Navigation

Luvox vs. Paxil

Are Luvox and Paxil the Same Thing?

Luvox (fluvoxamine) and Paxil (paroxetine hydrochloride) are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants used to treat depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

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

Paxil is also used to treat panic attacks, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (premenstrual dysphoric disorder).

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

Side effects of Luvox that are different from Paxil include loss of appetite, diarrhea, gas, sore throat, weakness, anxiety, increased sweating, skin rash, heavy menstrual periods, muscle pain, and abnormal ejaculation.

Side effects of Paxil that are different from Luvox include headache, nervousness, restlessness, nasal irritation, constipation, weight changes, impotence, and ringing in the ears.

Both Luvox and Paxil 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, tramadol, L-tryptophan, theophylline, blood thinners, heart medications, migraine headache medications, or medicines to treat psychiatric disorders.

Luvox may also interact with clopidogrel, diuretics (water pills), lithium, methadone, omeprazole, tacrine, and blood pressure medications.

Paxil may also interact with cold or allergy medicines, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), cimetidine, fentanyl, fosamprenavir, ritonavir, and tamoxifen.

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

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 Paxil?

Common side effects of Paxil include:

  • headache,
  • nervousness,
  • restlessness,
  • drowsiness,
  • dizziness,
  • nasal irritation,
  • sleep problems (insomnia),
  • nausea,
  • constipation,
  • weight changes,
  • decreased sex drive,
  • impotence,
  • difficulty having an orgasm,
  • dry mouth,
  • yawning, or
  • ringing in the ears.

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 Paxil?

Paxil (paroxetine hydrochloride) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant used to treat depression, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (premenstrual dysphoric 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 Paxil?

Call your doctor immediately if you are experiencing suicidal thoughts.

Paxil 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, cimetidine, fentanyl, fosamprenavir, ritonavir, St. John's wort, tamoxifen, theophylline, tramadol, L-tryptophan, heart medications, medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, almotriptan, frovatriptan, sumatriptan, naratriptan, rizatriptan, or zolmitriptan. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking Paxil. Paxil may cause heart defects or serious lung problems in a newborn if you take the medication during pregnancy. However, you may have a relapse of depression if you stop taking your antidepressant during pregnancy. Do not start or stop taking Paxil during pregnancy without your doctor's advice. Paxil passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Consult doctor before breastfeeding. Withdrawal symptoms may occur if you suddenly stop taking Paxil.

 

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 Paxil Be Taken?

The recommended initial dose of Paxil depends on the condition being treated and ranges from 20 mg/day to 50 mg/day.