Printed on: 30 Nov 2023
Paxil and Prozac are various kinds of antidepressant medicine within the class of medication often called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Despite the fact that each these medicine deal with melancholy, a temper dysfunction, and are within the SSRI household, the variations between Paxil and Prozac might imply one is extra appropriate to deal with your signs extra successfully than the opposite.
Overview of Paxil
Paxil (paroxetine) is an SSRI antidepressant that works by growing ranges of the neurotransmitter serotonin within the mind to enhance temper and emotion.
“This selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) stops the breakdown and uptake of serotonin within the neural synapse, so the quantity of serotonin retains on growing, serving to the synapse to maintain on working and resolving signs.”
By blocking serotonin reuptake, Paxil can improve ranges to revive steadiness successfully on your psychological well being. It’s typically used to deal with circumstances like main depressive dysfunction, generalized nervousness dysfunction (GAD), panic dysfunction, premenstrual dysphoric dysfunction (PMDD), and social nervousness dysfunction.
Like all drug, there are potential unwanted side effects of Paxil that vary from nausea and drowsiness to sexual points. That mentioned, Paxil is mostly well-tolerated by most customers. It’s not unusual for folks to not expertise any extreme opposed reactions whereas taking this drug.
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Overview of Prozac
Like Paxil, Prozac (fluoxetine) is an SSRI that alters serotonin ranges within the mind to stabilize temper and enhance your psychological well being situation. Prozac is barely completely different in what it treats when in comparison with Paxil, although. Whereas each medicine are frequent in treating melancholy and a few kinds of nervousness problems, Prozac can also be prescribed to deal with bulimia.
“Prozac has been the guardian medicine for the brand new period of antidepressants”
| Model Title | Paxil | Prozac |
| Generic Title | Paroxetine | Fluoxetine |
| Class | Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) | Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) |
| Makes use of — FDA Authorised | Main depressive dysfunction Obsessive-compulsive dysfunction Premenstrual dysphoric dysfunction Panic dysfunction Publish-traumatic stress dysfunction Social nervousness dysfunction Generalized nervousness dysfunction |
Main depressive dysfunction Obsessive-compulsive dysfunction Premenstrual dysphoric dysfunction Panic dysfunction Bulimia nervosa |
| Off-label Makes use of | OCD in kids Postpartum melancholy Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) Postmenopausal signs Untimely ejaculation |
Generalized nervousness dysfunction Neuropathy or nerve ache brought on by long-term diabetes Fibromyalgia Migraine Untimely ejaculation |
| Facet Results | Dry mouth Headache Adjustments in imaginative and prescient Elevated nervousness Nervousness Sexual dysfunction Weight achieve from Paxil |
Headache Insomnia Issue falling asleep Drowsiness or fatigue Diarrhea or constipation Adjustments in urge for food |
| Dosage Kinds/Strengths | Pill: Quick launch in 10, 20, 30, 40 mg Prolonged-release pill: 12.5, 25, 37.5 mg Oral answer: 10mg/5mL Capsule: 7.5 mg |
Pill: 10, 20, 60 mg Generic extended-release capsule: 90 mg Oral answer: 20 mg/5mL Capsule: 10, 20, 40 mg |
| Security Precautions | Threat of withdrawal syndrome Serotonin syndrome Enhance in suicidal ideas (extra in adolescents and other people youthful than 24) Change in blood stress |
Threat of withdrawal syndrome Serotonin syndrome Enhance in suicidal ideas (extra in adolescents and other people youthful than 24) Elevated danger in aged inhabitants for falls, blood stress points, and electrolyte imbalance |
Key Similarities Between Paxil & Prozac
As a result of Paxil and Prozac are in the identical class of medication, they work in the identical approach by growing the mind’s serotonin stage. With each medicine, the elevated serotonin helps with temper regulation. As a result of they work equally, Paxil is without doubt one of the extra frequent options to Prozac and vice versa.
Efficacy in treating melancholy and nervousness
Paxil and Prozac have each confirmed efficient for treating melancholy and nervousness problems. They assist steadiness your feelings by enhancing serotonin’s results, which frequently leads to decreased signs.
Is Paxil or Prozac higher for nervousness?
Each medicines are FDA-approved to deal with varied kinds of nervousness problems — though Paxil can also be FDA-approved to deal with common nervousness dysfunction (GAD). In medical trials, each medicine have been discovered efficient in treating main melancholy that included excessive ranges of tension. How nicely one or the opposite works for you’ll depend upon a number of elements.
Folks can react very otherwise to the identical medicine. Physique chemistry, signs, different medicines being taken, comorbid circumstances, and dosage can all come into play when attempting to find out the efficacy of a drug.
Is Paxil or Prozac higher for melancholy?
Each Paxil and Prozac are efficient for treating signs of melancholy. They’re each thought-about first-line remedies for main depressive dysfunction (MDD).
