Pricing
Prices are indicative MRP and may vary by pharmacy. Trend compares against the last recorded price.
All price changes →Save on this medicine
Same active ingredient — pay up to 5% less
These brands contain the same active ingredient (Paroxetine Hydrochloride). Same strength and form. Confirm the switch with your doctor or pharmacist.
Indications & Uses
Melev is indicated for:
Pharmacology
Paroxetine is thought to work by increasing serotonin activity in the central nervous system, because it stops nerve cells from taking serotonin (5-hydroxy-tryptamine, 5 HT) back up. Studies in humans at clinically relevant doses show that paroxetine blocks the uptake of serotonin into human platelets. In vitro studies in animals also suggest that it is a potent and highly selective inhibitor of neuronal serotonin reuptake, with only very weak effects on norepinephrine and dopamine neuronal reuptake.
In vitro radioligand binding studies show that paroxetine has little affinity for muscarinic, alpha1, alpha2, beta adrenergic, dopamine (D2), 5-HT1, 5 HT2 and histamine (H1) receptors. This matters because blocking muscarinic, histaminergic and alpha1-adrenergic receptors has been linked to various anticholinergic, sedative and cardiovascular effects with other psychotropic drugs. The major metabolites of paroxetine are at most 1/50 as potent as the parent compound, so they are essentially inactive.
Dosage Reference
Reference Information Only
Dosages shown are general references from official sources. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized dosing.
Adults:
Major Depressive Disorder
Usual initial dosage: Paroxetine (paroxetine hydrochloride) is given as a single daily dose, with or without food, usually in the morning. The recommended starting dose is 20 mg/day. Some patients who don't respond to 20 mg may benefit from increases in steps of 10 mg/day, up to a maximum of 50 mg/day. Dose changes should be made at intervals of at least 1 week.
Maintenance therapy: Systematic evaluation of paroxetine hydrochloride has shown that its efficacy is maintained for up to 1 year with doses that averaged about 30 mg.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Usual initial dosage: Paroxetine is given as a single daily dose, with or without food, usually in the morning. For OCD the recommended dose is 40 mg daily. Patients should start on 20 mg/day, and the dose can then be raised in steps of 10 mg/day. Dose changes should be made at intervals of at least 1 week.
Maintenance therapy: The dose should be adjusted to keep the patient on the lowest effective dosage, and patients should be reassessed from time to time to decide whether treatment needs to continue.
Panic Disorder
Usual initial dosage: Paroxetine is given as a single daily dose, with or without food, usually in the morning. The target dose for panic disorder is 40 mg/day. Patients should start on 10 mg/day. Dose changes should be made in steps of 10 mg/day, at intervals of at least 1 week. The maximum dosage should not exceed 60 mg/day.
Maintenance therapy: The dose should be adjusted to keep the patient on the lowest effective dosage, and patients should be reassessed from time to time to decide whether treatment needs to continue.
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
Usual initial dosage: Paroxetine is given as a single daily dose, with or without food, usually in the morning. The recommended starting dosage is 20 mg/day.
Maintenance therapy: The dose should be adjusted to keep the patient on the lowest effective dosage, and patients should be reassessed from time to time to decide whether treatment needs to continue.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Usual initial dosage: Paroxetine is given as a single daily dose, with or without food, usually in the morning. The recommended starting dosage, which is also the established effective dosage, is 20 mg/day.
Maintenance therapy: The dose should be adjusted to keep the patient on the lowest effective dosage, and patients should be reassessed from time to time to decide whether treatment needs to continue.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Usual initial dosage: Paroxetine is given as a single daily dose, with or without food, usually in the morning. The recommended starting dosage, which is also the established effective dosage, is 20 mg/day. If a change is needed, it should be made in steps of 10 mg/day, at intervals of at least 1 week.
Maintenance therapy: The dose should be adjusted to keep the patient on the lowest effective dosage, and patients should be reassessed from time to time to decide whether treatment needs to continue.
