Which is Right For You? — Talkspace

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.”

– Talkspace psychiatrist Dr. Muhammad Munir

By blocking serotonin reuptake, Paxil can improve ranges to revive steadiness successfully on your psychological well being. It’s usually used to deal with situations like major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic dysfunction, premenstrual dysphoric dysfunction (PMDD), and social nervousness dysfunction.

Like all drug, there are potential unintended 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.

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 totally different in what it treats when in comparison with Paxil, although. Whereas each medication are frequent in treating melancholy and a few kinds of nervousness problems, Prozac can be prescribed to deal with bulimia. 

“Prozac has been the guardian treatment for the brand new period of antidepressants”

– Talkspace psychiatrist Dr. Muhammad Munir

Model Identify	Paxil	Prozac
Generic Identify	Paroxetine	Fluoxetine
Class	Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)	Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)
Makes use of — FDA Permitted	Main depressive dysfunction   Obsessive-compulsive dysfunction Premenstrual dysphoric dysfunction Panic dysfunction Put up-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
Aspect Results	Dry mouth  Headache  Adjustments in imaginative and prescient  Elevated nervousness Nervousness  Sexual dysfunction Weight gain 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 Improve in suicidal ideas (extra in adolescents and other people youthful than 24) Change in blood strain	Threat of withdrawal syndrome Serotonin syndrome Improve in suicidal ideas (extra in adolescents and other people youthful than 24) Elevated danger in aged inhabitants for falls, blood strain 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 method by growing the mind’s serotonin degree. With each medication, the elevated serotonin helps with temper regulation. As a result of they work equally, Paxil is without doubt one of the extra frequent alternatives 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 drugs are FDA-approved to deal with numerous kinds of nervousness problems — though Paxil can be FDA-approved to deal with normal nervousness dysfunction (GAD). In clinical trials, each medication have been discovered efficient in treating main melancholy that included excessive ranges of tension. How nicely one or the opposite works for you’ll rely upon a number of components.

Individuals can react very otherwise to the identical treatment. Physique chemistry, signs, different drugs being taken, comorbid situations, 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 symptoms of depression. They’re each thought of first-line remedies for main depressive dysfunction (MDD).

Nonetheless, whereas they’re advisable for and may be useful in treating melancholy, the end result could differ from individual to individual relying on components like depth of signs and normal well being. Clinical trials discovered no vital distinction between Paxil and Prozac within the efficacy of treating main melancholy.

Shared unintended effects

A few of the shared frequent unintended effects of Paxil and Prozac embody:

• Headache
• Insomnia
• Dry mouth
• Sexual dysfunction
• Upset abdomen
• Change in urge for food

Drug interactions

Like all treatment, sure drug interactions are necessary to pay attention to earlier than taking Paxil vs Prozac. Most medication can have interactions with quite a few drugs, each prescription and over-the-counter. Ensure your physician is aware of for those who’re taking any of the next:

• NSAIDs
• St. John’s Wort
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI)
• Thiazide diuretics 
• Opioids 
• Blood thinning drugs, together with Warfarin and aspirin
• Anti-nausea drugs, together with Zofran 
• Some other drugs that improve serotonin ranges — together with ADHD medications like Adderall, TCAs, Buspar, and a few migraine drugs

Key Variations Between Paxil & Prozac

Though there are various similarities between Paxil and Prozac, there are some key variations, too. Though the medication 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 side effects of Prozac than Paxil.

Mechanism of motion

Each drugs belong to the SSRI class of medication, however they’ve totally 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. 

Permitted makes use of

FDA-approved medication have gone by rigorous testing and are advisable to deal with sure situations. The FDA has permitted each Paxil and Prozac for treating melancholy, however Paxil can be permitted for the therapy of generalized nervousness dysfunction and social phobia, whereas Prozac is permitted for treating bulimia.

Particular unintended effects

As a result of folks can react otherwise to drugs, not everybody will expertise each aspect impact of a drug. That mentioned, there are some particular reactions that could be extra frequent with one drug vs. the opposite.

• Extra distinctive to Paxil: Paxil would possibly trigger extra drowsiness in some folks than Prozac. Decreased libido and weight gain from Prozac are two unintended effects which will even be decrease than Paxil.
• Extra distinctive to Prozac: Prozac may cause insomnia as a consequence of its stimulating impact.

Selecting Between Paxil and Prozac

Deciding on treatment isn’t a one-size-fits-all train. Making the selection between Paxil and Prozac is determined by your physique chemistry, your situation and signs, your medical historical past, and the way nicely you tolerate every drug’s unintended effects and potential withdrawal signs.

Your physician or psychiatrist will play a big position in serving to you resolve on the very best course of therapy to successfully scale back or remove your signs. They are going to take into account 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 along with your physician, and allow them to know for those who’re having any uncommon or uncomfortable unintended effects. They could regulate the dose or resolve {that a} new treatment ought to be tried.  

Get a Skilled Analysis with Talkspace

Talkspace makes getting an expert analysis and deciding on a therapy plan easy, inexpensive, and accessible. You don’t must face the problem of figuring out which treatment is true. Talkspace will join you with a licensed psychiatrist who will assess your signs and situation and supply a therapy they assume will greatest make it easier to.

An correct prognosis is a essential 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 immediately to be taught 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.