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Luvox vs. Pristiq

Are Luvox and Pristiq the Same Thing?

Luvox (fluvoxamine) and Pristiq (desvenlafaxine) are antidepressants used to treat depression.

Luvox is also used to treat social anxiety disorder (social phobia) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Luvox and Pristiq are different types of antidepressants. Luvox is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and Pristiq is a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI).

Side effects of Luvox and Pristiq that are similar include loss of appetite, nausea, dry mouth, dizziness, drowsiness, sleep problems (insomnia or unusual dreams), increased sweating, decreased sex drive, and trouble having an orgasm.

Side effects of Luvox that are different from Pristiq include diarrhea, gas, sore throat, weakness, yawning, anxiety, skin rash, heavy menstrual periods, muscle pain, and abnormal ejaculation.

Side effects of Pristiq that are different from Luvox include constipation, tightness in your jaw, weight loss, blurred vision, nervousness, and impotence.

Both Luvox and Pristiq may interact with alcohol, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing (sleeping pills, narcotics, muscle relaxers, sedatives, or medicines for anxiety, depression, or seizures), diuretics (water pills), lithium, St. John's wort, tramadol, L-tryptophan, migraine headache medications, blood thinners, and heart or blood pressure medications.

Luvox may also interact with clopidogrel, methadone, omeprazole, tacrine, theophylline, or medicines to treat psychiatric disorders.

Pristiq may also interact with linezolid, metoclopramide, midazolam, antibiotics, antifungals, and HIV/AIDS medicines.

What Are Possible Side Effects of Luvox?

Common side effects of Luvox include:

  • loss of appetite,
  • nausea,
  • diarrhea,
  • gas,
  • dry mouth,
  • sore throat,
  • dizziness,
  • drowsiness,
  • weakness,
  • yawning,
  • anxiety,
  • sleep problems (insomnia or unusual dreams),
  • increased sweating,
  • skin rash,
  • heavy menstrual periods,
  • muscle pain,
  • decreased sex drive,
  • abnormal ejaculation, or
  • trouble having an orgasm.

What Are Possible Side Effects of Pristiq?

Common side effects of Pristiq include:

  • increased or excessive sweating,
  • dizziness,
  • drowsiness,
  • dry mouth,
  • constipation,
  • sleep problems (insomnia),
  • loss of appetite,
  • tightness in your jaw,
  • nausea,
  • weight loss,
  • blurred vision,
  • nervousness,
  • decreased sex drive,
  • impotence, or
  • difficulty having an orgasm.

What Is Luvox?

Luvox (fluvoxamine) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant used to treat social anxiety disorder (social phobia) or obsessive-compulsive disorders.

What Is Pristiq?

Pristiq (desvenlafaxine) is type of antidepressant called a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) used to treat major depressive disorder.

 

What Drugs Interact With Luvox?

Luvox may interact with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing (sleeping pills, narcotic pain medicines, muscle relaxers, or medicines for anxiety, depression, or seizures), clopidogrel, diuretics (water pills), lithium, methadone, omeprazole, St. John's wort, tacrine, tramadol, L-tryptophan, theophylline, warfarin, antidepressants, heart or blood pressure medication, migraine headache medications, medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, sedatives, or seizure medications. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

What Drugs Interact With Pristiq?

Pristiq may interact with cold or allergy medicines, sedatives, narcotics, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, medicines for seizures or anxiety, other antidepressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), blood thinners, St. John's wort, tramadol, L-tryptophan, heart medications, or medicines to treat migraines.

Pristiq may also interact with diuretics (water pills), linezolid, lithium, metoclopramide, midazolam, antibiotics, antifungals, blood pressure medications, or HIV/AIDS medicines.

 

How Should Luvox Be Taken?

The recommended starting dose for Luvox tablets in adult patients is 50 mg, administered as a single daily dose at bedtime. The recommended starting dose for Luvox tablets in pediatric populations (ages 8-17 years) is 25 mg, administered as a single daily dose at bedtime.

How Should Pristiq Be Taken?

The recommended dose for Pristiq is 50 mg once daily, with or without food.