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Pexeva vs. Zoloft

 

Are Pexeva and Zoloft the Same Thing?

Pexeva (paroxetine mesylate) and Zoloft (sertraline) are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

Zoloft is also used to treat panic disorder.

Side effects of Pexeva and Zoloft that are similar include nausea, drowsiness, dizziness, trouble sleeping (insomnia), changes in appetite, dry mouth, headache, nervousness, constipation, weight changes, decreased sex drive, impotence, and difficulty having an orgasm.

Side effects of Pexeva that are different from Zoloft include weakness, sweating, blurred vision, yawning, restlessness, and ringing in your ears.

Side effects of Zoloft that are different from Pexeva include sleepiness, tired feeling, skin rash, diarrhea, upset stomach, stomach pain, and abnormal ejaculation.

Both Pexeva and Zoloft may interact with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), other medicines that make you sleepy (cold or allergy medicines, sedatives, narcotics, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, medicine for seizures or anxiety), cimetidine, fentanyl, linezolid, St. John's wort, tramadol, tryptophan, blood thinners, other antidepressants, and “triptans” for migraine.

Pexeva may also interact with fosamprenavir, ritonavir, tamoxifen, theophylline, heart medications, and medicines to treat psychiatric disorders.

Zoloft may also interact with digoxin, lithium, valproate, cough and cold medicines, and heart rhythm medications.

Withdrawal symptoms may occur if you suddenly stop taking Pexeva or Zoloft.

What Are Possible Side Effects of Pexeva?

Common side effects of Pexeva include:

  • nausea,
  • drowsiness,
  • dizziness,
  • trouble sleeping (insomnia),
  • loss of appetite,
  • weakness,
  • dry mouth,
  • sweating,
  • blurred vision,
  • yawning,
  • headache,
  • restlessness,
  • nervousness,
  • constipation,
  • weight changes,
  • decreased sex drive,
  • impotence,
  • difficulty having an orgasm, or
  • ringing in your ears.

Report any worsening depression or suicidal thoughts you may have while taking Pexeva to your doctor. Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Pexeva including:

  • shakiness (tremor),
  • inability to keep still,
  • numbness or tingling,
  • easy bruising or bleeding,
  • fast or irregular heartbeat,
  • muscle weakness or spasm, or
  • seizures.

What Are Possible Side Effects of Zoloft?

Common side effects of Zoloft include:

  • sleepiness
  • drowsiness
  • tired feeling
  • nervousness
  • sleep problems (insomnia)
  • dizziness
  • nausea
  • skin rash
  • headache
  • diarrhea
  • constipation
  • upset stomach
  • stomach pain
  • dry mouth
  • changes in appetite
  • abnormal ejaculation
  • impotence
  • decreased sex drive
  • difficulty having an orgasm
  • dry mouth, and
  • weight loss.

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Zoloft including:

  • very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, feeling like you might pass out;
  • agitation, hallucinations, fever, overactive reflexes, tremors;
  • nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, feeling unsteady, loss of coordination;
  • trouble concentrating, memory problems, weakness, fainting, seizure, shallow breathing, or breathing that stops.

What Is Pexeva?

Pexeva (paroxetine mesylate) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) type of antidepressant used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

What Is Zoloft?

Zoloft is a prescription medicine used to treat a certain type of depression called Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Zoloft belongs to a class of medicines known as SSRIs.

Zoloft is also used to treat or manage:

It is important to talk with your healthcare provider about the risks of treating depression and also the risks of not treating it. You should discuss all treatment choices with your healthcare provider.

Zoloft is safe and effective in treating children with OCD age 6 to 17 years.

It is not known if Zoloft is safe and effective for use in children under 6 years of age with OCD or children with other behavior health conditions.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you do not think that your condition is getting better with Zoloft treatment.

 

What Drugs Interact With Pexeva?

Pexeva may interact with cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotics, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, medicine for seizures or anxiety, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), blood thinners, cimetidine, fentanyl, fosamprenavir, linezolid, ritonavir, St. John's wort, tamoxifen, theophylline, tramadol, tryptophan, heart medications, other antidepressants, medicine to treat psychiatric disorders, almotriptan, frovatriptan, sumatriptan, naratripta, rizatriptan, or zolmitriptan. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Pexeva is not recommended for use during pregnancy. It may harm a fetus. Babies born to mothers who have used this drug during the last 3 months of pregnancy may develop withdrawal symptoms such as feeding/breathing difficulties, seizures, muscle stiffness, or constant crying. If you notice symptoms in your newborn, tell the doctor. Since untreated depression can be a serious condition, do not stop taking this medication unless directed by your doctor. This drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding. Withdrawal symptoms may occur if you suddenly stop taking this medication.

What Drugs Interact With Zoloft?

Do Not take Zoloft if you:

  • take a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if you take an MAOI, including the antibiotic linezolid.
  • have taken an MAOI within 2 weeks of stopping Zoloft unless directed to do so by your healthcare provider.
  • have stopped taking an MAOI in the last 2 weeks unless directed to do so by your healthcare provider.
  • take any other medicines that contain sertraline (such as sertraline HCl or sertraline hydrochloride).
  • take the antipsychotic medicine pimozide (Orap®) because this can cause serious heart problems.
  • are allergic to sertraline or any of the ingredients in Zoloft. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in Zoloft.
  • take Antabuse® (disulfiram) (if you are taking the liquid form of Zoloft) due to the alcohol content.

People who take Zoloft close in time to an MAOI may have serious or even life-threatening side effects. Get medical help right away if you have any of these symptoms:

  • high fever
  • uncontrolled muscle spasms
  • stiff muscles
  • rapid changes in heart rate or blood
  • confusion
  • loss of consciousness (pass pressure out)

How Should Pexeva Be Taken?

The recommended initial dose of Pexeva is 20 mg/day.

How Should Zoloft Be Taken?

  • Take Zoloft exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider may need to change the dose of Zoloft until it is the right dose for you.
  • Zoloft Tablets may be taken with or without food.
  • Zoloft Oral Solution may look cloudy or hazy after mixing, this is normal.
  • Zoloft Oral Solution must be diluted before use:
    • Do not mix Zoloft until you are ready to take it.
    • When diluting Zoloft Oral Solution, use only water, ginger ale, lemon/lime soda, lemonade, or orange juice.
    • The oral dropper contains latex. If you are sensitive or allergic to latex, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about the best way to measure your medicine.
  • If you miss a dose of Zoloft, 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 next dose at the regular time.Do not take two doses of Zoloft at the same time.

If you take too much Zoloft, call your healthcare provider or poison control center right away, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.