What is Paxil?

by Jef Gazley, M.S., LMFT, DCC

What an SSRI like Paxil does and why it works is not completely understood at the present time. It is believed that the neurotransmitter Serotonin is not completely transferred back to the original receptor site and therefore stays out in the synaptic cleft for a longer period and that the result is mood enhancement.

Now I will try and translate. The way our body and mind transfers thoughts and feelings is through the nerve cells or neurons in the central nervous system. That system is composed of thousands of separate cells that run up the back and are ultimately connected to the brain. Each cell is separated by a small space called the synaptic cleft. Each cell has a number of receptor sites or small silos for different chemical and sensations. Some are for cold, some for pain, and some for important neurotransmitters such as Serotonin and Dopamine.

When a certain amount of a chemical comes into a receptor site it fires like a spark plug in a chemical/electric fashion. A thought or feeling is transferred to the next receptor and then it comes back to the original receptor. Any debris of neurotransmitter is transferred back as well. The SSRI’s, like the medication in question, keep the debris in the gap for a longer period of time so that a person feels better.

Many people have chemical disorders where their neurotransmitters are hereditarily depleted. Symptoms of depression, irritability, or anxiety can become apparent over time for no outside reason but more often in reaction to stress. If this happens anti-depressants, like the one mentioned in this article, can often help.

Jef Gazley, M.S., LMFT, DCC