Side Effects
Major depressive disorder: weakness (asthenia), sweating, nausea, decreased appetite, somnolence, dizziness, insomnia, tremor, nervousness, ejaculatory disturbance and other male genital disorders. Obsessive compulsive disorder: nausea, dry mouth, decreased appetite, constipation, dizziness, somnolence, tremor, sweating, impotence and abnormal ejaculation. Panic disorder: asthenia, sweating, decreased appetite, decreased libido, tremor, abnormal ejaculation, female genital disorders and impotence. Social anxiety disorder: sweating, nausea, dry mouth, constipation, decreased appetite, somnolence, tremor, decreased libido, yawn, abnormal ejaculation, female genital disorders and impotence. Generalised anxiety disorder: asthenia, infection, constipation, decreased appetite, dry mouth, nausea, decreased libido, somnolence, tremor, sweating and abnormal ejaculation. Post-traumatic stress disorder: asthenia, sweating, nausea, dry mouth, diarrhoea, decreased appetite, somnolence, decreased libido, abnormal ejaculation, female genital disorders and impotence.
Cautions & Contraindications
Warnings & Precautions
Cardiac conditions: Paroxetine Hydrochloride does not cause clinically significant changes in blood pressure, heart rate or ECG. Still, as with all psychoactive drugs, take care when treating patients who have cardiac conditions. Epilepsy: As with other antidepressants, use Paroxetine Hydrochloride with caution in patients with epilepsy. Seizures: Seizures occur in less than 0.1% of patients treated with Paroxetine Hydrochloride. If a patient develops seizures, the medicine should be stopped. ECT: There is little clinical experience of giving Paroxetine Hydrochloride at the same time as ECT. Ability to drive/use machines: Clinical experience shows that treatment with Paroxetine Hydrochloride is not linked with impaired cognitive or psychomotor function. However, as with all psychoactive drugs, patients should be warned to be careful about driving a car and operating machinery. Discontinuation of Treatment with Paroxetine Hydrochloride: The recent clinical trials behind the approved indications of Paroxetine Hydrochloride used a taper phase regimen, not an abrupt stop of treatment. In the GAD and PTSD trials, the daily dose was lowered step by step, by 10 mg/day at weekly intervals. Once the dose reached 20 mg/day, patients stayed on it for 1 week before treatment was stopped.
Contraindications
Paroxetine Hydrochloride must not be taken together with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or thioridazine. It also must not be given to anyone who is hypersensitive to paroxetine.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Paroxetine should be used during pregnancy only if the possible benefit to the mother justifies the possible risk to the fetus.
Labor and Delivery: What Paroxetine does to labor and delivery in humans is not known.
Nursing Mothers: Paroxetine hydrochloride passes into human milk, as many other drugs do, so caution is needed when it is given to a nursing woman.
⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Use in Special Populations
Dosage for elderly or debilitated patients, and those with severe renal or hepatic impairment
For elderly patients, debilitated patients, and patients with severe kidney or liver impairment, the recommended starting dose of Paroxetine Hydrochloride is 10 mg/day. The dose can be raised if it is needed. It should not go above 40 mg/day.
Storage
Keep Paroxetine Hydrochloride out of the reach of children. Store it in a cool, dry place, and protect it from light and moisture.
Drug Interactions
Common questions about Melev 20 mg
What is Melev 20 mg Tablet?
Melev 20 mg Tablet is a medicine that contains Paroxetine Hydrochloride. It is made by Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd. It belongs to the SSRIs & related anti-depressant drugs group of medicines.
What is Melev used for?
Melev is used for: Depression, Anxiety.
What are the side effects of Melev?
Major depressive disorder: weakness (asthenia), sweating, nausea, decreased appetite, somnolence, dizziness, insomnia, tremor, nervousness, ejaculatory disturbance and other male genital disorders. Obsessive compulsive disorder: nausea, dry mouth, decreased appetite, constipation, dizziness, somnolence, tremor, sweating, impotence and abnormal ejaculation.
Can I take Melev during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
Paroxetine should be used during pregnancy only if the possible benefit to the mother justifies the possible risk to the fetus. Labor and Delivery: What Paroxetine does to labor and delivery in humans is not known. Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
How should I store Melev?
Keep Paroxetine Hydrochloride out of the reach of children. Store it in a cool, dry place, and protect it from light and moisture.
Can I take other medicines with Melev?
Some medicines can interact with Paroxetine Hydrochloride, for example: Warfarin Sodium, Haloperidol, Oxazepam, Phenytoin. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about every medicine you take.
Is there a cheaper medicine with the same ingredient?
Paroxet by Jayson Pharmaceuticals Ltd. has the same ingredient and strength for ৳9.06 per unit, compared with ৳9.53 for Melev. Ask your doctor or pharmacist before switching.
Do I need a prescription for Melev?
Melev is a prescription (Rx) medicine. Take it as your doctor advises.