Nonetheless, whereas they’re advisable for and will be useful in treating melancholy, the result might differ from individual to individual relying on elements like depth of signs and common well being. Medical trials discovered no vital distinction between Paxil and Prozac within the efficacy of treating main melancholy.
Shared unwanted side effects
A number of the shared frequent unwanted side effects of Paxil and Prozac embrace:
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Dry mouth
- Sexual dysfunction
- Upset abdomen
- Change in urge for food
Drug interactions
Like all medicine, sure drug interactions are essential to concentrate on earlier than taking Paxil vs Prozac. Most medicine can have interactions with quite a few medicines, each prescription and over-the-counter. Make sure that your physician is aware of if you happen to’re taking any of the next:
- NSAIDs
- St. John’s Wort
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI)
- Thiazide diuretics
- Opioids
- Blood thinning medicines, together with Warfarin and aspirin
- Anti-nausea medicines, together with Zofran
- Another medicines that improve serotonin ranges — together with ADHD medicines like Adderall, TCAs, Buspar, and a few migraine medicines
Key Variations Between Paxil & Prozac
Though there are various similarities between Paxil and Prozac, there are some key variations, too. Despite the fact that the medicine can be utilized to deal with melancholy, Paxil has a wider vary of FDA-approved makes use of. One other main distinction is that there could also be fewer unwanted side effects of Prozac than Paxil.
Mechanism of motion
Each medicines belong to the SSRI class of medication, however they’ve completely different mechanisms of motion. Prozac blocks the reuptake transporter protein within the presynaptic terminal to successfully block the reuptake of serotonin into the presynaptic serotonin neurons.
Paxil works barely otherwise — it will increase the synaptic serotonin focus by blocking the serotonin reuptake transporter.
Authorised makes use of
FDA-approved medicine have gone by means of rigorous testing and are advisable to deal with sure circumstances. The FDA has authorized each Paxil and Prozac for treating melancholy, however Paxil can also be authorized for the therapy of generalized nervousness dysfunction and social phobia, whereas Prozac is authorized for treating bulimia.
Particular unwanted side effects
As a result of folks can react otherwise to medicines, not everybody will expertise each facet impact of a drug. That mentioned, there are some particular reactions that is likely to be extra frequent with one drug vs. the opposite.
- Extra distinctive to Paxil: Paxil would possibly trigger extra drowsiness in some folks than Prozac. Lowered libido and weight achieve from Prozac are two unwanted side effects which will even be decrease than Paxil.
- Extra distinctive to Prozac: Prozac could cause insomnia on account of its stimulating impact.
Selecting Between Paxil and Prozac
Deciding on medicine isn’t a one-size-fits-all train. Making the selection between Paxil and Prozac is dependent upon your physique chemistry, your situation and signs, your medical historical past, and the way nicely you tolerate every drug’s unwanted side effects and potential withdrawal signs.
Your physician or psychiatrist will play a big position in serving to you resolve on one of the best course of therapy to successfully cut back or eradicate your signs. They may contemplate all of the variables at play earlier than making any suggestions.
It’s additionally important to do not forget that the primary drug you strive is probably not the final. Efficient therapy plans can take time to finalize. Keep in touch together with your physician, and allow them to know if you happen to’re having any uncommon or uncomfortable unwanted side effects. They may regulate the dose or resolve {that a} new medicine needs to be tried.
Get a Skilled Analysis with Talkspace
Talkspace makes getting knowledgeable analysis and deciding on a therapy plan easy, inexpensive, and accessible. You don’t should face the problem of figuring out which medicine is correct. Talkspace will join you with a licensed psychiatrist who will assess your signs and situation and supply a therapy they assume will finest assist you to.
An correct analysis is a crucial first step in deciding on a medicine or drug. From there, ongoing and open communication about how nicely your therapy plan works will guarantee optimum outcomes.
Attain out to Talkspace right now to study extra about how one can get a therapy plan in place so you’ll be able to overcome your signs and get again to residing.
Sources:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (ssris). SSRIs – Assessments & remedies | NHS inform. Accessed September 24, 2023. https://www.nhsinform.scot/tests-and-treatments/medicines-and-medical-aids/types-of-medicine/selective-serotonin-reuptake-inhibitors-ssris.
- Fava M, Rosenbaum JF, Hoog SL, Tepner RG, Kopp JB, Nilsson ME. Fluoxetine versus sertraline and paroxetine in main melancholy: Tolerability and efficacy in anxious melancholy. Journal of Affective Issues. 2000;59(2):119-126. doi:10.1016/s0165-0327(99)00131-7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10837880/. Accessed September 24, 2023.
Talkspace articles are written by skilled psychological health-wellness contributors; they’re grounded in scientific analysis and evidence-based practices. Articles are extensively reviewed by our staff of medical consultants (therapists and psychiatrists of varied specialties) to make sure content material is correct and on par with present trade requirements.
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