BuSpar vs. Prozac

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

BuSpar (buspirone) and Prozac (fluoxetine) are prescribed to treat anxiety.

Prozac is also used for treating depression, bulimia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

BuSpar and Prozac belong to different drug classes. BuSpar is an antianxiety agent and Prozac is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant.

Side effects of BuSpar and Prozac that are similar include dizziness, nausea, headache, nervousness, drowsiness, dry mouth, upset stomach, and cold symptoms.

Side effects of BuSpar that are different from Prozac include lightheadedness, feeling tired, blurred vision, restlessness, ringing in the ears, and excitement.

Side effects of Prozac that are different from BuSpar include constipation, anxiety, heart palpitations, loss of appetite or increase in appetite, weight changes, decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm.

Both BuSpar and Prozac may interact with alcohol, other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing (sleeping pills, narcotics, muscle relaxers, or medicines for anxiety or seizures), antidepressants, or blood thinners.

BuSpar may also interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), trazodone, erythromycin, itraconazole, nefazodone, and rifampin.

Prozac may also interact with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), St. John's wort, L-tryptophan, medicines to mood disorders or mental illness, medicine to treat ADHD or narcolepsy, or migraine headache medicines.

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

Common side effects of BuSpar include:

• dizziness,
• headache,
• blurred vision,
• drowsiness,
• feeling tired
• feeling restless or nervous
• nausea,
• dry mouth,
• upset stomach
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• strange dreams;
• stuffy nose,
• sore throat; or
• ringing in your ears.

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.

BuSpar (buspirone hydrochloride) tablets are indicated for the management of anxiety disorders or the short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety.

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.

BuSpar may interact with include monoamine inhibitors (MAOIs), trazodone, warfarin, erythromycin, itraconazole, nefazodone, and rifampin.

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.

BuSpar should be taken at the same time everyday. BuSpar should be taken either always with or always without food.

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.