Luvox vs. Prozac

• Are Luvox and Prozac the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Luvox?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Prozac?
• What Is Luvox?
• What Is Prozac?
• What Drugs Interact with Luvox?
• What Drugs Interact with Prozac?
• How Should Luvox Be Taken?
• How Should Prozac Be Taken?

Luvox (fluvoxamine) and Prozac (fluoxetine) are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants used to treat depression or obsessive-compulsive disorders.

Luvox is also used to treat social anxiety disorder (social phobia).

Prozac is also used to treat bulimia, panic disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

Side effects of Luvox and Prozac that are similar include changes in appetite, nausea, dry mouth, dizziness, drowsiness, sore throat, anxiety, sleep problems (insomnia or unusual dreams), decreased sex drive, and difficulty having an orgasm.

Side effects of Luvox that are different from Prozac include diarrhea, gas, weakness, yawning, increased sweating, skin rash, heavy menstrual periods, muscle pain, and abnormal ejaculation.

Side effects of Prozac that are different from Luvox include upset stomach, constipation, headaches, nervousness, heart palpitations, weight changes, cold symptoms (stuffy nose, sneezing), and impotence.

Both Luvox and Prozac 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), St. John's wort, L-tryptophan, blood thinners, migraine headache medications, or medicines to treat psychiatric disorders.

Luvox may also interact with clopidogrel, diuretics (water pills), lithium, methadone, omeprazole, tacrine, tramadol, theophylline, heart or blood pressure medication.

Prozac may also interact with medicines to treat ADHD or narcolepsy.

Do not stop using Prozac suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

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.

Common side effects of Prozac include:

• nausea,
• upset stomach,
• constipation,
• headaches,
• anxiety,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• drowsiness,
• dizziness,
• nervousness,
• heart palpitations,
• loss of appetite or increase in appetite,
• weight changes,
• cold symptoms (stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat),
• dry mouth,
• decreased sex drive,
• impotence, or
• difficulty having an orgasm.

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

Prozac is a prescription medicine used to treat depression. It is important to talk with your healthcare provider about the risks of treating depression and also the risks of nottreating it. You should discuss all treatment choices with your healthcare provider.

Prozac is used to treat:

• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Bulimia Nervosa*
• Panic Disorder*
• Depressive episodes associated with Bipolar I Disorder, taken with olanzapine (Zyprexa)
• Treatment Resistant Depression (depression that has not gotten better with atleast 2 other treatments), taken with olanzapine (Zyprexa)*

*Not approved for use in children

Talk to your healthcare provider if you do not think that your condition is getting betterwith Prozac treatment.

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.

Prozac may interact with cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, medicine for seizures or anxiety, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), other antidepressants, blood thinners, or migraine headache medicines.

Prozac may also interact with alprazolam, clopidogrel, clozapine, flecainide, haloperidol, nebivolol, vinblastine, or seizure medications.

Withdrawal symptoms may occur if you suddenly stop taking Prozac.

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.

Take Prozac exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider may need to change the dose of Prozac until it is the right dose for you.

Prozac may be taken with or without food.

If you miss a dose of Prozac, take the missed dose as soon as you remember.If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your nextdose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Prozac at the same time.

If you take too much Prozac, call your healthcare provider or poison controlcenter right away, or get emergency treatment.