Preparation and characterization of anti-paroxetine antibodies

6-nitroparoxetine was synthesized and reduced to 6-aminoparoxetine. After coupling to glutaraldehyde at the 6-position and to bovine serum albumin, the resulting Schiff's base was further reduced into an amino-derivative which served as the antigen. Anti-paroxetine antibodies were raised against this antigen in rabbits and the anti-paroxetine IgG purified by Protein A affinity chromatography. The anti-paroxetine IgG demonstrated high specificity towards paroxetine and 6-nitroparoxetine without significant cross-reactivity with other commonly used antidepressant and neuroleptic drugs. These antibodies may be useful for both plasma paroxetine level assays and uptake inhibitor binding site studies.