there is a faster rate in filling up synapses with serotonin. This phenomenon explains the fast and long term effect of Lexapro to depressed clients. Furthermore, researchers from Lundbeck proposed that Lexapro can enhance its own binding ability through additional interaction with another allosteric site on the transporter. As such, Lexapro must be better than Paxil in performing its intended mode of action.
Paxil with a generic name of Paroxetine has been gaining negative popularity because of its high incidence of suicide. The Food and Drug Administration has to put a black box warning in its packaging because of its effect of eliciting very strong suicidal urges among patients. It is also contraindicated among individuals ages 18 years old and below. This recommendation has been initiated by the United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency as well as the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use. They have also released guidelines on what and how to monitor signs and symptoms of overdose. Just like all selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, there should never be abrupt withdrawal of the dose because rebound effects may be experienced.
Indeed, Lexapro must be better than Paxil considering the risk versus the benefit ratio backed up by scientific claims.

They both possess therapeutic benefits, but Paxil has a negative effect on the mental frame and consciousness of the individual. The drug may provide more energy and a more pleasant aura, but it may just give the patient more energy to consummate the plan of killing and hurting oneself. As such, taking Lexapro must be recommended because it has lesser life threatening risks.